For Luca Marini, the first day of the Italian Grand Prix weekend is over. The Sky VR46 driver took 17th place in the combined free practice times. His best lap today was the one he set in FP2 in the afternoon in 1’47.154, a little more than a second behind Pecco Bagnaia’s fastest time.
“Like every Friday it was a difficult day, especially in FP1 – said Marini – It’s always impressive to hit a new track on a MotoGP bike because even compared to my Panigale ride, all the benchmarks change. I expected to be at the top, I was hoping to be able to do the time attack in FP2, but I lost some time with several drivers. I felt very comfortable with the soft one on the back. In general, I am happy with the work. I changed the setup a little and changed the back of the bike a little. “
What were your impressions when you were on the track on a MotoGP motorcycle?
“To be honest, I followed many other drivers on the first lap. I saw everyone close the gas pedal and be very careful, especially with the body. As a result, I did the same thing. After the first lap I started pushing harder and harder. It wasn’t easy, but if you find the right trajectory and manage to stay in the right position for the entire lap, the bike won’t move as much. Often you lose the stern The key is to try not to move the bike too much or it will become a disaster. It’s scary too! You need to focus on your posture. When the bike moves a lot, it is often difficult to press the brake pedal, you have to think about it every lap. “
Today was the hottest day since the start of the season. Did the bike react differently at high temperatures?
“Not particularly. The grip on the track changes a little and how the tires work. My bike works very well in high temperatures.” From a physical point of view, it’s more strenuous. The bike gets very hot and the heat from the engine can be clearly felt on the straight. The temperature has been good so far, I’m more worried when we’re in Malaysia or Thailand, it gets more critical there. “
What is your favorite point on the track in MotoGP and where do you have the greatest difficulties?
“Due to the route, the best point is always Arrabbiata 1. You turn very hard and then you go uphill, so you accelerate very hard. The tires have a lot of grip in this part and you can feel the gradient of the track on your body. I’m very strong there. Compared to Pecco, I lose a little time in the first braking area. Then I lose a lot at the exit of Biondetti 2, then turn 14. This corner changes a lot compared to Moto2 because you do it very strongly. At the exit, as there is now a new piece of asphalt, you have to hit 100% gas and try to get the rear out of the way and put something to one side. Getting it back up is not easy. You have to get used to it, because the most experienced drivers certainly make the difference. “
What kind of weather do you hope for and what do you think you can do tomorrow?
“In my opinion, the Pole who will take pole tomorrow will also set the new course record since 2019, even if Marc then drove a great lap in the slipstream of Dovizioso. It won’t be easy to beat, but I’m sure it can be done with the improved tires. The asphalt has deteriorated a bit since last year because the Formula 1 race was also taking place. Fortunately, I want to do 1,46,500 laps tomorrow, even if it won’t be easy. I think it’s a feasible goal for tomorrow, if something better comes then so be it. I always try to be realistic, we’ll see how the weekend develops. “