Moto 2 News

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JEREZ BECKONS FOR MARC VDS TEAM

With the Japanese Grand Prix postponed following the eruption of the volcano beneath Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull glacier, the Marc VDS Racing Team head for Jerez and the second round of the Moto2 World Championship determined to kickstart their season with two good results in Spain.

Hector Faubel and Scott Redding both head to Spain in a confident mood, after a successful two-day test at the Mugello circuit in Italy immediately after the Grand Prix of Qatar.

For Faubel, the Mugello test provided the perfect opportunity to continue his familiarisation with the team's Suter MMX Moto2 machine, after riding it for the first time during opening practice in Qatar. The 26-year-old Spaniard made few changes to the bike, preferring instead to rack up the kilometres to gain a better feeling for the chassis ahead of racing in front of his home crowd this weekend in Jerez.

While his teammate focussed on familiarising himself with the Suter MMX machine, Scott Redding concentrated on set-up and evaluating development parts during the two-days at Mugello. The 17-year-old Briton was bitterly disappointed with his performance in Qatar but after two successful days in Italy, heads to Jerez confident of a better result this weekend.

Hector Faubel #55
"We did a two-day test in Mugello immediately after Qatar, which was important for me to get more experience of the bike. It also gave me a chance to work again with my crew and to improve the communications between us. It is a pity we didn't race in Japan before heading for Jerez, as the additional kilometres on the race engine would have been good for me also. I like Jerez, it is a truly beautiful circuit and racing in front of my home crowd adds to my motivation to do well in this race. I'm still on a steep learning curve, but I am always positive and my own personal goal is to finish in the top ten, but I know this will be hard to achieve. We saw in Qatar just how competitive this championship was and it will be no different in Jerez, where everyone else has had the benefit of testing at the circuit pre-season. I will be pushing hard for a good result, as always."

Scott Redding #45
"After the disappointment of Qatar I'm looking forward to getting to Jerez, especially after the successful test we had there back in March. We know it's possible to get the bike working well around Jerez, as long as the track conditions aren't too different to those we had during the test. I would say I'm fairly confident going into the second race of the season. A top ten finish is a realistic goal, but we should really be able to get into the top five if everything goes according to plan. However, as we saw in Qatar, things don't always go according to plan. Hopefully we'll have better luck in Jerez and we'll get the chance to show our true potential in the race."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"We head for Jerez determined to improve greatly on our results in Qatar. Scott was fourth fastest overall during the final pre-season test in Jerez, so we fully expect him to be running at the front of the field from the start of the weekend. We don't have to tell Scott what's expected of him - he puts more pressure on himself to succeed than we ever could - but he also needs to enjoy riding the bike, as that's where the speed comes from and that's what was missing from Saturday onwards in Qatar. Hector has benefitted from another two days on the bike in Mugello and I know he's keen to put in a good performance in front of the Spanish crowd. If he can finish the race in the points then I'll be happy, but he seems confident he can break into the top ten, which would be an excellent result for both him and for the team."

 

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REDDING GETS A TASTE FOR CAR RACING AT SPA

Moto2 rider, Scott Redding, got his first taste of GT racing this weekend, during a flying visit to Spa Francorchamps to watch his Marc VDS teammates contest the 1000km of Spa endurance race.

The 17-year-old Briton, who finished just outside the points after an impressive fight back last time out at Jerez, was reintroduced to the three Marc VDS drivers - Bas Leinders, Markus Palttala and Eric De Doncker - who he last met during the pre-season physical assessments at the University of Brussels.

After a tour of the pit box and a look round the LMS paddock, Redding was given an overview of the Ford GT that Bas Leinders qualified on pole for the LMGT1 class on Saturday afternoon.

"The Ford GT is pretty impressive," declared Redding, after having a good look over the car. "Getting in and out of the driver's seat is a bit more difficult than throwing your leg over a Moto2 bike though. I struggled to get in over the safety cage, but that was easy compared to getting out. It's a real tight squeeze and I thought for a minute they were going to have to pull me out through the windscreen! Luckily, I managed to extract myself before it all became a little bit embarrassing. I can see the headlines now; 'Moto2 rider gets stuck in GT1 car'. Not good."

Having watched the Marc VDS Racing Team's Bas Leinders take pole in the LMGT1 class for today's 1000km of Spa, Redding then got the chance to see the team practicing the all-important pit stops.

"So, after I struggled to get in and out of the car, it was interesting to see how fast the drivers can changeover during a pit stop. 20 seconds after the car came to a stop they'd switched places and were ready to go again. It was quite impressive, as was the speed with which they refuelled the car and changed all four tyres. Maybe we need to get these guys to give our Moto2 mechanics a few lessons in tyre changing, as it could save us some time during qualifying!"

In the evening the Marc VDS Moto2 Team Manager, Michael Bartholemy, took Redding to watch a game of handball, played out between Bartholemy's home team and their main local rivals.

"I've never seen handball before," said Redding. "It's quite an intense game and the crowd were definitely enthusiastic, but I think that was mostly down to the fact that the two teams. I know it's a popular sport in Belgium, but I don't think I've ever seen it played at home in England."

Redding will return to Spa Francorchamps today to watch the 1000km of Spa race, before heading back to Gosselies and the Marc VDS Racing Team headquarters tomorrow.

"I'm looking forward to the race. I saw the cars on track and they are unbelievably fast, especially through the Radillon curve, which looks very scary indeed. Compared to a Moto2 bike the cars brake so late; when I first saw them braking for Les Combes at the end of the straight I didn't think they were going to make it! Of course, I'll have my fingers crossed for our GT1 team today. I hope they can make the most of their pole position start to take the class win in their first endurance race of the season," concluded Redding.

 

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Mapfre Aspar Team to change chassis provider from next race at Le Mans

Despite a competitive start, the lack of development time available for the RSV has led to swift action from the Spanish team.

Two races into the 2010 season the Mapfre Aspar Team has decided to change from the RSV chassis to Suter. The Spanish team used the Italian frame to challenge for pole position in the opening two rounds with Juli?n Sim?n, but a lack of available testing time to develop the prototype and increase its competitiveness over race distance has left them with little option but to take swift and decisive action.

The RSV engineers worked diligently to develop their Moto2 chassis although with little testing time available in preseason the chassis has not moved on at the same pace as its rivals. Making major changes from one race to the next slows down development and for a team who expect to be challenging for the title this is not an ideal situation. One solution would have been to run a test team in the Spanish Championship but as that series uses different tyres it was ruled out.

The Mapfre Aspar Team, with two World Champion riders and international sponsors to satisfy, are committed to challenging for the inaugural Moto2 World Championship title and have decided to switch to Suter, who currently lead the series. Juli?n Sim?n and Mike Di Meglio will use the Swiss chassis from the next race, the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, with a test scheduled for this Thursday at Albacete.

