Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team’s Manuel Gonzalez and Keminth Kubo used the Friday free practice sessions to find speed at the Spielberg track, known for its hard braking and hard acceleration. They ended the first day of riding in 19th and 31st place respectively.
Gonzalez had a challenging FP1 due to a problem with a rear tyre, and also the set-up of his bike needed some work. It cost him valuable time. His 1’37.110s best lap, set on lap 8/16, put him in 26th place.
The Spaniard and his crew’s hard work in the morning paid off in the afternoon. He noticed a positive change and was able to quicken his pace. He ended the day in 19th place with a best time of 1’35.561s, set on lap 19/19.
Kubo planned to gain a lot of experience at the Spielberg track, which has a very special lay-out. He soon dropped under the 1’38s-mark on his first run and kept the momentum going on his second outing in Austria. His 1’37.117s best time set on lap 15/17, left him in 27th position.
The Thai rider used FP2 to further study the race lines. He made a considerable time improvement, clocking a 1’36.782s on lap 6. He was looking to push more on his final run but had a small crash on braking. He completed the day in 31st place.
