FTR MOTO HEADS TO HALFWAY STAGE SATISFIED WITH PROGRESS FTR MOTO is looking to build on an excellent start to the inaugural Moto2 World Championship by increasing its efforts and challenging for further race wins in the thrilling 2010 series. With eight races gone and nine to go, the four FTR M210 machines sit in third, ninth, 12th and 14th places in the World Championship standings with an incredible 33 riders having already scored points. FTR’s innovative machine has taken two wins and four podium finishes so far. “Considering nobody really knew how the series was going to evolve apart from being ultra competitive we’re more than happy with our return to this point of the season,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “With Andrea Iannone third in the Championship he obviously looks a good bet to challenge for the first ever Moto2 World title.” Iannone rides the Speed Up Team’s FTR, along with Gabor Talmacsi, while Spaniard Alex Debon runner-up in the Qatar opener pilots the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team with Czech Republic rider Karel Abraham on the Cardion AB Motoracing Team FTR machine. Bones continued: “Talmacsi continues to show signs that he could win races. He’s had five out of eight finishes in the top 10, had an 11th and a 13th and the one non-finish so the consistency and quality is evident. Debon began the year in sensational fashion but has been really unfortunate. “A small broken wire prevented him from qualifying on the front row in Jerez then he got tangled up in the multi-machine crash at the start of the race. He suffered a bad shoulder injury in the freak crash at Assen and has become frustrated so he will benefit from the four-week break more than most. “In Abraham we have a rider who switched to our machine after three rounds and his last three results of ninth, fourth and fifth respectively suggest he could be on the brink of a first podium finish.” The break in the Championship since the German race on July 18 has given FTR a chance to further develop the M210 in readiness for the second half of the year. Bones concluded: “The feedback from our riders has been first class and we’re confident the changes we’re working on will further enhance the possibilities of more race wins and podiums hopefully beginning with the next race at Brno a week on Sunday.”