Albert Arenas and Stefano Nepa line up 7th and 16th in Jerez

Tatsuki Suzuki has returned from these “off-season” months with the same energies with which he competed in Qatar and this afternoon, in Jerez, he has got the second pole position of the season in just two races. The Japanese rider set the time on the penultimate lap of the qualifying session, without waiting until the chequered flag, and he was almost two tenths ahead of Andrea Migno, second on the grid for tomorrow’s race. Scottish John McPhee will complete the front row of the grid and fight to return to the podium as he did in Qatar.

The Gaviota Aspar Team has achieved a positive double Q2 with Albert Arenas and Stefano Nepa. The two riders have earned the direct place inside Q2 with their times in free practice, and in Q2 they have fought to achieve the best possible position on the grid. Albert Arenas was seventh, leading the third row of the grid, staying seven tenths off the time off the pole. The current World Championship leader has found some slow riders on his fastest lap, but has been satisfied with his position on the grid, from where he hopes to fight again for the victory as he did in Qatar. His teammate Stefano Nepa got his place in Q2 for the first time this season after finishing ninth in the morning. The Italian has shown great potential and he has only missed a tow during qualifying to reach the limit and enter the top ten.

7th Albert Arenas 1:46.161 (+0.696):
“Our ideal position was fourth or fifth, but I found some slow riders in the first sector and although I was able to recover ground in the last one, it was not enough. I am happy with the feelings I had on the FP3, with the fast lap and with the pace we have set. We have tried to complete a long run and we have to decide yet which tyre to use tomorrow. The balance of the day is positive.”

16th Stefano Nepa 1:46.597 (+1.132):
“It has been a great day, we have been able to take a great step forward both in the free practice, where we have set a good lap to enter Q2, and in the qualifying practice. The position does not reflect our potential because we have the speed to be in the top ten, but maybe I was lacking a good tow. I will start from the middle of the grid, but the important thing is tomorrow: the race. I feel ready, the bike is going well and we only need a few small changes to be able to have a good race.”