Stefan Bradl experienced a pleasant opening day for the Czech round.
Opposite to last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix where Bradl and his Aprilia RS-GP hardly could turn up their speed throughout all days, the 26-year-old was able to start in a proper way into this weekend’s round eleven at the challenging Brno circuit. Under dry conditions, Bradl and his experienced crew were able to set up the bike in a good way already for the demanding’s of the 5.4 kilometres fast and flowing long track.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), FP1: P15 – 1´58.481 (16/17) / FP2: P17 – 1´57.471 (16/17):
“I’m happy with the work done today because me pace is even better than my fastest lap time shows. We had two really good sessions in which we could improve consistently. The only thing is that I miss is a consistent rhythm throughout one lap. Obviously this will be our task for tomorrow because we must focus on qualifying in order to achieve a good starting position. If we will be capable of managing this task well, I’m pretty sure that we can take more benefit from our consistent pace during the race on Sunday.”MotoGP™ Combined Practice Times:
1 #93 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´55.840 (FP2)
2 #29 Andrea IANNONE / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´55.944 +0.104 (FP2)
3 #99 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´55.977 +0.137 (FP2)
17 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / 1´57.471 +1.631 (FP2)
Stefan Bradl endured a eventful Friday at the comeback of Austrian round on world series level.
The weather doesn’t really been good with the assets at the Austrian round in Styria the last days. First heavy rain shower did affect the pre event in Graz on Wednesday and since then temperatures were much too cold for this season. Friday’s on track action at the 4.3 kilometres long Red Bull Ring close to the small city of Zeltweg got underway with less than ten degrees. For this reason, the 26-year-old Brald, who unfortunate had to sit out a two-day test in Austria three weeks ago due to injury, saw himself starting into the weekend in difficult circumstances. However, for the remaining the forecasts sees improving weather conditions for the area in southern Austria.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), FP1: P20 – 1´28.761 (7/18) / FP2: P20 – 1´26.149 (22/22):
“It was definitely not an easy day for us today. This much too low temperatures didn’t help me to adapt and gain confidence for this new track, particularly as I didn’t a single aboard a MotoGP bike here. Beyond that, this morning’s crash didn’t make things easier. The front wheel came off the ground and as soon as it came down, the front folded. Fortunately, I didn’t hurt myself during this high speed crash. But during FP2 in the afternoon I gradually found my pace. Hopefully the weather might improve tomorrow and that will help us a lot for sure.”MotoGP™ Combined Practice Times:
1 #4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´23.617 (FP2)
2 #29 Andrea IANNONE / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´23.855 +0.238 (FP2)
3 #25 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´24.471 +0.854 (FP2)
20 #6 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / 1´26.149 +2.532 (FP2)
The 26-year-old factory rider in Aprilia had to skip the two days of testing at the Red Bull Ring three weeks ago, but Bradl got to know the track already before.
Round tenth of the season this weekend in the green Styria marks the beginning of the second half of the season. In addition, the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich is celebrating its comeback into the world championship. In 1997 the circus went to the former A1 Ring with 4.3 kilometres of length for the first time. With the takeover of Red Bull many things changed, except the layout.
While many teams and riders did a two-day test immediately after the race at the Sachsenring to prepare for the race weekend, Stefan Bradl had to skip this occasion due to an injury. But the Aprilia rider doesn’t worry about that and is already looking forward to his second home race of the season.
The return of the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich promises to be a special spectacle as more than 200.000 (!) tickets were sold already before the start of the weekend. Starting time for the tenth point haul is as usual 2.00pm on Sunday with a distance over 28 laps.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia) – World Championship position 15th (37 points):
“Whilst my dad already won a Grand Prix at the Salzburgring, I’m going to have a race in Austria for the first time this weekend. I’m looking forward to the race at the Red Bull Ring and I’m pretty sure I’m going to feel very comfortable in Styria. Because of the short distance to Germany, many fans are going to attend this Grand Prix. The race weekend started out with a nice event in Graz. It was pretty cool to ride the MotoGP Aprilia through downtown and I have to admit it was really nice to see so many people came out, despite of the bad weather. Though I was not here testing after the Sachsenring GP, I know the track in Spielberg pretty well. We know the on the paper the track’s characteristics don’t fit our bike very well, but I think we can have a good weekend anyway. In any case it will be important for the second half of the season we keep it going like before. We need to give even more in every single race. In the meantime, I’m fully fit again. The crash at the Sachsenring is already forgotten. I’m more than ready for the tasks that care coming.”
After eleven years racing in Grand Prix, Bradl will see himself to switch the series joining the world’s largest manufacturer in motorcycle production for their official team in FIM World Superbike Championship.
A corresponding agreement for the 2017 and 2018 season was sealed earlier this week. The 26-year-old German will ride alongside former MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden in Honda’s official team for the World SBK series. The team is run by the experienced Ten Kate outfit from the Netherlands. In this autumn Honda will present an all-new CBR1000RR Fireblade Superbike which is the base for next year’s race bike. In this context Honda is to homologate an increased version of this bike.
After winning the Moto2 crown in 2011, Bradl made the step to the premier class MotoGP with LCR Honda where he was racing from 2012 to 2014. At halfway stage of last year’s season, he then moved from Forward Racing into Aprilia as factory rider in Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Bradl claimed 19 podium finishes in total so far, including seven grand prix victories (two in 125cc / five in Moto2) and a second place in MotoGP. During his career in MotoGP, Bradl finished 46 times in total in the top ten thus far. But now he is looking forward to a new challenge in racing.
#6 Stefan BRADL:“I am very happy that I will ride for Honda in World Superbike in 2017 and I really look forward to this new challenge. It was definitely not an easy decision to leave the Grand Prix Paddock after all these many years to change the series. But I see a good chance for me to compete successful with the Ten Kate Team and the highly professional environment of Honda in the Superbike championship. It certainly will bring an exciting affair to develop this project with the new Honda CBR1000RR superbike to a competitive and successful level. The team features cool staff which means the same for my team mate Nicky who, as you may know, did this step already at the beginning of this season. I think, we will be a great combination. In any case, I look forward to this collaboration with him and with the Ten Kate Team. I am highly motivated for this project and I really can’t wait to start it. But first, the target is to finish the current season decently.”
Stefan Bradl had to retire from his home race at the Sachsenring after a nasty fall during Sunday morning’s warm up session.
The 26-year-old MotoGP rider in Aprilia Racing Team Gresini suffered a nasty crash in the rain soaked session in his third lap in turn 7. After the first examination in the Clinica Mobile Bradl was taken to the Klinikum Chemnitz where no further serious injuries diagnosed by a CAT apart from a concussion and bruises to his back. His participation to the scheduled two-day test at the Austrian Red Bull Ring on Tuesday and Wednesday this week is already denied. The doctors said he has to rest for one week at least.
Next race: 14 August, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg / Austria
