Pertamina Indonesian Grand Prix: Van den Goorbergh 23e, Baltus DNS

Zonta van den Goorbergh finished twenty-third in the second Moto2 race of the season at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit on Sunday. RW Racing GP teammate Barry Baltus could not participate in the race due to a wrist injury sustained on Saturday.

During the race day of the Pertamina Indonesian Grand Prix only Zonta van den Goorbergh represented the Dutch RW Racing GP. Team mate Barry Baltus decided in consultation with his crew not to participate after he suffered a nasty wrist injury in a crash in Q1 the day before.

Zonta van den Goobergh had a good start of the day by setting the eighteenth fastest lap during the ten-minute warm-up session. Not just the position was good, especially the difference of only 0.8 seconds with the fastest man caused smiling faces among the young Dutchman and his crew.

Later in the day during the shortened race – the race was shortened from 25 to 16 laps due to problems with the asphalt – the 16-year-old rider stood his ground again and crossed the finish line in 23rd place.

Zonta van den Goorbergh: “I am actually quite happy with how things went during the race day. During the warm-up the feeling was immediately good and I posted the eighteenth lap time, only 0.8 seconds from the fastest man. I am also happy with my result in the race, although I lost quite a bit in the first lap. Right after the start it was very hectic and I got caught up in the pack. We hit each other with a few riders and we came very close to crashing. We lost a lot of time and lost the connection with the riders in front. Despite it being a shortened race, we finished in 23rd place about 30 seconds behind the winner. We have learned a lot this weekend here in Indonesia and we will take this experience to Argentina where the next Grand Prix is in a fortnight. I am already looking forward to it.”

 

Barry Baltus: “We had discussed together after my crash and wrist injury that we would try on Sunday morning if the track was wet. Unfortunately this was not the case during the warm-up and although it was difficult I think we chose the wisest option. I am going to take some rest at home in Belgium to let my wrist recover. Again my apologies to the team, but it was just not possible. We hope to be back in Argentina in a fortnight time.

Jarno Janssen, RW Racing GP team manager: “Of course it’s a pity Barry couldn’t be in action today. If the track had been wet we might have been able to try, but it wasn’t and so we decided not to take any risks and keep him on the side-lines today. Although Zonta may not have been entirely happy with his race, I think he can once again look back on his second Grand Prix weekend with a good feeling. In the warm-up on Sunday morning he already showed that he keeps on making progress. To finish eighteenth and just 0.8 seconds off the fastest man is just very good. His race was good as well, twenty-third at just over 30 seconds from the winner is just a great result at this point.

The next Grand Prix for RW Racing GP will be held in a fortnight (April 1-3) at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina.

All pictures

Photos: Rafa Marrodan

Source: Racesport.nl