The premiere of the new Mandalika Circuit began with the track completely muddy as a result of the rains and the works that continue to be carried out on the track, which has to be completely finished for the grand prix that will be held in Indonesia in March.
The situation got so complicated that the session was stopped and the riders met with the organization in a Safety Commission, after which the riders were asked to go out for a lap to clean and dry the track.
“The conditions were not good and when they forced all the drivers to do 20 laps, only one line was cleared, I did not like the decision, it was a bad day I think, but in the end what counts is what happens in the box and we have done a good job and it is confirmed that the bike is going well, we are with the best once again”, explained this Friday Aleix Espargaró, who finished second on the time sheet.
“The track was not in conditions to shoot, a lot of mud and dust and each pilot, together with his team, must decide when to go out to shoot or not, but the organization has forced us all to go out to shoot to clean the track and I I’m not here to clean tracks, unless my boss tells me that he can force me to go out in a swimsuit if he wants. Aprilia has supported me and told me that if I didn’t want to go out, I shouldn’t, but I decided to do it out of solidarity with my colleagues”, explained the panorama from Granollers.
In any case, the final result speaks of a good training for Aleix.
“It is still early because the track is still not very good and we all have to improve, until the end Maverick Viñales was first, then I placed second with 25-lap tires, an entire race, and the bike works, we have done a lot of work, testing a new geometry, new chassis and everything has worked quite well,” he said.
Aleix was asked if Aprilia could be the surprise in the first race in Qatar.
“It doesn’t seem to me that we are going to be a surprise, last year we were already with the best a few times, I don’t want to rush, we are doing a great job and there are many brands ahead, which will make the World Cup a spectacular championship. many Japanese teams that are already doing things like us. said.
About the circuit, Aleix assured that it was very nice and not excessively difficult.
“There are few places to overtake, the braking of the 1, the 10 and the entrance to the finish line is really complicated, then you can invent overtaking everywhere, it is the good thing about the bikes, but clear points only the 1 and the 10”, settled.
