“Difficult day” sees Joan Mir qualify fourteenth on Motegi grid

An intense round of qualifying practice this afternoon at Twin Ring Motegi, the scene of the fifteenth round of the 2016 World Championship. On the 4.8 km of the Japanese track, the riders riders of Leopard Racing team gave their all in the decisive session to set their starting grid of the Motul Grand Prix of Japan.

Fourteenth position turned out to be the best possible outcome for Joan Mir, the 19 year old from Mallorca, in the running for the Rookie-of-the-Year, as he continued his apprenticeship at Twin Ring.

He continually improved his best time by precious tenths, showing a steady pace which bodes well for tomorrow. Several times already this season Mir has treated us to great comebacks. He, a true “racing animal”, will give 100% on track.

Tomorrow at 8:40 Warm Up will begin: a preview of the fifteenth race of the 2016 season that will start at 11:00 o’clock.

#36 Joan MIR – 14th (1’57.062):
“It been a difficult day for us, we have not discovered he right strategy and ninth was the best I could do. I was able to take advantage of any some slipstream to help learn the circuit better. A shame about the 14th position, but we are also left behind and then we were able to get ahead in the race. I know I have a good rhythm.”

Source: Leopard Racing