FIM Moto2 World Championship Test

Circuit de Jerez, Spain

February 22, 2019

Best Combined Overall Lap Times (all on Dunlop tires with Triumph engines):

1. Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:40.982

2. Sam Lowes, UK (Kalex), 1:40.989

3. Iker Lecuona, Spain (KTM), 1:41.111

4. Luca Marini, Italy (Kalex), 1:41.146

5. Lorenzo Baldassarri, Italy (Kalex), 1:41.149

6. Alex Marquez, Spain (Kalex), 1:41.208

7. Nicolo Bulega, Italy (Kalex), 1:41.281

8. Jorge Navarro, Spain (Speed Up), 1:41.302

9. Remy Gardner, Australia (Kalex), 1:41.378

10. Jorge Martin, Spain (KTM), 1:41.385

11. Marcel Schrotter, Germany (Kalex), 1:41.395

12. Tetsuta Nakashima, Japan (Kalex), 1:41.417

13. Augusto Fernandez, Spain (Kalex), 1:41.472

14. Tom Luthi, Switzerland (Kalex), 1:41.508

15. Bo Bendsneyder, Netherlands (NTS), 1:41.608

16. Xavi Vierge, Spain (Kalex), 1:41.625

17. Enea Bastianini, Italy (Kalex), 1:41.651

18. Joe Roberts, USA (KTM), 1:41.706

19. Fabio Giannantonio, Italy (Speed Up). 1:41.736

20. Dominique Aegerter, Switzerland (MV Agusta), 1:41.953

21. Andrea Locatelli, Italy (Kalex), 1:42.011

22. Simone Corsi, Italy (Kalex), 1:42.053

23. Stefano Manzi, Italy (MV Agusta), 1:42.061

24. Jake Dixon, UK (KTM), 1:42.158

25. Steven Odendaal, South Africa (NTS), 1:42.168

26. Lukas Tulovic, Germany (KTM), 1:42.247

27. Somkiat Chantra, Thailand (Kalex), 1:42.318

28. Philipp Oettl, Germany (KTM), 1:42.672

29. Khairul Idham Pawi, Malaysia (Kalex), 1:42.729

30. Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (KTM), 1:42.756

31. Dimas Ekky Pratama, Indonesia (Kalex), 1:43.441

32. Xavier Cardelus, Andorra (KTM), 1:43.561

(Above) American Joe Roberts (16).

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Binder vs Lowes, Masia in a league of his own on Day 3

South African and the Brit split by just 0.007, Masia outruns Fenati before a crash

Friday, 22 February 2019

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) went fastest on the final day of the Official Moto2™ Test at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, but it wasn’t by much as Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) kept the South African honest and the two ended the day just 0.007 apart. Binder and Lowes were also the fastest two over all three days and the only two to drop below the 1:41 mark, although the timesheets remained close behind them with the top twenty within less than a second.

(Above) Sam Lowes (22). Photo courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.

With better conditions than the wind affecting Day 2, home rider Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) was third and just over a tenth and a half off as he showed more top pace, pipping 2018 polesitter Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40). Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) – fastest on Day 1 – completed the top five, ahead of Day 2’s quickest man Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).

(Above) Luca Marini (10). Photo courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.

The man in seventh made some headlines of his own just behind the veteran Spaniard, with Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) the fastest rookie by a tenth at the end of Day 3. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the debutant just that tiny fraction behind him, although the reigning Moto3™ Champion was ninth overall and the two rookies were split by Australian Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). Marcel Schötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) completed the top ten.

(Above) Jorge Mavarro (9). Photo courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.

Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) ended the day’s action in P14 as fastest Speed Up, just ahead of Bo Bendsneyder (NTS RW Racing GP), the fastest NTS. The quickest man on the new MV Agusta was Dominique Aergerter (MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward) once again, and the Swiss rider was in P20 but only nine tenths off.

Masia set the benchmark before the mishap took him out of action

(Above) Jaume Masia (5). Photo courtesy of Dorna/www.motogp.com.

