FIM Moto2 World Championship
Assen TT Circuit, Netherlands
June 28, 2014
Race Results (wet conditions, all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires):
1. Anthony WEST, Australia (SPEED UP), 24 laps, 46:02.089
2. Maverick VIÑALES, Spain (KALEX), -0.318 second
3. Mika KALLIO, Finland (KALEX), -0.743
4. Johann ZARCO, France (CATERHAM SUTER), -7.300 seconds
5. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (SUTER), -11.253
6. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (SUTER), -14.932
7. Julian SIMON, Spain (KALEX), -17.658
8. Esteve RABAT, Spain (KALEX), -20.177, crash on sighting lap
9. Lorenzo BALDASSARRI, Italy (SUTER), -25.260
10. Hafizh SYAHRIN, Malaysia (KALEX), -50.761
11. Gino REA, UK (SUTER), -51.526
12. Marcel SCHROTTER, Germany (TECH 3), -51.692
13. Simone CORSI, Italy (KALEX), -57.108, crash
14. Takaaki NAKAGAMI, Japan (KALEX), -66.613
15. Luis SALOM, Spain (KALEX), -75.500, crash
16. Ricard CARDUS, Spain (TECH 3), -77.239, crash
17. Mattia PASINI, Italy (KALEX), -77.528, crash
18. Josh HERRIN, USA (CATERHAM SUTER), -102.178
19. Roman RAMOS, Spain (SPEED UP), -108.124
20. Tetsuta NAGASHIMA, Japan (TSR), -1 lap, crashed twice
21. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), -1 lap
22. Nicolas TEROL, Spain (SUTER), -1 lap, pitted
23. Jonas FOLGER, Germany (KALEX), -2 laps, pitted, ride-through penalty
24. Franco MORBIDELLI, Italy (KALEX), -2 laps, crash on sighting lap, pitted
25. Xavier SIMEON, Belgium (SUTER), -2 laps, pitted
26. Jordi TORRES, Spain (SUTER), -2 laps, pitted twice
27. Robin MULHAUSER, Switzerland (SUTER), -2 laps, pitted
28. Louis ROSSI, France (KALEX), -3 laps, pitted
29. Thitipong WAROKORN, Thailand (KALEX), -4 laps
30. Sandro CORTESE, Germany (KALEX), -6 laps, DNF, crash
31. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (SUTER), -12 laps, DNF, crash
32. Sam LOWES, UK (SPEED UP), -16 laps, DNF, crashed twice
33. Axel PONS, Spain (KALEX), -17 laps, DNF, crash, pitted
34. Azlan SHAH, Malaysia (KALEX), -21 laps, DNF, crash
World Championship Point Standings (after 8 of 18 races):
1. Rabat, 157 points
2. Kallio, 131
3. Vinales, 109
4. Aegerter, 71
5. Corsi, 69
6. Luthi, 61
7. Salom, 60
8. West, 58
9. Folger, 47
10. Zarco, 46
More, from a press release issued by AirAsia Caterham Moto2 Team:
Strong Fourth Place Finish for Zarco in Tricky Conditions at Assen
Circuit: Assen
Circuit Length: 4.542 m
Race Length: 24 laps
Weather
Race: Wet; (air temp) 18°, (track temp) 25°
A mixture of rain and sun at the Assen circuit saw drama unfold as the Moto2 field headed out onto the grid. Heavy showers enforced a delayed start and a wet race was declared.
In tricky conditions AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing rider Johann Zarco just missed out on a second consecutive podium, crossing the line in an impressive fourth place. Meanwhile teammate Josh Herrin battled throughout to stay within the top twenty and finish in P18.
#5 Johann Zarco: P4
“I can be happy because I started in seventh position and finished fourth. It was a difficult race with the mixed conditions but finally the rain tyres were the good choice because even at the start of the race it began to get heavier.
“My settings were not completely for the wet which is why I lost many positions at the beginning. I could not keep the pace as it was so sensitive on the bike and difficult to go faster. I even had a bit of a crash and I lost I think six to eight positions, which is the downfall of my race.
“As it was drying I had a much better feeling on the bike, so it was necessary to wait and trust that it would dry. At this point I could overtake many riders but there were only seven laps to go, so not enough but I’m still happy with fourth position. It’s good for the team and it’s good for me.”
