2012 Valencia Moto2 And Moto3 Preview Press Releases
Press releases from the Moto2 and Moto3 teams ahead of the last race of the season at Valencia:
REA LOOKING FORWARD TO FINAL ROUND
Gino Rea heads to the final round of the Moto2 World Championship at Valencia this weekend looking to complete a strong finish to his rookie season following his debut podium three weeks ago at Sepang. The goal for the British rider is once again to convert his wet form into the dry and find a setting that will allow him to exploit his full potential in all conditions.
Gino Rea “The flyaway races were a great experience for me and it was nice to come home with a podium trophy. We struggled in the dry at Motegi and Phillip Island but collected a lot of information that will be useful this weekend. We showed our strength in the wet at Sepang and could have won it but my first Moto2 podium made me very happy, above all for the team. I still need to prove that I can be a frontrunner in this class though so I am looking forward to getting to Valencia and continuing to work on our base setting. I went well there in the winter tests and that gives me confidence for this weekend. Hopefully we can improve our performance in the dry but if it does rain we know we can be fighting for the podium again. I like the circuit, I know it well and I can't wait to get out there.”
Fausto Gresini “Gino has been threatening a big result all season and he got it at Sepang, even though it could have been even bigger if it wasn't for the red flag! Unfortunately despite some small progress with the bike he has yet to find his form in the dry so hopefully at Valencia, a circuit he knows, he can find a good set-up and the confidence he needs to perform to his full potential.”
The curtan falls on this 2012 season for the NGM Mobile Forward Racing Team
The MotoGP world championship in coming to an end but not quite yet, the now classic end of season Valencia GP has yet to take place this weekend. In the MotoGP category Colin Edwards will be fighting for the fourth place in the CRT standing: the American rider has to gain 3 points over James Ellison and the absent Yonny Heranndez to achieve it.
In Moto2 there is yet to be determined if Alex De Angelis will be able to ride this weekend. The rider from San Marino is recovering rapidly from the injury on his left hand suffered in Australia. We will have to wait until Thursday morning after the visit to the Clinica Mobile in order to know if he will be declared fit to race this weekend at the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana. On the other hand the participation of his teammate Yuki Takahashi is guaranteed, the Japanese rider will be aiming this weekend to get in the points.
Colin Edwards -5
"With the struggles we’ve had this season I’ve been pretty happy these last few races. It’s been a tough year and we have worked our way through it. I look forward to this weekend, I have always liked Valencia, I’m just hoping that the weather doesn’t get too cold. Some good weather would be nice for this last race."
Alex De Angelis - 15
"I like the Valencia circuit, I have won races here in the past. It will be very difficult to get back out on the track after my crash from Philip Island and the injury that it caused me on my left hand. I am currently doing everything that the doctors are telling me in order to be ready for this weekend’s GP but it will need a long time for my hand to heal and be as it was. I will not be participating on the test on Monday after the Valencia GP."
Yuki Takahashi - 72
“This is our last opportunity this season to get in the points and we will do out best to get them. From the moment we started working with FTR we improved a lot but the race results do not do justice all the hard work and effort put in. We go to Valencia with high expectations.”
"FEEM" TARGETS 2009 REPEAT
After a difficult run of 'flyaway' races Ratthapark Wilairot returns to Europe this weekend for the final round of the Moto2 World Championship looking to end the season in positive fashion. The Thai rider has had success at this circuit in the past and he is hoping that can give him the confidence to push for points this weekend.
Ratthapark Wilairot “I didn't perform to my best in the last three races and it was a shame because I really wanted to offer a good result to the team and the people who came out to support me. Valencia is the final round of the season and I am sure I can do well in it because I have found some confidence with the bike lately and with a bit more conviction we can get the result we need. I really like this circuit and I qualified on the front row here in 2009 and finished the race in fifth so hopefully I can repeat that level of performance and finish in the points.”
Fausto Gresini “Feem has been desperate for results lately and that has shown in his riding, which has been affected in a negative manner. Hopefully he can be more relaxed this weekend at Valencia and have a good ride at a circuit where he showed great potential on the 250 back in 2009.”
