The two Aprilia riders Aleix Espargaro and Sam Lowes consider themselves satisfied with their first day of free practice, with good sensations on their RS-GP which give them confidence for the rest of the weekend.
During the first session, Espargaro preferred to save a set of slicks and did not do a timed lap. Lowes drove a little more, but without completing many laps he managed to achieve a remarkable seventh time, 1.179 behind the leader. Marc Marquez.
In the afternoon, Espargaro set the fourteenth time in 1'45.554, 1.259 behind Marquez. He certainly could have been faster, but when he put on a soft tire he experienced traffic problems, then was slowed down by Loris Baz's crash.
Lowes obtained the sixteenth performance in 1'45.760, which only placed him two tenths behind his Spanish teammate. He was even ahead Maverick Vinales, as well as Jack Miller and Cal Crutchlow.
For Aleix Espargaro, “ I am very happy with this day. The position is not accurate because when I put the new tire on I was unable to do two clean laps, first because of traffic and then because of Baz's crash in the last chicane.
“I feel good with the RS-GP, honestly better than I expected. I found a good rhythm with the medium tire. Then, as I said, after putting the software on, I unfortunately was not able to lower my times. I think we can do a good job tomorrow. »
According to Sam Lowes, “ Things went well today. I'm quite happy with FP2, where I had good pace with the hard tire. The feeling is good.
“I am in an encouraging position and it looks like it will be a race where tire strategy will be fundamental. From this point of view, both during the tests and in these first sessions, I had good sensations. »
Results of the first day of free practice:
1- Marc Marquez – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – 1’44.295
2- Jorge Lorenzo – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.405
3- Jonas Folger – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.544
4- Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.588
5- Danilo Petrucci – OCTO Pramac Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.595
6- Tito Rabat – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Honda RC213V – + 0.627
7- Johann Zarco – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.768
8- Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda Team - Honda RC213V - + 0.803
9- Alvaro Bautista – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 0.821
10- Valentino Rossi – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.823
11- Hector Barbera – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 1.016
12- Scott Redding – OCTO Pramac Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP – + 1.080
13- Andrea Iannone – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 1.170
14- Aleix Espargaro – Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – Aprilia RS-GP – + 1.259
15- Loris Baz – Reale Avintia Racing – Ducati Desmosedici GP15 – + 1.460
16- Sam Lowes – Aprilia Racing Team Gresini – Aprilia RS-GP – + 1.465
17- Maverick Vinales – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.515
18- Jack Miller – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Honda RC213V – + 1.573
19- Karel Abraham – Pull&Bear Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP15 – + 1.637
20- Cal Crutchlow – LCR Honda – Honda RC213V – + 1.672
21- Pol Espargaro – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM RC16 – + 2.651
22- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki GSX-RR – + 2.707
23- Bradley Smith – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM RC16 – + 3.597
Provisional ranking of the World Championship:
1 Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 105 points
2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 79
3 Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 75
4 Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 68
5 Dani PEDROSA-Honda 68
6 Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 64
7 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 46
8 Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 42
9 Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 41
10 Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 40
Photos © Aprilia
