Espargaro takes excellent 8th place in Australian GP after tough battle

 In MotoGP, News

Fair good race for both Pramac Racing Team riders on Phillip Island track, finishing the race in eighth and eleventh position respectively. Good result for the Pramac riders who have both physical problems before the start. The non-perfect start, that have seen them losing both a couple of places, but this didn’t affect their race. Thanks to a good race pace, the Pramac Racing Team riders have both passed during the fourth lap Bautista and De Puniet, taking the ninth and tenth position with Espargarò and Kallio. On the seventh lap the Spaniard passed Melandri for the eighth position. The Italian rider then passed back in the eleventh lap, but the same pace didn’t allow Melandri to increase his gap from the Pramac Racing Team Rider. On the last lap, using his bike in the best way, Aleix passed Melandri and finished the race in eighth position with an advantage of a tenth of a second on the final straight.

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Technical Director
“We are pleased with how things went today. After two races to forget we’ve got two good results that give us great confidence for the last two races of the season. Today’s result acquires more importance because it was obtained with both riders in not perfect physical condition. This morning we tried a couple of technical solutions during the warm up, we then used this set up during the race, we knew that Ducati has a good performance on this track and we made our best to be able to made the riders lead the race in the best way. “

Aleix Espargarò – Pramac Racing Team – 8th in the race – 14th in the World Championship
“What a great race, I am happy for the final result. Being back in the top ten in these conditions is a good thing. This morning after the warm up I had a little pain in my forearm and in my inflamed wrist. Before the race I had an acupuncture treatment in the mobile clinic that has helped me to feel less pain during the race. My start was not the best, after the first corner I lost three positions. Fortunately, in a couple of laps, when my tyres came up to the right temperature, I lowered my lap time and I passed some riders who were ahead of me. I then reduced the gap I had from Melandri in just three laps. Once I reached the him I started a brawl with him that we have continued until the last straight. I managed to end the race in eighth position by a whisker. I am satisfied with how things went, especially when I think to the two previous races in which I could not be competitive as I wanted. Now I’ll have a week off in which I hope to resolve my physical problems and be back in top form for the next Portugal Grand Prix.”

Source: Pramac Racing

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