Practiceday began wet. Stefan starts with his setup from zero, because Stefan do 8-9 laps in the rain while in Sepang winter test, but it‘s not use if the track is different.
The traction control was to aggressive, the team had to readjust here. As a special “highlight”, Stefan had an encounter with a dog. Approximately 15 metres before it crossed the four-legged friends the slope and thereby a forced braking.
The FP1 was interrupted with the red flag, the dog had to be captured. Too big the danger for collide the riders with the dog.
The team put out worth much to save rain tires, because it is predicted more rain. It is wise in regard to the qualys wets (are limited for the complete GP on 4 sets) to save.
As it continued, Stefan finished on 14th. Quickest was Andrea Dovizioso, second Marc Marquez.
The rain stopped in the meantime from FP1 to FP2 and the track began to dry up. Initially, the track was still wet, some riders went out again with rain tyres, but this made no sense. Stefan decided to go back in the box after a flying lap and change to slicks & carbon fiber brake.
This second free practice had due to the expected for morning qualifying character. After FP3, who isn’t in the topten, must like Stefan in Qatar in the first qualifying session. Which to follow was risked much and Stefan was a pretty gloss light, he could ride the eight best time at the end! It should now tomorrow morning be wet in FP3 is no beaten the times of FP2, say Stefan would be qualified directly for the Q2. The FP4 has no control over.
That would be seen a small compensation for the whole misfortune in Qatar.
Fastest was once again Marquez, the distance from Austin is apparently made for him.
