Strong end of the season for West – Ramos battles hard but runs into bad luck
QMMF Racing Team rider Anthony West rode to a strong ninth place at the Valencia Grand Prix and finished the 2014 season on a high note. The 33-year-old Australian had struggled with the wind in qualifying, but took advantage of much better conditions on race day and recovered from his 23rd starting position at a rapid pace. 15th after only one lap, he continued to move up through the ranks and was in tenth position by lap five and eighth place by lap six. From that point on, he was in a small group of riders that kept changing positions for the remainder of the race, with West losing out on eighth place against German rider Marcel Schrötter on only the last meters of the race.
Whereas West took his strong finish as a boost of additional motivation for the upcoming three-day-test at Jerez as a first step into the next season, the Valencia Grand Prix marked the end of the partnership between West’s Spanish team-mate Roman Ramos and QMMF Racing Team. Ramos also seemed set to finish the year with a great result and was up in 18th place right ahead of former 125 cc world champion Nico Terol, when he ran off the track and crashed after a small mistake.
Anthony West – 9th place
“I am happy. After the shocking last three races that I’ve had and also after a bit of bad luck during the season, I think it is a good and strong result to finish the year. This top ten result will give me and the entire crew a boost of confidence and the right motivation to start testing for the next season, which begins on Wednesday at Jerez. The race was not bad, I felt quite good with the bike, as I did in all practice sessions. The only problem during the weekend was that I reached a limit with the lap time and I couldn’t go any faster. We changed the bike a lot over the weekend trying to find further improvements, but in the end, we went back to the settings we had on day one, with only some small modifications. The bike was quite good during the first laps, only towards the end of the race I started to have some chattering problems again. I had to fight al lot with the other two guys in my group, we had the same rhythm and we were changing positions a lot. I had Marcel Schrötter under control going into the last corner and I was on the gas quite early and hard, so I thought I had enough speed to beat him, but he just got me over the line. We just missed out a little bit on engine speed, other than that I am happy with the race. The wind yesterday made it hard work to turn the bike, but the conditions were much better today, which helped us a lot. Now our goal is to work hard during the upcoming three days of testing in order to further improve the bike and fix the few issues that we still have, with the aim to return next year even stronger!”
Roman Ramos – 25th place
“It was a tough race, with many laps. I started from way back on the grid and it was hard work to pass other riders and to gain positions. I finally managed to get ahead of my group, but it was already late in the race and there was a gap of seven seconds to the next group, which was too big to close in the remaining laps. For a while, I had a great fight with Nico Terol, we were passing each other several times, which was a lot of fun. I really thought I would be able to beat him, but in the end, I made a mistake in turn two, where I touched the green strip at the trackside and the rear wheel started to spin out of control. I was almost thrown off and went straight, but then I couldn’t save it anyway and crashed. I managed to get back on quite quickly and to finish the race, but I was in a poor position again. It’s a shame because up until my crash it was a good race and without this incident, it would have been a nice end to this season for myself and my crew. I want to thank my guys for all the effort they’ve put in and I also want to thank the federation of Qatar for giving me the opportunity to ride for them this year. Maybe in a not too distant future we will have the chance to work together again, because they are great people and it was a pleasure to be a part of it all!”
More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:
Rabat close to victory in season finale
Valencia, Spain – 9 November 2014: Marc VDS Racing Team rider Tito Rabat came within 0.133s of ending a fantastic 2014 Moto2 World Championship on the top step of the podium at the Ricardo Tormo track in Valencia today.
The new Moto2 World Champion kept ice cool under race long pressure from Thomas Luthi to lead on the run to the finish line.
But just metres away from celebrating what would have been a richly deserved eighth win of the season, Rabat experienced a minor fuelling issue and had to settle for second position.
Rabat’s 14tth rostrum from an 11th pole position helped the Spaniard reach an impressive tally of 346 points, which set a new record in the intermediate category.
