- Augusto Fernandez takes the GASGAS RC16 to 21st in qualifying for round four of 20 and then ploughs through the 12-lap restarted Sprint.
- Jonas Folger makes his second outing in GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 colors. The German registers the 22nd fastest lap in qualification and ranks P19 in the afternoon Sprint.
- GASGAS Aspar Racing count on Ryusei Yamanaka starting on the second row in 6th place in Moto3™ while Jake Dixon is 3rd quickest in Moto2™
The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto has been staging FIM world championship racing since 1987 and the short, demanding course is not only one of the most familiar layouts on the calendar but is annually surrounded by one of the loudest and most passionate crowds of the season. The Spanish Grand Prix is particularly significant for GASGAS and represented the first of a run of European events to the end of the summer.
Augusto Fernandez celebrated his first-ever career GP podium appearance at the track in 2019 (Moto2) and like many Spanish natives holds a special connection with the site. The 25-year-old rounded the 13 corners during practice and qualifying in MotoGP for the first time to take 11th in Q1 and therefore 21st on the grid. #37 managed 17th in the 12-lap Sprint on Saturday afternoon and as the mercury rose to almost 30 degrees in the afternoon. He was hindered by a blameless part in a multi-rider crash on Turn 2 that forced the red flag and a restart. Augusto then tried to plunder as many positions as possible on the re-run.
Jonas Folger benefitted from the second dose of time and laps on the GASGAS RC16. The German rode to 12th in Q1 (22nd on the grid) and was ten seconds from the top 15 in the Sprint outing for an improved outing over his maiden appearance in Texas two weeks ago.
Throttles will be pinned from 15.00 CEST for the full MotoGP race on Sunday afternoon.
Augusto Fernandez, 21st in qualification, 17th in the Sprint: “Crazy day! I was in a good spot in the first start but then I couldn’t avoid the crash. I lost a bit of confidence for the first couple of corners when we restarted. My pace is better than where I was on the track and I gradually started to feel better with the used tires. I need to take a bit more of a chance in the first laps tomorrow; it is risky, but I know I can be further forward and with the group further in front.”
Jonas Folger, 22nd in qualification, 19th in the Sprint: “I’m quite happy with the Sprint. The conditions were hot and the grip was low and it was the first time I felt the bike this way. I tried to overtake Iker right at the end but ran a bit wide. I’ll have another chance tomorrow! Now we’ll try to fix some small issue that I had and try to make another step.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “A frustrating race for Augusto. He was caught on the first crash and then had to use the second bike for the restart that was not with the same configuration as the first so the performance was a little ‘off’. We know the main package is the faster one and tomorrow we can have a strong pace. On the other side of the garage Jonas kept improving session after session. We are quite happy and he is able to race in a similar pace to the other guys. He made an improvement over Austin. Big congratulations to KTM and their results in the Sprint!”
Results Qualifying MotoGP Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España
1. Aleix Espargaro (ESP) Aprilia 1:37.216
2. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +0.221
3. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +0.242
21. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 1:37.753 (Q1)
22. Jonas Folger (GER) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 1:38.492 (Q1)
Results MotoGP Sprint Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España
1. Brad Binder (RSA) KTM 18:07.055
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +0.428
3. Jack Miller (AUS) KTM +0.680
17. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +15.969
19. Jonas Folger (GER) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +25.530
Moto3 and Moto2
Sunshine and decent weather conditions coated the practice runs for Moto3 on Friday and the heat remained high through the critical P3 and qualification sessions on Saturday. GASGAS Aspar Racing’s Ryusei Yamanaka excelled through the haze to bag 6th position in Q2. The Japanese’s best lap was just half a second from the Pole Position time and gives the racer the final slot on the second row. David Alonso tried his best to find a few extra tenths during the chrono and finally ended-up 17th.
In Moto2 Jake Dixon slotted into his now habitual routine as one of the principal pacemakers of the class. The Briton was less than half a second from 1st place in practice and then pushed hard in Quali for 3rd and a front row view. Jerez marked the second Moto2 dash for reigning Moto3 world champion Izan Guevara. The Majorcan is still making progress after his right wrist injury as well as acclimatizing to the division. Izan rode to 26th in the classification on Saturday.
Jake Dixon: “Really, really good. I didn’t expect the front row today. I’ve been struggling a bit this weekend but I got a great first lap and pushed hard. I took some risks. Tomorrow’s race will be long and difficult and I’m not too sure where I am in terms of race pace but I think if we can make the top six then I’ll be happy.”
Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España MotoGP photographs can be found HERE
Results Qualifying Moto3 Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España
1. Deniz Öncü (TUR) KTM 1.45.668
2. Ivan Ortola (ESP) KTM +0.115
3. David Muñoz (ESP) KTM +0.297
6. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +0.530
17. David Alonso (COL) GASGAS Aspar Team +1.076
Results Qualifying Moto2 Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España
1. Sam Lowes (GBR) 1:40.750
2. Pedro Acosta (ESP) +0.578
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team +0.580
26. Izan Guevara (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team 1:42.953 (Q1)
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