Slow start to Montmeló test

Poor weather in Barcelona meant that the start of the first of a scheduled three days for Moto2 and 125cc riders at the Circuit de Catalunya was limited, with the majority of teams spending the morning preparing their prototypes in hope of dryer conditions.

Roberto Rolfo and Robertino Pietri of the Italtrans STR team were the only Moto2 riders to take their bikes out, with the former emerging from the team box at 11.49am on his Suter chassis. Rolfo completed just under 20 laps, expressing a good feeling with the bike towards 1pm when the action closed for a break.

“The feeling was good, even though the rain from the past few days hasn’t helped,” Rolfo told motogp.com. “I’m pleased at the moment, the bike is already improving and even though there were some small problems warming up, I have already found a good feeling. I’d like to try dry tyres, but this was my first time on wet Moto2 tyres and it was useful.”

He continued: “At the moment we’re not working on the chassis, we are just trying to find the right feeling with the bike on this circuit. We did a good job with the set-up in January, and we can do more with the chassis but we need better conditions to concentrate on that.”

Rolfo’s team-mate Pietri completed just two laps before an engine problem forced him back into the box.

Other riders present on Wednesday include Scott Redding, who is eager to make his first strides on the Suter chassis for the Marc VDS Racing Team but opted against going out in the morning. Redding told motogp.com that he is “really pleased with the team and cannot wait to complete the first laps on the Suter”, but he is also waiting for better conditions.