Photo: motogp.com
Forward Yamaha rider and a 2-time former CRT champion Aleix Espargaro achieves his first-ever pole position in the Iveco Daily TT Assen round, the Dutch GP and the penultimate race before the summer break.
While rain showed up during the Free Practice 3, it was obvious that improving the times in FP1 and the sunny FP2 was impossible. His pole time was 1’38.789, by no means comparable to his best dry laps, but since he was ahead of Marquez in FP3 as well, with the world champion deciding to remain in the pit lane, this was enough to help the Spaniard towards his first pole in career. This is an even bigger achievement as the 2014 Assen round is Aleix’ 150th GP race, as well.
The front row also has Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, followed by a Ducati duo, Andrea Iannone and Cal Crutchlow, with Bradley Smith 6th. Row three has Andrea Dovizioso, Stefan Bradl and last year’s runner up Jorge Lorenzo, with the last three places up for grabs in Qualifying 2 being clawed by Alvaro Bautista, Pol Espargaro and Valentino Rossi.
Some of the riders opted for equipping their bikes with thinner brake discs and carbon fiber heat shields… to maintain the temperature in the optimal operational range. The colder weather and the added drizzle can cool the rotors below the safe braking limit and these special-design covers deflect part of the air stream and water away, helping proper operation. At the same time, the thinner discs have been used because they can reach the optimal temperature much faster.
Carbon brake discs require temperatures around 300C (570F) to provide the best stopping power, but in certain cases the temperatures can reach even 800C (1,470F), under prolonged, punishing use. Both the extreme upwards and downwards variations are regarded as safety-threatening factors which must be dealt with accordingly.
The Assen round is the only Saturday race in the calendar, and is scheduled for 14:00 hrs local time (GMT+2). Currently the top 5 riders in the premier class are Marquez (175 points), Rossi (117), Pedrosa(112), Lorenzo (78) and Dovizioso (71). If Aleix does a good race tomorrow, his chances of getting a better bike in 2015 are skyrocketing, don't you agree?
The front row also has Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, followed by a Ducati duo, Andrea Iannone and Cal Crutchlow, with Bradley Smith 6th. Row three has Andrea Dovizioso, Stefan Bradl and last year’s runner up Jorge Lorenzo, with the last three places up for grabs in Qualifying 2 being clawed by Alvaro Bautista, Pol Espargaro and Valentino Rossi.
Some of the riders opted for equipping their bikes with thinner brake discs and carbon fiber heat shields… to maintain the temperature in the optimal operational range. The colder weather and the added drizzle can cool the rotors below the safe braking limit and these special-design covers deflect part of the air stream and water away, helping proper operation. At the same time, the thinner discs have been used because they can reach the optimal temperature much faster.
Carbon brake discs require temperatures around 300C (570F) to provide the best stopping power, but in certain cases the temperatures can reach even 800C (1,470F), under prolonged, punishing use. Both the extreme upwards and downwards variations are regarded as safety-threatening factors which must be dealt with accordingly.
The Assen round is the only Saturday race in the calendar, and is scheduled for 14:00 hrs local time (GMT+2). Currently the top 5 riders in the premier class are Marquez (175 points), Rossi (117), Pedrosa(112), Lorenzo (78) and Dovizioso (71). If Aleix does a good race tomorrow, his chances of getting a better bike in 2015 are skyrocketing, don't you agree?
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