Qualifiche di spessore per i piloti del team MV Agusta Forward Racing sul Circuito Bugatti nella seconda giornata del Gran Premio di Francia. Dopo un venerdì caratterizzato da condizioni climatiche parzialmente piovose il sole è tornato a splendere a Le Mans, e a risplendere sono stati anche Stefano Manzi e Simone Corsi. In sella alle loro F2, i due centauri hanno confermato le ottime sensazioni del giorno precedente, conquistando entrambi il diritto di contendersi la pole già a partire dalle FP3. Corsi chiude l’ultima sessione di libere con il 12° tempo, Manzi fa ancora meglio piazzandosi all’8°: per la prima volta stagionale la squadra italo-svizzera porta tutti e due i piloti in Q2, senza passare dalla Q1. In qualifica, Manzi battaglia fino all’ultimo secondo e chiude con un buon 1’36.877, entrando in top 10: domani partirà dalla 4a fila in griglia. Corsi aprirà la 5a, ma come il compagno riesce a ridurre il gap dalla vetta a poco più di mezzo secondo. Un’emozionante domenica si aprirà con il Warm Up a partire dalle 10, con il semaforo verde della gara previsto alle 14:30.

FRENCH GP – 4th and 5th row for Manzi and Corsi

A top-class qualifying session for the riders of the MV Agusta Forward Racing team on the Bugatti Circuit, during day-2 of the French GP. After a half rainy Friday, the sun shined down on Le Mans again and Stefano Manzi and Simone Corsi shined out as well. On theirs F2, the two riders confirmed the good feelings shown yesterday, both catching the rights to fight for the pole already in FP3. Corsi ended the last free practice session with the 12th time, Manzi did even better hitting the 8th spot: for the first time this season, the Italian-Swiss team brings his two riders simultaneously in Q2, skipping Q1. During the qualifying session, Manzi battled till the last second and set a good crono in 1’36.877, getting inside top 10: tomorrow, he’ll start from the 4th row on the grid. Corsi will open the 5th row, but as much as his partner has been able to reduce the gap from the top (now a little more than half of a second). A very exciting Sunday starts tomorrow at 10 AM with Warm Up, green lights for the race set for 2:30 PM.

«At the beginning of the qualification I could be even faster, but I didn’t manage to put up a good lap. But we came out with a good session, at the end. Tomorrow we’ll start from the 10th position and it’s a good result, I’m happy of this step forward we took lately. We’ll give it all to capitalize this opportunity».

«I’m happy enough for today, this is the best qualification on the season. With the bike we have a good feeling, we worked well and improved from this morning. It’s a pity that in my good lap, I ride a little bit wide at turn 10, in T4; I lost something there even if I get back well from that. But we are happy: tomorrow it’s going to be a long race and the target is to try to stay in the top 10». 

«Today the team was able to place both riders directly in Q2 for the first time ever, skipping Q1. This never happened since the beginning of this project and it’s a great satisfaction for us. During the qualification they fought valiantly, conquering the 4th and 5th row on the grid, but when they came back to the box, we could see their determination. They ran very well but they also known they’re able to make even better. That gives us hope for tomorrow: we often show that we’re a little bit faster in the race. Let’s see if both Stefano and Simone can fight to make a good result, maybe a double top 10 finish».