FIM Moto2 World Championship/IRTA Test
Valencia, Spain
February 12, 2014
Best Overall Test Times (all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires):
1. Esteve Rabat, Spain (KALEX), 1:35.155
2. Thomas Luthi, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:35.509
3. Mika Kallio, Finland (KALEX), 1:35.690
4. Jordi Torres, Spain (SUTER), 1:35.711
5. Nico Terol, Spain (SUTER), 1:35.715
6. Maverick Vinales, Spain (KALEX), 1:35.810
7. Julian Simon, Spain (KALEX), 1:35.810
8. Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (KALEX), 1:35.849
9. Alex De Angelis, San Marino (SUTER), 1:36.033
10. Luis Salom, Spain (KALEX), 1:36.073
11. Johann Zarco, France (CATERHAM SUTER), 1:36.222
12. Sandro Cortese, Germany (KALEX), 1:36.354
13. Jonas Folger, Germany (KALEX), 1:36.439
14. Anthony West, Australia (SPEED UP), 1:36.534
15. Axel Pons, Spain (KALEX), 1:36.629
16. Dominique Aegerter, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:36.686
17. Sam Lowes, UK (SPEED UP), 1:36.857
18. Louis Rossi, France (KALEX), 1:36.947
19. Azlan Shah, Malaysia (KALEX), 1:36.955
20. Marcel Schrotter, Germany (TECH 3), 1:37.039
21. Franco Morbidelli, Italy (KALEX), 1:37.058
22. Gino Rea, UK (SUTER), 1:37.141
23. Randy Krummenacher, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:37.151
24. Hafizh Syahrin, Malaysia (KALEX), 1:37.229
25. Josh Herrin, USA (CATERHAM SUTER), 1:37.400
26. Alex Marinelarena, Spain (TECH 3), 1:37.516
27. Roman Ramos, Spain (SPEED UP), 1:37.535
28. Lorenzo Baldassarri, Italy (SUTER), 1:37.819
29. Robin Mulhauser, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:38.413
30. Thitipong Warokorn, Thailand (KALEX), 1:39.217
31. Tetsuta Nagashima, Japan (MOTOBI), 1:39.368
More, from a press release issued by Caterham Moto2 Team:
Day Two of Moto2 Testing Continues at Valencia
Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana, 12th February 2014
Circuit Length: 4.005km
Bike # 5 – Johann Zarco P11 – 100 laps, best time – 1:36.222
Bike # 2 – Josh Herrin P25 – 63 laps, best time – 1:37.400
Weather: air temperature 16°c (dry) / track temperature 22°C max
As the sun arrived for day two of testing at Valencia, an increase in track temperature saw an overall improvement in rider times. With more grip on track, both Caterham Moto Racing riders were keen to board their bikes and take advantage of the enhanced conditions. Johann Zarco was the first man out as the pitlane opened for the morning session, followed closely by teammate Josh Herrin.
Focussing on bike setup, the Frenchman worked hard to put in the laps needed to evaluate various setting changes. Meanwhile Moto2 rookie Josh Herrin used his time on track to continue building his confidence on the bike and learning the circuit.
Johann Zarco: “Times were better today for sure with the improvement in track conditions. We found the way to set up the bike which is important on the technical side. With the Caterham Suter it’s a new bike and we are still learning, even for Moto2 the suspension is different and that’s why it was a little difficult for me.
“At the end of the day I was feeling better on the bike, more comfortable and tomorrow we have the opportunity to improve lap times.”
Josh Herrin: “My plan for today was to continue learning the track and improving my feeling on the bike. I achieved this and I am happy with that.
“Tomorrow I hope to become even more comfortable with the Caterham Suter and be within a second from the front.”
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager: “Today the conditions were a lot better as we predicted so we were able to get an early start.
“Zarco did a lot of laps which was good and we got a lot of data. We tried again a number of different settings to understand where we are.
“Today Josh did a number of laps and was almost a second faster than yesterday which is good. He was out on the track looking at the other riders and learning more and more each lap. He needs more time on the bike but it’s coming and he is doing a good job. At the end of the day we should also have a good lap time from him.
