The Colombian set the pace on Friday at Brno, whilst his team-mate Dani Holgado finished fourth, one tenth behind Alonso
David Alonso has rediscovered his best form to top the timesheets on Friday. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider was the fastest in the intermediate class at Brno, beating local rider Filip Salac – who finished second – by eighteen thousandths. Moto2 leader Manu González finished the day in third place, closely followed by Dani Holgado in fourth. As a result, the entire CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team will be in contention for pole position on Saturday.
The Czech Grand Prix has got off to a great start for the CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team. Following a free practice session in which Alonso and Holgado felt confident and finished among the fastest riders of the morning, the afternoon saw them battle for a place in Q2. The Colombian stood out from the very first minutes of the session, setting a time of 1:58.511 that put him at the top of the timesheets – a time no other rider was able to beat. Alonso, who was just two tenths of a second off the all-time track record, has regained his rhythm on the bike following a difficult run of races and will be a strong contender for pole position at Brno tomorrow. His teammate Dani Holgado also remained near the top of the timesheets and improved on his free practice times. The CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team rider was very consistent from start to finish and adapted easily to the high temperatures of the day. Holgado set his fastest time in the final laps, a 1:58.648 that secured him fourth place, just 29 thousandths of a second off the top three.
1st David Alonso 1:58.511: “I’m working really hard on myself and on getting every detail right. This circuit isn’t really my style, so I have to be even more focused than usual for that reason. Today I found something that allowed me to ride really well; I felt as though the bike was mine and an extension of my body. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this, and little by little I’m getting those feelings back. I’m very happy with the work we’re doing, and now I need to keep building on this. This category has taught me that you can be in great physical shape and train very well, but in Moto2 you need a bit more. The key lies in how you approach the weekend, and that’s what I’m focusing on most. In my case, I try to be more alert at certain moments, because every little detail makes a difference. I try to be flexible and not just ride according to the data. I take that information on board, but I try to ride with a free hand and adapt depending on the situation. Tomorrow I want to focus on preparing for the opening laps of the race, as that’s what I find most difficult. We’ll try to set a good lap time because it’s important for performing well on Sunday. We need to prioritise that, and I’ll have to give it my all to stay as close as possible if we don’t secure pole position.”
4th Dani Holgado 1:58.648 (+0.137): “Today I’ve done a very solid job with the team. I’ve been quick and consistent right from the start, which is the foundation for being competitive throughout the weekend. We’ve finished third and fourth today. It’s important to secure these front-running positions, so I’m very happy. The team has given me a very good bike, allowing me to do a great job on the track right from the first laps. Tomorrow morning I’ll do a race simulation. It’ll be key to seeing how the tyres behave and, above all, to finding out what my real pace is. I’m really looking forward to continuing to work and improve.”
