PBM Duo Defy Aragon Weather To Claim Finishes
One of the most dramatic rounds of the 2014 MotoGP World Championship took place at Gran Premio Movistar de Aragon at Motorland in Spain today as the weather played a part although sadly for PBM MotoGP duo Michael Laverty and Broc Parkes, they just missed out on the points.
The Penrith-based PBM team were looking to build on the double finish at Misano two weeks ago at the last of the European rounds before the three flyaway races in Japan, Australia and Malaysia.
Free Practice and Qualifying didn’t quite go to plan for Ulsterman Laverty, on the Rapid Solicitors and Silkolene-backed Aprilia ART-powered PBM, nor Australian team-mate Parkes, on the Silkolene-backed PBM, neither of whom could break into the top 20.
Yesterday’s qualifying session didn’t offer much improvement with former British Supersport Champion Laverty on row seven of the grid with Parkes, twice runner-up in the World Supersport Championship, one row further back.
With dampness in the air as the bikes lined up for today’s 23-lap race, and with rain a distinct possibility, the race got underway with both PBM riders making good starts. However, for Laverty it was short lived when a mistake on the opening lap lost him valuable time and from there he had to play catch up.
Parkes, meanwhile, had got away well as he diced with a number of Open class bikes, whereby he was eventually joined by Laverty and the pair circulated for much of the race just outside the points before the forecast rain arrived with around eight laps to go.
Eventually, both riders pitted to change bikes and rejoined the race but try as they might, they couldn’t just squeeze into the points with Laverty crossing the line in yet another 16th place with Parkes two places further back in 18th.
It was the sixth time this season that Michael had just missed out on points in 16th and for Broc; it was his second successive 18th place. Despite the frustration, the Cumbrian team can take consolation that out of the 28 available finishes so far this season, Laverty and Parkes between them have brought the British-made bikes home in 25 of them, remarkably scoring top 20 placings in 21 races.
Parkes, who holds 21st in the championship table, has scored points in Assen (11th), as well as in Qatar and Indianapolis (15th) whereas Laverty, who occupies 24th in the standings, has managed just the one points scoring ride into 14th, also at Indianapolis, where both riders created history for Paul Bird’s British team to score points in the same race.
Parkes is eighth in the Open class standings and third in Rookie of the Year. Laverty still occupies 11th in the Open class whilst importantly for the PBM team, they hold sixth place in the Constructor’s table and 11th in the Team’s standings.
The PBM MotoGP team is next in action at Motegi in two weeks’ time for round 15 of the series, followed by back to back weekends at Phillip Island and Sepang before the final race of the season in Valencia on November 9th.
Michael Laverty: “That was a strange race today; I ran off track on the opening lap and lost a chunk of time. My pace in the dry wasn’t quite as good as I had anticipated due to some cold tear on the rear tyre but I managed to claw back the guys in front. The rain began around half distance and made it a case of survival for a few laps before pitting for rain tyres. I finished up with another 16th position in the end which seems to be our favoured spot this year.”
Broc Parkes: “I got a good start and was hanging onto the back of the Forward bike and Hondas but started to lose rear grip. Then the rain came and I stayed out too long on slicks and missed the window. I was happy with my pace this weekend just a little unlucky in the race.”
Phil Borley, Technical Director: “We have struggled for pace at Aragon and have not been as competitive as I think we could have been, possibly due to the level of grip, so overall a frustrating weekend. The conditions for the race were very difficult and it was a pity we just missed out on the points, especially with so many factory riders having problems. We will continue trying to improve our performance at the next race in Japan.”
More, from a press release issued by KTM:
JORGE MARTIN WRAPS UP FINAL 2014 RED BULL MOTOGP ROOKIES RACE
The fact that he had already been declared series winner of the 2014 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup on Saturday did not deter Spanish rider Jorge Martin from attacking a wet and slippery track for the final race of the season at home in Aragon.
And while the newly crowned Cup winner did take the race by some seven seconds, he still had to work for it by chasing down fellow Spaniard Marc Garcia who was out in front for ten of the 15-laps before settling what was his sixth race win. Garcia finished second and Britain’s Bradley Ray took the final podium place.
Martin can be well pleased to leave this weekend with the title in his pocket, knowing he took the prize by a substantial 57-points margin. His win also opens the way for him to move up to the Moto3 World Championship in 2014.
But in the final race it was the 14-year-old Garcia who seized the initiative at the start. He got away well from the third row and immediately went after Saturday’s race winner, Spaniard Joan Mir. Martin. The outcome was better for Garcia, who took the lead, than for Mir who fell victim to the wet track and slid off into the gravel after the opening laps.
