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Category: Superbikes
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ALEIX EIGHTH AND MAVERICK ELEVENTH IN THE GP OF AUSTRALIA
APRILIA RACING UNABLE TO CONFIRM THE GOOD PERFORMANCE FROM FRIDAY IN THE RACE, BOTH RS-GP MACHINES FINISH FAR OFF THE PODIUM
The good sensations experienced by Aprilia Racing on Friday were not confirmed on the Saturday dedicated to qualifying and, partially due to the change of programme forced by the looming foul weather, in the 27-lap GP.
In fact, the usual order of the Grand Prix and the Sprint Races was inverted due to the rain and high winds forecast for tomorrow, so the short race is still on the schedule.
On Friday, the factory RS-GP machines distinguished themselves, taking top-ten spots easily with Maverick in third place. However, Viñales struggled in Q2, finishing in the ninth spot on the grid. Espargaró did better than him, taking the fourth spot on the grid.
After a good start from the second row, Aleix progressively lost contact with the leading group, partly because of a battle for sixth that lasted throughout the entire race. The many overtaking manoeuvres, to his advantage and detriment, with Miller, Marc, and Alex Marquez, and in the finale also with Bezzecchi, progressively increased the gap between that group and the one leading the race. In the battle that lasted all the way to the finish line, Aleix finished eighth.
Farther back, Viñales had to settle for eleventh. Maverick did not start badly, but the battle in the central group kept him from finding a pace acceptable and consistent enough to attempt a comeback.
ALEIX
"It was a difficult race. From the start, we struggled with grip on some sections of the track, but just enough that we were unable to do the same pace as those at the front. I knew that it would be a race where we’d need to manage the tyre well and I tried to do so at the start, but it was not enough because, especially on the right-handers, there was a lot of spin. If the Sprint Race is held in the dry tomorrow, we may have better chances. I was fast in both qualifying and practice using the softer rear."
MAVERICK
"Nothing really out of the ordinary happened, this was simply our level today. I expected this, partly because the traction was not good yesterday. I tried to look after the tyres today, but it didn’t make much of a difference. We need to focus on improving the bike. If we are able to this weekend, it would be an important step, also in view of next year. What we need to do is understand the difficulties and learn from them."
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THE GOOD MOMENT CONTINUES FOR APRILIA RACING: IN AN EXTREMELY FIGHTED SESSION THE TWO RIDERS ACHIEVE THE TOP TEN WITH VIÑALES THIRD AND ALEIX NINTH
GOOD RACE PACE FOR BOTH WITH A VIEW TO THE GP WHICH, GIVEN THE VERY BAD FORECAST FOR SUNDAY, WILL BE RUN ON SATURDAY, INSTEAD OF THE SPRINT
Perhaps the most spectacular track of the entire calendar, both in terms of layout and the setting overlooking the ocean, confirmed itself right from the first MotoGP practices as the perfect theater for spectacular and hard-fought sessions. In which the Aprilia standard bearers performed well, working on the race pace on used tires and then easily gaining direct access to Q2 qualifying.
Maverick, just a few days after the Mandalika podium, confirmed his speed even on a drastically different circuit. Symptom of a now consolidated feeling with the RS-GP, which only requires precise work on the details. At Phillip Island the object of attention is the last sector, where both riders were less incisive. Nonetheless, Viñales set the third fastest time which includes him in the second qualifying and lays the foundations for a good weekend.
Aleix's performance goes beyond his ninth place finish, which came after a less than perfect time attack. The Spanish rider has in fact concentrated his work on race configuration, with medium rear tyre. Finding an interesting pace but, mirroring his teammate, losing a few tenths in the last sector.
ALEIX
"This year the track has a lot of bumps and I lose time especially in the last corner. On the rest of the circuit I feel okay, today we worked hard and well with the medium tire and I'm very happy with my pace. On the decision to do the race on Saturday: I agree, it seems like the right choice for the Championship, for the points up for grabs, for the fans. Then, if the conditions are right on Sunday, even with rain or wind, we will do the Sprint."
MAVERICK
"It was a very positive day, we worked well and the weather was also fantastic. I feel good on the bike, exactly like in Mandalika and it is very important to have these same sensations on two different circuits, with a different degree of grip even if we found the track with many bumps. For tomorrow we need to improve in the last sector, I lose a lot especially in the last corner, we will analyze the data with the team and if we understand why, and manage to fix the bike, we will be able to do very well. The first objective will be to start in the front rows because we have a good pace and it will be important to be in the fastest group straight away."
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VICTORY MISSED BY JUST THREE TENTHS AFTER A BRILLIANT RACE
THE GAMBLE ON THE "SOFT" DOESN’T PAY OFF FOR ALEIX, STILL IN THE POINTS
He believed, he tried, and he missed by just three tenths of a second after an extraordinary race. This sums up Maverick’s second place in Indonesia, a well-deserved podium after battling with both Martin (who then crashed) and Bagnaia. And, in the finale, contending with Quartararo’s aggressive attacks.
