Team Suzuki Press Office – October 27.
Andrea Iannone: 4th – 1:29.712 (+ 0.513)
Alex Rins: 5th – 1:30.026 (+ 0.827)
• Andrea Iannone with impressive pace again.
• Alex Rins sticking close to his team-mate.
• Team SUZUKI ECSTAR ready to push at the front.
Saturday morning’s FP3 session served as a good ‘warm up’ for the tricky conditions which lay ahead for the riders. Strong winds and chilly temperatures, as well as highly varied track temperatures, made for a difficult session. Nevertheless, Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins, both fast on Friday, secured direct passage to Q2.
In the calmer FP4 session both riders were able to show their promising pace once again, with Iannone impressively topping the time sheets. As Q2 arrived, so did distracting and worrying rain spots, but Team SUZUKI ECSTAR’s riders were able to put their confident feelings with the bike to good use with Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins taking 4th and 5th on the grid respectively, giving them a good boost for tomorrow’s race.
Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“I would say it’s been another very positive day for us. During free practice Andrea showed great pace, and I think in qualifying we had more potential than the results showed but anyway, we’re quite happy to be on the second row as it’s a good starting position for the race. Alex also did well to improve and recover, and we feel that both of them are able to run with the top group tomorrow. We hope we can turn this opportunity into more good results.”
Andrea Iannone
“The conditions during qualifying were really bad, not really wet and not really dry, and some of the braking points were slippery and difficult. It was risky to push too much, but I put in a couple of quick laps. I’m a bit disappointed because I thought I could go for pole, especially as my feeling with the bike is really good and I’ve been fastest in some of the sessions. But no-one can control the weather, so we have to accept it! Everyone is fast and the times are close, the battle at the front will be big, but I hope to be one of the main contenders.”
Alex Rins
“Qualifying wasn’t bad and we hit our target, which was the second row. For sure it was very difficult out there, especially as there was some rain and uncertainty which meant it became a bit risky. But I tried to do my best, pushing as much as I could and doing it alone, so I feel happy with 5th place. The GSX-RR is working really well here, so we hope to be in the front group, but I think there will be many riders in that group. Anyway, we’ll try!”
GP of Australia – Qualifying Classification:
1. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 1’29.199
2. Maverick VIÑALES Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1’29.509 0.310 / 0.310
3. Johann ZARCO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’29.705 0.506 / 0.196
4. Andrea IANNONE Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’29.712 0.513 / 0.007
5. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’30.026 0.827 / 0.314
6. Jack MILLER Alma Pramac Racing 1’30.140 0.941 / 0.114
7. Valentino ROSSI Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1’30.270 1.071 / 0.130
8. Danilo PETRUCCI Alma Pramac Racing 1’30.328 1.129 / 0.058
9. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team 1’30.519 1.320 / 0.191
10. Hafizh SYAHRIN Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’30.593 1.394 / 0.074
11. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’30.640 1.441 / 0.047
12. Alvaro BAUTISTA Ducati Team 1’32.367 3.168 / 1.727
13. Karel ABRAHAM Angel Nieto Team 1’30.174 Q1
14. Takaaki NAKAGAMI LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1’30.452 Q1
15. Franco MORBIDELLI EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1’30.518 Q1
16. Bradley SMITH Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’30.646 Q1
17. Xavier SIMEON Reale Avintia Racing 1’30.679 Q1
18. Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 1’30.770 Q1
19. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’30.911 Q1
20. Thomas LUTHI EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1’30.958 Q1
21. Jordi TORRES Reale Avintia Racing 1’31.141 Q1
22. Scott REDDING Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’31.309 Q1
23. Mike JONES Angel Nieto Team 1’32.639 Q1