It was a frustrating farewell to a fantastic four-year spell with the Marc VDS Racing Team for Mika Kallio after a mistake by Maverick Vinales at the final turn on lap one ruled the Finn out of contention.
A point scoring finish on his final Moto3 appearance for the Marc VDS Racing Team appeared well within Jorge Navarro’s grasp before he crashed out unhurt on lap 10.
Tito Rabat // 2nd
“It is a pity that I could not end the season with a victory because I think we deserved it. It was a hard battle with Luthi and I couldn’t relax for one second because he was pushing really hard. Conditions for the race were cooler and I was sliding more and that consumed more fuel. Coming out of the last corner I had a small issue and unfortunately it meant Luthi could take the win. I am sorry for my fans but it has still been an unforgettable season and I am pleased that I could set a new points record.”
Mika Kallio // DNF
“A crash on the first lap caused by a stupid mistake of another rider was not how I planned to end my relationship with Marc VDS. Viñales missed his braking point and hit me and we both crashed. The only good thing is that it was him that took me out otherwise I could have lost second in the World Championship. I wanted to at least be on the podium, so it is hard to accept because I couldn’t reach two big goals I had. I wanted to reach 300 points for the first time in my career and also finish all 18 races. It was still a fantastic season for the team to take a 1-2 in the Championship and I want to thank all at the Marc VDS Racing Team for their support since 2011. It has been a fantastic relationship and together we have shared some of the best moments in my career.”
Jorge Navarro // DNF
“I am really disappointed not to finish. I got a bad start but was fighting back to get into the points when in turn 11 Guevara and Fenati touched and I braked to avoid hitting them and I lost the rear. It is a shame but I’d like to say a huge thanks to Marc VDS Racing for giving me this great opportunity in the World Championship. I have gained a huge amount of experience with them and I look forward to a new challenge in 2015.”
Michael Bartholemy // Team Principal
“I was in shock when I saw Tom Luthi cross the line first but I am not too sad because Tito rode a great race. It was a great battle with Luthi and just a small problem coming out of the last corner cost us the win. It is the only mistake we had in 18 races and Tito set a points record that will be very hard to beat in the future. I am very sorry for Mika because it was a big mistake from Viñales but we secured the 1-2 in the Championship and that is an amazing accomplishment. I’d like to pay tribute to Mika for all he has done for the Marc VDS Racing Team since 2011. He has been the consummate professional, a great competitor and fantastic ambassador for Marc VDS. We would not be in the position we are now without Mika because he was crucial when we changed to Kalex. He guided our project back then and I wish him luck for the future, as long as he doesn’t beat us in 2015!”
More, from a press release issued by AirAsia Caterham Moto2 Team:
Third for Zarco in Moto2 season finale at Valencia
Circuit: Comunitat Valenciana
Circuit Length: 4.005 km
Race Length: 27 laps
Weather
Race: Dry; (air temp) 18°, (track temp) 22°
As the 2014 Moto2 World Championship came to a close, Johann Zarco secured his fourth podium finish for the AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing team, crossing the line in third place.
Teammate Ratthapark Wilairot made another strong start gaining five places on the opening lap.
Pushing to catch the pack ahead, the 26-year-old Thai rider worked his way into the top twenty, to finish in a respectable nineteenth place.
#5 Johann Zarco: P3
“I thought it was possible to win this weekend, but I crashed in morning warm up and so my confidence was not at the top. My start I think was OK but I had to fight with Aegerter and Morbidelli, so Luthi and Tito got away. When I was third I tried to catch them but it was not possible as some tenths were missing, so instead I saved this third place. I am happy for this because the team did a great job to set the bike and repair it in time. After the crash this morning there was a lot of damage and so I want to say thank you to them because when I started the race, it was my bike, nothing different and the feeling was good.
“To finish the season with a victory would have been fantastic, but with a podium it is already very good. I’m happy because my pace has been strong since Silverstone and I hope to continue this way.