#2 Josh Herrin: P18
“I went into the race with a lot of confidence as I usually do pretty well in the rain but for some reason I just didn’t have any grip and I couldn’t hang with the guys in the beginning.
“It wasn’t until it started to dry up that it started to improve and I could pick up the pace, but it was way too late by then.
“I’m happy to finish another race in the top twenty but I’m just disappointed because I was expecting to do well in the wet and I feel I could have done better in the dry too, but hopefully we can improve in Sachsenring.”
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager
“It was a weird race with the conditions changing just before the start with heavy rain, which no one was really prepared for.
“We had a strategy with the tyres and bike setting because we saw the potential of the track drying up and we didn’t want to risk going out on slicks.
“Johann stayed really calm during the race despite having a tough beginning with the hard setting. It was really slippery and he almost crashed a couple of times with the rear but then the more it dried up the faster he got and he was able to pass a lot of riders. In the end he did a great job and to finish fourth is an unbelievable achievement.
“With Josh he made a really good start and was twelfth position in the beginning but with no grip he was unable to control the bike and just had to fight throughout to get to the finish. So eighteenth position is not bad.
“I’m happy with this race here in Assen. We have made a step forward in terms of practice where we have been more up there and we will keep pushing for Sachsenring now and see what we can do.”
More, from a press release issued by NGM Mobile Forward Racing:
Unlucky race for NGM Forward Racing at Assen
The Dutch TT was difficult and caotic as it can be here at Assen due to the changeable weather conditions. The start of the race was delayed due to heavy ran and a hailstorm when the riders were already on the grid.
When the race restarted, Simone Corsi made a very good start, taking the lead of the race. Despite the tricky conditions, Simone was able to ride with a good pace, gaining a margin of 10 seconds. Unfortunately with 13 laps to go, Simone crashed at turn 11, loosing the head of the race. He re-joined the race and finished in 13th position, gaining 2 points that allow him to maintain the 5th position in the championship.
It was a strange race for Mattia Pasini who started from the 12th position in the grid and was third in the first lap. Unfortunately Mattia made a mistake on the third lap due to the difficult track conditions and crashed. He re-joined the race but crashed a second time with 10 laps to go and finally he finished in 17th position.
Simone Corsi
“I made a good start and I tried to take the lead as I had a good pace. Unfortunately I crashed. The conditions were very tricky and it was easy to make a mistake. It’s a pity because I lost a great opportunity for me and the team. But races are like this and I look forward to Sachsenring”.
Mattia Pasini
“I started well and I caught Simone and West taking the third position. The conditions were very demanding and it was easy to make a mistake. I crashed on the third lap at turn 5 but I could re-join the race. I had a good feeling and I recovered several positions. I could have finished in the top10, but the track started to dry and the conditions were really uncertain and I crashed a second time. It’s a pity because I had the pace to make a good race”.
More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:
Podium finish for Kallio in treacherous conditions
Assen, Holland – 28 June 2014: Mika Kallio mastered the most treacherous conditions encountered so far this season today, to claim a well deserved third place finish in the Moto2 Dutch TT. Tito Rabat rode intelligently to finish eighth, in a race that saw many crashes as riders fell foul of the changing track conditions.
Heavy rain ahead of the race saw the start of the Moto2 Dutch TT delayed for 20 minutes, with the riders eventually starting on wet tyres, as there was standing water on some parts of the circuit, despite the sun and wind conspiring to dry the track rapidly.
Kallio almost fell victim to a highside in the early stages of the race, but managed to gather the bike up and re-join the race after a brief off track excursion. Although he struggled for grip on a fully wet track, when a dry line appeared at half race distance the 31-year-old Finn forced his way through the field to join the battle for the race lead. In the end he was unable to mount a challenge on eventual race winner, Anthony West, and was forced to settle for third place at the chequered flag.
Rabat’s race got off to an even worse start when he crashed on a damp patch at turn eight on his way to the grid. The 25-year-old Spaniard managed to get his Kalex Moto2 machine back to the pit box, where his mechanics took advantage of the delayed start to make running repairs.
In the fully wet conditions at the start of the race Rabat, who started from pole position, was looking strong, but as the track dried he started to lose the feeling with the bike and, with riders crashing all around him, opted to play it safe and take the points for eighth place.
