Disastrous Le Mans qualifying for Efren Vazquez

Unexpected rain at lunch time ruined the entire qualifying session for Leopard Racing’s Efren Vazquez who will start tomorrow’s Moto3™ Grand Prix de France from way down on the grid.

All free practice sessions had shown competitiveness of the rider line up at the tricky 4.2 kilometre Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans. In cold and tricky track conditions series leader Danny Kent set the fourth fastest lap time whilst team mate Efren Vazquez concluded the final preparation for the most important qualifying session in P6 despite a heavy fall.

Optimism was high for QP this afternoon but as soon as track time started some drizzling already was in the air before it started to rain heavily a couple of minutes later. After strong performances by all riders during free practice sessions it is all set for a great comeback in Sunday’s fifth race of the 2015 season.

The lights for the Moto3 race on Sunday morning will go out with starting time at 11am (GMT+2) and a race distance of 24 laps.

#7 Efren VAZQUEZ, Grid position 29th – 1´52.610 (2/3):
“I’ve to admit that my condition is ok after that nasty crash this morning. From this point of view everything is in its place. But during this qualifying practice everything went wrong because I think the only way was to push straight from the beginning to qualify for a good grid position. Unfortunately our strategy was wrong because as soon I went out on track I already saw some rain drops on my windscreen and one lap later as I tried to push for a lap time it started to rain. From this point of time the slick tyres were completely useless as well it didn’t made sense to go out on track again. Our grid position is of course a disaster, but like in Jerez two weeks ago we need to push as soon as the lights goes out and I need to try to find my rhythm quickly in order to catch as much points as possible. Anyway, I’m still quite confident after we’ve proven a good and consistent pace during free practices.”

Source: Leopard Racing