FIM Moto2 World Championship

Losail International Circuit

Doha, Qatar

March 22, 2014

Qualifying Results (all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires):

1. Esteve RABAT, Spain (KALEX), 2:00.081 (new Circuit Best Lap Record)

2. Sandro CORTESE, Germany (KALEX), 2:00.101

3. Takaaki NAKAGAMI, Japan (KALEX), 2:00.451

4. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (SUTER), 2:00.459

5. Sam LOWES, UK (SPEED UP), 2:00.547

6. Mika KALLIO, Finland (KALEX), 2:00.621

7. Xavier SIMEON, Belgium (SUTER), 2:00.696

8. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (SUTER), 2:00.764

9. Johann ZARCO, France (CATERHAM SUTER), 2:00.806

10. Simone CORSI, Italy (FORWARD KLX), 2:00.831

11. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), 2:00.910

12. Mattia PASINI, Italy (FORWARD KLX), 2:00.914 

13. Marcel SCHROTTER, Germany (TECH 3), 2:01.004

14. Maverick VIÑALES, Spain (KALEX), 2:01.032

15. Jonas FOLGER, Germany (KALEX), 2:01.045

16. Jordi TORRES, Spain (SUTER), 2:01.111

17. Luis SALOM, Spain (KALEX), 2:01.124

18. Ricard CARDUS, Spain (TECH 3), 2:01.185

19. Julian SIMON, Spain (KALEX), 2:01.190

20. Louis ROSSI, France (KALEX), 2:01.277

21. Nicolas TEROL, Spain (SUTER), 2:01.319

22. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (SUTER), 2:01.334

23. Lorenzo BALDASSARRI, Italy (SUTER), 2:01.431

24. Gino REA, UK (SUTER), 2:01.569

25. Axel PONS, Spain (KALEX), 2:01.609

26. Anthony WEST, Australia (SPEED UP), 2:01.732

27. Josh HERRIN, USA (CATERHAM SUTER), 2:02.258

28. Azlan SHAH, Malaysia (KALEX), 2:02.355

29. Franco MORBIDELLI, Italy (KALEX), 2:02.395

30. Hafizh SYAHRIN, Malaysia (KALEX), 2:02.473

31. Roman RAMOS, Spain (SPEED UP), 2:02.676

32. Thitipong WAROKORN, Thailand (KALEX), 2:03.329

33. Mashel AL NAIMI, Qatar (SPEED UP), 2:03.948

34. Tetsuta NAGASHIMA, Japan (TSR), 2:04.036

35. Robin MULHAUSER, Switzerland (SUTER), 2:04.147

More, from a press release issued by FIM:

FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix

Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar – Decision of the Race Direction

On 22 March, 2014 during the Moto2 Qualifying session of the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar, rider number 11 Sandro Cortese was riding at slower than racing speed on the racing line during the final minutes of the Moto2 Qualifying session. This resulted in a collision with another rider.

This is considered to be irresponsible riding causing danger to himself and another rider, 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, and video evidence was reviewed.

The decision of Race Direction is to impose the addition of one Penalty Point to the record of rider number 11 Sandro Cortese, 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 AirAsia Caterham Moto2 Team:

Top Ten Moto2 Qualifying Debut for AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing

Circuit: Losail International Circuit

Circuit Length: 5.380 km

Bike # 5 – Johann Zarco

Qualifying: P9; 2:00.806

Bike # 2 – Josh Herrin

Qualifying: P27; 2:02.258

Weather

Qualifying: (Conditions) Dry; (air temp) 22°, (track temp) 21°

Today marked AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing’s first qualifying session in the Moto2 Championship.

Under the floodlit Losail circuit, experienced rider Johann Zarco came out strong holding a top five position for the first half of the session. With the top fifteen riders separated by less than one second, the Frenchman finished in P9, giving AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing their first top ten qualifying position, starting tomorrows race from row three.

Despite being unable to progress on his time from free practice three, Moto2 rookie Josh Herrin made a positive start to his debut into the championship. The young American adapted well to his new Caterham Suter and pushed hard to improve but struggling with chatter was unable to advance, qualifying in P27.

Johann Zarco: “After qualifying in 9th position initially I was disappointed for sure. I did my fastest lap in the beginning but then we had some issues with bike set-up. The team worked hard to fix it and in the end I was able to repeat the same lap time, so this is the most positive thing.

