Solid opening for Zarco and Syahrin in Buriram
Johann Zarco (5).
With a strong start this morning Monster Yamaha Tech3’s Johann Zarco laid down a first marker at the Chang International Circuit, concluding FP1 in sixth position, just 0.566 seconds behind the top. However, in FP2 the fast Frenchman was able to lower his lap time at the hot new venue in the MotoGP calendar to eventually secure a top 10 spot in the last seconds of the session, missing out on the fastest guy by just 0.331 seconds.
Hafizh Syahrin, who tested the Yamaha YZR-M1 for the very first time at the Thai track this February, was finding back his rhythm in FP1 and improved by 0.593 seconds in the course of the second session this afternoon in order to complete the first Thai Grand Prix day only 0.756 seconds behind his teammate in 18th position. The Malaysian rookie is set to further chase the fastest in FP3 tomorrow morning at 9.55 local time, which means 4.55 CET.
Johann Zarco
Position: 10th – Time: 1:31.421 – Laps: 46
“I’m so happy to be in Buriram. This Friday has been ok. The first session was great and in the second one I tried to work with the used tyres and that feeling was pretty difficult like in the last two races, when I was struggling a lot. But I tried to create these conditions in order to try to understand and to find some solution together with my team. In the end, we put in a new tyre and I improved my lap time from this morning. I’m on the limit in the top 10, but I’m there. It’s just a few tenths from the first position, everybody is so close, therefore it would be good to make further steps, as it’s really important here in the heat to have a good feeling on the bike.”
Hafizh Syahrin
Position: 18th – Time: 1:32.177 – Laps: 42
“I felt good during this first day, my lap time was quite good, only my position is a bit far from the top. But I have better sensations with the bike, I just need to try to find some changes to help me turning and at the exit of the corners. I believe tomorrow we can discover something. We are working really hard inside the team, trying to improve our weak points. I had a good feeling today, but we know that we have to continue working hard, step by step and I hope that tomorrow we can already improve the time. It’s just one second, but I want to be closer.”
More, from a press release issued by Angel Nieto Team:
BAUTISTA FASTEST NON-FACTORY DUCATI ON DAY ONE IN BURIRAM
Ángel Nieto Team make Buriram debut with Álvaro Bautista in seventh place and Karel Abraham 20th
Alvaro Bautista (19).
The MotoGP World Championship made its official bow in Buriram, Thailand today, having previously only visited for a preseason test, with just three tenths covering the top ten riders on track in free practice. On a layout that seems to suit Ducati thanks to its long straights, Andrea Dovizioso (1’31.090) set the pace although his teammate Jorge Lorenzo was unable to complete the second session after a heavy crash at turn 3. The Spaniard ended the day down in sixteenth position as a result, with Maverick Viñales, Cal Crutchlow and Marc Márquez all lapping within a tenth of Dovizioso today.
The Ángel Nieto Team kicked off in Thailand with Álvaro Bautista as the fastest non-factory Ducati rider on track, the Spaniard lapping seventh fastest and just three tenths off the day’s pacesetter Andrea Dovizioso. Bautista reported a better feeling in the afternoon, when the track temperature was higher, and he was lapping consistently in the top five until a late crash gave a couple of other riders to lap faster in the closing stages. Karel Abraham was 20th fastest today, ahead of a couple of factory bikes and riders on equal or better machinery than him. With seventeen riders within a second, the Czech rider was only 1.3 seconds off top spot today after clocking up 35 laps, with his focus for tomorrow on improving front and rear-end stability on his Ducati GP16.
7th Álvaro Bautista 1:31.378 (39 laps): “I am happy with the result but today was strange, this morning I just didn’t have the same feeling as recent races. Michelin have brought a different kind of tyre to this race and whenever there’s a change we seem to suffer. We didn’t try to set a lap time this morning, just focused on getting my reference points for this track. Then in the afternoon, with the higher track temperature, I got more feedback from the tyres and the feeling improved. We have also tried a few things with the bike and still managed to stay inside the top five. The crash at the end was a shame, although I wasn’t hurt and I don’t think I could have really improved the lap time by much.”
