FIM Moto2 World Championship Phillip Island, Australia October 16 Race Results (all using Honda engines and Dunlop tires): 1. Alex DE ANGELIS, San Marino (MOTOBI), 25 laps, 39:44.774 2. Stefan BRADL, Germany (KALEX), -1.358 seconds 3. Marc MARQUEZ, Spain (SUTER), -6.362 4. Claudio CORTI, Italy (SUTER), -6.475 5. Pol ESPARGARO, Spain (FTR), -14.815 6. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Suter), -15.155 7. Scott REDDING, Great Britain (SUTER), -15.261 8. Andrea IANNONE, Italy (SUTER), -16.047 9. Mike DI MEGLIO, France (TECH 3), -16.331 10. Yuki TAKAHASHI, Japan (MORIWAKI), -20.337 11. Thomas LUTHI, Switzerland (SUTER), -22.081 12. Dominique AEGERTER, Switzerland (SUTER), -26.248 13. Aleix ESPARGARO, Spain (PONS KALEX), -29.295 14. Michele PIRRO, Italy (MORIWAKI), -30.203 15. Simone CORSI, Italy (FTR), -30.745 16. Mika KALLIO, Finland (SUTER), -30.776 17. Ricard CARDUS, Spain (MORIWAKI), -30.784 18. Bradley SMITH, Great Britain (TECH 3), -43.520, crash 19. Axel PONS, Spain (PONS KALEX), -47.064 20. Raffaele DE ROSA, Italy (SUTER), -50.357 21. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (KALEX), -50.364 22. Kenny NOYES, USA (FTR), -64.747 23. Joan OLIVE, Spain (FTR), -64.907 24. Yonny HERNANDEZ, Colombia (FTR), -79.734 25. Ivan MORENO, Spain (SUTER), -1 lap 26. Santiago HERNANDEZ, Colombia (FTR), -1 lap 27. Blake LEIGH-SMITH, Australia (FTR), -1 lap 28. Mashel AL NAIMI, Qatar (MORIWAKI), -1 lap 29. Robertino PIETRI, Venezuela (SUTER), -5 laps, DNF, retired 30. Valentin DEBISE, France (FTR), -6 laps, DNF, retired 31. Kris McLAREN, Australia (SUTER), -11 laps, DNF, crash 32. Xavier SIMEON, Belgium (TECH 3), -13 laps, DNF, crash 33. Jules CLUZEL, France (SUTER), -13 laps, DNF, crash 34. Max NEUKIRCHNER, Germany (MZ-RE HONDA), -24 laps, DNF, crash 35. Mattia PASINI, Italy (FTR), -25 laps, DNF, crash 36. Jordi TORRES, Spain (SUTER), -25 laps, DNF, crash 37. Esteve RABAT, Spain (FTR), -25 laps, DNF, crash 38. Anthony WEST, Australia (MZ-RE HONDA), -25 laps, DNF, crash World Championship Point Standings (after 15 of 17 races): 1. Bradl, 254 points 2. Marquez, 251 3. Iannone, 165 4. De Angelis, 157 5. Corsi, 127 6. Luthi, 126 7. Smith, 121 8. Takahashi, 77 9. Rabat, 74 10. Aleix Espargaro, 68 More, from a press release issued by JiR Moto2 Team: GP of Australia, race: De Angelis and MotoBI win at Phillip Island A great day for Alex De Angelis and his MotoBI as thanks to a smart and steady race he has gone on to win for the second consecutive year the Grand Prix at Phillip Island. De Angelis, who started from the pole, has carefully managed the first few laps to get familiar with his tyre performance while remaining close to the front group and then gradually managing to regain second place. Once the confidence had been found Alex set a very fast pace with Stefan Bradl, so that on lap six he clocked his best lap of 1’34.549s which was also the fastest lap of the race. With this pace he and the German took off from their pursuers, being the only remaining contenders for victory. This performance to the limit of both bikes was pretty much neck-and-neck until the last lap, in which De Angelis was able to capitalize on the advantage offered by the MotoBI on a fast bend scoring an overtake that was prepared and studied thanks to his experience. He then foiled Bradl’s next attempt to overtake him back, in which the two touched each other, thus securing his first place until the flag, so he could celebrate his second successful visit to this circuit in the Moto2 class, again with the MotoBI and the team headed by Gianluca Montiron. This victory crowns the great work done by rider and team throughout the weekend, a victory built on consistency of performance in all test sessions, developing a high performance motorcycle that was supported by an equally combative and determined De Angelis. Today’s first place also allows Alex to recover points on third place in the World Championship and rider Andrea Iannone. Gianluca Montiron I’m happy for Alex that he repeated the victory of last year also with the pole, confirming that the package available is a winning one. Ending the season in the best way is the best incentive to continue with the efforts so far incurred in maintaining a structure and team at the top of its class. Alex DeAngelis I’m super happy with this victory and the weekend in general. This morning we had many problems because of the wind then in the race I tried to settle my confidence in the tyres and then remain attached to Bradl as I knew he would try to get away. We suddenly got an advantage on the other riders but he was very fast. I’ve recently suffered a lack of performance, but here we were able to do an excellent job on my MotoBI that allowed me to play all my cards. Lap after lap I realized that the race would be resolved in the last one so