“For sure how we are working we are going to improve step by step so I cannot be upset. We will aim to get many points tomorrow and the podiums will come as soon as possible.”

Josh Herrin: “We made a couple of initial changes which didn’t work so we set the bike back to how it was in FP3. I struggled to get back into a rhythm so I was unable to improve my time from yesterday.

“Hopefully tomorrow we can get a good start and mix with the guys in the top twenty. All the practice starts I’ve done on the bike have been good and I’m a much better racer than a qualifier. I’ll try as hard as I can so hopefully we will have a real solid race and be able to leave here positive and ready for Austin.”

Johann Stigefelt: “First practices and qualifying here in Qatar. For Zarco I think we have done a good job. The bike is not 100% perfect but we can see that we are OK in average speed and I believe we can have a good race tomorrow from the results in qualifying.

“The session started out very well for Johann but unfortunately the conditions were not exactly the same as yesterday but that’s the same for everyone. In any case he did his fastest time on lap three and we are still on the third row. With a good start we can be fighting for a top six position. This is the target for tomorrow and to take home some good points.

“I’m sure we can improve the bike a bit more in morning warm up so we will see how that works out.

“For Josh we are quite disappointed because we were expecting more after yesterday’s free practice three where he looked very good and he was very positive.

“We did a small change at the beginning which wasn’t good so we changed back to how it was in FP3. Unfortunately this didn’t work out for him either as he experienced a lot of chatter, so he was not so happy with how the bike was working. Now we need to go through the data and see how we can improve things and make the package better for him tomorrow. It will be difficult from 27th position but he is a good starter and he is a racer so we will see what happens, as anything can happen in the race.”

More, from a press release issued by NGM Mobile Forward Racing:

Fourth row for Corsi and Pasini in Qatar

The riders of the NGM Forward Racing Team will take the start of the Qatar GP, opening round of the 2014 season, from the fourth row.

After a good work done during the free practices, Simone Corsi was satisfied of the set up of his Forward KLX. Because of a small crash at the end of the practice, he couldn’t further improve his final position and he closed 10th, recording his best time of 2.00.831, 0.750 from the pole. Mattia Pasini was also able to find a good feeling with the bike, he finished 12th with 2.00.914.

Tomorrow both riders aim at getting a good start in order to stay close to the front group. The GP of Qatar will take the start at 20:20 local time (18.20 in Italy).

Simone Corsi

“I’m satisfied with the set up we found today and also the feeling with the bike improved. It was a pity that I crashed at the end of the session. Tomorrow during the warm up we will try to reduce the gap from the front riders. Regarding the race, it will be crucial to make a good start in order to stay with the front group. I’m confident as it is a long race and everything can happen.”

Mattia Pasini

“I’m satisfied of the work done during these days and I expected to get a better result in the qualifying. I decided not to use the soft tyre and I couldn’t be as fast as the other riders. It was a pity for the red flag at the end of the turn that spoiled my fast lap. Anyway I’m confident for the race, I have a good pace and it will be a long race. I hope that my wrist won’t be an issue as I haven’t recovered completely after the surgery I had in December. I really look forward to the first GP of the season.”

More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:

Rabat smashes the lap record to claim pole position in Qatar

Losail, Qatar – 22 March 2014: Tito Rabat smashed the lap record during tonight’s 45-minute qualifying session in Qatar, to claim pole position for the opening race of the 2014 Moto2 World Championship. Mika Kallio will start from the second row of the grid in sixth, after surviving a big crash on his final flying lap.

Rabat was on top form at the Losail International circuit tonight, topping the timesheet halfway through the session and then seeing off a challenge from Sandro Cortese to secure a third career pole position. Mika Kallio looked set to join his teammate on the front row, but was lucky to walk away uninjured after hitting Sandro Cortese’s bike after the German crashed in the final minutes of the session.

Livio Loi was disappointed to qualify only 20th, after targeting the front four rows of the grid tonight. The 16-year-old Belgian had only one lap to put in a qualifying time on the soft rear tyre, but was baulked by Philipp Öttl crashing in front of him and a slower rider on his line through the final sector.

