Venerdì di studio sul tracciato catalano del Montmelò per il team MV Agusta Forward Racing, che sfrutta la giornata di libere per cercare di interpretare al meglio la pista. In una giornata tutto sommato soleggiata ma anche ventosa, le due MV Agusta F2 hanno mostrato di avere un buon passo in vista della gara, ma anche di potersi giocare le proprie carte domani nella rincorsa alla Q2. Stefano Manzi, dopo una mattinata girata su un ottimo ritmo, pur con qualche problema di feeling con la gomma morbida, ha chiuso bene anche il pomeriggio, nonostante il vento. 15° tempo in 1’45.474 nelle FP2, ad appena 9 decimi dal miglior crono della sessione e che in questo momento terrebbe il pilota romagnolo pienamente in corsa per l’accesso alle qualifiche. Dall’altra parte del box Simone Corsi – reduce dalle grandi prestazioni delle due gare di Misano – è incappato in due scivolate stamattina, per fortuna senza grosse conseguenze. Il team ha lavorato per farlo tornare in pista al meglio nel ventoso pomeriggio: il centauro romano ha chiuso il suo miglior giro in 1’45.529, 24° miglior tempo combinato. Indicazioni che verranno rivalutate in serata alla luce dell’analisi sui dati telemetrici, in cerca di miglioramenti; per domani: appuntamento alle 10:55 con le FP3 e poi dalle 15:10 in poi per le due sessioni di qualifica. 

CATALUNYA GP – A GOOD, WORKING FRIDAY FOR THE TEAM

Study Friday on the Montmelò circuit for the MV Agusta Forward Racing team, that exploited the free practice day doing the best to read the track. In a sunny but windy day, the two MV Agusta F2 showed a good pace in view to the race, but also good chances to be there in the Q2’s pursuit tomorrow. Stefano Manzi found a strong rhythm in the morning, even with some grip issues with the soft tyres, and he made even better in the afternoon, despite the wind. 15th time in the FP2 in 1’45.474, just 9 tenth of a second away from the best crono of the session: with an effort like this, the rider form Romagna could be in the running for the Q2 tomorrow. From the other side of the box Simone Corsi – back from the two great performances at the Misano doubleheader – swiped twice this morning, luckily without major consequences. The team worked to take him back on the track in the windy FP2: the Roman rider got his fastest lap of the day in 1’45.529, 24th combined. A lot of indications that we’ll be revalued this evening, analysing the data looking for improvements. Appointment tomorrow at 10:55 AM for the FP3 and at 03:10 PM for the two qualifying sessions. 

«Today we had some difficulties because of the tyres: this morning, when I changed the tyres I didn’t feel so good on them. In the afternoon we were able to make them work a little more, but the weather conditions were worse, the track was slower and we just make even with the morning best time. Tomorrow we’ll try to improve, to be a little bit ahead and then we’ll see for the qualifying sessions».

«Today was a bit difficult because this morning I swiped out twice. I started very well, I was fast, then I fell off at Turn 10. And at the end of the session I swiped once again at Turn 5: we put up the soft tyre but I don’t have a good feeling with it and I lost the rear. In the afternoon there were a lot of wind: in that conditions was hard to improve the morning laps. We tried something new but we’ll look forward to a good FP3 tomorrow. The feeling with the bike is not so bad but, with the soft tyres, we still don’t have a good rear grip: we’ll focus the work on that».

«It was a surprising day today. This morning we hit the ground well in the FP1, then, halfway of the session, we tried the soft tyres with both of the riders; both of them hadn’t find a good feeling and struggled to improve. Weather conditions have worsened in the afternoon, there were a lot of wind on the track. Even with the wind, Stefano managed to match his morning best lap: this means we worked well and took step forward between the two sessions. Simone regained confidence on the bike after the FP1 swipe. The wind is forecast weaker tomorrow, so we hope to improve even more, lowering the gap with the top, trying to get directly to Q2».