MotoGP, Abraham: “This is the best Ducati I've ever ridden”

There are four Ducatis in the top six places as Friday comes to an end at Rio Hondo. But what is more surprising is that none of them is an official bike. Yes, you heard correctly! With Dovizioso and Lorenzo out of the top ten, it was Abraham, Bautista, Petrucci and Baz up front representing Borgo Panigale today.

The Czech rider impressed, moving into third place just a few minutes before the end of FP2. He is clearly pleased: “The Ducati has always been a bike made for me – he commented – in 2011 I came close to being Rookie of The Year and now I think this is the best Ducati I've ever ridden. I'm very pleased with the result and we have to continue with our work”.

The Aspar rider immediately knew how to find the right level of confidence: “This morning there was more grip, but we were able to improve in the afternoon despite this - he analysed – we started the second session with the same tyre as in FP1, working on our race pace and achieving some good times”.

Behind him, his team-mate Alvaro Bautista, just 0.042 back: “I'm pleased with the sensations – he explained – compared to Qatar the conditions are more normal- We worked well in the morning -  he added - in the afternoon I used the medium front tyre and other solutions to understand which direction to take for the race. I have to say I had positive feeling with the hard tyre, while the medium and soft resulted in too much movement."

The Spaniard knows where to focus: “I need to try and improve when I come off the brakes and open the gas – he analysed - also though the long turns we need something more, as the bike tends to run wide. We need to adapt, knowing there are positives and negatives".   

After finishing second in the morning's session, Danilo Petrucci closed the afternoon in fifth place, half a second from the front. The Italian took a different route: “I'm using something different to the other Ducati riders - he commented - I'm pleased with my performance, as I'm constantly inside the top ten without completing a time attack. I think we've taken a step forward since the tests– added the Pramac rider - during the winter I didn't ride much and now I'm gaining confidence with the new bike. I have to say I'm not surprised by today”

Completing the Ducati quartet is the Avintia of Loris Baz. And to think that his day didn't get off to a good start: “Unfortunately I had a problem with one of the bikes this morning, but it was nothing serious – he commented– at Rio Hondo the first session is mainly useful in terms of cleaning the track”. IN the afternoon he went on the attack: “We tested some solutions and were able to be fast with the hard tyre – he analysed – then I used the soft like Vinales and was competitive. A pity about the wear, because I could have been faster with the hard. Despite stomach ache, I'm confident”.