“With the bike we are still learning in terms of the chassis and the suspension and we’re getting there. Towards the end of the day we saw a big improvement and for tomorrow we now have a better base to work from. We’re not far off and we feel we are getting closer. These are the steps we are taking, working methodically, keeping calm and doing our job. This way we will be prepared for tomorrow and the next test in Jerez.”
More, from a press release issued by Mapfre Aspar Moto2 Team:
MAPFRE ASPAR CONTINUE AMONGST THE BEST IN VALENCIA
Jordi Torres and Nico Terol place fourth and fifth, respectively, after setting speedy afternoon times in the Moto2 class
Testing for Moto2 and Moto3 continued on Wednesday at Valencia, in the second of two days of testing. Temperatures were kinder to the riders than on Tuesday, with slightly warmer conditions and the sun out. However, at around midday strong gusts of wind made life difficult for those out on track –in theory. Despite the tricky nature of the wind, the best times in Moto2 were set in the combined afternoon session, with eight riders going round in the 1’35s. Esteve Rabat led the timesheets, with Thomas Luthi, Mika Kallio, Jordi Torres and Nico Terol all close behind.
Jordi Torres and Nico Terol continued to make similar improvements and clock similar lap times in Valencia. The MAPFRE Aspar duo were also two of the most active participants on Wednesday, putting in 80 laps apiece. After a wealth of experiments in the morning, with times in the high 1’36s, they were able to lower times to the low 1’36s in the afternoon. For the second consecutive day, they were amongst the top riders in the class, and were able to come close to the great times set last week in their private test.
4th Jordi Torres 1.35.711 (80 laps): “Today our idea was not to attack the lap times, but to try several things out and make a major change with the forks. Early in the day the changes were not to my liking, but we continued trying to see how far we could get with them. It was hard to turn and get on the gas once I’d let the brakes off when cornering. At the end of the day we decided to go out and do a long run to try to adapt my riding to the changes, and we improved a little. Anyway, tomorrow we will take a step back and make further changes, which we consider to be more productive. Today we found a good pace, but the feeling was not as positive as we had expected. At least we have gathered data to be able to discard some adjustments, and we have drawn our own conclusions.”
5th Nico Terol 1.35.715 (80 laps): “I’m happy. At the end of the day we have drawn some good conclusions, although at the beginning we had some problems with the new bike. We had some strange front chatter which we finally identified as a tyre issue and solved. I’m also happy because today I was aggressive with wind blowing through the track –conditions that usually I do not like. At the end of the day we completed several laps in the high 1’35s and I feel satisfied with the improvement from the first day. I feel very comfortable with the bike again, but surprises still appear, like today. Tomorrow we will continue working to try to improve our grip when cornering.”
More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:
BALDASSARRI PUTS IN MANY KILOMETERS AT VALENCIA
The second day of the official Moto2 test at Valencia saw Lorenzo Baldassarri putting in a lot of kilometers riding the Team Gresini Moto2 Suter machine. The Italian completed a total of 87 laps of the Ricardo Tormo circuit, thus accumulating a significant amount of experience ahead of his first Grand Prix in the intermediate class of the World Championship, scheduled in Qatar next March 23rd.
Baldassarri continued his apprenticeship with meticulousness, without focusing too much on lap times, even though he was able to improve his time from yesterday by over a second, signing a good 1’37”819.
The Team Gresini Moto2 will be back on track tomorrow for the third and final day of testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit.
LORENZO BALDASSARRI (1’37″819 – 87 LAPS)
“I’m satisfied because making so many laps is crucial for me to understand how to ride this bike: in some ways I’m still riding with a style more suitable for Moto3, where it’s important cornering speed. Today I learned a lot, also watching the other riders: I am aware that the road is still very long, but I have to keep going like this if I want to improve”.
FABRIZIO CECCHINI (Technical Coordinator)
“Today Baldassarri made a strong effort to accumulate a lot of experience and the fact that he has completed nearly 90 laps proves it. The goal was to make many kilometers, without pushing too hard, trying also to understand what the most experienced riders were doing on track. As further proof of his great determination, Lorenzo also went on the trackside to study the lines of the other riders in some parts of the track where he did not feel at ease. He is learning the right way, tomorrow we want to continue in this direction”.