16 September 2022 – Motorland Aragón – Spain
The tracks change, but do not change the performance that Ayumu is able to express.
In fact, here in Aragon is in the top positions. Our Japanese driver closed free practice 1 in first position, with a time of 1’58.819, showing a great pace in the last run. Free practice 2 was held with temperatures a little higher than those recorded in the morning and Ayumu managed to improve his best lap by a few tenths, getting 1’58.677, at the last of the thirteen laps. For him a gap of 0.170 s. With this time Ayumu is in second place, both in free practice 2, and in the combined ranking of the first two rounds of practice. Note a harmless slip at turn 8, in the first minutes of FP2.
On the other side of the pits a good performance for our John, who in FP1 gained the eleventh position, with a time of 1’59.588. Of note for John was a brake problem, that plagued him throughout both rounds of practice. Our driver confirmed this position also in the second session this Friday, where he completed fourteen laps. With his best lap, equal to 1’59.370, John was fourteenth in the combined standings, for which he gained provisional access to qualifying 2. For John a gap from the leader of the standings of 0.863 s.
Here are the statements of Ayumu, John and our Team Owner, the six-time World Champion Max Biaggi.
AYUMU SASAKI : “I think it was a great day. I had a small crash, but I felt good on the bike. I feel like I have a good pace, so this is the main thing. I finished in P2 overall which is good. Today was a little bit windy, but overall I am happy and I hope I can do even better in the next days.”
JOHN MCPHEE : “It was a difficult start to the weekend here at Aragon.. In fact in FP1 I missed half of the session, because we had a problem with the brakes. Then unfortunately, although a little less, the problem continued in FP2. So it was difficult to find the real rhythm, but even so, we managed to test a couple of things. My lap time overall was ok. They are in P14 so I can improve on this! I just need a greater constancy, for tomorrow to improve overall.”
MAX BIAGGI – TEAM OWNER : “We started off on the right foot, but on the other hand in these last races we are doing it often. The second place of Ayumu is a good start, with the will to confirm tomorrow during qualifying. After the last zero of Misano it will be important to battle in the race for the leading positions. John started his weekend well and I expect that before the end of the year he can achieve a great result. The occasion may already be this weekend, so we have to work with our heads down.”
Results Gran Premio Animoca Brands de Aragón – Combined FP1 – FP2
1. Dennis FOGGIA (Honda) 1’58.507, 2. Ayumu SASAKI (Husqvarna) 1’58.677, 14. John MCPHEE (Husqvarna) 1’59.370.