In Moto3™, it was a day of two halves for Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) as the Spaniard set the fastest lap on the last day, but he also broke some toes and is faced with that extra challenge ahead of the season opener and next test. The incident wasn’t enough to give the field a chance to catch his laptime though, and the 1:45.241 put in by the number 5 remained an impressive seven tenths ahead of his closest competitor, the returning Romano Fenati (Snipers Team). Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) completed the top three, making it KTM-Honda-Honda on Friday.

Fourth fastest was a familiar name from the higher echelons of the timesheets on Day 1 and Day 2: Tony Arbolino (Snipers Team). The Italian was just over a tenth off compatriot Dalla Porta and only 0.033 ahead of fellow Italian Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai), with Day 2’s quickest man, Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), completing the fastest six by an even smaller 0.004.

The experience in the frontrunners continued to shine as Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team) and Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) took P7 and P8 respectively, with the top ten completed by Japanese duo Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

Then came the first rookie: Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0). The impressive Spaniard, who is only 15 and will be forced to miss the season opener due to being too young, was 11th overall to end the day outside the top ten for the first time this test – having even ended Day 2 in second. Veteran Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) split the rookie from the next fastest full-time debutant, reigning FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Champion Raul Fernandez (Angel Nieto Team), although the Spaniard isn’t able to compete for Rookie of the Year by virtue of eight previous appearances. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was P14, ahead of rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia).

It’s shaping up to be another classic and close season of racing in both Moto2™ and Moto3™ and now it’s next stop Qatar as they head back out in a week to test at Losail International Circuit. Stay up to date on motogp.com!

More, from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3 Moto2 Team:

Red Bull KTM Tech3 Moto2 Team concludes Jerez test with intense impressions

With the end of a week full of testing and adapting, Marco Bezzecchi and Philipp Öttl leave the Circuito de Jerez with many impressions, ready to head over to Qatar for the last official preseason test kicking off in less than one week’s time. After completing 159 laps during the three days’ IRTA test, Öttl was able to improve by 0.53 seconds from Thursday, while fellow Moto2 rookie and teammate Bezzecchi did 155 laps in total to eventually lower his lap time by 0.377 seconds from day one until the final session of today.

Philipp Öttl

Position: 28th – Time: 1:42.672 – Laps: 39

“Overall today I felt better than yesterday, I mainly concentrated on sliding better and opening the throttle a bit earlier, which went quite well. I was also able to lower my lap time from yesterday and the day before and we could gather some good information. After five long days here, we now need to keep on working in Qatar. I just have to learn how to ride this bike and step by step we can transform what we’ve learned this week to a faster lap time.”

Marco Bezzecchi

Position: 29th – Time: 1:42.756 – Laps: 53

“Today my feeling improved a bit, it seems like we found a slightly better way. But still, we have many things to improve. The bike is ok now, I still try to adapt my style to the Moto2, but overall, it has been a bit better. We didn’t try to focus on a very fast lap time too much, but just concentrated on the riding style. Anyway, we know what we have to improve for Qatar and we will give our best.”

Hervé Poncharal

Team Manager

“There were a lot of expectations for the first Moto2 test of the 2019 season as November was just a shakedown, so finally everybody was on track with their new bikes and everybody was quite impatient to see the outcome of this first test. The KTM riders had two extra days before official IRTA test, which was good in order to understand our package and work with less pressure and more time. Honestly speaking tonight, I can’t tell I’m not disappointed, because then I would be lying and I don’t like to lie. Clearly, we are not in great positions, quite far down and this is not something we were hoping for. I was personally expecting to be mid-pack, more or less a second to the top, but we are 1.7 second off, which is not so much, but a lot at the same time, because in Moto2 everything is so close. Of course, to have two rookies in team is difficult, not having an experienced rider who can share his feelings, settings and data with the rookie, which is happening at Red Bull KTM Ajo. So, it will take more time for our guys to really understand how to set up this new machine, how to modify their riding style compared to Moto3, but I would like to say this is the first test of the year, we keep fully motivated and stay behind Marco and Philipp and I’m quite sure both our guys are not happy and going to digest this tough five days back home during the short break we have before the next test in Qatar. I’m pretty positive that Qatar will start on a much more positive note. It’s the beginning of a long journey and I am – we all are – impatient, but we need to understand that it will take some time, as I said and it is very important for all of us to stick behind our riders, to show them full support, dedication and to give them what they need in order to become proper Moto2 riders as soon as possible.”