20th Karel Abraham 1:32.403 (35 laps): “As we expected, the first day here in Thailand has been very hot and it seems like it will stay this way all weekend, so it will be tough. We have had a good day today, with a normal first session and then a better second one. We had some problems with the front and rear end, which we are getting a lot of movement from, but we are working hard to improve it. We have taken a few steps forward and with a little luck tomorrow we can do the same or even better.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Gresini Racing:
FIRST DAY OF TESTING FOR THE MOTOGP IN THAILAND
Aleix Espargaro (41).
With 54°C on the asphalt during the afternoon session, the Thai circuit of Buriram is keeping faith with its geographical position, putting a strain on the resistance of the riders and the search for the optimal setup by the technicians.
The lack of grip is the main concern for Aleix Espargaró, seventeenth in the combined standings with about a second gap. The Michelin soft option at the rear, tested by the Catalan rider in the final of the FP2, seems to be a good choice from this point of view, although it remains to be checked the grip on the race distance.
Scott Redding scored a promising tenth time in the FP1, keeping the gap below the second and, most importantly, finding good feelings on the bike. Also due to a crash without consequences, Scott was among the few not to improve in the FP2 and will resume work on his RS-GP in tomorrow’s sessions.
ALEIX ESPARGARO’
“Today I did a lot of laps with the medium tyre at the rear, but the grip is really very low. At the end of the second session I tried the soft tyre and the bike changed completely, similar to what happened at Aragon. Tomorrow the first objective will be to run more laps with this option, to check the possibility of using it in the race given the advantages in terms of grip. It promises to be a weekend to be managed carefully, both for the high temperatures and for the grip conditions”.
SCOTT REDDING
“This morning things went pretty well, I’m happy to have started with a tenth time. I felt good on the bike and we managed to improve the setting used at Aragon a bit. I also had good feeling in the afternoon but we struggled a bit more with the lap times. Unfortunately after the crash I had to stop, I have two bikes in different configurations and I don’t want to create confusion. The conditions are quite demanding for the body, it will be important to manage the energy especially in view of the race”.
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Castrol:
CRUTCHLOW THE FASTEST HONDA IN THAILAND
Cal Crutchlow (35).
LCR Honda CASTROL rider Cal Crutchlow made a positive start as free practice got underway at the inaugural Thailand Grand Prix at the Buriram International Circuit. The Briton – whose RC213V will proudly carry the famous Castrol green and red livery throughout the weekend – ended the day as the fastest Honda rider, claiming third place by the time Friday’s action came to a close.
Crutchlow built on his positive pre-season test at the venue – when he was fourth fastest overall – as he came back strongly in the afternoon FP2 session to finish narrowly behind Andrea Dovizioso and Maverick Vinales. Having posted the 11th quickest time in FP1, Cal admitted afterwards that the condition of the track had not helped the riders.
Cal Crutchlow – 3rd
(1’31.164 – lap 21 of 22)
“The track seems in bad condition compared to when we tested here, it’s probably because there’s not been much happening here for a while. Otherwise I feel good and the bike is looking well. We tried two different settings today, one was our usual bike and one was the bike we used in the test here, and it seems my feeling with the usual bike is better”.
“We have to continue to work hard tomorrow, unfortunately our time is probably not fast enough to keep us in the top ten so we’ll have to do the shoot out again in the morning. But I feel good, the team worked well, hopefully Jorge (Lorenzo) is ok after his accident because it was a big crash and you never like to see that. But we have to concentrate on our job this weekend which is to do the best job we can and try to finish in the top five.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Idemitsu:
SOLID START FOR NAKAGAMI IN THAILAND
LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider Takaaki Nakagami made an encouraging start as free practice commenced at the first-ever MotoGP Grand Prix in Thailand on Friday. Taking place in scorching conditions at the Buriram International Circuit in the east of the country, Nakagami closed the opening day in 13th position but well within striking distance of the top ten.
The Japanese rookie demonstrated his potential at the circuit in FP1 as he posted the eighth fastest time of the morning. Although he went quicker again in the afternoon he had to settle for 13th in FP2, but is hopeful of finding enough improvement on Saturday morning to secure a place in Q2.
