GOOD START FOR ALEIX ESPARGARO’ AND SCOTT REDDING
The artificial lights of the Circuit of Losail, in Qatar, are the background to the last test before the start of the MotoGP World Championship. The first of the three days available saw great work at the Aprilia box, where two RS-GPs 2018 were set up for both Aleix Espargaro’ and Scott Redding. After conducting comparative tests on the 2017 motorcycle in Malaysia and Thailand, both drivers have in fact promoted the evolution of the Italian prototype.
The objective of this test is twofold: to continue the development of the new RS-GP and prepare the race to be held on this same circuit in two weeks. 45 laps were run today by Scott Redding who scored his fast lap of 1’55.931, while Aleix Espargaro’ achieved his best time in 1’56.062 for a total of 50 laps.
ALEIX ESPARGARO’
“Here in Qatar I immediately found a better feeling than Thailand, we struggled a bit in the last part of the session but I’m quite satisfied with this first day. We did a shakedown of the second RS-GP 2018 that we received and did some setting tests, to be ready to push tomorrow. On this track we know that there is a lot of difference between the fastest lap and the race pace, so we will work above all to find the right compromise between performance and consistency”.
SCOTT REDDING
“I’m happy with how we started these three days. After the tests in Thailand I wanted to improve especially the braking phase, because I felt that the area was limiting me, and we managed to take a step forward. We haven’t tested many new parts but we have identified a good direction to work on in the coming days. As I have always said, my goal is not to do a quick lap but to constantly reduce the gap with the best, the most important thing is to get ready in the race where you earn points”.
