FIM Moto2 World Championship Circuit of The Americas Austin, Texas April 20, 2013 Qualifying Results (all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires): 1. Scott REDDING, UK (KALEX), 2:10.577 2. Takaaki NAKAGAMI, Japan (KALEX), 2:11.266 3. Nicolas TEROL, Spain (SUTER), 2:11.287 4. Esteve RABAT, Spain (KALEX), 2:11.383 5. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), 2:11.606 6. Simone CORSI, Italy (SPEED UP), 2:11.725 7. Pol ESPARGARO, Spain (KALEX), 2:11.838 8. Xavier SIMEON, Belgium (KALEX), 2:11.859 9. Mika KALLIO, Finland (KALEX), 2:11.925 10. Julian SIMON, Spain (KALEX), 2:12.001 11. Anthony WEST, Australia (SPEED UP), 2:12.341 12. Jordi TORRES, Spain (SUTER), 2:12.346 13. Danny KENT, UK (TECH 3), 2:12.399 14. Marcel SCHROTTER, Germany (KALEX), 2:12.529 15. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (SUTER), 2:12.579 16. Toni ELIAS, Spain (KALEX), 2:12.714 17. Johann ZARCO, France (SUTER), 2:12.757 18. Mike DI MEGLIO, France (MOTOBI), 2:12.986 19. Kyle SMITH, UK (KALEX), 2:13.014 20. Sandro CORTESE, Germany (KALEX), 2:13.050 21. Axel PONS, Spain (KALEX), 2:13.094 22. Ricard CARDUS, Spain (SPEED UP), 2:13.121 23. Ratthapark WILAIROT, Thailand (SUTER), 2:13.229 24. Mattia PASINI, Italy (SPEED UP), 2:13.295 25. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (SPEED UP), 2:13.382 26. Yuki TAKAHASHI, Japan (MORIWAKI), 2:13.863 27. Louis ROSSI, France (TECH 3), 2:14.108 28. Alberto MONCAYO, Spain (SPEED UP), 2:14.649 29. Doni Tata PRADITA, Indonesia (SUTER), 2:14.894 30. Steven ODENDAAL, South Africa (SPEED UP), 2:15.321 31. Rafid Topan SUCIPTO, Indonesia (SPEED UP), 2:18.792 Not Classified 32. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (SUTER), no time recorded* * Have qualified for the race having achieved a time within 107% of the fastest rider in a free practice session. More, from a press release issued by MAPFRE ASpar Moto2 Team: NICO TEROL ACHIEVES BEST QP RESULT IN MOTO2 IN THIRD Having set a good pace throughout the weekend the MAPFRE Aspar rider is on the front row and looking to the podium places, whilst Jordi Torres starts 12th on the grid In the Moto3 and MotoGP clases there were clear margins for Rins and Márquez at the top, but things were a lot closer in Moto2. Each free practice session has had a different leader (Terol, Redding and Espargaró), and ultimately it was Redding who repeated the trick in QP. The lead was not changing much in the last part of qualifying, just like in Qatar, before the dying seconds things got interesting and Redding took pole ahead of Nakagami and Terol. The Briton took the glory with a great last lap effort but it looked like any of the top five might snatch it, meaning there is great interest in what should be an open race on Sunday. It was at Valencia last year that Nico Terol was last on the front row, in fourth spot specifically. Today he picked up his best ever Moto2 qualifying result and his last front row start saw him reach the podium so he will aim to repeat that feat. The MAPFRE Aspar rider was fastest in FP1 and with the great pace he’s showing this weekend he has a shot at the podium again. Given his good record on American soil, where he took his first career win in 2008, he will push for another top result on Sunday. His teammate Jordi Torres, meanwhile, starts three rows further back. The rider from Rubí has taken steps forward throughout the weekend and will aim for the top ten in Sunday’s race. Starting from 12th he has some rear end improvements to make as he fights for a good finish. 3rd Nico Terol 2.11.287 (15 laps): “We’ve had solid pace throughout the weekend and I’ve felt good since we got here. I felt good in Qatar too but the race wasn’t easy. Before qualifying my target was the front row, given how confident I’ve felt during practice. Since yesterday things have been working really well and I’m pleased to have taken third. Tyre wear is crucial here, I saw that today that even as grip improves the rubber degrades quickly. In warm up we’ll finalize our setting to take care of the tyres a bit more and in the race I’ll have to keep an eye on that aspect. It’s going to be a tough battle, we’ll have to fight hard but I’ll aim to find my pace and enjoy it as much as posible.” 12th Jordi Torres 2.12.346 (16 laps): “We lost our way a bit yesterday so we went back to square one today and things got better. The front end still needs some work as its closing up at some points but it’s better than Friday. In the morning we worked on that a bit and in the afternoon we made some more gambles which paid off. I’m not happy with the grid spot but I’m pleased the feeling on the bike is improving. We have some ideas for the warmup so we’ll work on those and see what happens. I need to make sure I start well and don’t lose ground so I’ll be aiming to follow the riders in front of me. The race will be hard but I think we can do well.” More, from a press release issued by QMMF Team: West takes eleventh and is confident for the race – Sucipto struggling on corner entries QMMF Racing Team rider Anthony West improved further on the second day of practice for the Grand Prix of the Americas and took eleventh place on the starting grid. Since only a small front tyre issue stopped the 31-year-old Australian from going even faster towards the end of the session, he is very confident about his chances in the Moto2 race tomorrow. 