GOOD START FOR GUINTOLI ON THE ASSEN CIRCUIT.
ELIAS SEVENTEENTH
Good weather conditions in Assen, Holland, where the first
day of free practices valid for the Dutch Grand Prix begun.
Alice Team rider, Sylvain Guintoli, has started well registering
the twelfth best lap time not too far from the fastest riders,
in fact, this has been a pretty close day with only four tenth
of a second from the fourth to the twelfth position. The other
Alice Team rider, Toni Elias, has begun with a lot of caution
to gain back the confidence on the Dutch circuit after the
injury he suffered on this track only last year. The Spanish
rider has anyways constantly increased his lap times and tomorrow
he will do his best to conquer a good position for Saturday
starting grid.
Sergio Verbena – Sylvain Guintoli’s track
engineer
“Sylvain has started well straight away this morning.
This has probably been the first weekend where we didn’t
have many complications. Apart the first three riders, we
are really near to the others and this makes us optimism for
the rest of the weekend. Sylvain seems at ease at this track.
We have tried many tyres and we should have found the right
solution for the race, but tomorrow we will have another go
to evaluate the situation.”
Sylvain Guintoli – Alice Team rider (12th best
lap time in 1'37.357 – Total laps 52)
“Surely this has been my best first day of the season
on dry surface. I feel really comfortable on my bike thanks
to the modifications we have done on the front part of the
bike. We are really close to the fastest riders. Tomorrow
we should concentrate to improve the race rhythm. I registered
my best lap time with the hardest tyres used today. Probably
we will use them also in the race and this gives me good confidence.
I hope to have a good qualifying tomorrow to be able to start
in the best way possible in the race.”
Toni Elias – Alice Team rider (17th best lap
time in 1’38.656 – Total laps 46)
“I am happy this day has passed. Today I started with
a lot of caution for the reason that everyone knows. In the
first five laps I have ridden really slowly in the turn where
I have fallen last year to gain back the confidence with the
track. But from the second session I started again to give
my best. We have meet some problems that have blocked us,
but we believe we can improve tomorrow to increase our performances
and be competitive in the race.”
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