Gino Rea - Photo Credit: MotoGP.com
Gino Rea is encouraged by the step forward the Gresini team have made since Catalunya as they continue to learn about the new Suter chassis. The Italian team ditched the uncompetitive Moriwaki prior to Le Mans and after qualifying 23rd for the second race running, Rea feels they are moving in the right direction.
“Today’s qualifying has been the main positive of the weekend so far. We’re developing the bike and trying so many things during a session that it is difficult to just focus on setting a fast lap, which is the main aim really, but we’re moving in the right direction and that is important for the future. We can see immediately from the data after this session where we can improve so hopefully we can continue to do that in the warm-up and in the race tomorrow.”
Teammate Ratthapark Wilairot will start tomorrow's race in 27th place after trying unsuccessfully to find a slipstream from other riders. Wilairot admits he got his strategy wrong and knows he was his work cut out on Sunday.
“In the beginning of the qualifying session we made some good progress but I made a mistake in waiting for too long to get a tow from another rider and it didn’t work out. I am sorry to the team for that but even though we start from the back we are making progress and I will be pushing hard to make up positions tomorrow.”
