Rain Dampens Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp`s Qualifying Efforts

23-09-2023

Rain Dampens Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp`s Qualifying Efforts

Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp‘s Manuel Gonzalez and Kohta Nozane had to navigate wet conditions at the Buddh International Circuit during today‘s Moto2 Q1 and Q2 session. They secured 16th and 24th place respectively on the grid for tomorrow‘s Grand Prix of India Moto2 Race.

Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp‘s Manuel Gonzalez started the Saturday at the Buddh International Circuit positively, topping the dry P3 session. However, sudden rain before qualifying turned his fortunes around. Unable to find the same feeling on the drying track in Q2, he secured P16 on the grid for the Grand Prix of India Moto2 Race. Kohta Nozane was quick to adapt to the wet conditions in Q1. He will start tomorrow‘s Race from P24.

Gonzalez was one of the first riders to head out in Q2. His benchmark lap put him in ninth place as he got used to the wet conditions. Though he improved his time on lap 3, 4, and 6, he didn‘t climb in the rankings. Finding himself in 16th as the chequered flag came out, the Spaniard gritted his teeth and posted a 2‘03.579s on lap 8. It would have put him in 13th place, but the lap was cancelled due to exceeding track limits. His next best time, a 2‘04.871s set on lap 6/8, kept him in 16th place.

Nozane showed his adaptability in Q1. Despite being a rookie, having little experience on the Moto2 bike in the wet, and riding on a ’new‘ circuit, the Japanese rider steadily moved up the rankings in the first half of the 15-minute shoot-out. He climbed as high as seventh with a 2‘04.494s on lap 4/8, but then the times dropped. Unable to find an improvement, the number-5 rider wrapped up the session in tenth place. His effort earns him 24th place on the grid for tomorrow‘s Race.

The Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp duo will be back in action tomorrow at 13:45 local track time (GMT +5:30) for the Race.

Manuel Gonzalez

Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp

"t was an up-and-down Saturday. In P3 I was very fast, I felt good with the bike, and in the end I finished first. Then, in Q2, the track was wet, and my feeling was not amazing. Those 15 minutes were not a lot of time to get used to the track conditions, and my best lap time was cancelled, so in the end I‘ll start from P16. It‘s not a big problem for me because I can make up ground and ride towards the front tomorrow."

Kohta Nozane

Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp

"I was not feeling perfect in P3. Yesterday I felt better. But I made another step. The weather conditions in the qualifying were different, it was not raining, but the track was wet even though there was not too much water. My feeling on the wet was good, even if I didn‘t feel good with the final ratio. We don‘t know the weather conditions for tomorrow, the race is at 13:45 local time, and that's when the rain started today. Anyway, I feel ready in both weather conditions."

Gelete Nieto

Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp, Sports Director

"Manu did a great lap today in P3 achieving first position. He showed he‘s really confident with his bike even in this heat. He‘s strong, he‘s concentrated, and he works well with the team. The wet conditions in Q2 didn‘t help to get a good result. We are still struggling in the wet, it still needs some work.

"Kotha‘s lap time in Q1 was not bad. He will start from the 24th position tomorrow. He‘s not super satisfied, he was not happy with some changes on the bike, but though the weather conditions are still uncertain, he feels ready for tomorrow regardless whether it‘s wet or dry."