Livio Loi endured a difficult first race aboard his KTM RC250R at Assen today, as a result of making changes to the bike after qualifying yesterday. The 17-year-old Belgian opted to run on wet tyres in warm up and was unable to test the changes, which turned out to be a step in the wrong direction during the race, which he finished in 25th position.
Mika Kallio // 3rd
“At the start, when the track was completely wet, my feeling with the bike wasn’t good. I didn’t have any grip, but I knew from the part wet practice session in Mugello that, as soon as the track started to dry, the feeling would be better. I nearly didn’t find out, as I almost highsided myself out of the race in the fully wet conditions, but as a dry line started to appear I was able to push much harder and eventually catch the two guys at the front of the race. In the end my lap times were getting quicker, but the same was true of West and Viñales, so I couldn’t find a way past. It’s good to be on the podium, and it means I’ve closed the gap slightly on Tito in the championship, but now we’re starting to see other riders coming strong, like Viñales, so it’s not just Tito I need to keep an eye on. I’m happy with the podium today, as it could have been a very different story in such tricky conditions.”
Tito Rabat // 8th
“I made a pretty good start and I was competitive in the first part of the race. In the rain I had a good feeling with the bike and I was able to push, which was good for me. But later, when a dry line started to appear, it was really difficult for me to keep the line and to match the speed of the other riders. From that point I just tried to do my best and pick up as many points as I could. The crash as I went to the grid for the first time caused some damage to the bike, but the team did a great job to get it fixed and ready for the race, so many thanks to them.”
Livio Loi // 25th
“We made some changes to the bike after qualifying and, unfortunately, as we were on wet tyres for this morning’s warm up, the first time we got to test the changes was in the race. They didn’t work. Instead of an improvement they actually made the bike more difficult to ride and the rear was coming up on me every time on the brakes, and then sliding away from me in the corners. I’m disappointed, obviously, but now I need to focus on the next race at the Sachsenring. The plan for Germany is to use the original settings from yesterday as a starting point and work from there. Hopefully we’ll be able to make further progress with more time on the bike and push for a better result in the final race before the summer break.”
Michael Bartholemy // Team Principal
“Today’s race was run in the worse conditions imaginable. We had to start on wet tyres, but it was obvious that the track was going to dry out very quickly, which is exactly what happened. Mika rode a clever race; holding off in the wet conditions when he was struggling for grip and then pushing hard once a dry line appeared and his feeling with the bike was better. He did a good job, as did Tito, who rode a solid race to pick up more points with eighth position, in conditions we know don’t suit him. I’d also like to say a big thank you to the team, who did a great job getting Tito’s bike back together so that he could take his place on the grid for the delayed start. Livio will be disappointed with his result today, mainly because the change to the KTM hasn’t worked the miracle he maybe expected. The bike won’t do the job for him; he needs to work and he needs to improve significantly in the next race at Sachsenring. He knows what we expect, and now he needs to deliver.”
More, from a press release issued by QMMF Racing Team:
Fantastic victory for QMMF Racing Team: Rain king Anthony West strikes again
Rain king Anthony West strikes again: The 32-year-old Australian, who has been famous for his outstanding abilities in wet conditions throughout his racing career, stormed from 23rd place on the starting grid at the Dutch TT to an incredible victory and awarded his QMMF Racing Team with their long-deserved first ever Grand Prix victory. After a heavy downpour only minutes from the scheduled starting time of the race, West didn’t hesitate to go on the hunt when the race started and came back from lap one in seventh position. In only the fifth lap, he swept into third place, but was clever enough to then settle into his own pace instead of taking too many risks. When both riders in front of him crashed, West took the lead on lap 12 and defended first place masterfully until the chequered flag came down. West’s success marks the second Grand Prix victory of his career, after winning the Dutch TT 2003 in the 250 cc class in similar track conditions.
Unlike West, team-mate Román Ramos was way outside his comfort zone on the damp Assen circuit and finished the race in 19th position. After a weekend with persistent set-up problems, the 23-year-old Spaniard now hopes for better luck at the German Grand Prix in two weeks.
