“It’s been a very positive day for several reasons, which is what makes it truly encouraging. First of all, I’d start, as always, with health: yesterday we saw Izan arrive at the circuit with a bit of a limp, but in generally good condition, and today he confirmed that. His left foot isn’t bothering him when using the gear shifter, which is an excellent news. He may need to grit his teeth a bit for the rest of the weekend, but he’s clearly able to ride at his best, as shown by his lap times. Tony was both pleased and frustrated at the end of the Practice session, as his pace came quite naturally, but during his fastest lap he had to overtake two riders, which cost him time. With a clean lap he could have placed even higher. Similarly, Izan was slowed in the final minutes by several yellow flags. This is the first time in the season we’ve had both riders qualify directly for Q2, and that’s another positive I want to highlight. Last but not least, both Tony and Izan were quick not only with the softer tire compound but also with the harder one, which gives us confidence heading into the race in terms of tire strategy.”