Jerez de la Frontera, Official Test
Alice Team
Day 2, Sunday February 17th 2008
GUINTOLI IN NINTH POSITION IN THE FIRST OFFICIAL
SESSION OF THE YEAR
After this morning official presentation at the Spanish circuit
of Jerez de la Frontera, the Alice Team was able to step on
the track with the new colors that will be used during the
upcoming season. The day began under heavy rain, which have
limited the riders’ work during the morning. In early
afternoon the weather conditions have improved, even if the
track has remained wet for the afternoon official test. Young
French rider Sylvain Guintoli has made it to enter the top
ten in the first official session of the year, and he feel
confident after this day of work. In the other side of the
Alice Team garage, things didn’t go too well for Toni
Elias, who has finished in nineteenth position.
Luis d’Antin – Team Principal
“It was the first time for our riders in wet condition
under pressure to get the result, and maybe Toni found some
difficulties also for this reason. But we don’t have
to worry because we believe in him and he has all the time
he needs to adapt to the Ducati Desmosedici GP8 Sat. We are
very happy for Sylvain (Guintoli) result. His abilities in
wet conditions are well known to everyone. Tomorrow we have
to work a lot to obtain as many information possible for when
we will come back here for the first European Grand Prix of
the 2008 season.”
Toni Elias – Alice Team Rider (19th best lap
time in 1’57.698 – Total laps 7)
“I have to be honest, today I didn’t have much
confidence with the bike, and results are the proof of it.
Tomorrow’s weather forecast don’t promise anything
good, I need to work in dry condition to continue to adapt
to my new bike. I am sorry for my technicians who wanted to
do well in this first official session of the season. I will
give my best to be able to give them great performances as
soon as possible.”
Sylvain Guintoli – Alice Team Rider (9th best
lap time in 1’52.058 – Total laps 14)
“I am happy to finish this first test in ninth position.
It isn’t surely a sensational result, but a good first
step towards the beginning of the season. It’s a pity
that in my last fast lap I couldn’t improve my performance,
we tried a different rear wet tyre that didn’t perform
as we thought with the drying track conditions. In addition,
wind has increased, limiting our performances.”
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