Mir and Rins set for speedy Styrian GP with 3rd and 6th on grid

 In MotoGP, News

Joan Mir: 4th – 1’23.678 (+ 0.098) – 3rd taking into account pit lane start penalty for Johann Zarco 
Alex Rins: 7th – 1’23.782 (+ 0.202) – 6th taking into account pit lane start penalty for Johann Zarco 

Saturday morning in Spielberg highlighted Team Suzuki Ecstar’s promising pace once again as Joan Mir rocketed to the top spot in FP3 after spending much of the session on used tyres. Alex Rins worked hard and managed to confirm his place in Q2 after taking ninth place with a decent lap time and consistency. The pair also took the top two places in Sector 3, proving once again the GSX-RR’s performance in the second part of the lap.

Mir and Rins carried this impressive form into the afternoon’s FP4 where they finished second and fourth respectively in what was an extremely tight session with the first 18 riders covered by less than a second.

The riders entered the close and unpredictable Q2 with confidence and knowledge of their ability to set laps in the 1’23 bracket. In the fast-paced final 10 minutes the pair pushed hard to secure good grid spots: Mir managed fourth place and Rins took seventh – just +0.098 and +0.202 from pole.

However, with a pitlane start penalty handed to Johann Zarco, Mir and Rins will actually start the Styrian Grand Prix from the front and second rows with third and sixth.

Joan Mir:

“Over this weekend so far we’ve managed to improve everything a little bit compared with last weekend. It’s really important at this track to start on the front two rows, so I’m pleased that I managed that, especially as my time was so close to the top. I feel great and I know I have the pace to fight at the front, so let’s see how tomorrow goes.”

 

Alex Rins:

“It’s strange because when the margins are so small you can easily end up further down the grid than you hoped! I was only two tenths of a second off but I finished seventh. I will actually go up one row on the grid and start sixth because of Zarco’s penalty. My shoulder is still painful but I have good rhythm and consistency for tomorrow, there are some other quick riders so it will be a fight. Tomorrow morning I will decide on the tyre choice and I’m ready to give my all.”

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