Free practice / JORGE LORENZO ON COURSE FOR NINTH POLE OF
THE SEASON
Jorge Lorenzo is keen to avoid any surprises in the Australian
Grand Prix and he started out as he means to go on today with
the best time in first qualifying practice. The Fortuna Aprilia
rider is therefore on provisional pole position after lapping
seven tenths master than French rider Sylvain Guintoli. They
were the only two riders inside the 1’34 and from fifth
place down they were all over a second off Lorenzo’s
pace. The Mallorcan youngster looked comfortable at the Australian
track but admits he has room for improvement, with the times
still a second off pole record. Héctor Barberá,
meanwhile, was sixth – just behind Andrea Dovizioso
– as he looks to get his confidence back on the bike
after his crash in Malaysia.
JORGE LORENZO, 1st (1.33.215)
“I am really happy because we have started out on the
right foot, I’ve lapped comfortably from the first session.
The bike is good through the fast corners here at Phillip
Island and we have to make the most of that. I’m seven
tenths clear of the man in second place but I think with clear
track in front of me I can get into the 1.32 mark tomorrow.
Hopefully the weather is kind to us tomorrow so that we can
continue working on the setting and pick the right tyres for
the race”.
HECTOR BARBERA, 6th (1.34.267)
“I’ve had a few set-up problems that have prevented
me from going any master. We have some ideas to try tomorrow
though and we’ll compare a few things and pick the right
way to go. After looking at the crash in Malaysia we know
we went for a tyre that was too hard and I got caught out
on the second lap. Phillip Island is a circuit I like so hopefully
we can improve tomorrow and move up on the grid.”
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