PATA YAMAHA RIDERS MAKE STRONG EARLY PROGRESS IN THAILAND
Despite rising afternoon temperatures and characteristic high humidity in Thailand Michael van der Mark made real progress with his official YZF-R1 machine around the 4.554km Chang International Circuit. Van der Mark was as high as fourth in the timesheets at one stage, completing his own long run and being finally ranked eighth overall. With their top eight performances today both Michael and Alex Lowes have comfortably taken starting spots in Superpole 2, which will finally determine their starting position for race one on Saturday afternoon.
Michael van der Mark (8th / 1’34.291): “It was a really good day and I felt fine on the bike. This morning was not too bad and this afternoon I did a long run. It was OK but I missed a bit of lap time in the beginning. I was too slow at that stage but after a 17-lap run I was consistent, and quite fast. After that, we changed the gearing and then I did my fastest lap. Then we changed a few more things on the bike and I did a similar lap time to my best – so I am happy. I have a feeling that tomorrow my race pace will be even better. I think everybody would have expected the track conditions to be worse this afternoon in the heat but almost everybody improved their lap times. It was fast. When it was really warm this afternoon it was better for us to understand things, because the races will take place well into the day on Saturday and Sunday.”
Results
Free Practice 1