FIM Moto2 World Championship
Autodromo Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina
April 26, 2014
Qualifying Results (all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires):
1. Esteve RABAT, Spain (KALEX), 1:43.961
2. Johann ZARCO, France (CATERHAM SUTER), 1:43.971
3. Xavier SIMEON, Belgium (SUTER), 1:44.038
4. Maverick VIÑALES, Spain (KALEX), 1:44.168
5. Jonas FOLGER, Germany (KALEX), 1:44.174
6. Luis SALOM, Spain (KALEX), 1:44.322
7. Mattia PASINI, Italy (FORWARD KLX), 1:44.376
8. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (SUTER), 1:44.384
9. Simone CORSI, Italy (FORWARD KLX), 1:44.440
10. Takaaki NAKAGAMI, Japan (KALEX), 1:44.444
11. Jordi TORRES, Spain (SUTER), 1:44.496
12. Marcel SCHROTTER, Germany (TECH 3), 1:44.648
13. Sandro CORTESE, Germany (KALEX), 1:44.708
14. Mika KALLIO, Finland (KALEX), 1:44.715
15. Franco MORBIDELLI, Italy (KALEX), 1:44.787
16. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:44.817
17. Hafizh SYAHRIN, Malaysia (KALEX), 1:44.821
18. Ricard CARDUS, Spain (TECH 3), 1:44.838
19. Julian SIMON, Spain (KALEX), 1:44.946
20. Anthony WEST, Australia (SPEED UP), 1:45.077
21. Lorenzo BALDASSARRI, Italy (SUTER), 1:45.159
22. Sam LOWES, UK (SPEED UP), 1:45.161
23. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:45.192
24. Louis ROSSI, France (KALEX), 1:45.199
25. Nicolas TEROL, Spain (SUTER), 1:45.223
26. Axel PONS, Spain (KALEX), 1:45.235
27. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:45.462
28. Gino REA, UK (SUTER), 1:45.463
29. Roman RAMOS, Spain (SPEED UP), 1:45.883
30. Tetsuta NAGASHIMA, Japan (TSR), 1:45.964
31. Azlan SHAH, Malaysia (KALEX), 1:46.045
32. Sebastian PORTO, Argentina (KALEX), 1:46.127
33. Thitipong WAROKORN, Thailand (KALEX), 1:46.296
34. Robin MULHAUSER, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:46.303
More, from a press release issued by FIM:
FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix
Gran Premio Red Bull de la República Argentina – Decision of the Race Direction
On 26 April, 2014 during the Moto2 Free Practice 3 session of the Gran Premio Red Bull de la República Argentina, the rider number 5 in the Moto2 Class, Mr Johan Zarco collided with another rider whilst passing him, causing him to crash.
This is considered to be irresponsible riding causing danger to other competitors and is therefore an infringement of Article 1.21.2 of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations.
A Race Direction hearing was held with both riders in attendance.
The decision of Race Direction is to impose the addition of two Penalty Points to the record of rider number 5 Johan Zarco, according to Article 3.3.1.3 of the 2014 FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Disciplinary and Arbitration Code.
No appeal was lodged.
The decision of Race Direction is final.
More, from a press release issued by FIM:
FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix
Gran Premio Red Bull de la República Argentina – Decision of the Race Direction
On 26 April, 2014 during the Moto2 Qualifying session of the Gran Premio Red Bull de la República Argentina, the rider # 19, Xavier Simeon did not immediately respect the red flag signal, and continued at speed. Further, he did not enter the pit lane at the conclusion of the lap when the red flag was displayed. This is an infringement of Article 1.22.2 of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations.
A Race Direction hearing was held with the rider in attendance.
The decision of Race Direction is to impose the addition of One Penalty Point to the record of rider number 19 Xavier Simeon, according to Article 3.3.1.3 of the 2014 FIM Road Racing World
Championship Grand Prix Disciplinary and Arbitration Code.
No appeal has been lodged.
The decision of Race Direction is final.
More, from a press release issued by AirAsia Caterham Moto2 Team:
Second Consecutive Front Row Start for Johann Zarco
Circuit: Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
Circuit Length: 4.806 m
Bike # 5 – Johann Zarco
FP3: P4; 1:44.897 – 19 laps
Qualifying: P2; 1:43.971 – 18 laps
Weather
FP1: (Conditions) Dry; (air temp) 22°, (track temp) 19°
FP2: (Conditions) Dry; (air temp) 26°, (track temp) 34°
AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing rider Johann Zarco rewarded the team with their second front row start of the season.
After continuing his progress throughout FP3, the Frenchman put in an impressive qualifying performance setting the pace as the first rider to break into the 1m43s.