Tito Rabat // 1st // 2’00.081

“I’m happy to be on pole position for the first race and on my first weekend with a new team. We were missing rear grip in the first free practice sessions, but we worked together on the problem and we improved the situation; that’s important. It was enough to see me on pole position for the first race, which is a good feeling, but the work isn’t done. Tomorrow we need to see how we go in warm up before making a decision on our strategy for the race.”

Mika Kallio // 6th // 2’00.621

“Qualifying went well, right up until the last lap! My pace was good, with a run of consistent laps, but none of them were without incident, as there was a lot of traffic on track. I knew I could improve and I had one chance to do it, but then I saw the yellow flags on my final lap. I saw a bike and rider on the outside of the track as I was turning in, but then I saw Cortese’s bike on the line and I couldn’t avoid it. I’m fine, but the same can’t be said of the bike. The team are assessing the damage now, but I think I will be starting warm up on a completely new bike, which is never good. But, my race pace is good and I’m starting from the second row, so I remain confident for tomorrow’s race.”

Livio Loi // 20th // 2’08.177

“I’m obviously not happy with my qualifying position today. The session started badly when I stalled the bike right at the end of pit lane and my mechanics had to run 500 metres to get me restarted. It meant I was on my own on track for the first part of the session. My lap times during the second two exits were good, but the time lost at the beginning of the session left me only two laps to try and put in a qualifying time on the soft tyre. My last flying lap was looking good for a top 16 start, but then a crash and a slower rider in front of me lost me time. Starting from 20th makes things harder, but we know my race pace is good, so I’ll just have to push hard from the start.”

Michael Bartholemy // Team Principal

“It’s been an expensive season, as we’ve destroyed three bikes and we haven’t even started the first race yet. But that’s what happens when you’ve got two riders pushing the limit and the positive side of that we saw tonight, with Tito taking pole for tomorrow’s race. Mika was also on the pace until the crash, and I expect him to be up there chasing his teammate in the race tomorrow. Livio was a bit unlucky today, as the problem right at the start of qualifying lost him the time he needed to get the best from the soft tyre. He has good pace here so, with a good start tomorrow, I’m confident he can finish in the points.”

More, from a press release issued by QMMF Racing Team:

West still chasing better set-up, Ramos and Al-Naimi ready to race

Even though he went through numerous set-up options on his Speed-Up prototype, QMMF Racing Team rider Anthony West kept struggling on the third day of practice for the season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar and qualified in 26th place for the race on Sunday evening. On the fast and sweeping Losail circuit, where high corner speed counts more than on most other tracks in the Grand Prix calendar, the 32-year-old Australian kept struggling with his bike running wide and with the front end tucking away. West, who is determined to give his team a good result at their home Grand Prix, is now focussed on the warm-up practice session, as a last option to get things right before the race.

West’s Spanish team-mate Roman Ramos and wild card entry Mashel Al-Naimi were happy after qualifying, having learned a lot more about their bikes and the best possible set-up. Both riders share the same goal for the race and want to entertain the crowd with a strong fight against their immediate opponents.

Anthony West – 26th in 2.01,732

“We are too slow, but I can’t go any faster. When I try to push and do the same as everyone else is doing, I am losing the front. I almost crashed every lap trying to make the bike go fast. We changed some things on the set-up, but it really didn’t make much difference. The bike won’t turn and when I try to make it turn, I’m losing the front. It’s predictable and I can feel it, but I just can’t make the bike go faster through the corners. Every time I try to release the brake and go through the corner with speed, I’m in trouble. I have to slow down to make the bike turn, and when I try to open the throttle at the same point as the others, I run off the track because the bike won’t turn on the corner exit. This track needs a lot of corner speed, but I just can’t do it!”

Roman Ramos – 31st in 2.02,676

“Today, things went better for me than yesterday. The bike worked much better and I felt better riding on this circuit. Now I’m at a point where I can follow the other guys, whereas yesterday I couldn’t even try, because I didn’t have a lot of confidence in the bike. Today, the feeling was there and I was able to improve my lap times considerably. I would like to have more time now and practice more on this track to improve further, but obviously, the race is tomorrow and things have to come to an end at this Grand Prix. At least we have the warm-up where we will try to improve the bike a little bit more for the race. All in all, I am happy with what we achieved and I want to thank the team that has worked very hard to get us where we are now!”

