Rizla Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista takes his best race start in MotoGP at Phillip Island – MotoGP news
Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista took fourth position on the grid for the Iveco Australian Grand Prix.
The Spanish rider was pleased to mark his best race start in MotoGP.
The Phillip Island track is very difficult for Suzuki setup. Taking a second row start on that kind of a circuit means a lot for the team and the effort put in it.
Bautista said, “It was a fantastic lap behind Dovizioso and when I saw him in front of me on the track, I thought this is my opportunity – if I can’t do a good lap now, I’ll never do one! Third row was not difficult to achieve today, but when I followed
him everything seemed easier.”
The track was having wind flow during the qualifying session. He lapped best times by following the Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso. The Spanish rider tailed Dovizioso through the race line.
He also said that the bike has a nice ride and is comfortable in handling. He feels having a helpful start on the raceday and hook up with the top riders’ squad.
If Bautista manages to hang up with the top riders’ pack, it will help him to get time gap over the mid pack of riders.
In the initial six, seven laps every rider will tend to push hard. Later, the tyres will wear out forcing the riders to settle for the positions.
After crashing at Motegi, he is looking forward to do a great effort at the Phillip Island.
Rizla Suzuki team manager, Paul Denning was pleased with the pace shown by Bautista. He was better than some Yamahas and Hondas and clearly ahead of every Ducati on the grid.
Denning said, “To achieve Suzuki’s best qualifying since Mugello in 2009 - and Álvaro’s best so far - here at Phillip Island is almost funny! Álvaro has had a steady pace all weekend and when it mattered today he managed to tuck-in behind Dovizioso, and
use him as a wind-break, and do an absolutely awesome lap-time.”
The Suzuki GSV-R has improved a lot since the 2010 season. The potential was marked at the Phillip Island that Suzuki can achieve brilliant results.
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