The Reale Avintia Racing driver had an excellent weekend on the Austrian track, and returned with a result a little short of his objectives.
After a very good start to the season where he notably finished twice in the top 10, Tito Rabat experienced more difficulties from the French Grand Prix onwards. He has since only finished in the points twice and has three blank results.
The Spanish driver, however, is not giving up and showed it this weekend. Author of a good eighth place in FP1, he intelligently ensured qualification in Q2, knowing that rain was forecast for the two other important free sessions. He didn't drive much in FP2, but his sensations in the wet improved and he felt more confident than usual. He preferred not to ride in FP3 so as not to take any risks. Eleventh in FP4, he was ready for qualifying. These were very close, but he managed to qualify in seventh position, just over six tenths from pole.
Rabat got off to a very good start on Sunday and drove several laps with the leading group. He maintained his seventh place until the halfway point, but then had to drop his pace due to wear on his rear tire. Overtaken by Rossi and Pedrosa, he remained ninth until the final laps where he was again overtaken twice. Finally eleventh at the checkered flag, this result does not reflect his good weekend, but the Spaniard remains optimistic: “This weekend we did everything correctly. We had good tests, good times, a good start and a good race. But we were missing a little something at the end of the race. I did the last few laps without a rear tire and to be honest I had a bit of trouble. The bike worked wonderfully, I spent the first few laps with the leading group and we got closer each time. Now I have to learn to manage acceleration in order to control tire wear. Thanks to the team who did an incredible job, as always. »
Austrian Grand Prix Red Bull Ring MotoGP J.3: Standings
1 99 Jorge LORENZO Ducati 39'40.688
2 93 Marc MARQUEZ Honda +0.130
3 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati +1.656
4 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda +9.434
5 9 Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati +13.169
6 46 Valentino ROSSI Yamaha +14.026
7 26 Dani PEDROSA Honda +14.156
8 42 Alex RINS Suzuki +16.644
9 5 Johann ZARCO Yamaha +20.760
10 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA Ducati +20.844
11 53 Tito RABAT Ducati +21.114
12 25 Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha +22.939
13 29 Andrea IANNONE Suzuki +26.523
14 38 Bradley SMITH KTM +29.168
15 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Honda +30.072
16 55 Hafizh SYAHRIN Yamaha +30.343
17 41 Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia +31.775
18 43 Jack MILLER Ducati +34.375
19 21 Franco MORBIDELLI Honda +40.171
20 45 Scott REDDING Aprilia +53.020
21 17 Karel ABRAHAM Ducati +53.261
22 12 Thomas LUTHI Honda +54.355
Not Classified
10 Xavier SIMEON Ducati 18 Laps
