Eric Granado, poleman of European Moto2
After two intense days of unofficial practices, enabling teams and riders to tune their machines, qualifying practices – held in bright sunshine and with ideal track conditions – has thrown some light on the possible early favourites of the season.
Granado will start from the pole position in the Moto2™ European Championship as well as Barragán in the Superbike European Championship.
The consistency of Promoracing rider Eric Granado (BRA-Kalex) on the Kalex last season seems to have come to fruition today as he chalked up the quickest time in both Moto2™ European Championship qualifying practice sessions today – albeit slightly faster in the second session. The same thing happened with the second and third placed riders Steven Odendaal (RSA-Kalex) and Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN-Kalex), who put up the second and third fastest laps respectively in both sessions. Behind them on the second row of the grid tomorrow will be some well-know faces: Alan Techer (FRA-TPro NTS), Remy Gardner (AUS-Honda-Kalex) and Federico Fuligni (ITA-Kalex). The fastest Superstock 600 rider was Jacopo Cretaro (ITA-Yamaha).
Santi Barragán, poleman of European Superbike
After a year’s absence from the championship, Santi Barragán (SPA-BMW), showed he was comfortable on his new BMW, setting the best time in the first Superbike European Championship qualifying practice session. During this session, teammate and renowned rookie from last season Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW) posted the second fastest lap, 293 thousandths slower. Alejandro Medina (SPA-Yamaha) was the third quickest in QP1.
A few hours later, in the second session, Santi Barragán (SPA-BMW) showed his dominance, earning his first pole position of the season. Second slot on the grid will be occupied by defending champion Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha), who waited until the second session to set his best time of 1:35.980. Maximilian Schreib (CHI-BMW) will start from third place on the grid. Among the privateer riders, Niko Mäkinen (FIM-Yamaha) stood out.
