FIM Moto2 World Championship
Mugello, Italy
June 1, 2014
Race Results (all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires):
1. Esteve “Tito” RABAT, Spain (KALEX), 21 laps, 39:45.660
2. Luis SALOM, Spain (KALEX), -0.248 second
3. Jonas FOLGER, Germany (KALEX), -3.600 seconds
4. Simone CORSI, Italy (KALEX), -8.117
5. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), -8.124
6. Mika KALLIO, Finland (KALEX), -8.214
7. Johann ZARCO, France (CATERHAM SUTER), -8.781
8. Sam LOWES, UK (SPEED UP), -10.575
9. Maverick VIÑALES, Spain (KALEX), -10.912
10. Franco MORBIDELLI, Italy (KALEX), -16.251
11. Jordi TORRES, Spain (SUTER), -16.297
12. Marcel SCHROTTER, Germany (TECH 3), -16.642
13. Sandro CORTESE, Germany (KALEX), -17.805
14. Xavier SIMEON, Belgium (SUTER), -20.340
15. Axel PONS, Spain (KALEX), -20.945
16. Takaaki NAKAGAMI, Japan (KALEX), -25.070
17. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (SUTER), -38.473
18. Anthony WEST, Australia (SPEED UP), -38.503
19. Ricard CARDUS, Spain (TECH 3), -38.737
20. Louis ROSSI, France (KALEX), -39.112
21. Gino REA, UK (SUTER), -40.424
22. Julian SIMON, Spain (KALEX), -40.474
23. Lorenzo BALDASSARRI, Italy (SUTER), -41.059
24. Nicolas TEROL, Spain (SUTER), -42.977
25. Hafizh SYAHRIN, Malaysia (KALEX), -43.011
26. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (SUTER), -50.254
27. Azlan SHAH, Malaysia (KALEX), -64.480
28. Tetsuta NAGASHIMA, Japan (TSR), -64.545
29. Roman RAMOS, Spain (SPEED UP), -64.818
30. Robin MULHAUSER, Switzerland (SUTER), -64.930
31. Thitipong WAROKORN, Thailand (KALEX), -82.863
32. Mattia PASINI, Italy (KALEX), -13 laps, DNF, crash
33. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (SUTER), -17 laps, DNF, crash
34. Josh HERRIN, USA (CATERHAM SUTER), -21 laps, DNF, crash
World Championship Point Standings (after 6 of 18 races):
1. Rabat, 124 points
2. Kallio, 102
3. TIE, Vinales/Aegerter, 69
5. Corsi, 66
6. Salom, 59
7. Folger, 47
8. Luthi, 40
9. Lowes, 33
10. Cortese, 32
More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:
Rabat reasserts his authority with a win at Mugello
Mugello, Italy – 1 June 2014: Tito Rabat strengthened his position at the top of the Moto2 World Championship standings with a perfect weekend at Mugello. The 25-year-old Spaniard started from pole position and posted a new lap record on the way to his third win of the season this afternoon.
Today’s victory, which came after chasing down early leaders Jonas Folger and Luis Salom, sees Rabat extend his championship lead over his Marc VDS teammate to 22 points.
Mika Kallio declared himself less than satisfied with his sixth place finish today, despite extending his lead over third placed Maverick Viñales in the championship standings. The Finn carved his way through the field in the early laps, after starting from 11th on the grid, but got held up behind Dominique Aegerter while the leading trio escaped at the front. The pair then battled throughout the race, with Kallio only losing out on fifth place after a photo finish.
Persistence paid off for Livio Loi this afternoon, with the 17-year-old Belgian claiming a 19th place finish after fighting his bike for every one of the 20 laps over which the Moto3 race was won. Loi is hopeful of finding a solution to his handling problems during a test at the Mugello circuit on Tuesday, at which he’ll be joined by his Moto2 teammates.
Representing the team on the podium alongside Tito Rabat was the Marc VDS Team Coordinator, Marina Rossi, who celebrated her birthday today at Mugello.
Tito Rabat // Race Winner
“I’m very happy with the win today. I made a good start, but then I touched with Salom and that allowed him and Folger to get away at the front. But I was able to bridge the gap and then I had a fantastic battle at the front of the race, before eventually working my way through into the lead and pulling enough of a gap to stop them slipstreaming past me on the straight. It’s good to win before going back to Spain for my home race in two weeks but, in terms of the championship, it’s just another race and there are many more to go yet. Now we must focus on the test here at Mugello on Tuesday, so we can go to the next race and try and win again.”