18-year-old team-mate Rafid Topan Sucipto is still trying to come to grips with the challenging 5.5 kilometre-circuit and had to settle for 31st place on the grid. The Indonesian Grand Prix rookie finds it difficult to get the right feel for the front end of his Speed Up bike on the corner entrance and will try a different set-up in Sunday morning’s warm-up session, hoping to turn things around for the race. Anthony West – 11th in 2.12,341 “Qualifying was good, but it could have been even better. Towards the end we ran out of soft front tyres and I didn’t want to take risks using the harder option, so I continued with the soft one even though the grip level had dropped off. I got on a lap behind Pol Espargaró and found it easy to follow him through the first turns, but then I had a big front end slide and dropped back. It still ended up being one of my best laps, which shows that we are competitive. If we get the tyre combination right, it should be a good race for us tomorrow!” Rafid Topan Sucipto – 31st in 2.18,792 “The grip level of the track has improved, but I still couldn’t go any faster. I have problems controlling the throttle on the corner exits and I’m struggling with front end feel on the brakes. Especially the first corner, which is so steep and then flattening out, is very difficult for me. Tomorrow morning we’ll try a softer suspension setting and I hope this will help for the race!” More, from a press release issued by NGM Mobile Forward Racing: The qualifying day has concluded for the NGM Mobile Forward Racing riders and their SpeedUp at the Circuit Of The Americas (COTA). Simone Corsi will start tomorrow from the second row and will aim to fight for the podium. Ricky Cardús, who crashed during the last race in Qatra and is not yet fully recovered, was in the Top10 during most of the morning practice and has gained confidence with both his bike and the track. Mattia Pasini and Alex De Angelis have has a series of technical problems during the qualifying session but remain confident for tomorrow´s race. Simone Corsi – 6th – 2’11.725 “Today it went really well, my goal was to get to start from the first or second row. The bike was very performing and that made me hope for even better results during qualifying. The feeling was good; we have worked really well and been very fast through out the weekend. Unfortunately there was traffic on track during the last lap but he race pace was good. Redding has done an extraordinary lap time but we can do well tomorrow, the race is long.” Ricky Cardùs – 22th – 2’13.121 “I have made an important step since yesterday, I have gained confidence on this new track and during the morning practice I was for most of it in the Top10. During qualifying my lap times were close to the ones from the morning but I didn’t have much grip. I struggle a bit with the first sector, it is a very physical one and my back is not yet fully recovered from the crash in Qatar. I want to focus on tomorrow’s race levelheaded and do my best.” Mattia Pasini – 24th – 2’13.295 “It’s been a strange day, this morning we had really bad luck and broke the rear shock causing me to crash. I lost most of the morning session and was unable to test any of the modifications that we had in mind. In the afternoon, we started off qualifying blindfolded and had some problems with the last tire. On my last try I did improve my lap times but still made a small mistake that prevented me from placing better for tomorrows race. It will be a taught race in which the focus will be in overtaking but I remain confident.” Alex De Angelis – 25th – 2’13.382 “I was forced to change the chassis right before the qualifying session, we used the new version of the chassis on which we had to improvise the setting for. I had several problems with the tires throughout the qualifying session and was unable to be as fast as I would have wanted. We will work during warm-up to be in the best possible conditions to race tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team: Austin, Texas – 20 April 2013: Marc VDS Racing Team rider Scott Redding celebrated a major career milestone at the new Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this afternoon when the British rider stormed to a sensational maiden pole position. A stunning last lap attack saw the 20-year-old post a flawless lap of 2.10.577 that saw him blitz the 32-strong Moto2 field by 0.689s. Only three riders could get within a second of Redding’s scintillating pace as he took full advantage of improved conditions at COTA today, with warmer air and track temperatures offering significantly more grip than yesterday’s slick surface. The spectacular COTA track might be one of the longest on the Moto2 World Championship schedule at 3.427 miles but heavy traffic throughout qualifying threatened to thwart Redding’s charge to the top of the timesheets. Frustrated at not being able to get a clean lap in, Redding superbly kept his composure to deliver the only sub-2.11 lap seen all weekend ahead of tomorrow’s 21-lap race. Mika Kallio has his sights set on a top five finish in the first ever running of the Grand Prix of the Americas. The Finn called upon all his experience to secure a place in ninth on the grid with a superb last lap attack of 2.11.925. Redding and Kallio are expecting a tough 21-lap race tomorrow, with both finding it difficult to find