Season-best qualifying for Terol, Elias still not comfortable with bike
Pol Espargaró and Marc Márquez continued their duel in the Moto2 class on Saturday in the battle for pole position. Behind them, Johann Zarco recorded the third fastest time of the day, but he will lose fifteen places as punishment for a morning collision with Espargaró. Of the Italians, Andrea Iannone and Alex De Angelis were the best performing riders and could have a say in tomorrow’s race. The pace from the frontrunners is strong, despite Mugello being one of the trickiest tracks on the calendar: The gap between pole position (Espargaró) and thirteenth place was just a single second. With all these ingredients, the recipe for the Italian Grand Prix looks to be one of the most delicious of the year to date in the closely contested intermediate class.
MAPFRE Aspar rider Nico Terol continued to show how much he is improving in Moto2 with a strong showing at Mugello. The Spaniard’s reward for consistent progress over the past two days was a fast pace in qualifying and tenth on the grid. Terol clocked his fastest lap of 1’53.258 three from the conclusion of his run, and he was only eight tenths off the best time of the day. This is his best qualifying result of 2012 and gives him extra motivation for tomorrow’s race.
In contrast, teammate Toni Elías is on his worst GP weekend to date this season, lacking front end feel with his Moto2 bike. The former World Champion will take off from 23rd on the grid at Mugello and will be looking for further solutions in the morning warmup in order to be competitive.
10th Nico Terol 1.53.258 (20 laps): “I am very happy with the result from qualifying, as we were due a good session. We improved this morning, particularly under braking and when opening the throttle. We still have to reduce the chatter and carry on working on our lean angle for the changes of direction in which you are off the brakes. We will start from tenth for tomorrow’s race, and having seen the pace that I had in practice and qualifying, I can be very motivated for the contest. I hope to get a good start, be alert on the opening laps and latch onto the lead group. I have had to fight my way through at every race so far and now I hope to let the leaders carry me forward.”
23rd Toni Elías 1.54.038 (18 laps): “In the final minutes of the session I managed to latch onto a fast group of riders and drop several tenths off my morning time. Even so, I don’t think that this was a big enough improvement. We are having perhaps the most difficult weekend of the entire season. I will try and get a good start tomorrow and I want to do my best in order to make up as much ground as I can. I am happy with the team and everyone is helping me tremendously, but I am still not comfortable with this bike.”
Source: Aspar Team Press Release
