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Category: Moto GP
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Batteries are almost fully charged for Team Trentino Gresini MotoE, who in around a month’s time will be back on track for the first official testing after last March’s Jerez fire - which changed the plans of the new electric class of MotoGP.
Proceedings are about to resume with more energy than ever, with Falper joining Lorenzo Savadori and Matteo Ferrari in the new quest by becoming official sponsor of the “green” team led by Fausto Gresini
Falper specialises in furniture, sinks, bathtubs and complementary accessories that has in environmental sustainability and recycling two key points of their philosophy. The Italian company join Gresini MotoE’s project for 2019 and will have visibility on the front mudguard of the two Ego Corsa machines and on the pit-box graphics.
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PAIN STOPPED ANDREA WHO ATTEMPTED A STOIC RETURN TO THE SADDLE
It was an important day of testing today on the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera circuit, with all the MotoGP riders on the track. Two Aprilias were kept busy, Aleix Espargaró’s factory bike and the test team’s bike with Bradley Smith, whereas Andrea Iannone attempted to get back in the saddle but had to throw in the towel because of the pain.
Aleix was the first rider on the track from the first seconds of the tests and he carried out a plethora of tests during the 80 laps total that he turned. The tests involved engine torque management, weight distribution, various traction control configurations and a brand new rear suspension setup. The Spanish rider finished the session with a best lap of 1'37,758.
It was a highly intense schedule for Bradley Smith as well, turning 82 laps, the fastest of which in 1'38.077. The Aprilia test team’s operations focused on new components, different setups and the assessment of a few Michelin tyre solutions.
Still dealing with the after-effects of his crash in FP4 Saturday which prevented him from taking part in the race, Andrea Iannone was loath to give in and tried to get back in the saddle today after receiving the all-clear from the doctor. Unfortunately, the lack of strength caused by pain in his left foot kept him from shifting gears properly, so the rider and team decided to stop testing straight away to give the foot as much time as possible to heal. Comforted by the good sensations he had in FP4 and the great job done by teammate Aleix, Andrea stated that he is confident in anticipation of Le Mans.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This day of testing was very important for us. In fact, I was the first one out on the track. We worked non-stop, both in anticipation of Le Mans and to continue development on the RS-GP. As always when testing, some solutions return better results than others. It will be essential to carefully analyse the data collected today to decide which line to follow in the upcoming rounds."
BRADLEY SMITH
"It was a rather busy day. We worked on three fronts: the hard front tyre, which we confirmed as the right choice for our bike on this track, weight distribution and some components we needed to evaluate in terms of performance and reliability. Since I got close to Andrea’s and Aleix’s performance, the feeling is that I can contribute to overcoming the limits that the factory riders are highlighting. It is not an easy process. It takes time, but we have a structure capable of doing it. I think that in the coming months we’ll be able to make some targeted changes in our weaker areas."
ANDREA IANNONE
"I tried, but I was lacking strength in my foot to shift gears. It’s a pity because I would have liked to use the day of testing to confirm the positive note on which we had begun to work in FP4 where, before the crash, I was doing rather well. We received some confirmation from Aleix in the race and that is definitely positive. From tomorrow I’ll begin my recovery, but I am sure that I’ll be able to be at 100% for the Le Mans weekend."
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ANDREA IANNONE VICTIM OF A BAD CRASH
BRADLEY SMITH ON THE SEVENTH ROW
A tenth of a second kept Aleix Espargaró from gaining direct access in FP3 to the second qualifying session today, a tiny gap that bears witness once again to how competitive the MotoGP starting grid is on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit. The Spanish rider then went through Q1 boldly, finishing with a time of 1'37.625 that earns him the first spot on the sixth row.
His garage mate, Andrea Iannone, had a bad crash on turn 11 in the early stages of FP4. Although X-rays showed that there were no fractures, the rider was declared unfit to race due to severe pain to his left foot. The situation will be assessed and updated with a check-up tomorrow morning.
