GP Aragón: PLEASANT START TO THE WEEKEND

Stefan Bradl’s summary after the opening day at the technical Spanish circuit was a positive one as he was pleased about his performance and also about his Aprilia RS-GP prototype. Good conditions on Friday allowed teams and riders to start their preparations in full screen for this weekend’s round 14. For the 26-year-old German MotoGP rider in Aprilia Racing first practice session went positive particularly as he was able to use practice time to its utmost without any troubles. That Bradl concluded day one with a gap of just 0.8 second off the pace, increased confidence of course, even if the final touch in respect to the bike’s setup isn’t found yet. MotoGP Action at the amazing MotorLand Aragon circuit resumes Saturday morning with FP3 before teams and riders have a final opportunity to prepare for qualifying with FP4 shortly after lunch time. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), FP1: P13 – 1´50.368 (6/18) / FP2: P13 – 1´49.298 (15/18): “Today we were competitive from the very first beginning. This of course is very gratifying. The RS-GP works well at this track and we’re already moving in the right direction. In addition, we have succeeded in fully process our today’s schedule for both sessions. This wasn’t always the case in the last weekends. Beyond that we also were able to do some laps with all the different tyre options in order to see how they work in terms of the race distance. We were also working on the electronics. Overall, it was a successful start into the weekend. But there is still room for improvements, particularly in breaking areas when turning into the corner. In this respect we often endure difficulties and because of the front tyre Michelin has brought to Aragon, this weakness even exacerbated.” MotoGP™ Combined Free Practice Times: 1 #26 Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´48.429 (FP2) 2 #93 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´48.494 +0.065 (FP2) 3 #35 Cal CRUTCHLOW / GBR / LCR Honda / Honda / 1´48.510 +0.081 (FP2) 13 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / 1´49.298 +0.869 (FP2)

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GP San Marino: VALUABLE POINTS AFTER TOUGH WEEKEND

Stefan Bradl finished Sunday’s Misano race in twelfth position but he wasn’t really happy about the weekend overall. This season’s round 13 at the Italian Misano World Circuit, at the same time the second home race for Aprilia and Gresini racing, was fated from the perspective of the 26-year-old German rider. A private test two weeks ago was the perfect opportunity to prepare well for this weekend. But too many problems in as many respect has made it more difficult as expected. Bradl, who qualified for 13th spot on the grid on the previous day which his best starting position so far this year, saw himself contended with bike choice for the race. Finally, he added four points to his tally to round up this weekend reasonably positively. Bradl hopes now to be better positioned concerning his package for the next race in weeks at the Spanish MotorLand Aragón circuit. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia) – 12th (World Championship position 16th, 43 points): “Our prerequisite were belittled from the outset because of the constant move from one to the other bike. Ultimately, I decided for that bike with that I had the better feeling. Our plan also was to make a comparison test during this morning’s warm up but due to the cooler conditions it worked out pretty useless. By the by, I opted for the No 2 bike with that I did a good qualifying yesterday. With this bike I had a good feeling indeed, even when the tyres heated strongly but on the other hand I had clearly disadvantages on the brakes. Nevertheless, I felt a lot safer with this bike. But from halfway point of the race I was easy to overtake in breaking areas. Soon later, Alvaro passed me and was amazed that I wasn’t able to do anything to defend my position. At this time, I also got a little trouble with my forearm. I quickly realized that the situation would be worse if I keep pushing hard. So for this I followed Petrucci for a while but for more it wasn’t enough. At the end of the weekend, this outcome is ok because we’re able to take some points. But the course was difficult because of the constant change in terms of bikes. It’s a real pity, that we hardly could take benefit from our test here two weeks ago. In any case, we struggled because of all these issues a lot. In addition, I would say that we didn’t necessarily have this luck this weekend. Gearbox issues, a harmless fall on Friday, ok, that can happens always. But that you just have on bike available with which you can work efficiently, is a pity too.” MotoGP™ GP di San Marino – Race Classification after 26 Laps: 1 #26 Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 43´43.524 2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / +2.837 3 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / +4.359 12 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / +39.967 MotoGP™ World Championship Standings: 1 #29 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 223 2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 180 3 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 162 16 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 43 Next race: 25th September, MotorLand Aragón, Alcaniz / Spain

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GP San Marino: Q2 NARROWLY MISSED

Stefan Bradl and his Aprilia RS-GP prototyped showed up in brilliant shape on Saturday. The 26-year-old German MotoGP rider failed to qualify for the session which decided the first four rows on the grid just by a margin. Fine weather provided good conditions at the Misano Circuit on Saturday too. Apart from these circumstances, Bradl achieved his best qualifying result so far this season. The Aprilia rider will start from P13 on the grid into Aprilia’s and his team’s second home race. After the changed schedule last Sunday in Silverstone, starting time for the season’s 13th race is as usual at 2:00 pm with a 28 laps distance at the curvy 4,2 kilometres long Italian track. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), Grid position 13th – 1´33.399 (7/8): “After today, particularly after qualifying, there is something to talk about. First I think, that our lap times were competitive overall. But we endured some bad luck, as we were forced to switch once again to the No 2 bike after a minor technical occurred during FP4. Nevertheless, I was able to set a really fast lap time during qualifying. Unfortunate, it wasn’t fast enough to qualify for Q2. We will try some more things in respect to the chassis during tomorrow morning’s warm up but first we must analyse all data in order to set up the bike in the best way for the race. In any case, we improved significantly und I look forward to an action packed race. It looks promising overall.” MotoGP™ Qualifying Classification: 1 #99 Jorge LORENZO / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´31.868 2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´32.216 +0.348 3 #25 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´32.381 +0.513 13 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 1´33.399 (Q1)

