Bezzecchi Unfazed by Aprilia Teammates' Struggles in Misano MotoGP Practice
Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi remained composed despite the struggles of his team-mates during the initial practice sessions for the San Marino Grand Prix. Even as he pushed the factory RS-GP close to a new lap record, other Aprilia riders encountered significant challenges, with Jorge Martin barely securing a Q2 spot and Raul Fernandez of the satellite Trackhouse team finishing much lower. Bezzecchi, however, expressed optimism, believing that both Martin and Fernandez possess the capability to elevate their performance in time for qualifying.
The first day of practice at Misano revealed a mixed bag for Aprilia. While Bezzecchi showcased impressive speed, outpacing many rivals, his team-mate Martin languished, grappling with the bike's setup and only just making it into the top 10. The situation was even more pronounced for Trackhouse, Aprilia's satellite team, where Raul Fernandez struggled to find pace. In contrast, several Ducati riders demonstrated strong form, highlighting the competitive nature of the field. Despite these discrepancies, Bezzecchi emphasized the early stage of the weekend and his belief in his team's ability to adapt and improve.
Martin's Qualifying Challenge
Jorge Martin, despite his teammate's strong showing, found himself significantly off the pace during practice, barely clinching a Q2 spot. His struggles were attributed to an inability to connect with the soft rear tire, a persistent issue throughout the season. Martin described his qualifying attempt as being "completely on the limit" and acknowledged the need for significant improvements to contend with the frontrunners.
Martin’s performance in practice revealed a clear struggle with the Michelin soft rear tyre, which he felt exacerbated existing difficulties with his bike setup. He admitted to feeling less comfortable on the soft compound than anticipated, hindering his ability to perform a competitive time attack. Although he managed to secure a provisional Q2 slot, the narrow margin of 0.016 seconds underscored the need for immediate adjustments. He is confident in his underlying pace and believes that with team effort, he can overcome these challenges and improve his qualifying position, aiming for a stronger performance than his previous fifth-place finish at Aragon.
Fernandez's Self-Critique
Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Racing experienced a disappointing end to his practice session, missing out on a direct Q2 entry. Despite an initially promising start, finishing third in the first practice, he attributed his drop in performance to personal errors and a suboptimal bike setup that did not align with his riding style.
Fernandez’s initial performance in the opening practice suggested strong potential, as he secured a commendable third place. However, the afternoon session saw a decline in his results, ultimately placing him outside the automatic Q2 qualification. He took full responsibility for his late-session performance, admitting to making crucial errors on his final push laps. Furthermore, he noted that changes made to the bike between sessions negatively impacted his riding comfort. Fernandez recognized that much of the improvement needed for the upcoming sessions lies in his own riding adjustments rather than significant bike modifications, particularly in his cornering technique at Misano.