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Just hours after the chequered flag at Le Mans, the Aprilia RS-GP machines were on the track again for two days of testing on the Catalan Montmelò circuit. This is a preparatory session for the race that will be held right here on the track a few miles from Barcelona on the second weekend of June.
The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders, Espargaró and Lowes, are moving forward with development of the 2017 RS-GP. In the Barcelona tests, Aprilia took a more efficient evolution of the seamless gearbox on its maiden run. Work was done on the electronics, especially to improve performance with a new tyre, whereas Aleix tested the front downforce fairing that his teammate Lowes had already used in a race.
Over the two days, Espargaró turned 83 laps (best lap 1'44.852). 1'46.298 was the best lap of the 119 total laps for Sam Lowes who is fresh from earning his first MotoGP championship points in Le Mans.
These were two important days of testing since we will be here racing in two weeks - commented Aleix Espargaró - At the beginning I struggled a bit to adapt to the new track layout, but overall we did a good job on the RS-GP. We began having to work on braking, which we managed to improve a lot on the second day. I felt good. We lapped at good times, especially dialling in the electronics. I can't wait to come back here for the race.”
Sam Lowes had this to say about the two days of testing: “The last two days were 'real' testing for me, we tried many things on the bike to try find a good direction and continue the development. We are happy with the results, we never used a soft tyre to push for lap time and managed to improve our constant pace even testing many things. I am positively looking forward to Mugello, the home race for Aprilia and one of my favourite circuits.”