Takaaki Nakagami – 13th
(1’31.714 – lap 23 of 26)
“It was really tough conditions today, especially FP2. It’s really hot and the humidity here is incredible and makes it very tough physically. But session by session the conditions (on track) were getting better, there is more rubber on the Michelin tyres”.
“In FP1 it was a pretty good start and I had a good feeling with the bike. But in FP2 everyone improved their lap times and I was just trying to improve a little at the end to get into the top ten. But it’s really tight, my position is only sixth tenths off Andrea Dovizioso in first and three tenths behind the top ten. So tomorrow we will focus on our lap time and do our best to go into Q2.”
More, from a press release issued by Alma Pramac Racing:
Thailand Grand Prix – Free Practices
ThaiGP FP. Very positive Friday for Alma Pramac Racing: Petrux 5th, Jack 4 tenths off the top.
Danilo Petrucci (9).
The Thailand Grand Prix starts well for Alma Pramac Racing. Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller confirm the good feelings of the winter test, running very fast since FP1.
In FP2 Danilo Petrucci has to change bike for a technical issue, but he remains focused and pushes hard in the time attack finishing in P5, only 148 thousandths of a second from Andrea Dovizioso’s best-lap.
Jack Miller is constant and after the P4 in FP1 he manages to remain easily in Top 10 in the afternoon. In the time attack, however, the feeling with the front soft tyre is not the best. The Australian rider finishes in P11 but his lap-time is very good (396 thousandths of a second from Dovi).
P5 – Danilo Petrucci
“I am satisfied. We were always fast, always with the leading group. It will not be easy to choose the tyre for the race because of the very high temperature. Tomorrow we will have to do a good job to stay in the 10 in FP3 and conquer one of the first two rows”.
P11 – Jack Miller
“It wasn’t a bad day but I’m a little disappointed with the FP2’s time attack. I expected more from the soft tyres, especially from the front one which didn’t help me in braking areas. All things considered, we are still very confident for tomorrow’s qualifying”.
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Positive start to first Thai GP for Marquez and Pedrosa in amazingly tight free-practice day
Marc Marquez (93).
It was a positive beginning to the inaugural Grand Prix of Thailand for the Repsol Honda team when points-leader Marc Marquez finished fourth overall, a mere 0.098” off the top, on a sunny and hot day one at the Buriram International Circuit.
In both FP1 and FP2, Marc completed several fast laps immediately upon taking to the track, and then proceeded to work on his race pace, keeping a consistent, fast rhythm in both sessions.
There was also good progression through the day for Dani Pedrosa, who ended eighth overall, less than 3 hundredths of a second down on provisional pole-setter Andrea Dovizioso, after improving by over a second on his morning-session effort.
Marc Marquez 93
4TH 1’31.188
“I felt good on the bike today. Conditions are hot, but not unbearably hot! We worked in the same way as at the recent GPs, using the Friday sessions to try and understand the tyres, the bike and electronics setup, and the track conditions. Of course we pushed, but with a working plan in mind. The track surface was a bit slippery in the morning but it improved over the day. At the moment, the lap times are slower than in the test; I believe that’s because we have a different rear tyre that is working in a different way, so basically, we need to adapt the setup to it. Anyway, so far we’re working well and I feel comfortable with our race pace. Tomorrow we’ll see more clearly where we all are.”
Dani Pedrosa 26
8TH 1’31.385
“Today we worked a lot with the tyres and on understanding the track conditions, which improved quite a bit after the first session. We managed to try a few of the tyre specs that Michelin brought here because it will be important to find the best compromise between grip, traction and durability. Tomorrow we must continue working on this aspect, but so far I think we’ve done a good job. We’re improving our feeling step by step, and we have to keep up this progression.”
More, from a press release issued by Movistar Yamaha:
MOVISTAR YAMAHA COMPETITIVE AT CHANG CIRCUIT IN FRIDAY FP SESSIONS
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi shaped up for the very first MotoGP battle at the Chang International Circuit today, in preparation for Sunday’s PTT Thailand Grand Prix. The teammates took second and ninth place respectively in the combined free practice times.
