Unfortunate crash ruins Salom’s qualifying session

An unfortunate crash has spoiled the weekend of Luis Salom and RW Racing GP. Halfway through the qualifying session for the Grand Prix of Japan Salom was a little too early on the gas just before turn 11, causing the rear of the motorcycle to break out. Salom dropped back to twelfth position.

The Spanish rider and his Aprilia were okay, but because the chain had fallen off, Salom could not continue. The Japanese marshals didn’t bring back the machine to the garage of RW Racing GP until five minutes before the end of qualifying. That was too short for chief engineer Hans Spaan and his crew to get the engine riding again. “It was a minor crash and my own fault”, Salom admitted. “The waiting was the worst: you just sit there and wait for your bike to be returned while everybody else is improving their lap times. So frustrating that is! Chain back on and ride, but five minutes before the end of the qualification is just too short of time.”

Salom was utterly disappointed, because both the third free practice and the first part of qualifying were fine. His lap time of 1.59.978 was good for seventh place at the time of the crash. Second row (top 6) with a low 1.59 was certainly possible, is the conviction of the rider. “Now I have to start catching up from the fourth row. This doesn’t make it any easier. But I know that the speed is there and do my utmost to ensure an acceptable result.”

Source: RW Racing GP