Terol tops Moto2 testing times
Today saw the beginning of the Moto2 official pre-season testing as the paddock reconvened in Valencia.
30 riders took to the track today and using the new 215kg weight limit for the first time.
Local lad, and 2011 125cc world champion Nico Terol was the fastest rider aboard his Aspar Suter with a time of 1’35″926.
A close second place was 2011 Moto2 runner up Julian Simon, and he ended just 0.025s behind Terol on his Italtrans Racing bike. Simon also suffered a harmless crash during one of the three sessions that the Moto2 teams have at their disposal as they are also sharing the track with the Moto3 teams.
Third place was last year’s runner-up, and 2013 title favorite Pol Espargaro, posting a best time of 1’36″106. Espargaro was the first of the Kalex riders and he headed a barage of Kalex riders such as Scott Redding who is hoping for a much closer year eith the intouction of the weight limit.
Fourth to the ninth position covered by a little more than three tenths of second as the Moto2 field looks as close as ever.
Simone Corsi was sixth and little more than half a second from Nico Terol aboard one of four Speed Up machines, that NGM Forward Racing will be fielding this year.
Corsi managed only seven laps before a crash hindered his progress for the day. Reigning CEV Moto2 champion Jordi Torres was 7th, whilst Tito Rabat (who can start eating again with the weight limit introduction) was the fastest rider in session 1, and ended up 8th, followed by the always dangerous and highly fancied Thomas Luthi in 9th.
2011 Moto2 world champion Toni Elias was tenth fastest on his Blusens Avintia just ahead of his 2009 MotoGP Gresini team mate Alex De Angelis who was 11th on the second NGM Forward bikes.
The Valencia test also saw the debut of reigning Moto3 champion Sandro Cortese, and a new Tech3 duo Danny Kent and Louis Rossi.
Cortese on his Dynavolt Intact GP was 24th fastest as he continuing his learning process of the KTM bike. Whilst Rossi and Kent were 25th and 28th respectively as they continued their learning process on the more powerful Moto2 machines.
