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Tag: featured
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Hamilton tops time sheets as first F1 Test ends in Barcelona
Barcelona: Reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton went quickest on the final day of the first pre-season Formula One test ahead of the 2018 FIA Formula 1 Championship, beating Stoffel Vandoorne by half a second on Thursday.
After a wet morning during which Mercedes’ W09 challenger was driven by Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton took over in the afternoon and used medium tyres to post a time of 1:19.333. That 0.521s clear of Vandoorne’s best which had been set on Pirelli’s new hypersoft tyres, one of seven dry compounds of offer this year.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third quickest with a time of 1:20.214 set on soft tyres, while Haas’ Kevin Magnussen was eight-hundredths of a second further back in fourth place with a lap set on supersoft tyres.
While most drivers took the circuit in the wet conditions in the morning, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was a notable absentee, with the Renault-powered team choosing to wait until the track dried before sending the Dutchman out.
But when he did take to the track Verstappen’s outing was a stop-start affair as mechanical gremlins affected his progress and then, later on, he suffered an off at Turn 12 which left him beached in the gravel. The car was recovered but Verstappen sat out the remainder of the session and completed just 35 laps all day.
After limited mileage in the early part of the week, McLaren enjoyed a solid final day in Barcelona. Second-placed Vandoorne handed over to team-mate Fernando Alonso in the afternoon and the Spaniard added a further 51 laps to Vandoorne’s 110 for the day’s biggest team lap total.
However, the individual honours went to Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, with the French driver posting a total of 147 laps to round out an enviably reliable test for the Honda-powered team.
Formula 1 Pre-Season Test 1, Barcelona – Day Four
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:19.333 69
2 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1:19.854 0.521 110
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:20.241 0.908 120
4 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:20.317 0.984 96
5 Fernando Alonso McLaren 1:20.929 1.596 51
6 Carlos Sainz Renault 1:20.940 1.607 60
7 Lance Stroll Williams 1:21.142 1.809 54
8 Sergio Perez Force India 1:21.973 2.640 65
9 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:22.058 2.725 35
10 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 1:22.134 2.801 147
11 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 1:22.507 3.174 49
12 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:22.789 3.456 60
13 Charles Leclerc Sauber 1:22.808 3.475 59
14 Marcus Ericsson Sauber 1:23.825 4.492 79
15 Sergey Sirotkin Williams 1:31.979 12.646 47eom/FIA release
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Ajgar, Musthafa win JK Tyre Himalayan Drive
Darjeeling, 2 March 2018: The pair of Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Musthafa successfully defended their title at the Biswa Bangla JK Tyre Himalayan Drive 6 beating the hot-in-pursuit Kolkata duo of Subir Roy and Nirav Mehta by a narrow five-penalty margin to bring the rally to an exciting finish in Darjeeling on Sunday.
The five-day event, India’s Tri-Nation TSD rally, took 24 teams across Nepal, North Bengal and Bhutan over 1,615 tough kilometers. Leg 2 and 3 in Nepal were cancelled due to technical problems arising out of rallying through different time zones.
In the Open category too, the Aaj Tak team of Gagan Sethi and Dhiraj Arora maintained their lead right from the Day 1 and emerged winners. The team of Govind Dalmia and Anand Agarwala from Siliguri finished a distant second. Pranjal More and Milindo Paul, also from Siliguri, came third.
In the SUV category, Amit Dhanotia and Anuragh Agarwala emerged winners while in the Above- 1300 cc category, Pranai Rai and Nanki Kharki from Kalimpong won the title. Another Kalimpong team of Bimal Kumar Poudel and Rajendra Gaire won the Under-1,300cc category.
The final leg was flagged off from the Tashi Namgay Grand Hotel above Phuentsholing in Bhutan The rally then hit the hills and passed through Samsing, Gorubathan, Lava and the charming hill station of Kalimpong and continued after lunch through the steep, tea bush-covered hills of Peshoke to reach Darjeeling in the evening through Jore bungalow.
