SAN MARINO GP: POSITIVE START WITH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Stefan Bradl was able to test the new frame for the first time this afternoon and he was thrilled from the very first beginning to work with.
It was a busy Friday for the 25 year MotoGP rider and at the same time a positive one too. It was the first time for him to test the new frame which is Alvaro Bautista, his team mate in Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, is using it since some races. Even though the day started with a so-so FP1 in the morning, Bradl got grips to the new tool in the afternoon, accompanied by fine late summer weather.
#6 Stefan BRADL (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Aprilia), FP1: 24th – 1´35.992 (10/18) / FP2: 21st – 1´35.026 (16/20):
“During the second free practice session this afternoon I tested the new frame for the very first time and I immediately found out some benefits going into turns. The bike is more precise in corner entry, although there isn’t much difference in performance in turning compared to the frame I’ve been using now that is definitely positive. With this frame the bike also needs to be ridden differently because it performs differently, especially in braking, so I still wasn’t able to take full advantage of it today. I’ll need to adapt my riding style a bit, after which we’ll be able to improve further. Today we also made some changes to the electronics, moving in the right direction too, so we’ll carefully analyse the data in order to set faster lap times tomorrow.”
Combined Practice Times FP1/FP2:
1 Jorge LORENZO / SPA / Movistar Yamaha MotoGP / Yamaha / 1´32.871 (FP2)
2 Marc MARQUEZ / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda /1´32.924 +0.053 (FP2)
3 Danny PEDROSA / SPA / Repsol Honda Team / Honda / 1´33.258 +0.387 (FP2)
21 Stefan BRADL / GER / Aprilia Racing Team Gresini / Aprilia / 1´35.026 + 2.165 (FP2)