Simon and Fores continue to pick up the pace at Jerez test
Today the spring temperatures continued at the Jerez circuit where a small group of Moto2 riders and official Ducati tester Franco Battaini tested for the second day. Like yesterday the track was open from 10 to 18 o’clock without interruption and most riders accumulated a lot of laps. It’s rare to have this kind of ideal conditions in winter testing and it should be enjoyed because the first official test takes place next week and the first race of the year within three weeks already. Only a small incident has interrupted the day’s work for twenty minutes: a crash of Franco Battaini after 2PM in the afternoon. After this private test the next time the Moto2 riders will come together in Jerez is for the first official test of the year, the “Grand Prix Zero”.
The MAPFRE Aspar riders are leaving Jerez with all work done and their bikes ready for next week. In two days of testing without a break Julián Simón completed 95 laps and teammate Xavi Forés 106. A lot of laps and track time which they used to find the solutions for the chassis. Julián Simón continued to improve his laptimes without much effort and this morning, shortly after going out on track, he posted a laptime of 1.43.10, two tenths quicker than yesterday. For his part Xavi Fores has found his way to follow and a chassis configuration that allowed him to to establish a fast pace, he improved his own laptime by six tenths from yesterday. Julian and Xavi are eager to come back to the Andalusian track next weekend and evaluate their level with all the riders on the track who will compete this season.
Julian Simon 1.43.10 (36 laps): “This morning I went out on track around 11.30 because I wanted to wait until the asphalt was in perfect condition. Yesterday the day was very positive and today we had only little to test. I focused on keeping a good pace and certainly the feelings has become excellent. The front grip was what concerned us the most since last year, but now it gives me great confidence. Around 2 o’clock we put on a new tyre but just then Battaini had a serious crash and they closed the track for a few minutes. Then I went back out, but I completed only a few laps, we decided to end the training early. I think this test has been very productive, it will help us to go to the official test next week at the best level. I hope to continue like I’m doing so far and be prepared for the start of the championship.”
Xavi Fores 1.44.30 (45 laps): “Today things have gone much better than yesterday because we found a good basis to test with. The feedback given to the team brings us on a good way, the bike becomes more manageable every time and additionally I am also changing a lot about my style and my corner speed is much faster. I’m happy because I improved by almost a second compared to yesterday, I lapped all day with solid 1.44 laptimes. It is very important, regardless if it’s only testing, to maintain a good rhythm, to how my performance could be in a race. This test has been great because it allowed us to assess many aspects. I’m very happy about Jerez because of the enormous range of possibilities we found for improvement. We lacked the right direction because we didn’t do enough kilometers with the bike, but we can leave Jerez now with a clear idea.”
Source: Mapfre Aspar Team
