MUGELLO QUALIFYING: THIRD ROW FOR FERRARI AND FINELLO
Team FELO GRESINI MotoE had a positive Friday at Mugello, with both riders quick in the morning’s practice – with damp patches – as well as in Practice2, which took place in full-dry conditions and were able to earn the direct seed to Q2. Matteo Ferrari was second quickest in the Practice combined times, while his teammate Alessio Finello (1’56.459) was eighth – and secured his first admission to Q2 from the main door.
Then the rain made its appearance right before qualifying: the track is dry, but a few laps are needed to find the right level of confidence. Ferrari and Finello finished eighth and ninth, respectively, meaning they’ll both line up on row 3 for two comeback races.
8th – MATTEO FERRARI #11 (1’56.337)
“Today we made another step forward compared to Barcelona: this has been our best Friday so far this year. I wasn’t fully comfortable in FP1, but then we made a good adjustment to the set-up ahead of the second session and I’m happy with the direct seed to Q2 – but also that I was fast. Qualifying turned out to be quite challenging as it rained moments before entering the track so in the first few laps the grip wasn’t ideal. I’m still happy with the work done today, which counts more than the eighth position on the grid: we’re in a good place for tomorrow, as today we lacked a bit of slipstream. I’m ready for tomorrow.”
9th – ALESSIO FINELLO #72 (1’56.651)
“We started off well straight away in Practice1: the track wasn’t perfect but the conditions were the same for everybody: I found the feeling straight away and we were fast. The same happened in Practice 2 and that resulted in our first-ever direct seed to Q2 since joining MotoE. It was of great satisfaction. In Q2 unfortunately something didn’t work out as it should, a bit because of the rain right before the session, but also because I found myself between two riders and after a coming together I ended up off line. This led into losing the slipstream and the reference for the time attack. This is still my so-far best qualifying in MotoE, I’m happy, and tomorrow we can have two very good races.”