After a good start, Viñales settled in behind Martin, moving into the race lead during the twelfth lap. The narrow gap allowed Bagnaia to catch up and Maverick yielded the top spot to him during the nineteenth lap. When everything seemed to be set in stone, the Aprilia rider came back strong, even making a play for the win (which he missed by just three tenths of a second) under the chequered flag.
Aleix’s gamble choosing the soft rear tyre did not pay off. The compound he was most confident with did not allow him to be incisive after mid-race, after which the goal was simply to make it to the chequered flag without any pointless mistakes. The six points awarded for his tenth place are – in light of the pace demonstrated throughout the weekend – small consolation.
ALEIX
"Choosing the soft tyre for the rear was undoubtedly a mistake. Unfortunately, during the warm-up session this morning, I did not have a good feeling with the medium, and we decided to take the risk on the starting grid. I expected a drop in performance, but not so soon. Basically, after ten laps, it turned into a race of survival. It’s a pity because being competitive, being able to make a play for the podium in this MotoGP is anything but simple, so squandering chances like this leaves a bitter taste in your mouth."
MAVERICK
"Today I took advantage of yesterday’s experience. When Martin began to lap fast, I was patient, looking after the tyre. I knew that if I pushed too hard at the beginning, it would create difficulties in the finale. From this point of view, it was not a simple race. When there were just a few laps left, I decided to go all in. I wanted to put the pressure on Pecco and make a play for the win. In any case, it is still a good result and it confirms that when we exploit our technical package well, we can battle with the best."
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AFTER OUTSTANDING QUALIFIERS, MAVERICK FINISHES FOURTH IN MANDALIKA
CRASH AND DNF FOR ALEIX
All the elements were there for an Aprilia-coloured Sprint Race. Aleix and Maverick were fast in all the sessions, all the way to brilliant qualifiers where they took the second (Viñales) and third (Espargaró) spots on the starting grid. The thirteen laps today, however, left a bitter taste for the Italian team, fourth in the end with Maverick who had a bold start ahead of the rest, leading the race with confidence in the early stages and then limited by tyre wear. The podium that was just barely missed today is the minimum goal for the race.
Aleix had to make up ground after a less than perfect start – a mission which was anything but impossible, given the pace he had demonstrated up to that point. Just as he was overtaking, the Aprilia rider lost the front end of his RS-GP, involving a blameless Binder in a crash. He apologised straight away to his rival for the mistake and Aleix is now extra motivated to seek redemption tomorrow.
ALEIX
"First of all, I want to apologise to Brad. I did not intend for my move to be an aggressive one, but on this track, leaving your line by even just a few centimetres can be lethal. I’m sorry to have compromised his Sprint Race as much as I did my own. Unfortunately, I had to make up for lost ground after a less than optimum start. I had the pace and the confidence to do it, and that is important. I would have been able to continue, but given the gap, it would have been impossible to finish in the points, so I went back to the garage."
MAVERICK
"In other cases, I’d be happy with a fourth place, but I can’t be today because we had the potential to win. I started well and I was in complete control, without pushing to the limit. Unfortunately, from mid-race, I had no more grip at the rear. We are still analysing the reasons why and we still don’t have any certain results as to the causes at the moment. I am extremely proud of my team but, also in view of tomorrow’s race, we need to understand what happened and improve. Being unsatisfied today shows our mentality. On my part, I always give one hundred percent, and on the part of the team, they work constantly to achieve the result we know we deserve."
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THE APRILIA RS-GP MACHINES ARE AHEAD OF THE REST ON THE FIRST DAY IN INDONESIA
ALEIX, FIRST, AND MAVERICK, SECOND, BREAK THE MANDALIKA TRACK RECORD
The Aprilia Factory RS-GP machines started off strong for the first day of practice on the spectacular Indonesian Mandalika circuit. And they did so from the morning free practice sessions, with Viñales second and Espargaró third, both immediately at ease astride the Italian bike. And when things got serious, the two factory riders did even better, dominating the afternoon session, which is where the top ten riders are chosen to go straight through to Saturday’s Q2 qualifying session.
Aleix, in spite of a crash on one of his fast laps, set the new track record with a time of 1’30.474, just 154 thousandths faster than Maverick who, extremely consistent on every run and, although not finding a perfect lap, also finished faster than the old record.
ALEIX
"Today I really had fun riding the RS-GP. The new asphalt is an important step. Despite it being only Friday, it already has good grip and there are no bumps. The characteristics are suited both to the Aprilia and to my riding style. I’m especially pleased about our pace even on used tyres. After doing a good time, I was pushing perhaps a bit too hard and I crashed, but without consequences. It was important to get back out on the track and drop the time even farther with a less than perfect lap. That means that we have the right feeling and that there is still margin for improvement."
MAVERICK
"It was an extremely positive day, even over and above the final position, which is obviously outstanding. And the time came in spite of being unable to do a truly clean lap due to the yellow flags. We worked well and it is extremely satisfying to see how much we’ve improved since last season. Now we need to keep working well. We have the FP3 session tomorrow to get a good idea of how the bike is performing and to make a tyre choice."
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