Alonso Lopez and Daniel Holgado were the quickest after a day of testing Pirelli tires for the Moto2 and Moto3 teams at Valencia. Moto2 and Moto3 are switching from Dunlop to Pirelli, and the teams were working on adapting their bikes to the new rubber on the newly resurfaced circuit.
The all-time lap record for a Moto2 machine was set on Saturday by Fermin Aldeguer at 1:33.264. Lopez topped Monday’s Moto2 timesheets with a 1:33.061 in the first session, just edging Aron Canet’s best of 1:33.074, also set in the first session.
Holgado took a little longer to get down to his best time, waiting until the second session to set a 1:37.300 to set the benchmark for the 23 riders who set a time. The all-time Moto3 lap record was a 1:38.286 set by Darryn Binder in 2020.
Pirelli will serve as the control tire supplier for the Moto2 and Moto3 series from 2024 through 2026.
Moto2 Combined Times cropped image final
Moto3 combined times image cropped final
More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:
Pirelli’s era in Moto2™ and Moto3™ begins with all time lap records
In the first 2024 official test, on Pirelli tyres, Lopez in Moto2™ and Holgado in Moto3™ were the fastest riders, setting the all time lap record for the Valencia circuit in their respective classes
Today the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia hosted the first official 2024 test for the Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders which also marked the beginning of the Pirelli era in these championships.
Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp – BOSCOSCURO) was the fastest rider of the day in Moto2™ with a time of 1’33.061, setting a new all time lap record for this circuit and class.
Likewise, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was the fastest in Moto3™ in 1’37.300, actually improving the lap record for this class by a second.
Lopez set the new all-time lap record in the first session on his 24th out of 26 laps completed, improving the record set by Aldeguer this year in FP3 by two tenths. Holgado did the same in the second session on the 13th out of 17 laps, shattering Binder’s previous record (1’38.286) from 2020.
All riders used DIABLO™ Superbike slick tyres in soft and medium compounds for both the front and rear. In Moto2™ in size 125/70 R17 front and 200/65 R17 rear, in Moto3™ 100/70 R17 front and 120/70 R17 rear.
These are standard tyres and not prototypes, meaning they can be purchased by any motorcyclist because they are regularly on sale.
Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director
All time lap records: the best way to start the Pirelli era
“We are very satisfied with the results obtained in this first official 2024 test with the Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders and teams. For us the goal was to confirm the good impressions seen at the beginning of September on the Montmelò circuit. On that occasion, as it was a private test, no official times were provided, whereas today it was possible to make a direct comparison with the times of the weekend just gone, in similar weather conditions and temperatures. Achieving the all-time lap records ever for this track in the respective championships, in the case of Moto3 even improving it by a second, is certainly clear and easily quantifiable proof of the excellent performance that our tyres are able to guarantee. Some riders ran more laps than the race distance using the same set of tyres, even if not consecutive, with limited drop and good wear. All the compounds performed well, clearly the softer ones are generally those that allowed the riders to achieve their best times. We know that the tests, although representative, are never like a race weekend and that each track makes history in its own right but we can say that the conditions for doing a good job next season are all there.”
More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:
Elf Marc VDS Racing Team kick off 2024 Moto2 preparations in Valencia
Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the 2023 Moto2 World Championship in Valencia, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team made a rapid return to the Ricardo Tormo Circuit to commence important preparations for next season’s title challenge.
On a vital test day that saw the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team welcome Filip Salac as Tony Arbolino’s teammate for 2024, the focal point of today’s action was to allow the duo time to assess the performance of tyres from new exclusive supplier Pirelli.
In warm and sunny conditions, Arbolino and Salac completed over 140 laps of the 4km Ricardo Tormo Circuit before heading off on a well-deserved winter break.
Tony Arbolino
/// 7th, 1:33.383, 79 laps
Runner-up in the 2023 Moto2 World Championship campaign, Arbolino’s bid to go one better next year got off to a busy but positive start, as the Italian completed nearly 80 laps in three sessions.
Immediately finding confidence with the new Pirelli rubber, Arbolino ended with a best lap of 1:33.383 to finish just one-hundredth-of-a-second outside of the top six.
Arbolino’s best lap was nearly a second faster than his qualifying pace during last weekend’s season finale in Valencia, with the 23-year-old excited at the prospect of racing the new Pirelli tyres for the first time in Qatar’s season opener next March.
“The Pirelli tyres suit my riding style”
“Today has been an important test to try and recover a good feeling on the bike because it was a difficult race weekend for us here in Valencia. I have to say we did a great job because I felt confident again on the bike and that was the main objective. The first touch with the Pirelli tyres was very positive and they suit my riding style. You get a lot of feedback, and you feel so comfortable, and I think it is going to be an interesting season next year. I’m happy also to see Filip in the garage because I think we can help each other improve next season. Now I will spend the winter training hard and studying data to understand where we can be even more competitive in 2024.”
