FIM Moto2 World Championship Phillip Island, Australia October 16, 2010 Qualifying Results (all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires): 1. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (MOTOBI), 1:35.148 2. Scott REDDING, Great Britain (SUTER), 1:35.378 3. Stefan BRADL, Germany (SUTER), 1:35.578 4. Mike DI MEGLIO, France (SUTER), 1:35.696 5. Andrea IANNONE, Italy (FTR), 1:35.870 6. Julian SIMON, Spain (SUTER), 1:35.883 7. Michael RANSEDER, Austria (SUTER), 1:35.935 8. Raffaele DE ROSA, Italy (TECH 3), 1:36.091 9. Toni ELIAS, Spain (MORIWAKI), 1:36.105 10. Karel ABRAHAM, Czech Republic (FTR), 1:36.133 11. Wayne MAXWELL, Australia (MORIWAKI), 1:36.146 12. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (MORIWAKI), 1:36.212 13. Hector FAUBEL, Spain (SUTER), 1:36.243 14. Simone CORSI, Italy (MOTOBI), 1:36.245 15. Fonsi NIETO, Spain (MORIWAKI), 1:36.304 16. Claudio CORTI, Italy (SUTER), 1:36.319 17. Jules CLUZEL, France (SUTER), 1:36.326 18. Axel PONS, Spain (PONS KALEX), 1:36.348 19. Yuki TAKAHASHI, Japan (TECH 3), 1:36.389 20. Alex BALDOLINI, Italy (I.C.P.), 1:36.392 21. Alex DEBON, Spain (FTR), 1:36.448 22. Gabor TALMACSI, Hungary (FTR), 1:36.515 23. Anthony WEST, Australia (MZ-RE HONDA), 1:36.719 24. Yonny HERNANDEZ, Colombia (BQR-MOTO2), 1:36.775 25. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (SUTER), 1:36.840 26. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), 1:37.169 27. Ratthapark WILAIROT, Thailand (BIMOTA), 1:37.229 28. Sergio GADEA, Spain (PONS KALEX), 1:37.335 29. Javier FORES, Spain (BIMOTA), 1:37.373 30. Valentin DEBISE, France (ADV), 1:37.634 31. Vladimir IVANOV, Ukraine (MORIWAKI), 1:37.798 32. Robertino PIETRI, Venezuela (SUTER), 1:38.129 33. Alexander CUDLIN, Australia (BQR-MOTO2), 1:38.422 34. Kazuki WATANABE, Japan (SUTER), 1:38.781 35. Kenny NOYES, USA (PROMOHARRIS), 1:38.835 36. Joan OLIVE, Spain (PROMOHARRIS), 1:39.318 37. Yannick GUERRA, Spain (MORIWAKI), 1:40.095 38. Mashel AL NAIMI, Qatar (BQR-MOTO2), 1:40.274 39. Hiromichi KUNIKAWA, Japan (BIMOTA), 1:41.716 More, from a press release issued by Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 Team: Third row on the grid for Tom Lüthi At the beginning of the qualifying of the Moto2 class on the Australian track at Phillip Island it looked well for Tom Lüthi, as the decision to go out with rain tyres was a good decision. However the weather changed quickly as usual on this racetrack and the surface started to dry off again. Lüthi had to ride back to his pit box to swap the tyres to slicks. After that it didn’t go as well as before for the young Swiss from Bern and Lüthi finished the qualifying in 12th position. The position is not really satisfying for the 24 year old and you can feel his hunger for another podium finish as there are only three races to go now. This will hopefully give him the right push for tomorrow’s race where he wants to catch as many positions as possible during the first part of the session to fight with the front group. Tom Lüthi, 12 – 1’36.212: “This was a difficult qualifying session. It started to rain just before the start of the session. We were riding with rain tyres, which was the best decision. But then it started to dry off again and we had to change the tyres. Unfortunately afterwards it did not go as well as before anymore. I am not happy with this position, but we will work on improving the bike’s settings for tomorrow.” Terrell Thien, Team Manager: “Of course I am not satisfied with the position. The weather is so unpredictable here, that you have to expect anything possible and that’s almost impossible. The decision to go out with rain tyres was good, but it started to dry off again and then we could not continue as before. But we know the reason and will work on a solution for tomorrow now.” More, from a press release issued by Tech 3: Raffaele de Rosa aims for season best at windy Phillip Island Raffaele de Rosa dodged rain showers and a strong and chilly breeze at the Phillip Island circuit today to produce one of his best Moto2 qualifying performances of the season ahead of tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix. The Tech 3 Racing rider raised expectations that he can fight for a maiden top ten Moto2 finish in tomorrow’s 25-lap race after he qualified in eighth place in a session dominated by typically unpredictable weather conditions at the Phillip Island track. The session started with rain that disrupted yesterday’s practice action threatening to play a major role in proceedings again. The showers though quickly dispersed allowing de Rosa to work on several suspension modifications to improve front and rear grip in full dry conditions. The Italian is something of a Phillip Island specialist after he