Jorge Martín was the fastest on the first day of the Qatar MotoGP GP. The vice-champion from last year led yesterday’s first free practice session, which turned out to be the only one on Friday with a dry track.
Although he downplays the position, the Spanish rider from Prima Pramac revealed confidence after the improvements compared to the tests: ‘Actually it wasn’t super important to be first or fifth or whatever in the first practice, but I’m happy that I was strong. I feel good, I feel we improved a little bit from the test in terms of the problems I had. So I’m feeling confident; the bike is ready to race, I’m ready to race, even if we lost the second practice I think it won’t change a lot my work plan for Saturday’.
Asked if the vibration problem is already resolved, Martín replied: ‘Almost. It’s similar to what we had last season, because we had it with very used tyres, so it’s back to normal. It’s better. Then we have some ideas if we start feeling more, because maybe if we go faster is worse, so we have some ideas to try if we have time. And if not, I can ride with it’.
The rider also explained that vibrations are felt on all circuits, especially with more worn tires, but he didn’t feel it was too problematic in yesterday’s practices: ‘We normally have it maybe in one or two corners in all the tracks. Maybe sometimes we don’t have. But there is always the problem with really used tyres. And on Friday when we started was okay, then in the second run was a bit more and in the third run a bit more – but in the third run the tyres were already really used, so I guess is normal. Is the rear [tyre], when I open the throttle. But it’s much better and wasn’t a big problem to ride with it’.