Free practice in San Juan: Sebestyen shines in 4th position, first contact with the track for Odendaal

The race weekend has officially opened for the Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team in San Juan, scene of the eleventh round of the 2021 World Supersport Championship. In the evocative Argentinean scenery Peter Sebestyen and Steven Odendaal carried out the two scheduled free practice sessions: Peter's performance was excellent, 4th in the combined standings, while Odendaal (8th) used the time available to start getting to know the track.

After a 35 minutes delay, caused by the non-ideal conditions of the track after the sand storm of yesterday, FP1 started at 12. Sebestyen immediately took advantage of his knowledge of the track, mounting a pair of new tires at the end and conquering 7th place. Same tires for the whole session for Odendaal, author of 19 laps and just behind his team mate in the standings.

In the afternoon FP2, with the best track conditions useful to improve lap times. Excellent progression for Sebestyen, author of 19 laps and excellent fourth at the end of the session, just one tenth from the hypothetical first row. Some more problems for Odendaal (P8), still looking for the best set up and the complete knowledge of the tortuous San Juan track.

At the end of the first day of practice, the Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team is ready for day 2, during which the Superpole (16.25 Italian time) and Race 1 (18.30 Italian time), which will last 19 laps, will be held. Both sessions will be visible live on Sky Sport MotoGP, channel 208 of Sky.

FP1 + FP2 results #ARGWorldSBK

P1 - Jules Cluzel (Yamaha) 1'41"926

P2 - Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha) +0.795

P3 - Dominique Aegerter (Yamaha) +0.907

P4 - Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team, Yamaha) +1.015

P5 - Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta) +1.070

P8 - Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team, Yamaha) +1.198

Steven Odendaal: "It has been a useful day, within which we have tried different things. The track is very nice, both in terms of layout and scenery. We had some problems, which I think we can solve analyzing the data collected during the two sessions. Tomorrow we will only think about being fast, more than today, and then give everything in the race in search of the top positions".

Peter Sebestyen: "I'm very happy with what we did today together with the team. Thanks to an important step forward in terms of engine brake everything comes very naturally to me and the good position in the standings confirms this. Certainly we can still grow, but we started in an excellent way and I hope to continue on this path tomorrow".