Filip Salac
/// 17th, 1:33.723, 62 laps
Today’s test was very much a familiarisation exercise for the Czech rider, who was getting acquainted to his new crew at Elf Marc VDS Racing while also assessing the new range of Pirelli rubber.
Salac immediately felt comfortable in his new surroundings and his hard braking style was instantly a positive match with the new Pirelli tyres.
He was able to make constant progress throughout the day to improve his lap time by 0.6s to finish within touching distance of the top 10.
“I’ve enjoyed this first experience in the box and immediately I have a positive feeling”
“It has been an amazing day for me today and I want to thank the Team for giving me such a warm welcome. I’ve enjoyed this first experience in the box and immediately I have a positive feeling. The communication is already very good with my crew, and we have been able to get positive sensations from the new Pirelli tyres. I have to say my feeling with Pirelli is amazing and we also tried some set-up changes on the bike that all helped us make steps forward. The difference between Pirelli and what we have used previously in Moto2 was bigger than I expected. The front tyre I think is going to be really good for my riding style and we haven’t come anywhere near to finding the limit of their potential and I’m already quite fast. It feels like it will be slightly more difficult to manage the tyres in the race, but I think this is a great step for Moto2. Now I’m hoping that the next three months go really quick because I can’t wait to be back on the bike again.”
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3:
FIRST TASTE OF 2024: HOLGADO SETS NEW ALL TIME LAP RECORD IN VALENCIA, ROULSTONE MAKES DEBUTS IN MOTO3™
We got a small taste of what 2024 will look like for Red Bull KTM Tech3 on Monday in Valencia as the lightweight class participated in the Valencia Moto3™ Official Test. Daniel Holgado tried the 2024 KTM bike as he will stay with the team for a second season, and he was joined by new recrue Jacob Roulstone, from Australia, who made his debuts in the Moto3™ class with his new team. The lightweight class had three different sessions to get on with their testing plan, as they shared the track with the Moto2™ class.
Twenty-rounds all over the world were completed in 2023, but the Red Bull KTM Tech3 crew still needed what was left of Daniel Holgado’s energy on Monday as the Moto3™ class began its 2024 campaign. The number 96 was able to try the 2024 bike provided by KTM, in addition to the new Pirelli tyres, and it is fair to say that everything seemed to go well as the Spaniard set a new all time lap record at the circuit Ricardo Tormo with a 1’37.300, 0.986 seconds faster than the 1’38.286 of Darryn Binder from 2021. Dani rode two of the three sessions, completed a total of thirty-six laps with his new package, and headed to the off season fastest of the final official day on track of 2023.
The Red Bull KTM Tech3 welcomed eighteen year-old Australian Jacob Roulstone coming from the FIM Junior Grand Prix with the Aspar Team, in addition to having participated in the 2023 edition of the Red Bull Rookies Cup. The goal of the day was to take this first day to discover his new bike and get his first feeling of the Moto3™ class. The young boy rode a total of 58 laps across the three sessions with a best lap 1’38.511 from Session 3.
The next time Red Bull KTM Tech3 will hit the track with Daniel Holgado and Jacob Roulstone will be in February 2024, at the Portimao Moto3™ Test on February 22nd and 23rd.
Daniel Holgado
Position: 1st
Time: 1’37.300
Laps: 36
“I am really happy with our test day because we had both the new KTM bike and Pirelli tyres, and I was really fast. The grip was also very good. Everyone worked really well, so I want to thank both KTM and the Tech3 team for this amazing day, because we head to the off season on a really positive note. It is now time to rest and recover from this intense year.”
Jacob Roulestone
Position: 12th
Time: 1’38.511
Laps: 58
“I am very happy with my first day in the team. Everyone has given me a warm welcome, and all the team is very nice! My first runs were a bit challenging, but then the feeling started to come as the day went by. Lap after lap I got more used to the tyres and it became easier. In the last session, we tried the new 2024 bike and it felt amazing! Happy going to the winter break with a nice feeling!”
Hervé Poncharal
Team Manager
“What a better way to start our 2024 season with the Moto3 team than taking the new all time lap record in Valencia! Today was a really interesting day, because we were able to test the new 2024 bike prepared by KTM, but it was also our first official day with Pirelli, who will be the official tyres supplier for the Moto3 class in 2024. Right out of the box, Daniel Holgado felt really confident, everything was almost perfect, even if he was still suffering from his left foot injury sustained in qualifying Saturday. He did a few laps and broke the all time lap record by nearly a second, which is amazing. He can now go to rest and spend the winter break with a positive frame of mind. On the other side, we were pleased to welcome Jacob Roulstone who will do his rookie season in Moto3 with us next year. He worked really hard, in a very constructive way with his new team and finished twelfth in the combined standing, which is really good for a first day. He already feels very comfortable with the new crew, and that is a key thing for a rookie, so we are happy to have been able to get a first day on track before the winter. I am positive, and I believe that we are set to have a great 2024 season! Thank you to everyone, and I wish the whole staff a good winter!”
