After finishing 13th and 20th in the two free practice sessions on the 4.4km Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto, Valentino Rossi quickly got to the point: “It was a difficult day for me because I was never fast” the 115-time GP winner on Friday evening. “It was a little better in the morning, but we struggled more in the afternoon. We constantly have problems with the temperature on the rear tire – and the grip. It was a bit cooler in the morning, so I was a little closer. But in the afternoon I suffered more from the higher temperatures. I also don’t feel comfortable with the motorcycle, I can’t really turn corners quickly – it was a difficult day, »he sighed.
The “Dottore” had started strongly on Wednesday with a third place in the first session. “On Wednesday morning I managed to do a nice lap on the soft – the time was similar to today in the first session. So it’s not a huge difference. Because already on Wednesday morning we had trouble with the pace. »
The problems are already known from last year: «I have the biggest problems with the grip and the temperature on the rear tire. We have to work and find a way to improve, ”said the Yamaha star.
The heat itself is not the biggest problem, the 41-year-old assured: «It is certainly difficult for everyone, for the drivers and tires, but I feel in good shape. And we come from Italy, where it was already hot. We are in high summer, when the body is more used to these temperatures. Last year I was fast in Malaysia too – and then I had more problems in Valencia where it was cold. It depends on how the tire works. »
To make matters worse, 19 drivers were within 0.987 seconds on Friday. “We are all really close to each other: I was third last in the afternoon with a second behind,” said Rossi, unable to help but smile. When thinking about the next task, the nine-time world champion quickly got serious again: «The FP3 tomorrow will be very important, we have to try to be in the top 10. But when I look at our performance and speed today, it gets difficult. But it would be very important. »
Results Spanish GP, MotoGP, FP2:
1. Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1: 38,125 min
2. Quartararo, Yanmaha, 1: 38,152
3. Binder, KTM, 1: 38,250
4. Marc Márquez, Honda, 1: 38,369
5. Pol Espargaró, KTM, 1: 38,372
6. Crutchlow, Honda, 1: 38,390
7. Viñales, Yamaha, 1:38,596
8. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 38.610
9. Dovizioso, Ducati, 1: 38,614
10. Bagnaia, Ducati, 1: 38.625
11. Nakagami, Honda, 1:38,687
12. Lecuona, KTM, 1: 38,816
13. Petrucci, Ducati, 1: 38.836
14. Rins, Suzuki, 1:38,845
15. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 38,904
16. Mir, Suzuki, 1: 38.933
17. Oliveira, KTM, 1: 39,004
18. Miller, Ducati, 1:39,156
19. Rabat, Ducati, 1: 39,181
20. Rossi, Yamaha, 1: 39,222
21. Alex Márquez, Honda, 1: 39,604
22. Smith, Aprilia, 1:39,703
Combined MotoGP times list on Friday:
1. Marc Márquez, Honda, 1: 37.350 min
2. Viñales, Yamaha, 1:37,374, + 0,024 sec
3. Crutchlow, Honda, 1: 37,438, + 0.088
4. Dovizioso, Ducati, 137.471, + 0.121
5. Mir, Suzuki, 1: 37.481, + 0.131
6. Miller, Ducati, 1:37,487, + 0,137
7. Rins, Suzuki, 1:378,569, + 0,219
8. Pol Espargaró, KTM, 1: 37,712, + 0.362
9. Lecuona, KTM, 1:37, 714, + 0.364
10. Binder, KTM, 1: 37.923, + 0.573
11. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 37.940, + 0.590
12. Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1: 37.982, + 0.632
13. Rossi, Yamaha, 1: 38,118, + 0,768
14. Nakagami, Honda, 1:38,129, + 0,779
15. Quartararo, Yamaha, 1: 38.152, + 0.802
16. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 38,209, + 0.859
17. Alex Márquez, Honda, 1: 38,212, + 0.862
18. Bagnaia, Ducati, 1: 38.316, + 0.966
19. Rabat, Ducati, 1: 38.337, + 0.987
20. Oliveira, KTM, 1: 38,506, + 1.156
21. Petrucci, Ducati, 1: 38.507, + 1.157
22. Smith, Aprilia, 1:38,730, + 1,380
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