It was definitely not the best day for this second MotoGP experience. In addition to the difficulties of the track, they also have to deal with the weather, which put the drivers to the test in Assen on Friday.
And Garrett Gerloff – who struggled to find the right direction for the Dutch race – knows something about it. The American made up for a fall in the morning while finishing one final time trial behind Luca Marinis Ducati in the afternoon.
“It’s been a tough day,” Garrett began. “Personally, I feel better in the wet because you have to be more natural on the bike, and that’s very close to SBK because the sensations are similar. In dry conditions the Yamaha is stiffer and so we have to be aggressive. Today I tried to learn the route quickly and later understand the M1. “
Garrett recovered from a fall this morning without any consequences.
“At turn seven, I tried to stay on the brakes because I ran in quickly. But unfortunately I fell. Too bad, but it is a mistake that will be useful for learning. As I said, I have to try to understand the bike as it has a stiffer frame and moves a lot more with the bumps than the superbike. At MotoGP, I noticed that there wasn’t a lot of middle ground. Either you push or you don’t push. You need balls. “
So the American doesn’t mince his words when analyzing the M1.
“It would be nice to do more laps in the rain so we can make more comparisons as every Yamaha I have ridden is different from the other. I rode Rossi’s bike in Valencia, but it rained this weekend while the weather was good this morning. I also have to study the brakes well, as we push a lot in the SBK, while we don’t have to work so much here in MotoGP, even if I have to say that the bike moves a lot more. “
The last comment instead refers to Forcada’s contribution.
“Ramon is an extraordinary person who can share his experience in the world of racing with me. He gave me a lot of advice to be quick and I am grateful to him. I am trying to put them into practice and will also talk to my SBK crew chief about them as they could be useful. “