Jorge Mart?nez 'Aspar':
"The RSV is a competitive bike but the Mapfre Aspar Team has two World Champions in the garage and they can't be spending time on development during the season. The sponsors and the team itself demand a challenge for victory from the very outset and so we have decided to switch to Suter, who have enjoyed contrasting levels of success already and currently lead the Moto2 standings. We feel it is the right choice for us as we look to mount a challenge for the title, starting at the next race. The relationship with RSV is excellent but we have a responsibility to do all we can to have the most competitive material available and for that reason we have decided to make the change now."

 

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Brief first shakedown for Mapfre men with Suter chassis

Juli?n Sim?n and Mike Di Meglio's first outing with the Swiss frame affected by weather at Albacete.

Mapfre Aspar Team riders Juli?n Sim?n and Mike De Meglio were at Albacete this morning for a shakedown test with the Suter chassis that they will use for the remainder of the Moto2 World Championship, starting from the French GP next weekend. The session was only planned for a single day but with rain playing havoc with their work today the team will stay on for an extra day tomorrow.

The team and riders were at the circuit for 10am as they began adjusting the basic chassis settings and rider position. Juli?n was on track by 12.30 but only managed one lap before being forced to pit due to rain. The sun came back out around half an hour later and the Spaniard returned to the track, when he was joined by his team-mate Mike Di Meglio, although that only lasted around 20 minutes before the heavens opened again. At that point it was decided to call it a day and hope for better conditions tomorrow.

Juli?n Sim?n (8 laps):
"I'm really pleased we were able to organise this test before we go to France. It is important to get to know the bike and be as prepared as we can for the race. I only managed eight laps because of the rain but even in that time the feedback was positive. Even though we didn't get much track time we spent a lot of time working on the bike in the garage and that will help us for Le Mans. It has been a bad week for weather in Spain but hopefully it improves tomorrow so that we can get some laps in."

Mike Di Meglio (6 laps):
"Today was the first time in my life that I've been to Albacete and I love it - it's a really nice circuit. I was only able to do six laps because of the changeable weather but it was enough to get an idea for the bike and the track. I hope we can do more tomorrow and familiarise myself with the bike. We have a lot of work to do but I can tell it's a good bike - it is light and easy to ride. I don't know that track so I can't draw many conclusions but the first impressions are good."

Jorge Mart?nez 'Aspar':
"Juli?n and Mike have hardly been able to ride because of the weather but they were both happy to have the chance to ride here at Albacete because it was a satisfactory first shakedown. Even though they didn't get out onto the track much they were able to work with the mechanics in the garage and get to know the bike a little. It is important they do so as soon as possible to be in the best shape for the French GP. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we'll keep working as hard as possible to get some useful information for Le Mans."

 

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France Latest Moto2 News: Round 3 - News - Le Mans - 14/05/2010
Grand Prix de France

Mapfre Aspar find Suter set-up despite cold and wind in Albecate
Juli?n Sim?n and Mike Di Meglio able to complete extensive tests with new frame.

The Mapfre Aspar Team were once again greeted by adverse weather conditions on their arrival at the Albacete circuit this morning, when damp conditions due to yesterday's rainfall meant they were unable to take to the track until 1pm. Unusually cold temperatures for this time of year (13?C) and winds of up to 45km/h did not make for ideal conditions, although both Juli?n Sim?n and Mike Di Meglio were able to gain some crucial track time in the afternoon.

With yesterday's planned one-day session cancelled due to the rain, the pair made the most of the opportunity today with Sim?n competing 64 laps and Di Meglio 58. The Spaniard and the Frenchman rode non-stop until after 5pm as they looked to get as comfortable as possible with the new machines they will contest the upcoming French Grand Prix with and they were both happy with its performance. Juli?n set a consistent pace of low 1'32s, clocking a best effort of 1'31.99 at the end. Mike, meanwhile, was lapping mainly in the 1'33s and suffered a crash at the end of the straight, escaping without injury.

Juli?n Sim?n 1.31.99 (64 laps):
"I'm really pleased with the Albacete test because it was useful to get to know the Suter. The main inconvenience today was the cold and the wind but we were able to do a lot of work on the front suspension, trying to iron out the chattering, although it was difficult to get rid of it completely because it was so hard to get the tyres up to temperature in these conditions. In general I am satisfied because the test has given us a chance to get to know the bike and we have got some homework done before France. The feeling with the bike was good, the mechanics have also got some experience with it now too and I'm sure we'll be able to get straight on the pace at Le Mans. "

Mike Di Meglio 1.33.30 (58 laps):
"Today was a positive day because we were able to get some work done despite the cold and wind. I did a tonne of laps that were useful to get to know the Suter and even though I didn't know the track, which is quite tricky, I felt comfortable and gradually established a feeling for the bike. It is a shame that I crashed in turn one near the end of the day and it was a pretty stupid crash. I was just pushing to find the limit because I felt very comfortable and confident, especially with the front end, but I braked too hard and it folded. Luckily we escaped any serious consequences and we're ready for Le Mans."

Jorge Mart?nez 'Aspar':
"Our second day at Albacete was also affected by the weather but fortunately the whole team was able to get some work done. It is positive because both Juli?n and Mike got to know the bike a little and they won't be starting from scratch at Le Mans. It was a positive first contact with the bike but there is still a lot of work to do and the riders need more time to get used to the bike. Whatever happens they will work their hardest to pick up a good result in France."

 

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REDDING AND FAUBEL READY FOR LE MANS

Scott Redding and Hector Faubel head for this weekend's French Grand Prix at Le Mans determined to secure the Marc VDS Racing Team's first Moto2 World Championship points, after missing out at the opening two rounds in Qatar and Jerez.

Redding came close in Jerez, fighting his way through from 26th on the grid to finish 16th in the race, missing out on the last points scoring position by the narrowest of margins. Faubel's Jerez race unfortunately ended prematurely after just two laps, when the Spaniard crashed out after being hit from behind by Alex Baldolini.

Both Marc VDS riders know that qualifying will be critical at Le Mans. With the top half of the field separated by less than a second a good grid position for the race is vital if they're going to achieve their aim of scoring their first championship points this weekend.

The 4.185 km / 2.6 mile Bugatti circuit at Le Mans is one of the least technical on the Moto2 calendar, but the first part of the track could well cause problems for the 40 strong field at the start of the race. The ultra-fast turn one is followed by a tight, off-camber chicane, which could easily prove a bottleneck as 40 riders jostle for position at the start of the race. The remainder of the circuit comprises slow corners joined by short straights, which requires a good balance between outright braking performance and the ability to get on the throttle early out of the turns.

Scott Redding #45
"We made a step forward during the Jerez race, although it wasn't really reflected in the result, but now we need to continue improving at Le Mans. Qualifying will be critical this weekend, as the off-camber chicane just before the Dunlop Bridge isn't a place you want to be approaching mid-pack in a 40-rider field! As I learnt in Jerez, if you get caught in the pack then you spend the whole race swapping positions with the people around you and that just loses you time. We need to be up the front from the start and the easiest way to guarantee that is to secure a good grid position in qualifying on Saturday afternoon. A start from the first three rows would be good, but the front two rows would be a lot better. If we can do that then, hopefully, we'll be in a position to bag our first championship points of the season in the race."