The scenic and iconic Mall in Darjeeling provided the perfect setting for the prize distribution ceremony.
ends/david/release
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Honda-backed Rajiv Sethu and Anish Shetty for Asia Road Racing Championship
Anish D Shetty from Hubballi (left) and Chennai’s Rajiv Sethu set for 2018 ARRC campaign. New Delhi, March 2: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd has decided to enter a two-rider team in the 2018 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship with Rajiv Sethu from Chennai and Hubballi’s Anish D Shetty wearing the company’s livery.
Sethu, in his second season, and debutant Shetty will be riding in the Asia Production 250cc class in the upcoming season that commences this weekend at the Chang International Circuit, Thailand, according to an official release from Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd.
This is the first time that Honda is promoting Indian riders in an Indian team in international motorsports arena. The IDEMITSU Honda Racing India team by T Pro Ten10 will see Sethu and rookie Shetty battling it out with 23 other Asian riders in the Asia Production 250cc class.
The marquee SuperSport 600cc will see the team’s third rider, 23-year old Japanese Taiga Hada compete with 21 others in the SuperSports 600cc class.
Rajiv Sethu, 20, said: “This is my second year at the ARRC, I had an amazing debut last year. By providing me with this global platform, Honda 2Wheelers has given me wings to achieve my dream of becoming an international Indian motorsport rider.
“Taking the learning from 2017 season, I have worked diligently this year. I am very excited to be a part of the first Indian team and aim to deliver my best this year for my team and my country.”
Shetty, 24, said: “I am elated and honored to be a part of the historical first all Indian team at the 23rd season of ARRC. For any Indian racer, getting global exposure is a big opportunity. Honda 2Wheelers India has made my dream come true.
“I look forward to ride and learn from the most experienced racers in the World. The 2018 season for me is all about improving my riding and presence in international races. This is my first exposure in ARRC and it’s a big deal for me. I will do my best to make my team and country proud.”
Globally, Honda is synonymous with Racing with a glorious history of iconic riders since 1959. In India, Honda 2Wheelers made its debut in motorsports in 2008.
For the first 10 years (2008-2017), Honda 2Wheelers India’s motorsport direction was to ‘Promote Fun Culture in India’ with focus on nurturing, developing and giving professional platforms to Indian riding enthusiasts.
And now in 2018, Honda has announced its new direction ‘To develop iconic Indian rider for National & International Championships’ which encapsulates Honda’s aggressive vision to nurture and develop Indian riders of international stature.
Minoru Kato, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd said: “Honda 2Wheelers India is proud to announce that for the first time, an Indian team will be participating solo in the 23rd season of Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 2018.
“It is our next step towards realizing the dream to develop iconic Indian riders for both only national but more so international racing championships. My best wishes to the ‘IDEMITSU Honda Racing India’ by T Pro Ten10 and the two riders Rajiv Sethu and Anish D Shetty. The motorsport excitement will continue in 2018. Honda will announce a slew of new programs to promote and expand professional motorsport in India.”
Speaking on Indian riders skilling up and going global, Prabhu Nagaraj, Vice President – Customer Service, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said: “Honda India is making gradual and consistent progress in motorsport and our boys going international is great for the sport.
“We are extremely delighted to extend learning curve of Rajiv while giving debut international exposure to the promising rider Anish. We are confident that they will put up a great show and supporting dreams for many more young riders to make a career in racing. With the ARRC returning to India later this year, this will be another great opportunity for the riders as well as the motorsport fans in India.”
Sponsored by IDEMITSU Lube India Pvt. Ltd., Honda 2Wheelers India will oversee overall team management of the first ever Indian team at the ARRC. The team’s rider management will be undertaken by professional Indian team Ten10 Racing Pvt. Ltd while technical support including bike performance enhancement, modification, data analysis, maintenance and repairs will be looked after by T-Pro Innovation, a professional Japanese team, the release added.
