Johann Zarco secures Q2 spot with strong Friday performance at Jerez
Circuito de Jerez - Angel NietoCASTROL Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco delivered a solid performance during Friday practice at the Circuito de Jerez, finishing 7th overall and earning a direct spot in Q2 for tomorrow’s qualifying.
・ Zarco showed strong pace from the opening session, placing 8th in the morning and noting he felt better on the bike compared to last year.
・ Despite the track being more slippery than in previous visits to Jerez, neither the conditions nor the challenges prevented Johann and the team from putting together a strong day.
・ In the afternoon session, following minor setup adjustments, the Frenchman improved to 7th position, just 0.5 seconds off the fastest time.
・ With today’s result, Zarco heads directly into Q2 tomorrow. Both the rider and team remain focused on taking another step forward to secure the best possible grid position for the Sprint and Sunday’s race.
Somkiat Chantra completes Friday practices at Jerez
IDEMITSU Honda LCR rider Somkiat Chantra finished 23rd in Friday's practice at the Circuito de Jerez.
・ The Thai rider rode at Jerez for the first time in MotoGP during the morning session and acknowledged there were areas for improvement after a few laps.
・ Chantra and the team focused on adapting to the narrow, physically demanding track, while also managing the hot temperatures, factors that will be crucial for both the Sprint and Sunday’s race.
・ During his time attack, Chantra encountered yellow flags, which disrupted his efforts, resulting in a 23rd-place finish.
・ Tomorrow’s qualifying sessions will offer another opportunity for progress, with the goal of securing the best possible grid position for both the Sprint and Sunday’s race.
The track is smaller, and the asphalt is more slippery than at other circuits. Most of the riders, including myself, are struggling, so finishing 7th in a tough situation is a positive result. I’m feeling good on the bike, and I believe we can take another step forward tomorrow. If we can confirm that, it’ll be something interesting to think about for the rest of the season.
The track is smaller, and the asphalt is more slippery than at other circuits. Most of the riders, including myself, are struggling, so finishing 7th in a tough situation is a positive result. I’m feeling good on the bike, and I believe we can take another step forward tomorrow. If we can confirm that, it’ll be something interesting to think about for the rest of the season.
This is the first European track of the season, and it’s a very demanding one, it’s narrow and quite physical for everyone. Overall, it wasn’t a bad day. We found a setup I like, and I felt more comfortable as the laps went on. I tried to push, but a few yellow flags on track kept me from doing better. Tomorrow, we’ll try to take a step forward.
This is the first European track of the season, and it’s a very demanding one, it’s narrow and quite physical for everyone. Overall, it wasn’t a bad day. We found a setup I like, and I felt more comfortable as the laps went on. I tried to push, but a few yellow flags on track kept me from doing better. Tomorrow, we’ll try to take a step forward.