Hector Faubel #55
"Jerez was a difficult weekend, because all the other riders had tested at the circuit twice, so I was playing catch up from the start. Le Mans is different; nobody has tested there so far this season, so it's more of a level playing field. I know the track very well, having finished second there in the 250cc race last year, so I'm looking forward to this weekend. With so many riders on track in the Moto2 class the first chicane on the opening lap is going to be very busy, so it's important I qualify on the first three rows of the grid and then get a good start in the race. I need to pick up some points this weekend to get my championship on track, and that's what we'll be aiming for."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"Our GT1 team set the standard last weekend with a class win in the 1000km of Spa endurance race, now we need to start matching this in Moto2. But we also need to be realistic at this point in the season and the aim for Le Mans must be for both riders to score their first championship points. Scott learnt a lesson in Jerez about the importance of qualifying towards the front of the grid, because with the bikes and riders so evenly matched, it's difficult to make up places in the race. He's aware of this and I know he's been thinking about the best ways to improve in qualifying. Hopefully we'll see him put this into practice on Saturday afternoon and give himself the best chance in the race, by securing a start from the first three rows of the grid. Hector made some big improvements in Jerez and looked all set for a good race until he was taken out after just two laps. He's much more comfortable on the bike now and I expect him to be pushing Scott quite hard this weekend in Le Mans."

 

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Another dogfight of a race is expected from Moto2 in Le Mans

Another dogfight of a race is expected from the new Moto2 World Championship. The Moto2 race at Jerez was an edge-of-the-seat affair, with the lead changing on innumerable occasions, the Honda CBR600-powered machines all so equal on performance. Winner at Jerez was Toni Elias (Gresini Racing Moto2, Moriwaki), but Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP, Suter) finished second to maintain his lead in the series. This will be an extra special weekend for Tomizawa, winner of the historic first Moto2 race in Qatar, because he now lives in France during the season, nearby his French team, where the technical department is run by former HRC crew chief Gilles Bigot.

French fans should find plenty of home hero interest in Moto2, with three riders in the class: Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing, Suter), former 125cc World Champion Mike Di Meglio (Mapfre Aspar Team) and Valentin Debise, (WTR San Marino Team, ADV).

Honda?s premier-class success at Le Mans covers almost three decades and a variety of riders and bikes. In 1983 Fast Freddie Spencer won Honda?s first 500cc success at the track aboard Honda?s NS500 triple. Between 1985 and 2000, Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan and Alex Crivill? all won 500 GPs with Honda?s NSR500 V4. And since the switch to four-stroke MotoGP, Valentino Rossi, Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri have won at Le Mans with the RC211V.

Legendary for its 24-hour races, Le Mans hosted its first bike GP in 1969. The Bugatti circuit, very different from the much longer 24-hour car circuit, returned to the GP calendar in 2000 after an absence of four years, during which time the French GP was run at Circuit Paul Ricard in Provence. Since 2000 the event has built a huge following in bike-mad France, with tens of thousands of bikers making the two-hour trip to the Sarthe from Paris.

Le Mans underwent safety modifications before the 1999 GP, partly as a result of Alberto Puig?s injurious turn-one crash during practice for the 1995 French GP. The daunting right hander was tightened and the Mus?e left-hander was also modified to lower speeds. Further modifications have been carried out during subsequent years in an ongoing programme of improvements.

The track?s character is very stop-and-go, with plenty of slow turns where braking and acceleration performance are primordial. Riders and their engineers therefore concentrate on honing their machines? stability during braking, as well as improving rear-end traction for the numerous hairpin exits.


Moto2 RIDER QUOTES

Technomag-CIP rider Shoya Tomizawa says:
?This is my team home GP so I am quite happy about that. Beside this, I like the Le Mans layout and my only worry so far is what kind of weather we will get, because last year it rained a lot and this year I would prefer to race in the dry. This weekend may be different from Jerez because no one has been to Le Mans with a Moto2 bike, so the target is to have a good race, finish and score points.?

Gresini Racing Moto2 rider Toni Elias says:
?We can expect another crazy Moto2 race, I think, because there are a lot of hairpins and slow corners at Le Mans, which means there will be some big battles on the brakes. I hope that everyone understands that the race is more than 20 laps, not just one or two laps! My injuries get better every day, so I hope that I can race with less pain than I had at Jerez.?

Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 rider Thomas Luthi says:
?The Le Mans track is not bad for me. I already had several successful races there, my last win included. But this last win was another story as it was in 125cc and a long time ago. My target is to be part of the front group. I will not focus on anything else than riding in the leading group. Once you are there really anything can happen in Moto2.?

 

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INTERWETTEN MORIWAKI Moto2 TEAM ? Tom L?thi will have a well deserved break after two test days in Arag?n

Tom L?thi deserves the following break after three Grand Prix weekends and three podiums, an operation on the broken left collarbone and the two test days on 6th and 7th of July at the Motorland Arag?n, very well. The 23 years old Swiss and the Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 Team had three very successful races in Silverstone, Assen and Barcelona the last three weeks and moved on to test at the replacement track for the Balantonring of Hungary, to travel to Arag?n on Tuesday after the Gran Premi de Catalunya.

Tom L?thi:
?It was brutally hot in Arag?n, but the two test days went very well. The track is very nice, but it is difficult to learn. You can find very special parts on this track with a lot of action and fast corners and all, you can imagine. I really like the layout of this track. We were able to do all the planned testing and our lap times were good as well. But after three races in a row and two days of testing everybody reached the limit and I am glad we will have a short break before we go to Sachsenring next week.?

Terrell Thien, Team Manager:
?The test went very positive for us. We were able to test many parts, also some special parts from Moriwaki and we tried some front and rear tyres as well. We also changed the geometry of the bike a little bit and that was positive. The only thing that was almost impossible to handle was the incredible heat here. Now we deserve a break and next week at Sachsenring we will continue, hopefully in the same direction as before.?

 

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REDDING SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH MARC VDS

Scott Redding has secured his immediate future in the Moto2 category by signing a new, two-year deal with the Marc VDS Racing Team shortly before heading to Motegi for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

After a difficult start in the Moto2 class, Redding has shown his true potential during the second half of the season, with the highlight so far being a third place at Indianapolis, making him the youngest ever podium finisher in the intermediate category.

The new deal, which was signed by Team President Marc van der Straten on Monday, will see Redding spearhead the Marc VDS Racing Team's assault on the Moto2 World Championship in both 2011 and 2012.

Marc van der Straten also confirmed on Monday that the Marc VDS Racing Team were looking closely at a move to the premier MotoGP class in 2012, when new regulations will allow teams to run machines powered by 1000cc engines.

The Marc VDS Racing Team will assist Suter Racing with the development of their BMW powered MotoGP machine during 2010, but will also explore leasing options before deciding on which machine they will make their premier class debut in 2012.