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Mathana, Aravind B win AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race for 2-wheelers
Mathana Kumar (left) and Aravind Balakrishnan, winers of the AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race at the MMRT circuit at Sriperumbudur on Sunday, February 25. Image by Anand Philar Chennai,25 Feb 2018: The pair of Mathana Kumar (Trichy) and fellow-rider Aravind Balasumbramanaim (Chennai), representing Honda Ten10 Racing team, emerged overall champions in the AVT Gold Cup Million Endurance Race for two-wheelers at the MMRT circuit, here on Sunday.
It is one of the firsts by Madras Motorsports Association (MMSC), as awareness about Endurance races is yet to reach the masses in India. “The Madras Motor Sports Club has been the pioneer in developing and promoting motorsport in India since 1953, and we look to further improve in the years to come. It is the club’s endeavor to provide more opportunities for competitors, and to this end, various progressive programmes were chalked out and this is one of them,” said an organiser.
Kishor VS and Antony Peter (Apex Racing Academy) finished second overall ahead of Honda Ten10 Racing team’s Senthil Kumar and AS Alexander. All three podium pairs completed 41 laps.
The final outcome of the 90-minute race had more to do with the team strategies and just about the pace of the riders. Each team comprised of two riders.
As per the regulations, the minimum time a rider could ride was for 20 minutes and the maximum time was set at 45 minutes. After the minimum time and before the maximum time elapsed, the rider had to make a mandatory rider change. The mandatory stop time for a rider change was set at 1 minute.
During the course of the race, a team had to make a mandatory fuel stop for which the motorcycle must have remained stationary for at least 3 minutes. The teams were allowed to do a tyre stop as well but this was not mandatory.
“I think, our strategy worked well today. I went out first, built up a lead which my team-mate Aravind maintained. On my second run, I suffered from cramps, but somehow, I managed to complete my turn,” said an overjoyed Mathana who rode the Honda CBR 250 bike.
The results (Provisional):
Overall / Honda CBR 250: Mathana Kumar / Aravind Balasubramainam (Honda Ten10 Racing) 1 (41 laps, 01hr, 31mins, 38.048secs); 2. Kishor VS / Anthony Peter (Apex Racing Academy) (41 laps, 01:31.57.186); 3. Sethil Kumar / AS Alexander (Honda Ten10 Racing) (41 laps, 01:32.06.461).
Pro-Stock Open (301-400cc): 1. P Sai Sahil / G Vikas Kumar (40 laps, 01:31:50.690); 2. K Raja Pandian / Varun Patil (38 laps, 01:32:06.038); 3. Aakash Rajshakha / Bhumik Lalwani (37 laps, 01:32:53.352).
Pro-Stock Open (130-165cc): 1. Yashas RL / K Kannan (39 laps, 01:31:45.003); 2. A Amala Jerald / C Rajkumar (Honda Ten10 Racing) (39 laps, 01:32:11.871); 3. Sarath Kumar / PK Mithun Kumar (Honda Ten10 Racing) (39 laps, 01:32:31.469).
Stock (130-165cc): 1. Aditya Rao Immaneni / Karthik (39 laps, 01:32:00.317); 2. Manoj Y / A Ryhana Bee (38 laps, 01:31:47.013); 3. Anand R / Narayanan K (38 laps, 01:33:29.028).
eom/MMSC release
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Alonso only driver to post timed-lap on a snow-hit day: Barcelona F1 Testing
Day 3 of the Formula One Testing in Barcelona was affected by snow and rain on Wednesday, Feb 28, 2018. An FIA image Fernando Alonso posted the only timed lap of the day as snow and then the heavy rain turned Day 3 of Formula 1 testing in Barcelona into a wash-out on Wednesday.
Overnight snow and freezing temperatures led to a long delay in the morning but the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was eventually declared fit for running at midday.
However, persistent rain throughout the afternoon meant that few teams ventured out on track. Alonso completed the most laps, with 11, and the McLaren driver claimed the timesheet honours for the day with the only timed lap, completed in 2:18.545 at the tail end of the session.
Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo also explored the conditions but his two laps included a trip through the gravel traps that led to retreat to the garage and no further running.
