Australia’s Anthony West showed strong form at COTA, battling various front-end problems to finish seventh.

Front-end problems on the QMMF Racing machine compounded to curtail Anthony West’s climb through the Moto2 field at the Red Bull Grand of the Americas.

The Australian, who showed strong form at an unfamiliar circuit all weekend, made a good start to the race, exchanging positions early on before advancing towards the top five.

As the race played out, West found himself battling the limits of adhesion as front-end chatter and a general lack of front-end grip set in.

“The problem that I had was front-end chatter, the other was that in return for improving the rear tyre grip, we lost some grip in the front and I was losing the front a lot,” said West. “I was at the limit with how far I could push it and I was borderline to crashing.”

Despite the difficulties West stayed within striking distance of the lead pack, ranging up on fifth-placed Scott Redding in the closing stages.

His late charge amplified the earlier tyre problems, leaving him vulnerable to Johann Zarco who passed by on the final lap, relegating him to seventh.

West picked the positives from the weekend and put the tyre problems down to a learning experience, eager to improve on his next outing.

“It is a good result for us, good for the championship to get points and good in terms of the information we got for the continuation of the season,” he said.

“We are getting closer and closer to the front group, we just need to sort a few set-up issues. But the guys are doing a really good job and I am sure we can fix these issues for the next races.”

In his fourth season competing in the current-spec Moto2 class, 31-year-old West is placed 11th after two rounds.