Scott Redding #45:
"I'm happy to have signed a deal with the Marc VDS Racing Team that will keep me in the Moto2 World Championship for the next two years. The team are one of the best in the paddock and I really feel at home here. Under the guidance of Michael Bartholemy and Pete Benson I feel I've really progressed as a rider and it was the team spirit that really helped me come to terns with the aftermath of Misano. Marc van der Straten has shown a lot of faith in me by agreeing a two-year deal and I hope I can repay his confidence with race wins and, ultimately, the Moto2 World Championship title in the future."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"Scott has matured a lot as a rider this season and we're now starting to see him realise his true potential. The third place in Indianapolis was only the start and he has every chance of taking his first race win in the Moto2 class before the end of the season. Next year we will be looking to improve his consistency, to transform him into a real title contender. Working with Scott has, for me personally, been an enjoyable experience this season and I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the close working relationship with him over the next two years."

Marc van der Straten: President - Marc VDS Racing Team
"After years of involvement in four-wheeled motorsport, this year's foray into the world of motorcycle racing was a step into the unknown for me, but I am now a committed bike-racing fan! I have been incredibly impressed with Grand Prix racing and very proud of the professionalism shown by Michael Bartholemy and the whole Marc VDS Racing Team this season. It's this professionalism that has convinced me to back the team for another two years, and also to look at the possibility of a move to the premier MotoGP class in 2012. I have also been impressed with Scott, who has shown strength and maturity far beyond his 17-years this season. I have no doubt that he has what it takes to be World Champion and I hope that he can achieve this over the next two years with the Marc VDS Racing Team."

 

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Kenan Sofuoglu to join the TECHNOMAG-CIP team

Kenan Sofuoglu, born on 25th of August 1984 in Turkey , two times world supersport champion in 2007 and 2010 will race alongside Dominique Aegerter for the two remaining moto2 races in Estoril and Valencia.

Kenan Sofuoglu:
?I am very happy to join forces with the TECHNOMAG-CIP Team for the races in Estoril and Valencia. The team has proven this year that they are capable of delivering a race winning bike. I want to thank Alain for his confidence in me and look forward to work with the very experienced crew to achieve a seasons ending that honours Shoya.?

Alain Bronec:
?First of all, congratulations to Kenan for his secondWorld Supersport championship title. I am happy to welcome him in our team. To compete in moto2 for the last two races is a real challenge. My team and Kenan are ready for it.?

 

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MIKA KALLIO JOINS SCOTT REDDING AT MARC VDS

The Marc VDS Racing Team are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement with Mika Kallio that will see the former MotoGP rider partner Scott Redding in the 2011 Moto2 World Championship.

The new rider line-up of Redding and Kallio combines youth with experience; Kallio is a seasoned Grand Prix campaigner who has successfully competed in the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP classes previously.

The 27-year-old Finnish rider moves to the Marc VDS Racing Team after two seasons contesting the premier MotoGP class with Ducati, including three races with the factory team as a stand in for Casey Stoner.

Kallio will make his debut for the Marc VDS Racing Team during the Moto2 test at the Valencia circuit on Monday 8th November; the same day he celebrates his 28th birthday.

After a difficult year in the premier class in 2010, Kallio is looking forward to returning to the intermediate category, where he took five race wins over two seasons when the class was contested by 250cc two-strokes.

Mika Kallio #36:
"I had quite a few options in Moto2 for next year, but with Marc VDS I know I've found the right team for me. Their results in the second half of the season show clearly that they are one of the top teams on the grid and with them I know I can make good results next year. I'm sure there are some people who think this is a step backwards for me career wise, but I disagree. I think it is a great opportunity for me and I know that with this team I can be back at the front once again. The fact that the Marc VDS Racing Team are committed to stepping up to the MotoGP class in the future is also a very positive thing for me, as I have still feel I have unfinished business there. Now I just need to get a feel for the Suter MMX, starting tomorrow morning with my first test aboard the bike."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"We are very happy to have signed a rider of Mika's undoubted calibre. His track record in Grand Prix racing is an enviable one and he knows what it takes to fight for a World Championship, having done so in the 125cc class. Mika's experience will be invaluable to Scott Redding as he continues to develop as a rider and I'm confident that, together, they will form a formidable partnership in 2011."

Marc van der Straten: President, Marc VDS Racing Team
"In Mika we have an experienced campaigner who is still hungry for success. We spoke to a lot of riders about 2011, but Mika's determination made him the stand out choice for me. Tomorrow Mika celebrates his 28th birthday by riding our bike for the first time at Valencia and I am confident it will not take him long to make the transition to the Suter MMX Moto2 machine. Mika will be the second Finn to join Marc VDS family, as his compatriot Markus Palttala already contests the GT1 World Championship in one of our Ford GT cars."

 

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MARC VDS AND SUTER RACING AGREE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

The Marc VDS Racing Team and Suter Racing have reached an agreement that will extend into 2011 their successful partnership, forged this year in the ultra-competitive Moto2 World Championship.

This agreement will see the Marc VDS Racing Team play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the Suter Moto2 machine, which will be campaigned in the 2011 Moto2 World Championship by the team's riders, Scott Redding and Mika Kallio.

"Our relationship with Suter Racing has been key to our success as a team in this, our first season in the Grand Prix paddock," stated Team Manager of the Marc VDS Racing Team, Michael Bartholemy. "The Suter MMX proved to be a competitive package at the start of the season and the ongoing development undertaken by Eskil Suter and his team throughout the year have ensured that it has remained so."

"With Scott Redding and Mika Kallio we have a real opportunity to challenge for the world title in 2011, and this new development partnership with Suter Racing guarantees that we will start the new season with the most competitive package possible."

In addition, the Marc VDS Racing Team will also collaborate with Suter Racing on the development of the Swiss engineering company's MotoGP bike, which was unveiled earlier this year at the Grand Prix of San Marino. Powered by a BMW engine, the Suter MotoGP machine has been designed to take advantage of rule changes for 2012 that will allow teams to contest the MotoGP class with machines based around a 1000cc engine housed in a prototype chassis.

"I am very pleased that we have reached an agreement with Suter Racing to extend into 2011 what has already proved to be a very successful partnership," declared Marc van der Straten, President of the Marc VDS Racing Team. "This new agreement will also see the Marc VDS Racing Team play a key part in the ongoing development of both the Suter MotoGP and Moto2 machines and I'm confident that this collaboration can only lead to even more success in the future, for both Suter Racing and the Marc VDS Racing Team."

Eskil Suter, Managing Director of Suter Racing, echoed Marc van der Straten's sentiments.

"The Marc VDS Racing Team were a new addition to the Grand Prix paddock at the start of the season, but already they've established themselves as one of the leading teams in the Moto2 World Championship," commented Suter, whose Moto2 machine took top honours in the constructors championship this season.

"Input from an experienced team with top riders such as Mika Kallio and Scott Redding is critical to our development process in such a fiercely contested championship as Moto2. The team's involvement in our MotoGP project is of equal importance, as we work this year to develop a machine that will be competitive from the first race of the 2012 season."

