Qatar – QP1 125 cc – Microphone to Gino Borsoi and Mike Di Meglio

It would be too banal to say that the real protagonist of the first official test session on the Losail circuit in Doha in Qatar was the sun. But the 40-odd degrees, accompanied by humidity and the desire to stay in the air-conditioned garage, put all the drivers on the track to the test.

The circuit is surrounded by a disturbing world of sand which, among other things, easily dirty the track. The asphalt of the track is followed, for all of its 5,4 km, by two strips of plastic turf that are easy to maintain in impossible rain conditions; the asphalt temperature reaches 50 degrees and naturally the sun shining on the helmets does the rest. On the other hand, the brand new structure is beautiful and the track, technical but fast, is very popular with the riders.

The right foot, broken by Mike di Meglio in Japan a week ago, affects his Arab trip. The French boy does not participate in the free practice session and enters the track for official practice a little hesitant. Apart from the pain, the creaking of the still broken bone recommends a very cautious pace for the first contact with the new track.

Gino Borsoi's Aprilia is going very fast and at the start of the official session, the Italian is sixth but then tire problems arise due to the great heat.

Mike Di Meglio : “Well… yesterday I couldn't move my foot and looking at it was disgusting but I thought – I don't use the rear brake much – but I hadn't thought that in the right turns, the movement of the leg and the knee that rubs the asphalt , they would have caused me pain and little stability. In these conditions, I absolutely don't think I can be competitive. I just want to ride to learn the track for next year.”

Gino Borsoi : “Halfway through the session we found the right set-up and after changing the tyres, I got back on track. I felt the perfect bike. It's a shame that the sensation lasted for a few tens of seconds. Then the rear tire overheated and started slipping all over the place. I can therefore do much better but we need to find the right set-up with the right tyre. I like the track, it's technical and innovative but the heat here is destructive.”

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