Top 10 in Thailand for Mir and Rins on Day One

Joan Mir: 9th - 1:31.086 (+ 0.682)
Alex Rins: 10th - 1:31.094 (+ 0.690)

• Rookie Joan Mir makes impressive start at Buriram.
• Alex Rins makes his way into important Top 10.
• Team re-familiarising themselves with Thai track.

Team SUZUKI ECSTAR are back on track for the first in a series of ‘fly-away’ races in Asia. The Chang International circuit in Thailand promises mixed conditions for the race weekend, meaning Friday’s times could be more crucial than usual.

Alex Rins and Joan Mir took this into account from FP1 onwards as they aimed to place themselves into the Top 10 and ensure strong pace for the coming sessions. Having only ridden at Buriram for the first-time last year, the pair spent time reacquainting themselves with the technical Thai track. For Mir, FP1 marked his first time at the circuit on the GSX-RR. The rookie took 9th, while Rins was 11th.

The afternoon’s FP2 session went smoothly for the team, with both riders showing consistent and strong pace whilst also trying out different settings and tyre options. Mir and Rins spent the majority of the session within the Top 10, and they closed Friday in 9th and 10th respectively.

Davide Brivio - Team Manager:

“It was important for us to have both riders in the Top 10 today in case the conditions change for FP3 tomorrow, that was our target and we met it. It’s been a positive day; Alex has good and consistent pace and Joan was also impressive with his lap times. We want to improve on a few things and keep working for tomorrow and Sunday, but we’re pleased with today’s work and progress.”

Joan Mir:

“Today our goal was to get into provisional top 10, and we managed that in both sessions, so that was really good. We also spent some time working on settings and general pace for the race on Sunday. I feel happy with the progress so far, and tomorrow I hope to be in Q2 and then I will aim for the front two rows. At the moment my pace isn’t far from the top.”

Alex Rins:

“I’m pretty happy because we’ve done a good job today. I struggled a bit in FP1, but I felt better in FP2. I tried a new swing-arm attachment, it gave me positive feelings so we will continue testing tomorrow to double-check also from the data if we will adopt it definitively. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, it will be tough to stay in the top 10 because all the riders will improve the lap time, but I really want to be in Q2 and get a good grid spot.”

GP of Thailand - Combined Classification after Day 1:

1. Fabio QUARTARARO Petronas Yamaha SRT 1’30.404 (FP2)
2. Maverick VIÑALES Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1’30.597 0.193 / 0.193 (FP2)
3. Franco MORBIDELLI Petronas Yamaha SRT 1’30.625 0.221 / 0.028 (FP2)
4. Jack MILLER Pramac Racing 1’30.698 0.294 / 0.073 (FP2)
5. Valentino ROSSI Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1’30.733 0.329 / 0.035 (FP2)
6. Marc MARQUEZ Repsol Honda Team 1’30.891 0.487 / 0.158 (FP2)
7. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’31.007 0.603 / 0.116 (FP2)
8. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati Team 1’31.027 0.623 / 0.020 (FP2)
9. Joan MIR Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’31.086 0.682 / 0.059 (FP2)
10. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1’31.094 0.690 / 0.008 (FP2)
11. Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati Team 1’31.115 0.711 / 0.021 (FP2)
12. Francesco BAGNAIA Pramac Racing 1’31.154 0.750 / 0.039 (FP2)
13. Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL 1’31.344 0.940 / 0.190 (FP2)
14. Takaaki NAKAGAMI LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1’31.424 1.020 / 0.080 (FP2)
15. Pol ESPARGARO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’31.499 1.095 / 0.075 (FP2)
16. Andrea IANNONE Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1’31.512 1.108 / 0.013 (FP2)
17. Karel ABRAHAM Reale Avintia Racing 1’31.588 1.184 / 0.076 (FP2)
18. Tito RABAT Reale Avintia Racing 1’31.932 1.528 / 0.344 (FP2)
19. Miguel OLIVEIRA Red Bull KTM Tech 3 1’31.936 1.532 / 0.004 (FP2)
20. Jorge LORENZO Repsol Honda Team 1’31.949 1.545 / 0.013 (FP2)
21. Mika KALLIO Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1’31.991 1.587 / 0.042 (FP2)
22. Hafizh SYAHRIN Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 1’32.584 2.180 / 0.593 (FP2)

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For more stories about Alex Rins, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.

For more stories about Joan Mir, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.