“From the start of the year we have worked well as a team and learned many things. It has been good to share podiums with the team and also be often first position during practices. I want to say thank you to everybody and especially to my crew for this last race, to finish well. Next year we are not working together, but we will meet again.”
#14 Ratthapark Wilairot: P19
“My race start was not too bad and I gained some positions, but then I started to loose a bit my concentration. I tried to maintain my pace and get into a rhythm, then five or six laps in it was coming better, so I tried to stay with the group in front and break into the top twenty. To try and score points this race was so difficult because we started from so far back.
“I want to congratulate the team and Johann for their podium today, this was a great result.
“It’s been good to work with the AirAsia Caterham Team. I think also working in Moto2 helped me to get the podium in Qatar with Supersport because I have been riding a lot every weekend and this has helped me to improve my riding.
“Thank you to AirAsia and Johan Stigefelt for bringing me here and allowing me this opportunity and thank you to everyone in the team; I have really enjoyed my time with them.”
Johan Stigefelt – Team Manager: “The last race of the year has been really good for us. We came out with a podium to finish the season off and we’re really pleased with that.
“After warm up we thought that it might be difficult to put the bike together after the crash we had, so I think the mechanics worked great on Zarco’s side to finish it in time and a fantastic job to give him a package he could then fight for the podium on and finish in third. This is our fourth podium of the year and it is a great reward for all the hard work we have put in this season.
“We saw that Zarco has been strong all weekend so we were maybe hoping a little bit that he could fight for the win, but it was not easy today, especially after the crash this morning, to come out fighting for the victory would be very difficult. I think he did a great job and rode well all weekend.
“I must say thank you to Johann for this and thank you for this year. We feel we made a very good year with Johann and moved him up in the rankings from previous years in Moto2.
“I want to wish him the very best for his new adventure with his new team and new bike. It’s been a privilege to work with him this year; he’s such a professional athlete and a good sportsman, so we will follow him closely and wish him all the best for the future.
“For Ratthapark he made a good start but the first few laps for him were quite difficult after starting from 28th. He did what he could from there; I think he didn’t want to crash the bike so he was a bit afraid for that. He rode well though and did some good lap times in the end.
“We have been happy to work with Ratthapark as well. From the start he has felt like a team member. Everyone loves him because he’s such a good guy and nice to work with. So same for him, I wish him all the very best for next year and we will follow him as well. Like Zarco, I hope that we have helped him in some way to step up his game and become a stronger rider out of the experience we have given him.
“Thanks to everyone for this year. As well I want to thank the whole crew and our sponsor AirAsia of course. It’s a bit sad to finish the year but this is how it is and the decision has been taken. I believe we have proved to everybody our ability. Despite being a new team, we came out strong and did a good year. We had some ups and downs but in the end we finished the season third in the constructors championship, sixth in the riders championship, took seven front row starts, a pole position and four podiums, so I am really pleased with this. Actually I couldn’t ask for much more in the first year in such a competitive class. Thanks again to all involved and I’m looking forward to continuing our work but in a different category next year.”
More, from a press release issued by AGT Rea Racing:
Pit in after 2 laps? Make that 27! Gino Rea bravely fights to the flag at Valencia
After deciding to line up on the Moto2 starting grid for the final grand prix of the 2014 season, Gino Rea planned to enter the pits a couple of laps into the race. As the team awaited his retirement in the early stages, Gino had other intentions and bravely fought through the pain of his broken foot to the chequered flag twenty seven laps later. Crossing the line in 24th, Rea explains his last minute decision to fight on:
Gino Rea: “Just finishing the race was a bit of a surprise for us. The only reason I lined up on the grid was encase it rained. Of course, once I was on the grid I had to start the race and I got a really good start and made up some positions. At turn 2 I saw Cortese crash so I did my best not to be involved in the collision and had to take evasive action into the gravel. After I rejoined, I decided to put my head down and ended up catching and passing a small group. Then I started to catch the group battling for points but I just couldn’t keep the pace without putting too much weight through my foot. As I said before, the focus for me is to be able to test in the coming weeks so I backed off the pace and just brought it home to finish 24th. I’m going to have my foot x-rayed now to see if the bones have separated more since Thursday”.
