For this Spanish Grand Prix, KTM brought a new engine that the Austrians grafted onto their RC16 during the second free practice session. A first which resulted in a top 10 made by a happy, even surprised Pol Espargaró. So we still have to keep reason, but this result is good for the morale of the orange troops who, after three Grands Prix, have gone from the “screamer” to the “big bang”.
Now, with an astonishing hierarchy at the end of a first day in Jerez which sees a Red twelfth and one Márquez fourteenth without forgetting one Lorenzo on the fourth Ducati, it is advisable not to draw plans on the comet. An approach that confirms Pol Espargaro himself: “ it's pretty crazy » announces the Spaniard on speedweek. " I didn't expect this result at all in the fourth Grand Prix. But you have to keep your feet on the ground. It's only FP2 ».
« The new engine seems better than the previous one. But we still have a lot of work to do. That's the good thing about KTM: we never stop progressing. We still have plenty of room for improvement. We are still missing things but we see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have definitely taken a step in the right direction with this engine. ».
KTM no longer has to play the rain dance since, with this tenth place, Pol Espargaro is automatically in Q.2…
#SpanishGP J.1: MotoGP Chronos
1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 39.420s [Lap 17/20] 286km/h (Top Speed)
2. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 39.964s +0.544s [18/20] 284km/h
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 40.045s +0.625s [16/19] 285km/h
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
1m 40.291s +0.871s [17/20] 289km/h
5. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 40.378s +0.958s [18/19] 287km/h
6. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 40.379s +0.959s [16/16] 284km/h
7. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.392s +0.972s [19/21] 288km/h
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 40.428s +1.008s [16/18] 289km/h
9. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 40.479s +1.059s [17/17] 283km/h
10.
Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16)
1m 40.573s +1.153s [15/15] 287km/h
11. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 40.639s +1.219s [17/19] 286km/h
12. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 40.698s +1.278s [20/20] 286km/h
13. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 40.773s +1.353s [20/20] 286km/h
14. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 40.915s +1.495s [18/19] 284km/h
15. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 41.019s +1.599s [17/17] 286km/h
16. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 41.165s +1.745s [18/19] 285km/h
17. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 41.165s +1.745s [19/20] 282km/h
18. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 41.432s +2.012s [20/20] 284km/h
19. Takuya Tsuda JPN Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 41.887s +2.467s [18/19] 281km/h
20. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
1m 41.905s +2.485s [16/18] 282km/h
21. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 41.909s +2.489s [14/16] 286km/h
22. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 42.515s +3.095s [10/19] 280km/h
23. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 42.630s +3.210s [17/17] 289km/h