Anthony West – 1st place
“I am happy! The race was difficult because we expected the track to be dry, but then a rain shower came down really hard and put us all in a really strange situation, because it was obvious that the weather would improve again. I actually thought to change back to slick tyres on the starting grid, while we were waiting. I am glad we didn’t, because the track was definitely too wet and there were also a few more drizzles during the race. I had a good start and there were two guys in front of me on slick tyres, so I could pass them straight away. I had a clean run to the first turn and an interesting first lap in which I passed many people. Later on in the race, the track started to dry up in some corners. The conditions kept changing quickly and it was really tricky to ride. I felt I was already at the limit and I didn’t want to push any harder. I saw the two guys in front of me crash out of the race and thought it would be best to keep my own pace, keep a clean line and keep the other guys behind me. I knew they would have to take big risks trying to pass me, because I was on the narrow dry line and they would have had to go onto the damp part of the tarmac if they wanted to catch me. It worked out well in the end and I am really happy for myself and for the entire QMMF Racing Team. They are showing a great commitment to racing, they deserve this victory and I want to thank them for the opportunity to ride for them and to compete on the highest level. The last races were difficult, but we have pulled through and it feels good to have a strong result, which is also a boost to my confidence for the next races. I won my first Grand Prix here at Assen eleven years ago and my Dad, who doesn’t come to many races, was present back then. All I tried in the years since that first victory was to win again and the fact that it happened in similar conditions and with my Dad here once again, is a really funny situation. Now I look forward to the next race at Sachsenring. I was fast there last year and I hope I’ll be more concentrated for qualifying and I’ll be able to have another good race!”
Roman Ramos – 19th place
“Congratulations to QMMF Racing Team and to my team-mate on this fantastic victory today! For me, it was a difficult race. It was hectic and crazy with the heavy downpour on the starting grid and the delay of the race. After the start, I didn’t feel comfortable at all and I wasn’t able to fully concentrate in order to gain positions. I just want to turn the page and out this Grand Prix out of my mind, which was very complicated altogether. I look forward to the next race in Germany hoping that our bike will work better there and that we will be able to climb up some positions, which I think we deserve!”
More, from a press release issued by AGT Rea Racing:
Heroic ride from AGT REA Racing to collect first Moto2 World Championship points at the Assen GP
AGT REA Racing were elated to finish just outside the Top 10 in 11th position on Saturday after qualifying 33rd for the Assen Grand Prix.
Gino Rea made an incredible start to the race, making up 19 places in the initial laps. The team continued to progress, moving into 9th in the early stages. Despite drying track conditions setting the team back to 11th, on the 13th lap Gino set the fastest lap of the race. On the following lap, however, Gino had a huge rear slide at the extremely fast Ramshoek corner at turn 15 forcing him off the track and into the gravel.
Remaining onboard the Suter machine, Rea rejoined the race again in 11th but had lost contact with the group in front. With 4 laps to go, the team had gained another position to make it into 10th but as the track continued to dry, Rea lost two positions towards the end, being overtaken by Syahrin and Schrotter. Gino fought to re-pass Schrotter to take 11th to the flag.
AGT REA Racing picked up their first Moto2 World Championship points of the 2014 season and naturally both rider and team principal were delighted.
Gino Rea: “It’s a nice outcome to a very difficult weekend. I’m so happy to bring points on board for the team after a challenging and tough start to the year. I’m also glad to stay on the bike. I was having lots of moments throughout the race but when I had the big moment at the fast turn 15, I ran off the track. I thought I was definitely going to crash, so to stay on the bike, rejoin and finish 11th was a relief. To also come from 33rd on the grid was tough. I tried to make up as many positions in the first part of the race and I did. But I made too many mistakes and got caught up in the group.”
“I smoothed things out but I was struggling really bad with the rear of my bike and then had that big moment which left me out of touch with the top 10. We still have a lot of work to do to improve our package so we’ll keep plugging away. A huge thank you to everyone involved in the AGT REA Racing team and to our sponsors American Green Technology and LIVESTRONG.”
Dave Peterson, Team Principal: “I couldn’t be more pleased with Gino and the team’s performance today. It was touch and go when G decided to go ‘all rodeo’ and ‘ride the tank’ through the gravel trap! But he held on to bring the team our first points!”
AGT REA Racing will be back in action at the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring on July 13th.