NICCOLO RECOVERED FROM PHILLIP ISLAND INJURIES
A long three weeks on the road ended with a bang for Niccolò Antonelli, a crash in practice in Australia seeing him ruled out of the penultimate race of the season. However, the Team San Carlo Honda Gresini Moto3 youngster is back in Europe this weekend with the experience under his belt and the character and spirit to bounce back positively in the final round of his rookie year at Valencia, a circuit he knows well.
Niccolo’ Antonelli “Unfortunately the crash at Phillip Island kind of ruined what had been an otherwise incredible experience for me over the previous three weeks, both as a rider and as a person. Now I am recovered and ready to race at Valencia with renewed spirit for the final round of the season. I know the Valencia circuit well and I like it but we need to work from Friday to find a setting that will allow me to be competitive at what is a technical demanding circuit.”
Fausto Gresini “Crashing is all part of gaining experience for a young rider at the start of his career but Niccolò has already shown great character to bounce back from a big one at Phillip Island. He was disappointed that he couldn't race at a track he immediately liked but I think it was the right thing. Niccolò is on a steep learning curve that will prove vital next season and at Valencia, a circuit he knows, he will be able to give his best as he continues to build for the future. ”
FOLGER AIMING TO FINISH THE SEASON ON THE PODIUM
MAPFRE Aspar rider hoping to shine at team's home race
Resurfaced and ready for battle, the Circuito de la Comunidad Valenciana welcomes the final flourish in a fabulous first season of Moto3 racing this weekend. Only the German DTM car series has laid rubber on the new surface so far but their feedback was excellent and after a gruelling three week trip to Japan, Malaysia and Australia there could be no better place for the riders to travel to for the final round of the 2012 season. The Moto3 title has already been decided but that won't stop the riders in the minor category from battling for every inch of track until the final flag.
MAPFRE Aspar star Jonas Folger is amongst the favourites for one of the final three trophies of the season. Only a miscalculation on the start line in Australia, which was penalised by Race Direction with a 'ride through', prevented the German from adding to his growing collection but he is now doubly determined to do so this weekend at the home of the MAPFRE Aspar Team. For Luca Amato the final round of the campaign represents a welcome return to familiar territory after a challenging run of races at circuits he had never previously visited.
Jonas Folger: "I made a mistake in Australia that prevented me from fighting for the podium, which was a real shame. Anyway, we can be happy with our performances during the three flyaway races because we were consistently up front and I am sure we can be there again this weekend at Valencia. I learned a harsh lesson from the jump start and this Sunday I am ready to fight for the podium or the win again. I really like the Ricardo Tormo circuit, I have raced there lots of times especially in smaller championships. This year the track surface is new and I am curious to see what it's like. The objective is to put together the perfect weekend and fight for pole position on Saturday and for the win on Sunday. It will take a lot of focus."
Luca Amato: "I had a good feeling on the bike in the last race. I struggled to adapt to the circuit over the weekend at Phillip Island but the situation improved on Sunday and we found a setting that should give us every confidence going into this weekend. At Valencia we will use this as a base setting and try to improve again. I know the circuit because I rode there a couple of years ago. I like the track, it is short and fun, so hopefully we can finish the season off with a good weekend."
SERIES RETURNS TO EUROPE FOR SEASON FINALE
MAPFRE Aspar riders hope to shine at home and finish season on a high
Sixteen races, thirteen countries and forty-eight days of action. The Moto2 season so far has been a gruelling test of endurance but there is one round still remaining: the GP de la Comunidad Valenciana. Barely over their jetlag from an intercontinental triple header the Moto2 riders must dust themselves down in readiness for an intense finale in front of a passionate Spanish crowd. It is another chance for the home riders to shine, with the top two positions in the championship already decided in favour of Spanish riders.
MAPFRE Aspar rider Nico Terol clinched the 125cc World Championship here in 2011, a memorable achievement that will see the local rider honoured by the renaming of turn four this weekend. Nico finds himself in a different situation altogether this weekend but he will approach the race with exactly the same level of determination and commitment. Jordi Torres is also keen to shine in front of his home crowd after showing good form in the latter stages of the season. The Catalan is hoping to secure a ride for next season and is determined to make his track knowledge count this weekend.
