Positive return for Odendaal, excellent result for Bendsneyder

Bo Bendsneyder started the Grand Prix of Spain with an excellent sixth time. Steven Odendaal returned after a long injury at NTS RW Racing GP and did so with a decent 22nd time.Odendaal made his comeback in Jerez after the recovery of two operations at his foot. The test in Jerez in the preseason was the last time the South African was on the NTS. In that sense it was especially pleasant that he returned to familiar territory, precisely in Jerez.

For Bendsneyder it is the fourth Grand Prix of the season. He is now familiar with the machine and the results confirmed that feeling. In the first free practice session he was in eleventh right away. In the second session, at higher temperatures, he was one of the few Moto2 riders who could make the times of the morning, which resulted in sixth place and therefore (provisional) direct placement for the Q2 qualification on Saturday.

Bo Bendsneyder (6 – 1.42.353): “I am really satisfied. In FP1 we started with a hard tire, which made it a bit more difficult in the beginning, but on the softer tire I was able to ride in the top 12, as our goal was. In FP2 there was more wind and it was a lot warmer, which made the circumstances a bit more difficult, but I could do the same times as in the morning. We have got a new, somewhat wider tire from Dunlop, which in combination with the new asphalt on the Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto offers more grip at lean angle. It feels good, but it is too early to say whether we will really benefit from it. For now it is good: we had a good day and I hope that we can hold on to direct placement for Q2 tomorrow morning and that we can have a good qualification.”

Steven Odendaal (22 – 1.43.332): “It is very nice to be back and on the bike again. This first day was mainly to get the feeling with the bike again and testing different settings. I had hoped for slightly better results, but I believe that tomorrow they will come.”