Qatar GP: BAD LUCK ON RACE DAY
During Sunday’s Grand Prix of Qatar, Stefan Bradl endured the same mistake like the day before in qualifying practice. After a crash at halfway point of the race, the Aprilia factory rider had to retire from the season opener at the floodlighted Losail International Circuit. However, till that point Bradl performed well lapping consistently in decent lap times. This conclusion of the first race weekend wasn’t nice at all though he summarized the first opportunity to race the all-new Aprilia RS-GP in race conditions in positive mood. But now the Championship head to Argentina for round two where Bradl and his crew are eager to build on last weekend’s achieved level. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), DNF: “At the start I felt well. My feeling was getting better lap by lap and consequently. This was also in case for my lap times. But the crash is hard to explain. We need to analyse the data closely in order to figure out what caused it. My feeling says that there was a loss of grip for both tyres at the same time in turn 15. In any case, till that point my race was positive. I managed to get my times in the below 1´57 bracket so that means that my confidence is growing lap by lap. Now it well be important to take maximum advantage of the data collected from last weekend and to have a good race weekend in Argentina.” Race Classification MotoGP™ Grand Prix of Qatar: 1 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 42´28.452 2 #4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / +2.019 3 #93 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / +2.287 DNF #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini MotoGP™ World Standings: 1 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 25 2 #4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 20 3 #93 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 16 Next race: April 3rd, Termas de Rio Hondo / ArgentinaQatar GP: PRACTICE CRASH TO RUIN FP4
Stefan Bradl suffered a setback during his work to develop the Aprilia RS-GP prototype on Saturday. A crash during FP4 came at the worst possible time when Bradl and his crew started to work on preparations for the grid deciding qualifying practice. In addition, the reason for the low-sider isn’t clear yet about which the 26-year-old German MotoGP rider is a bit confused now. Consequently, Bradl missed a bit of his confidence entering QP1 where he wasn’t able to improve his lap time further. The Aprilia rider therefore will start Sunday’s opening race at the Grand Prix of Qatar from row seven. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), Grid position 20th – 1´57.216 (6/8): “That fact, that just Saturday shouldn’t be our best day this weekend so far, is a bit annoying. I was following our plan for FP4 till that point a crash stopped our session abruptly. I’m not really sure what was the problem, but fortunate I didn’t suffer any injury and the bike was fixed quickly. What we are still missing and what we need to find, is that feeling when I’m pushing to the limit as well a certain operational stability with the electronics when conditions are changing. The positive aspect after this disappointing evening is that we can just do better tomorrow. The more laps we put in, the more we learn about our new Aprilia RS-GP.” MotoGP™ Qualifying Classification: 1 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´54.543 2 #93 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´54.634 +0.091 3 #25 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´54.638 +0.095 20 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / 1´57.216 +2.673Qatar GP: STEADILY IMPROVEMENTS ON DAY TWO AT LOSAIL
Stefan Bradl was able to make good progress during both Friday evening sessions aboard his all-new Aprilia RS-GP. The 26-year-old Bavarian showed up happy as he experiences a faultless start so far into the first race weekend this season. Apart of some strong winds conditions again were good so Bradl and his crew in Aprilia Racing Team Gresini could took most benefit from all three free practice sessions to work on their schedule according to the still young project’s plans. Beyond that fact the Aprilia rider was able to do a lot of lap so far this weekend at the floodlighted Losail International Circuit. In doing so he was able to deliver very valuable feedback about the bike’s characteristic to his engineers too. However, the most important aspect came by the significantly improved lap times with every session completed. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), FP2: P20 – 1´57.541 (15/16) / FP3: P20 – 1´57.069 (17/17): “Basically, things went encouraging this weekend so far. Not just only because of that fact that no bigger issues occur but foremost that I’m able to do a lot of laps every time I went out on track. In addition, we are able to improve our lap time by almost half a second session by session. I’m feeling more comfortable with my new RS-GP and I get more used to the whole package. Unfortunate the feeling yesterday was not as I had expected, so we got off to a bit of a slow start but now we’re making ground up. We make steady progress which makes feeling confident. We still have a long way ahead of us but if we can keep this growth of the project with this pace I’m pretty sure that we’ll be able to get there quickly. Another positive fact is that we are able to solve every small issue quickly that occur by the time. Of course we are losing some precious time during the sessions but we are on a good way to get closer and closer to the ideal basis setup we need. However, first I look forward to our first qualifying runs with our new prototype machine.” MotoGP™ Combined Practice Times FP1/FP2/FP3: 1 #29 Andrea IANNONE / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´54.639 (FP3) 2 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´54.776 +0.137 (FP3) 3 #93 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´54.835 +0.196 (FP3) 20 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / 1´57.069 +2.430Qatar GP: PLEASED WITH DAY ONE AT LOSAIL
Stefan Bradl showed up in positive mood after he was able to report about a faultless first free practice session on Thursday evening. The 26-year-old German MotoGP rider was happy with his performance during FP1. Opposite to previous tests, Bradl was able to complete several runs for a longer distance aboard his all-new Aprilia RS-GP. He put in 15 laps in total without any bigger troubles endured. For the still young project an achievement for sure and it provides some confidence for the remaining weekend in Qatar. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), P21 – 1´57.989 (15/15): “It was a good day of practice for us even though the position in the timesheets doesn’t look so nice. But we were able to put in a lot of laps, which of course is the most important thing in our situation. At the beginning of the session we were a bit shaky, but towards the end my feeling began to improve, both with the bike and with the tyres. I’m pleased because we got off a good start. Now we will have to try and push to improve steadily during tomorrow’s sessions.” Standings FP1: 1 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´55.440 2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´55.707 +0.267 3 #29 Andrea IANNONE / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´55.736 +0.296 21 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / 1´57.989 +2.549Qatar GP: CONSISTENT PROGRESS THE TARGET FOR THE OPENING ROUND
Stefan Bradl starts the 2016 campaign with subdued expectations as he was able to complete only a few days of testing with the team’s all-new Aprilia RS-GP. This year’s championship promises a lot of excitement. Several new features and changes to the regulations are valid from the start of the new season, which will balance the competition even more. Apart from all these things, with Aprilia’s 2016 prototype a all-new bike is waiting in the German MotoGP rider’s box that he needs to make it competitive. First tests with the RS-GP were quite promisingly. But Bradl and his crew are clearly in mind that there are a lot of laps and kilometres more required for further development. From this point of view, the 26-year-old from Bavaria heads into this weekend’s opening round with the targets to achieve as much as possible improvements over the course of the Grand Prix of Qatar. The first race of the season is always a special occasion. Not only from the perspective of the riders who are hot and hungry to fight for points and victory finally, but this event as a night race brings something special in itself. The championship round in Qatar which is already for years the season opener and in all the years since the Grand Prix of Qatar is held in the evening hours, the pompous floodlighting has proved itself from the very first night so that really every rider in world championship is anxious to experience this not everyday opportunity. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia): “I have been waiting anxiously for the first race because 2016 promises to be a really exciting year for us. The winter was rather long and I’m pleased that it starts to count on the race track. Even if we had a only few days of testing with our new bike, we’ll try to give the most straight away. There are still many things to improve, particularly to understand the bike and the characteristics better. It will be important too, that we make progress during every session. The race itself will become a difficult task but rather than setting our goals on results we need to aim for consistent growth. I’m really looking forward to get to work again with my team and my Aprilia RS-GP.” Stefan BRADL’s Profile: Age: 26 (geboren am 29. November 1989) Occupation: Rennfahrer Height: 172 cm Weight: 63 kg Bike: Aprilia RS-GP Racing number: 6 First Grand Prix: 2005 – Catalunya, 125ccm Frist Grand Prix Pole-Position: 2008 – Indianapolis (125cc) / 2011 – Qatar (Moto2™) / 2013 – USA(MotoGP™) First schnellste Rennrunde bei einem Grand Prix: 2008 – Indianapolis (125cc) / 2011 – Malaysia (Moto2™) First Grand Prix Podium: 2008 – Qatar (125ccm) / 2010 – Portugal (Moto2™) / 2013 – USA (MotoGP™) Frist Grand Prix Sieg: 2008 – Tschechien (125ccm) / 2010 – Portugal (Moto2™) Grand Prix Victories: 7 (2 in 125ccm / 5 in Moto2™) Grand Prix Podium: 19 (6 in 125ccm / 12 in Moto2™ / 1 in MotoGP™) Grand Prix Pole-Position: 8 (7 in Moto2™ / 1 in MotoGP™) Grand Prix fastest race lap: 5 (2 in 125ccm / 3 in Moto2™) Grand Prix Starts: 156 (54 in 125ccm / 33 in Moto2™, 69 in MotoGP™) MotoGP™ Time Schedule for the Grand Prix of Qatar (CET): Thursday, 17 March: 17:55 – 18:40 FP1 Friday, 18 March: 16:00 – 16:45 FP2 Friday, 18 March: 18:55 – 19:40 FP3 Saturday, 19 March: 17:55 – 18:25 FP4 Saturday, 19 March: 18:35 – 18:50 QP1 Saturday, 19. March: 19:00 – 19:15 QP2 Sunday, 20 March: 15:00 – 15:20 Warm Up Sunday, 20 March: 19:00 Race (22 laps – 118.36 km) Facts Losail International Circuit: First time venue of the GP of Qatar: 2004 Length: 5,380 meters Width: 12 meters Longest Straight: 1,068 meters Left turns: 6 Right turns: 10 Best MotoGP™ Pole-Position: 1´53.927 (2008) MotoGP™ lap record: 1´55.153 (2008) Stefan Bradl‘s Results 2015: Grid position 18 / 16. MotoGP™ Calendar 2016: 20 March – Grand Prix of Qatar, Losail International Circuit 3. April – Gran Premio de la República Argentina, Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo 10. April – Grand Prix of the Americas, Circuit of the Americas (COTA) 24 April – Gran Premio de Espana, Circuito de Jerez 8 May – Grand Prix de France, Bugatti Circuit Le Mans 22 May – Gran Premio d‘Italia, Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello 5 June – Gran Premi de Catalunya, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 26 June – TT Assen, TT Circuit Assen 17 July – Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, Sachsenring 14 August – Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, Red Bull Ring 21 August – Grand Prix Ceske republiky, Automotodromo Brno 4 September – British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit 11 September – GP di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, Misano World Circuit 25 September – Gran Premio de Aragon, Motorland Aragon 16 October – Grand Prix of Japan, Twin Ring Motegi 23 October – Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit 30 October – Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Sepang International Circuit 13 November – Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana, Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo TormoPRODUCTIVE END FOR PRESEASON-TESTINGS IN QATAR
For Stefan Bradl this week’s official IRTA test at Losail with Aprilia’s all-new prototype was connected with a lot of work and patience. On Wednesday, the opening day, the German MotoGP rider and the Italian factory squad Aprilia Racing Team Gresini experienced a promising start into the last opportunity for the upcoming season preparations. But during the next session on Thursday seriously working on track was prevented by numerous problems. However, Bradl and his crew didn’t let his composure and managed it to solve the problems with the factory’s all-new Aprilia RS-GP 2016 for the final day of this three-day testing in Qatar. After 61 laps during Friday evening’s session Bradl was pleased with the job done although definitely not compromising lap times. The World Championship opening round will take place on March 20th with the Grand Prix of Qatar held at the Losail International Circuit. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia) – P21 (1´57.340, 103 laps in total): “After the second day of testing was characterized by many problems we were able to turn around things for Friday. It was a really productive day for us. I was able to put in a lot of laps without running into those small problems that often slow down work on a completely new bike. I also got in various exits with a several number of laps in a row to prepare for the race weekend here at Losail and everything worked rather well. We were just focussed above all on the bike’s front in order to improve the feeling. In doing so we managed to find a few benefits but unfortunately we didn’t have the time to work on the rear too. So we will start with this work during the race weekend. In any case, we are on the right path but now we just need to stay calm and keep working this way.“ MotoGP™ Losail Test – Combined Standigngs: 1 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´54.810 2 Scott REDDING / GBR / Octo Pramac Yaknich / Ducati / 1´55.326 +0.516 3 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´55.333 +0.523 21 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 1´57.340 +2.530POSITIVE OPENING DAY AT THE FINAL PRE-SEASON TEST IN QATAR
