QUALIFIERS BELOW EXPECTATIONS IN AUSTRIA, BUT THE APRILIA RS-GP IS EFFECTIVE OVER RACE DISTANCE
ANDREA AND ALEIX WILL ATTEMPT A COMEBACK FROM THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH ROW
The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders will start from the sixth and seventh row of the grid in the Austrian GP scheduled to take place tomorrow. This is the result at the end of qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, where Andrea Iannone finished Q1 with the eighth best time at 1’24”526, and Aleix Espargaró close behind in ninth with a time of 1’24.749.
Doing his personal best time of the weekend in the least favourable conditions, with very high asphalt temperatures, Andrea Iannone will therefore start from the 18th spot on the grid, just ahead of his teammate.
Nonetheless, both Andrea and Aleix concentrated their work on their respective Aprilia RS-GP machines with the 28 laps of the race in mind, obtaining good feedback in terms of pace. Therefore, the goal is to make up as many positions as possible in a race that will be selective on the tyre wear front.
ALEIX ESPARGARO’
“This is one of the most difficult tracks for us. We knew that we would struggle to be fast on the single lap. In any case, in FP4 we did a good job in anticipation of the race, trying a new setup. Thanks to the new device that helps us at the start, I am confident that I will be able to make up positions when the red lights go out, as already happened in Brno. Then it will be a matter of using the tyres as best as possible and seeing how the race develops.”
ANDREA IANNONE
“My feelings in the saddle were good today, although I can’t be satisfied with the position I earned in qualifying. From FP1 on, we were able to improve a lot and our pace is not bad. Tomorrow it will be important not to lose too much ground in the first 5 laps, after which, I think we will be able to manage the tyres well, so a comeback is possible.”
