FIRST TEST OF THE 2018 SEASON FOR THE SKY RACING TEAM VR46
At Jerez del la Frontera, the Sky Racing Team VR46 debuts with Bagnaia and Marini in Moto2 and Foggia in Moto3.
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), November 17th, 2017 – Positive debut for the Sky Racing Team VR46 in Jerez de la Frontera which hosted the first testing session of the new season.
On track, on his Kalex, Francesco Bagnaia with the pace of the fastest guys, closes the two days of testing with just a tenth of gap from Oliveira, the leader with a best of 1.41.518. With his 1.41.622 (144 laps), Pecco is second overall satisfied with his approach with new suspension.
At his debut with Team, Luca Marini, seventh in the combined standings, with a best lap time of 1.42.115 (149 laps) and motivated to continue his work in Valencia next week.
Before returning to Ricardo Tormo for the last race of the Junior World Championship CEV, debut for Dennis Foggia in Moto3 with a positive 1.46.809 and 119 laps. Nicolò Bulega did not take part in this session due to the consequences reported after the fall in FP2 at the Valencia GP. From Madrid, where last week he underwent a surgery to reduce the fracture of the right talus, Nicolò will back to Italy in the next few hours.
Pablo Nieto – Team Manager
With this two-days of testing, the 2018 season officially started for the Team. In Moto2, we immediately returned to work with commitment and motivation. Pecco and Luca have done good lap times and we have to stay focused to make a further step forward. In Moto3, we started to approch Dennis: I’m happy to see him into the World Championship and I have to say that, in just two days, he made a big step forward. Nicolò is coming back to Italy in these hours and we can not wait to see him on the track.
Francesco Bagnaia – Moto2 #42
Two days of very positive testing: I worked hard and I tried many new solutions. Compared to last year’s configuration, I feel much more comfortable and I’ve been able to being really fast. A pity for my last run, maybe I could improve my time, but I had problems with the tyres. Overall, I had a competitive and fast pace. Two days of work are still waiting for us in Valencia next week: we have to make the most of them and then enjoy the winter break.
Luca Marini – Moto2 #10
The new adventure with the Sky Racing Team VR46 started very well: it was a positive test where I started to know the guys and set the job for the next season. In just two days, we made a good steps forward and, despite an influence that has debilitated me, I was able to ride really fast. The pace was also good and I am happy with the approach with the new bike and the Team. We have to continue to work in this direction and stay focused. The goal for Valencia is to improve performance compared to the race weekend where I struggled to be competitive.
Dennis Foggia – Moto3 #10
I’m delighted with my debut with the Sky Racing Team VR46: two days of productive work where I started to know the new crew. We have tried many solutions, some very useful, some no, but overall I’m happy with my debut. Between yesterday and today I improved my personal record on this track and this is a good start for the 2018.
More, from a press release issued by Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS:
Márquez and Mir enjoy successful Jerez test
Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Moto2 riders, Álex Márquez and Joan Mir, both declared themselves happy with the progress made after two days of testing at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain.
Márquez, who will contest his fourth season in the intermediate class next year, spent the two-day test working on the development of the 2018 Moto machine together with chassis manufacturer Kalex and suspension supplier Öhlins.
The 21-year-old Spaniard ran two bikes during the test to maximise testing time and completed more than 140 laps over the course of the two days, as he worked primarily to improve traction and drive through and out of the turns.
Despite a heavy test program, Márquez finished third on the timesheet with a best lap of 1’41.719.
While Márquez concentrated on development his Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS teammate, Joan Mir, was testing a Moto2 machine for the first time in Jerez. The reigning Moto3 World Champion quickly established a rapport with his new crew and thoroughly enjoyed his first two days aboard the Kalex Moto2 machine.
Mir improved both his feeling with the bike and his lap time with every exit, as he worked together with his crew to find a good base set up with which to start next week’s two-day test in Valencia. A best lap of 1’42.741 saw Mir finish 16th on the timesheet and just 1.223s off the fastest time of Miguel Oliveira.
Álex Márquez: 3rd – 1’41.719
“I’m happy with these two days and the test was really positive. We’ve done a lot of testing for Kalex and for Öhlins, working our way through a pretty intensive test program, and many of the things we’ve tried brought improvements. We focused mainly on improving traction here, with positive results, but there is still more work to be done in this area. But now we have a clear development direction and I think we will see continue to see improvements next week in Valencia and again during the preseason tests in February. Overall a very positive test, during which we amassed the data that both Kalex and Öhlins need to continue development over the winter break.”
Joan Mir: 16th – 1’42.725
“I enjoyed riding the Moto2 bike a lot during these two days. I’m also happy to be working with my new crew; we created a great atmosphere in only two days and this is very important. With the bike we just tried a few things with the chassis and suspension to see which is going to be my way to go fast on the Moto2 and the direction we need to take is pretty clear. I improved my lap time every time I went on track and I hope to continue like this next week in Valencia.”
