The first day of practice at the circuit of Mugello brought different sensations for the Repsol 125cc riders. Good ones for for Esteve Rabat and Scott Redding, who were 8th and 9th on their Aprilia RSAs, respectively and bad ones for Marc Márquez and Cameron Beaubier, a fall for the former and a retirement for the latter who still has not recovered from an injury.
Bright sunshine and high temperatures welcomed the riders preparing for the Italian GP in the first free practice session. The track temperature reached almost 50º and was the biggest worry for the Team BQR. Even so Esteve Rabat and Scott Redding got good sensations from the very start of the session –both the engine and the suspension – as the two chose to try out different tyre compounds, a critical aspect on this demanding circuit.
In the end Rabat was 8th fastest, 4 thousandths ahead of his teammate Scott Redding, who in turn was 1.2 seconds behind Julián Simón the fastest rider today. Marc Márquez ended in 12th position. The Repsol rider ended the session 4 minutes before schedule after a spectacular fall on one of the chicanes. Márquez was thrown off the KTM bike after hitting a bump but fortunately the consequences of the incident were nothing serious.
Cameron Beaubier his teammate got permission from his doctors to ride but after 4 laps of the tough track in Tuscany, chose to park up his bike until the next race, in Spain. Beaubier damaged his left wrist when he fell at Le Mans, and although he was eager to ride his KTM FRR 125 again the Repsol rider made the decision together with his team, the idea being not to take any unnecessary risks and to wait for a complete recovery.
Marc Márquez, 2’02.007 secs, 17 laps, 89 km. >> Audio
“Last year it took me some time to adapt to this circuit, and today at the beginning it was the same. Bit by bit we got a good set up, but we still have a lot of work to do. The important thing is that the engine is going well, I have a very competitive bike but we have to round off the chassis and the suspension. It is a little nervous on bumps, so this afternoon we will work to get it better for tomorrow and so be able to get nearer the front.”
Esteve Rabat, 2’00.731 secs, 22 laps, 115 km. >> Audio
“Each time I went out on the track the bike was better, both the engine and the chassis. The first time I went out I did not feel too comfortable but after every pit stop it got better. And I was lucky to get behind some good riders, good references which on this circuit are essential because with such a long straight if you do not get in somebody`s slipstream it is difficult to set a good time. Now we will work to round off the set up but the most important thing is to find a good group for the qualification session and to push together because that is when you go the fastest.”
Scott Redding, 2’00.735 secs, 21 laps, 110 km. >> Audio
“The first session today went quite well, because last year I think I was 18th or 19th. This year we have improved on that position a lot. It was very hot but the track was fine and the conditions are the same for all of us. The engine and suspension worked well although it is something we can still improve. I am pleased with how things went as I was fast right from the start and I was fighting with the whole group.”
Cameron Beaubier, retired >> Audio
“I have two cracked bones in my arm and I tried to get as fit as possible and so be able to ride. In fact I was treated in the Mobile Clinic and they said it was OK for me to ride, and that is what I did but I have no power in my arm. After a week with the arm immobilised I have no stability and it hurt a lot when braking. It is better to stop than to be riding way behind the rest and taking the risk of getting more damage.”
