MotoGP Aragon, Rossi: Better on the MotoGP bike than the factory R1.

“It was a positive day - Rossi clarifies straight away - From the morning I was already feeling good in the saddle and to be honest I didn’t know what to expect, because I hadn’t been on the M1 in leathers since the injury. But the ergonomics of this bike are tailor designed for me and I felt better than on the R1.”

What were your sensations when you started riding?
“I didn’t feel much pain, but the best thing is that after the two sessions the leg did not swell. I feel pretty good.”

Did the wet track help you?
“Physically it is easier to ride in those conditions; it’s less demanding, so it was better to start like that. On the other hand, it is more dangerous and easier to make mistakes. I held back a bit out of fear and left a bit of margin. I didn’t brake on the kerbs and I didn’t even try to turn the bike when I went a little long on the braking sections, which is what you normally do when you ride at the limit. I was a bit more prudent than usual because I am already pleased to be here and to be riding.”

Were you able to allay some doubts with these two sessions?
“No, because riding in the wet is different than riding on a dry track. You hang off the bike a lot less and that is one of the areas where I struggle the most because of the injury.”

Can you tell if you’ll be able to last race distance?
“If it’s a wet race I don’t think I’ll have any particular problems, but with a dry track everything changes. For example, on the braking sections I need to stress the arm and shoulders more because I can’t push on my legs. On a dry track it will be more tiring.”

So do you think you’ll try a long run tomorrow?
“If I am really able to do those 23 laps … then it will be best to save them for Sunday (he laughs). I think I’ll follow a normal work schedule in FP3, trying to dial in the bike and figure out my potential and then try to put on the soft tyres in the finale. The first hurdle will be to get into the top 10, but I really have no idea if I’ll be able to do it. To understand my stamina, I’ll need to trust my sensations.”

Have you modified the bike in some way?
“I used the footpegs in a lower position, but I think that I’ll go back to the standard ones already tomorrow.”

Source: http://gpone.com

FP2:

1. ^1 Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 59.858s [Lap 8/10] 324km/h (Max)
2. ^4 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP17) 2m 00.072s +0.214s [10/12] 325km/h
3. = Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 2m 00.320s +0.462s [16/16] 323km/h
4. ˅3 Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 00.459s +0.601s [7/9] 326km/h
5. ^9 Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar (GP15) 2m 00.471s +0.613s [13/15] 326km/h
6. ^1 Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 2m 00.482s +0.624s [11/13] 328km/h
7. ^5 Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 2m 00.585s +0.727s [10/11] 319km/h
8. ^2 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP17) 2m 00.962s +1.104s [4/6] 324km/h
9. ^6 Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 2m 01.015s +1.157s [5/7] 322km/h
10. ^7 Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 01.042s +1.184s [8/10] 327km/h
11. ^8 Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar (GP16) 2m 01.103s +1.245s [13/16] 328km/h
12. ˅8 Jack Miller AUS EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 01.149s +1.291s [3/7] 322km/h
13. ^11 Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 01.350s +1.492s [11/14] 322km/h
14. ˅5 Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 2m 01.471s +1.613s [10/11] 322km/h
15. ˅10 Mika Kallio FIN Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 01.492s +1.634s [12/12] 326km/h
16. ˅5 Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac (GP16) 2m 01.516s +1.658s [10/11] 325km/h
17. ^3 Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 2m 01.632s +1.774s [12/12] 324km/h
18. ˅5 Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 2m 01.745s +1.887s [13/14] 325km/h
19. ˅11 Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac (GP17) 2m 01.810s +1.952s [9/14] 328km/h
20. ˅2 Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 2m 01.917s +2.059s [6/13] 321km/h
21. ^2 Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 2m 02.077s +2.219s [15/16] 323km/h
22. ˅6 Tito Rabat ESP EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 02.392s +2.534s [16/18] 326km/h
23. ˅2 Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia (GP15) 2m 02.677s +2.819s [5/12] 318km/h
24. ˅2 Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia (GP16) 2m 02.935s +3.077s [13/16] 326km/h

FP1:

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 01.243s [Lap 9/10] 324km/h (Max)
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 01.741s +0.498s [10/11] 326km/h
3. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 2m 02.028s +0.785s [11/17] 324km/h
4. Jack Miller AUS EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 02.099s +0.856s [6/11] 323km/h
5. Mika Kallio FIN Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 02.294s +1.051s [10/11] 326km/h
6. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP17) 2m 02.386s +1.143s [10/10] 324km/h
7. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 2m 02.718s +1.475s [9/10] 321km/h
8. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac (GP17) 2m 02.917s +1.674s [9/10] 327km/h
9. Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 2m 02.957s +1.714s [5/10] 323km/h
10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP17) 2m 03.093s +1.850s [5/9] 323km/h
11. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac (GP16) 2m 03.320s +2.077s [12/12] 324km/h
12. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 2m 03.344s +2.101s [9/9] 319km/h
13. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1)* 2m 03.494s +2.251s [12/12] 323km/h
14. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar (GP15) 2m 03.545s +2.302s [13/13] 318km/h
15. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 2m 03.613s +2.370s [7/7] 320km/h
16. Tito Rabat ESP EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 2m 03.673s +2.430s [13/15] 325km/h
17. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 03.694s +2.451s [9/12] 324km/h
18. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 2m 04.066s +2.823s [6/8] 319km/h
19. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar (GP16) 2m 04.094s +2.851s [9/10] 326km/h
20. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 2m 04.098s +2.855s [9/10] 322km/h
21. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia (GP15) 2m 04.525s +3.282s [4/6] 316km/h
22. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia (GP16) 2m 04.609s +3.366s [9/12] 325km/h
23. Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 2m 04.625s +3.382s [6/13] 322km/h
 Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) [0/0]