MotoGP – Motegi QP1 – Gibernau was aiming for the front row

Sete Gibernau was looking for the front row, or at least to start from the front, and so it was with the fifth fastest time and the second row. The doubt about which tire to choose for the race hovers over him too: the new one or the "traditional" one which gives one more grip and the other more handling. In any case, the decision is postponed to tomorrow morning's warm-up, where he will also try to improve the bike on the front under braking, even if the feeling is good.

“We wanted to ensure a start from the first or second row and that was the case. We worked really well today: the guys were fantastic. We managed to combine the best of the two set-ups that I had tried yesterday and we intervened on the geometry: in this way the riding has become much more fluid and natural and the bike more balanced during braking, so I can load the front without lighten the rear axle too much. This afternoon I was very fast with race tyres, I'm very satisfied. But I didn't make full use of the qualifying tyres, I wanted to overdo it and in the end I'm sure I could have done better. I don't like this track but I think we did a really good job. Now all we have to do is decide which profile for the rear tire to use in the race. Both, the new one and the "traditional" one, are fine but while the wider tire offers a little more grip and consistency, the other guarantees more handling. We will test both again in the warm-up and then decide which one to use in the race. We also want to further improve the behavior of the front during braking, but in general the feeling is really good."

Marika Farinazzo