Elias and Terol highly motivated after positive start to the weekend

The opening practice sessions for the French Grand Prix took place today at Le Mans, with the Moto2 riders back in action after a two week break. Rain was threatened but in the end held off, allowing the intermediate class riders the opportunity to work on their dry setups. Fastest on day one was Briton Scott Redding.

MAPFRE ASPAR riders Toni Elías and Nico Terol were amongst those back on track –at a circuit with fond memories for the former. Elías has won 250cc and Moto2 races for the Aspar Team at Le Mans, and is looking for improvements to help him do likewise this season. On Friday he put in many laps with the same front and rear tyres, in order to best prepare for race day. With new rubber at the end of the afternoon run, the Spaniard placed 11th and was 0.9s down on Redding. He hopes for a positive qualifying session on Saturday.

Teammate Nico Terol continued to make steady progress, picking up pace despite riding solo for much of the day. He was fifteenth at the end of the day, in a position that would give him points if he maintains his pace on Sunday.

Rain is predicted for the weekend, adding an extra bit of spice to proceedings at the French Grand Prix.

11th Toni Elias (1.38.858, 39 laps): “I am happy with how this first day has gone, because normally we are further back on Fridays. It seems like we are closer to the front here, even with a used tyre. I think that the test in Albacete was very positive, because we have a clearer idea about how to solve any problems that come up. It seems like sometimes you have to take a certain direction with this bike, which then turns out to be different. We saw how to proceed in such situations in Albacete. Tomorrow with a new tyre we can move further up the standings. If it rains tomorrow and Sunday is dry again, then I think that I have everything set. If it rains, then it wouldn’t be a bad thing for me to work on my wet setting.”

15th Nico Terol (1.39.101, 42 laps): “I was much happier in Portugal and felt good, with just a few difficulties at the beginning and end of the race. However, I went home much more satisfied, because I felt so much better on the bike. Now we are at a circuit where the times are tight and things went well in the morning. In the afternoon we continued working on our pace, with the race in mind. I improved my braking a lot and on how I opened the throttle. We have to polish a few things, because now we are getting closer and gaining extra motivation.”

Source: Team Aspar