Mika Kallio // 6th
“The race result was better than our qualifying position and it’s opened up the gap back to third in the championship standings, but Tito has also extended his lead, so we can’t really be satisfied with the result here at Mugello. I managed to make up a lot of places in the opening laps, but then I couldn’t find a way past Aegerter; he was so strong on the brakes, but then really slow in the corner and it just broke my rhythm. I managed to get past him with a few laps to go but, again, he passed me on the brakes straight away. It was close at the line, but race direction gave him fifth place after watching the video replay. The bike felt better in the race, but there’s still something missing and we need to find it before heading to Catalunya, where we’d normally use the same set up.”
Livio Loi // 19th
“The race went pretty much as expected if I’m honest. The feeling with the bike just wasn’t there, so much so that it felt more like a 20-lap fight than a race. We tried pretty much everything with the bike this weekend, but the small improvements we did find just weren’t enough. We’re testing here at Mugello on Tuesday and I hope we can find something then, before we head to the next race. Last year I felt really strong at Catalunya, so I don’t want to go there this season and struggle with the same problems.”
Michael Bartholemy // Team Principal
“If anyone doubted that Tito Rabat has a stranglehold on this championship at the moment, then this weekend has proved them wrong. He had the perfect weekend with pole position, a new lap record and he now heads home for the Catalunya race with a bigger lead in the championship and the confidence that this brings. Mika had had a difficult weekend trying to find a workable set up on the bike but, like always, he got the job done in the race. I know he’s not so happy with the result, but sixth place means our two riders now enjoy a bigger advantage at the top of the championship standings. Livio did what he could today. You could see he was uncomfortable on the bike, but he persisted and ended up inside the top 20. We will test here on Tuesday, so at least we have a chance to try and find some improvement for Livio ahead of the next race.”
More, from a press release issued by AirAsia Caterham Moto2 Team:
Hard Fought Seventh Place Finish for Johann Zarco in Mugello
Circuit: Mugello
Circuit Length: 5.245 m
Race Length: 21 laps
Weather
Race: Dry; (air temp) 24°, (track temp) 41°
The AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing Team concludes the Italian Grand Prix with more points on the board and a renewed direction.
#5 Johann Zarco: P7
“It’s good to finish another race after the bad luck that we have had from the beginning of the year. It’s seventh position which is better than Jerez, but it is still not the podium. This weekend it was too difficult to achieve this.
“I’m happy with my start and the first laps and first corners as I was able to change my style and be stronger. I didn’t lose any positions so I’m really pleased about this.
“Keeping the pace was not easy but I managed to calm myself and relax so that I could catch the group fighting for fourth. I pushed to stay with them but in the end the rear was sliding too much, so to take the risk to fight for fourth position was too difficult as it was possible to crash. This time I was not able to challenge them in the race but we are not far away and the work we did this weekend, I believe will help us get back to how we were in Argentina.”
#2 Josh Herrin: DNF
“I got a good start off the line then Gino Rea came up the inside of me on the straight and bobbled into the corner, which opened the door for a few guys to go by us.
“I was trying to make up some positions when I got on the brakes and felt the bike wobble. I didn’t go in too hot or anything but it pushed me wide and I clipped something on the curb. The front wheel just went and it threw me off to the side. I hit my head pretty hard. I’m OK physically and the bike wasn’t too badly damaged, I’m just so disappointed to have another DNF.
“We’ve gained some valuable data here in Mugello and I’m getting more experience and feeling more confident every time I ride the bike, so hopefully we can come back fighting at the next GP.”
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager:
“It’s been a good race from Johann. He made a very good start today and was immediately on the pace from the first lap. It looks like the changes we made this morning worked well as throughout the race he was going well and lapping consistently fast, faster than his qualifying time and not far away from the top guys.
“We still have some issues with the bike that we have to sort out. We are pleased with the result today but we know we can do better and we will continue to push to improve.
“It’s a big step for us as we take some more points so hopefully we can build on this again in Barcelona.
“For Josh the race was unfortunately over before the end of the first lap, which was not good. He has shown some positive signs of progress over the weekend and this morning in warm up, but we need to work harder with him and he needs to learn more with the bike.
“I want to say thanks to all the team who did a good job this weekend and have been working very hard, so thank you to everyone involved.”