Motul FIM Superbike World Championship
Motorland Aragon
Alcaniz, Spain
April 13, 2018
Free Practice Three Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Jordi Torres, Spain (MV Agusta F4 RC), 1:51.212
2. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:51.340
3. Alex Lowes, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:51.347
4. Marco Melandri, Italy (Duc Panigale R), 1:51.638
5. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), 1:51.811
6. Leon Camier, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:51.818
7. Tom Sykes, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:52.108
8. Michael Rinaldi, Italy (Duc Panigale R), 1:52.213
9. Xavi Fores, Spain (Duc Panigale R), 1:52.227
10. Michael Van Der Mark, Netherlands (Yam YZF-R1), 1:52.386
11. Jake Gagne, USA (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:52.778
12. Roman Ramos, Spain (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:52.897
13. Davide Giugliano, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), 1:52.967
14. V. Leonov, Russia (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:52.978
15. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:53.141
16. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Honda CBR1000RR SP2), 1:53.349
17. Loris Baz, France (BMW S1000RR), 1:53.502
18. Yonny Hernandez, Colombia (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:54.206
19. Ondrej Jezek, Czech Republic (Yam YZF-R1), 1:54.459
20. Leandro Mercado, Argentina (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:58.972
21. Chaz Davies, UK (Duc Panigale R), no lap time recorded
Combined Free Practice Times (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Marco Melandri, Italy (Duc Panigale R), 1:50.652
2. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:50.691
3. Tom Sykes, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:50.849
4. Chaz Davies, UK (Duc Panigale R), 1:51.125
5. Jordi Torres, Spain (MV Agusta F4 RC), 1:51.212
6. Alex Lowes, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:51.347
7. Michael Van Der Mark, Netherlands (Yam YZF-R1), 1:51.347
8. Xavi Fores, Spain (Duc Panigale R), 1:51.705
9. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), 1:51.811
10. Leon Camier, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:51.818
11. Michael Rinaldi, Italy (Duc Panigale R), 1:51.954
12. Davide Giugliano, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), 1:52.535
13. Loris Baz, France (BMW S1000RR), 1:52.678
14. Jake Gagne, USA (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:52.778
15. Roman Ramos, Spain (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:52.897
16. V. Leonov, Russia (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:52.978
17. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:53.141
18. Leandro Mercado, Argentina (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:53.229
19. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Honda CBR1000RR SP2), 1:53.349
20. Yonny Hernandez, Colombia (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:53.466
21. Ondrej Jezek, Czech Republic (Yam YZF-R1), 1:54.459
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
#AragonWorldSBK– Day 1
Melandri maintains lead on Day 1 at Aragon
Rain returned at the start of FP3, with only one change in the top ten from FP2
Melandri mastered tricky conditions in Spain
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) kept his Friday lead ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), as the Free Practice Three at MotorLand Aragon proved to be short-lived. The black clouds that crept over the five-kilometre track during the WorldSSP FP2 opened up just as the WorldSBK riders had started to record times. As such, just ten riders managed to improve on their previous best laps.
The session started with no issues, weather or other, with every rider bar Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) setting out around the track. Fifteen minutes later, however, with rain drops coming down harder and heavier, everyone had made it back to their boxes. Only a small group made it back to the track at any point of the remainder of the session, Loris Baz (GULF Althea BMW Racing Team) running for the last ten minutes.
As such, there were no changes across the top four, with Melandri, Rea, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Davies hanging onto their previously recorded positions, and confirming that the KRTs and Ducatis are the bikes to beat over this weekend.
Behind them, local rider Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) recorded the fastest lap of the FP3 with the fastest times in the first three sectors, and managing to move up a place to fifth, ahead of Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) who also improved on his FP2 time by four tenths. Behind him remained his teammate Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) in seventh, with leading independent rider Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team) in eighth after also failing to improve on his FP2.