claimed a brilliant pole position and third place in last year’s 250cc Grand Prix. And his liking for the spectacular 4.448km circuit was evident this afternoon, a best time of 1.36.091 on his final lap securing him a place on the second row of the grid for the first time since the opening race in Qatar back in April. Yuki Takahashi was unfortunate to find himself down in 19th place on the timesheets, the Japanese rider unable to avoid heavy traffic in the decisive final minutes. The Japanese rider lost 0.9s in one section on one fast lap and had he not encountered slower riders, a place in the top six was a distinct possibility. He ended with a best time of 1.36.389 to finish less than three-tenths behind de Rosa, the Catalunya race winner confident he can challenge for a top ten tomorrow. Raffaele de Rosa 8th 1.36.091 20 laps “I was always confident coming to Phillip Island that we could be much higher up the timesheets than at previous races because of my performance last season. Finally I am back on the second row and that makes me really happy. It has been a little bit difficult to find a good set-up but we made a lot of changes and my Tech 3 Racing crew worked unbelievably hard again. We found a good direction with the balance of the bike and improved both front and rear grip so I could put in some fast and consistent laps. I’m sure we can make another step before the race and hopefully I can fight for my first top ten.” Yuki Takahashi 19th 1.36.389 – 15 laps “I think I had the potential to be much higher and I think a top six place on the grid was easily within reach. But right at the end I caught a slow group and I lost nearly a second in one section, so I think I could have been much higher up than 19th. Maybe even the front row was possible, but we can’t think about what might have been. The bike is working quite well and I think we can push for the top ten tomorrow. A lot will depend on the weather but I am confident of a strong race to make up for the disappointment of Sepang last weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team: REDDING JUST PIPPED FOR POLE AT PHILLIP ISLAND Scott Redding was denied his first pole position by the narrowest of margins at Phillip Island this afternoon and will start tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix from second on the grid, his fifth front row start of the season. Hector Faubel will start from the fourth row of the grid, after improving significantly on his lap time during qualifying today. Qualifying started in wet conditions, as rain showers arrived at the Phillip Island circuit, but conditions improved once the rain stopped, with the track drying out quickly in the now sunny, but still very windy conditions. Redding was quick to put in a fast lap once slick tyres became a viable option, topping the timesheet at the halfway point in the session and then holding onto pole position to the chequered flag. Unfortunately for the 17-year-old Briton, Alex De Angelis managed to squeeze in one last flying lap right at the end of the session and, for the fourth time this season, Redding found himself knocked from the top spot on the grid, this time by just two-tenths of a second. Faubel improved both the set-up of his Suter MMX machine and his lap time to finish 13th this afternoon, after finishing morning free practice down in a disappointing 28th place. The 27-year-old Spaniard will refine his set-up even further ahead of tomorrow’s 25-lap Moto2 race. Scott Redding #45: 2nd – 1’35.378 “Conditions were a bit dodgy at the start of the session. We started on slicks but the rain got heavier, so we changed to wets, at which point the rain stopped. Typical Phillip Island! The bike felt good once the track had dried enough to switch back to slicks and the lap times came pretty easy. I thought I could have gone faster, but each time I pushed that little bit more, the rear stepped out on me and I had to shut off. Alex came past me right at the end of the session; I tried to repay the compliment, but I just couldn’t find a way past him. I’m disappointed to lose pole position right at the end of the session yet again, but the front row will do me. We have the pace and I’m confident going into tomorrow’s race.” Hector Faubel #55: 13th – 1’36.243 “It was a pretty good session this afternoon. The bike felt a lot better than it did this morning and the lap times came a little easier. We still need to make some small improvements to the set-up in two areas overnight, but I’m basically happy with the bike. My goal tomorrow is top twelve; in Malaysia I started 24th and finished 11th, so a top ten finish could be a possibility starting from the fourth row of the grid.” Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager “I thought we had pole position all wrapped up today. Scot went straight to the top of the timesheet almost as soon as a dry line appeared on the track, and then continued to extend his margin at the top with every lap. When the chequered flag came out I thought he’d done it, but then Alex De Angelis showed his experience with a great last lap to deny us pole position for the fourth time this season! But the front row is enough and, with the consistency he’s shown today, I’m sure Scott will be up there and fighting for the podium in the race tomorrow. Hector fell foul of the changeable conditions here this weekend, but finally found a set-up he was happy with for qualifying. I’m confident he’ll be in the points tomorrow, with a top ten finish a real possibility if he gets a good start.” More, from a press release issued by JiR Moto2 Team: The Australian Grand Prix’s qualifying session has ended on the track of Phillip Island and Alex De Angelis can be proud of his season’s best performance by taking pole position with a time of 1’35″148. A good result that has been built on in a session influenced by the cold temperature and variable conditions of wet/dry, during which the JiR’s rider progressively lowered his lap times till the very last lap, when just at the end he stole 0.230 seconds from the best performance of the English rider Scott Redding. It was to be the fourth row for the other JiR Team rider Simone Corsi, who suffered some troubles in expressing his best in this qualifying after yesterday’s crash that left him in some pain. His best time was 1’36″245 and gives him the 14th position on the grid. Tomorrow the Roman rider will grit his teeth to try to gain points and stay in the challenge for the top five positions in the Moto 2 World Championship. Alex De Angelis, 1st place 1’35″148 “Of course I’m very happy for this result, it is a good pole position that gives me the right impetus for tomorrow. During the whole session we have worked progressively to improve our performance and as a result our times lowered constantly. Just at the end of the session I found some traffic, but really on the last lap I saw some room and I started to push, gaining the pole right at the very last second. I was really concentrating, I didn’t even realize I got the pole until I saw it in the electronic displays near the track. I hope that the weather conditions will remain stable also for tomorrow’s race because I’m pretty confident on dry, but if it rained it would be tricky because I’ve never ridden my MotoBI on wet. However we’ll do all our best to make a good result.” Simone Corsi, 14th place 1’36″245. “The instable weather conditions complicated our work today and we still have some improvements to apply to find the right race set-up. Wind and low temperatures made the machine unstable and nervous and I couldn’t push hard as I would have liked, which was also due to yesterday’s crash. We have a lot of work for us during the warm-up tomorrow, hoping for a good race, I’ll take the start from the middle of the pack again but I never give up!” More, from a press release issued by TwoThree Public Relations: Maxwell claims 11th on the grid for Australian Moto2 Grand Prix Australia’s Wayne Maxwell has qualified 11th for tomorrow’s Phillip Island round of the Moto2 World Championship on debut for the Italian-run Matteoni Racing team. Maxwell impressed during the afternoon’s qualifying session to take the third row qualifying position for tomorrow’s 25-lap affair, his 1:36.146 lap time just 0.998 in arrears of pole position holder and ex-MotoGP competitor Alex de Angelis. “We’ve come along way this weekend with the Matteoni team, so to end up only a second off the pace in my first Moto2 outing is a good result for qualifying,” Maxwell said. “We’re getting better with every session and I’m getting closer and closer to the front of the field.” Heading into his grand prix debut tomorrow afternoon at the 4.445-kilometre Phillip Island Circuit, Maxwell is hopeful that the experience he has gained on the Moriwaki Moto2 machine during practice, which features a Honda 600cc control engine, will help him gain a top 10 result in the race. “I’ll be happy with a top 10 result and we are getting close to that now since we had pretty good pace at the end of qualifying,” he continued. “Come race time I definitely think we should be there or thereabouts within the top 10.” The Moto2 race will commence at 2:15pm on Sunday, 17 October, with Maxwell gaining the support of the home crowd to help urge him on to a good result as top Aussie in Moto2 so far this weekend. Maxwell’s Moto2 endeavour is proudly supported by Honda Australia, Milspec, Construct Concrete Services, ASF Printing, Longlife Roofing and Caprice.