Team Italia FMI plays defense in the wet in Valencia

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On a damp track in Valencia, Team Italia riders Tonucci and Fenati wrap-up the season in 14th and 18th place respectively.

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) started well from fourth row and stayed close to the front early on, but eventually lost the pace. With track conditions improving, he found his rhythm back and secured points in 14th position. Tonucci thus ends his 2012 championship with 45 points to his tally, 18th in the general standings and with a third place in Motegi as his best result. 

The positive warm-up made Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) hopeful for a strong race, but the rain changed the tarmac conditions and the young rider struggled, especially in the beginning. He still fought hard, closing in 18th position, less than a second from the Top 15. 

Kent won the race ahead of Cortese and Khairuddin.

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 14th, + 34"660

"I got off a good start today but after four laps the front runners upped the pace and I couldn't replicate. I took some risks, after which I opted to stay calm and defend my position. It was still good to score a few points. My experience with Team Italia FMI ends today, and I want to thank FMI and the team for assisting me in those wonderful years. I'm hopeful and confident as I embark on a different adventure for 2013."

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 18th, + 51"826

"Unfortunately the weather spoiled this race as well. I can't be satisfied with this result, but I still made good progress in my first year in the championship. Now I will spend the winter training even harder to prepare next season. Many thanks to FMI and the team for this great season. I hope to share even more successes in the future."

Paolo Sesti (FMI President)

"It's been a great season for Team Italia. After a tough winter, which coincided with a bike change, our team worked hard to cut the gap and we achieved a more than positive result. We launched Fenati and Tonucci, both of whom gave us great results. We're happy to entrust the latter, a more mature and ready rider, to another team, and wish him the very best. We're getting ready to tackle 2013 with Fenati and Bagnaia. Team Italia will grow even stronger!"

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Fenati chases the Rookie of the Year title

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Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5), despite the solid finishes in Japan and Australia, was not able to maintain the fourth place in the general standings and the lead among rookies. The 16 year old still had an amazing season, scoring his maiden win in Jerez, two second places (Qatar and Mugello) and a third (Misano) in the 11 races in which he finished in the Top 15. He is just five points behind Rins and will have to finish ahead of the Spaniard in Valencia to close at the top among the rookies. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) is back after some of the best races of his career. He was third in Motegi and seventh in Australia, and will have a chance to close his tenure with Team Italia on another positive note. His experience at the Spanish track (he was 13th last year) can help him toward this goal.

Massimo Vergini (Team Manager)

"We head into the final round with the same enthusiasm we had all season long. Both riders are in great shape and ready to race. Fenati can further prove his talent by winning the rookie title. Tonucci can once again aim at the podium. This year started with many question marks regarding a new class, but we managed to be among the protagonists. I want to thank FMI and President Paolo Sesti for their great support. The team's professionalism and sponsors' help also allowed us to have a fantastic year and further develop Team Italia's project."

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After constant improvements, Fenati and Tonucci fought for the podium until the checkered flag

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At his debut on the island, Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) showed his appreciation for the fast track. He controlled the pace early on and came back with great consistency to join the group fighting for third position. After leading it for a couple of laps, he barely missed the podium and closed in sixth position, while Cortese won the race. 

After solving the issues encountered during warm-up, Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) also had a positive race. Staying with the front runners, he posted the fastest lap of the race (1'38"447) and fought hard for a step podium until the very end. He finished in seventh position, right behind his teammate. 

Team Italia's Honda-FTR machines are first among the constructors today, redeeming Sepang's issues and giving hope to the riders to do well in the season finale in Valencia.

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 6th, + 5"109

"What a fight against Kent, Sissis, Rins and Tonucci. We had fun, being aggressive and fair at the same time. I did all I could. The bike was perfect, and it was fun to ride. Now we head to Valencia, a track where I rode during some tests. I like it, and I want to seize the rookie of the year award."

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 7th, + 5"374

"I got off a great start and fought at the front. I ran wide after a pass with Sissis and lost some ground. Then climbed back, and tried everything possible in the last few laps. I want to give a podium another try in Valencia."

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"We are a team, it's a pleasure to live the racing life all together. We head back from a month on the road with great satisfaction. Our working method is refined, and yields good results. We are a solid group while facing the difficulties. In Valencia, we want to win the Rookies Cup and place both riders in the Top 5."

