The CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider has been the fastest in the first two practice sessions in Mugello and the only one capable of complete a lap under 1:55
CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider David Alonso has flown on the first day of practice at the Italian GP: he has led both sessions, broken the track record and shown that he is one step ahead of his rivals. In the morning, the track was not in its best condition, as there were still patches of water because of the rain. However, that has not been an impediment for Alonso to break the track record. In his last lap, the CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider has achieved a register of 1:55.818, a time with which he has improved the previous lap record, held by Tatsuki Suzuki since 2021, by one tenth. The difference between the CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider and the rest of his rivals has been notable, as the World Championship leader has advantaged Japanese Ryusei Yamanaka by more than a second.
In the afternoon, Alonso has started practice with his mind set on working on race pace, but in the final minutes of the session the Colombian has fitted new tyres and has focused on the time attack. It has been then when the CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider has smashed his own record, as he has lowered it by more than a second by setting a time of 1:54.671. In this practice session, although Alonso has been the only one capable of completing a lap under 1:55, the differences with his rivals have been smaller. Dutch Collin Veijer has finished second, half a second off Alonso, while Yamanaka has been third, six tenths off. The Colombian's main rival in the World Championship, Dani Holgado, has finished seventeenth, more than two seconds off.
CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team rider Joel Esteban has finished in twenty-fifth position on his first day at Mugello. The Spanish had never competed on the Italian track and his first day has been a learning day. Esteban had finished fourteenth in the morning session, two seconds off Alonso's time. In the afternoon, he has been unable to improve his times, as he could not complete a clean lap and has ended more than three seconds off his teammate's time. Tomorrow, Esteban has one last opportunity to take a step forward and fight to enter directly into Q2, something he has achieved in the last three grands prix.
1st David Alonso 1:54.671: “It has been a positive day. Mugello is one of the longest circuits, you cannot waste laps and that is one thing we had in mind. The objective was to complete the maximum number of laps possible and we have done it. In the end, we have been able to ride all day in dry conditions and I have worked on both race pace and a qualifying lap to push the bike to the limit. We are on the right way."
25th Joel Esteban 1:58.107 (+3.436): “It has been a day of learning. I have finished quite happy with the first session, but in the second I have not managed to set a good time. Today's practices are useful for me to learn. I am going to work all afternoon with the team to get the best out of me."