MOTOR CYCLING: Indy promise comes to nothing for Kent (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tyre problems hamper front-row Kent

10:26am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in Sport

DANNY KENT'S Moto3 podium chances were ruined at the legendary Indianapolis circuit last Sunday after he ‘lost trust for the bike’, writes Alannah Fellows.

The Tetbury rider had yet another positive start to his weekend, finishing free practise and qualifying sessions in second position, behind only team-mate and world championship leader Sandro Cortese.

Kent, 18, got off to a fantastic start in the race itself and led in the opening two laps. However, his KTM suffered with front tyre problems on the unforgiving track surface and he slowly started slipping down the order from lap three.

After 23 tough laps, he crossed the line in 12th position, winning a battle with Louis Rossi and second team-mate Arthur Sissis.

“After a good start I just couldn’t get any traction for the front end of my bike," said the Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider. “The trust for the bike was gone and so was my fast pace.”

Spanish rider Louis Salom gained the first win of his Moto3 career, ahead of Cortese and Kent’s 2011 team-mate Jonas Folger.

Danny still managed to move up a place in the World Championship standings to ninth position.

Moto3 continues this weekend in the Czech Republic at Brno, where Kent will hope to get his KTM on the podium for a second time in 2012.