RED BULL RING – FRIDAY

APRILIA FAST STRAIGHT AWAY IN AUSTRIA AS WELL

MAVERICK SECOND AND ALEIX SEVENTH TO GO EASILY THROUGH TO Q2

After the joy of Silverstone, Aprilia’s positive trend continues. Even at the Red Bull Ring, a decidedly less favourable track on paper, the RS-GP machines proved to be extremely competitive straight away, with Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaró going straight through to Q2 on a fiercely fought Friday, with the top ten riders all within 6 tenths of one another.

Maverick felt particularly at ease, finishing with the second-best time, just 44 thousandths behind the leader with a time - 1’28”577 - already lower than the previous track record. Good sensations for Aleix as well, seventh at 1’29”052, finding the same improvements in the frequent and significant braking and acceleration stages that are typical of the Red Bull Ring.

With Miguel Oliveira tenth, there will be three Aprilia RS-GP machines making a play for the top 12 spots on the starting grid in the Q2 session scheduled for tomorrow.

The Test Team’s RS-GP was also on the track in the able hands of Lorenzo Savadori, busy with his third Wild Card of the year. The Aprilia Racing Test Rider will continue his development efforts following the announcement today that confirms his affiliation with Aprilia for the 2024 season as well.

MAVERICK
“It was an excellent day. From the first lap, I felt immediately at ease on the bike. We worked very well on the setup and that allowed me to be precise and more incisive in my riding, especially in braking, which has always been one of my strong points. I did an extremely fast lap, below the track record and a full 7 tenths below the time I did qualifying last year, plus the pace in race configuration was also very good straight away. It is truly incredible, but the truth is that it is the result of our constant efforts. The team understands more and more what I need to ride better and I feel better in the saddle. Tomorrow we’ll try to shave of another tenth in preparation for the race, after which I’ll give it my all in qualifying because staring from the front will be fundamental, as always.”

ALEIX
“I’m satisfied because on ‘stop&go’ tracks like this one I have always struggled to stop the bike in the braking and acceleration stages, but today we found a clear improvement with the bike, which appears to be more balanced in that respect. I was also able to use Maverick’s data which really made the difference today, both on the single lap and in terms of pace. It was extremely effective. I know that there is margin for improvement, so I’ll try to do so tomorrow.”

LORENZO
"We had some tests scheduled today that were particularly useful for the factory team, especially in preparation for the race. Tomorrow, on the other hand, we’ll work more on my performance. In any case, seeing three Aprilias in the top 10 on such a particular track is positive."