Movistar Yamaha Press Release:
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo took to the track today for the first free practice sessions ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix of The Americas.
The first day’s action on the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) proved to be a tough one for both Rossi and Lorenzo as they began the hunt for an optimum set up for Sunday. Nine-time world champion Rossi dropped a place from fourth to fifth between the two sessions but was able to improve his lap time by just over a second as he got to grips with the Texan track to finish just three tenths from second placed rider Andrea Dovizioso.
Teammate Lorenzo was also able to make a big step into the second session after a frustrating start to the day saw him end practice one in 12th place. The Mallorcan worked hard through session two, climbing as high as third at one point before settling for eighth in the combined times, less than two tenths from his teammate in fifth.
Valentino Rossi #46:
5th / 2'04.793 / 14 laps
“I’m quite satisfied about today because I already have a good feeling with the bike. We have a lot to improve but the general balance of the bike is not so bad. This morning I was fourth and this afternoon I am fifth. I’m not happy with that because I have a better potential but I don't work well with the soft tire yet. I think I have the possibility to go a bit faster and stay with the top three but I’m not yet able to use the maximum potential of the tyre. We have to continue and work to improve the balance and the setting, I also need to improve my riding style and try the maximum for tomorrow.”
Jorge Lorenzo #99:
8th / 2'04.976 / 10 laps
“It looks like compared to the Honda's we are struggling, more or less the same as we were last year. We made a big step from the morning session although still too far from Marquez in first but not so far from second place. We need to make adjustments to the bike and electronics to make a perfect set up and also I need to improve myself as an influence. On the bike I feel a little tired, but compared to the morning session I feel happier.”
Massimo Meregalli:
“There is a gap to the front at the moment but we are honestly in a better position than last year when we started here so I am confident we can improve session by session, exactly as we did at the last round in Qatar. Both riders performed well today, I believe Vale’s gap to the front would have been smaller if he had been using a softer tire but he spent most of the second session working with the hardest option to see what was possible. Jorge made a big improvement from the first session, working as hard as possible despite still recovering from a flu virus. We’re going to take today’s data now and work tonight to prepare the next steps for tomorrow so we can take the set up a step further.”
COMBINED FREE PRACTICE RESULTS:
1. Marc Marquez (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2'03.490
2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Ducati Team 2'04.495
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2'04.623
4. Andrea Iannone (ITA) Pramac Racing 2'04.669
5. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Movistar Yamaha 2'04.793
6. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2'04.844
7. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda MotoGP 2'04.870
8. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 2'04.976
9. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Ducati Team 2'04.981
10. Bradley Smith (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech3 2'05.366
11. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Go&Fun Honda Gresini 2'05.453
12. Pol Espargarò (SPA) Monster Yamaha Tech3 2'05.672
13. Scott Redding (GBR) Go&Fun Honda Gresini 2'05.937
14. Nicky Hayden (USA) Drive M7 Aspar 2'06.188
15. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Energy T.I. Pramac Racing 2'06.376
16. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2'06.880
17. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Drive M7 Aspar 2'07.034
18. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 2'07.053
19. Hector Barbera (SPA) Avintia Racing 2'07.211
20. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Came Iodaracing Project 2'08.379
21. Michael Laverty (GBR) Paul Bird Motorsport 2'08.973
22. Brok Parkes (AUS) Paul Bird Motorsport 2'09.004
23. Mike Di Meglio (FRA) Avintia Racing 2'09.247
For more information: www.yamahamotogp.com