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Team Italia FMI on 4th and 5th row in Phillip Island

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Changing weather conditions made life hard for Team Italia. Wind gusts early on and shower toward the end meant the riders struggled to find the rhythm and could not take advantage of a fresh set of tires to post the times in the last few minutes. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) took six tenths off his best time and closed in 10th position with a 1'39"451 (+1"117 behind poleman Cortese). Still, he is less than three tenths from first row, and showed a promising race pace and top speed. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) also improved, though less than his teammate. He lapped in 1'39"595 (+1"261) at his first qualifying session on this track, which granted him 14th position on the grid.

Both riders hope to improve during warm-up.

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 18 laps, 1'39"451

"The bike works well. The team did a great job and during warm-up I only have to focus on finding the best trajectories in T4 where I lose most of my time. I have to start well and stay within reach with frontrunners during the race, but I'm optimistic."

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda5) 17 laps, 1'39"595

"We could have done better, but the weather didn't help us find a rhythm and a stable setup. I was stuck in traffic during the key moments, then the rain came in. It's a shame since, with those gaps, I could have ended in the front row. Hopefully I'll make another step forward during warm-up."

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Positive debut for Team Italia FMI in Australia

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Team Italia riders had a positive start to their week-end in Australia, placing their Honda-FTR bikes among the top of the time sheets. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FTR Honda#5), after a first session to get acquainted with the track, quickly learned the fast corners and improved by over two seconds between FP1 (18th) and FP2 (5th). With a 1'40"267, he is 1"054 behind Folger, who was fastest today with a 1'39"445. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FTR Honda#19) also improved throughout the day. He took seven tenths off his FP1 time of 1'41"361, closing in 12th position with a 1'40"625 and posting the top speed among Honda- FTR riders (233,1 Km/h).

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FTR Honda#5) 37 laps, 1'40"267

"It's been a good day. I love the track and the team worked well to help me out. We still have to improve in a few corners, and we'll try to fix the setup ahead of qualifiers. We have great potential."

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FTR Honda#19) 35 laps, 1'40"625

"The bike works great. The engine is super fast, we just need to adjust the setup a little bit. We have a good pace and we're not far from the top. We'll aim at top rows tomorrow."

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"Great teamwork, as usual. Fenati is fifth and Tonucci twelfth, both are fast and have a good pace. We need to stay focused ahead of qualifiers to allow them to get off a good start during the race, but we definitely showed potential here."

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Team Italia looking for redemption in Australia

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Fenati and Tonucci want to end on a positive note their Asian tour, and bounce back after a disappointing week-end in Sepang, which yielded no points. 

After being third in Motegi, Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) was close to the Top 15 in Sepang but barely missed it. The Italian was able to improve his feeling with the bike during the second half of the championship, and is looking forward to race in Australia for the second time in his career. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) struggled throughout last week-end and was not able to secure another Top 10 finish. He has shown to be capable of fighting at the top consistently, and is currently fifth in the championship, two points behind Rins, who leads among the rookies.

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"We are ready to wrap up this long tour across the world, and redeem ourselves in Phillip Island. Tonucci really loves this track, and Fenati will surely enjoy it. We can head back to Europe with both our riders in the Top 10."

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Team Italia FMI leaves Sepang with no points

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Tonucci and Fenati fought throughout the race but never became close to the front, closing in 17th and 20th position respectively. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) started from 13th position and tried to close the gap early on, to no avail. He fought in the second group, showing a good pace and some bold moves, but a hard maneuver by Martin toward the end almost made him crash and left him stuck in the middle of the pack. As he was fighting against ten other riders, he was not able to score points. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) also faced a tough race. Starting in 17th position, he rode well and stayed close to his teammate early on but lost the seat after a contact and had to fight to stabilize himself in corners, losing positions toward the end. 

The pair paid a hard price for a difficult qualifying session and a bike setup that was not completely solved. They will get another chance next week in Australia.

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 17th, + 31"790
"It was a tough race. I did all I could, but in the final fight I pulled the shortest straw. I could have scored points and the feeling on the bike was not so bad. I'll try to recover in Australia, a track that I enjoy very much."