The biggest change from FP2 to FP3 came in the final two top-ten positions, with Lorenzo Salvadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) both recording better times and just edging Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team) and the final Panigale into 11th. The Italian, in his Aragon WorldSBK debut, will be disappointed after remaining amongst the fastest riders for most of the first two sessions, and will have to fight back from Superpole 1.
Baz (13th), despite riding out for the end of the session, could not improve his times and will also fight to get into the top 12, alongside Davide Giugliano (Milwaukee Aprilia), who finished twelfth in his 2018 debut. The last non-independent rider, Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team), moved up from 17thto 14th, still not enough to make it into tomorrow’s Superpole 2.
#AragonWorldSBK at MotorLand Aragon: Friday
1. Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1:50:652
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.039
3. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.197
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team:
Camier tenth overall in rain-riddled Aragón WorldSBK practice
Aragón Round
MotorLand Aragón, Spain
The opening day of action at Motorland Aragón was ruled by unsettled weather, as Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team riders Leon Camier and Jake Gagne took on the challenging conditions to end the day in tenth and fourteenth place respectively on combined times.
Friday practice at Aragón proved to be a frustrating affair for the riders, as the mixed weather conditions made it difficult to find a rhythm. Having sampled both wet and dry conditions in the opening two sessions, both riders were able to improve their pace in the dry opening stanza of Free Practice 3 before the re-appearance of rain scuppered their chances of further improving their standing. At the end of the day Camier’s best lap time of 1’51.818 left him one second off the top of the timesheet, while Gagne’s personal best was a 1’52.778.
With further rain a possibility over the remainder of the weekend, the wet first practice session gave the riders a valuable opportunity to assess the Fireblade’s performance in wet conditions at Aragón and Camier proved that the CBR1000RR was effective in the wet as well as the dry, finishing third quickest in the wet Free Practice 1 session.
The next WorldSBK session is tomorrow morning’s Free Practice 4 session at 08:45 local time (GMT +2) before qualifying takes place with Superpole 1 at 10:30 and Superpole 2 at 10:55. Race 1 commences at 13:00.
Leon Camier 2
We were able to try a few different things today with the Fireblade but unfortunately the weather didn’t help us as we could’ve done with some more dry track time. The bike was amazing in the wet this morning and I felt comfortable right away, then in the dry we made some good changes to the bike but unfortunately the rain in FP3 meant we couldn’t try for a quick lap on new tyres. We’ve got a bit of work to do before qualifying and Race 1 but I think we’ve got a good direction to go with setting wise, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow.
Jake Gagne 45
It was an interesting day with the weather as it meant we had to try a lot of different settings on the bike. It was good to get some wet track time this morning and I felt I could get up to speed on the bike right away. When the track was dry we were able to try a few different things and by FP3 I felt we made a big step with the bike, so it was unfortunate that the rain then came as I was hoping for more dry track time. Overall though I felt we made a lot of progress during the three sessions and I’m feeling good ahead of qualifying and the race.
Kervin Bos
Team Manager
The weather today was quite challenging for the team and the riders, however the base setting of the CBR1000RR Fireblade here is working quite well as evidenced by how quick Leon was straight away in the wet morning session. It was a shame that we only had one fully dry session as it meant we were limited in trying different settings and also couldn’t try to see what our one lap pace on new tyres was, so this leaves us with a bit of work to do in FP4 tomorrow morning. However, both Leon and Jake are pleased with how the bike is performing here at Aragon, we just need to make some small adjustments and hopefully we can make a good step tomorrow.
More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Aprilia:
Milwaukee Aprilia make Superpole 2 cut in mixed conditions at MotorLand Aragon
Motorland Aragon 13 / 04 / 2018
Free Practice Report
Milwaukee Aprilia began their European WorldSBK campaign with P9 and P12 for their riders Savadori and Giugliano at the MotorLand Aragon circuit
Free Practice 1 times were unrepresentative with the entire field covered by 7 seconds, after heavy rainfall on Friday morning meant that the session ran in very wet and cold conditions. Low grip on track determined that the riders headed out on full wet tyres as they explored the limits of grip, with stand-in rider Davide Giugliano getting his first experience of the Aprilia.
