It was his first MotoGP race, but, unfortunately, Toprak Razgatliogl ended up falling, so he had to exit the scene and lick his wounds at the end of the Sprint. Nonetheless, his performance was encouraging, to the point that he was the second-best Yamaha on the track before the fall.
In some ways, he could consider the glass half full, because few could've imagined this performance from him.
"It's a shame about the fall," he began. "Unfortunately, I risked falling on the first lap at the last corner because my front wheel locked up. I went wide, but then I managed to adapt, taking advantage of the mapping and the engine brake. The fact is that I was struggling more than I should have been at the last corner, while it wasn't that bad in the others."
How do you explain the fall?
"In the last three laps, I tried to brake more aggressively, and the bike wouldn't stop. Unfortunately, I lost the front at the last corner and fell. It would have been better if I hadn't fallen, but let's think about tomorrow and turn the page. The fact is that I end up struggling a lot with the Yamaha, and the same goes for Miller, who keeps losing the front in every corner and has no grip. It's all very difficult."
How did you feel waiting for this first MotoGP race?
"I didn't feel much pressure, partly because I was starting from the back. So, I tried to do my best, trying to follow Miller. The problem is that he was faster than me in some corners, and, as a result, a gap was created. However, we collected useful data to be stronger for Sunday. I think we can be more or less on the same level in the race, considering that the bike tends to slide a lot. Yamaha is certainly working day and night, but we have to give it our all in every situation."
Yesterday, you said that you tend to be more aggressive when you have to follow a rider.
"I tried to be calmer in my riding. At the last corner, I tried to be aggressive and fell. Without the front brake problem, I might have finished higher up. Unfortunately, that's racing, and I made a mistake."
Why did you choose the higher seat?
"I chose a higher seat, and I don't feel all the confidence I need in some corners. However, everyone uses that one because the wings should help with braking, and, looking at the data, it should help me. So I followed that direction like everyone else."
How was your first qualifying session?
"In qualifying, everyone pushes to the limit. Unfortunately, I couldn't ride like Jack, butit was different in the race. I think the race tires helped me more, allowing me to understand and collect data. We'll see tomorrow."