Team Suzuki Press Office – March 3rd.
Alex Rins: 7th – 1:54.650 (+ 0.621)
Andrea Iannone: N/A
• Alex Rins concludes the final test with positivity and strength.
• Andrea Iannone forced to sit out third day with ill health.
• Final settings found ahead of opening race of the season.
Team Suzuki ECSTAR had mixed fortunes on the final day of the last winter test at Losail International Circuit. Nevertheless, overall it has been a positive three days, with the opportunity for the team to adjust and define settings and work on race setup for the first Grand Prix of the year in ten days’ time.
Alex Rins kept the crucial consistency which he has shown throughout the winter, and after trying a race simulation he completed the day in 7th place, +0.621 from the top of the timesheet. His overall feeling was very positive.
Unfortunately Andrea Iannone could not take to the track due to sickness. The symptoms began to set in overnight on Friday and his condition worsened, especially with the addition of a fever. This made it impossible for him to ride. He was finally given the diagnosis of gastroenteritis with fever, which means he will need some time to recover.
At the end of the session the track was flooded by the organisers in order for the riders to check the conditions should rain strike Qatar during the race weekend, it was compulsory for the riders to check the feel of the tyres and the glare of the wet track under the lights. With Andrea Iannone unable to ride, this task was undertaken by Alex Rins.
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager
“Overall it was a good test, except for the fact that Andrea was sick today and had to cancel his track time. But on the second day he did a race simulation and he could get some important information to prepare for the race. Alex did all three days of testing so we were able to define his settings for the race. I am confident that we have prepared well for the first race.”
Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“We have finished our testing. Today was good and bad; bad because unfortunately Andrea couldn’t ride due to his sickness, so that was a pity. But it’s OK, we’ll just have to finalise things with him during the race weekend. And Alex ended these winter tests with a long run and good pace, so I think we are ready for the GP weekend. Everybody wants to get to the race now, we’re all tired of testing, and we want to know the answers to our questions!”
Alex Rins
“I think the three days riding here have been very good, and it’s been a very positive test because we tried many things and we confirmed all these things. We also tried a race simulation and the race pace was quite good, so I’m really excited to start this new season with a lot of confidence, and I think that we have a great package.”
Andrea Iannone
“I’m disappointed I couldn’t ride today, but I was feeling very bad. I tried but it was impossible to go out on track. I felt very sick and weak. Anyway, the progress we’ve done in this last test leaves me quite satisfied, we had two positive days and we have a good base. We missed out on the fine tuning work we were supposed to do today, but we will work hard in free practice before the race to recover the tasks we lost. Apart from my sickness, my feeling is good with the bike and the team.”
Info.
Circuit: Losail International Circuit, Qatar
Air temperature: 20c
Track temperature: 19c
Humidity: 49%
QATAR TEST – Classification after Day 3:
1. ZARCO, Johann Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:54.029 29 / 53
2. ROSSI, Valentino Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:54.276 0.247 0.247 42 / 49
3. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 1:54.331 0.302 0.055 34 / 50
4. CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 1:54.457 0.428 0.126 29 / 57
5. VIÑALES, Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:54.471 0.442 0.014 38 / 40
6. MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 1:54.591 0.562 0.120 70 / 75
7. RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:54.650 0.621 0.059 30 / 48
8. PETRUCCI, Danilo Alma Pramac Racing 1:54.659 0.630 0.009 32 / 56
9. LORENZO, Jorge Ducati Team 1:54.692 0.663 0.033 43 / 63
10. MILLER, Jack Alma Pramac Racing 1:54.749 0.720 0.057 54 / 56
11. PEDROSA, Dani Repsol Honda Team 1:54.774 0.745 0.025 29 / 44
12. MORBIDELLI, Franco EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:55.132 1.103 0.358 38 / 54
13. SMITH, Bradley Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:55.179 1.150 0.047 42 / 47
14. ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:55.232 1.203 0.053 26 / 60
15. SYAHRIN, Hafizh Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:55.273 1.244 0.041 30 / 44
16. ABRAHAM, Karel Ángel Nieto Team 1:55.300 1.271 0.027 25 / 50
17. BAUTISTA, Alvaro Ángel Nieto Team 1:55.347 1.318 0.047 34 / 58
18. RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 1:55.465 1.436 0.118 45 / 56
19. ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:55.489 1.460 0.024 35 / 47
20. REDDING, Scott Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:55.595 1.566 0.106 29 / 54
21. NAKAGAMI, Takaaki LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1:55.763 1.734 0.168 39 / 40
22. SIMEON, Xavier Reale Avintia Racing 1:55.943 1.914 0.180 48 / 51
23. LUTHI, Thomas EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:56.122 2.093 0.179 29 / 59
NC. IANNONE, Andrea Team SUZUKI ECSTAR
QATAR TEST – COMBINED CLASSIFICATION DAYS 1,2,3:
1. Johann ZARCO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:54.029 0.247 Session 3
2. Valentino ROSSI Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:54.276 0.302 Session 3
3. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team 1:54.331 0.428 Session 3
4. Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL 1:54.457 0.442 Session 3
5. Maverick VIÑALES Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:54.471 0.557 Session 3
6. Andrea IANNONE Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:54.586 0.562 Session 2
7. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 1:54.591 0.621 Session 3
8. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:54.650 0.630 Session 3
9. Danilo PETRUCCI Alma Pramac Racing 1:54.659 0.663 Session 3
10. Jorge LORENZO Ducati Team 1:54.692 0.720 Session 3
11. Jack MILLER Alma Pramac Racing 1:54.749 0.745 Session 3
12. Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 1:54.774 1.103 Session 3
13. Franco MORBIDELLI EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:55.132 1.150 Session 3
14. Bradley SMITH Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:55.179 1.203 Session 3
15. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:55.232 1.244 Session 3
16. Hafizh SYAHRIN Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:55.273 1.271 Session 3
17. Karel ABRAHAM Angel Nieto Team 1:55.300 1.318 Session 3
18. Alvaro BAUTISTA Angel Nieto Team 1:55.347 1.436 Session 3
19. Tito RABAT Reale Avintia Racing 1:55.465 1.460 Session 3
20. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:55.489 1.510 Session 3
21. Takaaki NAKAGAMI LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1:55.539 1.566 Session 2
22. Scott REDDING Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:55.595 1.914 Session 3
23. Xavier SIMEON Reale Avintia Racing 1:55.943 2.093 Session 3
24. Tom LUTHI EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:56.122 3.189 Session 3
25. Mika KALLIO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:57.218 Session 2
