The Suzuki troops are trying to keep their heads above water. To avoid crossing the desert and the idea that the 2016 season with Viñales was only a mirage, the head of the GSX-RR program was changed with the installation of Shinichi Sahara in the costume of Satoru Terada. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating about a departure from the end of this season by Andrea Iannone. Nothing good, then, so that this Grand Prix in Catalonia is of some importance. The Italian driver did his best this Saturday by qualifying twelfth.
A position conquered without having to go through repechage. But we are far from the happiness of a year ago or a certain Casa Particular in Viñales put the GSX-RR on sixth place on the starting grid before arriving fourth. That said, it is not only for Suzuki that the years follow one another and are not alike. Look at Yamaha…
Seventh in FP3 in 1'44.656, it was however with a more modest 1'44.928 that he completed his qualifications. Hence this twelfth position. The teammate of a Guintoli who did not ride during this qualifying session due to health reasons, explains: “ theoretically the soft rear tire should get us more grip, but in fact it makes things worse. Because it forces the front a little more. I then lose too much time braking and this is especially noticeable in right-hand curves. ».
That said, during an FP4 dedicated to racing conditions, Joe the Maniac was second… “ I have a good pace for the race, the simulations carried out tell me so. Now we still have difficulties in the second part of the race. So I'm going to manage my tires from the start ».
Management which will be necessary to survive in the furnace of Montmélo. Because tires are difficult to manage. About it, Iannone recounts his fall… “ I was driving slowly, I came into the pits and I lost the front. It was very strange ». Andrea Iannone will take his 200th start on Sunday.
#CatalanGP J.2: MotoGP Chronos
| 1 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Honda | 1'43.870 | ||
| 2 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | 1'44.201 | 0.331 | 0.331 |
| 3 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 1'44.220 | 0.350 | 0.019 |
| 4 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda | 1'44.320 | 0.450 | 0.100 |
| 5 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1'44.348 | 0.478 | 0.028 |
| 6 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | Ducati | 1'44.381 | 0.511 | 0.033 |
| 7 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 1'44.451 | 0.581 | 0.070 |
| 8 | 94 | Jonas Folger | Yamaha | 1'44.600 | 0.730 | 0.149 |
| 9 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 1'44.620 | 0.750 | 0.020 |
| 10 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | Ducati | 1'44.740 | 0.870 | 0.120 |
| 11 | 45 | Scott REDDING | Ducati | 1'44.852 | 0.982 | 0.112 |
| 12 | 29 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | 1'44.928 | 1.058 | 0.076 |
| Q1 Results: | ||||||
| Q2 | 94 | Jonas Folger | Yamaha | 1'44.239 | ||
| Q2 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 1'44.621 | 0.382 | 0.382 |
| 13 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 1'44.661 | 0.422 | 0.040 |
| 14 | 5 | johann zarco | Yamaha | 1'44.681 | 0.442 | 0.020 |
| 15 | 43 | Jack Miller | Honda | 1'44.829 | 0.590 | 0.148 |
| 16 | 76 | Loris BAZ | Ducati | 1'44.919 | 0.680 | 0.090 |
| 17 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | 1'45.162 | 0.923 | 0.243 |
| 18 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | Ducati | 1'45.641 | 1.402 | 0.479 |
| 19 | 53 | Tito RABAT | Honda | 1'45.741 | 1.502 | 0.100 |
| 20 | 44 | Pol Espargaró | KTM | 1'45.887 | 1.648 | 0.146 |
| 21 | 22 | Sam LOWES | Aprilia | 1'48.803 | 4.564 | 2.916 |
| 38 | Bradley SMITH | KTM | ||||
| 50 | Sylvain GUINTOLI | Suzuki |
