MotoGP | GP Le Mans Day 1: A.Espargarò, “Not an easy day”

MotoGP GP France MotoGP Aprilia Gresini – A very difficult day for the Aprilia Gresini team on the Le Mans track, scene of the next 2020 French Grand Prix. Despite the good performance shown in the morning on a wet track, Aleix Espargarò and Bradley Smith were unable to confirm themselves in the dry session of this afternoon, with the general performance on slick tires not being in line with initial expectations.

A situation that the team will have to resolve in tomorrow's FP3, given that at the moment the two centaurs of the Italian team, Smith and Espargarò, are stationed in 18th and 20th position

Statements Aleix Espargarò GP Le Mans MotoGP

“Not an easy day. I had never had the opportunity to try the new RS-GP in the wet and it is clear that there is still work to be done. The positive side is that Bradley showed an excellent level in those conditions, this gives me confidence. In the afternoon the situation was complicated, even if the track seemed dry it wasn't totally dry and this made it easy to make mistakes. I had a small crash, tomorrow we will basically start from scratch and I hope I can be fast. Also because FP3 will be a qualifying session, with an asphalt that will probably be dry but cold."

Statements Bradley Smith GP Le Mans MotoGP

“Apart from a few aches and pains, it wasn't a bad day for us. This morning I felt really comfortable in the wet and, however little it may matter, it's always nice to bring the Aprilia into first position also as a signal for the guys who work from home. To be honest, I had a good feeling this afternoon too, until a wet spot sent me to the ground. Unfortunately in these conditions there is little that can be done, even the electronic controls struggle to recognize such sudden changes in grip. However, it remains important for us to lap, understand the track and how it behaves: I'd rather have a crash today than ruin something more important on Sunday."