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 20th, + 45"824
"We were not lucky today. I lost the seat after a few laps as I touched with another rider, and had to adapt my riding style. Together with our setup problems, I couldn't do much more even if both me and the team pushed very hard. I don't know Phillip Island, but it seems a fascinating track and I hope to be able to adapt myself quickly."

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Team Italia off to a good start in Sepang

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After conquering his first podium in Motegi, Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) confirms his form by being the fastest Italian in Sepang. During the first two free practice sessions, the rider improved by over a second to post the fifth best time with a 2'16"082, 1"044 behind Folger, who was fastest in both sessions. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5), at his debut at the track, had to learn the layout during FP1 and was able to improve by almost two seconds in the afternoon. He stopped the clock on 2'16"231, which grants him the seventh provisional spot before the rain came to end the second session with a few minutes left on the clock. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 26 laps, 2'16"082

"We started well. We began with the bike we used in Japan, then slowly tweaked the setup to better suit this track. We found the way during FP2, and we're confident about qualifiers."

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 23 laps, 2'16"231

"When Ajo hit me during FP1 I lost my rhythm and couldn't lap as I would have liked to. During FP2 we found good solutions for this track, and climbed back. I'm still working on race pace, as it will be the key on Sunday. But I think we can be strong during qualifiers."

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Team Italia FMI sets high goals for Malaysia

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The podium conquered by Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) was also his best result in the championship, and he's determined to finish the season in a strong fashion. His good form will help him on tracks that he enjoys such as the remaining ones. Last year in Sepang he climbed from 20th position to score points, and expectations are much higher this weekend. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) debuts at yet another track, and is ready to tackle it with the same grit. Despite a few issues with tires, he was able to score a solid 10th in Japan, conserving his fourth place in the standings and the leadership in the Rookie rankings. In Malaysia he can take advantage of a nice mix between slow and fast corners and long straights to show his talent. 

Italy's only victory in the smaller class was scored by current Technical Coordinator Roberto Locatelli in 2000.

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"We can finish the championship strong. Besides Fenati, Tonucci is also in great form. We're one of the few team who scored podiums with both riders. The race will be hard, especially because of the heat, but we aim at Top 5 with both Fenati and Tonucci. I hope someone can break my record of being the only Italian to win here in the smaller class. My mind, however, goes to what happened last year, when fate took a wonderful person such as Marco Simoncelli away from us. I still remember the deafening silence that fell upon the track. We miss him, and we'll race to honor his memory."

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Team Italia FMI scores an exciting podium with Tonucci, while Fenati is tenth in Motegi

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Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) confirmed his penchant for the Japanese track by scoring his maiden podium. 

After the start, he controlled the opponents and counted on a strong race pace. He stayed with the frontrunners scoring the fastest lap (1'59"111) and set himself up to fight against Folger, Kent, Salom and Khairuddin. 

Tonucci stayed at the front with some spectacular passes and late braking. During the last lap, after Salom and Folger crashed out, he had a chance at the victory against Kent, Viñales and Cortese. The latter touched the Italian, almost taking him out, but Tonucci managed to finish in third place (his best result in the championship). 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) got off a better start, but could not match the pace at the front and stayed at the margins of the Top 10. He confirmed his talent in adapting to new tracks, and fought against Vasquez, Sissis, Rossi and Antonelli to close in tenth place and add more points to preserve his lead in the Rookie standings (+ 7 on Rins). 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 3rd, + 2"352

"It was a fantastic race. I love this track and to conquer my first podium at Honda's home is a dream come true. The team and I worked well all week-end, improving every day. I want to thank my family, my girlfriend, FMI and the team. They supported me during hard times and I dedicate this podium to them."

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 10th, + 16"129

"I started well but I got stuck in the third group after a few laps and lost my rhythm. The tires were gone by the end of the race, so I just tried to avoid mistakes and bring home a good result. I have to compliment Tonucci on his result. We're a good team. I can't wait to head to Malaysia."

Alfredo Mastropasqua (FMI Team Coordinator)

"Tonucci's podium is the reward for many years of sacrifices and teamwork. It's an emotional moment for him and the team. Fenati brought home a solid result, and put up a fight as usual. We got both our riders on the podium this season, and I want to thank Locatelli and the whole team for the hard work. With three races left, we want to keep up the momentum."

