FIM Moto2 World Championship
Motorland Aragon, Spain
September 28, 2014
Race Results (dry conditions, all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires):
1. Maverick VIÑALES, Spain (KALEX), 21 laps, 40:16.321
2. Esteve “Tito” RABAT, Spain (KALEX), -1.285 seconds
3. Johann ZARCO, France (CATERHAM SUTER), -4.876
4. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (SUTER), -5.033
5. Franco MORBIDELLI, Italy (KALEX), -5.960
6. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), -6.405
7. Mika KALLIO, Finland (KALEX), -6.525
8. Jordi TORRES, Spain (SUTER), -17.313
9. Sam LOWES, UK (SPEED UP), -18.148
10. Marcel SCHROTTER, Germany (TECH 3), -19.693
11. Hafizh SYAHRIN, Malaysia (KALEX), -20.948
12. Sandro CORTESE, Germany (KALEX), -21.110
13. Luis SALOM, Spain (KALEX), -22.665
14. Ricard CARDUS, Spain (TECH 3), -24.403
15. Takaaki NAKAGAMI, Japan (KALEX), -24.465
16. Julian SIMON, Spain (KALEX), -27.402
17. Gino REA, UK (SUTER), -39.660
18. Roman RAMOS, Spain (SPEED UP), -39.862
19. Azlan SHAH, Malaysia (KALEX), -40.073
20. Louis ROSSI, France (KALEX), -40.185
21. Mattia PASINI, Italy (KALEX), -40.751
22. Ratthapark WILAIROT, Thailand (CATERHAM SUTER), -41.064
23. Jonas FOLGER, Germany (KALEX), -41.258, jump start/ride-through penalty
24. Riccardo RUSSO, Italy (SUTER), -42.181
25. Lorenzo BALDASSARRI, Italy (SUTER), -42.275
26. Robin MULHAUSER, Switzerland (SUTER), -42.410
27. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (SUTER), -44.360
28. Florian MARINO, France (KALEX), -47.565
29. Nicolas TEROL, Spain (SUTER), -49.743
30. Thitipong WAROKORN, Thailand (KALEX), -65.670
31. Axel PONS, Spain (KALEX), -9 laps, DNF, crash
32. Kenny NOYES, USA (TSR), -15 laps, DNF, retired
33. Xavier SIMEON, Belgium (SUTER), -17 laps, DNF, retired
34. Anthony WEST, Australia (SPEED UP), -17 laps, DNF, crash
World Championship Point Standings (after 14 of 18 races):
1. Rabat, 278 points
2. Kallio, 245
3. Maverick Vinales, 204
4. Aegerter, 143
5. Luthi, 116
6. Zarco, 104
7. Corsi, 100
8. TIE, Salom/Cortese, 66
10. West, 65
More, from a press release issued by AGT Rea Racing:
Best dry finish of 17th for AGT REA Racing at the Aragon GP
Gino Rea was happy to conclude the Aragon GP in 17th, meeting his Top 20 goal and finishing 7 places higher than his qualifying position. Rea put in a confident performance, battling within a big group of riders throughout the race and later coming out on top. The final result of 17th was AGT REA Racing’s best result of the season in dry conditions and the team are setting out to build on this progress in Japan.
Gino Rea:
“We achieved our goal coming into this weekend of a Top 20 finish in the dry. Qualifying held us back a little, starting in 24th and I didn’t have the pace in the first laps of the race. I was struggling in a few areas, the bike wasn’t at its best so I’m a bit frustrated that I didn’t get to battle in the group ahead which led up to 9th. Since we had a chassis update at Silverstone, we’re learning every time and we still have room for improvement. It was great to be in a big battle in the race and even better to come out on top. It’s our best dry result of the year so we go to the flyaway races to build on this.”
Dave Peterson, Team Principal:
“I’m proud of Gino’s performance today. He fought the whole time even though the bike wasn’t set up as perfectly as it could have been. With all the morning confusion of wet and dry settings, he still went out in the race and battled for positions, moving up the whole time. It was great to watch! The entire American Green Technology team performed extremely well.”
The team now prepare to travel to the back-to-back flyaway races of Motegi, Phillip Island and Sepang, beginning with the Japanese Grand Prix in just under two week’s time. Follow the team on their Facebook www.facebook.com/agtrearacing and Twitter @AGT_REA_Racing for updates throughout the interim period.
More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing:
Rabat extends championship lead with podium at Aragón
Aragón, Spain – 28 September 2014: Tito Rabat finished second in the Moto2 Grand Prix of Aragon, extending his lead in the World Championship over Marc VDS teammate, Mika Kallio, who finished seventh today.
It was Kallio who made the early running, leading the race for the first four laps, but the 31-year-old Finn started to struggle for rear grip after eventual race winner Maverick Viñales passed him for the lead. Lacking drive out of the turns, Kallio eventually dropped down the order to finish seventh.
As Kallio was dropping back, Rabat was pushing on, eventually passing Johann Zarco for second at half race distance, before posting his fastest laps of the race as he tried to close the gap to race leader Viñales. The 25-year-old Spaniard managed to close to within a second of his fellow countryman, but simply ran out of laps and was forced to settle for second and a place on the podium.