Marcus Ericsson, Robert Kubica, and Brendon Hartley were the only other drivers to appear.
Formula 1 Pre-Season Test 1, Barcelona – Day 3
1 F. Alonso McLaren 2:18.545 11
– D. Ricciardo Red Bull – 2
– B. Hartley Toro Rosso – 2
– M. Ericsson Sauber – 1
– R. Kubica Williams – 1
– R. Grosjean Haas – 0
– L. Hamilton Mercedes – 0
– K. Räikkönen Ferrari – 0
– S. Pérez Force India – 0
– N. Hülkenberg Renault – 0
– L. Stroll Williams – 0eom/FIA release
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Sebastiean Vettel quickest on Day 2; Ocon 9th: Formula 1 Test in Barcelona
Vettel quickest on Day 2 of the Formula One Barcelona test on 27 feb 2018. An FIA image Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel set the quickest time of day two of the first pre-season Formula 1 test in Barcelona, outpacing Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas by three-tenths of a second. McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne finished third on the timesheet a further three tenths back.
The day began in muted fashion as overnight snow and rain meant conditions were tricky early on and many teams avoided significant running before the halfway point of running. One of those was Red Bull Racing, with the Milton Keynes team being restricted to the garage for most of the morning after a fuel leak resulted in a lengthy delay to Dutchman Max Verstappen’s first real taste of team’s RB14 challenger.
The track slowly improved across the morning and by midday Bottas was on track and making the running climbing to the top of the order on the soft tyre.
His time stood until mid-afternoon when Vettel also appeared on the soft tyre. The German chipped away his lap time over the course of the run and eventually nudged his Ferrari to a day’s best time 1:19.673s.
Bottas wasn’t done, however, and a switch to medium tyres saw him edge close to the Ferrari driver and set a personal best for the day of 1:19976.
Verstappen’s day began in earnest at around 2 pm and over the following four hours, he posted 67 laps to get to the best time of 1:20.326, set on medium tyres. That was just 0.001s behind third-placed Vandoorne who had set his time on Pirelli’s new hypersoft compound. However, after a decent return from Vandoorne’s morning efforts, McLaren opted out of afternoon running.
Fifth place on the timesheet went to Renault’s Carlos Sainz, with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly in sixth. It was another solid day for the Italian team as Gasly logged a total 82 laps in the team’s new Honda-powered car.
Robert Kubica got his first taste of F1’s 2018-spec cars in the afternoon as he fulfilled his testing duties for Williams for the first time. The Pole put in 48 laps for the best time of 1:21.495 to sit over three-tenths of a second clear of Williams race driver Sergey Sirotkin who drove in the morning.
Over at Alfa-Romeo Sauber, 2017 FIA Formula 2 champion Charles Leclerc made his debut as a Formula 1 driver, with the Monegasque claiming 10th position. Leclerc’s outing wasn’t without mishap as a morning spin into the gravel traps at Turn 4 brought out the red flags for a brief period.
Formula 1 Pre-season Test 1, Barcelona – Day 2
1. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:19.673 98
2. Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:19.976 +0.303 94
3. Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren 1:20.325 +0.652 37
4. Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:20.326 +0.653 67
5. Carlos Sainz Renault 1:21.212 +1.539 65
6. Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 1:21.318 +1.645 82
7. Robert Kubica Williams 1:21.495 +1.822 48
8. Sergey Sirotkin Williams 1:21.822 +2.149 52
9. Esteban Ocon Force India 1:21.841 +2.168 79
10. Charles Leclerc Sauber 1:22.721 +3.048 81
11. Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:22.727 +3.054 36eom/FIA release
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Ajgar-Mustafa take lead after Day 1 of Biswa Bangla presents JK Himalayan Drive 6
Chitwan (Nepal), 24 Feb 2018: Defending champions Ajgar Ali and Mohammed Mustafa jumped into the lead after Day 1 of the Biswa Bangla presents JK Himalayan Drive 6, the only Tri-Nation TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally of India, late here on Saturday.
