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Mixed Opening Day for WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team in Austria

Mixed Opening Day for WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team in Austria

Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder start round 13 of 2022 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg with small gap to the top.

Rain or shine, the Austrian Grand Prix keeps delivering close timings. After a rain shower hit the track this morning, Free Practice one started in a wet track, which was drying throughout the session and made the riders head out on slicks in the final 15 minutes. Free Practice two went on to be a full dry session, whereby the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team duo managed to improve a lot.

Andrea Dovizioso, who is a huge fan of the Austrian venue as it bears many good memories for him, started out with a great 10th position in FP1 this morning. Yet in the afternoon, he found himself back in P18. The Italian improved by 1.368 seconds from the first to the second session and was missing out on the top by just 0.802 seconds as the premier class field is ultra-close at the 4.3-kilometer track.

At the same time, Darryn Binder had not just needed to learn the new chicane in sector one, but also the entire layout on the big bike today, which wasn’t easy due to the mixed conditions in FP1. Yet he went 3.497 seconds faster in FP2 compared to this morning, reducing the gap to the front significantly to 1.738 seconds.

While the weather forecast remains uncertain for Saturday and Sunday, Free Practice three is set to begin at 09:55 local time, followed by FP4 at 13:30 local time and Qualifying one and two at 14:10 and 14:35.

Andrea Dovizioso

WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team

“This morning we started with a good feeling. The track was a bit difficult, but I felt good. In the afternoon, we did a step in terms of setup, which was positive. But at the same time, I wasn’t able to use the full potential, because I made a lot of mistakes on my fastest lap and we wanted to try the setup, so there was no time to try the hard front tyre. It looks like this is the best option in this moment. Everybody is fast, but I think there is still a lot of work to do. I’m a bit more confident than on the other tracks and I think I can do a step up tomorrow. Let’s also see what the other riders will do.”

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Darryn Binder

WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team

“We got a little bit of mixed conditions today. We started in the wet this morning with a drying track and we ventured out on the slicks at the end of FP1. The new chicane is pretty cool, it’s definitely a tricky corner and it adds a little bit to this track’s layout for sure. This afternoon we got lucky enough to get a full dry FP2 and I made a nice step forward from this morning. Overall, I’m feeling pretty happy with how things went today. I’m looking to make a nice step forward tomorrow and catch up to the front boys.”

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