MotoGP: Round #17 DRIVE M7 Aspar Free Practice Report - Malaysia (Video)

DRIVE M7 Aspar Press Release:

A heavy downpour fell on the Sepang circuit just before the start of the second MotoGP free practice session today. The track quickly flooded due to the tropical storm, and the MotoGP riders who had worked without incident in the opening session of the Malaysian Grand Prix saw their second runout postponed for fifteen minutes. After the rain stopped, the track was opened and all riders returned to work relatively normally in the wet. In the morning, Dani Pedrosa led the way. In the afternoon, Jorge Lorenzo was fastest.

Despite the particular climatic conditions at the Sepang circuit, the DRIVE M7 riders conducted a very productive day of work to open the Malaysian GP. Hiroshi Aoyama had already announced before landing in Malaysia that Sepang is one of his favourite circuits. Today set the fourteenth fastest time in the opening session and the thirteenth in the second runout. After looking comfortable riding in completely different conditions, the Japanese DRIVE M7 Aspar rider seeks further improvement tomorrow.

Teammate Nicky Hayden has suffered a lack of grip in the morning on dry asphalt, but in the afternoon was spectacular in the wet, allowing him to close the second free practice session in ninth position. After analyzing all the data collected on the first day of the Malaysian event, the American now has a clear way forward to improve tomorrow.

Hiroshi Aoyama #7:

14th - 2.02.847 (31 Laps)

“This morning we had a dry session and my feeling was positive. We started the weekend with a good pace. In the afternoon we had planned to use different setups to balance the bike better, but it began to pour with rain and we had to work in the wet. Our feeling on a wet track was also optimal. The bike responded well today, but tomorrow we will try to improve its performance. Although we have begun this Grand Prix with an excellent feeling, tomorrow morning we will look for new solutions to tweak the setup. Maybe it will rain again tomorrow afternoon, so we will have to be ready and work to avoid surprises.”

Nicky Hayden #69:

18th - 2.03.787 (31 laps)

“My feeling in the first session was strange, because I had no grip on the rear. That meant that I couldn’t ride comfortably, but fortunately I could analyze the data after the session and we could work out what happened. We now know what we can improve for the second day. In the afternoon, on a wet track, I felt much better and the chassis was responding well. The only question marks were over the electronics at different parts of the track. In the second session I spent a long time amongst the fastest riders and I placed ninth, which is positive. The best thing about the second session is that we were able to ride in the wet, preparing us for Sunday if it rains again then.”

#RideMalaysia: Special Video Edit:

For more information: www.teamaspar.com