More, from a press release issued by Team Federal Oil Gresini:

LOWES UP TO SPEED AT JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA

The three-day test at Jerez de la Frontera has drawn to a close, with Sam Lowes and the Federal Oil Gresini Racing Team on great form in what has been the last preseason test on European oil. It will be all about Qatar tomorrow as the final test before the season opener will take place at the Losail Internatioanl Circuit on March 1-3, followed closely by the maiden Grand Prix of the year.

The fomer World Supersport champion was the second-quickest overall courtesy of a 1’40.989secs lap-time; with only a 0.007secs gap from Binder, Lowes was the fastest Kalex rider of the test. The quickest lap by the Briton came during the second of three sessions (he did not take part in the final one), a sign of good things to come.

On the second day, Lowes crashed unhurt twice, first at turn six in the morning and then at turn 11 in the second session. Despite the setback, he managed to work hard with the teams on many areas of the bike, including electronics and geometry, but also on suspensions and swingarm.

2nd – SAM LOWES #22

“It’s been a very positive test. We were second and not too far from Binder, and our lap-time came during the ninth lap and with hard used tyres. We could have improved even further with the softer compound, but the idea was to work on our race pace and so we did. During the first two days we focused on bike geometry and many other settings, while today we found the best possible setup based on the data from the previous days. We were quick and consistent, so we’re heading to Qatar with great motivation.”

More, from a press release issued by Sky Racing Team VR46:

PRODUCTIVE THREE DAYS OF TESTING FOR THE SKY RACING TEAM VR46 IN JEREZ

At the first IRTA testing session of the new season, in Moto2, Marini is immediately really fast. Even Bulega is close to the strongest guys. Step forward for Foggia and Vietti Ramus in Moto3.

Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), February 22nd 2019 – In Andalusia, three days of intense work for the Sky Racing Team VR46 between important steps forward and the confirmation of the positive feelings of the last week. The first official test of the 2019 season sees, in Moto2, Luca Marini in the group of the protagonists in fourth place overall and followed by Nicolò Bulega seventh. At work also the Moto3 couple, with Dennis Foggia who closes 16th and Celestino Vietti Ramus 24th.

Thanks to an excellent 1: 41.146 (1.41.155 in the last session today), scored in the Day1, Luca is immediately behind the first guys with a gap of only 0.164 thousandths from the leader Binder (1: 40.982) and satisfied for the technical progresses on the track and also the physical ones. With a gap under three tenths and an important chronometric step forward Nicolò closed with an excellent 1: 41.281, the fastest rookie.

In Moto3, with a good 1:46.382 Dennis has broken the wall of 1.47 and he is closer to the Top guys (Masia, 1:45.241). Constant steps forward also for Celestino who has signed a best lap time of 1:47.054.

Pablo Nieto, Team Manager

Three positive days of work, we were able to try different materials and being very competitive. Luca has made a great step forward with his shoulder, he is not at 100% on the long run, but he was very fast. Nicolò still has to understand exactly the Moto2, but he was strong, he did a good job with the Team and we are all curious to see and understand how he can adapt himself to another type of track. I’m also happy with what we have done in Moto3. There is still room of improvement for both and even here we can not wait to test ourselves on another track.

Luca Marini, Moto2 Rider 

A very productive test: I’m satisfied! We leave from Jerez with clear ideas, we are ready for Qatar where we will have another three days to further refine my riding style and bike setup. We did a great job, as last year, the atmosphere inside the garage is great. In terms of lap time, we were trying a strategy with Nicolò, but I did not calculate the gap in the best way and in the last sector I had to close the gas. Despite this, we were fast and we are competitive even on the pace. Physically I have struggled a bit in the third day: for the shoulder rehabilitation I was not able to follow all the physical preparation, but I have a few days before Qatar for recover, rest and then try a race simulation in Doha.