Rabat now leads the Moto2 World Championship by 33 points, more than one win, from his Marc VDS teammate Kallio, with just four races remaining.
Jorge Navarro looked all set to claim a top ten finish in today’s Moto3 race but, like many of his rivals, the 18-year-old Spaniard was caught out by the tricky mixed conditions and crashed at turn three while running in 8th position.
Tito Rabat // 2nd
“Yesterday I crashed in qualifying then this morning I had a difficult warm up in the wet, so I’m happy to finish on the podium today. It was lucky that the rain held off, other than a few spots during the race. I got a good start, tried to push straight away, but then I got into a fight with Mika. We lost two positions and once I’d got past Mika I had to pass Aegerter and Zarco, by which time Viñales had gone. I tried to push on and close the gap, but congratulations to him as he rode a clever race and never let me get close enough. I want to say a big thank you to the team because, when you have a difficult weekend, it is them that keep you calm and help you focus on what’s important. Now the focus is on Japan. New race, new country, new weekend, but the same aim; try to fight for the win.”
Mika Kallio // 7th
“The first part of the race was good. I got away at the front and then tried to stay calm, ride smoothly and conserve the tyre as much as possible. When Viñales came past I could stay with him at first, but then the rear grip started to drop off, the rear started spinning up and I was struggling to drive the bike out of the turns. It dropped me back into the group behind and we lost some time battling for position. I wasn’t getting the drive onto the straight, so I couldn’t pass under braking, but the others could and there was nothing I could do to stop them. I don’t know what the problem was, because we made no changes to the bike and the tyre doesn’t look so bad. Maybe the cooler conditions played a part, but there was just no grip and it’s something we need to look into.”
Jorge Navarro // DNF
“I got away from the line pretty well and the feeling with the bike was good over the opening few laps. Conditions were difficult today; there was a definite dry line, but also a lot of wet patches on the track. I was inside the top ten when I just touched a wet part of the track at turn three and crashed. I’m really disappointed because I had a very good opportunity to make a good result today. Sometimes racing is like this, especially in these conditions, so now the focus is on Japan.”
Michael Bartholemy // Team Principal
“Once again Tito has shown his calibre, coming back from a difficult qualifying yesterday to extend his championship lead with second place today. It was a good race from him and I’m pretty sure he’d have been challenging for the win if he hadn’t been held up by the battles in the opening laps. I know Mika will be disappointed with seventh today, but there was little else he could have done once the tyre started to go off. It’s a long straight here at Aragon and if you don’t get the drive out of turn 15 then you’re in trouble. Tito may have extended his lead, but Mika hasn’t given up on the title yet, as I’m sure we’ll see in Japan. Jorge was unfortunate in what were tricky conditions for the Moto3 race. He was inside the top ten and going well, but just touched a wet patch on the track and crashed, as did many other riders today.”
More, from a press release issued by AirAsia Caterham Moto2 Team:
Zarco makes it Two Podiums in a Row for AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing
Circuit: MotorLand Aragon
Circuit Length: 3.155 miles
Race Length: 21 laps
Weather
Race: Dry; (air temp) 19°, (track temp) 21°
The Spanish Grand Prix saw Johann Zarco claim his third podium and second consecutive third place finish for the AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing Team.
Continuing to show his dominance on the #5 Caterham Suter, the Frenchman put in an exhilarating performance as he fought hard with the leaders throughout the twenty one lap race and increasing his Championship points to 104 in the standings
After a disappointing qualifying session, team mate Ratthapark Wilairot was faced with a difficult start from row nine on the grid. Initially struggling to break through the pack, the Thai rider was forced back into thirtieth position on lap one. With all the work to do, Wilairot worked hard to get back into a rhythm, posting his fastest time of the race on the penultimate lap and gaining eight positions along the way.
With more points on the board the Caterham Suter now stands third overall in the Constructors Championship.
#5 Johann Zarco: P3
“It’s a happy Sunday again because I fought all through the race. I started from second position and I finished third but I am happy anyway because it was not easy and not the same conditions as all the weekend. It was much colder but we chose the soft tyre and with this I could be on the pace quickly. I was a long time third but not able to stay with the first and second rider because they were two tenths faster than me. Finally the rider in fourth position caught me and we had to fight and even the last lap we had many overtakes but finally I kept the podium. I’m very happy because this is the second in a row, which is pretty good for the mind before the overseas. So I must thank my team again for giving me a good bike. I want to keep this good feeling, stay on the pace and continue to fight for the podium until the end of the season.”
#14 Ratthapark Wilairot: P22
“Today it was difficult starting from the back. I didn’t do a good first lap and in the first two corners many riders passed me, we touched and I went wide and dropped back to thirtieth position. I tried to pass another rider on the first lap but my feeling on the bike was not so good and I could feel the bike coasting at the front. As the race went on and the fuel went down it felt better and I was able to pick up my pace and overtake many riders.
“I have a lot of positives to take away from this race because for one I feel a lot better with the braking now and I am happy with the bike because I can understand more. The main thing that we must improve is the qualifying and this is what I will focus on for Japan.”
