GOODBYE SATURDAY: ALEX CRASHES, DIGGIA ONLY 17TH
The #AmericasGP has not been particularly benevolent to Team Gresini MotoGP on the Saturday of qualifying and sprint race. Scorching hot conditions have been the protagonists of the Texan afternoon as it turned the tables on a race that still saw Marquez among the protagonists.
After a so-so start, the Spaniard put together a comeback all the way to the top five, but with less than five laps to go a crash at turn 12 took place, with a few regrets left on the asphalt as well. The good news came from the morning, however, as the fourth place on the grid achieved in qualifying will repeat tomorrow at 14:00 local time (GMT -5) for the full race.
It was a colourless race for Fabio Di Giannantonio who could not finish higher than 17th. The Italian had little luck in qualifying after a good FP3, while in the race there was not enough time for a comeback.
DNF – ALEX MARQUEZ #73
“I was feeling good performance-wise in the race, as despite a crash in qualifying we still had the confidence and a good pace. Unfortunately I wasn’t feeling good physically and I even threw up under braking at turn 12 and crashed. I “freed myself” after the race and now I feel quite well, and ready to make amends tomorrow.”
17th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49
“We’ve been struggling the whole weekend so far, with the bike that understeers a lot mid-turn, so I cannot corner the way I’d like. It’s something that happens to us from time to time and this track layout surely doesn’t help. We tried a set-up adjustment this morning that allowed us to make a step forward, but we went back to struggling in the afternoon as the track conditions changed and the grip level decreased.”