I used the second position to be well-prepared for my attempt to overtake, I knew that I had a small advantage on that bend and I tried, I threw myself into it and it went well . Then he attempted to gain the position back, we also touched but with a little luck we were both undamaged, these are things that can happen in racing so close. This victory is a worthy conclusion to a perfect weekend I have to thank my team and all those who work for me. More, from a press release issued by Tech 3: Learning year continues for Siméon at Phillip Island Also the 16th Grand Prix of the 2011 Moto2 season at Phillip Island, Australia was not an easy weekend for Xavier Siméon, who after qualifying in 23rd position yesterday, was denied to finish the race today. The Belgian pushed hard to gain some positions during the start in the packed Moto2 field. After a few laps he was pushed out by one of his fellow Moto2 riders and managed to stay on his bike. Unfortunately a self-induced mistake took him out after 13 laps of the 25-lap race and Siméon could not collect any points for his championship tally. Nevertheless he is taking the experience with him when he comes back with the Tech3 Mistral 610 in 2012. Xavier Siméon, DNF: “žThe beginning of the race was very difficult for me as I could not heat up the tyres. I was losing the front and the rear an d I could have crashed a lot of times. I tried to pass one of the riders in front of me, but he passed me back and pushed me out of the track. I managed to come back, but after another two laps I also made a mistake myself. This weekend was really difficult, but this morning I felt some improvements and I was hoping I can find the best rhythm of the weekend during the race, but that did not happen. It is a pity to have a weekend like this after the strong weekend I had in Motegi. I want to move on to Malaysia now and try to learn the track faster than I did here.” Hervé Poncharal, Team Manager: “Xavier had another difficult weekend as he had to learn this track and this one is really difficult, especially with the changing conditions we had this weekend. I was expecting something better to be honest after the strong show he had given us in Motegi. Also without the crash during the race today he was never in the position to finish in the points regarding to how the weekend went. I hope he took a lot of experience with him from this race and I hope he can recharge his batteries now and get ready for another difficult race in Malaysia, as it is a new track for him as well. But it is a learning year also for Xavier and I hope he can take some more points during the last two races with him and this experience to 2012. ” More, from another press release issued by Tech 3: Podium eludes Tech 3 Racing in Phillip Island Mike di Meglio and Bradley Smith both brilliantly fought for the podium in today’s Australian Moto2 Grand Prix before they eventually finished ninth and 18th respectively in a race run in gloriously sunny but treacherously windy conditions. Starting from the front row for the first time in his Moto2 career, di Meglio made a fantastic start in front of 43,800 windswept fans at the spectacular Phillip Island circuit. The Frenchman, who won the 2008 125cc World Championship in Australia, starred in an enthralling early battle for the podium and he showed the high potential of the Mistral 610 machine by holding a terrific third place until lap eight. His ros trum hopes though were ended just two laps later when he superbly saved a big front-end slide at Turn 4. The slide dropped di Meglio back to ninth position and that’s where he finished after fighting hard in a pulsating five-rider battle for fifth. Smith was also mounting a strong challenge for the podium in the early stages of the 25-lap race and a brilliant start from seventh on the grid rocketed him into third on the second lap. The 20-year-old was briefly bumped back down to sixth but two fine passes on lap seven moved him back into fourth when his top three attack ended a lap later. Pushing hard to keep pressure on di Meglio in third he ran off track and dropped back to 28th. He displayed his tenacity and determination though once again to launch an impressive fightback and he eventually finished 18th. Mike di Meglio: 9th 19-points: “Although I was hoping to finish higher than ninth, I can still be satisfied because I was on the front row and fighting for the podium for the first time this season. I felt some trouble with my front tyre at the beginning of the race because I was pushing very hard to stay with the front two. I really was at the limit with the front and then I had a big moment at Turn 4. Corti had just passed me and as soon as I got to the apex the front closed and I was very close to crashing. I touched the ground with my knee and elbow, but managed to pick up