If the performances of the Suzuki team were not extraordinary on Friday, they were nevertheless generally satisfactory because the two main objectives were fulfilled: to qualify Andrea Iannone in the top 10 in case it rained on Saturday, and to ensure that Alex Rins was fit to run despite his talus fracture.
We pointed out at Suzuki that despite the Italian's tenth position, Andrea Iannone's time on this Termas de Rio Hondo circuit was already in 1'40.250 two seconds faster than the best time of a GSX-RR the first day last year. Between the first and the second session, Iannone gained half a second, a significant progress which ultimately allowed him to narrowly advance for the tenth and final qualifying place directly into Q2 Scott Redding eight hundredths of a second and John Zarco of nine hundredths.
To Andrea Iannone, who are " The day wasn't so bad. We started very well in the morning, and in the afternoon things got much better. The feeling is already good.
“We focused mainly on the tires more than the machine and we made some beneficial improvements. I already have ideas for Saturday and maybe also for the race, but we still need to change some things on the machine and improve the settings so that I can be even more successful. »
Alex Rins was able to ride, and that was already a lot because his fracture was worrying. He was flying without painkillers. His twentieth place in the final ranking of the first day was not very significant depending on his handicap. He was ahead of the two KTMs and Sam Lowes. The main thing will therefore be for Alex to try to finish the Grand Prix on Sunday in order to gain maximum experience, in particular with a MotoGP machine on this Argentinian circuit which is quite different from the others.
According to alex rins, who are " This Friday morning, I didn't have as much pain in my ankle as expected, and the adaptation to the circuit was very good. It was a shame that we arrived with an injured foot. I can say that I go fast in the corners where my foot doesn't bother me.
“In the afternoon I went out with my foot bandaged, but it hurt more than in the morning. At first I rode well, but as the laps went by I felt more pain and I couldn't go as fast. For Saturday I will try riding with painkillers to see if that helps with the pain and try to put in a good qualifying lap. »
According to the team manager Davide Brivio, « With Andrea, we aimed to be in the top 10 in case Saturday brought bad weather, and we achieved it. We still have room for improvement. There are a lot of things that can be better when finished, so we'll work tonight to give it a better set for tomorrow, in case it's dry.
“Alex is suffering from pain from his fracture. We have spoken with the doctors and flying does not compromise the healing of the injury. It's just about enduring the pain. We are listening carefully to his comments on this subject. He's a little sad because he really likes this track, but he doesn't fully appreciate it. Of course he is not able to give 100%, so we mostly take this opportunity to do some laps and gain experience on a MotoGP machine."
MotoGP J.1 ranking:
1. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 39.477s
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 39.778s +0.301s
3. Karel Abraham CZE Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 39.880s +0.403s
4. Alvaro Bautista ESP Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 39.922s +0.445s
5. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 39.960s +0.483s
6. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 40.120s +0.643s
7. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 40.124s +0.647s
8. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 40.157s +0.680s
9. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 40.175s +0.698s
10. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 40.250s +0.773s
11. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.338s +0.861s
12. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 40.340s +0.863s
13. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 40.345s +0.868s
14. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 40.399s +0.922s
15. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.431s +0.954s
16. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 40.531s +1.054s
17. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 40.588s +1.111s
18. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
1m 40.599s +1.122s
19. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 40.908s +1.431s
20. alex rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 41.083s +1.606s
21. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 41.632s +2.155s
22. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 42.074s +2.597s
23. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
1m 42.179s +2.702s
Photos © Suzuki Racing