Mashel Al Naimi – 33rd in 2.03,948

“In today’s qualifying, we started with softer settings on the front and also with new tyres on front and rear. When I went out, the bike seemed to work well. But in some corners, I had a bit of chatter, and twice I was close to crashing. I came back in and we made the front fork softer again, which made matters worse. So I came back in for a change in the other direction, making the front a bit harder and then I felt good. I did a time of 2.03 minutes, but I couldn’t improve further in the end, due to this big crash that happened. At least, I left two other riders behind me. All riders are very fast in this class, so I think we did quite well and I want to thank the team for what they’ve done. I hope to be able to put up a fight with some others in the race!“

More, from a press release issued by Tech 3:

Tech3s Schrotter and Cardus ready for season opener in Qatar

Tech3 Racing Team’s Marcel Schrotter and stand-in rider Ricky Cardus will begin the opening race in 13th and 18th position after today’s Moto2 qualifying impress at the flood lit Losail International circuit in Qatar.

Both riders made their Tech3 Racing Team debuts on the exclusive French designed and built 600cc Moto2 motorcycle, and qualified within the top 20 with high hopes of challenging for championship points in tomorrow’s race.

Marcel Schrotter produced a solid and confident qualifying debut aboard the Mistral 610 in preparation for the 20 lap race around the 5.38 kilometre circuit tomorrow. Overnight rain and wind initially impacted upon the amount of traction levels, however grip improved as the track cleaned. Nevertheless, Schrotter worked relentlessly with the Tech3 Racing Team, and after undertaking changes to his set up, completed the qualifying session with a best time of 2:00.994, leaving him in 13th place. The young German’s time was less than a second behind the Moto2 lap record at Qatar in the fiercely fought intermediate class.

Ricky Cardus completed the qualifying session for the Commercial Bank of Qatar Grand Prix in 18th place, with the young Spanish rider standing in for Alex Mariñelarena who continues to recover from injury. Cardus who only had limited time during the preseason to familiarise himself with the Mistral 610 Moto2 bike, finished with a best personal lap time of 2:01.185 with this time was over a second quicker than his qualifying time from last year.

Marcel Schrotter – 13th -2:00.994:

“Overall I am happy with how we finished today, although it has been a bit of a tricky week so far. We arrived here from the Jerez test with a really good base setup, but unfortunately, it didn’t work as well at this circuit. Today we changed the bikes settings before qualifying and these modifications helped me improve, although there was still a small issue with chatter. This meant I had to change some of the riding lines to solve the problem, but I managed to qualify as well as possible, which I am happy about. There is still some work to do, and I still need to choose the tyre we will use for the race during tomorrow’s warm up but I like this track, and of course, the aim is to finish in the top ten. I am excited for tomorrow’s race with the Mistral and am also really happy with the work the Tech3 Racing Team is doing.”

Ricky Cardus – 18th – 2:01.185:

“I am happy with how everything went today, and the lap times up to 11th place were really close and I could have reached them. I know I can still improve quite a lot as I every additional minute on the bike helps me to understand it better, and it was unfortunate that I had a small crash at the end of the session which happened because I lost concentration for a second. However, I am determined to score points as a thank you to the team for the faith they have placed in me and the Mistral feels really good. The Tech3 Racing Team is working very well with me, so I am pleased, and I look forward the race tomorrow. I also want to say that I am very happy to hear that Alex is recovering well and is now back in Spain.”

More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:

SIMEON NARROWLY MISSES THE SECOND ROW AT LOSAIL. BALDASSARRI 23rd IN HIS FIRST MOTO2 QUALIFYING

Aboard the Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Suter, Xavier Siméon has successfully completed the first qualifying session of the season with the seventh fastest time in 2’01”696, narrowly missing the second row of the grid for a few thousandths of a second. In a very fought session, which saw the 13 fastest riders all within a second, the Belgian rider has shown once again a great rhythm, similar to the rider that tomorrow will start immediately in front of him on the grid.

Lorenzo Baldassarri will take part in his first Moto2 Grand Prix starting from 23rd position on the grid: a promising performance for the Italian rookie, with a gap of only 1”3 from pole position despite a mistake in his fastest lap aboard the Team Gresini Moto2 Suter.