- 2023-04-30
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Spanish: Aleix Espargaro Takes Pole Position & Brad Binder Wins Sprint Race at Jerez
The Round 4 of MotoGP 2023, Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España took place at the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain on April 29, 2023.
This time, Dani Pedrosa returned to the event as wildcard of Red Bull KTM.
In Qualifying, light rain started to fall prior to the start of the Q2 session. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took his first pole position of 2023 with 1'37.216s.
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) finished 2nd with slicks behind Aleix Espargaro by 0.221s. He will stat in the front row for the first time as KTM rider tomorrow. Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) was 3rd following Portuguese GP.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) advanced to Q2 from Q1 and finished 4th and 5th, respectively. Both riders will start in the the second row along with wildcard Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM),
Miguel Oliveira (RNF Aprilia), Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati), and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Ducati) will start in the third row.
Aleix Espargaro said, “Has been a crazy morning. I felt good from yesterday, so we decided to try an aerodynamic package and unfortunately I had a small crash. When I saw the rain I was a bit angry and disappointed because we just had one bike. So, I didn't have the gamble to try the rain tyres and then slicks. So, I said to my guys let's try the slicks. I go out and tried my best and no worries. I did the mistake in the morning and it is how it is. But no worries, I controlled everything till the last lap and I pushed.”
In the Sprint Race, Brad Binder took the second victory of 2023, following Argentina GP. Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller finished 2nd and 3rd, each.
Beginning of the race, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Yamaha), Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), and Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 GASGAS) involved an incident and the race was red-flagged. But all were alble to restart the race.
Franco Morbidelliwas then given a Long Lap for the contact, to be served on Sunday.
Polesitter Aleix Espargaro, Joan Mir (Repsol Honda), Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) crashed out.
Brad Binder said, “Today everything played out in our favour. I had a fantastic start the second time around. It was a little bit tricky to bring the tyre up at the beginning after the stop in the pits. The first two laps were a little bit sketchy but after six laps I started to feel better and when I saw an opportunity to get passed Jack I took it. He pushed me hard. I hit the steering lock a few times on corner entry, but was super happy to walk away with another win. It was super good out there. Jack was super strong in some points of the track and I had small advantages in others so it was literally like a yo-yo effect. When I saw my opportunity I had to take it. To hang on until the end was great. But in turn six if I never have to go in that sideways again then I would be quite happy. Of course you don't want to do anything crazy. I have experience of wiping out a teammate and we weren't in the same box at the time but it was one of the shittiest things I've ever done. I promise you that I don't ever want to do that again. Of course you take a little bit more care but we're all here to race and we all want to win.”
Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España Qualifying Results- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / 1'37.216s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +0.221s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.242s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +0.316s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.341s
- Dani Pedrosa / Red Bull KTM / +0.367s
- Miguel Oliveira / RNF Aprilia / +0.380s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +0.400s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +0.450s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +0.549s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +0.660s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +0.704s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / 1'36.578s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / 1'36.793s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / 1'36.967s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / 1'37.072s
- Raul Fernandez / RNF Aprilia / 1'37.164s
- Alex Rins / LCR Honda / 1'37.256s
- Stefan Bradl / Team HRC / 1'37.297s
- Joan Mir / Repsol Honda / 1'37.346s
- Augusto Fernandez / Tech3 GASGAS / 1'37.753s
- Jonas Folger / Tech3 GASGAS / 1'38.492s
- Iker Lecuona / Repsol Honda / 1'38.582s
Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España Sprint Race Results- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / 18m 7.055s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.428s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +0.680s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.853s
- Miguel Oliveira / RNF Aprilia / +1.638s
- Dani Pedrosa / Red Bull KTM / +1.738s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +3.248s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +3.380s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +5.711s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +7.015s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / +7.174s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +7.467s
- Alex Rins / LCR Honda / +9.867s
- Raul Fernandez / RNF Aprilia / +11.550s
- Stefan Bradl / Team HRC / +15.455s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / +15.849s
- Augusto Fernandez / Tech3 GASGAS / +15.969s
- Iker Lecuona / Repsol Honda / +25.356s
- Jonas Folger / Tech3 GASGAS / +25.530s
Photo by MotoGP- source : MotoGP