 

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Latest Moto2 News: Catalunya - February Test - Catalunya - 08/02/2011
Catalunya - February Test

Marc M?rquez back to work at the Catalunya Circuit test
The Repsol rider starts the 2011 pre-season with good vibes and with the aim to adapt himself to his new Moto2 after the winter break.

After two long months in which the rules ban any testing for the World Championship bikes, Marc M?rquez wore again today his overalls to start the process of adaptation to Moto2. The Repsol rider made the most of the sunny day at the Catalunya Circuit to recover the feel for his bike as he had not ridden it since last November.

The current 125cc World Champion finished today 54 laps to the Catalan track following a plan devised by his team to familiarize himself with the intermediate class. The Repsol rider took the track some minutes after noon, when the track asphalt had reached enough temperature -which arrived to 24?C- and was able to run safely in a day not too cold -17?C-, for the winter.
Without making many changes to his bike, M?rquez focused on taking new references for the Catalan track, and to adapt himself to the demands of a bike much heavier and bigger. After too months out of the circuits, focused on doing physical work, training on bicycle and doing some motocross ?to keep contact with speed-, Marc M?rquez finished this first day satisfied with his performance on a track where tomorrow he will have another test session. Then the team will travel to Valencia for the next tests, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week.

Marc M?rquez
?The first day it always takes a bit to set a good pace again after so long and you don?t feel completely comfortable, but thanks to the team?s help we were able to improve step by step. When I began to lap a bit faster we also started to make some small adjustments to the bike?s set-up, but they are still not very significant. Now we have to take things calmly; we will have time to try and set good registers. This first test was for me to recover the confidence on the bike, run the first kilometres of the year and get the first feelings from the bike. As I increased the pace, we found some set-up problems that we have been solving, but we still have a good margin to improve?.

 

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First day of IRTA test in Valencia

The Stop and Go Racing Team and Santi Hernandez begin pre-season testing

There is little more than a month remaining until the lights of Qatar welcome the privileged teams to begin the MotoGP World Championship. But until then the Moto2 teams still have some way to go to reach their maximum level of performance before the first Grand Prix which for the last 4 years has started the MotoGP season.

The Stop And Go Racing Team will start this journey with the first IRTA test of the year, hosted at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia with its pilot Santi Hern?ndez, Santi is well prepared and anxious to get on his new FTR Moto2 machine. The pilot from Medellin (Colombia) has used the summer season at his home to prepare physically and technically in order to deal with the 17 rounds of the Moto2 world championship. His aim is to be at the top and has prepared accordingly. Santi is still cautious and knows that he must keep his feet on the ground and solve every problem at each practice and race and he affirms the he will work step by step in line with its crew because that is the only way to achieve its goals .

Santi Hern?ndez (STOP AND GO RACING TEAM), 1?40.127:
"Finally arrives the time to ride the FTR. 3 months I've been preparing to reach an optimum level and I think that things can run very well. I am aware of my lack of experience and I know I will have extra work on each circuit of the season, the fact of not having competed in most of the circuits means I have to learn the reference points, acceleration points, lines and all that things that a rider must know of a circuit. That is why I know I have to come with a clear mind and try to improve my lap time every time I ride. Today I had a lot of work to be comfortable on the FTR, physically I noticed that I am not at 100% yet due to that there are some muscles that only work hard on the bike. I think that today we made a good result and the line of work we took is great. The progression and a job well done in conjunction with the team are essential so I have to work step by step and according to the instructions that my technical team will give me. Now it is time to think about the practice that I have the next three days, be comfortable with the new FTR and start the year with great feelings both with the team and my new machine. "

First day of IRTA test in Valencia - Iannone sets best laptime

Today the pre-season IRTA tests kicked off at the Valencian track of Ricardo Tormo, Spain. Andrea Iannone, on the Suter MMXI of Speed Master team, set best lap-time of 1?36.7. Andrea completed a few laps maintaining the same rhythm he had achieved in the 2010 Grand Prix, despite the fact that the air and asphalt temperatures were definitely higher throughout the race weekend. With a total of fifty laps, the rider from Vasto managed to keep up the work that got started in Catalunya, during the private tests at the beginning of the week. Iannone and his crew focused especially on preparing a basic asset that suits the rider?s driving style and, tomorrow, they will try out some changes based on the data gathered today.

Andrea Iannone #29 ? first day: 1?36.7
?I?m very satisfied with the work we did today and with the good feeling within the team: not only I like the way we are studying a solution to improve our bike, but also the way we?ve been working with my Suter technician Alessandro Giussani, with my chief mechanic Tommaso Raponi and with the whole crew. The practices we are carrying out throughout these days and the harmony within the team make me happy. We?ll do our best to complete the schedule we arranged yesterday and to score the objectives that we previously set. Today we tried to find the best compromise for me and my driving style, we tried to get rid of some minor problems and to prepare the settings for the championship.?

Marc M?rquez continues his preseason in Valencia

The Repsol rider continues his learning curve in Moto2, this time at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, where today he completed 52 laps

After only one day to rest from the first tests of the year at the Circuit de Catalunya, Marc M?rquez got back to work today at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste, (Valencia). The tests will last until Saturday and will allow M?rquez to follow his adaptation process to Moto2 in a new world championship configuration.

Despite the low temperatures -barely 14?C-, the Repsol rider was able to take full advantage of the sunny day in Valencia to complete more than 200 kilometres with 52 laps. He did not get on track after midday, when the asphalt had reached 20?C that permitted to run with safety. He then started to set new references of the Valencia track.

With a fastest time of 1 minute, 37 seconds and 18 hundredths, M?rquez focused again in adapting himself to the new bike?s requirements. Being a lot heavier, the bike is much more physically demanding than the 125cc, especially in technical tracks such as Valencia. At the end of the day, the Repsol rider was able to try some new adjustments to the set-up, to start learning the possibilities of his new machine. Although he was satisfied with the job done, he is aware that there is still a lot to do.

The work will continue in the following days. He will have to keep fine-tuning the areas that need more dedication compared to the 125cc bike, such as the braking or the corners.


Marc M?rquez 1?37.18 seg. 52 vueltas, 208 km.
?This track is much slower than the Catalunya Circuit and it was also the first time I rode a Moto2 here. We did not do many laps, but the overall result was fairly good. At the end of the day we tried some different set-ups although for tomorrow I am confident that we will be able to progress a lot more. We have to keep this working path, but we need to be patient and do it step by step. We still have two more days ahead of us and a good margin to improve.
Physically, the circuit is much more demanding and at the end of the day is when you really feel it. The corners are taken in a different way with the Moto2 than with the 125cc, and I do it properly in some corners and not in others. In this aspect I still have to get used to this class. The braking point is one of the most complicated areas, although I feel that we are improving and I hope we keep this progression. We still have to improve our riding, but we need not hurry, it has to be done step by step and we still have a lot of work to do?.

