Ten Kate Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team rider Stefano Manzi was the highest placed R6 on Friday, despite a small crash at Turn 16 during Free Practice 2. The Italian took third in the morning session and fifth in the afternoon, putting him fifth overall with a best time of 1’36.866, around a tenth of a second from the top.
Manzi’s team-mate and class rookie, Jorge Navarro, managed eighth on combined, making him the next best Yamaha on the day with a 1’37.025.
The Spaniard led a gaggle of blue bikes with Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team), Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team), Nicholas Spinelli (VFT Racing Yamaha) and Andrea Mantovani (Evan Bros Yamaha WorldSSP Supported Team) heading up the next four positions - all within one second from the fastest time of 1’36.705 set by Nicolò Bulega.
In Free Practice 1, following on from his impressive podium performance last time out in Phillip Island, Spinelli proved once again that unfamiliar circuits don’t faze him. The young Italian quickly got himself up into second place with a 1’39.679 – just two-tenths of a second from the top. Despite being a little slower in the afternoon, Spinelli still looks promising for another strong weekend.
Team Yamaha Thailand riders Apiwath Wongthananon and Anupab Sarmoon finished Friday in 17th and 18th, respectively.
The riders will take to the track again tomorrow, Saturday, to decide their grid positions in Superpole at 09:55 local time (UTC +8), and battle will commence with Race 1 at 12:00 local time.
