ARAGON GETS UNDERWAY WITH GOOD PACE FROM MIR AND RINS

MGP-14-Joan Mir-12

Team Suzuki Press Office – September 20.

Joan Mir: 9th – 1:48.641 (+ 1.772)
Alex Rins: 11th – 1:48.737 (+ 1.868)

• Joan Mir feeling comfortable at one of his favourite tracks.
• Alex Rins just outside the Top 10 on opening day.
• Team preparing for mixed conditions throughout weekend.

Just days after the San Marino GP, Team SUZUKI ECSTAR are back on track in Aragon, Spain. The Motorland circuit provided perfect conditions for the morning’s FP1 session, and Alex Rins and Joan Mir made the most of it.

Rins topped the session early on but hit bike troubles and slipped down the order by the end of FP1, despite promptly rejoining the session on his second bike and setting good pace. Meanwhile, Mir, feeling confident following his Misano performance, gelled quickly with the Spanish circuit and finished FP1 in 6th, as well as being the 3rd fastest rider in sector 3.

The afternoon’s FP2 was deemed even more important than usual as bad weather is predicted for the coming days. Both riders were keen to place themselves into the Top 10 and secure direct passage to Q2, and they balanced this need to set a quick time with the need to confirm their settings. Rins was fast out of the box once again, going 2nd on the time sheets and showing a strong rhythm. Mir stuck himself into the Top 10 and held onto this position, finishing 9th in the session and provisionally booking a place in Q2. Alex maintained a consistent and strong pace, improving on his morning time by almost one second, but he was bumped down to 11th place in the closing seconds of FP2.

Davide Brivio – Team Manager:

“Today has been positive. Alex showed great pace on what may well be a race tyre, and Joan has also been very fast immediately. It’s great that he’s already in the Top 10, and here’s it’s especially important as we’re expecting rain tomorrow. If FP3 is wet then we’ll hope to get Alex through in Q1 instead. But we’re feeling good because both our riders are comfortable and looking quick.”

Joan Mir:

“I’m feeling really happy about today, we tried a lot of things and we drew some useful conclusions. I tried all the tyres, and that was very important. I missed the chance to use a soft tyre right at the end of the day, which could have put me higher on the timesheets. But anyway, I feel ready for tomorrow and Sunday!”

Alex Rins:

“The first day has gone quite well. We had a small technical problem during FP1 and we’re analysing what happened. In FP2 my rhythm was nice, even with a hard tyre, and I feel very confident because I feel good with my bike. We’ll look at the data tonight and prepare for tomorrow. I have to try and get into Q2 tomorrow, but I’m focused on achieving that goal.”

GP of Aragon – Combined Classification after Day 1:

1. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 1’48.204 (FP1)
2. Maverick VIÑALES Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1’48.014 1.145 / 1.145 (FP2)
3. Valentino ROSSI Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1’48.071 1.202 / 0.057 (FP2)
4. Fabio QUARTARARO Petronas Yamaha SRT 1’48.117 1.248 / 0.046 (FP2)
5. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’48.392 1.523 / 0.275 (FP2)
6. Jack MILLER Pramac Racing 1’48.442 1.573 / 0.050 (FP2)
7. Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL 1’48.450 1.581 / 0.008 (FP2)
8. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team 1’48.477 1.608 / 0.027 (FP2)
9. Joan MIR Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’48.641 1.772 / 0.164 (FP2)
10. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’48.704 1.835 / 0.063 (FP2)
11. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’48.737 1.868 / 0.033 (FP2)
12. Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati Team 1’48.873 2.004 / 0.136 (FP2)
13. Takaaki NAKAGAMI LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1’48.923 2.054 / 0.050 (FP2)
14. Franco MORBIDELLI Petronas Yamaha SRT 1’49.104 2.235 / 0.181 (FP2)
15. Andrea IANNONE Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’49.236 2.367 / 0.132 (FP2)
16. Tito RABAT Reale Avintia Racing 1’49.304 2.435 / 0.068 (FP2)
17. Mika KALLIO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’49.342 2.473 / 0.038 (FP2)
18. Miguel OLIVEIRA Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 1’49.425 2.556 / 0.083 (FP2)
19. Hafizh SYAHRIN Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 1’49.626 2.757 / 0.201 (FP2)
20. Jorge LORENZO Repsol Honda Team 1’49.710 2.841 / 0.084 (FP2)
21. Francesco BAGNAIA Pramac Racing 1’49.821 2.952 / 0.111 (FP2)
22. Karel ABRAHAM Reale Avintia Racing 1’49.903 3.034 / 0.082 (FP2)
23. Bradley SMITH Aprilia Racing Team 1’50.164 3.295 / 0.261 (FP2)

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