As sunshine broke through in the afternoon, FP2 gave the field a chance for dry running and an opportunity to fit slick tyres for the first time. Rider Lorenzo Savadori ended the session P10, shadowed by Davide in P11 as the field closed up.
FP3 began in the dry, but saw light rain and strong winds in the first half of the session that persisted to the end. The riders stayed on slicks but the mixed conditions urged caution, and Lorenzo and Davide ended the session P5 and P13 respectively.
Lorenzo progresses straight to Saturday’s Superpole 2 session with a combined time of 1’51.811, and Davide must take part in Superpole 1 after his combined time of 1’52.535.
Free Practice 4 begins on Saturday 14th at 08:45 local time (GMT +1) ahead of Superpole 1 at 10:30, Superpole 2 at 10:55 and Race 1 at 13:00.
Lorenzo Savadori #32 – Aprilia RSV4-RF
FP1: 2’05.123 – P10
FP2: 1’51.956 – P10
FP3: 1’51.811 – P5
Combined result: 1’51.811 – P9
Superpole 2 automatic entry
“We need to do a bit of work overnight, because at Chang we were able to make the bike easier to change and to make it more comfortable for me. We have some good ideas for what we can do tomorrow.
The weather today was not easy for us with wet then dry and wet conditions, but for me the bike was the same in all conditions and needs some improvements. We are still looking for the solution but I think we can have some good results on Saturday.
It’s good to have Davide with the team also. He is a good guy and a fast rider, and I’m happy to work with him. I wish also to Eugene a quick recovery.”
Davide Giugliano #34 – Aprilia RSV4-RF
FP1: 2’06.241 – P17
FP2: 1’52.535 – P11
FP3: 1’52.967 – P13
Combined result: 1’52.535 – P12
Superpole 1 entry
“Today was my first experience with the Milwaukee Aprilia bike on track, and for me it was really good. The bike feels nice to ride and it has good power, so I’m happy with it.
The track conditions were pretty difficult today, up and down. In FP1 the most, there was so much water and it was not easy for my first laps on the bike! I can’t say yet how tomorrow will be, we still have another practice session before Superpole and the race so we will just see how it goes in the morning first.
I feel confident though, the crew worked really hard today and they are great guys. I want to say thanks to Shaun and to the team for all the help, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”
Keep up to date with the Milwaukee Aprilia team on their website, and Facebook, Twitter & Instagram channels
More, from a press release issued by Gulf Althea BMW:
Gulf Althea BMW on track at Motorland Aragón
Alcaniz (Spain), Friday 13 April 2018
The third round of the 2018 Superbike World Championship got underway today at Motorland Aragón, in Spain. The Gulf Althea BMW Racing team have completed an encouraging first day, on track with SBK rider Loris Baz and young Stock1000 entry Alessandro Delbianco.
SBK: Baz was out on the Spanish track for the day’s three timed practices. Making progress throughout the day, the Frenchman worked hard to find the best set-up for his BMW S1000 RR at the Aragón track. Seventh at the end of session one, which took place on a wet track, he lowered his time in session two, positioning thirteenth with a 1’52.678. Unfortunately, the third session was conditioned by rain, preventing almost all of the riders, Baz included, from improving any further. The Gulf Althea BMW rider will therefore take part in tomorrow’s Superpole1, having closed in thirteenth place today.