Stefan Bradl and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini stay for a three-day test in Doha this week, which is the last occasion to make further on-track development with the Italian factory’s all-new 2016 MotoGP prototype before the championship get underway in two weeks’ time. Conditions were good on Wednesday which allowed Bradl to summarize a positive opening day even though he had to report a minor crash. Whilst the 25-year-old rider escaped unhurt, it took a long time to fix the bike so he lost many valuable track time though Bradl was able to confirm the bike’s potential after the team has had a roll-out last week in Qatar already. For the remaining days, time schedule during this test is equal to the opening round during the evening hours, Bradl and his crew are focus to make the first settings to the Aprilia RS-GP now. Not at least due to the crash Bradl wasn’t able to lap around the 5 kilometres track in Qatar as planned but he was recorded in his best effort in 1´58.066. Testing’s in Qatar to proceed on Thursday. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia) – P19 (1´58.066, 14/26): “It was definitely a good start into this test even though I wasn’t able to went out on track for more than 26 laps only. The reason was a low sider early on why we lost a lot of time. We had to stay in the garage till the bike was fixed again. Track conditions were good today with a lot more grip compared to our private test here last week. Overall everything is going according to our development programme although the project is still young. In any case we got the confirmation about that fact that the new bike has huge potential as well the feeling with is really good. From this point of view, we’re optimistic to make progress soon as we already achieved a point where to start working on the setting as well with the suspension in order to improve in this area too. Of course there is a lot of work ahead of us and we still need a lot more laps to understand the package even better. However, today’s first out underlined that we are already on the right path.“ Standings Losail-Test – Day one: 1 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´55.452 2 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´55.880 +0.428 3 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´55894 +0.442 19 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 1´58.066 +2.614(Deutsch) TESTSAISON MIT 2015er APRILIA RS-GP BEGONNEN
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BRADL ENDS IN 8th HIS LAST RACE WITH LCR HONDA MOTOGP TEAM
Valencia, 9 November: the 2014 season came to an end at Ricardo Tormo circuit today with more than 100.000 fans celebrating the ultimate MotoGP exciting show. Today’s Moto3 race crowned Alex Marquez as World Champion in the lower class whilst the 35-year-old Valentino Rossi got the runner-up award behind Marc Marquez. LCR racer Stefan Bradl rode his Honda RC213V to the 8th place finishing his third season in the premier class with the 9th position overall.
Stefan: “Sure I was expecting a bit more from this race because our pace was faster than what we finally achieved. But this race was really strange because it started to rain the first laps and I was not strong enough to make the pace. Honestly I did not want to crash to ruin my last race with LCR and Honda. This is an acceptable position considering that I am not a fan of this race track. I was expecting something more from this season but with these ups and downs it was not easy. I really enjoyed these 3 years with LCR and my greatest thanks go to Lucio because he believed in me and, together with the Team and the Team sponsors, they have done the maximum to support me”.
Lucio Cecchinello: “Three wonderful years for us with Stefan: full of emotions. Together we have been through good and bad moments but we won’t forget Stefan because this cooperation was simply great. We have done our maximum and we are sure that he did the same so we want to thank him and wish him the best for his career”.
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