AGT REA Racing will not test at Jerez next week to allow Gino more recovery time. It is not yet confirmed whether Rea will test before February 2015 due to the Moto2 testing ban in December and January. Keep updated throughout the off season on the team’s Facebook www.facebook.com/agtrearacing and Twitter @AGT_REA_Racing.
More, from a press release issued by NGM Mobile Forward Racing:
Difficult race for the NGM Forward Racing at Valencia
The season-ending Valencia race proved to be a challenging one for the NGM Forward Racing Team and its riders. Florian Marino ended his race in 23rd position and Mattia Pasini was forced to retire.
Marino, on his last race with NGM Forward Racing, was very close to the Top20 for the whole race but could not manage to get his bike in there and finished 23rd.
It was a tough race also for his teammate Mattia Pasini, who was forced to retired due to technical problems after seven laps only.
Mattia Pasini
“I’m not happy to finish my season in this way. Yesterday I was not fast in qualifying but my race pace was fine. I was starting from the back but I got a good start and I was able to gain positions quickly. I was very close to the Top10 when I missed a corner losing several positions and I had to retire”.
Florian Marino
“I was starting from the back but I knew it would have been hard to get points which were my goal for the 2014 season. I gave my best but I just could not do it. I would like to thank the NGM Forward Team for the opportunity they gave me; it was a great possibility to improve”.
More, from a pres release issued by KTM:
MILLER WINS FINAL MOTO3 ROUND; KTM TAKES 3RD MANUFACTURER’S WORLD TITLE
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jack Miller rode a masterly race in the final round of the 2013 Moto3 World Championship to take the win but narrowly missed the title by just two points. KTM took its third consecutive Manufacturer’s World title in the Moto3 class, finishing on equal points to Honda but winning by virtue of more race wins.
Miller’s epic ride on his KTM RC250 GP was an all-or-nothing dash for the title but his rival Alex Marquez finished in third place to take the glory. The Australian, a Red Bull-sponsored athlete had started the race with a deficit of 11 points but it was clear from the start that he was going to do everything possible to try to take the advantage.
Clearly very disappointed Miller said at the finish: “I am completely disappointed. We worked very hard all season and I think today was the best race of my life. We did what we could and in the end it came down to one crash in one race that wasn’t my fault.”
Miller was at the top end of the action on Sunday throughout the 24-lap race. He got away well from the second place on the grid and immediately took the lead. He stayed out in front for the first 10 laps then shared the lead for the remaining laps with KTM rider Isaac Vinales of Spain for the rest of the race. Vinales, scored a career best second place finish on Sunday.
Behind them the rest of the action was shared between Marquez, Britain’s Danny Kent who finished fourth, and the Spanish duo of Alex Rins and Efren Vazquez. The only time Miller was out of the lead group was in Lap 16 when he was pushed wide in the hard fight for the front positions and drifted back to fifth. He charged back into the action in the next lap, tucked in behind Vinales and made the pass in the final lap.
Miller, who now moves straight up to MotoGP next season, missing the customary step into the Moto2 class, has still had a stellar season and won more races than any other rider.
Miller: We tried extra hard today to try to win the world title. We did our maximum and I pushed like ell right through the races. I didn’t leave anything on the table. I cannot thanks the team enough. they did an amazing job all year long. Red Bull KTM, Ajo Motorsports, I thank them a lot.”
Miller’s young teammate Karel Hanika of the Czech Republic wrapped up his first season in the senior class in tenth place after starting from a sixth place on the grid. Hanika moved up to Moto3 as the 2013 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup champion.
