After a hectic round at Road America, heavily disrupted by rain, MotoAmerica heads to Brainerd, Minnesota. At the end of the first day of driving, Loris Baz, who scored his first podium of the season two weeks ago, is already in the mix. The Frenchman took advantage of the first part of the qualifying session to put himself on the provisional front row.
Free Trials:
Bobby Fong was fastest in Free Practice 1 at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota. The Yamaha rider took his YZF-R1 to the top of the standings with a 1:31.583 lap, almost half a second faster than his closest pursuer, Jake Gagne, also on a Yamaha. .
Brandon Paasch deprives the Japanese brand of a hat-trick and sets the third time of the session by completing a lap in 1:32.123 with Suzuki. Gagne's teammate Cameron Petersen finished the session fourth.
Loris Baz started the weekend discreetly, and was only 7 tenths off the lead after this first outing on the track. The other Ducati, that of Josh Herrin, was eighth before the checkered flag.
Ranking : MotoAmerica.com
Qualification 1:
It was again Bobby Fong who dominated a very close first qualifying session. Improving his morning time by four tenths, the Yamaha rider posted a lap of 1:31.162 to place himself in provisional pole position.
Despite some technical problems, Cameron Petersen managed to record the second time of the session in 1:31.564.
The Habs, Loris Baz wakes up and appears more threatening to his competitors than he had been during the first session of the day. The Ducati rider blocks the third time, synonymous with the provisional first row on the starting grid. Enough to give him a good chance of returning to the podium during the weekend's events with his Panigale V4 R.
His Warhorse Racing teammate, Josh Herrin, finished fourth with a best time of 1:31.837.
Disappointment for Jake Gagne who does not get better than sixth place. The reigning champion, however, has nothing to lose, but rather everything to gain this weekend, since his main rival in the championship is absent due to injury after his fall during the last round to date.
The latter's replacement, Troy Herfoss, set a time of 1:32.858 to finish 10th.
Ranking : MotoAmerica.com
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Championship standings before Brainerd
In the championship, Jake Gage took advantage of his rival's setbacks at Road America to consolidate the leadership position he had regained during the Saturday of the previous meeting. He is now 18 points ahead of Cameron Beaubier.
Loris Baz, for his part, was promoted to seventh place after a successful weekend. The Habs are now only 41 points behind the top of the standings.
