MUGELLO PART1: MARQUEZ DROPS FROM THE TOP, DIGGIA CRASHES
It was a two-sided Friday for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP who after today’s two FP sessions could not finish higher than 13th with Alex Marquez, while Fabio Di Giannantonio was 17th-quickest in the combined times of FP1 and FP2. Needless to say that expectations were very different.
The Spanish rider had dominated FP1 and until few minutes before the end of FP2 he was battling for the top spot, while the Italian suffered a crash while entering turn one at the end of the second session, while going for the time attack.
Both riders will have to go through Q1 tomorrow as they will battle for gaining access to the final qualifying sessions with plenty of rivals including Quartararo and Miller.
13th – ALEX MARQUEZ (1’45.928s)
“It was shaping up to be the perfect Friday, but the last run didn’t go as expected. Maybe I missed some reference. I must say that we’d be in Q2 if it was for the ‘ideal lap’, but I’d like to stay positive. It could rain tomorrow, and if it happens it means that few more laps in Q1 could be useful. We’re quick and we have an excellent pace, so we only need to stay focused.”
17th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO (1’46.547s)
“Too bad for the crash. Rins was ahead of me and he had just finished his quick-lap time. I hit the brakes a little too late and a little too much on the inside, and the front tucked. Luckily, I am absolutely fine. Generally speaking, it was a good day, especially with the medium tyre. We need to improve with the softer compound because they push a lot at the front-end and we struggle to keep a tight line. We have to do a great Q1 tomorrow, we can do it,”
