GOOD RACE PREPARATION FOR SAM LOWES AND HIS APRILIA
The final day of practice before the Jerez GP had the Aprilia riders working on their RS-GP machines in preparation for a race that promises to be rather heated. In fact, the two free practice sessions were characterized by extremely close gaps. For example, in FP4, in twelfth place Aleix Espargaró was just over six tenths from the first place time.
The quickly rising temperature and the consequent decrease of grip on the track will be the key factors for the 27 laps tomorrow. These are conditions that have enhanced the characteristics of the RS-GP machines thus far.
Precisely for this reason, the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders are confidently anticipating the first European Grand Prix of the 2017 MotoGP season. Aleix Espargaró came through Q1 selection with a brilliant lap, later having to throw in the towel after a crash in Q2. Tomorrow he will start from the fourth row with a good pace and the extra motivation of his home crowd. Sam Lowes is also smiling, slowed a bit in Q1 by a small technical issue but able to lap in FP4 at a decidedly consistent pace. The British rider took a fairing with new aerodynamics on its maiden run, a solution that he will most likely also use in the race.