Front row start for Maverick Viñales and Team Calvo
After not having any track time at all on Friday due to the bad weather, today the riders could finally go out for the qualifying session for the Japanese GP. Maverick Viñales recorded the second fastest time in difficult conditions.
The Team Calvo rider showed a great pace during the whole session and if it’s a wet race, he’s prepared to fight for victory. The forecast predicts that it won’t rain, so the team will have to make full use of tomorrow’s 40 minute warm up session to get the dry setup right for the race.
For Ana Carrasco the first experience of the Japanese circuit wasn’t a good one at all. The Team Calvo rider fought hard for the whole session to get into the necessary margin of 107% from the fastest time to qualify, but in the end she missed out by 3 tenths. She’ll get another chance to qualify tomorrow and Ana herself as well as the team trust that she can do this.
#25 Maverick Viñales – 2nd place – 2.10.310 / @maverickmack25
It’s been two very strange days but I’m satisfied because we did a good session and I feel comfortable on the bike. Even though we couldn’t go out on track before the qualifying session, we were immediately up amongst the usual group of riders. On the other hand this is very logical because we have been amongst the strongest all year. We’ve got a good setup for a wet race, and in tomorrow’s extra long warm up session we have to make sure we try everything well in preparation for the race. Wet or dry, we’re ready.
#22 Ana Carrasco – 35th place – 2.18.731 / @AnaCarrasco_22
It’s been very difficult. I couldn’t get the feeling with the bike and I couldn’t go any faster. At the end we ended up far at the back and we’ll see tomorrow what we can do. From beginning to end we did improve, but the faster riders improved more and left us far behind. To get to a new circuit and the first session being the qualifying was very difficult. We’ll have to see how the day goes tomorrow but I’m determined to improve so I can take part in the race.
Pablo Nieto (Team Director) / @pablonieto22
Maverick had a great session. To go out with the track in such conditions after that much rain is not easy, and this front row start will be very important tomorrow, whether is rains or not. The extended warm up session will be crucial to get the dry setup right. For Ana it’s been very difficult. She suffered from a combination of not knowing the track and the pressure of her first time out on track being the qualifying session.
Source: Team Calvo
