Capirossi ready to carry Rizla Suzuki challenge

Rizla Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi will start Sunday’s Monster Energy Grand Prix de France as the team’s sole rider from the third row of the grid after qualifying in ninth place.

Capirossi continued with the positive performance from day one during both the sessions on Saturday. He was consistently within touch of the front pack throughout the whole of the qualifying session and with a few more modifications to his Suzuki GSV-R this evening, he is confident he can have a strong race tomorrow.

Capirossi will be Rizla Suzuki’s only rider participating in the race following the withdrawal of Álvaro Bautista earlier on Saturday. Bautista suffered from a big high-side in the morning practice session and the fresh injuries he sustained – added to his already broken collarbone – forced him to make the decision to take no further part in this weekend’s events.

Loris Capirossi

“The grid position is not the best, but I am quite happy because we have worked so hard for the whole weekend. We started to adapt the bike a bit more over the two days and now I think we are close to getting what we are looking for. My rhythm today was good and I didn’t follow anybody at all in the two sessions, which is good because it helps us understand what the rhythm and performance will be like in a race. I am really optimistic for tomorrow and I think if I get a good start I can be involved in the action towards the front.”