Repsol rider second fastest to open weekend at Misano. Rins places seventh, Oliveira thirteenth and Álex Márquez twenty-fourth in wet weather.
Second in the Moto3 World Championship, Maverick Viñales was ambitious and confident today at the Marco Simoncelli Circuit in Misano. The Repsol rider finished second in a changeable day weather-wise to start the twelfth round of the season. He was behind Romano Fenati in the combined standings for the day. Álex Rins, Miguel Oliveira and Álex Márquez also started well, although they were unable to make the most of slick tyres at the end of the afternoon and placed seventh, thirteenth and twenty-fourth, respectively.
Summer appears to be over at Misano and autumn brought forward, as the San Marino GP kicked off with low temperatures, intermittent rain and strong winds that provided numerous crashes on track.
That did not prevent a good start for the Repsol riders, who had Miguel Oliveira in second in the rainy morning session. Viñales was sixth, Rins seventh and Márquez twelfth. The second session started in identical conditions, but times dropped as the asphalt dried out. Viñales ended the day second, with Rins, Oliveira and Márquez unable to get the slicks on in time. Whilst the former duo took seventh and thirteenth, Márquez was twenty-fourth for his first day at Misano.
Maverick Viñales >> Audio
FP1 – 1:57.280, 13 laps, 55 km.
FP2 – 1:50.997, 16 laps, 68 km.
“It was a difficult day, especially because of the track conditions, but we had a good feeling. We picked up our wet pace again and had a little bit of track time with slicks on a half-dry surface which allowed for a little more improvement. I felt quite comfortable and I’m happy, because everything is working properly. The bike is going well in the wet and in the dry, so we are thinking about the race and are very motivated. We can do well and I hope that the conditions don’t impede us from working at our own pace.”
Miguel Oliveira >> Audio (port)
FP1 – 1:56.711, 16 laps, 68 km.
FP2 – 1:55.114, 13 laps, 55 km.
“This morning we had a good session. On the wet track we were riding comfortably and eventually finished second, so I am happy with that. In the afternoon we had a small problem with the bike that lost us a few minutes, but when we went back out we managed to take fourth. and in the end we got the second position, so I’m satisfied. In the afternoon we had some doubts about what choice to make with the tyres; we used the wets but should have used slicks, so we only got a couple of laps in. We didn’t have time to adapt to the slicks, but generally I was very comfortable. I hope that tomorrow we can continue with our work –either in the wet or in the dry.”
Álex Rins >> Audio
FP1 – 1:57.581, 17 laps, 72 km.
FP2 – 1:53.432, 18 laps, 76 km.
“From the opening session I felt comfortable with the bike, which allowed us to complete a positive first day of work. After ending the first session in seventh, we were eager to ride in the afternoon. We started out with wet tyres, which allowed us to put down fast laps from the start, but later on the conditions changed a little. In any case, we will continue working in the same way that we have been up to now. I hope that tomorrow we can ride on a completely dry track.”
Álex Márquez >> Audio
FP1 – 1:58.252, 16 laps, 68 km.
FP2 – 1:56.161, 16 laps, 68 km.
“Although the track is completely new for us, at this circuit we had a good feel with the bike. We had top fifteen pace in the afternoon, which is a good sign. At the end of the session we weren’t able to put on slicks, so we have a large margin of improvement with which to work. Learning a track in the wet is difficult, as your braking points are very important and we didn’t have any to go by. I like this circuit as it suits my riding style, so I hope to continue working tomorrow in order to have a good showing.”
