TT Assen: Alice Team Friday notes

ELIAS SEVENTEENTH Good weather conditions in Assen, Holland, where the first day of free practices valid for the Dutch Grand Prix begun. Alice Team rider, Sylvain Guintoli, has started well registering the twelfth best lap time not too far from ...

ELIAS SEVENTEENTH

Good weather conditions in Assen, Holland, where the first day of free practices valid for the Dutch Grand Prix begun. Alice Team rider, Sylvain Guintoli, has started well registering the twelfth best lap time not too far from the fastest riders, in fact, this has been a pretty close day with only four tenth of a second from the fourth to the twelfth position. The other Alice Team rider, Toni Elias, has begun with a lot of caution to gain back the confidence on the Dutch circuit after the injury he suffered on this track only last year. The Spanish rider has anyways constantly increased his lap times and tomorrow he will do his best to conquer a good position for Saturday starting grid.

Sergio Verbena -- Sylvain Guintoli's track engineer

"Sylvain has started well straight away this morning. This has probably been the first weekend where we didn't have many complications. Apart the first three riders, we are really near to the others and this makes us optimism for the rest of the weekend. Sylvain seems at ease at this track. We have tried many tyres and we should have found the right solution for the race, but tomorrow we will have another go to evaluate the situation."

Sylvain Guintoli -- Alice Team rider (12th best lap time in 1'37.357 -- Total laps 52)

"Surely this has been my best first day of the season on dry surface. I feel really comfortable on my bike thanks to the modifications we have done on the front part of the bike. We are really close to the fastest riders. Tomorrow we should concentrate to improve the race rhythm. I registered my best lap time with the hardest tyres used today. Probably we will use them also in the race and this gives me good confidence. I hope to have a good qualifying tomorrow to be able to start in the best way possible in the race."

Toni Elias -- Alice Team rider (17th best lap time in 1'38.656 -- Total laps 46)

"I am happy this day has passed. Today I started with a lot of caution for the reason that everyone knows. In the first five laps I have ridden really slowly in the turn where I have fallen last year to gain back the confidence with the track. But from the second session I started again to give my best. We have meet some problems that have blocked us, but we believe we can improve tomorrow to increase our performances and be competitive in the race."