It was a very positive qualifying practice for Stefan Bradl and the Athinà Forward Racing team as the 25 year young German rider qualified for 13th position on the grid for tomorrow’s round eight at the historical TT Circuit in Assen.

In doing so Bradl displayed his Open class winning performance again after he claimed victory in this category for the very first time in Barcelona two weeks’ ago. The Yamaha Forward rider set an excellent 1´33.789 this afternoon and due to that he leads the Open standings after qualifying practice. The goal is to repeat the exploit of Montmelò and shorten the gap that separates him from Barbera for the Open class leadership.

#6 Stefan BRADL (Athinà Forward Racing, Yamaha Forward), Grid position 13 – 1´33.789 (2/7):

“I’m very happy about this qualifying practice because it was definitely our best this season so far. We made improvements since Mugello and Barcelona and we’re capable of to continue this way since then which is the most important fact for me. In doing so we can show that we’re in a good shape meanwhile and that we’re strong to fight for the Open class win in every race. I’m really happy about this. We did a good job during this qualifying session, we worked a lot with the bike and almost everything went well as well also in the right direction so I look forward to tomorrow’s race with confidence. For sure we’re capable of finishing in a strong position but Assen is always a long and tough race, also demanding to the tyres so hopefully I can do a good race. Anyway; I think we’re very well prepared.”

Qualifying Classification:

1 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´32.627
2 Aleix ESPARGARO / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´32.858 +0.231
3 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´32.886 +0.259
13 Stefan BRADL / GER / Athiná Forward Racing / Yamaha Forward / 1´33.789 +1.162 (Q1)

Assen, Thursday 25 June. Stefan Bradl and his crew experienced a productive opening day at the historical TT Circuit in Assen for round eight of this year’s MotoGP™ World Championship.

Thanks the fine weather conditions the 25 year young German rider were capable of working a lot on his Yamaha Forward bike and in doing so he and his crew did a valuable trail in order to setup the bike in a different way. Bradl finished the Assen Thursday with the 15th fastest lap time with a small gap to the factory riders in front of him.

#6 Stefan BRADL (Athinà Forward Racing, Yamaha Forward), FP1: 14. – 1´35.486 (20/20) / FP2: 15. – 1´34.664 (18/20):

“Honestly speaking it wasn’t a bad day for us. We had a good first free practice session this morning and thanks to the good and stable conditions we were able to take full benefit from FP2 this afternoon. We were working a lot with the bike and in comparison to Barcelona last time we used a different setting. However, we got a lot of valuable information so I’m confident for tomorrow even though we must find some extra speed in a few areas. Hopefully the weather remains dry because we have a lot of work ahead of us but I’m happy with our job done today because the gap to the factory riders in front of us isn’t that big.”

Combined Practice Times FP1/FP2:

1 Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´33.450 (FP2)
2 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´33.589 +0.139 (FP2)
3 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´33.652 +0.202 (FP2)
15 Stefan BRADL / GER / Athinà Forward Racing / Yamaha Forward / 1´34.664 + 1.214 (FP2)

After the test on the Barcelona circuit one week time ago, it’s time to get back on track for Stefan Bradl and his team Athinà Forward Racing who will compete at the demanding TT Circuit Assen for the historic Dutch round.

Stefan Bradl, who scored his first Open win in Barcelona last time, is motivated to lead the pack again with the goal of reaching the points and close the gap in the standings with his rivals.

Stefan BRADL: “I’m very motivated to go to Assen. Assen is always special for me due to the short distance to my home in Bavaria. In Barcelona I had a really good race, not only I won in the Open class, but I hit the Top10 managing to fight throughout the race with the factory riders. It will be important to continue in this direction at Assen with the aim of getting more points and get closer to the head of the Open Standings.”

The Forward Racing rider crossed the line in eight position after Sunday afternoon’s Gran Premi de Catalunya, which was at the same time victory in the Open class.

Bradl experienced a disastrous first third of the season so far but the Barcelona race weekend was hopefully somewhat of a turnaround for him. The 25 year young German and his Crew were able to use all practice session to their benefits and already in qualifying practice Bradl underlined that he is to count for the Open top spot. However, Bradl qualified for Sunday’s round seven of the championship in P16 and after a well-done start the Yamaha-Forward rider made quickly progress, finally fighting with Danilo Petrucci for positions. After he passed the Italian Bradl continued to push till the end of the race to see the chequered flag in eight position.

#6 Stefan Bradl (Athinà Forward Racing, Yamaha Forward) – 8th, World Championshipo position 19 (9 points):

“Finally we did it. Today’s Open victory is a great achievement for all of us. But beyond that P8 is my first top 10 finish this year, it’s a great round up of the weekend. I’m happy at all because during the first part of the season we were very unlucky, the situation wasn’t easy to manage for me as well for the team. But we always knew that we have good potential and a good package. Since Mugello we have made significantly progress as we started to more fast and better as well to be more consistent. This gives a big boost to all team members. Overall, this weekend was really good for us so I’m pleased with our results. Thanks to the team, it’s great that we managed to be the first Open bike.”

