Espargaro and Pons sit out weather-affected second Moto2 practice
After the first practice session today could be held in dry but not perfect conditions due to the rain from the previous night on the Estoril circuit, the rain came again just at the time the Moto2 riders were getting ready to begin their second practice. This produced a half-day sincy many riders decided not to leave the box in the afternoon because the mixed conditions of the tarmac posed an unnecessary risk. Aleix Espargaro and Axel Pons also sat out the second session and were unable to test the changes they made during the mornig practice. The riders hope to take better advantage of the second day of the Grand Prix of Portugal, although weather forecasts continue to predict high probabiblidades of rain.
#40. Aleix Espargaró: 20º – 1’43’557
“In the morning things didn’t start too well, I did not have much grip in the rear and at the end of the session we made a change that I didn’t have time to test. We were hoping for the afternoon practice and also, for the first time this season, we had to test the rear tyre because I was not sure which was better. So there was a lot of work to be done. Under the conditions the track was in there wasn’t much sense in going out.”
#80. Axel Pons: 29º – 1’44’059
“It’s a been a bit of a strange day, because in the second practice I haven’t done a single lap. I’m looking forward to tomorrow to finish today’s work, although there’s still uncertainty about the weather. In the first free practice I started off well, but we made some changes to the bike that I didn’t like. I think we found a better solution which we have to test. Normally I use the first session only to find a good setup and this is where we’re at. The important thing is the qualifying. If it rains it is important what we did in Jerez, because there I had a good feeling in the wet.”
Source: Pons Racing