The veteran rallyists underlined their class in their Mitsubishi Media as they tackled the dirt and dust tracks that eventually took them through the lush forests in Darjeeling. They were ahead of the pack with 54 penalty points; Subir Roy and navigator Nirav Mehta were right behind the leaders, with 62 penalty points in their Maruti Gypsy. Captain Vijay Kumar Sharma and Chandan Sen eased into the third position with 132 penalty points.
The HD 6 was flagged off ceremonially at the City Center in Siliguri (West Bengal), jointly by Siliguri Police Commissioner Sunil Kumar Choudhury and Inspector General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Srikumar Bandopadhyay on Friday morning. Hundreds lined up
To watch the mean machines even as police and SSB brass and pipe bands played popular tunes.
The rallyists drove through Matigara-Kurseong Road, Khaprail Bazar and Panihati before reaching the vast dry bed of the Manja river, a tributary of Teesta river. They then drove through Naxalbari (which incubated the infamous ultra-left Naxal movement) to enter Nepal at Kakarbitta.
At Kakarbitta, the participants were accorded a warm welcome by the Nepal Automotive Sports Association (NASA). The rallyists then drove 466 kilometers on the busy East-West Highway to reach Chitwan for the night halt. Out of the total 521 kilometers that they travelled on Friday, 74 kilometers were in the competitive section.
The lush green backdrop of the Chitwan National park in Nepal provided the perfect setting for the ceremonial flag-off of the second leg of the rally. Saturday’s 80 kilometer-long rally route traversed through hills, tropical forests, embankments of the Rapti river and dry beds of the Rapti’s many tributaries.
It proved to be a thrilling leg as it was the first time that an international rally was staged at Chitwan, a National Park and a World Heritage Site spread over 932 square kilometers. The rallyists drove through the periphery of the national park which is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, the endangered one-horned rhino, sloth bears, elephants, leopards and crocodiles.
About JK Tyre Motorsport: JK Tyre has always been closely associated with the world of sports. Almost three decades back the company laid down a long-term and sustained approach to promote Motorsport. Participating in this form of the sport has helped the company in continuously updating its products to meet the challenges of grueling Indian conditions. The sport at that time in India was perceived as elite but JK Tyre took upon itself to package and redesign the sport to suit the masses. The company not only made the sport affordable but also equivalent to International operating standards. JK Tyre’s foray into Motorsport was a well thought out strategic decision to not only use and develop this virgin branding platform but also to realise the dreams of making India a force in the field of motorsport.
In 2011, the company acquired the Formula BMW Series and rechristened it as the JK Racing Asia Series (JKRAS). With this acquisition, JK Tyre created history in Indian Motorsport by becoming the first Indian company to acquire an FIA accredited series. By taking over the series, JK Tyre promises to utilise it as a platform to encourage and support the world’s best racing drivers and promote India as one of Asia’s motorsport capitals.
Thus, JK Tyre has conquered two steps in the motorsport programme where the new racing aspirants first establish themselves in India, then graduate to Asian level i.e. to Formula BMW, which is now JKRAS and then they move to higher levels of racing. JK Tyre now stands closer to achieving its mission of bringing world-class motorsport to the Indian masses. The Racing and Karting programme by JK Tyre has been the breeding ground for the country’s motorsport talents like Narain Karthikeyan, Armaan Ebrahim, Karun Chandhok, Aditya Patel and other emerging talents.
Another pioneering initiative was the launch of the Truck Racing Championship in India in partnership with Tata Motors. The company developed and designed `JetRacing’, the new-generation truck racing tyres especially for this application. With this, JK Tyre became the first tyre company to produce truck racing tyres in India. The combination of the Prima trucks fitted with Jet Racing received an overwhelming response from participants and has definitely brought in a revolution in the Indian racing scenario.
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DUO partners with Sahara Force India Formula One Team
DUO branding on the SFI car. Image by Sahara Force India F1 team Sahara Force India is pleased to welcome DUO, a market leading industrial engineering brand, as a new partner ahead of the 2018 season.
