MotoGP

TERMAS PROVES TOUGH AS SUZUKI PAIR MISS OUT ON Q2


Team Suzuki Press Office - March 30.

Alex Rins: 16th - 1:39.384
Joan Mir: 19th - 1:39.605

• Alex Rins comes close to Q2 but misses out.
• Joan Mir with good rhythm but struggling on corner exit.
• Incredibly close lap times makes Termas a hard task.

Following a tricky opening day in Argentina, which saw the track lacking in grip, Day 2 proved to be a tough one too. Although the track stayed dry, the conditions were not optimal and it was difficult to find improvements in lap times, especially as the pack remained very close.

In FP3 many riders pushed to try and ensure a place in Q2, and the early part of the session saw both Rins and Mir hovering within the Top 10. However, as the chequered flag flew the Team SUZUKI ECSTAR pair found themselves down in 15th and 17th - although, amazingly, the Top 15 were covered by less a second.

FP4 showed signs of promise and Rins finished just six tenths of a second from the top, with Mir eight tenths off.

But the Spanish duo found troubles in Q1, despite previously trying several different tyre combinations. A lack of feeling cost Rins and Mir on the time sheets, and they closed Saturday in 16th and 19th respectively.

Davide Brivio - Team Manager
“Today was difficult, now we have to check the data and try to understand where the struggles came from. The lack of grip is still causing us some issues. Alex’s race pace isn’t bad, but he wanted the big jump to get into Q2. Joan is finding corner exit tricky at the moment. We’ll do our best to recover good results because we feel that our pace is almost there.”

Alex Rins
“It’s difficult to explain what happened today, both the team and I gave our best and we’re not at fault. The Q2 pace wasn’t the best, but in the other sessions I was closer. I’ll try hard to pass as many people as possible and have a good race, I always feel stronger on a Sunday. I’ll give everything.”

Joan Mir
“I struggled to find the right settings to feel comfortable today. My base settings are good but I don’t have a great feeling when I push for fast laps. Starting so far back on the grid will make things difficult tomorrow but I’m 100% confident that we can still have a good race.”

GP of Argentina - Qualifying Classification:
1. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 1'38.304
2. Maverick VIÑALES Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1'38.458 0.154 / 0.154
3. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Mission Winnow Ducati 1'38.468 0.164 / 0.010
4. Valentino ROSSI Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1'38.545 0.241 / 0.077
5. Jack MILLER Pramac Racing 1'38.548 0.244 / 0.003
6. Franco MORBIDELLI Petronas Yamaha SRT 1'38.886 0.582 / 0.338
7. Fabio QUARTARARO Petronas Yamaha SRT 1'38.897 0.593 / 0.011
8. Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL 1'38.955 0.651 / 0.058
9. Takaaki NAKAGAMI LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1'39.038 0.734 / 0.083
10. Danilo PETRUCCI Mission Winnow Ducati 1'39.093 0.789 / 0.055
11. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1'39.489 1.185 / 0.396
12. Jorge LORENZO Repsol Honda Team 1'39.520 1.216 / 0.031
13. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1'39.288 Q1
14. Miguel OLIVEIRA Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1'39.298 Q1
15. Karel ABRAHAM Reale Avintia Racing 1'39.331 Q1
16. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1'39.384 Q1
17. Francesco BAGNAIA Pramac Racing 1'39.387 Q1
18. Johann ZARCO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1'39.571 Q1
19. Joan MIR Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1'39.605 Q1
20. Tito RABAT Reale Avintia Racing 1'39.978 Q1
21. Hafizh SYAHRIN Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1'40.053 Q1
22. Andrea IANNONE Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1'40.118 Q1


Argentina MotoGP Image Gallery: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS





For more stories about Alex Rins, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.

For more stories about Joan Mir, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.

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