Martin: “There was a lot happening the guys were sliding about a bit and we got a bit close early on. Then I managed to find some space and chase after Garcia. He was riding well though and I made a couple of mistakes but managed to get away with it. He didn’t make it easy for me, he fought back but in the end I could get away.”
Martin a worthy champion
The victory in the final race wrapped up a near perfect season for Jorge Martin, who was happy to round it off with a victory in the last race. “For me though my best win was in Mugello, to win that one so convincingly I think said something to the Moto3 teams and of course that is where I hope to be next year. But all of the wins have been great and I have loved being in the Rookies Cup,” Martin said.
Garcia was a well-deserved runner up in Sunday’s race. “I got a good start and managed to get into the lead with a good rhythm. I realized that Jorge was catching me and pushed as much as I could but he did a great job. I am so happy to finish my first year like this.”
Brad Ray fought back after a difficult start and said it had taken him a while to get past the pack in the early stages. “Once I did get into third I could see the leaders ahead and I was closing the gap a bit but I realized that it just wasn’t happening quick enough. I knew I had to settle for third,” he said.
Fourth place went to French rider Corentin Perolari, his best result for the season and popular Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu took fifth.
The next Rookies action event is the Selection Event on October 14-16 at Guadix in Spain where young riders get the chance to show their skills in the hope of being invited to join the 2015 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
Final round results at Aragon, Spain
All riders on KTM RC 250 R bikes
1, Jorge Martin, ESP, 34.27.764
2, Marc Garcia, ESP, 34.35.098
3, Bradley Ray, GBR, 34:44.1442
4, Corentin Perolari, FRA, 24:46.436
5, Toprak Razgatlioglu, TUR, 34:56.821
6, Aris Michail, GER, 35:06.865
7, Bo Bendsneyder, NED, 35:08.374
8, Stefano Manzi, ITA, 35:16.983
9, Darryn Binder, RSA, 35:46.562
10, Soushi Mihara, JPN, 35:51.970
Final Championship Standings
1, Martin 254 (2014 Cup Champion)
2, joan Mir, ESP, 197
3, Manzi, 193
4, Ray 152
5, Manuel Pagliani, ITA, 134
More, from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
PODIUM THIRD FOR DANNY KENT AT ARAGON MOTO3
Husqvarna Ajo rider Danny Kent was in strong form on Sunday at Rd. 14 of the Moto3 World Championship in Aragon converting his second spot on the grid to a podium third, his second podium of the season.
Kent got away well and was a major player in the opening laps until he dropped back to seventh then to tenth after going wide in a corner on the sixth lap. The British rider then hunkered down and worked his way back into contention by lap 14 when the competition began to tighten up between Alex Marquez, Fenati and himself.
As the race developed into a hard fight between the two front-runners Kent tucked in behind them aware that anything could happen. Kent also said later that he was happy to settle for third. “Towards the end I had used too much tyre to be able to chase the two of them down.”
Kent said the weekend had been the best for the team. “From the first session I felt great on the bike and was getting more comfortable and stronger every time I went out. Also this morning in the warm-up we went fastest. We adapted well to the mixed conditions of dry and wet and we were fast. We knew that if we chose the right tyres and made a good start, we had a great opportunity to be on the podium. I made a small mistake on the first corner and dropped down to tenth position and this made the race much harder. Without that mistake I think I could have been in the fight but with less worn tyres and more grip. It was a shame not to fight for the win although I tried to get there with a few slipstreams in the final lap.”
Kent’s win drew praise from team boss Aki Ajo: “Danny has a good speed in dry conditions and in the wet he was incredibly fast this morning. Also in these difficult half and half conditions he really made a great race. Of course in the last lap I was waiting that Danny would also win the race and finish in front of Marquez but something happened in the last lap and he did not push.”
The Aragon outing was not so successful for Niklas Ajo and the team took the risk for him to go out on wet tyres, a decisive factor in him finishing in twenty fifth place after a weekend where technical difficulties also interrupted his practice sessions. Kent and Niklas Ajo ride the Husqvarna FR 250GP bike.
The next round is at the Motegi circuit in Japan in 2 weeks time
More at www.motogp.com
Results Rd. 14 Aragon
1. Romano Fenati (KTM) 40:52.209
2. Alex Marquez (Honda) +0.057
3. Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) +0.283
4. Alex Rins (Honda) +11.631
5. Jakub Kornfeil (KTM) +18.382
25. Niklas Ajo (Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo) 1 Lap
Moto3 World Championship Standings
1. Alex Marquez (Honda) 206 points
2. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 195 points
3. Alex Rins (Honda) 188 points
4. Romano Fenati (KTM) 165 points
5. Efren Vazquez (Honda) 154 points
9. Danny Kent (Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo) 93 points
14. Niklas Ajo (Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo) 45 points