During the morning’s first free practice, Mackenzie started to make changes based on where he had left off on Sunday at the Cremona Circuit. Working with his team to set up his CBR1000RR-R to suit the requirements of the Aragón track, the British rider made some progress but with work still to do. Norrodin took a more cautious approach, still recovering from a toe injury. Trying to understand his physical condition while working to adapt his bike, the Malaysian made several short exits during the course of the 45-minute session. A best of 1’52.307 for Tarran saw him place twenty-first, while Adam set a time of 1’55.309 to finish twenty-third. 

Norrodin was reassessed by doctors following FP1 and was deemed unfit to continue riding this weekend, the rider still struggling after fracturing his big toe during an August test at Estoril Circuit. 

A little later in the day, Mackenzie was on track for the second practice, which ran in dry but very windy conditions. Tarran almost immediately improved on his best of FP1, putting in a 1’51.965, but unfortunately then suffered a nasty crash at turn 17. Tarran was examined at the circuit medical centre and deemed fit to continue. Able to return to the track and complete the last ten minutes of the session, Mackenzie was able to improve on his best of FP1 by almost half a second. A fastest time of 1’51.879 meant that he finished Friday in overall twenty-first position. 

Tarran Mackenzie 

“We changed the bike quite a lot from Cremona to here, and I had good feeling in FP1, but there were a few things we still wanted to fine tune. I had a few moments in FP1 with the rear of the bike and then again in FP2, and a crash too, but luckily, I’m more or less OK, just a bit battered and bruised. I was able to go back out at the end of the second session and went faster, but because the bike’s a bit different now it’s just a case of me getting used to it. So probably a positive day overall, despite the crash, and we’ll try to build on that tomorrow and get a good qualifying position.” 

Adam Norrodin 

“I made some laps during FP1 and then went to be reassessed by the doctors but unfortunately, they decided that I’m not fit to continue with the weekend. I’m a little frustrated because I wanted to at least try; even if the races would have been tough, I was hoping to make the most of the track time. All I can do now is head home to Malaysia and continue to work on my recovery. A big thank you to the whole team and I’m sorry because they’ve been working so hard. Not an easy time for us, but hopefully I can be back on track at Estoril.”