Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini rider Alvaro Bautista finished seventh fastest after the second and third free practice sessions at Losail tonight but just four tenths of a second off the pacesetter Marc Marquez. The Spaniard secured a safe passage to tomorrow night's QP2, which will decide solely the top twelve positions on the grid for Sunday's race. Bryan Staring will be in QP1 after finishing 21st tonight, improving his feeling with the bike and his knowledge of the track.
Alvaro Bautista (7th 1’ 56” 572 )
“I didn't have a brilliant feeling tonight but the result is not bad. We tried the hard tyre in the second session tonight but I couldn't get a feeling for it so we went back to the soft option for the third session. I also tried a new fork that we had been planning to use at Jerez and it felt a bit better although we need to work on the setting, especially for the braking. We'll try and find a bit more confidence with the front in the last thirty minutes tomorrow and hopefully find something positive.”
Bryan Staring (21st 1’ 59” 758)
“I am quite satisfied because we have found a better feeling with the bike tonight. Unfortunately I still need to get my head around certain parts of the track, like turn one, but I think we can make more improvements before the race. I am determined to do so and I will certainly be giving it my best shot.”
Fausto Gresini
“We're pretty happy tonight even though we know we have work to do to help Alvaro improve his feeling on the front. He tried a hard tyre tonight but didn't like it and even so the lap time is not bad and we're quite close to the top three. Tomorrow it will be a case of trying to adapt quickly to the new qualifying format. To say this is his debut on a difficult track Bryan is making constant progress and it is pleasing to see his effort. I am sure he will have something to smile about very soon.
GO&Fun Honda Gresini Press Release
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