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Team Italia on second and fourth row in Motegi

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Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) proved once again that Motegi is one of his favorite tracks, seizing second row. The fastest Italian on track, Tonucci worked on race pace during FP3 and improved constantly during QP, lapping consistently under the two-minute mark. He closed with a 1'59"072, seven tenths behind poleman Danny Kent (1'58"371).

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) experienced some issues after crashing at the beginning of FP3, which made him skip the whole session and delayed his work on race pace. He hit his stride with a few minutes to go during QP, closing with a 1'59"359, which puts in fourth row in tenth position. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 17 laps, 1'59"072

"We wrapped up the work started yesterday with the team to get a better feeling in the rear. We made the right adjustments and were able to seize second row. It's my best qualifying result. We'll try to improve the pace tomorrow during warm-up so that we can race at the front."

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 14 laps, 1'59"359

"I made things more difficult after crashing during FP3. I lost my rhythm and it took a while to find new solutions. We barely made it, and were able to qualify in the Top 10. Warm-up will be crucial to find a better setup with the rear link. I'll do my best during the race."

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Team Italia FMI in the Top 10 during free practice in Motegi

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Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5), at his debut on the fast and technical Japanese track, showed once again his quick learning capacities, being among the fastest riders since the very beginning despite a humid surface.

He improved throughout FP2, posting a best time of 1'59"938, + 0"490 behind provisional poleman Cortese.

He closed his session with a few minutes to go due to a highside, without consequences. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) also had a positive Friday in Japan, taking advantage of his experience last year (he was tenth in the race).

After posting the 15th time in FP1, he climbed the time sheets and closed in 10th position with a 2'00"418, less than a second behind Cortese.

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 26 laps, 1'59"938

"I like this track and it's a honor to ride here with a Honda. The team and I are working well, and we'll try to improve ahead of the race. I made a mistake in picking the line and crashed, fortunately I'm not hurt. I actually feel in great shape."

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 28 laps, 2'00"418

"It's been a positive day one. We worked on finding the best setup in the morning, as this track necessitates an aggressive approach. We reaped the fruits during FP2, getting much closer to the front. I'm ready to finish this last leg of the season positively."

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"Great teamwork today, placing both riders in the Top 10. The atmosphere is great and we're working to find the best technical solutions for the race. Both Fenati and Tonucci rode well and with confidence. We will be prepared during the qualifiers tomorrow."

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Team Italia FMI ready to take over Japan

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Fenati and Tonucci landed in Japan with the goal to improve Aragon's results and do well in the home GP of Honda, with which the team is honored to partner. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) wants to put the Spanish race behind. After a strong qualifying session (4th place) and a good start to the race, he was forced to retire. With a "zero" to his tally, he is now pressed by Rins for the Rookie of the Year title. The two are separated by only 14 points with 4 races to go, and Fenati is determined to do well on a track he has never seen before to consolidate his fourth position in the championship and finish the season as the best rookie.

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19), on the other hand, can count on a previous experience on the Japanese track, where he scored his best result last season with a 10th place. The Italian, after a good fight for Top 10 in Aragon, is ready to finish the last leg of the season on a positive note.

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Team Italia seizes 12th place with Tonucci, Fenati is forced to retire

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Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) raced with a constant, competitive pace after having solved his issues during the warm-up session. Starting from 14th position, he climbed back steadily until reaching the Top 10, and was not far from the leading group with a few laps to go. While fighting against Antonelli, Sissis and Kornfeil, the Italian seized 12th place, 3 seconds behind winner Salom

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) was struck by bad luck. After a strong start to the race, he stayed with the leading group with the objective to strike his attack toward the end and fight for the podium. During lap 9, however, he was stopped by a technical problem. He still managed to keep his fourth position in the standings and leadership among rookies ahead of Rins. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 12th, + 3"067

"During warm-up we finally capitalized the work done with the team and found positive solutions. I didn't start well, but climbed back to the front. I made a small mistake with two laps to go, and lost the chance to fight for the Top 10. Still, I'm satisfied, and this result makes me hopeful ahead of the Asian and Australian races. We can do better!"

