MotoGP – Phillip Island Day 1 – Randy De Puniet is twelfth

A warm spring sun welcomed the MotoGP riders this morning on the first day of testing for the Australian GP on the Phillip Island track which hosts the third to last round of the season. Team LCR Honda rider Randy De Puniet finished the first free practice session in 12th place with the best time of 1'32.808 which was delayed by some grip problems. After two days of torrential rain, the clouds full of water gave way to a pale sun which gave the teams and riders of the premier class the opportunity to fine-tune the bikes in the dry (36°C on the asphalt ). The Frenchman astride the Honda RC212V, who is a fan of the Australian track, completed 26 laps in the afternoon but will still have to work to find the ideal set-up for the ups and downs of Phillip Island. Rossi sets the best time in 1'31.032.

De Puniet – 12th"I struggled a lot from the first laps of the session. We have some grip problems at the rear and we tried to fix the bike but in the end I wasn't able to ride as I like. The rear tire was probably too hard in these conditions. Bridgestone has brought some new tires here which increase safety on the track but for the moment I don't feel comfortable. We need to work on it by trying to increase grip through some changes to the chassis and suspension."