my bike again and this cost me a lot of places and valuable time. I am very upset about this incident because I was faster than the riders in front of me who were battling for fifth position at the end and am sure I could have finished in front of that group. It is a shame that I was unable to keep fighting for the podium because today we showed what a comp etitive package the Tech 3 Racing Mistral 610 machine is.” Bradley Smith: 18th 121-points: “Obviously today was pretty disappointing and not what I hoped for. I did exactly the same as I did every other lap going into the corner, but I think the bike was unsettled a little bit by the curbs and just went sideways. I had to go straight and there was nothing that I could do. It is one of those moments that when they happen you just have to react as quickly as possible to keep control of the bike. I was fourth at the time and feeling really confident of getting a podium, so to be not even in the points is difficult to accept. At the moment we don’t seem to be able to catch a break and we’ve had some bad luck. But that’s racing and once again we have shown the potential of the bike and I hope to be battling for the podium in Sepang in a few days.” Hervé Poncharal – Team Manager: “Not since the beginning of the season have we seen both of our Mistral 610 bikes fighting at the front like here today. That is a very satisfying feeling and credit to everybody that has worked so hard on this project. Mike and Bradley both had a really solid start and were pushing very hard in the first few laps. We knew it was not going to be easy, but having two bikes in front meant we were hoping for at least one top five. Unfortunately Bradley lost the rear at Siberia and he had to run off track and he finished outside of the points. This is a big disappointment for him as it would have been the possibility to go back to fifth in the World Championship. Mike was very fast and it was by far the best race of the year for him. Coming after his fantastic qualifying he was unlucky not to stay in the fight for the podium. Unfortunately he had small issue with the grip from the front ty re that he’d never experienced all weekend, so we have to check the reason why. There’s no doubt he got a big boost though with how fast he was all weekend and I hope he will be back in Moto2 next year because he proved today he can fight with the best in this very competitive class.” More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team: SUPERB SEVENTH FOR REDDING AT GUSTY PHILLIP ISLAND Marc VDS Racing’s Scott Redding rode a determined race in difficult conditions at the spectacular Phillip Island circuit this afternoon, to secure a thoroughly deserved return to the top 10 in today’s Australian Moto2 World Championship race. The British rider made one of his trademark blistering starts from fourth on the grid to sweep into the lead entering the super-fast first corner and the 18-year-old produced a brilliant display of attacking riding to lead the field until lap five. Redding remained in the podium hunt until the halfway stage before he became locked in a typically frenetic Moto2 battle with Pol Espargaro, Kenan Sofuoglu, Andrea Iannone and Mike di Meglio for fifth. Battling a fierce and unpredictable wind in sunny but cool conditions, Redding led the group in fifth place until three laps from the end. But despite his best efforts to score a fourth top six finish of the season, he had to settle for seventh after superbly defending his position against a hard charging Iannone and di Meglio on the last lap. The 25-lap race was a frustrating experience for teammate Mika Kallio, who encountered front and rear grip problems after eight laps, which prevented him from repeating the impressive pace he displayed in practice and qualifying. Starting from 15th on the grid, Kallio quickly manoeuvred his Suter MMXI machine into contention for the top 10 with a typically aggressive start. A fast pace and some brilliant overtakes through the fast and sweeping Phillip Island corners moved him into 11th on lap eight. But he was unable to maintain his rhythm with a sudden drop in grip with his soft front and rear tyre selection dropping him back to a disappointing 16th at the chequered flag. Scott Redding #45: 7th Position “I got another mega start and just decided to get my head down and push as hard as I could because all weekend I’ve been missing that 0.5s that the front guys have been capable of running. We made another change to the setting of the bike for the race to try and find some more rear grip but I was struggling after a few laps to keep the pace. I felt strong at the front and it was still a really exciting battle for fifth, but the front-end felt pretty light. All weekend the wind had been lifting the front and in the race the gusts were stronger than