Loading...

ALEIX WORKS ON PACE AT MUGELLO AND PLACES IN THE TOP 10

LORENZO ON HIS MAIDEN MOTOGP ROUND AT THE TUSCAN TRACK

At a Mugello racetrack bathed in an almost summer sun, the first day of MotoGP practice got underway. The script was the one we’ve all become accustomed to for the category: two fiercely competitive sessions, minimum gaps and, in the combined standings, 17 riders all within one second of one another.

Aleix Espargaró work on pace in the morning session, using only one rear tyre and developing his feeling on a track where, although he knows it well, he last competed in 2019. The afternoon FP2 session heated up in the final moments, with repeated time attacks aimed at taking a top-10 placement and, with it, provisional access to the second qualifying session (Q2). Mission accomplished for the Aprilia standard bearer, with a time of 1’46.655, just over one half of a second behind the leader.

Lorenzo Savadori, on the other hand, underwent his “baptism of fire”, astride a MotoGP bike for the first time here at Mugello. Therefore, he needed the first day to establish his references, which are vastly different for this category. In any case, the Italian rookie kept the gap down to 1.5 seconds, improving between the morning and afternoon by more than one second.

ALEIX ESPARGARO’
I am satisfied with the way the RS-GP is performing in Mugello. It is definitely an important test bench for our project, which is consistently proving to be competitive. I have never been this fast on this track. I am truly very happy. I had some problems with my right arm which I had surgery on recently. I knew that this would be a demanding track and having the operation was undoubtedly the right decision. We’ll be managing the issue over the coming days, but I don’t think it will be a limitation.”
LORENZO SAVADORI
Turning laps at Mugello with a MotoGP bike is incredible. Not only because of the speed, which is extremely high on the straight, but also because of the way you tackle the braking sections. Personally, I am happy with the way it went. Of course, the right moment to try for good times will be tomorrow morning, but I’m not far from the best. This is also taking into consideration that I made a mistake on the last turn during my attempt with a new tyre, losing a lot of time. I feel like we can improve a bit coming out of turns, but the bike is working extremely well and it is improving constantly.”

ALEIX WORKS ON PACE AT MUGELLO AND PLACES IN THE TOP 10 - Gresini Racing
ALEIX WORKS ON PACE AT MUGELLO AND PLACES IN THE TOP 10 - Gresini Racing