CHANGEABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS INFLUENCE MAGNY-COURS’ FRIDAY!

Although the rain was highly predictable, Friday on the Magny-Cours track proved to be really uncertain, with several changes in the asphalt conditions due to continuous drops of rain. It is difficult to give importance to today’s times and positions, also considering that a much more stable weather is expected for the rest of the weekend.

FP 1 started with a dry track, but just enough time to complete two laps, and it started to Rain in the Paddock area, in the first and last sectors. Philipp was picking up the pace, trying to understand the behavior of the V4-R on a very technical and complicated track like the French one. After the seventh position obtained in more or less dry conditions, the German rider, like all Superbike riders, stopped for a long time in the pits, before returning to the track in the final minutes, in Rain configuration. Few useful laps to fix the electronics and all sent back to FP 2.

FP 2 takes place in light but consistent rain, giving rise to a real wet session; the track, however, improves lap after lap, drying quickly enough, but not so much to be able to use slicks. Oettl improved at each lap by about half a second, but at the end he cannot get a clean lap, losing a few tenths all over the track. The feeling, however, in the wet is quite good, considering that this is the second outing of the season on a wet track, and with some more risk he could certainly have achieved a better position. The best pass of the Go Eleven rider was also canceled due to a yellow flag.

Free Practice 2:
P 1   J. Rea   1.49.379
P 2   A. Bassani   + 1.028
P 3   A. Lowes   + 1.639
…
P 18   P. Oettl   + 4.146

For tomorrow and Sunday the weather seems decidedly better, and in all probability the races will be held in dry conditions; Unfortunately for Philipp it will be rather difficult to find an optimal set-up in case it does not rain, given the few sessions left available, but the time is the same for everyone and it will be essential to work in the right direction starting from FP 3.

Philipp Oettl (Rider): 
“Today it was a difficult day for us and for all WorldSBK riders, due to the weather changed quickly from rain to sun. We only had two dry laps this morning, then we started riding in the rain; it was my second time in real rain condition, after Most, so it has been really important to have some laps. I think today I better understand what to do in case of Wet Race. The position of the afternoon is not really good, but I have a good feeling for the future in similar conditions. Tomorrow it will be a really difficult day, cause we will not have so many laps to find the right set-up, cause the circuit, this morning when I had a couple of laps with slick tyres, was different compared to tomorrow morning!”

FRIDAY PICS: CLICK HERE