GRAND PRIX OF THAILAND
Buriram, Thailand – 5th October 2018
FREE PRACTICE
14:05 LOCAL TIME GMTAIR 30°C / TRACK 54°CSUNNY / HUMIDITY 56%
2nd
MAVERICK VIÑALES
1’31.121 (FP2) / 21 + 23 LAPS
9th
VALENTINO ROSSI
1’31.398 (FP2) / 22 + 23 LAPS
Buriram (Thailand), 5th October 2018
Maverick Vinales (25).
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP‘s Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi kicked off the first Asian flyaway race weekend today, at the Chang International Circuit. They made the most of the morning 45-minute practice session with a perfect 1-2 and followed it up with a positive FP2 in the afternoon, ending the first day in second and ninth position respectively in the combined free practice times.
After the warm welcome Viñales received upon his arrival in Thailand, he was filled with motivation to start the weekend off right. He soon climbed up to provisional sixth place, clocking multiple 1‘32s laps, and kept hold of it for most of the session. Having gotten a first feel for the Chang track, he took some time to tweak his bike’s set-up before heading out for one last try in the final minutes, and it paid off. He clocked a 1‘31.220s, putting his YZR-M1 in first place, 0.270s ahead of the field.
The Spaniard duplicated his strong performance in FP2. He gradually got on the pace again, improving his feeling with the bike. However, just when the usual ’mini time attacks‘ were about to start, a crash halted the session. After the red flag interval, the youngster used the last 12 minutes of track time to push out some hot laps. He was in eighth position but put his head down once more and briefly took over at the top again. The 1‘31.121s lap ultimately earned him second place, 0.031s from the top in the overall times.
Rossi needed a little time to warm to the Buriram track but was eager to get to work. He hopped to it, trying to find a good basis set-up for his bike and found one in the second half of FP1. With slightly more than a third of the session to go he dropped under the 1‘33s-mark, and the personal best laps kept on coming, especially at the very end of the session. The Doctor stormed up the ranking order, ultimately securing second place, 0.270s behind his teammate, having set a 1‘31.490s best lap.
The nine-time World Champion also had a positive session in the afternoon, as he tried a new fairing for the first time. After the red flag, when the Italian was fully acquainted with the new item, he didn‘t wait another minute to put on some a soft rear tyre in order to get a hot lap in. He briefly moved up to second place with a 1‘31.528s, but the session became more and more heated. He further improved his time to a 1‘31.398s but was unable to hold his position. He completed the first day in ninth place, 0.308s from first.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
Today we‘ve made progress. We had to make a good start, because we knew that we had some ground to make up, which is what we managed to do. We took some counter-measures after Aragon that apparently work. We found a basis setting in FP1 that makes both our riders more comfortable, and we ended the session with a 1-2 result, which gave the team good confidence. In the afternoon we were able to try a new fairing and some tyre options, which is important as the specs are different from what we had during the pre-season test here. All in all, we had quite a positive first outing, but it‘s still early days. We will work hard to try to continue the momentum we gained today in tomorrow‘s sessions.
MAVERICK VIÑALES
Being first and second in today‘s sessions, shouldn‘t mean these are my expectations for the race, it‘s only Friday. However, it‘s true that the feeling is much more positive than it was in Aragon, I feel better with the bike. We modified the settings in the way I needed it, and it seems to work – at least for me – especially on the hard tyre. It‘s completely different from what we had during the pre-season Thai Test and previous races. We went in another direction and did a quite solid FP1 and FP2. Let‘s see what more we can do tomorrow.
VALENTINO ROSSI
For me it’s a bit better than what I expected on paper, because me and Maverick were quite strong during the day. In the morning we had a fantastic first and second, but that was also because a lot of riders didn’t use a new tyre at the end of the session. But in the afternoon Maverick again did a very good lap time and I’m still in the top-10 even though I didn’t do a fantastic lap, I made some mistakes. We have to work on some points, especially to understand which rear tyre we should use for the race, but it looks like we can be a bit more competitive.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
HOT PACE ON OPENING DAY AT CHANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
Andrea Iannone: 6th – 1:31.256 (+ 0.166)
Alex Rins: 15th – 1:31.929 (+ 0.839)
• Andrea Iannone showing early promise.
•Alex Rins working towards the race.
•A day of refamiliarisation with the Thai track.
Andrea Iannone (29).
