Front row start for Maverick Viñales at Assen TT
Maverick Viñales and Team Calvo return to starting a race from the front row of the grid. Today the conditions were not perfect, and, after a wet third practice session, this afternoon’s qualifying was held in the dry but with a couple of raindrops falling at the beginning of the session.
In the end it was a close affair and the first 5 riders all finished within 85 thousands of a second. But Viñales remains calm and focused because he did a very good job and is ready for the race, be it in the wet or dry.
For Ana Carrasco the weekend doesn’t pan out as easy as she’s hoped. This morning she suffered a crash in the wet that affected her confidence a bit, but in the afternoon she was able to improve again, even though not everything was to her liking. If the top of the field is very close together, the situation for the rest is no different with no less than 13 riders all within 757 thousands of a second.
#25 Maverick Viñales – 1.43.649 – 3rd place / @maverickmack25
It was a very close-fought session, with everyone within 1 tenth. It was difficult in the beginning because it looked like it was going to rain, but in the end we secured a very good third place, and tomorrow we’ll just try to get a good start and find our rhythm. Overall I’m very happy because we could maintain a good pace. To start in front of my championship rivals is important, but at the same time doesn’t mean much. This morning in the wet, I felt very good but I’m ready whatever may come.
#22 Ana Carrasco – 1.45.856 – 30th place / @AnaCarrasco_22
We did a good time, but from my position all the way up to 18th, we’re all within less than one second. Also I think my crash this morning has knocked my confidence a bit and therefore we struggled a bit in the end. In addition to this, we used slicks in the beginning and in the end we didn’t have any new tyres to try and improve times. But I feel comfortable with this track and each time we go faster, even though the grid position doesn’t really reflect this. Tomorrow I’ll have to give everything and try to finish as high up as I can.
Pablo Nieto (Team Director) / @pablonieto22
We have to be happy because starting from the front row of the grid is very important. The highlight is the great race pace by Maverick, which is one area he and the team have worked on really well during the whole weekend. And this is also true in wet conditions, because this morning Maverick was able to go really fast. Depending on tomorrow’s conditions we have to go with one strategy or another. For Ana this circuit is one of the best she’s ridden on a bike and I trust that she’ll have a good race tomorrow.
Source: Team Calvo