Unofficial results
1. Andrea Iannone (Suter) 1:36.7
2. Alex De Angelis (Motobi) 1:36.7
3. Juli?n Sim?n (Suter) 1:37.0
4. Stefan Bradl (Suter) 1:37.0
5. Marc M?rquez (Suter) 1:37.1
6. Michele Pirro (Moriwaki) 1:37.1
7. Thomas Luthi (Moriwaki) 1:37.2
8. Aleix Espargar? (Kalex Pons) 1:37.4
9. Scott Redding (Suter) 1:37.4
10. Mika Kallio (Suter) 1:37.5
11. Carmelo Morales (Suter) 1:37.5
12. Yuki Takahashi (Moriwaki) 1:37.5
13. Axel Pons (Kalex Pons) 1:37.6
14. Jules Cluzel (Suter) 1:37.8
15. Randy Krummenacher (Suter) 1:37.9
16. Rafaelle de Rosa (Moriwaki) 1:38.0
17. Bradley Smith (Tech 3) 1:38.0
18. Claudio Corti (Suter) 1:38.8
19. Simone Corsi (Ioda) 1:38.8
20. Mattia Pasini (Ioda) 1:40.2
21. Robertino Pietri (Suter) 1:40.2
22. Xavi For?s (Suter) 1:41.0

Second test day at Valencia: Iannone sets third fastest time

Andrea Iannone and his team were among the protagonists of the second day of tests at Cheste within the Moto2 category. The Italian rider completed a total of 48 laps, and his 1?36.3 is the third best time throughout the practice sessions. As yesterday, Andrea and his crew focused on the Suter MMXI setting, trying out some different combinations and changes. Those choices allowed Speed Master team to analyze thoroughly the machine performance and reactions. As a matter of facts, Andrea managed to improve his lap-time from the first day of tests and to confirm some of the options that have been arranged so far.

Andrea Iannone, #29 ? second day: 1?36.3
?We kept working on the various settings of the bike. We focused on different trials and we did a few short runs to understand the machine performance. Everything went well, there are some changes that, to us, seem to be particularly effective for the Suter assets. I?d like to thank the whole team for their commitment: tomorrow we?ll do ourbest to finish these tests in Valencia with a great result.?

Positive debut for Pirro in Moto2 test at Valencia

The first day of Moto2 testing at Valencia saw Team Gresini rider Michele Pirro show plenty of speed and determination, despite a minor crash that left him and his Moriwaki undamaged. A few small electronical problems held up the progress of Yuki Takahashi and it wasn't until the end of the day that the team were able to solve them, at which point the track temperatures were too low for the Japanese rider to be able to push for a fast lap. Team Gresini will continue looking for improvements to both set-up and speed tomorrow.

Michele Pirro ( 1?37.01 - 50 laps)
"I am a little disappointed with the crash although luckily it didn't spoil our day and I'm satisfied with the work we have done. I felt comfortable with the bike and I was able to push with convinction. I have struck up a good feeling with the guys already and that will allow me to improve further over the remainder of the 2011 preseason. Tomorrow we will try to improve the set-up of the bike and our overall performance."

Yuki Takahashi (1?37.05 - 37 laps)
"Unfortunately a few problems with the electronics meant that we weren't able to get a full day of riding in but I am not too concerned at this stage. The guys worked very hard to solve the problem and in the end they did it. So tomorrow we have the chance to complete the work we didn't have time for today. For the few laps I was out there I felt confident with the bike and I am sure we can be amongst the frontrunners this season."

 

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SUCCESSFUL FIRST TEST FOR MARC VDS RACING TEAM

Marc VDS Racing Team riders, Scott Redding and Mika Kallio, both declared themselves happy with progress made during the opening three-day test of the 2011 season at Valencia in Spain.

Redding was quickly back up to speed on the opening day at Valencia, despite more than two months off the bike during the annual test ban. Having missed the final day of testing at Jerez in November following a crash, the 18-year-old British rider used the second day at Valencia to resume the evaluation of new components and settings on his Suter Moto2 machine, before completing a full race simulation in the afternoon.

The Marc VDS rider improved his lap time throughout the test, posting his fastest ever lap around the Valencia circuit on his final run this afternoon. Redding leaves Valencia satisfied with his pace at the opening test and determined to improve further at Estoril in just four days time.

Kallio underwent major surgery on an injured collarbone just one month ago and only regained full movement in the affected arm the week before the Valencia test. Despite the injury causing him some pain on the bike, especially under braking, the 28-year-old Finn was regularly faster than his fellow newcomers to the ultra-competitive Moto2 class.

The Marc VDS Racing Team will now head direct from Valencia to the Estoril circuit in Portugal, where Redding and Kallio will participate in a further three days of testing, commencing on 16th February.

Scott Redding #45:
"Today I set my fastest ever lap around Valencia, so it's definitely been a successful test for us. The new bike has been set-up to suit me more, with a different footrest position and a longer seat unit, but these changes have also affected the balance of the bike. At the start the new bike was riding too much on the rear, but working with my Crew Chief Pete Benson and our ?hlins suspension technician, Mike Norton, we have been able to improve things a lot in this area over the past three days. Now we need to continue this progression at the next test in Estoril, which is just four days away."

Mika Kallio #36:
"This has been a very positive test and I'm quite happy with how things have gone. If I'd gone another half-a-second faster then I'd be leaving here completely happy. I didn't really know what to expect from my shoulder after the operation, but it's been more or less ok. We tried a lot of things on the bike during the test and, lap-by-lap, we saw improvements, but I still need more time on the bike to learn how to get the best from it. The more kilometres I do on the bike the more comfortable I feel, so I'm looking forward to continuing the process at Estoril next week."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"This first test has been a very positive start to the new season for us. Scott was very quick getting back up to speed on the opening day, which allowed us to start evaluating new components and different set-ups almost from the start. We know in which direction we need to go with the bike and Scott's lap times have improved with each set-up change we've made during the test. Mika underwent a fairly major operation on his shoulder just four weeks ago, and it's obviously an issue on the bike at the moment, but he's also made good progress here in Valencia. He fits into the team extremely well, his feedback is excellent and he's enjoying a good feeling with the bike. I'm confident that if we can carry this momentum through into the first race then we will be amongst the main contenders in Moto2 this season."

Marc M?rquez sets record pace in Valencia

The Repsol rider concludes the second tests in Valencia at the top of the classification with a time of 1 minute, 35 seconds and 6 tenths.

Very positive result in the second tests of the year for Marc M?rquez in Moto2, after three intense testing days in Valencia. The Repsol rider leaves the track at the top of the classification after setting an impressive time of 1 minute, 35 seconds and 6 tenths, showing his great progression in the intermediate class.

The third test session took place again in a sunny day. M?rquez took full advantage of the track from the moment it reached enough temperature -22?C- around noon, until five in the afternoon, when the session finished. The Repsol rider kept testing his Moto2 following the program started yesterday that allowed him to learn step by step, together with his team, about the reactions and behaviour of his bike.

M?rquez and his team focused on fine-tuning his bike with 5-lap runs, to try and find the most adequate set-up. After that, the current 125cc World Champion did a 7-lap run in which, after running the whole time under 1 minute 36 seconds, he was able to set an impressive 1 minute, 35 seconds and 6 tenths time, smashing the pole position time set by Toni Elias last November at the Valencia Grand Prix (1 minute, 36 seconds 144 thousandths).

