By taking sixteenth place at the end of FP1, Pol Espargaro made even more of a good impression as he was cutting corners against his brother Aleix on an Aprilia more experienced than his KTM. Because the RC16 is putting its tires on for the first time in the Netherlands. However, the rest was less brilliant: twenty-second time more than two seconds behind the leader Viñales. But don’t panic, it was planned…
The gap of 0,882 sec in the morning turned into a gulf in the afternoon for the orange bike. For what ? The former Moto2 World Champion explains: “ It's the first time we've been here and tomorrow, Saturday, rain is forecast. So we had two solutions: work to get the best possible time, which, from my point of view, would not have opened Q.2 for me anyway. At most I think I can win 1s3, which is not enough ».
« Or work with the mediums in preparation for the race and cover as many laps as possible. This is what we prioritized. This is the best approach for us. If, tomorrow, we have the opportunity to use new rubber, we will do it. But we are focused on the race ».
This is wise and we will see on Sunday the fruits of this self-sacrifice. 25 laps as the teammate Bradley Smith will first have to face physically, with his finger bruised since a bad fall in Barcelona.
#DutchGP J.1: MotoGP Chronos
1. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 33.130
2. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 33.497s +0.367
3. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 33.782s +0.652
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.790s +0.660
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 33.828s +0.698
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 33.830s +0.700
7. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 33.890s +0.760
8. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 33.986s +0.856
9. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 34.103 +0.973
10. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 34.148s +1.018
11. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.299
12. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 34.337s +1.207
13. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 34.491s +1.361
14. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
1m 34.523s +1.393
15. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 34.596s +1.466
16. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 34.605s +1.475
17. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 34.617s +1.487
18. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 34.759s +1.629
19. alex rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 34.923s +1.793
20. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
1m 35.039s +1.909
21. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 35.185s +2.055
22. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 35.373s +2.243
23. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 36.334s +3.204