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) retired

"I started well. It was a close race, and a big group was fighting for the podium. Unfortunately a technical issue forced me to retire. As Valentino said in 2010, "I hoped nobody would win" as I watching the race from the pits. Anyway, these things happen. I'm very motivated ahead of Japan, where I want to redeem myself on a track that I don't know but is home to Honda, a bike which I'm proud to race with."

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Fenati and Tonucci Ready to Play in Aragon

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Romano Fenati is ready to confirm the progress shown in Misano (2nd in qualifiers, his best result of the season) and further improve his already solid debut season. This time, he can count on one of the few tracks he already knows, as he was 4th last year during the second CEV race. He already collected 120 points in the championship, with four podiums and the Jerez victory, and wants to extend the streak of 4 races in the points zone to conquer the title of Rookie of the Year.

Tonucci needs to put the Misano race behind. After his best qualifying session of the year, tire issues dropped him back out of the points zone. He will try to recover in Aragon, as fighting closer to the top can give him the right confidence ahead of the last few races of the year. 

Massimo Vergini (Team Manager)

"We head to Spain with high hopes. Fenati is following the development path we planned early on this year, he's more mature and able to manage qualifiers and races. He's always been on the podium on tracks he already knows, and we hope he doesn't break this tradition here. Tonucci is hungry after the problems in Misano, and ready to turn his frustration into positive energy to tackle next race."

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Fenati is third after an offensive race, Tonucci 17th

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The front group fought until the checkered flag in Misano, with Fenati showing his maturity after having tried to pull away earlier and seizing the podium. 

Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) started from the front and gained the lead during lap 3, keeping it for the next 16 laps. His clean riding allowed to keep a steady pace below 1'45, and he tried to pull away from Cortese, Vinales, Salom and Rins. A drop in track temperature decreased the front tyre performance (he mounted a H tire), and he was reached by the pack with four laps to go. In the last lap he fought hard and conquered third place behind Cortese and Salom, consolidating his fourth place in the championship and leading among the rookies. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) started in 7th position and kept the pace early on but got stuck in the middle pack later. Fighting for points, he battled against Moncayo, Kornfeil and Binder, closing in 17th position due to some issues with the tires. 

Micheal Ruben Rinaldi (who rides for Team Italia in the Italian Moto3 Championship) closed his third outing in the World Championship in 20th place.

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 3rd, + 0"937

"I tried as hard as I could to capture my second victory but I'm satisfied with this podium because the tires were really worn out toward the end. I stayed within reach and used some imagination to pass Rins and Viñales and finish third. I dedicate this result to the team and FTR, they're working hard for me. Thanks also to the Medical Staff, who helped me after my crash on Friday. Now we head to Aragon, where I already raced in the Spanish championship and I know I can do well."

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 17th, + 24"493

"I started well, racing at the front, but slowly issues arose with front tire temperature. We opted for a H tire, but it didn't help in the end. I tried hard but ran out of luck. I'll try to recover in Aragon."

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Team Italia FMI secured first and third row starts at Misano

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Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) posted the second-best time and will start on front row between Cortese (poleman with a 1'44"201) and Antonelli. After finding the right setup, Fenati lapped in 1'44"571, seizing his best qualifying result of the season so far. He also sported a completely red helmet to reminisce the fastest lap and the endurance national team that will race in Germany at the end of the month. 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) also had a strong session, taking advantage of his teammate's slipstream he lapped in  1'44"909 and will open the third row tomorrow. In 7th place, he also enjoyed his best qualifying result since he has joined Team Italia in 2011. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 18 laps with a 1'44"571

"Finally on first row! I want to thank the mechanics and the red helmet, which brought me luck. This one of the few tracks I already know and where I can fight on the same level as the others. I want to race at the front."

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 19 laps with a 1'44"909

"I got my form back after Brno. We were already fast in the wet, and we got better today. The bike works well, and so does the whole team."

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"This is our best qualifying result since Team Italia rejoined the MotoGP circus, and a testament to our progress. Both Fenati and Tonucci were fast, showing their improvements on the track and helping each other out. This is the right team spirit, and we head into tomorrow with great confidence."

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Fenati posted the best lap time, Tonucci closed in 11th position

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The heavy rain, wind and low temperatures characterized the first free practice sessions in Misano, but the Italian duo was ready to fight and wrap up a positive day 1.

