Moto3 World Championship leader calmly facing the most important weekend of his career. Teammate Alex Rins finishes seventh and Maria Herrera thirtieth.
The last round of the Moto3 World Championship for 2014, transcendental for Alex Marquez, had a good start for the Repsol rider. Marquez was third on Friday in practice, just behind his only rival in the fight for the title, Jack Miller. On a day in which Niccolo Antonelli was the fastest rider, the two championship contenders were just two tenths behind him with 0.068s between them. Alex Rins was seventh, less than two tenths off them both. On her return to the World Championship, Maria Herrera was thirtieth.
In the morning session, Marquez started the weekend calmly. Amidst track temperatures of just 15°C, the Spaniard was eighth and 0.613s off Antonelli, who was fastest in both sessions today. Marquez set a best time of 1:40.951 and put in a total of 19 laps. Teammate Rins, with a time of 1:41.179, completed 19 laps and finished fourteenth. Herrera, who put in the same amount of laps, set a top time of 1:43.153.
In the second free practice, Marquez lowered his best lap time from the morning by a second, completing a further 18 laps and stopping the clock in 1:39.916. Rins also improved and rose to seventh. Maria Herrera continued here progression by taking a second off her FP1 time and setting a 1:42.110.
Saturday morning will see a final practice session, followed by qualifying in the afternoon.
Alex Rins >> Audio
7th, 1:40.027, 38 laps, 152 km
“Today went pretty well and the feeling was good. It’s different when you go out calmly and with no pressure to win, although it’s my last race in the team and I want to get a good result. In the first practice session the track conditions were not too good and it was hard to ride fast. In the second session this improved, I had more grip and it helped me to feel more comfortable. With new tyres I had a good pace from the start. Maybe we lacked a fast lap when I put on the softest compound, like the others did.”
Alex Marquez >> Audio
3rd – 1:39.916, 37 laps, 148 km
“I am very happy because I think we’ve done a very good job. We thought about every step we have taken, however small, and they have always been constructive. In the morning the track was cold and it was harder for us, but in the afternoon the conditions improved somewhat. It was not easy because of the wind, but I felt very good. I rode comfortably and I was able to go at the limit a lot. This gives me confidence for tomorrow.”
Maria Herrera >> Audio
30th – 1:42.110, 38 laps, 152 km
“Whenever I go back to riding in the World Championship, the first practice I feel a little weird and I have to get used to the level. In the first session the track was a bit cold and slippery. I was not doing the times that we had set ourselves, so in the second session we had to try harder. I rode more comfortably, but there was more wind and I’m not very used to this bike. I was a bit annoyed, but I think with improvements at several points I can get my times down, because I’m adapting and the work we have done will be positive for tomorrow.”
