Aragon, Spain – 7 May 2015: Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders, Tito Rabat and Álex Márquez, will now enjoy a well earned rest ahead of the French Grand Prix, after completing a successful two-day test at Motorland Aragon this afternoon.
Both riders used the perfect testing conditions to work through an extensive evaluation schedule, working with their respective crews to further refine the set up of their 2015 Kalex Moto2 machines.
Rabat tested different chassis and suspension options, going almost half a second under the lap record during his final runs in the afternoon of the second day. The reigning Moto2 World Champion now heads to the next race in France confident he can fight for his first race win of the season.
Márquez and his crew also worked their way through a long list of chassis and suspension changes, as the reigning Moto3 World Champion continued his adaptation to Moto2. The Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider declared himself happy with the progress made during the test, after confirming the set up changes made to the bike ahead of the Jerez race.
Tito Rabat: 1’52.9
“We did a lot of work during these two days, all of it positive, so I’m happy. We tested changes to the chassis, the suspension and pretty much everything else, and we were fast, which is always good. But there is still work to do, so we need to focus on this, keep working hard and keep pushing. I head to Le Mans more confident after this test. It’s a track I like and, although you never know what the weather will do, I feel that now we can fight at the front again.”
Álex Márquez: 1’54.2
“These two days were so positive for us because we managed to confirm many of the changes we made last weekend in Jerez. We now have a much clearer idea of exactly where we are with the bike and with the new parts we tested here in Aragon this week. I also made improvements to my riding style, particularly under braking and on corner exit, so it’s been a very worthwhile test. Now we head to Le Mans, a track I like, and I am confident we can continue to improve.
More, from a press release issued by Forward Racing:
Positive growth for the Athinà Forward Racing team at Aragon
It has been two positive days of work for the Athinà Forward Racing team busy on the track of Aragon, in Spain, for the private test organized by the team of Moto2 and Moto3 after the Spanish Grand Prix.
Simone Corsi and Lorenzo Baldassarri could make the most of the two-days test on the track of MotorLand, they continued the development of the bike and improve the performance of their Kalex. Both were able to test the new material brought by Ohlins and have focused on tuning the suspensions to have the best possible feeling with the tires.
Corsi got very positive feedback, especially on the rear and he is flying to Le Mans with the aim of repeating the result of Jerez and shorten the gap with the leaders. His teammate Baldassari is satisfied with the work done on the Spanish track and he found the balance he was looking for on the front and will arrive on French soil convinced he can approach the Top10.
Simone Corsi
“It has been two days of very intense work. After many tests on the wet, this time the weather helped us and we were able to do several laps. We took the opportunity to try the new Ohlins material focusing on the improvement of the rear without thinking about the lap-time. I am satisfied, we managed to improve the setup of the bike and we are flying to Le Mans convinced we can make another step forward. “
Lorenzo Baldassarri
“I am satisfied with the road taken in this test. They were two very positive days of work and we were able to try several new solutions. I got more confidence on the front and this will be one important weapon for the race at Le Mans. I’m fully prepared for the trip to the French: the goal is to be able to stay consistently in the Top10. “