Repsol rider takes third fastest time on the first day of practice in Valencia. Viñales finishes sixth, Rins fourteenth and Oliveira twenty-fifth.
Reigning Spanish Champion, Álex Márquez, again starred in the World Championship —in this case the first free practice sessions for the Valencia Grand Prix. The Repsol rider took advantage of slick tyres in the final minutes of the second day free practice, to climb to the top of the timesheets after setting the third fastest time. Also positive was the performance of Maverick Viñales, who was sixth. Álex Rins and Miguel Oliveira concluded further back, in fourteenth and twenty-fifth, respectively.
The Moto3 riders debuted the brand new asphalt at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit. With the surface wet due to rainfall last night, Oliveira started well in preparation for the final race of the season, looking very comfortable in delicate conditions. The Repsol rider set the fastest time in the morning at 1’53.147, with Maverick Viñales in sixth place, seven tenths behind. Álex Rins and Álex Márquez were eleventh and fourteenth.
In the afternoon, despite the rain that fell again during the MotoGP session, the track dried up gradually and puddles dispersed, establishing a dry line that even allowed some riders to go out with slick tires. That was the case for a superb Álex Márquez at a track that he knows well. The Repsol rider was third, stopping the clock at 1’51.187, 0.684 down on fastest man John McPhee. With a good feeling on the wet surface, Maverick Viñales finished in sixth place on the timesheets. Álex Rins and Miguel Oliveira, who kept the wet tyres on until the end, placed fourteenth and twenty-fifth, respectively.
Maverick Viñales >> Audio
FP1 – 1:53.889, 14 laps, 56 km.
FP2 – 1:51.383, 17 laps, 68 km.
“I felt great fun in the wet. I’m regaining the confidence I needed and we are in the top positions. It was a difficult day, because there were both dry and wet sections of the track, and this required very smooth riding to find the line. I’m happy, because the bike performed at one hundred percent. I’m very motivated, all that has happened in the past is now forgotten and we will work to be as high up as possible.”
Miguel Oliveira >> Audio
FP1 – 1:53.147, 17 laps, 68 km.
FP2 – 1:52.513, 13 laps, 52 km.
“Overall, we are satisfied. In the morning we find new reference points. The track surface is completely new, and in the end I think we did a good job. In the afternoon we experienced an adverse situation and we had it a bit tricky initially. We did not know whether to go with slicks or wet tyres, but in the end we decided not to risk it and go with the wets.”
Álex Rins >> Audio
FP1 – 1:54.126, 17 laps, 68 km.
FP2 – 1:53.476, 18 laps, 72 km.
“In the first session, with new asphalt and a wet track, we felt pretty good and we got a good result. In the second free practice, the track was a little drier and many of the riders decided to mount slicks, so we followed suit. Throughout the entire session we worked on wet setup and for tomorrow the forecast is good, so we can continue our work.”
Álex Márquez >> Audio
FP1 – 1:55.030, 17 laps, 68 km.
FP2 – 1:51.187, 16 laps, 64 km.
“In the morning the track was completely wet and that helped us to check out the new asphalt. The truth is that this circuit has improved a lot with this change. Gradually we improved, but I never ended up happy with the grip I had. In the afternoon we made some changes and we improved a bit. At the end of the session the asphalt was dry and we decided to put on the slicks. We were the first to do that and we came out of it pretty well, as third position is good and will serve as motivation for tomorrow. “
