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Category: Superbikes
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BritishQP: ENEA FROM THIRD ROW, DIGGIA 15TH
It was not the shiniest of Saturdays for Team Gresini MotoGP, who still scores a couple of solid results with both Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Both forced to partake in Q1 after the three, deciding free practice sessions, they finished qualifying in eighth and 15th place, respectively.
Fabio Di Giananntonio made a small mistake in the last sector of his penultimate attempt, which also heavily affected his last try. If there is still work to be done race-pace wise, he may have secured a very different type of result today had he not thrown away his last chance. The rider #49 will line up on row five, with the goal to score some more important points.
Enea Bastianini did a very good job as he finished eighth but only 0.339 seconds away from Zarco’s pole position – something that left a bitter taste in his mouth. The Italian rider will try and battle for the top positions tomorrow from 13:00 local time (GMT +1)
8th - ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (1’58.106s)
“We struggled this morning, both pace and time attack wise. We came close to making it directly into Q2, but it did not happen. During the afternoon, we made quite the step forward in all areas and we were quick again. We are getting our confidence back aboard the bike and I’m very comfortable and happy with the soft tyre choice. I struggle a bit more with the harder option so making the right decision will be key.”
15th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’58.948s)
“We haven’t been really quick during the weekend, but today we may have scored a better result and probably get into Q2. I made a mistake in the last sector, which didn’t allow me to launch myself the best way into the last attempt and that leaves a little doubt on our real potential. We need to work on the race pace: we’re improving, and we can really make a step forward in the warmup. Tyre choice, on the other hand, is still a big question mark.”
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MAVERICK THIRD IN THE FIRST TWO SESSIONS
PROVISIONAL FIFTH PLACE FOR ALEIX
The first two sessions after the long summer break for MotoGP had the Aprilia riders consistently among the best. In Silverstone, Maverick took the third best time in the combined standings, whereas Aleix is fifth, just 30 thousandths behind his teammate. This gap is an accurate representation of the situation on the track, characterised by the usual close standings, with 16 riders all within less than one second of one another.
Viñales found good sensations straight away on a track that is very much to his liking, proving to be incisive both over multiple laps and in the time attack at the end of the FP2 session. The Spanish rider has achieved a good feeling with his RS-GP that makes him optimistic for an important result in qualifying tomorrow.
Aleix, always among the fastest in race set-up, only gave up a few positions on the fast lap on soft tyres. But, given the very small gap, he doesn't see any result precluded for tomorrow's qualifying.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
"We got off on the right foot. I was only lacking a bit with the soft tyre but if we consider the gaps, we’re talking about thousandths of a second, so I’m not worried. The Aprilia is working well, as we expected, and along with Maverick, we did a good job that helped both of us. All that’s left now is to keep moving in this direction. The goal for qualifying is the front row, but it won’t be easy. There are a lot of extremely fast riders on this track."
MAVERICK VIÑALES
"I arrived confident here in Silverstone, a track that I’ve always liked, and indeed, the weekend began extremely well! We worked hard throughout the first part of the season and we’re reaping the fruits of those labours now. I’m happy that I felt comfortable in the saddle straight away. From the very first laps, the sensations were good and we were able to do a good job, both in terms of race pace and on the time attack in the finale of the FP2 session. Now we just need to keep it up. We are well aware of how important qualifying is ahead of the race and the goal for tomorrow is to take a spot on one of the front two rows."
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| POSITIVE START FOR APRILIA IN SILVERSTONE |
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MAVERICK THIRD IN THE FIRST TWO SESSIONS
PROVISIONAL FIFTH PLACE FOR ALEIX
The first two sessions after the long summer break for MotoGP had the Aprilia riders consistently among the best. In Silverstone, Maverick took the third best time in the combined standings, whereas Aleix is fifth, just 30 thousandths behind his teammate. This gap is an accurate representation of the situation on the track, characterised by the usual close standings, with 16 riders all within less than one second of one another.
Viñales found good sensations straight away on a track that is very much to his liking, proving to be incisive both over multiple laps and in the time attack at the end of the FP2 session. The Spanish rider has achieved a good feeling with his RS-GP that makes him optimistic for an important result in qualifying tomorrow.
Aleix, always among the fastest in race set-up, only gave up a few positions on the fast lap on soft tyres. But, given the very small gap, he doesn't see any result precluded for tomorrow's qualifying.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
"We got off on the right foot. I was only lacking a bit with the soft tyre but if we consider the gaps, we’re talking about thousandths of a second, so I’m not worried. The Aprilia is working well, as we expected, and along with Maverick, we did a good job that helped both of us. All that’s left now is to keep moving in this direction. The goal for qualifying is the front row, but it won’t be easy. There are a lot of extremely fast riders on this track."
MAVERICK VIÑALES
"I arrived confident here in Silverstone, a track that I’ve always liked, and indeed, the weekend began extremely well! We worked hard throughout the first part of the season and we’re reaping the fruits of those labours now. I’m happy that I felt comfortable in the saddle straight away. From the very first laps, the sensations were good and we were able to do a good job, both in terms of race pace and on the time attack in the finale of the FP2 session. Now we just need to keep it up. We are well aware of how important qualifying is ahead of the race and the goal for tomorrow is to take a spot on one of the front two rows."
