Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini riders Alvaro Bautista and Scott Redding experienced a difficult start to preparations for Sunday’s Australian MotoGP round today at Phillip Island. In pretty warm and sunny conditions, the Spaniard and the Briton found both free practice sessions a tough challenge while they worked hard to find confidence with their bikes.

Already struggling with rear grip in recent races, Alvaro Bautista struggled even more today to make the tyres available this weekend - featuring a harder compound - work. Therefore the Spaniard closed the combined classification of the two sessions back in 15th position, with a time of 1’31”137, obtained in the afternoon.

His teammate Scott Redding completed the first day two positions behind him in 17th place with a time of 1’31”174, set in the morning session. The British rookie failed to improve in the afternoon, also due to lack off traction and front end confidence in the fast corners.

ALVARO BAUTISTA (15th - 1'31"137)

“We already had rear grip issues in other tracks, and we knew that here, with an even harder compound, the situation would be even worst. I really don’t feel the rear tyre so I can’t open the throttle and I can’t be quick on corner entry. This is frustrating, because it means that I can’t ride. Today was difficult to do it without crashing”.

SCOTT REDDING (17th - 1'31"174)

“Today it was quite difficult, we felt like we already reached the limit with the bike, and it was really strange because it was hard to do faster lap times. Also, we had again some problems with traction, and a lack of front feeling in the fast corners. We are working to find a good setting for tomorrow: if we will have a little bit more consistency through the four sectors of the track, we can be closer to the other Open Class Honda guys. Today, instead, we were inconsistent and in addition there were many yellow flags out there when I was riding, and this was a little bit confusing. Anyway we have to focus on tomorrow to find the right set-up”.

Combined Free Practice Classification

1Jorge LorenzoMovistar Yamaha MotoGP1'29.602
2Aleix EspargaroNGM Forward Racing1'29.749
3Marc MarquezRepsol Honda Team1'29.752
4Andrea IannonePramac Racing1'29.803
5Andrea DoviziosoDucati Team1'29.945
6Valentino RossiMovistar Yamaha MotoGP1'29.954
7Cal CrutchlowDucati Team1'30.076
8Pol EspargaroMonster Yamaha Tech 31'30.103
9Yonny HernandezPramac Racing1'30.281
10Dani PedrosaRepsol Honda Team1'30.289
11Bradley SmithMonster Yamaha Tech 31'30.313
12Stefan BradlLCR Honda MotoGP1'30.678
13Nicky HaydenDrive M7 Aspar1'31.034
14Alex De AngelisNGM Forward Racing1'31.108
15Alvaro BautistaGO&FUN Honda Gresini1'31.137
16Hector BarberaAvintia Blusens1'31.143
17Scott ReddingGO&FUN Honda Gresini1'31.174
18Karel AbrahamCardion AB Motoracing1'31.219
19Hiroshi AoyamaDrive M7 Aspar1'31.264
20Danilo PetrucciIodaRacing Project1'31.723
21Mike Di MeglioAvintia Blusens1'31.191
22Broc ParkesPaul Bird Motorsport1'32.506
23Michael LavertyPaul Bird Motorsport1'32.843

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