Bitter-sweet sprint race for Aprilia Racing

PODIUM FOR VIÑALES, CRASHES AND FRACTURES FOR ESPARGARÓ AND SAVADORI

In line with the performance he demonstrated on Friday, Maverick Viñales finished Q2 with the third spot on the grid. After a good start in the sprint race, the Spanish rider maintained third place, taking home his fifth podium of the year – his fourth in the sprint race.

Aleix Espargaró, after starting from the fifth spot on the grid, battled with the group contending for fifth. Unfortunately, on the final lap, the Spanish rider suffered a bad crash. After the accident, he underwent an X-ray of the right hand that showed a simple fracture at the metacarpal 5, confirmed by the CT scan. He will undergo a medical check tomorrow before the warm up.

Outstanding qualifiers for Lorenzo Savadori as well who, as a wild card, took the eighteenth spot on the grid. During the sixth lap, the Italian rider also crashed. After the accident, he was taken to hospital in Assen due to severe pain in his back. Savadori underwent a further clinical and instrumental examination that showed multiple fractures of the transverse processes in lumbar tract of the spine. Savadori is unfit for the race.

MAVERICK VIÑALES
“I’m pleased with the result, but we are not entirely satisfied because we wanted to battle for the win. The bike is working well and we still demonstrated a good race pace and great potential. However, we need to take a step forward for the long race. We are staying focused.”

ROMANO ALBESIANO
“During the sprint race, we saw a highly competitive Maverick. For tomorrow, we need to try to shave of a little time to place him in the right conditions to win. It is not out of the question, considering the fact that he is particularly in form here. Aleix’s crash was unfortunate. He had ridden a good race, so we hope to see him at the starting grid on a track where he has achieved great results in the past. It’s also a pity about Lorenzo who was doing an outstanding job.”