Heavy rain just before the start of FP2 disrupted the first day of the Malaysian GP. On a drying track in the final stage of the practice Jakub Kornfeil was the first to come out on slicks. The Czech immediately set the fastest time. After the others came out on slicks as well he dropped back to 14th. Jasper Iwema was 28th fastest.
In the morning the track was dry and thus lap times were faster. Still the conditions in Sepang – hot and humid – made the top of the time sheets look different, with Masbou and Miller as 2nd and 3rd behind Viñales. Jakub Kornfeil used his time well to adjust the Kalex KTM to the conditions and was 15th fastest (2.16.446). Jasper Iwema set his fastest time of the morning in his final lap: 2.17.606, bringing him to 24th.
The wet track in the afternoon kept most riders in for a while before getting out on rain tires. Under the hot sun the track dried quickly and with 10 minutes on the clock Jakub Kornfeil was the first to try it on slicks and set the fastest time.
After watching the Czech the other riders decided to change to slicks as well and positions changed rapidly. In the final seconds of the session Kornfeil was pushed back to 14th, leaving him 15th in the combined results due to his lap time in FP1.
Jasper Iwema entered the top 10 as well and although he improved his pace every lap the Dutchman had to settle for 28th in the end. In the combined results he remained 24th.
Jakub Kornfeil: "It was nice to set the pace in FP2 when the track was drying, but my provisional pole position lasted too short. In Sepang you know there is always a chance of rain. Over lunch it was a short but torrential shower. In the wet conditions I feel confident. In the dry we have to improve more."
Jasper Iwema: "The humidity is of huge influence here. It is different to what we are used to, so we had to adapt. I am happy in the wet, but we need to work hard on the settings in dry but humid conditions. The results in qualifying tomorrow will depend a lot on the conditions."
RW Racing Press Release
