Espargaro keen to avoid risks in throwaway session

The torrential rain that has come down on the Phillip Island track during the day has delayed the start of the MotoGP first free practice over an hour. Once the MotoGP riders got the green light they all took the way to the track, but because of the rain – less intense but still annoying – it was not possible to go very fast. This is also why the Pramac Racing Team riders had difficulties to get a good laptime. The final gap of Aleix Espargarò was over six seconds. The first free practice was affected a lot by today’s weather conditions. The hope is that tomorrow morning the weather will give the possibility to get a better way in the second free practice and the qualifying session that are predicted to be very difficult as interesting.

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Technical Director
“The track conditions have not helped us. The gap from the first riders is huge, but we don’t have to give much importance to it anyway. We worked hard to try a few rain settings so that we’ll be ready for rain in the tomorrow’s qualifying and for Sunday’s race.”

Aleix Espargarò – Pramac Racing Team – 15th fastest lap time in 1’48 .127
“With today’s weather condition I tried to go fast while avoiding taking excessive risk and this does not help me to be very fast. The gap from the first rider is huge, but I do not give much importance to this, also because I hope that tomorrow the weather conditions are getting better so that I can be able to fight for a good starting position. “

Source: Pramac Racing