Loris Baz:
“A tough day. The bike wasn’t bad in the wet this morning, and we were seventh. In the second session, I didn’t have the right feeling, but we pressed on, trying to change something to make an improvement. We improved a little, but not enough to be in the top ten, which is disappointing. In the last session, I didn’t go straight on a fresh tyre and then unfortunately it came on to rain, so we’re in Superpole1 tomorrow. I hope we can do more tomorrow morning, as I want to improve my feeling on the bike.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Strong Start In Mixed Conditions For KRT
WorldSBK riders Jonathan Rea (KRT) and Tom Sykes (KRT) overcame the complications of a day of mixed weather at Motorland Argon to go second and third fastest respectively in combined qualifying. They will now start the Superpole 2 qualifying session tomorrow in positive mood, ready to gain the best possible starting position for the 18-lap opening race later on Saturday afternoon.
With new regulations in place that limit the top revs of the Kawasaki more than other manufacturers of the same engine configuration in 2018, finding optimum gear and engine relationships for every corner is sometimes a tough challenge. The technical staff steadily improved Jonathan and Tom’s overall machine set-up today, despite a wet track surface affecting FP1 and FP3 at times.
Rea finished his day satisfied that real progress had been made, and he was only 0.039 seconds behind the fastest rider, Marco Melandri. Sykes was just 0.197 seconds from the quickest time, with the next nearest rider almost half a second from the best rider on day one.
The task for each KRT rider is now to make final preparations in the final FP4 session early on Saturday morning, and then gain a front row starting position in Superpole 2, to help ensure a clean start in race one. The race start is scheduled for 13.00 local time, with race two taking place at the same time on Sunday 15th April.
Should Sykes score the Superpole win on Saturday it would make him the stand alone record holder for WorldSBK pole wins, a status he currently shares with Troy Corser.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “It was a really difficult first day because of the weather. We arrived here for the first session with the gearbox so far out and I was in between gears in all these second gear corners, which are so important or a good lap time here. We tried to find a good compromise in the gearing and in the second session it started to feel a bit better. The difference between all the tyre options that Pirelli has brought here is quite large. The tyres are the standard SC1, the development SC1 and then the standard SC0 race tyre and the difference between them is large. So it may be difficult tomorrow because we have not had a lot of time to set the bike up and do a race simulation – but I feel quite good with the bike anyway. We had ten minutes or so in FP3 before the rain came again and I feel we improved the bike again. We are going a little bit into the unknown now but I am happy with the bike at least. I am ready to try and have a good Superpole before race one.”
Tom Sykes, stated: “I feel we are prepared for the race tomorrow. Not too bad on the first day because the bike is working well and I feel we have good speed, to be honest. It is just a shame that the third free practice session was not as good. The weather conditions made it almost not worth doing for anybody. I will be speaking to my crew chief Marcel and the boys in the garage later as we have a couple of things to iron out and fine tune. It is relatively positive that we are good to go again on the third different circuit of the season. It should be better weather for tomorrow, but you just never know here. I think we are in a little micro climate at Motorland and we will get what we are given. The set-up is there in preparation for tomorrow and race one.”
More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:
Xavi Forés eighth after Friday Free Practice
Alcañiz, 13th April 2018. The Barni Racing Team showed competitive form on the first day of riding at the Motorland Aragon Circuit. In his home track Xavi Forés wrapped up the day in eighth place in the combined standings. The Spaniard positioned his Ducati Panigale R towards the top 10 and he’s qualified directly to the Superpole 2 for tomorrow.
After the wet first session due to the rain of the last night Forés gradually improved his pace and finished Free Practice 2 taking the seventh place with his best lap 1’51.705, one second far from first. Still looking for the right confidence with the bike setup, in FP3, the flagbearer of the team from Bergamo was able to do only three faster lap before the rain started again. Only ten riders managed to improve his best time and Xavi was moved down to eight place.
Tomorrow, in front of his home fans, Forés will try to improve his position in the starting grid.
Marco Barnabò, Principal Manager
“Maybe something more was expected from this day. We knew we would have had to work on the bike because every track is different from the others, but the weather condition didn’t let to us setting the bike well. We didn’t find immediately the right way and we had only one completely dry session. We still have to try different solutions and we hope to be ready for Superpole tomorrow.”