a setting that gives them good front and rear tyre endurance over the race distance. Scott Redding #45: 1st – 2’10.577 “It feels amazing to get my first pole position. I’m really happy because to be honest it didn’t feel like a fast lap. I’d been held up so many times earlier in the session that it was getting frustrating but I managed to control my anger and channel it into a positive. Normally I’d start over riding the bike but I managed to deliver when it really mattered and that was the first time I’d been given the chance to put a lap time together. I’ve been struggling with tyre life from the front and rear, so I wasn’t sure if I still had the grip for that last lap. I never gave up although I don’t know where the time came from. When it came up 2.10.5 on my timer I thought it had broken! Then I saw I was first and I am really happy for the Marc VDS Racing Team. It was important to be on the front row because there could be some chaos at that tight first corner but I need to take advantage of Espargaro being in seventh. I will try and breakaway if I can and then try and control the tyre, but it is a great chance to claw back some of the points Espargaro gained on me in Qatar.” Mika Kallio #36: 9th – 2’11.925 “I am not so happy to be honest but at least on the last lap I could find a good lap that put me on the third row and that is not so bad. I was pushing over the limit and we have to try a different setting in the warm-up because I’ve had a lot of problems with the front tyre. It is destroyed on the right side after five laps and it is the same regardless of whether I use the hard or soft option. On my fast lap it felt like the front was pushing away all the time but it seems like many riders have found this an issue. I am over one second away from Scott and it feels like I am right on the limit, so we have to try something different before the race to try and get more endurance out of the tyres. The key for the race though will be who can save the tyres the best for the final laps.” Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal “Today was absolutely fantastic for Scott and everybody connected with the Marc VDS Racing Team. The lap Scott pulled out right at the end of qualifying was something really special and to be almost 0.7s ahead of the field is unbelievable. It is rare to see such a huge gap in Moto2 but Scott’s performance gives us huge confidence for tomorrow’s race and we will go to bed tonight dreaming of our first win. I am happy for Scott and his crew because they have worked very hard in the winter and he has started the season incredibly strong. I have to say Mika did a great job too because he also produced a very impressive lap right at the end to get into the top 10 and he can certainly be battling for another top six tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Blusens Avintia Racing: A fall prevents Toni Elías from improving his final lap time and he will start from the sixteenth place in the new American track Kyle Smith, in constant progression, is qualified nineteenth Austin, 20 April 2013. It has not been a good day for the Blusens Avintia Moto2 riders. Yesterday, Toni Elías had been working on the bike in order to have a good setting for the race, without forgetting to achieve a good position on the grid. However, after making the most of the working time, when Manresa? rider was ready to do the lap time desired, everything got complicated. Too much traffic on the key moments of the qualifying session and a fall in the last attempt to do a good lap time are the reasons why Toni will start from the sixth row tomorrow. His teammate Kyle Smith didn?t escaped from knowing how a fall feels like on the American asphalt either -although it was in the last free practice-, but this was not a problem for the Blusens Avintia debutant to achieve a good lap time in the qualifying and show a great progression each time he went out on the track. Kyle is learning quickly despite the fact that he wants to take it easy. 24 Toni Elías (16th, 2.12.714): This qualifying is not what I expected and of course I am not happy. I think that I would have been able to ride faster, but when things take a strange turn it is difficult to straighten them. At first some riders have bothered me, then I have done my fast lap without slipstreams and making some mistakes, and when I thought that it was the suitable time to try again I have fallen braking a little bit later than usual on the Turn 1 and I have lost the front on the brakes. Now we have to think about tomorrow, try to improve the bike in the warm up and make a good start. We will see which is the pace of the race and how we are. It will be a hard race and there will be opportunities. 9 Kyle Smith (19th, 2.13.014): I am very happy. At the moment, except the fall, everything is going as we had planned. Whenever I go out on the track, we improve and I am more comfortable on the bike. I like the circuit and I am enjoying. Tomorrow I hope to improve the Qatar result and finish on the top twenty. There we were about to achieve this and I believe that we can do it here. I think that at this circuit we have less disadvantage because nobody had ridden on it and that can help us to achieve our goal. But I want to take it easy because the championship is long and, although obviously our plan is to progress, we want to do it step by step.