RODRIGO QUICK IN ALL CONDITIONS, ALCOBA GETTING UP TO SPEED
#FrenchGP Free Practice. With heavy rain expected for tomorrow, the opening day of action at Le Mans is more important than ever for the French trip of team Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3.
Gabriel Rodrigo, who is looking to make amends at the French track, has topped the combined timesheets of today’s free practice as he well impressed both in the dry conditions of FP2 and the mixed ones of FP1 – when he finished fourth.
It was a bit more of a challenging day for Jeremy Alcoba: the Spanish rider lost a lot of time after crashing out in the early moments of FP1, while the chase for a direct seed to Q2 ended up three tenths of a second shy of fourteenth place. Tomorrow’s weather will be crucial to see if the #52 will be able to make it without battling his way through the first qualifying session.
1st GABRIEL RODRIGO #2 (1’42.150)
“This morning we decided to stay out on track to try the bike in every possible condition as we almost completed a race simulation. This was a good thing, and we even set the fourth fastest time. In the afternoon, I immediately felt good and the fastest time is the perfect proof of it. It is important to be in Q2 and tomorrow’s qualifying – likely wet ones – will be a good challenge.”
19th JEREMY ALCOBA #52 (1’43.233)
“I’m not really happy because I crashed this morning after just a few metres and I lost a lot of confidence. In the afternoon – with dry track – it was a completely different feeling even though we were starting from scratch to work on the bike set-up. Unfortunately, the wind and the lack of slipstreams prevented us to secure a spot in Q2, which was surely within reach. With the rain expected tomorrow it is very likely that we’ll have to go through Q1, but we’re charged up.”
