First day of IRTA tests in Jerez With just a few weeks until the first race of the 2012 season in Qatar on April 8th, the riders of the MotoGP World Championship Moto2 Class can finally test themselves against each other with the same equipment for a three-day test on the Andalusian track of Jerez de la Frontera. Team JiR started this first day with the objective of deciding the specifics for the two riders, Johann Zarco and the young Brazilian Eric Granado. The next two days will be used by both of them to ride as many kilometres as possible, with a full race simulation and to find the best feeling with their MotoBI as well as adapt their riding style to one better suited to these Moto2 machines. Gianluca Montiron During the winter we worked on making small improvements in different parts of the bike while maintaining the basic geometry of the frame as we know and believe that this is the right way. What is needed at this stage is the comparison with other competitors to refine the riding style of the riders adjusting to a motorcycle that temperamentally is different than the category they come from the 125cc two-stroke. In addition to the IRTA test we tested two days in Albacete. This helped the riders to develop their riding skills still further, so we hope that after three days they will have ridden a good number of miles, in order to introduce themselves at the start of their respective seasons with Eric debuting in CEV and hope that both do well. Johann Zarco Laps: 56 Best lap: 1’43.687 We hit the proposed target for the first day of work we are very close to the time recorded last year by Alex De Angelis in qualifying (1’43.613). Now I want to understand with the analysis of telemetry where the points are that we can improve. Test after test my confidence increases and we are now at the right point to start working on arrangements to adapt the bike to my riding style. We have two days of work to try some variations that will allow me to get to the first race in Qatar prepared to understand how the bike reacts to changes. Eric Granado Laps: 56 Best lap: 1’45.675 A good start considering that since the first day I greatly improved my performance here at Jerez. At the moment I still have many things to learn and each time I enjoy more and more my time with the Moto2 machine, a sign that I begin to understand how to ride the bike. Tomorrow I’ll try to change my riding style to be less aggressive trying to get a comparison with the stopwatch, all of these experiences for me are new and each time I discover something that allows me to be faster lap after lap. The Spanish Championship will start in Jerez on April 1, where the 15-year-old Granado will be able to continue his learning curve by competing at Navarre (April 23) and Aragon (May 27) before the his debut in the World Championship, scheduled for Silverstone on July 17. Meanwhile, the promising young Frenchman Zarco will measure himself from the first race in Qatar with the fierce competition in the intermediate category.