Xavi Forés, #12
“I suffered lack of confidence with the front of the bike. I didn’t find the feeling and I need to ride at my best. The rain was one more problem because we cannot lap constantly and because of that we still have some problem in the machine. We have to improve a lot tomorrow morning in order to do a good qualifying session.”
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta Reparto Corse:
TEAM MV AGUSTA REPARTO CORSE HEADS BACK TO EUROPE
Team MV Agusta Reparto Corse enjoyed a good start in Aragon, Spain, home of the third round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Jordi Torres closed the opening day in 5th position, qualifying for Superpole2, while Raffaele De Rosa ended up 7th in WorldSSP free practice, followed by his teammate Badovini 9th.
WorldSBK – MV Agusta Reparto Corse
After a first session fully dedicated to get familiar with the bike in wet conditions, Jordi Torres returned to the track in the following sessions managing to constantly improve his time. In the FP2, on a dry track, the Spanish rider has increased his pace going to close 6th (1’51.559) 0.9s far from the leader. Torres set the fastest time in the third and final round of the day, lowering his best lap time to 1.51.212 and ending up in 5th place.
WorldSSP – MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag
Both riders of MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag team put on a good performance in the opening session of the WorldSSP class, riding in wet condition and setting the best lap for most of the session. In the final minutes, with the track starting to dry, Badovini closed 6th and De Rosa 11th.
The performance of Raffaele De Rosa in the second round of the day was characterized by a crescendo, with the Italian able to jump up to the 7th position in the timesheet thanks to a 1’55.517s lap time . Ayrton Badovini posted the 9th best time (1’55.854). Tomorrow both the riders will face the Tissot-Superpole2 scheduled for 14.25 local time.
Jordi Torres – I am pleased with how we managed this first day here in Aragon. Today the weather made things a little bit more complicated but we managed to do a good job with the bike, even in wet conditions. In this kind of track starting into the firsts rows is a crucial point to make a good race, so now we have to stay focused on tomorrow’s Superpole2.
Raffaele De Rosa – We have reached the goal of entering in Superpole 2 and now we have to keep working to further improve our pace. Today I had the opportunity to lap in wet conditions and I have to say that the feedback I got was really positive. I want to thank all the team because they are doing a great job and I am sure that soon we will get some very good result.
Ayrton Badovini – I’m happy to have direct access to the Superpole 2, because to make a good race we need to start from the front rows on the grid. The work on the bike is going well and I am really riding the way I like. We still have several steps ahead but I am happy and confident of the work we are doing.
More, from a press release issued by Pata Yamaha:
Nothing to Separate Lowes & van der Mark on Friday in Aragon
Free practice
The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team got off to a positive start on Friday in Aragon at Round 3 of the 2018 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship despite mixed weather conditions. Alex Lowes ended the day in sixth overall on the combined timesheets after making the most of the dry track time available in FP3 before the rain returned to set a 1:51.347, 0.695s off the fastest rider. Incredibly, this was exactly the same time as his teammate Michael van der Mark’s fastest lap set in FP2, with both riders making it through to Saturday’s SP2.
It was mission accomplished for the Pata Yamaha team on Friday at Motorland Aragon, as Early rain meant that FP1 was held on a wet track and then the showers returned 10 minutes into FP3, with FP2 the only fully dry session. After the stifling heat and humidity in Thailand at the last round, the changeable conditions that greeted the team in Spain were quite a change. The rain showers made it hard for everyone to find a good setup and meant that the first priority for the team was to ensure both riders made it through to Superpole 2 on Saturday, a target that was successfully achieved.
