Ratthapark Wilairot was delighted with the start he and the Gresini team have made to 2013 after going eleventh fastest on day one in Qatar. The Thai rider struggled throughout 2012 and has already seen an improvement since then and has no complaints after the first two practice sessions.
“I am happy for myself and for the team because we have worked hard and started the weekend in positive fashion. I feel much better compared to last season and I am sure that we can have a good season. We couldn’t have started much better than this.”
Teammate Doni Tata Pradita was 28th on his first night as a Grand Prix rider and the Indonesian admitted the low grip surface at Losail presented quite a challenge for him.
“It has been a particularly difficult debut here because there is not much grip and riding under the floodlights is not easy. I tried to do my best to adapt and I think I did okay. We have a basis to improve from in the next session and hopefully we can do a solid job in the race on Sunday.”
Team Manager Fausto Gresini was pleased with the performance of both riders and is hopeful that both can move forward as the weekend unfolds.
“I am happy for ‘Feem’ because he has come here determined to do well and he’s made a good start. He’s found a good feeling together with the guys in the team and finally he is showing his true potential after last year’s difficulties. Now he has to work to build on this result. Doni did a good job because it wasn’t easy to make his debut tonight in such unusual conditions. He has made good progress tonight and will improve even more tomorrow. Doni is hard working and his adaptation to Moto2 is on the right lines.”