Nico Terol: "After a couple of wonderful seasons this has been a tough one but I have learnt a lot for the future. I am highly motivated for my home race now after the flyaways. We were fast in Japan and Malaysia but didn't get the results. I have some wonderful memories of the circuit at Valencia, I know it perfectly and I was crowned World Champion there - there is even going to be a corner named in my honour for that. I really want to keep working hard to finish the season with another good result - not just for me but for the team and the sponsors, who have really helped me this season. I am going to give it everything from the first session and hopefully finish the weekend with my best race of the season."
Jordi Torres: "We go to Valencia this weekend, a circuit I know well and where we will have the opportunity to be fast from the start of the weekend. We'll get straight to work on setting the bike up to go as fast as possible from the first session. The Comunidad Valenciana circuit has been good to me in the past and with a new track surface it should be good this weekend and I am sure we can have a positive race in Valencia. It is the last race of the season and I am going to give everything I have to finish it in the right way. Hopefully we can be in the top fifteen throughout practice and then go for it in the race."
Redding and Kallio looking to end the season on a high at Valencia
Gosselies, Belgium - 6 November 2012: Valencia once again hosts the Moto2 season finale and after narrowly missing out on the podium last time out in Australia, Scott Redding heads to Spain determined to end his season on a high. The same is also true of Mika Kallio, who looked all set to claim a top five finish at Phillip Island until he was hit by another rider and crashed out of the race.
Redding has enjoyed his best season to date in the Moto2 World Championship, with four podium finishes securing him fifth place in the championship standings going into this weekend's final round. With just 16 points separating him from Thomas Lüthi in the championship, Redding will be going all out this weekend to steal fourth place from the Swiss rider.
Kallio secured his best result of the season at Valencia last year, finishing second and claiming his first ever podium in Moto2. The Finn, who will celebrate his 30th birthday on Thursday, has also won at Valencia in both the 125cc and 250cc classes previously.
The Valencia circuit is relatively slow-speed, and features a unique layout that was designed with the spectator in mind, as fans enjoy an unrestricted view of almost the entire track from any of the massive grandstands that ring the circuit.
The 14 turns, nine of which are to the left and five to the right, are tightly packed together, meaning that the riders spend most of the lap either cornering or changing direction. This requires a bike set-up to turn quickly, combined with tyres that can withstand the stress of almost constant cornering over full race distance.
Scott Redding #45:
"This season has been a positive one for us, but it's not over yet. My fifth place in the championship is secure, but there's still an outside chance of nicking fourth from Tom Lüthi. So, for me, there is nothing to lose this weekend, which means I can go all out for the podium. The battle for the championship between Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro is finished, but both of them will be looking to win in front of their home crowd this weekend, which means they can't be discounted. But, if I can qualify up near the front and then get away with the leaders from the start of the race, then I'm quite happy to push to the limit - and beyond if necessary - to get on the podium. That's all I can do; I can't influence Tom's race, so we'll just have to see where we are championship wise after the chequered flag."
Mika Kallio #36:
"The overseas races were hard. I was able to run the same pace as the top five but, unfortunately, I didn't manage to collect many points. It means that I go into the final race having to defend my sixth position in the championship, rather than pushing to take fifth from Scott. But I'm not thinking about the championship, only about the final race. I want to finish the season with a good result, at a track on which I've won before and where I took my first Moto2 podium last year. I'm pretty confident going into the weekend but, as we saw in Australia, anything can happen in Moto2, so hopefully we'll have luck on our side as well for the final race of the season.
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
"This season has been our most successful to date, with Scott fifth and Mika sixth in the standings going into this weekend, so it would be good to end on a high with two good results in the final race. For Scott, a podium finish at Valencia is the only chance he has of stealing fourth place in the championship from Tom Lüthi, whereas Mika needs a good result if he is to defend sixth place from Bradley Smith, who is only 11 points behind him. Both riders go into this weekend with some confidence, after two good performances in Australia. Scott was unlucky to miss out on a podium finish there, whereas Mika was riding the race of his life before being taken out by another rider on the penultimate lap. I'm confident we'll see both riders up at the front battling for a top five finish this weekend at Valencia."
Season Finale - The Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana
After an intense 3 weeks in Asia and Australia, Brad is now back in Spain and ready for the very last race of the season: the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana.
