MotoGP Motegi Saturday: Pramac Racing

After yesterday’s unlucky free practice session, Pramac Racing riders didn’t have the possibility to improve their performances due to bad weather. In the afternoon heavy rain has completely wetted the track not allowing MotoGP riders to step on the circuit for qualifying session. The starting grid has therefore been decided by combined free practices lap times where Kallio and Canepa are respectively in seventeenth and eighteenth position. For tomorrow the weather forecast says sun and the race should therefore start at 3pm local time without any complication.

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Pramac Racing Technical Director
“We have been really unlucky these two days. Yesterday Mika slipped not being able to conquer a good lap time, then today, after the wet morning free practice, rain has increased and we couldn’t come out of the pit box. Therefore we will have to start from the last two positions with our riders. We hope to be able to set up the bike in the best way possible during tomorrow warm up to allow Mika and Niccolò to accomplish a good comeback.”

Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing riders – 17th in starting grid
“Let’s say this hasn’t been a lucky weekend for us, but we cannot do nothing about it and we have to take things how they come. Tomorrow we should have a sunny day since the warm up, even if it will not be easy to set up the bike at the best in only twenty minutes. The left ankle I injured in yesterday’s fall is getting better, it’s only a hard contusion and it will go away with time. Tomorrow I should be almost at the top.”

Niccolò Canepa – Pramac Racing rider – 18th in starting grid
“What to say, two surprising weekends. First the rain in Qatar and the race postponed to the day after and today heavy rain and qualifying session cancelled. I would say an interesting start of my MotoGP career. Jokes apart, it didn’t go too well for us as seen how yesterday and this morning practices went we will have to start from the back of the grid. Let’s hope tomorrow the track conditions will be better to be able to race without complications and continue my learning period in this category.”