Pol Espargaró reported the fastest time on Friday at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, where the first 2012 preseason Moto2™ Test concluded after three days of action at the track in Valencia.
Warmer weather and an absence of wind saw the Moto2™ field quicken the pace substantially, demonstrating the although the 2012 season is just beginning, the Moto2 squads have their heads down and the competition has already started.
Pons Racing finally reported lap time for their riders on the third and final day of the test, and it was their new rider Pol Espargaró who set the unofficial fastest lap of the three days. The Spaniard made 61 laps on his Kalex on, reporting a time 1’35.4, three tenths quicker than Scott Redding who had dominated the two previous days. "In these tests, you don't get points or win races, but it takes enormous confidence to keep working hard and building confidence for the start of the World Championship," said Espargaró.
Another regular among the front runners was Speed Master’s Andrea Iannone, who recorded the same time as the Briton Redding, Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) and Claudio Corti (Italtrans Racing) both were within a tenth of the time set by Redding and Iannone to complete the top five in the field.
Although conditions were better, there were still several crashes (though none with serious consequences) including Max Neukirchner, Ratthapark Wilairot, Alex de Angelis, Gino Rea, Niklas Ajo, Esteve Rabat, Mike Di Meglio (two times), Damian Cudlin and new comer Roberto Rolfo.
The Moto2 riders now have five days before returning to the track again for the next three day test in Jerez.
Unofficial Moto2 lap times Friday (recorded by teams):
1. POL ESPARGARO, PONS RACING, KALEX, 1’35.4 (61 laps)
2. SCOTT REDDING, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’35.8 (63 laps)
3. ANDREA IANNONE, SPEED MASTER, SPEED UP, 1’35.8 (37 laps)
4. SIMONE CORSI, IODARACING PROJECT, FTR, 1’35.9 (45 laps)
5. CLAUDIO CORTI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’35.9 (38 laps)
6. JULIAN SIMON, AVINTIA RACING Moto2, FTR, 1’36.0 (55 laps)
7. THOMAS LUTHI, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK, SUTER, 1’36.0 (53 laps)
8. ESTEVE RABAT, PONS RACING, KALEX, 1’36.3 (42 laps)
9. GINO REA, GRESINI RACING Moto2, MORIWAKI, 1’36.4 (48 laps)
10. MIKA KALLIO, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’36.5 (57 laps)
11. ALEX DE ANGELIS, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, SUTER, 1’36.5 (47 laps)
12. ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, SAG TEAM, FTR, 1’36.5 (47 laps)
13. BRADLEY SMITH, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3, 1’36.5 (50 laps)
14. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’36.7 (67 laps)
15. MAX NEUKIRCHNER, KIEFER RACING, KALEX, 1’36.7 (79 laps)
16. TONI ELIAS, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, SUTER, 1’36,8 (50 laps)
17. NICOLAS TEROL, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, SUTER, 1’36.8 (50 laps)
18. YUKI TAKAHASHI, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, SUTER, 1’36.9 (55 laps)
19. AXEL PONS, PONS RACING, KALEX, 1’37.3 (53 laps)
20. XAVIER SIMEON, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3, 1’37.4 (78 laps)
21. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND, KALEX, 1’37.6 (53 laps)
22. JOHANN ZARCO, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI, 1’37.6 (60 laps)
23. MIKE DI MEGLIO, SPEED UP, SPEED UP, 1’37.7 (27 laps)
24. DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER, 1’37.8 (79 laps)
25. RATTHAPARK WILAIROT, THAI HONDA GRESINI Moto2, MORIWAKI, 1’37.8 (54 laps)
26. ROBERTO ROLFO, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER, 1’39.0 (55 laps)
27. ELENA ROSELL, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI, 1’39.3 (53 laps)
28. ERIC GRANADO, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI, 1’39.6 (69 laps)
29. ALEXANDER LUNDH, MZ RACING TEAM, MZ-RE HONDA, No times provided
30. DAMIAN CUDLIN, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI, No times provided
31. MARCO COLANDREA, SAG TEAM, FTR, No times provided
source: motogp official
