The Repsol Honda Team rider sets the tenth fastest time in Barcelona, with Marc Márquez fifteenth
Pol Espargaró had a positive first day at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya. The Spaniard, who continues to adapt to the RC213V, set the third best time in the first Free Practice of the day, going less than 4 tenths slower than the fastest lap.
In the afternoon, he clocked a 1:39.983 for a provisional spot in Q2 on Saturday.
His teammate, Marc Márquez, also felt good at the end of Friday. In the morning, he was 4 tenths outside the Top 5.
During the first half of the second Free Practice session of the day, the Repsol Honda Team rider kept up a good pace, and headed the timesheets briefly. Conserving his energy, Márquez set a 1:40.120 to place fifteenth.
MARC MÁRQUEZ – 15th 1’40.120
“I struggled a bit today like every Friday, in FP2 I felt a bit better and tomorrow the aim is to do another step. We are here trying to understand the way in which to improve, step by step and making laps of the circuit to understand more. There’s a couple of points on track where I need to work to adjust my position, but compared to the last few races my body feels better. The work done to Turn 10 is very good, it’s a more natural corner and closer to what the rest of the circuit is, I think it’s a good opportunity to overtake in the last laps.”
POL ESPARGARÓ – 10th 1’39’.983
“It’s been a strange day honestly speaking. Normally this isn’t my best track because it’s hot with low grip and I’m a rider who prefers different conditions. The times came quite easily in the morning as well as in the afternoon, we were not pushing a lot and the times were coming. But when we put the soft on the rear of the bike, everyone gains an extra second but we can’t quite find it so this is where we are suffering at the moment. Aside from this, our feeling is very good and we have started the weekend well. We also have to say well done for the new Turn 10, it’s very nice.”
