The Portuguese driver Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia) The timed training ended this Friday of the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix16th race of the season, in 20th position.
The Portuguese rider had difficulties setting up his RNF team Aprilia, and finished the day 1.768 seconds behind the fastest, South African Brad Binder (KTM), with Australian Jack Miller (KTM) just behind, 0.148 seconds behind, and the Spanish Maverick Viñales. (Aprilia) in third place, with 0.269.
“Today It was a little strange. He had no feeling with the bike, especially with the front in the fast corners, where moved a lotneither [tive] a lot of grip on the rear, so definitely there was something strange”, began explaining Miguel Oliveira, who had already been 21st in the first free practice sessions.
The Almada driver still recovered 1.4 seconds for the afternoon session, but it was insufficient to guarantee direct passage to the second qualifying phase (Q2), reserved for the 10 fastest drivers in the timed practice sessions.
“It is not normal that it is so far from the ideal rhythm as I was today. In the morning I still thought I had chosen the wrong tire but, the truth is, even in the afternoon there was not much more to give,” lamented Miguel Oliveira.
The 28-year-old rider, who has already won in Australia in Moto3 and Moto2, admits that “there is still a lot of information to analyze” and try to “take a step forward” for Saturday.
“As the race will take place on Saturday, We have to be prepared find a solution quickly,” concluded Miguel Oliveira.
Who also had problems with the set-up of his bike was the Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), leader of the championship, who finished 11th in the qualifying practice.
The Spanish Jorge Martín (Ducati), second in the championship, 18 points behind Bagnaia, was fourth.
The Spanish Marc Márquez (Honda) fell again, and in both sessions of the day (free practice and timed practice) and now has 25 falls this season, two shy of his own record (27), from 2017.
The Spanish Augusto Fernández (GasGas) was penalized with the loss of three positions on the starting grid after having slowly traveled the ideal trajectory during training, which has harmed the attempt of the Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) to achieve a fast lap.
Qualifying and the main race will be held on Saturday, brought forward one day due to poor weather forecasts for Sunday and wind gusts of around 60 kilometers per hour.
Source: TSF