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager: “It was an interesting start to the day with the wet conditions but for us coming into the race with wet or dry, we were prepared for both options. The way Johann has been riding all weekend has been fantastic and this morning he was also first by a good margin in the rain.
“Johann made a very good race start but it looked as if he was losing a little to the first group. Then after the first four laps he started to go really well, pushing hard and battling with a couple of the riders. This actually allowed Vinales to break away, which is when they lost contact with him.
Most of the race he was holding third position and then he had some good fights and was looking very strong.
“This is our second podium in a row and that’s excellent. We are happy and we are taking one position in the Championship and moving up to third in the Constructors Championship with the Caterham Suter, which is very good for us to show that we are always pushing.
“With Ratthapark it was a bit difficult because he made a poor first lap. He had a bad feeling with the front of the bike which made him feel like he was closing the front and almost crashing. It was with a full tank so we must see what we can do better with this for next time. As the fuel decreased he came strong and was doing good lap times and he also did his quickest time with two laps to go. With the group he was in he was not so far off the points, so he has made a step, but we must qualify better and that is what we are going to aim for in Japan.
“I want to thank all the team for making a great effort all weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by QMMF Racing Team:
Ramos battles his way to 18th place – West tries to ride around engine problems and falls
QMMF Racing Team rider Roman Ramos thrilled the crowd at his home race of Aragón with a fantastic battle in which he stormed from 29th place on the starting grid to cross the finish line in an impressive 18th position. The 23-year-old from Santander started well and lost a few positions after a small mistake, but bounced back even stronger and looked especially well towards the end of the race, when he kept a hard-charging group of up to nine other riders under control.
Team-mate Anthony West was determined to make up for a certain lack of engine power that he had noticed in practice. Pushing even more than usual, the 33-year-old Australian was in 17th position when another rider closed the door during a pass, sending West flying over his handlebars.
West’s bad luck at the Grand Prix of Aragón came one week after a fantastic success in France, where the 33-year-old Australian and his QMMF Racing Team partners Alex Cudlin and Mashel Al-Naimi finished fourth overall at the 24 hours of Le Mans, won the classification of the Superstock category and celebrated second place in the Endurance World Championship. When it started to rain during the event, West was by far the fastest of all riders on the track. The Australian rain king, who had never competed in a 24-hour-race before, clocked lap times with his Kawasaki Ninja ZX 10-RR that were up to five second quicker than his next rival.
Anthony West – did not finish
“I am happy with the way the bike was handling in the race. The guys did a great job setting it up, it felt good and the handling was fine. Just the engine was slow and I had to push harder to make up for it. Mattia Pasini and Axel Pons were fighting right in front of me and went quite slow through the chicane, so I thought that was my chance to pass them. As I went for it, one of them closed the door and I ran straight into the back of the other one. I had a big highsider and went flying over the top of the handlebars. It was my fault, I was just getting a bit too impatient because my bike was slow. I had a lot of opportunities to pass the other riders, but with my lack of engine power I would always losing the gap that I just made up. Eventually, I tried to make a pass that didn’t happen. I definitely could have scored points, because I was faster than the three in front of me. It just didn’t work out and I am sorry for the team that I crashed out. But that’s racing!”
Roman Ramos – 18th place
“It was a tough race. I started from way back on the grid, but I had the hope and the determination to fight and to gain as many positions as possible. I had a good start and went through the first corners okay. Later on. I made a mistake whilst following Salom and I lost a few positions again. Without this mistake I could have been higher up in the classification and achieved a bit more. But all in all I am happy with my race. Our final position is not too bad and matches my best result of the season. I would have loved for the race today to be my best ever, but in the end, it was not possible. I have mixed feelings, satisfied and at the same time a bit disappointed because I wasn’t able to fight for points. But I battled, I gave 100 per cent throughout the race and I will confront the next three races overseas in good spirit!”
More, from a press release issued by Team JiR:
Disappoinment for Noyes at Aragon despite conditions
Kenny Noyes was forced to retire from today’s Moto2 race at Motorland Aragon, following a crash in morning warm-up and a brake issue during the race.
The 35-year-old had a crash in the morning session which – while not rendering him unconscious – did leave the American rider with issues during the race. This and a further rear brake problem led the rider to make the sensible decision to pull in during the Moto2 race after just 15 laps.
In the race, Maverick Vinales took the win from series leader Esteve Rabat and Johann Zarco. Thomas Luthi was fourth and Franco Morbidelli fifth.
Kenny Noyes, Teluru team JiR Webike’s rider: fastest lap 1m 58.468s
“In the race we did our best with the rain dance! Thanks to everyone for that. In warm-up we felt good in the rain but then a highside on the fastest corner on the track led to me landing on my head. After that things felt kinda blurry but before the race everything was better but I still had a little blurry vision then we had a rear brake failure, so with the head and rear brake issue it was best and safest to bring it in. It has been a tough weekend but this is a great team – one of the most professional teams I have ever worked for! I wanted to carry on, really I did, but both problems combined meant it was safer and better to bring it into the pits.”