The objective was missed and yet in the box Loris Baz and those around him constantly congratulated him. The Frenchman even had the honors of the media much more than if he had accomplished his mission of entering Q.2. A miracle due to this rescue of despair on a Ducati which seemed destined to fall. All this in front of the stands and the cameras of the world.
Loris Baz will start fourteenth for this Grand Prix of the Americas which marks the third meeting of the year in MotoGP. Not bad, but nothing to brag about either. And yet, the teammate of a Hector Barbera who will start just behind him was the star of these Texan qualifications for having avoided an accident which seemed inevitable.
An irony of fate that the Frenchman commented on philosophically: “ When I arrived at the last corner, I realized that it wouldn't pass without taking an excursion off the track. But I really wanted to go to Q.2… We had found something during FP4 and I felt capable of doing a very good lap alone ».
« So I attacked very hard and probably a little too much. Well, I didn't manage to get into Q.2; but I was able to avoid the fall. And finally, it's good for my sponsors who were able to be seen all over the world! ».
The tricolor of a team Avintia who has already secured two GP17s for the 2018 campaign concludes: “ I nevertheless remain satisfied with this result after a complicated start to the weekend. I have a better feeling. We still need to make some adjustments to make the bike less physical. It is expected to be warmer tomorrow and tire choice will be crucial for the race, especially at the rear. The objective will be to get off to a good start and gain a few places in the rankings. Also, you will have to reach the finish line by making as few errors as possible. ».
During the first two Grands Prix in Qatar and Argentina, Loris Baz scored points for twelfth and eleventh places. His best qualification at this stage of the season is a ninth position. The Frenchman is currently fourteenth overall with nine units.
In passing, Loris, not without humor, commented on his exploit on his is the international treasure …The opportunity to explore a new type of partner?
Ranking compiled by our friends at crash.net:
1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)
2m 2.741s [Lap 7/7] 333km/h (Top Speed)
2. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 2m 2.871s +0.130s [7/7] 336km/h
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 2m 3.673s +0.932s [7/7] 336km/h
4. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2m 3.866s +1.125s [7/7] 344km/h
5. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
2m 3.928s +1.187s [6/6] 335km/h
6. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
2m 4.151s +1.410s [5/6] 342km/h
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 2m 4.431s +1.690s [3/7] 340km/h
8. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
2m 4.623s +1.882s [3/7] 335km/h
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 2m 4.661s +1.920s [3/5] 333km/h
10. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 2m 4.673s +1.932s [6/7] 339km/h
11. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
2m 5.741s +3.000s [5/6] 334km/h
12. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 5.970s +3.229s [4/5] 337km/h
13. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 2m 05.221s 341km/h
14. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 2m 05.231s
332km/h
15. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 2m 05.541s 339km/h
16. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 05.920s 335km/h
17. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 2m 05.931s 339km/h
18. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 2m 06.258s 328km/h
19. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 2m 06.295s 338km/h
20. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
2m 07.232s 325km/h
21. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 2m 07.601s 329km/h
22. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) No Time