DUO’s logos will be visible on the team’s 2018 car next week when the covers are pulled off the VJM11 in Barcelona. Branding will be located on the car’s rear crash structure and elements of the front wing.
Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “I’m pleased to welcome DUO as our newest partner as they venture into Formula One for the first time. DUO’s business shares many parallels with the motorsport industry, especially precision engineering and manufacturing, and Formula One is an ideal platform to showcase their brand and technology.”
Alex Moss, CEO at DUO Group: “We’re very excited about our new partnership with Sahara Force India. We have been involved in motorsport for some years, but it’s our first venture into Formula One. We have huge respect for Sahara Force India and what they have achieved over the last few years. They always deliver outstanding results and often punch well above their weight with tremendous efficiency. We really admire their racer’s attitude and it’s one of the reasons we chose to support the team. This partnership offers a great opportunity for us to develop our brand awareness on a global scale.”
About DUO
DUO Group is a market leading company that provides the Aggregate, Recycling and Material Handling Industries with a comprehensive package of complete processing solutions, including specific industrial applications for the Quarrying, Recycling, Bulk Handling Industries and Transport Infrastructure. DUO has a history that dates to 1981 and now comprises of three main business areas; equipment sales, contract processing, and manufacturing, equipment sales support. They also offer pre-used equipment and a comprehensive parts & service package.eom/SFI release
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Force India is not for sale, says team statement; Vijay Mallya to miss launch in Barcelona on 26th
Following recent media reports speculating on the sale of Force India Formula One Team Limited, the Company’s shareholders wish to clarify that there is no offer from potential investors under consideration.
The Team is focussed on the start of testing next week where the 2018 car will be presented in Barcelona on Monday 26th of February. The team’s drivers, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, will pull the covers off the VJM11 and pose for photos in the pit lane at 8:00 am local time.
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Marco Melandri sets fastest time on Day 1 of WorldSBK test: Aruba.it Racing Ducati team view
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team officially kicked off its 2018 campaign at Phillip Island with the first day of pre-season tests ahead of Round 1 of the WorldSBK Championship. The team enjoyed a positive debut in what was the first of a two-day test, as shown by the provisional best time set by
Marco Melandri . Davies, who finished in 10th position, preferred to adopt a progressive approach given the less than optimal track conditions caused by strong wind gusts, especially to avoid potential setbacks in his recovery from an injury sustained in late 2017.
Melandri clocked 63 laps in total, posting his personal best in the morning session with a 1:30.726 then focusing on the pace with used tires. The Italian, who was the only rider able to break the 1:31 wall so far, confirmed his penchant for the Australian track where he already took five podiums in his career. Davies got progressively in tune with his 2018-spec Panigale R, making several evaluations and finishing with a personal best of 1:32.054.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati will resume action tomorrow at 09:10 local time (CET +10) for the second and final day of pre-season tests ahead of the opening round, scheduled for February 23-25 on the same track.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #33) – 1:30.726 (1st)
“It’s been a really positive day overall, despite the less than ideal weather conditions. The wind was really strong and unpredictable in the afternoon, so it wasn’t possible to further improve the lap times, but we worked well with the team and we immediately found a good feeling with the bike. Having evaluated many components in the previous tests, we were finally able to focus more on performance. A year of experience with the Panigale R also represents an advantage, especially when it comes to the electronics. The races will be a different matter anyway, so we need to stay focused.”Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 1:32.054 (10th)
“We tried quite a lot of things today and we have a general idea for tomorrow to further refine what felt good and what didn’t. We still need to combine our package a little bit but, considering that the conditions weren’t ideal, I think we achieved quite a lot. Physically I feel better, so I’m really happy about that. You never want to do anything stupid and get caught out or make mistakes on the first day of testing here. We basically used only two sets of tires, it wasn’t about going out for a quick lap time in the end, but rather to understand the package. Our first priority is to have a bike that can consistently be a reference in every circuit.”eom/Aruba.it Racing Ducati team press release
