Aspar San Marino GP Friday report

Fastest Ducati At Misano Belongs To MAPFRE Aspar Team

Hector Barbera, Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP

Photo by: Aspar Team

Héctor Barberá starts San Marino challenge with eighth fastest time in free practice

Just when it seemed that Casey Stoner was set to extend his dominance at the top of the MotoGP World Championship, Jorge Lorenzo provided a resounding response at Misano to finish the opening day of free practice on top of the timesheets. High temperatures at the Italian circuit along with tiredness and jetlag made for a tough start for the premier-class riders although the pace was relentless as always. Dani Pedrosa was consistently in touch with the lead two and Marco Simoncelli was a short distance behind, with Spanish pair Héctor Barberá and Álvaro Bautista also in the hunt and looking to spring a surprise tomorrow.

Seventh in the morning and eighth in the afternoon, MAPFRE Aspar rider Héctor Barberá has started his weekend stronger than ever. The Spaniard is just a second off the fastest time and at the home of Ducati he was the fastest rider on track on the Italian machinery today. Héctor warned earlier in the week that this was a good circuit for him and he is keen to make the most of the opportunity to finish with a good result. Having improved his pace and consistency throughout today, he is looking forward to continuing the job tomorrow.

8th Héctor Barberá 1.35.111 (39 laps): “We are doing a good job and it is showing. Practice has been going well for us at the last few rounds and we have just been missing that extra step in the races. Our pace has been consistent though and I think sooner or later we are going to spring a surprise. It could be here because this is a good circuit for me. The fastest Ducati on the first day is a good start for us. We were fighting to be the first Ducati to the finish line at the last race so that is what we will try for again this Sunday. My team is helping me a lot and gradually we are improving in certain areas. I always ride my hardest but there are things we can do better and we are finding them so that is the most important thing. We have a base set-up that we try to get the best out of at each track and the best way forward has proven to be making small changes to a setting we know works.”