DE PUNIET STRUGGLING WITH SET UP AT MALAYSIA GP OPENING DAY

Kuala Lumpur, 23 October: In hot and humid conditions, the premier class riders faced the first free practice session for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang race track with Lorenzo on the top of the timesheets with a 2’02.244 best lap time. Six riders are separated by six points in their quest to finish seventh in the championship. Randy De Puniet is one of three riders tied for seventh with 101 points and arrived in Malaysia with plenty of motivation.

With ambience temperature of 31°C and humidity level at 53%, the 28-year-old riding the Honda RC212V no. 14 focused his work mainly on suspension regulations struggling with set up at the 5.548 km track Malaysian track where he usually sets impressive lap times. De Puniet qualified 14th with a best lap time of 2'04.664.

De Puniet – 14^th – 2’04.664

De Puniet – 14^th: “It has been a difficult start of the week end. We are facing the same problems we suffered in the winter test. From the first run I could not turn and brake as I would like. This is very frustrating! I like this track and lapped consistently fast in the past but now I do not feel comfortable”.

Free Session:
1 Lorenzo (2’02.180)
2 Stoner (2’02.244)
3 Pedrosa (2’02.758)
4 Rossi (2’02.864)
5 Dovizioso (2’03.142)
6 Capirossi (2’03.253)
7 Elias (2’03.294)
8 Hayden (2’03.426)
9 Edwards (2’03.739)
10 Vermeulen (2’03.763)
11 Kallio (2’03.785)
12 De Angelis (2’04.042)
13 Melandri (2’04.271)
14 De Puniet (2’04.664)
15 Toseland (2’05.218)
16 Talmacsi (2’05.289)
17 Espargaro (2’05.336)

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