The first day of action at Phillip Island in Australia saw a cold and damp start followed by long delays due to an oil spillage in Moto3. However, there was still plenty of action in the top class and Team SUZUKI ECSTAR used the FP1 session to fine tune their GSX-RR.

As FP2 rolled around both riders were feeling confident and ready to show their pace. Alex Rins spent the majority of the session within the Top 10, and closed it in 9th place. Andrea Iannone, pleased to be back at one of his favourite tracks, was able to top the time sheets in FP2 with a 1:29.131, as well as setting the fastest time in two of the four track sectors. With cold temperatures likely for FP3, both riders being provisionally in Q2 was an important step.

Davide Brivio - Team Manager

“It’s been a good start here in Phillip Island. Andrea had a very good day and he was fast in both sessions. Alex had a good start as well, he was able to try the different tyres available so we’ll analyse the information he got. We have both riders in the Top 10 so we’re happy. We’re still working on fine tuning the bike so we hope to improve some things for tomorrow. But overall, we’re pleased with this first day.”


Andrea Iannone

“We started well, and we were hoping to put in a good performance because our bike always works well at this track. But in any case, it’s always difficult to be at the front, especially here. We need to continue like this and still improve in some areas because I feel I’m losing a bit on acceleration. But we’ll try to arrive at 100% for the race. Tomorrow I’ll give my maximum.”

Alex Rins

“I feel very good and I was comfortable with the bike from FP1 onwards. On my last run I put in a new tyre and tried to improve my lap time and it worked out like this. It’s always cold at Phillip Island so I tried the soft and medium tyres and I felt good, especially with the soft tyre, but we’ll see what the conditions are like tomorrow. Anyway, we’re feeling good.”


Info.

Circuit: Phillip Island
Air Temperature: 16c
Track Temperature: 32c
Humidity: 72%

GP of Australia - Combined Classification after Day 1:

1. Andrea IANNONE Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’29.131 (FP2)
2. Danilo PETRUCCI Alma Pramac Racing 1’29.291 0.160 / 0.160 (FP2)
3. Maverick VIÑALES Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1’29.354 0.223 / 0.063 (FP2)
4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team 1’29.406 0.275 / 0.052 (FP2)
5. Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL 1’29.616 0.485 / 0.210 (FP2)
6. Johann ZARCO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’29.686 0.555 / 0.070 (FP2)
7. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 1’29.739 0.608 / 0.053 (FP2)
8. Jack MILLER Alma Pramac Racing 1’29.838 0.707 / 0.099 (FP2)
9. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’29.918 0.787 / 0.080 (FP2)
10. Valentino ROSSI Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1’30.133 1.002 / 0.215 (FP2)
11. Hafizh SYAHRIN Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’30.179 1.048 / 0.046 (FP2)
12. Bradley SMITH Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’30.346 1.215 / 0.167 (FP2)
13. Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 1’30.472 1.341 / 0.126 (FP2)
14. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’30.545 1.414 / 0.073 (FP2)
15. Alvaro BAUTISTA Ducati Team 1’30.734 1.603 / 0.189 (FP2)
16. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’30.736 1.605 / 0.002 (FP2)
17. Karel ABRAHAM Angel Nieto Team 1’30.772 1.641 / 0.036 (FP1)
18. Franco MORBIDELLI EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1’30.787 1.656 / 0.051 (FP2)
19. Takaaki NAKAGAMI LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1’30.830 1.699 / 0.043 (FP2)
20. Xavier SIMEON Reale Avintia Racing 1’31.275 2.144 / 0.109 (FP2)
21. Thomas LUTHI EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1’31.539 2.408 / 0.264 (FP2)
22. Jordi TORRES Reale Avintia Racing 1’31.570 2.439 / 0.031 (FP2)
23. Scott REDDING Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’31.941 2.810 / 0.371 (FP1)
24. Mike JONES Angel Nieto Team 1’33.633 4.502 / 1.588 (FP2)