P1racenews AI automatic summary:
After sprinting from his Aprilia when it began belching flames after an accident in opening practice, Aleix Espargaro probably thought his Friday Malaysian MotoGP drama was behind him.
Factory Aprilia rider, Aleix Espargaro, had a challenging afternoon session, experiencing four accidents at various turns and completing only nine laps. As a result, he finished in 20th place and will need to participate in Qualifying 1. Prior to this, Espargaro had only fallen 15 times in the previous 17 rounds, averaging less than one accident per race weekend. The team tried a new ‘longer’ fork during Friday’s practice, but it caused excessive understeer and contributed to his falls. Espargaro remains optimistic, confident that switching to a standard solution will improve his performance. His teammate, Maverick Vinales, had a more successful day and advanced to Qualifying 2, securing the fifth fastest lap time. Both riders also tested new ducting systems to enhance airflow to their helmets, resolving discomfort experienced during the Thai Grand Prix. The team will analyze the data to further refine their setup.
Forrás: Crash