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ALEIX: "THE BREAK CAME AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME"
MAVERICK: "WE ARE FAST AND THERE IS STILL MARGIN"
After a regenerating summer break, MotoGP World Championship heads back to the track on the Silverstone asphalt. Based on the triangular shape of a military airport's three runways, the English circuit has made history in motoring competitions on both two and four wheels. Even with all the updates in recent years, it has not lost its characteristics: long, complex, and demanding, it requires full concentration of riders and mechanics to adapt to both the fast parts and the more handling-oriented ones.
For both the Aprilia riders, Silverstone holds unforgettable memories. Last year, Aleix took the Italian manufacturer’s first, historic podium in MotoGP at the end of a breathtaking duel, whereas in 2016, Maverick won his first race in the premier class right here in England.
Motivation is renewed this season, with Espargaró a serious contender for the championship title and Viñales fresh from a podium finish in Assen. Conditions that set up a second half of the season with the Aprilia RS-GP machines playing prominent roles.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
"This year more than ever, we really needed this break! The first part of the season was incredible, but the new situation we are experiencing has also demanded a lot of physical and mental energy. So we really needed to recharge our batteries, also because we have some tracks ahead of us where both the Aprilia and I have the chance to continue racking up important results. Starting with Silverstone, a circuit that I like and where I have always managed to be rather competitive."
MAVERICK VIÑALES
"Given the way we finished the first part of a season on an upward trend, I can’t wait to get back on the track. The enthusiasm after the Assen podium made this break seem like an eternity, but now I'm ready and stoked to get back in the saddle of my Aprilia. The results show that we are improving and my feeling with the bike is extremely good but I feel like I still have margin to improve. I want to keep working together with the team in order to be able to achieve our full potential. I'm sure that from here to Valencia we’ll have great fun."
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HOLIDAYS OVER, HERE COMES SILVERSTONE
This year’s summer break has been among the longest the MotoGP World Championship has ever witnessed. Five weeks of no racing activities allowed Team Gresini MotoGP to rest, recharge and resume their journey ahead of a demanding, second part of the season. On-track proceedings will resume at Silverstone, the first of nine venues left on the calendar.
The English track, one the longest and more challenging on the calendar, is among the favourites of both Gresini standard bearers Enea Bastianini and Fabio DI Giannantonio. The #23 even took a podium finish in his world championship debut (back in 2014, Moto3 class), while the #49 has always finished in the top ten in his four participations between Moto3 and Moto2 – with his best result so far being a fifth place scored last year.
PAST SUCCESSES: Gresini Racing has been on the UK podium at Donington Park on several occasions at the start of the new millennium, courtesy of the usual suspects Gibernau and Melandri. The best result achieved at Silverstone in the top class was the maiden podium by Aprilia Team Gresini by Aleix Espargaró last year.
ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (5th in the championship standings – 105 points)
“We’re finally back in action! The break has been very useful to reset and look back at the mistakes made in the first part of the season. I really like Silverstone and I really want to get a good result, so we can return to our best form. Our season has been a bit of a rollercoaster right now, so we want to be more consistent from now on.”
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (20th in the championship standings – 18 points)
“Silvestone is a crazy good track. I like almost every circuit, but this one is simply fantastic. We return to action after a good break, which allowed us to recharge batteries between holiday, training and WDW (World Ducati Week). We’re surely ready: we hope to pick up from where we left off and continue to build on it for the whole second part of the season.”
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FROM 2023 MORE SPACE FOR TEAMS AND RIDERS WHO WILL BE ABLE TO GROW IN THE SADDLE OF A FORMATIVE, PERFOMANT BIKE WITH LOW RUNNING COSTS
After two years of growth and satisfaction, the Trofeo Aprilia 660 evolves to give even more space to the teams and riders who choose this formative formula to begin their path in the world of sport motorcycling.
The Aprilia RS 660, born as an easy and intuitive road bike, immediately showed incredible dynamic qualities and a propensity for track riding rooted in the very DNA of the Italian manufacturer's products. The torque-rich and usable twin-cylinder engine, a sincere and communicative chassis and a front end with the feeling of a real racing bike have made it, thanks to targeted modifications, a perfect formula in the transition from the minor categories to the higher displacement bikes. The constant on-track development conducted by BK Corse, the young test rider Tommaso Marcon and the expert Matteo Baiocco has brought the 660 Trofeo project to full maturity, an evolution that now allows the focus of preparation and management to be shifted directly to the teams and private riders who intend to engage in the Trofeo.
This is a necessary step in the growth process of the Trofeo 660 which, in parallel with the commitment in the Twins Cup category of MotoAmerica, confirms the value of both the Aprilia RS 660 and the management formula: performance worthy of much more expensive bikes and the ability to train young riders in the "modern" riding of top-level motorbike competition.
MASSIMO RIVOLA - APRILIA RACING CEO
"What we are announcing today is an important step in the evolution of the Trofeo Aprilia 660, which for us is not just a single-brand championship but a true concept. In which we believe and which we want to see grow, together with the riders and teams that participate in it. Entrusting the management of the bike and the race weekend directly to them means increasing, even more, the training value of this formula that we want to turn into a real 'School of Champions'.
We are doing this now, after two years of constant evolution, because we believe that from a technical point of view the Aprilia RS 660 has reached full maturity. This is thanks to the incredible work of our partner BK Corse, a structure whose competence and professionalism will remain an integral part of the Trofeo in its confirmed capacity as organiser. A road-derived bike that, in the hands of test rider Tommaso Marcon, manages to lap in 1'58 at Mugello is proof of which road to take for the future of the training categories. We are also thinking about this at international level, a continuation of the excellent work done with the Italian Federation in our two championships Aprilia 250 Sport Production and Trofeo 660".
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