Pete Benson: Joan Mir Chief Engineer
“Joan’s approach to this test, his first on a Moto2 bike, has been really positive. He knows that adapting to this bike is going to take time and that it needs to be done step-by-step, but he’s already made some of those steps here. We tried a few things on the bike; some he liked and we saw an improvement in his lap time while some he didn’t like and this was backed up by the data, so his feedback has been good. Given that this was his first time on the bike he was very fast through the first three sectors but lost a little time in the final split, but this will come with more time on the bike. Overall a very positive first test and we’re looking forward to making more steps next week in Valencia.”
More, from a press release issued by Tech 3:
Progress made for Gardner as 2018 preparations begin – Bendsneyder impresses on Moto2 test debut
Remy Gardner took the first steps in gearing up for his sophomore season in the fiercely contested Moto2 class by closing the Jerez test with a solid run to 11th. Gardner tested various setup options for his Mistral 610 and gained an improved feeling all round, which left him six tenths from the top three. Now he confidently awaits the next outing at Valencia.
Meanwhile, the promising rookie, Bo Bendsneyder, concluded a positive first showing aboard the Mistral 610 as he got up to speed in the Moto2 class. The young Dutch rider gained experience on the first day, and then made encouraging steps forward today. He posted his personal best on his penultimate lap, that notably put him half a second behind his teammate.
Remy Gardner
Position: 11th – Time: 1’42.337 – Laps: 55
“Overall, the test was good and I am happy with the progress. I think that after the changes we made, I can run about 2 tenths of a second quicker if I can find a perfect lap. This is encouraging and my end position was not bad, but I am still looking for more. However, I think that we are going in the right direction and I’m certain that we can improve further in Valencia, yet overall, it was definitely a positive two days here in Jerez.”
Bo Bendsneyder
Position: 21st – Time: 1’42.898 – Laps: 75
“I had a really amazing time here and I was consistent and managed to advance on every lap. Yesterday was all about gaining experience and then today, I started well and posted a fast time at the beginning. My pace was quite good and we maintained our speed throughout the day. Then I rode 25 laps on the same tyres, and on the last run, I produced my best time which was a 1’42.898. When I set that time, I had completed 31 laps on that rubber and that is very positive, as those old tyres had done more than race distance. I want to thank the team a lot and soon we will be back on the track in Valencia and so I am looking forward to this.“
More, from a press release issued by Forward Racing:
On the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera, where the pre-championship private races were held today and yesterday, Stefano Manzi and Eric Granado, the team’s new members, raced for the first time on their respective bikes. The riders were accompanied by excellent weather conditions: 22 ° C outdoor temperature in Southern Spain and 25 ° C on the asphalt. The Forward Racing Team team has focused on welcoming newcomers and also studying the new motorcycle.
In fact, the talented Riminese, who also heralds from he VR46 Riders Academy, took advantage of both days before the winter break. On the first day, he gained confidence on his motorcycle which is similar to the one used in the last championship, but with some untested components, and on the second day, studied even the slightest feature of the 2018 Suter MMX2.
However, the Brazilian completed the first day only, leaving at the last race of the European Speed Championship in Valencia, which he currently ambitiously sees himself at the top of the standings and could crown him European Champion.
Stefano Manzi –
“This first test immediately took a positive turn. Yesterday we tested the Kalex 2017 that I used during the season, and I’ve already had the chance to experiment with technical material for the first time. For example, I worked with the Ohlins suspension. I was able to get to know my new team with which I found myself at ease, finding a balanced mix of professionalism and sympathy. Today we tested the Suter 2017 and I was followed step by step also by a technician from the manufacturer. Along with the guys in the team, we have already been able to find a lot of positive differences over the Kalex 2017 and I can say it’s not bad, indeed! Surely, in order to make the most of all that is new, it will take time and more miles on the track, but I am very confident and positive on all fronts. I want to thank the Forward Racing team for the opportunity they are giving to me, the job we are doing is certainly great, but we are confident that we can do well and achieve ambitious goals together.”
Eric Granado –
“My first day with the Team Forward Racing was very positive. We started to know and understand how we can work optimally with the team and the bike. I would call it an important day in my personal and professional growth. In the first rounds, I progressively tested the bike but without exaggerating. In view of my race last weekend in CEV, where I’m currently battling for the European Champion title, in general I can say that we used this first day to find out as much data as possible on which to base my winter preparation and understand the relationship with the bike and the team. One day is not much, but it was certainly good to leave the Jerez circuit with an idea of how I should behave and what are the points to improve from here at the start of next season. I’ve been able to score more than 70 laps on the track and now I’m even more loaded and enthusiastic in view of my new adventure with the Forward Racing Team. So I hope to be able to prepare myself well before the start of the February tests and to be able to find the right feeling and set-up as soon as possible to be competitive in Qatar. I thank everyone for this great opportunity to return to the world championship, and especially to Giovanni Cuzari. “
Giovanni Cuzari – Team Owner
“I immediately want to shake hands and thank both drivers who have come to work and have shown the talent that characterizes them on our motorcycle. I am sure that we can grow together and demonstrate all our value and experience that distinguishes us. The tests over the two days have been mainly used by our team’s mechanics to accommodate every single detail and to accommodate the new riders, and then to face the best of next season.
I’m sure our pilots will be able to accompany us on this fantastic adventure and to give the best of what we want to achieve. “