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) was 14th after FP1 (1'58"407) but took advantage of slick tyres with a few minutes to go and posted the best time of the day with 1'49"956, becoming the first and only rider to break the 1'50 wall ahead of Vinales (+1"032), Folger (+1"123) and Calia (+2"630). 

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) quickly found the feeling on his home track. Among the best riders on a wet track, he closed the day with a 1'54"828 in 11th position. 

Micheal Ruben Rinaldi, Team Italia Moto3 rider in the Italian championship,  ended FP2 in 29th position as wild-card. 

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 33 laps, 1'49"956

"Im'm happy because we improved in the wet. My team put on slick tires at the right time, and this allowed to me to climb to the top. I hope I can do just as well tomorrow during qualifiers."

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 28 laps, 1'54"828

"I felt comfortable right away and I'm happy that we found a good setup easily. I'm hopeful about the rest of the week-end."

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Fenati and Tonucci seize 8th and 10th place respectively

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The weather played a big role in the race, which was declared wet but the track became quickly dry. Team Italia riders, both on slick tyres, came back from the bottom of the field and conquered the Top 10. 

Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) paid dearly a mistake at the start, which saw him in 28th position after lap 1. With a drying track, Fenati lapped with a pace similar to that of frontrunners, passing many riders and concluding in 8th position after posting a 2'10"181 (one of the fastest laps of the race). He thus consolidated his 4th place in the standings, behind Cortese, Viñales and Salom.

Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#12), 12th after qualifiers, proved his good form during the race. After being stuck early on, he managed to climb back until 10th place, scoring his best result of the season. Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who temporarily took Jack Miller's place, had a solid first half of the race, during which he lapped next to Tonucci but crashed out with 9 laps to go. Jonas Folger won the race ahead of Salom and Cortese.

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 8th, + 13"382

"The wet warm-up messed up our plan a little bit. But after a bad start I found my pace again during the race. It was a fun comeback, from 28th to 8th. My team helped me a lot, giving the right info on the board, and helped me make the right decisions. Now we head to Misano, a track that I know and where I won in the past. I can't wait to exits the pits again."

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#12) 10th, + 22"466

"It was a positive week-end, during which I constantly improved, and I'm leaving Czech Republic with a smile on my face. The team worked hard to help me clinch my best result of the season, so thanks to them. I want this to be a starting point for the remainder of the season. Misano is the right place to confirm today's result, as I know the track well and can be a protagonist."

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"Having both our riders in the Top 10 shows the synergy of this team. We gained a lot of information from Friday onwards, and our mechanics always showed their poise, allowing Fenati and Tonucci to put in a consistent performance. We head to Misano to confirm our working method, and we hope to do even better than today."

Team Italia FMI Press Release

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Tonucci qualified in 12th position, Fenati in 13th

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Alessandro Tonucci, after lapping fast during free practice, confirmed his chemistry with the Czech track by being among the Top 10 for most of the qualifying session and posting the 12th-best time with a 2'09"498, 1''4 behind poleman Viñales, which granted him a fourth-row start. He also showed a strong pace, and can climb further positions during the race. 

Fenati suffered some bad luck, as he was constantly in the Top 5 during the first half of the session but crashed out without consequences toward the end. His bike came back in the pits with only a few minutes to go and the crew worked strenuously to give him a chance to do a couple more laps, but he could not improve his best time of 2'09"532. 

Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who rides for Team Italia in the CIV Moto3 championship and replaces temporarily Jack Miller, qualified in 25th position with a 2'11"108.

Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) 16 laps with a 2'09"498

"I'm very happy about today. I had a strong qualifying session and barely missed the Top 10. I focused on race pace and I can fight at the top tomorrow. We'll tweak a few more things during warm-up and I can't wait for the lights to go off."

Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5) 8 laps with a 2'09"532

"Things were going well but I lost the front toward the end and I couldn't fight for better positions. I have a good pace and will try to climb my way back during the race. I like the track, and we'll use the warm-up to try to be even faster."

Roberto Locatelli (FMI Technical Coordinator)

"Tonucci had a strong qualifier after improving constantly since the first free practice session. Fenati was penalized by his crash, but his race pace can help him score important points. Special thanks to the team, who rebuilt his bike quickly. We can do well tomorrow."

Team Italia FMI Press Release

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