Almost perfect debut: The first Moto2 season for Julian Simon
Julián Simón is someone who doesn’t forget from whence he came. A person who doesn’t get carried away with success and who continues his path of hard work regardless of circumstance. Julián Simón was 125cc World Champion in 2009. He returned, he saw and he conquered. After celebrating briefly, he returned home to Villacañas to plan this season. A new category, new challenges and new rivals.
His CV was impeccable, and Julián intended to add to it in Moto2. He made his intentions clear in Qatar, where he only just missed out on pole position to a slipstream from Elías. However, despite his great form, his race did not last more than one turn. A clutch problem left him out of the game, awaiting a second chance at Jerez. In practice he was second fastest. In the race he had grip issues, and placed eighth in his first Moto2 finish.
With two insufficient results to his name, the series headed to Le Mans, where he won in 2009 and began his route to the peak of 125cc. The team decided to change chassis and the decision paid off, as the Mapfre Aspar rider took the team’s first Moto2 podium with a spectacular comeback. The chassis worked but hard labour was still needed, as there was still adaptation to be done.
The inaugural edition of the Moto2 class began to take shape and it was clear that fighting in the middle of forty riders was no walk in the park. Breaking away would be the key to success. Julián dropped down to fifteenth at the beginning of the Italian round and could only manage ninth place, and the championship moved on to Great Britain. He ended his first visit to Silverstone with his second podium, courtesy of third place.
The following week he left Assen with sixth and took a rostrum in Barcelona. Third place in front of his home fans ended the opening third of the championship in positive fashion, but there were many contenders and many points still up for grabs in a highly balanced category.
A summer visit to Sachsenring was next on the calendar -one of Julián Simón’s favourite tracks. He qualified on the front row and had a clear focus on victory. However, in the race he crashed after three laps and went into the summer break still looking for consistency. The rest did him good, and he returned to action in the Czech Republic with fifth place after a bad start dropped him to ninth. Toni Elías was emerging as favourite for the title.
Julián Simón doesn’t give up. Adversity simple presents another challenge. He needed to make an impact, although the results didn’t come easily. The Czech Republic, Holland and Germany were races to forget, but it was time for action. It came at Indianapolis. A first pole position of the season and second place in the race was just the boost that he was looking for.
It was the turning point of the season. Second places at Misano, Aragon and Motegi followed. In Japan he took pole once more, then followed it up with another in Malaysia. Victory was a possibility, but in Sepang he suffered another crash. Picking himself back up, he placed twenty-first. A clear demonstration that he cannot be beaten. The title went to Elías and Julito returned to form with fourth in Australia.
Following the triple flyaway to Japan, Malaysia and Australia, it was time for the championship to head back to Europe. Julito placed twelfth in Estoril, exhausted from jet lag and the tension of competing for second place in the series.
The final race of the year was a last opportunity for Julito to take his maiden Moto2 win in 2010, but he fell just short. However, third place to surprise winner Karel Abraham was just what he needed, placing ahead of Andrea Iannone in the standings and securing the runner-up spot by two points. The Spaniard is now a firm favourite for the title in 2011, after a great inaugural season in the intermediate class.
