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Last weekend Jerez circuit was host to the first of 2 official tests to be held there with the new Moto2 class, testing alongside the 125GP series. Replacing the now defunct 250cc series, Moto2 is a new class of Prototype bike that will compete this year in the MotoGP line-up. Some of the characteristics of this new category are that Honda will be the single supplier of engines and Dunlop the tyre contract.
Last weekend Jerez circuit was host to the first of 2 official tests to be held there with the new Moto2 class, testing alongside the 125GP series. Replacing the now defunct 250cc series, Moto2 is a new class of Prototype bike that will compete this year in the MotoGP line-up. Some of the characteristics of this new category are that Honda will be the single supplier of engines and Dunlop the tyre contract.
The Moto2 will house a Honda 600cc 4-stroke engine expected to produce around 150hp and will be fitted into limitation free prototype chassis’. However rules will limit the onboard electronics which will inevitably restrict data logging and other electronic controls, which will be monitored by the organisers. 25 teams will compete in the Moto2 category giving a line up of a massive 40 riders for the competition.
The Moto2 will house a Honda 600cc 4-stroke engine expected to produce around 150hp and will be fitted into limitation free prototype chassis’. However rules will limit the onboard electronics which will inevitably restrict data logging and other electronic controls, which will be monitored by the organisers. 25 teams will compete in the Moto2 category giving a line up of a massive 40 riders for the competition.
Except for Sunday the 3 day test was mostly hampered by wet conditions at the Andalucían circuit, which kept the riders, teams and the Dunlop tyre mechanics on their toes for the duration. Spaniard Toni Elias, riding for Moto2 Gresini Racing (Moriwaki), was fastest during the test with a time of 1min 45.024 sec. Followed closely by Columbian Yonny Hernandez of Blusens-STX (BQR-M2) with 1min 45.528 sec. Briton Scott redding who moved up to Moto2 for Marc VDS Racing Team (Suter) this year achieved a time of 1min 47.561 sec.
In the 125GP class the fastest overall was Spaniard Marc Marquez of Red Bull Ajo Motorsport with a time of 1min 47.473 sec, amazingly a time faster than some of the 600cc Moto2 class riders! Marquez continues his top form with good times prior to the season start at Qatar’s night race on the 11th of April.
Returning to the Jerez circuit on March 27-29 for the third and final pre-season test, other 125cc riders such as Briton Danny Webb (Andalucia Cajasol), Jonas Folger (Team Ongetta) and Sandro Cortese (Avant Intact Ajo Motorsport) will be pushing to improve their times prior to the start of the season on April 11th in Qatar
By Photojournalist Nick Little
Photo: © 2010 Nick Little