in practice and qualifying, so in the final couple of laps when I wanted to attack for fifth I just couldn’t get close enough to try and pass. I was really strong in Turns 8 and 9 but that’s where the wind was really bad, but to get seventh is still a positive result and we’ve gained a lot of experience with the new chassis, so I’ll be looking to gas it up in Sepang next weekend.” Mika Kallio #36: 16th Position “Right from the start I couldn’t really get close to my times from practice and it is a bit of a mystery. All weekend we were using the same spec soft compound tyres and I’d made a long distance run to check the endurance and I didn’t have any problem. But it was strange because at the beginning when normally the tyres are fresh and working well, I couldn’t find a good pace and in fact I was a lot slower than I expected. After eight laps the grip from the rear dropped a lot and my times were really bad. I started the last lap in 14th and some points would have at least been a positive outcome, but I was right at my limit and I lost two places on the final lap. We hoped to be in the top eight after our speed all weekend, so now we to need to try and find an explanation as to why we struggled with grip.” Michael Bartholemy – Team Manager “Fifth position looked achievable for Scott but we can’t be too disappointed with seventh because he did a great job on a bike he’d never raced before today. I’m sure with more experience of the new chassis he will be closer to the podium, but he led the race and was always fighting to be in the top six. It is a shame that Mika experienced some grip problems because all weekend he has been very fast. He started well but the tyre seemed to lose grip quite quickly and we’ll need to analyse further why his lap times were not at the level he anticipated. It was a decent weekend for the Marc VDS Racing Team, but we will obviously be motivated and determined to do even better in Malaysia next weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Italtrans/AGP Racing: Race Claudio Corti (1’34″550 4°) Robertino Pietri (dnf) A great race by Claudio Corti. Not only because of the final result, but also for the way he got it. Starting from 20th on the grid, the Italtrans’ rider made up seven places within two corners, an ten when crossing the finish line for the first time. From that moment on, he continued to gain meters and meters to his opponents, reaching a position just behind the first two and, for some time, even showing chances to abridge the gap. The rostrum has been lost for a whisker; at the end of the race, back in the garage, a big hug by his Technical Director and a hail of claps on the shoulder by all the crew compensated for the champagne bubble he desperately wanted to taste. A difficult day for Robertino Pietri: he had a finger badly injured yesterday by a crash. Today, he did his best but was forced to give up before the end. Claudio Corti: “A perfect week-end, except for yesterday’s mistake, when we did not calculate well when going off again on track, and lost the chance of a last flying lap that could put me well ahead on the grid. And you can only imagine what could be, with a better position at the start, considering that only a tenth separated me from the third place. But we have good reasons to be satisfied the bike is perfect, and who could imagine, on the eve of the GP, we could tell a story like this. We found the right direction: in every session but qualifying we’ve been within the top riders. I desperately wanted a podium, not only for me, but also for the team. We will have another chance, I’m certain, in Malaysia, in a week’s time”. Robertino Pietri: “I tried my best, but I couldn’t do more. My finger was hurting so much that I could not change gear properly. Going on that way was a risk, so I decided to go back to the pits. There was no chance, nor joy. I’m sorry for the team, that did a great job to prepare everything at the best. We will try again at Sepang”. Claudio Macciotta (Technical Director) “I’m very, very happy. We modified the weight distribution, and some angle: as a result, we got a different bike, and very suitable for Corti. I’m also very satisfied by the way the job developed during the weekend, and the way we were rewarded by it”. Luigi Pansera (Team Manager): “I’m delighted for both Claudio and the team, that showed its potential. We must continue this way, working hard and never giving up aiming to a great last part of the season. Thanks everybody for their commitment”. More, from a press release issued by QMMF Racing Team: Cardús battles his way to 17th Al-Naimi starts well but drops back with tyre problems QMMF Racing Team riders Ricky Cardús and Mashel Al-Naimi had a great start at the Australian Grand Prix and passed several riders in the first few corners of the magnificent