Livio Loi bounced back from set-up issues in practice and qualifying to finish a creditable 20th in today’s Czech Moto3 Grand Prix.

Jules Danilo came to Brno looking for a finish inside the top 25. The 18-year-old Frenchman leaves the Czech Republic having achieved his goal, after finishing in 24th position in today’s race.

Looking to add to his championship points tally today, Loi wasted no time in making up places after starting the race from 24th position on the grid. Having battled with Romano Fenati and Jasper Iwema throughout the race, the 16-year-old Belgian had fought his way up to 15th and looked set to add to his world championship points tally. With just two laps to go a collision with Jasper Iwema pushed Loi wide and he dropped back to 22nd, recovering two places to eventually finish 20th.

Danilo got a good start from 34th on the grid, but made up six places in the first chicane and then a further three places on the opening lap, to tag onto the group contesting 15th position. The Frenchman spent all but the last three laps in a battle with this group of ten riders, but dropped back after being caught up in Lorenzo Baldassarri’s crash and was eventually caught and passed out of the slipstream for 23rd place by Ana Carrasco.

Livio Loi #11: 20th
“I got a good start today, immediately getting into a battle with Romano Fenati and Jasper Iwema that went on for the whole race. I had the pace to lead, but not quite enough to get away from them, so it was always going to come down to the last few laps. With three laps to go Fenati came up the inside of me at turn four, Iwema tried to follow him through and we touched. I had to sit the bike up and come off the throttle, which allowed the group behind through on the inside. I managed to retake a few places on the final lap to take 20th at the line. I’m disappointed to have missed out on the points, but it was a good race and I enjoyed the battle.”

Jules Danilo #95: 24th
“I got a normal start, but then I managed to get up the inside of a big group of riders into the first chicane, passed a few more later in the same lap and made contact with the group disputing 15th to 25th place. I was fighting like crazy with Philipp Öttl, but then Lorenzo Baldassarri highsided late in the race, Brad Binder hit his bike and touched me, pushing me wide. I lost contact with the group and got caught by Ana Carrasco right at the end. I enjoyed the race; it’s amazing how fast it seems to go when you’re battling in a group, rather than riding on your own. I’m happy to achieved my goal after a difficult start to the weekend and I leave here having gained a lot of valuable experience.”