Bradley Smith will start from the seventh row tomorrow, doing his best time ever on the Jerez track while continuing his usual development work on the Aprilia RS-GP again today.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This morning, we worked hard with the goal of going through to Q2, missing it by just one tenth of a second, after which I gave it my all in Q1 as well, but finishing in the top 12 just wasn’t in the cards. We cannot be satisfied with our starting position, but in compensation, during FP4 we found some good solutions for the race, both in terms of setup and in terms of tyres. Tomorrow I will try to start well and maintain a good pace all the way to the finish with the goal of getting into the top ten. We expect higher temperatures tomorrow, so I will probably put on the harder compound tyres which I feel better with."
BRADLEY SMITH
"Yesterday evening we did everything we could to relieve the pain and it was good to get back on the back feeling almost none. Having said that, we did not want to take too many risks today. In any case, my time in qualifying is the best I've ever done here at Jerez, so I am pleased even if I would have liked to have gotten below 1’38”, and we had the potential to do it. In the warm up session tomorrow we’ll try to use a mix of two different configurations we tested today in order to keep improving for the race, where we’ll be able to battle for points."
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The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has a new, important partner for the 2019 MotoGP campaign: Zoccarato Industrial Painting is in fact the new technical sponsor of the Italian team – who have recently completed the 2019 season opener in Qatar (March 10th).
With over 60 years of presence on the Italian territory and now leader in the industrial painting sector, Zoccarato Industrial Painting joins the Gresini family and their logo will be visible on the mudguards of the two Aprilia RS-GP machines of Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone, as well as in the pit-box and on the MotoGP team trucks.
ZOCCARATO ALESSIO, Zoccarato Industrial Painting AD. “It’s an honour for us to become Technical Partners of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Romeo Zoccarato – the company founder – began this activity in 1962, after a working experience as employee in the painting department of Aprilia. After 50 years of experience, passion and care for details have led us here. We wanted to be present within this team, a team that shows the same passion for their mission as we have for ours. I wish all the best to the Gresini Racing Team! The journey into 2019 has just started!”
FAUSTO GRESINI – Team Manager “Romeo’s story is really wonderful: going from being an employee of the painting department in Aprilia to become sponsor of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. It’s with real pleasure that we welcome the Zoccarato family, owners of a great Italian company with an incredible tradition like ours. There is clear synergy between our two institutions and I hope this new partnership will bring immediate and positive results.”
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Motorex is celebrating another successful year of competition on the world stage, taking its tally of world titles to 118 after adding another eight to its collection in 2018, in a year that also saw the brand take its maiden MotoGP podium.
The Swiss oil giant picked up a fourth consecutive FIM Supercross World Championship early in the year, with Jason Anderson adding to Ryan Dungey’s three-in-a-row from 2015-2017. There were also back-to-back MXGP and World MX2 titles, as Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado respectively added to Antonio Cairoli and Pauls Jonass’ wins from 2017.
2018 also saw Motorex power five more riders to world championship glory, with Toby Price winning the Cross-Country Rallies title, while in the world of enduro Cody Webb was crowned Super Enduro World Champion. Brad Freeman, Matteo Cavallo, and Ruy Barbosa were all Enduro World Champions in the E1, Junior, and Youth classes.
This year’s success means Motorex boasts 118 world titles since it entered world championship racing with Mick Bollhalder and Charlie Büsser, helping them claim the FIM Sidecar Cross World Championship. Since then they have helped teams and riders win world championships in motocross, enduro, supermoto, rally, supersport, Moto3, and Moto2.
The culmination of this year’s MotoGP season also saw Motorex make history with its first podium in the premier road-racing championship, as Pol Espargaro – a former Moto2 champion with Motorex – finished third at Valencia.
Motorex offers a wide selection of engine and gearbox oils to suit a range of machinery, as well as suspension oils, coolant, chain lube, and other maintenance, care, and cleaning products.
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