To continue with his adaptation work, M?rquez will test again next week in Portugal, starting on Tuesday 15th, at the Estoril Circuit.

Marc M?rquez 1?35.6s, 66 laps, 264 km.
?It is a very positive outcome for these three days of test. We set a time one second and a half faster than the first day and we have been constantly progressing, so we leave Valencia very satisfied. Today we tested some more things on the set-up, but we still have a lot to try, so we must keep focused and work step by step.

The time we set was really good, but that was not our main objective, as the most important thing is to keep getting familiar with the team and test different configurations for the bike. We were very consistent and I hope that we are able to do the same in the next tests in Portugal. The adaptation to the class is going well, but we still have a lot to do before the first race of the season?.

Unofficial results
1. Marc M?rquez (Suter) 1:35.6
2. Scott Redding (Suter) 1:35.6
3. Juli?n Sim?n (Suter) 1:35.9
4. Yuki Takahashi (Moriwaki) 1:36.0
5. Thomas Luthi (Suter) 1:36.0
6. Stefan Bradl (Kalex) 1:36.0
7. Andrea Iannone (Suter) 1:36.1
8. Aleix Espargar? (Kalex Pons) 1:36.1
9. Alex De Angelis (Motobi) 1:36.3
10. Michele Pirro (Moriwaki) 1:36.4
11. Claudio Corti (Suter) 1:36.4
12. Simone Corsi (Ioda) 1:36.6
13. Axel Pons (Kalex Pons) 1:36.6
14. Jules Cluzel (Suter) 1:36.8
15. Mike DiMeglio (Tech 3) 1:36.8

 

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Tech 3 Racing Team complete vital work in Valencia

Tech 3 Racing Team duo Mike di Meglio and Bradley Smith declared themselves satisfied with the start of their preparations for the 2011 Moto2 World Championship after completing a productive three-day test session at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia.

Cool but sunny conditions throughout the test gave Smith and di Meglio the perfect opportunity to put in vital development miles on the new 2011 Mistral 610 machine that has undergone a major winter revamp in readiness for the new season.

The most significant modification to the new bike is an all-new chassis that both Smith and di Meglio were able to quickly adapt to and post competitive times as they completed nearly 350 laps together.

Although there was no official timing available at the test, di Meglio was credited with a fastest time of 1.36.6, the Frenchman completing over 150 laps to fully understand the potential of the Mistral 610 machine by evaluating a variety of settings.

Smith was one of the hardest workers on track as he completed almost 190-laps in his quest to familiarise himself more with the heavier and more powerful Moto2 machine. He made impressive progress throughout the test, the British rider knocking close to 1.5s off his best time compared to his Tech 3 Racing Team debut in Valencia at the beginning of November.

The Tech 3 Racing Team now moves quickly to the Estoril track in Portugal for a further three-day test session that begins on Tuesday (February 15).

Mike di Meglio 1.36.6
"This has been a really positive test and the bike has improved so much during these three days that I am very, very happy. I leave the circuit with a good lap time and we have started to understand the bike and what are my needs and what I like for the future. This makes me very happy as I already have a good feeling with the bike and the Tech 3 Racing Team after this first test. We were working on the balance of the bike and I feel we are definitely making big progress in the direction I want. We have six more days of testing now, starting next week in Estoril and I am sure we can find more improvements. We only used a standard engine in Valencia and we don't know what engine our rivals had. But I am already better than my time at the last test in Valencia and I can feel that the bike has very good potential.”

Bradley Smith 1.37.3
"This test was very impo rtant and I learned a lot. It was my first time with the 2011 bike and we worked a lot on the geometry to find a good balance. It was hard work, but a great learning process as we tried many different solutions that helped me understand what happens to the bike when we make changes and how big the differences can be. It is scary that we only have six more days of testing until the season starts, but as we found a good direction with the bike in Valencia, I am confident. I improved my time by 1.4 seconds compared to November, so it shows that we did a very good job. I am happy with my team and we work together very well and I have to thank them for their efforts. Now we go straight to Estoril, but it looks like the weather forecast is not so positive. I hope we will have as much dry track time as possible to help us build on the progress we made in Valencia.”

Satisfactory moto2 test ends at valencia for Team Gresini

A satisfactory three-day Moto2 test for Team Gresini concluded on Friday at Valencia. Both Yuki Takahashi and Michele Pirro have worked intensely on the set-up of their Moriwaki machines, gathering important data ahead of their next test session next week at Estoril, Portugal

Yuki Takahashi (1´36.00 - 61 laps)
"I am particularly satisfied. I have felt really comfortable with the Moriwaki and we have done a great job, trying lots of different things. I have been consistently setting respectable times and as such I'm sure that this year I can have fun and bring some good results to the team. Obviously our set-up work isn't finished but we'll be back on track within a few days at Estoril."

Michele Pirro (1´36.04 - 53 laps)
"Good... really good! We have done a good job here and I have gained a lot of confidence with the bike. We have tried different set-up solutions and I have been able to push myself hard on the bike. The lap times are more than encouraging too but that is not our main objective at the moment, they are just a handy reference to know where we are compared to our rivals and considering that I think we can be amongst the best in the category this season."

 

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Repsol rider Marc Marquez shines again in Jerez

The Repsol rider resumed again the test at the Jerez Circuit where he completed a positive test day in which he improved the pole position time of the last race

Taking advantage of the good weather of the south of Spain, Marc M?rquez continued today his quick adaptation to Moto2 at the Jerez circuit. The Repsol rider had a productive session in which he was able to reduce in nearly half second the pole position time of the last Grand Prix, set by the late Shoya Tomizawa.

After his cautious start in November at this track, Marc M?rquez returned today to the Jerez circuit to continue with his intense preseason that will allow him to face the class change with a good performance level. Taking advantage of the excellent weather, Marquez went out to the track at about 11am with an air temperature of 16?C and an asphalt temperature of 20?C.

In the morning, the Repsol rider completed 38 laps, continuing with the tests he started in Valencia, which he could not follow in Estoril due to bad weather. With the attention to detail that characterized all previous tests, M?rquez and his team focused on trying different set-ups for his Moto2, in order to analyze all different solutions.

In the afternoon, with the temperature over 20?C and the asphalt temperature up to 30?C, the Repsol rider completed another 21 laps. M?rquez signed at the end of the day a fastest time of 1 minute, 43 seconds and 9 tenths, a time 4 tenths faster than the best lap set up to now in Moto2 (1 minute, 44 seconds and 372 thousandths), achieved by Shoya Tomizawa in the practice session before the last Jerez Grand Prix.

Tomorrow, Marquez will start the second of the three test scheduled in Jerez, in which he will keep gathering kilometres before the start of the season next March 20 in Qatar.

Marc M?rquez, 1?43.9 sec, 59 laps, 261 km.
?We did a good job during the whole day. I think we are on the right path and I must thank all the members of the team for the great work done up to now. Today we tried different configurations of the Suter?s set-up and in the end we achieved to gather a lot of data that will allow us to continue evolving it. In the morning the track was a bit slippery, but in the afternoon the conditions improved. Tomorrow we have still a lot of work to do with just one aim: keep on gathering kilometres?.

