It is a prosperous period that we are currently experiencing KTM since the return of MotoGP to Europe. In Jerez, the Austrian firm brought a new engine that made people ecstatic Pol Espargaro ultimately a victim of his enthusiasm. Having barely arrived in France, the Austrian brand is delighted with the best ranking recorded at the end of the first day of the Grand Prix. This is thanks to Bradley Smith who played around with the morning track conditions.
This is a fact reported by the authoritative timesheet on this Friday of Grand Prix of France : the guys from Mattighofen are seventh at the end of their start at Le Mans with an RC16 not only ahead of the Yamaha of Valentino Rossi but also that of Maverick Vinales. This is without mentioning the factory Ducatis.
Something to rejoice about, even if this unexpected performance betrays a won bet: that of slick tires fitted at the right time on a track which is irremediably drying out. In the all-or-nothing genre, the English teammate Pol Espargaro won the day: “ in the morning, it was complicated. Not wet enough for rain tires and too wet for slicks. But three laps from the end of the session, I fitted slicks and here I am in the top 10. It's a good position. Now we wait for FP3 ».
By this, we mean that we are mainly waiting for the weather that will prevail there. An improvement will call everything into question and dispel the illusion. Because in the afternoon, the same Smith could not do better than twenty-third, on a track that was wet from start to finish this time. “ There was water everywhere and the track was very cold. We have never filmed with temperatures of around 10 degrees. We are now awaiting Michelin's recommendations for the rear for such conditions. ».
Still, this ranking is good for morale. This is the best ever obtained since the young adventure of the RC16 at the end of an official session. The reward for hard work: “ our project is completely new and KTM does not stop working. Their responsiveness is incredible. After three races they gave us a new engine and they are making a new chassis. Developments are coming faster than expected ».
#FrenchGP Le Mans J.1: Chronos
1. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 37.467s
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 38.755s +1.288s
3. Johann zarco ENG Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 39.248s +1.781s
4. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 39.607s +2.140s
5. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 40.427s +2.960s
6. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 40.528s +3.061s
7. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 40.817s +3.350s
8. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 40.894s +3.427s
9. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 41.024s +3.557s
10. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 41.307s +3.840s
11. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 41.562s +4.095s
12. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)*
1m 41.644s +4.177s
13. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 41.854s +4.387s
14. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 41.871s +4.404s
15. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 41.887s +4.420s
16. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17)
1m 41.947s +4.480s
17. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 42.040s +4.573s
18. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 42.094s +4.627s
19. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)*
1m 42.243s +4.776s
20. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)
1m 42.891s +5.424s
21. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 42.953s +5.486s
22. Alex Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 43.114s +5.647s
23. Espargaro Pol ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 43.519s +6.052s