The young South African obtained very positive results in the last three races, including a 12th place in Malaysia and a 14th at Phillip Island, finally adding some points to his championship standing position. As we all know, unfortunately Lady Luck hasn't been very generous with him this season, but hopefully this weekend he will achieve his dreams of a Top 10 and end his Rookie Season on a high!
Brad likes Valencia's track and can’t wait to get back onto his KALEX –KTM on Friday, he tested here before the beginning of the season, but he also knows he will need to find a good setting right on the first day to be competitive, because the Iberian circuit can really be really tough!
Brad Binder : " I'm really looking forward to this last race, even though I'm quite sad the season is already over. I wish I could have obtained better results, but unfortunately luck hasn't been very generous to us this year. I was able to finish in the points in the last two races and finally fight for the positions I am capable of, so hopefully we'll be able to keep up the momentum until Sunday! I always like to race in Spain because the atmosphere is incredible! I've already received messages on Twitter from fans who will be there to support me, so that makes me even more excited! Keep your fingers crossed for me and as us racers say in South Africa, "flat out"!"
MotoGP Moto3 - Team Italia ready for season finale
Fenati chases the Rookie of the Year title, Tonucci wants to confirm his progress
Moto3 goes back to Europe and Team Italia FMI riders are eager to be protagonists once again.
Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#5), despite the solid finishes in Japan and Australia, was not able to maintain the fourth place in the general standings and the lead among rookies. The 16 year old still had an amazing season, scoring his maiden win in Jerez, two second places (Qatar and Mugello) and a third (Misano) in the 11 races in which he finished in the Top 15. He is just five points behind Rins and will have to finish ahead of the Spaniard in Valencia to close at the top among the rookies.
Alessandro Tonucci (Team Italia FMI FTR Honda#19) is back after some of the best races of his career. He was third in Motegi and seventh in Australia, and will have a chance to close his tenure with Team Italia on another positive note. His experience at the Spanish track (he was 13th last year) can help him toward this goal.
Massimo Vergini (Team Manager)
"We head into the final round with the same enthusiasm we had all season long. Both riders are in great shape and ready to race. Fenati can further prove his talent by winning the rookie title. Tonucci can once again aim at the podium. This year started with many question marks regarding a new class, but we managed to be among the protagonists. I want to thank FMI and President Paolo Sesti for their great support. The team's professionalism and sponsors' help also allowed us to have a fantastic year and further develop Team Italia's project."
Resurfaced Valenica to Challenge Dunlop and Champions
Two new Dunlop Champions, a new track surface and a revised tyre allocation are the headlines as Dunlop returns to Spain for the season finales of the Moto2 and Moto3 World Championships, the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana.
The Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana offers a new track surface for the seventeenth event of the year, meaning Dunlop expects an aggressive welcome to its rubber compounds, for which a harder Moto2 allocation is offered in retort.
Two new Dunlop Champions will take to the track for the event from November 9-11, with Marc Marquez taking the Moto2 title in Phillip Island, following on from Sandro Cortese achieving Moto3 glory in Sepang.
A New Surface
The 4km Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana offers nine left hand turns and five right handers. Running anti-clockwise with a 650m straight, it offers the many and numerous spectators who attend superb viewing due to its nature. Due to having been recently resurfaced for the first time since the circuit was opened in 1999, Dunlop will bring the Group D Grip Focused allocation of the 4886 medium and 3838 hard compounds.
The 4886 holds temperature well to compensate for long straight tyre cooling and has good mechanical grip in slow corner, whereas the 3838 as the harder option core compound gives riders the confidence to open the throttle early out of the apex. Both compounds have good durability and the 4886 also appears in the Abrasion Defenders grouping.
At the front, it’s a return to the fold for the 717 harder front compound which re-joins the 302 after the 345 stood in for the 717 in the previous three races.
Marc Marquez: 2012 Moto2 World Champion!
Marc Marquez became a Dunlop World Champion for the second time by securing the 2012 Moto2 title in the penultimate round of the season at Phillip Island.
The 19-year-old Spaniard needed to score just two points in Australia, which he more than achieved with a daring last-turn pass for third place.
It was an emotional moment for Marquez and his team. The former 125cc World Champion had feared for his career after struggling with double vision problems this winter, but returned better than ever to win eight of the 16 rounds.
