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bwin Grand Prix České Republiky, FP3

In the third free practice session, it was enough for Stefan just to place 19, this sounds in the first moment not so good, but Stefan rode in practice almost entirely whole again with a hard rear tyre to learn as much as possible about the riding behavior with the race Setup. At the end, Stefan could still improve his lap time from yesterday and lost 5/10 which was recorded as 16. on Bautista.

Apart from much with different settings and geometry changes worked again, of course. The reconstruction phases including the technical meetings require of course time. Obviously, not every change is a positive improvement. But you must not forget Stefan is only the second race weekend on the Aprilia and need only a general direction for his Setup.

Is an important issue very difficult as at each Grand Prix the choice of tyres, it is mainly if the experience for it is missing.

Stefan can choose between two alternatives, the soft and the hard rear tyres. Of the front are the medium and hard to choose. The spirngende point is the asphalt temperature.

According to Stefan, the track in Brno is not so abrasive like Indy, where it literally destroyed the tires.

In the fourth free practice, they are filing further on the race set-up and hopefully take a further step forward.

Anyway, them it became clear in the third free practice session that they must go back on the Setup from yesterday afternoon.

Stefan’s Scaphoid is still pain, he must still take painkillers.

But in the afternoon it is always better than in the morning.

We cross our Fingers for a good qualifying.

bwin Grand Prix České Republiky, FP2

Now second free practice went and Stefan has coped brilliantly. He drove a second faster than in the morning and the Setup changes brought the desired improvement. That meant the 15th place in FP2.

Asphalt temperatures around 50° and air temperatures to the 33° the load for the driver almost as in Sepang is. No one has calculated with these temperatures at Bridgestone, however, so the compound may be too soft, because there were many, many crashes.

Pedrosa lost fork oil on himself and Rossi crash and plunged many drivers simply over that front wheel. Stefan said that the hard tires not as well absorbed the bumps and the soft tyres on the brakes would be not as stable.

He was also often at the limit and it would also crash easy.

All these difficulties, Stefan was fortunately spared and could lay back so more important rounds with the Aprilia.

Also with regard to its still not 100% Scaphoid fracture healed from, he must still take painkillers and supportive hand taping.

Stefan managed the 1.58.4 round with a softer tire. The combined timesheet, this is ranked 16th.

Stefan is praised by all sides, unless team boss Fausto Gresini or Aprilia whether his professional and analytical work.

bwin Grand Prix České Republiky, FP1

Continue on the beautiful mountain & valley track in Brno/Czech Republic. There are always many German fans because the distance are not too far from Germany.

A very hot grand promises Prix weather forecast weekend temperatures of well above 30 °. Summer has us stuck in the handle, that means the rider is a burden.

As announced by the race report from Indianapolis, Brno for Bradls Scaphoid is a little easier, because the slope is very liquid.

So we would be in the first free practice.

Stefan came at the end just in 21st place and lost 2.9 seconds to the practice leader Jorge Lorenzo.

The reasons for this are varied, because Stefan rode the whole training with only hard rear tyre, only the front was changed because that was too soft.

Team-mate Bautista are 8/10 seconds faster, but this was at the end with a new soft rear tire on the track.

Stefan said they would prefer today working on the setup and save the soft tyre for Saturday

This work was today as follows:

They began with a similar setup like Indy then try a shorter swingarm. This brought some disadvantages, like for example a much nervous bike.

What Bradl still missing is a better turning, so the agility at the turn. For the FP2 they were either the steering head angle make steep, or incorporate other steering head bearing change just big things to see how then the bike reacts. Bradl said he and Bautista were not far apart from the setting, but Alvaro has just more experience with the Aprilia. He must know himself until only that in the truest sense of the word!

We are looking forward as we continue in the FP2.

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