Nicolo Bulega, Moto2 Rider

I’m very happy and I have to say thank to all the guys of the Team for the work done. I did not start very well in the first day, but yesterday and today we were really fast and we managed to make a good step on the riding style. I am learning to handle the bike with a different style, compared to Moto3, and I start to see the first results. I’m satisfied and I’m ready for Qatar: I’m motivated and with a great desire to do my best.

Dennis Foggia, Moto3 Rider

We did a great job, focusing mainly on the race pace and less on the flying lap. I can not wait to arrive in Qatar: we found a good setup base, we have improved every day and I’m happy with what I have done with the Team.

Celestino Vietti, Moto3 Rider

We have been able to try a lot of material, work on the rhythm and the riding style and I am happy because, compared to the last week, we have made good progresses on the lap time and we have approached the Top guys. With the Team we are doing a good job and we have found a good base for Qatar.

More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward Racing:

The MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward Racing Team closed the first official test in Jerez de la Frontera with great determination.

The MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward Racing Team concluded this afternoon the first official Moto2 test of the 2019 season in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain). During all three days the riders, Stefano Manzi and Dominique Aegerter, as well as the whole team have worked hard, both on and off the track ,to try to make the right adjustments to the young F2 bike.

Aegerter completed 188 laps with a best time of 1:41.953, which earned him thirteenth place in the last daily session. Manzi, on the other hand, finished the session in 17th place, setting his best personal time of 1:42.061, just about a tenth behind his teammate, with 177 laps to his credit and 787.4 km covered.

The team and the riders are positive, but at the same time they are aware that there is still a lot of work to be done; it is important to cover kilometres in order to be competitive in the first race of the championship. There are still many elements to try and the team is already looking forward to the next tests, which will be held in Qatar on 1, 2 and 3 March, at the international circuit of Losail.

Stefano Manzi – Rider

“I’m happy about the way these three days have gone here in Jerez. Today, in particular, I think it was the most positive day for us because we finally managed to lower our times and get closer to the leading group with a gap of just one second from the first. I feel really good with the team, also with my new chief technician, Luca Capocchiano, and with my mate Dominique. We are definitely leaving for Qatar for next week’s pre-season test, with a completely different state of mind compared to the way we closed last season. We are more convinced that we can improve a lot ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season. We are working hard and we can do well on the track too, I am sure. I want to thank the whole team, Giovanni and the sponsors who have chosen to join us in this new adventure.”

Dominique Aegerter – Rider

“These three days of testing in Jerez have been positive. I’m happy to be back on my MV Agusta F2. We still have a lot of work to do and a lot to test, but I am happy. We were lucky because the weather was on our side, if not some moments where there was a lot of wind. We will continue to work as we are doing. The project is new and needs time, for me even the team and the chief technician are new. I feel at home with the group and with my teammate Stefano, he’s going strong and we push each other and I think this is good for everyone. The top 10 are really fast. I did a good fast lap but I have to and can do more. Next week we will be in Qatar for another three days of testing before the race and thanks to the data collected here we will be better prepared and we will try to reduce the gap from the front. I would like to thank the whole team for their great work and all the sponsors for their huge support.”

Giovanni Cuzari – Team Owner

“This first official exit has certainly been positive for the team. Dominique had the opportunity to get a bit more familiar with Mauro Noccioli, his chief technician and his team and showed an improvement during the three days here in Jerez. Also, Stefano got to know his new chief technician, Luca Capocchiano, and continued to work well with his team. I’m also happy that the two riders are feeling well with each other, this creates a nice atmosphere inside the box that I’m sure can also be reflected on track. So, we are confident at the start but aware that there is still a lot of work to be done. I would like to thank MV Agusta for the great trust placed in our team and in this ambitious project. A special thanks goes also to our Title Sponsor, Idealavoro, and in particular to Dr. Scavone for the great support, as well as to all our other partners.”