Holding pole position for the majority of the session it was once again in the final moments where the AirAsia Caterham rider was knocked off the top spot with only 0.010s separating him from P1.
#5 Johann Zarco:
“It was a good qualifying today and I’m not disappointed about the pole position because the main thing is to start from the first row.
“I tried to improve my best lap time but Tito again was a little bit faster. I feel better than I did in Texas as I don’t have to push as much so I’m less tired on the bike and this is important for the race.
“The pace is good and I feel more comfortable on the bike but its Sunday that really counts and the main target is to finish the race and get some points.”
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager:
“We have so far had a really good weekend here in Argentina. It’s a fantastic track and Johann has showed from the first practice through to qualifying that he is again consistent and can keep the pace by himself.
“I’m really happy with the way everyone is working and how Johann is adapting to this team and how we are able to make the changes we have to for him. It’s just getting better and better.
“Now we have to concentrate on the race of course and we need to finish it. Everyone can see that we have the pace to run at the front and so now we must focus on tomorrow. We have a really good starting position and are fast and consistent with the tyres that we have. We’ve done many laps with the same tyre so we know the race pace is there until the end.
“This qualifying was a great reward but we must focus on the race and tomorrow we need to take the next step and see what we can do as a team.”
More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:
Rabat storms to third straight pole in Argentina
Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina – 26 April 2014: A stunning late attack from Tito Rabat saw the Marc VDS Racing rider claim the first ever Moto2 pole position at the new Circuito Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina this afternoon.
A breathless lap of 1.43.961 kept the Spaniard’s 100% pole position record intact in 2014 at the end of a super close qualifying session that saw the top three split by just 0.077s.
Mika Kallio will start his 200th World Championship race from 14th on the grid, the Finn qualifying just under 0.4s from the top six on a day where he struggled for optimum grip on the abrasive new surface.
Livio Loi had a day to remember in South America, the Belgian teenager following up an outstanding fifth position in practice to secure a magnificent career best ninth position on the grid.
Loi’s best lap of 1.49.918 was just over 0.3s off the front row and gives him a golden opportunity to celebrate his 17th birthday tomorrow with a maiden top 10 finish in Moto3.
Tito Rabat // 1st // 1’43.961
“It has not been an easy weekend with the difficult track conditions, so I am very happy to be in pole position again. On the first day I had problems with rear grip and today problems with the front and it is very difficult to understand the grip because the track is changing constantly. We found a good solution and I made a very good lap time, but the most important thing is the race tomorrow. Many riders are very close and it will be key to make a good start and then a lot will depend on who can save the tyres the best for the final laps.”
Mika Kallio // 14th // 1’44.715
“I can’t be happy because 14th certainly isn’t a true reflection of my speed. I used the soft option tyres at the start of the session but then I had no more because this track is so aggressive for tyre wear that we’ve had to use a lot of tyres already. At the end I had to finish on the hard front and rear because I need to keep a soft option for tomorrow in case we decide that’s what we will race with. We’ve got a lot of information now with the hard tyres and I think for the rear we will have to use that one for the best performance over a race distance. The starting position isn’t good but my race pace is strong and if I can be cool at the start then anything is still possible.”
Livio Loi // 9th //1’49.969
“I am really happy to have scored my best ever qualifying result, but I don’t think ninth showed my true potential. I was really confident after the fifth position in FP3 and I am sure I could have been higher up the grid. But on one of my best laps I was 0.2s up on the best time in the first two sectors when Karel Hanika crashed right in front of me, so I had to pick the bike up. That would have been a very good lap and I am sure I could have been in the top five. I’ve got the speed and consistency and starting ninth gives me a great chance to get away with the leading group, so I’m looking forward to a really strong race.”
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“I am really happy with Tito because honestly I didn’t expect him to get pole position. Three consecutive pole positions is a first for Marc VDS Racing and it is a great achievement. It has not been an easy weekend for everybody with track conditions constantly changing. Sometimes you have no grip on the rear and when you solve it you have no grip on the front, but Tito and his crew worked incredibly hard to get the best balance for qualifying. Mika has had a difficult weekend and we have not found the best solution on the set-up for him. Hopefully we can find something he is more comfortable with for the race because normally the starting position is not a big issue for him and he can come through and fight for the podium. Livio has had a great weekend so far. He has always been competitive and he has been setting a fast and consistent pace on his own with no help to make his times. On his last lap he had to slow when Hanika crashed in front of him, and without that I think it was possible to see Livio on the front row. If he makes a good start tomorrow I think he can go with the leading group and that will be fantastic experience for him.”