The first ever Friday action at Buriram saw some extremely close lap times and the predicted boiling temperatures. In FP1 Andrea Iannone was able to show strong pace from the beginning, sitting in 2nd place for much of the session and topping Sector 2, something which pleased the Italian who had previously struggled during the Thai winter test. Meanwhile, Alex Rins worked well to recoup time he lost when his bike stopped at the beginning of the session. They were 7th and 14th respectively.
In FP2 Andrea Iannone had a small crash without consequences, and he and Alex Rins worked hard to find settings and try different tyre configurations on the track which was fast approaching 54°c. There was also a focus on the Top 10 as tomorrow’s FP3 could be wet. Iannone once again slotted into 2nd place but was bumped to 6th as the flag came out, the Italian was just +0.166 seconds from the top. Rins slipped to 15th place, +0.839 from the top.
Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“We were quite busy today because it was the first day in Buriram, and basically the tyres are all different from when we came here to test, so the main job was to try to understand the best tyre options. The temperature of the track is very high and it’s and we tried a few different configurations and collected some information. Andrea had a crash this afternoon, but luckily he is OK. He did a great job because he was fast as soon as he got back on the bike. Alex worked a lot more on race pace and different tyre options today, but we have to continue again tomorrow in FP3 while trying to improve the settings and get ready for the time attack.”
Andrea Iannone
“For sure we started well, but the temperature is really high which makes it really difficult, but we’re trying to do our best. We struggled a little bit this afternoon, and I crashed at Turn 4 but fortunately I am OK. The feeling with the bike is not bad, but we need to improve a bit on the electronics side because we have a lot of movement and sliding, the grip is really low. In any case, we have a really clear idea of what we want to improve and we’ll try tomorrow. Today 6 or 7 riders were covered by a tenth of a second, so qualifying will be difficult. But today I used the medium tyres for the fast lap, not the soft.”
Alex Rins
“In the morning I had a small problem with the bike and it distracted me a little bit from my work, and I lost about 15 minutes. But in the afternoon we improved the lap time compared with FP1, and the race pace with a used tyre was good, even when riding alone. So we just need to work a bit more to improve and hopefully find a really good feeling like I had in the test here. The temperatures are much higher than during the test and that changes the performance, but it’s the same for everybody and we’ll keep working.”
More, from a press release issued by Reale Avintia Racing:
Good sensations for Simeon and Torres in Thailand
MotoGP GP of Thailand – Chang International Circuit
Xavier Simeon (10).
The riders of Team Reale Avintia Racing had a difficult start of the weekend at Buriram, with Xavier Simeon and Jordi Torres settling for 23rd and 24th place in the first free practice sessions of the Thai Grand Prix.
For Xavier Simeon, who rides the Ducati GP17 of his injured teammate Tito Rabat for the third consecutive time, these first two sessions were not easy. Even though his feeling with the bike improved in FP2, his progress was stopped when he suffered a crash. He only could improve by three tenths of a second when he tried to push for a hot lap with new tyres. Nevertheless, the Belgian rider remains positive and hopes to climb up in the time sheets on Saturday.
Jordi Torres accumulated solid track knowledge in four seasons of World Superbike racing at the Chang International Circuit, but with the MotoGP bike, many things were completely different and new again. The Spanish rider finished the day right behind his teammate, but was happy with what he learned on the first day. Bit by bit, he feels better with the bike and the tyres, so he shares Simeon’s confidence of doing better on Saturday.
FP3 will start at 4.55 h, followed by FP4 at 8.30 h and the qualifying sessions at 9.10 h Spanish time.
Xavier Simeon | 1’32.989 | P23
“I struggled a bit in the morning, but in the afternoon, I felt very good on the bike and I was hopeful to improve considerably. Unfortunately, I had a crash at the end of the session due to some oil on the track and I was forced to finish with my second bike. I couldn’t get the best out of it and improve my lap time the way I expected and therefore I’m a bit disappointed. Once again, I couldn’t improve enough in comparison to the others with a new tyre. I am really working hard on improving this aspect, but so far we haven’t found the solution. Apart from this, it was a positive day, as I had good feelings with the bike.”
