Australian GP: “CHANGES AFTER WARM UP HAVE BEEN POSITIVE”
After this season’s round 16 at the Phillip Island circuit, Stefan Bradl was not only pleased about eleventh position and more points for the championship.
Just in time for race day, the weather improved at Phillip Island with lots of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Because of the changed situation, race direction decided for an extended warm up session up to 30 minutes for teams and riders in MotoGP category in the morning. During this welcome opportunity, Bradl and his crew in Aprilia Racing Team Gresini were able to refine the setting of the RS-GP prototype machine. In doing so, the 26-year-old German rider found himself in a good shape during the race and was battling for another top ten finish.
During the championship’s final stage, the entire paddock heads straight to Southeast Asia for next weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix which is the final destination of the annual October flyaway races and also the penultimate round already.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), 11th (World Championship position 16th, 60 points):
“Principally, I’m happy with my position because partly I was able to fight for seventh position in the race. However, I had to fight with dull weapons as I had clearly disadvantages on the straight. We were competitive in terms of speed but firstly the gear ratios were too short so I was an easy prey and on the other hand I wasn’t strong enough on the breaks. However, on this weak point we must work and improve anyway. But otherwise thie eleventh position is ok because during the break after warm up and till the start of the race we could make a significant step in respect to the bike’s setting. This was a very, very important one, at all after this curious weekend with that less practice time in dry conditions. However, in view of these circumstances I found myself in a good shape as well these five points are valuable for the championship. Of course, I would like to fight for seventh position till the line as I was settled well in this big group but in every lap when it went on to the long straight, the bike did higher revs due to the slipstream and I often come into the revs limiter. Beyond that, today my riding was better than during the last races but foremost, the changes have been made after warm up have been extremely positive. I’m looking forward to Malaysia now and very excited already about the new tarmac there. Therefore, Sepang will be a new game for all.”
MotoGP™ Australian GP – Race Classification after 27 Laps:
1 #35 Cal CRUTCHLOW / GBR / LCR Honda / Honda / 40´48.543
2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / +4.218
3 #25 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / +5.309
11 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / +31.809
MotoGP™ World Standings:
1 #29 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 273
2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 216
3 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 192
16 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 60
Next race: 30th October, Sepang International Circuit / Malaysia