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GP San Marino: DESPITE UP AND DOWNS PROMISING START TO THE WEEKEND

Stefan Bradl started the Misano round with a strong display before an early fall during Friday afternoon’s FP2 affected the session in an unlucky way. Bradl and his Aprilia RS-GP prototype showed up in an impressive condition during both Friday’s free practice sessions. The 26-year-old MotoGP rider was recorded with twelfth fastest lap time during FP1 in the morning, just 0.6 seconds off the pace. Although he was on a good run to repeat this strong performance in the afternoon. But a harmless crash in which his No 1 bike got more damaged than just a few scratches, wasn’t only costly in terms of valuable track time but Bradl was forced to continue his session with the second bike. Despite all these circumstances it was a pleasant first day of practice as Bradl concluded Friday in the top 15. MotoGP action will resume with Saturday morning’s FP3. Following that, FP4 is the final opportunity to prepare for the qualifyings. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), FP1: P12 – 1´34.126 (19/20) / FP2: P17 – 1´34.631 (4/18): “A start into the weekend with up and downs. This morning we had a very good FP1 but unfortunately, after a rather fast start into FP2, I crashed in turn 14. Consequently, I had to use the second bike for my second exit. However, this bike has a different chassis configuration. Meanwhile, my crew fixed the No 1 bike. When I continued my session with the No 1, I wasn’t able to find the right pace during the final stage of the session. Of course it’s a pity, because we could have further improved. But I’m confident for tomorrow because I think that we’re moving in the right direction.” MotoGP™ Combined Free Practice Times: 1 #44 Pol ESPARGARO / SPA / Monster Yamaha Tech 3 / Yamaha / 1´32.769 2 #26 Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´32.834 +0.065 (FP2) 3 #4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´32.901 +0.132 (FP2) 15 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / 1´34.126 +1.357 (FP2)

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INNOCENT VICTIM OF A CRASH

Stefan Bradl luckily escaped harmless in a race accident after a risky move by another rider during last Sunday’s British Grand Prix. However, the 26-year-old MotoGP rider went into the season’s twelfth race highly confident. Considering the course of the race and its outcome in retrospect, Bradl would have been finish even in the top 10. But after he left the line in a promising way, gaining positions during the opening lap, he was forced to retire just after two laps after Bradl touched with English rider Eugene Laverty and crashed. It was a pretty risky move by the Irishman at the same place where the race was already red-flagged as Spaniard rider Pol Espargaro and Loriz Baz from France also collided and crashed. Like Bradl also the two other riders escaped uninjured fortunate. The busy stage of the champions continues with the next race already scheduled for the upcoming weekend with the Gran Premio di San Marino at the Italian circuit in Misano. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia) – DNF (World Championship position 18th, 39 points): “Fortunately nothing bad has happened in this crash. But I’m disappointed and a bit annoyed at the same time because it was a stupid thing of Laverty principally. We were on the same level accelerating from turn one and under breaking for turn two he has pushed in ruthlessly. It was a similar manoeuvre like during the Moto2 race between Zarco and Lowes. In addition, it also was pretty dangerous at this point as we have seen from the accident after the first start. Thank God nothing happened, I’m ok and this is the most important thing. Nevertheless, it’s annoying because it would have been a good race for me. To finish in the top 10 was on the the table anyway. I’m really glad that we head immediately to the next race in Misano in a couple of days and hopefully I’m a bit more lucky there as today. After our test in the previous week, we’re certainly well prepared for this race.” MotoGP™ British GP – Race Classification after 19 Laps: 1 #25 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 39´03.339 2 #35 Cal CRUTCHLOW / GBR / LCR Honda / Honda / +3.480 3 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / +4.063 DNF #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia MotoGP™ World Championship Standings: 1 #29 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 210 2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 160 3 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 146 18 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 37 Next race: 11 September, Misano World Circuit, Italy

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British GP: SIX ROW START AFTER RAIN HIT QUALIFYING

Bad weather conditions and technical issues played its role during Saturday’s sessions at the legendary Silverstone Circuit. Whereas conditions during FP3 were similar to Friday morning’s first free practice, the weather changed massively at lunch time as heavy rain made the track’s condition even more tricky. In addition, Stefan Bradl endured some bad luck from technical point of view because he had to dispense for the bike with a new chassis. However, he was able to do well during the timed session in such as tricky conditions. Bradl recorded seventh fastest lap time during QP1 which means P17 for Sunday’s grid. Time schedule for race day sees a big change with starting time for the twelfth MotoGP points haul just at 4:30 pm CET. #6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), Grid Position 17th – 2´19.115 (3/6): “It wasn’t an easy day for us for sure. Unfortunate I had to change the bike due to technical issues during this morning’s FP3 so we couldn’t use the bike fitted with the updated chassis we received for the Misano test for the first time. It was a shame because we need more kilometres in order to develop it further. In the afternoon you had to ride really carefully. It didn’t take a lot to run into a mistake. Nevertheless, I tried to take the most out of the situation. Obviously I would like to start some positions towards to the front but given to the situation I think it would have been very risky to achieve that. I just hope for stable weather conditions for race day so we’ll be able to continue our work without any complications.” MotoGP™ Qualifying Classification: 1 #35 Cal CRUTCHLOW / GBR / LCR Honda / Honda / 2´19.265 2 #46 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 2´20.263 +0.998 3 #25 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 2´20.514 +1.249 17 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 2´19.115 (QP1)

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