Elias and Terol slowly starting to improve at Estoril
Conditions at the Estoril circuit in Portugal today were similar to those experienced at Jerez last week, with the Moto2 riders facing a tricky surface in free practice. A morning session saw considerable dampness on track, thanks to heavy overnight rain that had failed to dry out over the course of the early hours. With no rainfall over the course of the day, most of the Portuguese autodrome had dried out by the time the afternoon run came around, and it it was Briton Scott Redding who was fastest in the overall standings.
MAPFRE Aspar team riders Toni Elías and Nico Terol were back to work after a few days off inbetween their home Spanish GP and this round in neighbouring Portugal. Elías was eighth in the morning in the less-than-ideal track conditions, improving considerably by the afternoon to move up into fourth overall. Several changes made since the race at Jerez, fully supported by team manager Jorge Martínez Aspar, allowed the former Moto2 World Champion a more comfortable ride today –and he will be looking to go even better in tomorrow’s final free practice session and qualifying.
Nico Terol was down in 25th after the morning session, having taken things very cautiously in his first Moto2 outing at the Estoril circuit. The reigning 125cc World Champion was able to enjoy himself more in the afternoon, but his focus was firmly on getting a good setup, learning the bike and the track and feeling at ease, rather than looking at positions. Nonetheless, Terol improved his riding and position on the timesheets in the afternoon run, with the 18th fastest lap of the day in the intermediate category.
4th Toni Elias (1.42.227, 36 laps): “Jorge Martínez Aspar continues to give us reassurance, and this is very important. The ideas that we were unable to implement in Jerez due to time constraints were put to use today, even if the conditions weren’t perfect. We are already closer. The problema in Jerez was with the front, but this time we have issues with the rear. We still aren’t there, but we are on the right track. I am happy with this. I am beginning to ride fast on my own and have much better pace. If I improve again tomorrow, then we could be looking at a good race.”
18th Nico Terol (1.43.205, 42 laps): “I am much happier today. I focused on enjoying myself on the bike and working hard alongside the team, without paying attention to the positions. I hadn’t ridden here with a Moto2 bike before, so in the second session I decided to go out for a few laps in used tyres. When I got stuck somewhere, I would try out a new line or a different way of riding at that certain point. That’s how we improved and it is what has motivated me. With new tyres I was riding in the 1’43s and below. We will get there, I’m sure, but we have to have patience. I know that we will get there.”
Source: Aspar Team