Moto3 Rd. 18 Valencia, Spain
Final Round
Race Results
1, Jack Miller, AUS, KTM, 40:10.983
2, Isaac Vinales, ESP, KTM 40:11.138
3, Alex Marquez, ESP, Honda, 40:11.938
4, Danny Kent, GBR, Husqvarna, 40:12.555
5, Alex Rins, ESP, Honda, 40:13.234
6, Efren Vazquez, ESP, Honda, 40:13.491
7, Niccolo Antonelli, ITA, KTM, 40:14.603
8, Miguel Oliviera, POR, Mahindra, 40:14.603
9, Brad Binder, RSA, Mahindra, 40:15.231
10, Karel Hanika, CZE, KTM, 40:15.346
Other KTM
11, Enea Bastianini, ITA, KTM 40:16.445 (Rookie of the Year 2014)
13, Jakub Kornfeil, CZE, KTM 40:16.942?
14, Romano Fenati, ITA, KTM, 40:17.709
16, Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, KTM, 40.22.758
23, Hafiq Azmi, MAL, KTM, 40: 51.767
Championship Standings after Rd. 18
1, Marquez, 278
2, Miller 276
3, Rins 237
4, Vazquez, 222
5, Fenati, 176
7, Masbou 164
8, Vinales, 141
9, Kent 129
10, Bastianini, 127
Other KTM
12, Kornfeil, 97
14, Antonelli 68
16, Bagnaia, 50
18, Hanika, 44
28, Azmi, 3
31, Eric Granado, BRA, 2
32, Gardner, 1
Manufacturer’s Standings after Rd. 18 of 18
1, KTM 384 (wins title with higher number of race wins)
2, Honda 384
3, Mahindra 168
4. Husqvarna, 143
More, from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
FINAL ROUND 2014 MOTO3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
DANNY KENT WRAPS UP MOTO3 SEASON WITH FOURTH AT VALENCIA
Husqvarna factory rider Danny Kent of Britain wrapped up the 2014 Moto3 season on Sunday at Valencia Spain with a solid fourth place finish in the final round of the World Championship season.
Kent rejoined the Moto3 competition in 2014 after a year in Moto2 to race the FR 250 GP machine for Husqvarna in the brand’s first season in Moto3.
The British rider finished eighth in the championship standings picking up a creditable 129 points, finding his form in the second half of the season when he frequently was up with the top riders and fighting for the podium.
In Sunday’s race he was ahead of eventual title winner Alex Marquez going into Lap 21 of 24 and heading for a podium third. But in the closing stages of the race a small mistake allowed Marquez to pass him for the final podium place and enough points to take the title, two points ahead of race winner Jack Miller of Australia.
Fellow Husqvarna rider Niklas Ajo, who had shown a great speed in practice, did not finish the race.
Team Manager Aki Ajo summed up Husqvarna’s first season saying: “Both riders were really strong this weekend. Niklas was very strong in practice and on the other hand Danny was even stronger in the race. Finally it was so close for Danny to take a podium. It was just one small mistake in the second last corner. Danny did really great at the end of the season after a difficult first half. Niklas showed his speed many times this year. But he is missing some consistency in finishing races. He made some errors but he had some good races and the speed is there. For sure he can improve much more.”
Husqvarna picked up 143 points to finish fourth in the Manufacturer’s Championship in the team’s first season in the Moto3 World Championship
Moto3 Rd. 18 Valencia, Spain
Final Round results
1. Jack Miller, AUS, KTM, 40:10.983
2. Isaac Vinales, ESP, KTM 40:11.138
3. Alex Marquez, ESP, Honda, 40:11.938
4. Danny Kent, GBR, Husqvarna, 40:12.555
5. Alex Rins, ESP, Honda, 40:13.234
DNF Niklas Ajo, FIN, Husqvarna
Championship Standings after Rd. 18
1. Marquez 278
2. Miller 276
3. Rins 237
4. Vazquez 222
5. Fenati 176
…
9. Kent 129
16. Ajo 52
Manufacturer’s Standings after Rd. 18 of 18
1. KTM 384 (wins title with higher number of race wins)
2. Honda 384
3. Mahindra 168
4. Husqvarna 143