Phillip Island track. Cardús, who was 27th on the grid and in 18th place after the opening lap, was able to maintain his speed and momentum. He gained more ground and positions and battled very close to the point rankings throughout the race to eventually finish in 17th position. Team-mate Al-Naimi on the other hand lost a lot of the ground that he had gained with his superb start. After a trouble-free warm-up practice session in the morning, he suffered from a strange and unexpected lack of stability on his Moriwaki prototype and lost his confidence to ride at the very limit. In the end, he preferred to play it safe in very windy and cool conditions, to take 28th place. “žWe are happy today because Ricky rode a very strong race. He started from the 27th position and almost finished 15th. Only on the last few meters, he lost two places again”, said team coordinator Luis Solano. “žThis is a good result for us even though we still need to keep improving and to get closer to the top. In the last two races of the season, we are aiming for better results.” “žThe conditions with the cooler temperatures and the strong wind were difficult for Mashel today. This is a very, very fast track and he doesn’t have any experience with wind gushes like that. He learns more and more and we are confident to get a better result in the heat of Malaysia!” Mashel Al-Naimi 28th “I had a good start and passed many riders, but then all the others were able to fight back and pass me again. Maybe I chose the wrong tyre as I had a stability problem on the rear. The bike was moving and sliding in every corner. I am now focusing on Malaysia and I hope to do a good race there because I really want to finish the season on a high note. I am pushing as hard as I can all the time. I now have to bring home some results for QMMF Racing Team!” Ricky Cardús 17th “We arrived here in Australia on a track that was completely new to me and we now leave with lots of experience, in terms of setting up the bike as much as my riding is concerned. We are improving and I think we will be able to show in the last remaining races of the season that we have become stronger and more confident. The team made a big step forward with my new bike and even though I have improved as well, there are still areas left for me to work on as a rider, which could be seen on the last lap of today’s race when I missed out on a possible world championship point. But we are not so far away now, there are only details missing to be fully competitive!” More, from a press release issued by Kenny Noyes’ publicist: Good Progress For Kenny Noyes Despite Early Race Incident Kenny Noyes saw useful progress at the Australian Grand Prix, but a race-incident which forced the Avintia-STX rider off the track put paid to Kenny’s hopes of points at Phillip Island. Kenny had started the weekend on the back foot, struggling with a lack of grip at the front of his FOGI-Racing FTR, but some hard work by his Avintia-STX team, helped by the technicians from FTR saw the American make a major step forward on Saturday. The weather that blew in on Saturday afternoon turned qualifying into a lottery, leaving Kenny to start from the ninth row of the grid. Kenny got off to a good start, avoiding a first-corner incident and making up places, but on lap 4, the American got caught on the wrong side of a collision between Axel Pons and Xavier Simeon, and was forced off the track, losing a lot of time as well as losing touch with the group he was in, which would have put him in the frame for scoring his first points of the season. Despite the incident, Kenny got his Avintia-STX machine back on the track and fought his way back forward, ending the race in 22nd, well ahead of where he had qualified. With his new-found confidence in the front end of his FOGI-Racing FTR, Kenny heads to Malaysia for the next round at Sepang. Going into the last two races of the season, Kenny is looking forward to putting some points on the board for his Avintia-STX team. Kenny Noyes 22nd, Fastest Lap: 1’36.206 Kenny said, “I’m pretty pleased with where we are at the end of this weekend. Friday was pretty tough, the front end was tucking everywhere, but my team and FTR worked real well to come up with a solution. On Saturday and in the race, I had confidence in the front again and could start to push like I want to.” “Qualifying went pretty well, and I felt comfortable during the race and got in a group I felt good in. We had bad luck getting caught up with Simeon and Pons, because I could really start to push and I felt real comfortable with that group I was in. I felt I had a chance to beat those guys.” “I’m happy going to Sepang, but I’m real pumped for Valencia, and now we’ve finally found a solution for my FOGI FTR, I think we can pull out something special in the last couple of races.”