TESTING DONE ON TECHNICAL UPGRADES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON
Just a few hours after the chequered flag had waved over the Brno race, most of the MotoGP teams were on the track again for a day of tests. These were fundamental, especially in view of the coming weekend, where they will be busy in Austria for the eleventh round on the 2017 calendar.
In the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini garage, the work schedules followed two rather different paths. Aleix Espargaró, eighth across the line yesterday, continued developing the technical package that had been introduced just in time for the race in the Czech Republic, testing various setups and even a new swingarm. The Spanish rider turned 51 laps with 1'56.256 being his best time.
Rookie Sam Lowes, on the other hand, focused on improving his own riding style. In fact, along with his team, Sam identified braking and coming out of turns as the most critical phases in adapting to the RS-GP, two elements that come under particular stress on the Austrian Spielberg circuit. His right foot is still sore after his crash on Saturday, so the English rider did a reduced schedule, turning 26 laps, the best one clocking in at 1'57.851.