Jordi Torres | 1’33.896 | P24
“Even though it doesn’t show in the time sheets, I am happy with our progress. We had a super-productive day and I managed to get a lot more accustomed to the bike and the tyres. This morning, I allowed myself to ride the way I felt most comfortable, whereas in the afternoon, I tried to change my riding style in a way that suits the bike and the tyres. I changed my position on the bike a lot and as a consequence, I improved on the corner exits. But more than anything, I started to understand the behaviour of the front tyre and I began to feel when it starts to move. I treated this with lots of respect at the beginning, but in the end I started to like it. Tonight, I will think a lot about all the new information that I collected and tomorrow, I hope to get a bit closer to the others.”
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Top four split by a tenth in Thailand:
Three manufacturers complete an incredibly tight top four in Buriram – but Lorenzo suffers a huge Turn 3 crash
How close do you like it? After Day 1 at the PTT Thailand Grand Prix it’s less than a tenth that splits the top four and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) who finishes Friday as the fastest man at Buriram. The Italian was only 0.031 faster than FP1’s quickest rider Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), however, and top Independent Team rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was close – with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in P4 and only 0.098 in arrears. It was far from lonely at the top.
Despite the tight timesheets, one of the biggest headlines of the day was a huge crash for Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) as the Spaniard fell at Turn 3 in the afternoon. Launched over the highside, he later confirmed it was a technical issue that caused the crash. Lorenzo was taken to the Medical Centre for a check up and then hospital in Buriram but declared fit. It did, however, put a dent in his attempts to move into that all-important top ten – and the Spaniard is already riding through the pain barrier following his Turn 1 crash at Aragon.
Back to the front and the gaps remained minimal. Fifth on the combined timesheets was Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing), who finished 0.050 behind Marquez to improve from P9 in FP1, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) a further 0.018 in arrears despite a fast crash at Turn 4 in FP2. Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) managed to string a strong second Free Practice session together to end the day seventh fastest, a big improvement from the Spaniard’s P16 result in FP1. He suffered a small crash at Turn 3 but rider ok.
Buriram’s fastest in testing, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team), ended the opening day in eighth after the three-time World Champion improved from P13 in the morning and finished just 0.295 from Dovi’s P1 time. Just behind the Spaniard was FP1’s second quickest man Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), who sits in a provisional Q2 place in ninth and sported Yamaha’s new fairing. Fellow YZR-M1 rider Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), meanwhile, left it late to grab tenth, ending the day 0.023 off Rossi and 0.331 behind Dovizioso in a tight top ten – much to the chagrin of Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing), who was the man to just lose out.
Franco Morbidelli (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was top rookie in P12 ahead of the man who was the fastest debutant at the test, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), with Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) locking out the fastest fifteen on Friday. After his crash, Lorenzo was P16.
With less than a tenth splitting the top four and a second separating the top 17, there’s everything to play for on Saturday. Tune in for FP3 as the premier class fight it out for that all-important automatic entry to Q2 at 09:55 local time (GMT +7), before qualifying begins at 14:10 local time in Buriram.
Pasini makes it a perfect sweep on Friday
Pasini topped the timesheets in both FP1 and FP2 to head Bagnaia and Marquez into Saturday
After ending FP1 at the top of the timesheets, Mattia Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) continued his perfect start to the PTT Thailand Grand Prix as he went fastest once again in FP2 and kept hold of the top spot. The Italian set a 1:36.839 to finish 0.142 ahead of Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46), with Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) 0.298 back but cementing P3 in the afternoon session.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40) ends Day 1 at Chang International Circuit fourth on the combined timesheets, just 0.008 off Marquez’ time, with fellow Italian Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) also leaping up the timesheets in the afternoon. It was P14 to P5 for the VR46 Academy rider, who sits half a tenth behind his compatriot as he rounds out the top five.
Just behind him, second Pons HP 40 rider Augusto Fernandez built on his positive FP1 to end the day sixth quickest and continue impressing, only separated from his teammate by Marini. The Spaniard leads the two Red Bull KTM Ajo machines of seventh place Brad Binder – winner in Aragon – and eighth quickest Miguel Oliveira, with the Portuguese rider also a key presence near the top in FP1 as he aims to close down the points gap to Championship leader Bagnaia.
Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) recovered from an FP1 crash to end the day in ninth, with Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up) rounding out the top ten in Thailand as the Frenchman remained in P10 from FP1.
That’s it from the intermediate class’ first taste of a hot Chang International Circuit. Can anyone stop Pasini’s early Thai GP dominance in qualifying? Time will tell and FP3 begins at 10:55 local time (GMT +7), with qualifying getting underway at 15:05.
Kornfeil quickest out the blocks at Buriram
Sasaki tops FP2 on return from injury but the Czech rider rules the roost on Day 1
Thanks to a 1:43.415 in FP1 at the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PruestelGP) ends Friday as the fastest man in the Moto3™ class after no one could better the time in the afternoon. Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) came closest as he beat Kornfeil into second place in FP2, with the Japanese rider impressing on his return from injury, but it was only 0.052 between the two. Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider) was P3 on the combined timesheets, and he’s still within a tenth of the top.
After the lightweight class’ first taste of Buriram, it looks tight. Fourth overall was Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who leaped up the timesheets in the afternoon and was still just over a tenth off P1. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) was another rider to dramatically improve and he went from P21 to P5 to end the day 0.151 down, just 0.013 ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Malaysian rider Adam Norrodin (Petronas Sprinta Racing) similarly enjoyed a much-improved afternoon session to leap up the combined timesheets from P22 to P7.
Eighth overall was John McPhee (CIP – Green Power) but the bigger headline for the Scot was a crash. Suffering a moment out of Turn 6, McPhee recovered before he then lost the front of his KTM, leaving Vicente Perez (Reale Avintia Academy 77) behind him with nowhere to go. Taken to the Medical Centre for a check up, McPhee was later declared fit.
Meanwhile, Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) was ninth overall after finishing the opening session just behind teammate Kornfeil in P2, and the Italian was a faller at Turn 4 early in the session. But his key Championship rival, points leader Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3), could only manage a time quick enough for P21 on the combined times. The Spaniard is only 0.673 down on Kornfeil at the top but it made for an out-of-character Friday. Can he climb his way up the timesheets ahead of qualifying?
Tony Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team) completed the top ten on the opening day at Chang International Circuit after some good form, with 0.322 covering P1 to P10 in the lightweight class. What will Saturday bring? Moto3™ FP3 begins at 09:00 local time (GMT +7) before qualifying at 12:35.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
Andrea Dovizioso tops the timesheets at the end of the first day of action in the Thailand Grand Prix at Buriram. Jorge Lorenzo high sides and crashes out in FP2
Andrea Dovizioso (04).
Andrea Dovizioso headed the field at the end of the first day of free practice for the Thailand Grand Prix at the Buriram circuit in the noth-east of the country. The Ducati Team’s Italian rider, third this morning, set the quickest time of the day in the last few minutes of FP2, lapping in 1’31.090.
Jorge Lorenzo, whose right foot was still in pain this morning when he took to the track for the first time following his Aragón crash, finished FP1 in seventeenth place but unfortunately crashed out again with a high side at Turn 3 during his second run. Jorge was immediately taken to the circuit medical centre where he was diagnosed with having abrasions to his right forearm and bruises to his left wrist and the right foot he already injured in Spain.
The Mallorcan rider then went to the local hospital to have further checks on his left wrist, but was in any case declared fit for tomorrow by the organizers’ medical staff.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team #04) – 1st (1’31.090)
“Today it went quite well. This morning the track conditions weren’t easy and we were struggling a bit, but in the afternoon we were able to make a step forward and my feeling improved. It’s still not enough because Marquez, and not only him, has an excellent pace and there are quite a few riders with good speed. We are all very close on lap times and so there’s still a lot of work to do. Let’s see what track conditions we will find tomorrow but, as I said, even though the feeling is a good one we still have to improve.”
Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team #99) – 16th (1’32.027)
“It was another tough day for me. I was surprised by the fact that the rear wheel went away suddenly and I crashed so violently after a high side. Luckily, and this is the most important thing, the checks confirmed that I’ve got nothing broken, but just a bruised left wrist and right ankle. I’ve been told that the cause was a technical problem that the team are still looking into, and tomorrow morning as soon as I get up I’ll see if I can race or not. I want to see how the night goes before taking the best decision.”