Jonas Folger and Johann Zarco got straight to work in southern Spain today as they firmly intend to close the first European round of the year with two solid displays on Sunday. The opening day of action got off to a wet start as rain fell throughout FP1 yet Jonas Folger powered through and eventually finished 6th. He continued his relentless efforts in the dry afternoon session before completing the practice in 13th, but 0.394 back from Maverick Viñales in 6th. Meanwhile, Johann Zarco showed notable promise today, however, his charge in the afternoon was brought to an unfortunate and premature end due to a minor technical issue.
Jonas FOLGER
Position: 13th - Time: 1'40.773 - Laps: 36
"Today was good in the end, but I have to admit that it was also quite challenging at times. We started to work on the setting of the bike after the wet morning practice. Then, in the afternoon, the conditions improved and we were able to ride some decent lap times. However, at the beginning of the session, the front of the bike was too soft, and then after that, we were sitting too much on the rear. At the moment, there is some transfer from the front and rear of the bike in between braking and acceleration. Yet, in terms of riding, I learnt a lot today and I really do enjoy riding here. I’m certain that if we do a solid job tomorrow and set the bike up well, then we can be successful."
Johann ZARCO
Position: 15th - Time: 1'41.019 - Laps: 34
"It was a tricky day in some respects, however, we gained some valuable information and I am upbeat for the rest of the weekend. This morning there was a lot of rain and for me, this was positive as it allowed me to experience my first taste of this track on a MotoGP bike in wet conditions. So I started calmly and I took my time to understand the YZR-M1, the power and the circuit. The feeling was good, even though the position was a bit further back from where I would like to be, but the limit was too far and I need some more time to work and improve. However, in the afternoon, it was dry, with a few damp patches but I was happy to be on the pace quickly. The team and I made a change on the bike, which we had planned in Texas, and it gave me a better overall feeling. The good point is that it worked well on a track like this one, so it will be an improvement for the whole season and for every venue that we visit. Unfortunately, in the end, I had a small technical issue and I didn’t want to push and risk anything so I decided to stop, which was the best thing to do. I will remain calm and we will try to improve again tomorrow."
