Redding ascends the Moto2™ field

Day two of testing at the Jerez circuit featured cloudy skies and even a few drops of rain for the Moto2 field, thought the track remained dry and the riders were able to put in a full day’s work in preparation for the 2012 Championship season, with the majority of the field pacing quicker than yesterday.

While the times stated today are not official, the majority of teams reported lap times with Marc VDS Racing reporting a very quick time of 1’42.2 from their rider Scott Redding. Claudio Corti followed with a 1’42.4 and yesterday’s leader Thomas Luthi set the third fastest time, just one tenth off that of Italtrans Racing rider Corti.

Newcomer Takaaki Nakagami (Italtrans Racing) continues to impress as the Japanese rider finished the day with the fourth fastest time with Pol Espargaro (Pons Racing) completing the top five times.

Bike changes and adaptations throughout the paddock resumed full force, with riders such as Gino Rea and Rattapark Wilairot of the Team Gresini team working on the set-up of their 2012 version Moriwaki, while Bradley Smith of Tech 3 Racing went back to the settings the team used in November after various changes did not produce the results expected. Johann Zarco reported finding the adaptation to 4 stroke bikes rather difficult and said he still needs to get more confidence with braking.

Unofficial Moto2 lap times Friday (recorded by teams:

1. Scott Redding, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, 1’42.2
2. Claudio Corti, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’42.4
3. Thomas Luthi, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK, 1’42.5
4. Takaaki Nakagami, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, 1’42.7
5. Pol Espargaro, Pons Racing, 1’42.8
6. Julian Simon, AVINTIA RACING Moto2, 1’43.0
7. Esteve Rabat, Pons Racing, 1’43.1
8. Bradley Smith, TECH 3 RACING, 1’43.2
9. Mika Kallio, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, 1’43.3
10. Xavier Simeon, TECH 3 RACING, 1’43.4
11. Randy Krummenacher, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND, 1’43.4
12. Nico Terol, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, 1’43.4
13. Andrea Iannone, SPEED MASTER, 1’43.5
14. Alex De Angelis, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’43.3
15. Angel Rodriguez, SAG TEAM, 1’43.6
16. Mike Di Meglio, SPEED UP, 1’43.8
17. Toni Elías, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM, 1’44.0
18. Axel Pons, PONS RACING, 1’44.0
19. Gino Rea, GRESINI RACING Moto2, 1’44.0
20. Simone Corsi, IODARACING PROJECT, 1’44.0
21. Yuki Takahashi, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, 1’44.1
22. R. Wiliarot, THAI HONDA GRESINI Moto2, 1’44.1
23. Johann Zarco, JIR Moto2, 1’44.3
24. Max Neukirchner, KIEFER RACING, 1’44.6
25. Dominique Aegerter, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’44.6
26. Roberto Rolfo, TECHNOMAG-CIP, 1’45.1
27. Ricky Cardus, ARGUIÑANO RACING TEAM, 1’45.3
28. Alexander Lundh, MZ RACING TEAM, 1’45.8
29. Eric Granado, JIR Moto2, 1’46.1
30. Damian Cudlin, QMMF RACING TEAM, 1’46.3
31. Marco Colandrea, SAG TEAM, 1’46.8
24. Elena Rosell, QMMF RACING TEAM, 1’46.9