Results MotoGP™ Gran Premi de Catalunya:

1 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 42´53.208
2 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / +0.885
3 Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / +19.455
8 Stefan BRADL / GER / Athinà Forward Racing / Yamaha Forward / +42.103

MotoGP™ World Standing 2015:

1 Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 138
2 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 137
3 Andrea IANNONE / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 94
19 Stefan BRADL / GER / Athinà Forward Racing / Yamaha Forward / 9

Next race: Assen / Netherlands, 27 June

The 25 year young Bavarian rider qualified for P15 on Sunday’s grid for round seven of the 2015 championship.

Hot conditions throughout the day were not easy to manage but Bradl showed his spirit to fight for the top spot in the Open category. Finally he missed it by whisker but the Yamaha Forward rider remains confident for race day in Barcelona because he did his lap times alone and beyond that he and his crew in Athinà Forward Racing made further progress compared to Friday.

#6 Stefan BRADL (Athinà Forward Racing, Yamaha Forward), Grid position 15 – 1´42.053 (5/7):

“Well, we have made big improvements compared to yesterday and we were fighting for the best open spot in qualifying so this is quite positive. Anyway, I’m pleased how things went today. I was able to set a good lap time but also I was riding alone without any slipstream for many laps. The gap in general is very close so something is on the table. I’m confident for tomorrow’s race but most important we must finish it and collect as much as valuable points after some difficult races recently. This of course is the target for Sunday.”

Qualifying Classification:

1 Aleix ESPARGARO / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´40.546
2 Maverick VINALES / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´40.629 +0.083
3 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´40.646 +0.100
15 Stefan BRADL / GER / Athiná Forward Racing / Yamaha Forward / 1´42.053 +1.507 (Q1)

Stefan Bradl was amongst the fastest open riders during Friday’s first free practice session at the fast and flowing Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It was a promising start into round seven of this year’s MotoGP series. However, Bradl and his Athinà Forward Racing crew went out on track again to try new solutions on the front end of the team’s Yamaha Forward machine that might improve the race pace overall. After showing a fast and consistent speed during FP1, Bradl couldn’t find the right feeling in corner entry in the afternoon so he wasn’t able to make further progress in terms of improving his lap times.

#6 Stefan BRADL (Athinà Forward Racing, Yamaha Forward), FP1: 16. – 1´43.536 (18/19) / FP2: 23. – 1´43.851 (13/17):

“In general it was an ok day for us. The first practice this morning was good, we tried to make some improvements on the bike but unfortunately I can’t flick the bike in corner entry as fast as I would like. So I think we’re losing time in this area. However, the gap is close to the front open riders so we remain positive for Saturday and of course we’ll keep working hard.”

Combined Free Practice Times FP1/FP2:

1 Aleix ESPARGARO / SPA / Team SUZUKI ECSTAR / Suzuki / 1´41.158 (FP2)
2 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´41.443 +0.285 (FP2)
3 Dani PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´41.789 +0.631 (FP2)
22 Stefan BRADL / GER / Athinà Forward Racing / Yamaha Forward / 1´43.536 + 2.378 (FP1)

After his team’s home race in Mugello two weeks’ time ago, Barcelona will host the seventh race of the 2015 season, the second on Spanish soil, which is scheduled for this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona.

Stefan Bradl is looking forward to jump again on his Yamaha Forward bike. The German, who was forced to retire prematurely at Mugello, proved to be consistent all weekend long and is aiming to lead the Open class in Montemelo.

Stefan Bradl (Athinà Forward Racing, Forward Yamaha) – World Championship position 23 (1 Punkt):

“We have been battling all weekend with the other Open bikes at Mugello. Unfortunately I was forced to retire after a contact when I was fighting for the head of the class. We have made a good step forward after the test in Jerez and I’m arriving in Barcelona convinced that I can do well. The goal remains to win the Open class”.

Stefan Bradl and his crew of the team Athinà Forward Racing experienced a good opening day at the team’s home track in Mugello. Bradl concluded this afternoon’s FP2 at the top of the Open category.

After struggling during the first free practice session this morning, the 25 year young German was able to improve his feeling for the fast and flowing circuit significantly, as well for the conditions with very fine weather. Bradl set a time of 1´48.694 which was good enough for P17 in the combined time sheet and in doing so he is confident for Saturday’s qualifying where targets the top spot as open rider.

#6 Stefan Bradl (Athinà Forward Racing, Yamaha Forward), FP1: 14. – 1´35.367 (15/15) / FP2: 15. – 1´35.543 (19/19):

“Overall we can be happy. This morning we struggled but during the afternoon session we were able to make a good step forward. We are definitely working in the right direction as the pace is already good. So for this I’m confident for a strong qualifying session.”

Combined Practice Times FP1/FP2:

1 Andrea DOVIZIOSO / ITA / Ducati Team / Ducati / 1´47.479 (FP2)
2 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´47.643 +0.164 (FP2)
3 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´47.852 +0.373 (FP2)
17 Stefan BRADL / GER / Athinà Forward Racing / Yamaha Forward / 1´48.694 + 1.215 (FP2)