 

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REDDING SMASHES OUTRIGHT LAP RECORD AT JEREZ

Scott Redding ended two days of testing at the Jerez circuit by smashing the outright lap record, set during qualifying for the 2010 Moto2 race by the late Shoya Tomizawa, by more than half a second. Mika Kallio also ended the test on a high, closing to within 0.3s of his teammate and matching his race simulation times.

After the dismal conditions experienced less than one week ago in Estoril, the Marc VDS Racing Team were greeted with ideal conditions when they arrived at the Jerez circuit in Andaluc?a for a hastily arranged additional two-day test.

Redding was quick to settle into a good rhythm on the opening day, regularly swapping places at the top of the timesheet with former 125cc World Champion, and one of the Briton's main rivals in this year's championship battle, Julian Simon. On the second day Redding matched his best lap time while completing a full race run, before moving on and focussing on rear suspension set-up during his final two runs.

For Kallio the perfect weather conditions provided an ideal opportunity to further his familiarisation with the Suter MMXI machine he'll campaign this season. The Finnish rider concentrated on long distance runs over the two days and set his fastest time, just 0.3s from that of his teammate, on a tyre that had completed more than 23 laps. His last endurance run saw Kallio match the average race time of Redding, boosting the Marc VDS rider's confidence ahead of the final pre-season test next week.

Scott Redding #45: 1'43.70
"Overall it's been another good test and I leave here happy with the progress we've made with the bike. Yesterday we racked up quite a few laps and the times were good. Today we did a good race simulation in the morning, before switching our attention to the rear suspension. We tried a couple of different settings in the rear, to improve traction once the rear grip starts to drop off, which was a problem sometimes last season. I didn't do a mega number of laps today, but we have made some progress in a few areas and I'm looking forward to returning to Jerez for the final test next week."

Mika Kallio #36: 1'44.00
"Of course the goal over these two days at Jerez was to go faster, but we also wanted to improve the consistency of my lap times. We've had two good days, with perfect weather, which means we've been able to complete a lot of laps. We've managed to improve the set-up of the bike, confirmed the direction we need to go in with the rear suspension and improved with every exit from pit lane. There's still some work to do, but I think we're now ready to close the gap to the top riders during the next test here at Jerez, which is less than one week away."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"These two days at Jerez have been positive for both Mika and Scott. The better conditions allowed Mika the track time he needed to complete the transition to our Moto2 bike, and the result was clear to see on track. His lap times were ultra-consistent over long runs and he closed to within 0.3s of Scott's best time with his fastest lap. Scott proved on both days that he's capable of matching times with anyone, but he also managed to improve drive out of the turns on a worn tyre, which was an issue on more than one occasion last season. Overall it's been another two good days for us and I hope we can carry the momentum into the final test at Jerez next week."

 

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REDDING AND KALLIO RARING TO GO!

Scott Redding and Mika Kallio head to the Middle East looking for a good start to the season, as the 2011 Moto2 World Championship gets underway this weekend at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

Redding heads into the season opener in a confident mood, after showed strongly in the Moto2 class during the second half of the 2010 season and having completed a successful preseason test schedule.

The Marc VDS rider celebrated his 18th birthday on 4th January and is now keen to taste champagne on the podium, after missing out on the traditional rostrum celebrations twice last year because of his age.

For Kallio the opening Moto2 race of the season will be something of a step into the unknown. The Marc VDS rider is a seasoned Grand Prix campaigner but, after two years in the premier MotoGP category, battling against 39 riders for the same piece of tarmac in the Moto2 class will be a new experience for the flying Finn.

After successfully making the transition to the Suter MMXI Moto2 machine during preseason testing, where he regularly placed top ten on the timesheet, Kallio is undaunted by the task ahead and is looking forward to this new challenge with some confidence.

The Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar is unique in that it is the only race on the GP calendar to be held at night. The 5.380km / 3.434 mile Losail track is illuminated by 3,600 light fixtures burning a massive 5.4 million watts of power, creating enough light to cover an area equivalent to 70 football pitches.

Scott Redding #45:
"I'm so keen to start racing again that I packed my kit ready for Qatar about a week ago! Testing has been good, despite disruptions due to the weather, but now I want to get back out there and start banging fairings again. Qualifying was important last season, but it will be even more critical this year because they've reduced each row of the grid to three riders. Make a mistake and you could find yourself lining up to start the race from the wrong side of the last turn! We know what we need to do in Qatar, we know we're on the pace, so I'm looking forward to getting out there and starting the season with a good result."

Mika Kallio #36:
"I am looking forward to the first race of the season with some confidence. We didn't have such a good final test, with the bad weather and then the crash and injury to my right thumb on the second day, but I was more or less happy with my lap times. More time on track ahead of the first race would have been ideal, but I have a good feeling with the bike and a good working relationship with the team, so we're pretty much ready to race in Qatar. With so many riders on track Moto2 will be different to MotoGP, but it was always this way in the 125cc and 250cc classes and this is the way I like to race. The only issue at the moment is the thumb I injured in Jerez; the swelling has gone down significantly, but I'm still lacking a little bit of power in my right hand. However, I don't think it's going to be a problem in the race, which is still a few days away."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"We head for Qatar looking to start our 2011 season in the best way possible. Scott showed towards the end of last season and during preseason testing this year that he has the pace to win races. He knows an effective title campaign requires points on the board in every race, starting this weekend in Qatar, but he's quietly confident about the season ahead. Mika has successfully made the transition to our Moto2 bike after two seasons in MotoGP and I expect him to be pushing Scott hard from the outset this year. He's a proven Grand Prix race winner and his time in the 250cc class will have prepared him well for the fairing bashing that is now the norm in Moto2. I'm confident that we'll start the season with two good results this weekend."

 

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RED NOSE REDDING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR COMIC RELIEF

Scott Redding will show his support for Comic Relief by wearing a special Red Nose Day helmet for the opening Moto2 round of the season, which takes place this weekend at the Losail International circuit in Qatar

Redding will auction the helmet after the race weekend through his official website at www.scottredding45.com, to raise money for Comic Relief, a charity that does so much to fight poverty and injustice worldwide.

And Redding's show of support won't end when he removes his helmet; the Marc VDS rider will also be sporting bright red hair in Qatar, to make sure the message to donate to Comic Relief is received loud and clear.

"I wanted to support Red Nose Day, which takes place on the Friday of the Qatar weekend," explains Redding. "We had a think about it and decided that a Red Nose helmet would be a good idea. It will be instantly recognisable on track, which I hope will persuade people to donate to Comic Relief, and we will auction it after the race weekend to raise more money for what is an extremely worthwhile cause."

"Just to make sure we get the message across, I've also dyed my hair red as well," admits the 18-year-old British rider. "It's a bit bright, to say the least. If I get on the podium this weekend then you'll be able to see me from about five miles away!"