Marquez said: "It's an incredible feeling, a dream. When I remember the hard times and the support of my family and team, I cannot help but get emotional.”
Prior to Moto2, Marquez also won ten 125cc races and the 2010 World Championship with Dunlop.
"125cc taught me to be quick. In Moto2 I have learnt to think on the bike."
Marquez Raises The Bar In Moto2’s Fastest Season
Moto2’s third season has been the fastest yet, with new race lap records set at eleven of the 16 rounds so far.
It’s also been the closest, with nine races won by less than one-second. Three different riders led the World Championship and five have won a grand prix.
It is against that backdrop, and despite missing most of pre-season testing, that Marquez has raised the bar for both season and all-time Moto2 victories.
A seven-time winner and title runner-up in his rookie 2011 season, Marquez put his winter woes behind him with victory in two of the opening three rounds, either side of a debut win for Pol Espargaro.
The title lead then changed hands three times in three races, before Marquez returned to the top following round six at Silverstone.
Marquez hammered home his advantage with five wins during the middle part of the season, but his greatest ride came at Motegi, when he was almost last into turn one, before charging to victory.
Marquez will be chasing a ninth win at the Valencia finale on November 11.
As well as Marquez (8) and nearest rival Espargaro (4), the other 2012 race winners are: Andrea Iannone (2), Thomas Luthi (1) and Alex de Angelis (1). In terms of all-time Moto2 wins, Marquez tops the list with 15, followed by eight for Iannone.
Like the previous Moto2 Champions, Toni Elias and Stefan Bradl, Marquez is moving to MotoGP.
Moto2 and Dunlop
Moto2, featuring 600cc four-stroke motorcycles, replaced the 250cc two-stroke World Championship at the start of 2010.
Dunlop, which had long dominated the 250GP category, was the natural choice to support the new class as exclusive tyre supplier, helping create a smooth and successful transition.
Dunlop provides equal tyres and technical support to the 30+ riders, representing eight different Constructors.
A shortlist of two (out of three) front compounds and two (out of five) rear compounds are made available for each event, plus an additional allocation of wet tyres. Tyre development is continuous, as proven by the plummeting lap times.
17,000 tyres and counting
By the time this event has finished Dunlop would have supplied and fitted over 17,000 tyres in 2012 within the Moto2 and Moto3 classes combined.
No Rest for the Wicked: Monday Test
End of season celebrations on the Sunday night following the event will be tempered by the knowledge that – weather permitting – Monday will see an IRTA test at the circuit where Dunlop will unleash some developmental 2013 tyres. The advantage of testing immediately after the MotoGP is that the circuit is well rubbered, and riders and engineers are all well versed on what is working and where they want to see improvements.
Dunlop’s Moto2 Operations Manager, Clinton Howe:
“Firstly, we must say congratulations to Marc and all of his team for winning the 2012 Moto2 World Championship in such fine form in Phillip Island. Marc was the bookies’ favourite right from the start of the 2012 season, but what the bookies didn't take into consideration was the fact of how close this championship is in terms of talent and machinery.
“Marquez has been the man to beat for sure this year, but there has been eleven other different riders who have stood on the podium with him over the last 16 races. Added to this fact, he had two no points scoring races in Le Mans and what seems to be his unlucky circuit, Sepang. This means he has had to work very hard to win eight of the seventeen rounds so far and end up on the podium thirteen times. None of the other riders can boast this.
“Marquez truly deserves this world championship, he has never broke when under pressure from the other riders and we owe him a lot of gratitude for the lap records being consistently broken over the course of the year and raising the level of the Moto2 championship. Of course he has had some great people within his team that have helped him to achieve this goal and behind every great rider there has to be a great team.
“There's no doubt that Marc has a very good future ahead of him and if he rides like he has this year in MotoGP next year, I can see him winning races.
“Now to Valencia where there will be a new challenge for Dunlop this year due to a new track surface. High tyre abrasion and degradation could be a factor we have not had to deal with since the circuit was opened in 1999. Generally we see faster times set on new circuit surfaces, so maybe we can expect to see another track where the lap record is broken in Moto2.
“Post-race, on Monday, there will be a one day test for Moto2 machinery, so the Dunlop service will be staying put for that day and will use this valuable test day to test some of the new ideas we have for the Moto2 tyre development programme.”