Lowes is aiming to continue the podium form that saw him finish in a superb third place in Race 2 at Buriram, but having received a number of updates in Buriram, it was important he got track time with his Pata Yamaha R1 to find the best setup for the Motorland Aragon track. Unfortunately, a wet FP1 meant that he did not get the dry track time desired, with the 27-year-old British rider ending the session in ninth with a 2:04.827 (+2.549s). By the time FP2 came around, the sun was shining and the track was dry, with Lowes setting a 1:51.727 (+1.075s) as he started to settle into a rhythm. FP3 began dry, but with ominous storm clouds appearing in the sky, the 2013 British Superbike Champion knew he didn’t have much time before the rain came. He went out right at the start of the session pushing hard, improving to a 1:51.347 – amazingly matching his teammate’s time from FP2 exactly – to end the day sixth overall on the combined timesheets, 0.695s off Marco Melandri, ready to battle in SP2 on Saturday.
Van der Mark was another looking to carry his stunning podium momentum from the previous round to Aragon after he stormed to second in Race 2 in Thailand. The 25-year-old Dutch rider was quick straight away in the wet conditions of FP1, battling in the top three for most of the session before ending it in fifth place with a 2:03.427. The dry conditions that greeted everyone for FP2 also saw him hit the ground running, setting a 1:51.347 – his fastest time of the day – and impressing once again. While trying to work on the perfect setup for Saturday’s qualifying and race, he only managed five laps in FP3 before the rain came, with his time from FP2 seeing him end the day in seventh due to his second fastest lap time being slower than his teammate Lowes. The 2014 WorldSSP Champion knows there is work to do still but is confident of being able to fight at the front on Saturday.
The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team return to action at Motorland Aragon at 8:45 am local time (CEST) on Saturday morning for FP4, with SP2 scheduled for 10:55 am and the 18-lap Race 1 due to start at 1 pm.
Alex Lowes
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team – 6th – 1:51.347
“To be honest, my feeling with the bike has been quite tough today. I don’t feel as good as I expected and I was just a bit too slow for where I want to be. I have a few areas I want to improve tomorrow and I am looking forward to trying to change the bike a bit, improve the feeling and have a really good race on Saturday. It is important for us to build on our momentum from Phillip Island and Thailand. We have had quite a few upgrades at the last round, as well as at the start of the season, and that fact, plus the new regulations, make Friday quite stressful for us because we have not been able to test here with the new regulations so we are having to start from scratch. Also, with the weather today we lost quite a bit of track time, which can make it hard work but, as I said, we have areas to improve so while my pace was a bit slow today, let’s see what we can do tomorrow!”
Michael van der Mark
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team – 7th – 1:51.347
“I am really happy as this morning the track was wet and straight from the start we were fast. We improved lap by lap and it was good to do a wet session with the bike and get the feeling with our setup. FP2 was completely dry and, once again, I felt really good from the start. Then I had a point where I struggled a bit but at the end, we put some fresh tyres on and I improved a lot, although I was still struggling a bit to get the bike stopped. We tried to improve the feeling in this area in FP3, but we only managed a few laps and I didn’t feel any better, so, we have a lot of work to do and it will be hard to be completely ready for tomorrow as we only have a short session in the morning. If you looked how we managed to start every session today and be quick right from the word go, I think we can be quite happy!”
Paul Denning
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team Principal
“From the heat and humidity of Thailand to arriving to snow here at Aragon on Wednesday was quite a contrast and the poor European weather has affected all the team’s setup work today. Nonetheless, we are relatively satisfied with what we have achieved. Michael was particularly comfortable in the wet and immediately fast in FP2 in the dry. Alex struggled a little bit more with the balance of his R1 in the dry FP2 but even in the very limited amount of laps before the rain came in FP3, he managed significant improvements and, more importantly, improved his own confidence and feedback from the bike. It’s going to be an interesting Race 1 tomorrow. Effectively there is a completely meaningless FP4 at 8:45 am tomorrow morning, a couple of laps in SP2, then we race. In this kind of situation, it is a massive challenge for the team and the engineers to take the limited amount of data they have and give the riders the best bike they can for Race 1. As I say, it is challenging but we believe at Pata Yamaha that we have got a very good base machine and we can be up amongst the front-runners both in qualifying and the race tomorrow.”