Indy GP - Preview Quotes 125cc

Julián Simón: “Indianapolis is a place that I really enjoyed last year, although unfortunately we were unable to race. Despite that, I like the layout and consider it to be amongst my favourites. We are working tremendously well this season, which makes me sure that the Indianapolis Grand Prix will be another good race for us. The main goal will be to get the best setting for my Aprilia right from Friday, one that allows me to ride comfortably and get to Sunday with the chance of a win and the best points total possible. We have 54 points over the second placed rider in the standings, so we will have to fight to keep the gap –or extend it if possible. It’s going to be a tough two weeks, because we have two races on the bounce and will have to watch out not to tire ourselves out.”

Bradley Smith: “Indianapolis is a fantastic circuit, both in terms of layout and history. The people there are incredible, and you can tell that they live and breath motor racing. For the atmosphere alone the Indianapolis Grand Prix ranks amongst the best of the year for me. I really love the United States as well. We didn’t get on the podium at the last round, but the fourth place was a good enough result to start regaining form and I hope that we carry on doing well this weekend. The track is new for everyone, as we only rode there last year. That means that nobody knows it too well nor has all the data necessary to ride fast straight away. It is a strange place to ride, because there are lots of bumps and changes in asphalt, and it’s also a very technical circuit. We will see what happens over the weekend, but I hope for another successful race and more points for the title fight.”

Sergio Gadea: “In the Czech Republic I was fast, but I didn’t find a setting good enough to allow me to be at the front. Now we go to Indianapolis, a circuit that I like a lot. There are two corners that stand out for their difficulty, but generally it is a good track for my riding style. Nico is very strong and I’m sure that he will keep up his form, but right now he is our rival and we have to beat him. Beating Julián and Smith also has to be a goal, because they are ahead of both of us and Julián in particular needs to be stopped from clinching the title. In Donington we had an unexpected DNF, and at Brno the result wasn’t as good as we had hoped. That means that this is the moment to take risks in order to gain points. Indianapolis is a strange track, but I like it –although I would prefer not to have the same weather as last year!”

Czech GP: 125cc Quotes after race

2nd Julián Simón: “I am very happy with this race. Second place is a fantastic result considering that I said before coming here that the fast corners were difficult for me. I was very decisive throughout the weekend, trying to set the bike up best for today. We maybe lacked a bit of acceleration compared to Nico, but we did a great job with the chassis that gave me the advantage in braking and pace. Nico was very tough, making it more difficult for me with every lap, and he closed down every opening when I tried to make a move on the final lap. I am satisfied because the 20 points allow us to leave Brno as leaders of the championship and give me extra confidence. We know that this is the way to go if we are going to win the title. We are going for wins in the final part of the year, but we have to keep our heads to get points.”

4th Bradley Smith: “It was a pity that I had that scare on the opening lap. I think I might have hit the clutch lever at just the wrong moment, shutting off the engine and nearly going down. I was just about to hunt down Iannone and lost concentration. I think that without this I could have beenup there with the top three. In any case, after the disasters at Sachsenring and Donington I got back in the points, and that was my goal. Fourth isn’t bad, but I will take more from fact that it comes after troubles yesterday and the in the warmup. I leave Brno a little disappointed, because Iannone and Nico are both rivals who finished ahead of me. I already have my sights set on a podium at Indianapolis.”

9th Sergio Gadea:“I could have een fifth in the group in which I was riding, but I wouldn’t have even been satisfied then. I wasn’t at all comfortable and couldn’t follow Nico and Iannone, even after a good start. When Simón passed me I tried to hang off his back wheel, but I didn’t have the necessary feeling to do that and risked crashing. I gave everything I could, but when there is nothing you can do, there’s nothing that you can do. I have to wait now until Indianapolis for a better result.”

Czech GP: Race Results 125cc

Pos. Rider Team Total time Gap

1 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 40'57.378
2 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 40'57.546 0.168
3 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 41'06.097 8.719
4 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 41'09.821 12.443
5 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 41'13.384 16.006
6 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 41'13.444 16.066
7 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 41'14.483 17.105
8 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 41'14.580 17.202
9 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 41'14.601 17.223
10 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team 41'14.622 17.244
11 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team 41'14.996 17.618
12 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 41'19.355 21.977
13 Marcel SCHROTTER Toni - Mang Team 41'31.865 34.487
14 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team 41'31.890 34.512
15 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia 41'38.936 41.558
16 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix 41'40.476 43.098
17 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix 41'40.499 43.121
18 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten 41'40.542 43.164
19 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 41'40.831 43.453
20 Michael RANSEDER CBC Corse 41'41.295 43.917
21 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA Loncin Racing 41'48.088 50.710
22 Luigi MORCIANO Junior GP Racing Dream 42'07.354 1'09.976
23 Alessandro TONUCCI Junior GP Racing Dream 42'08.011 1'10.633
24 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing 42'32.385 1'35.007
25 Luca VITALI CBC Corse 42'36.863 1'39.485
26 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse 42'37.117 1'39.739
27 Karel PESEK Pesek Team 42'37.397 1'40.019
28 Ivan VISAK Team Migomoto 41'32.489 1 Lap
29 Ladislav CHMELIK Moto FGR 41'32.937 1 Lap
30 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing 42'49.752 1 Lap

Not classified
24 Simone CORSI ITA Fontana Racing Aprilia 26'38.065 7 Lap
32 Lorenzo SAVADORI ITA Fontana Racing Aprilia 17'42.265 11 Lap
12 Esteve RABAT SPA Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 15'18.341 12 Lap
39 Luis SALOM SPA Jack & Jones Team Aprilia 11'06.193 14 Lap
53 Jasper IWEMA NED Racing Team Germany Honda 2'21.286 18 Lap
8 Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2'21.435 18 Lap

Czech GP - Qualifying Results 125cc

Nico Terol led for most of the qualifying until Andrea Iannone used his slipstream in the closing stages of the session to post a faster laptime, leaving Terol no space to improve in the next laps.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap

1 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'08.171
2 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 2'08.484 0.313
3 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 2'08.507 0.336
4 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'08.542 0.371
5 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'08.957 0.786
6 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 2'09.184 1.013
7 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'09.240 1.069
8 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 2'09.418 1.247
9 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team 2'09.434 1.263
10 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team 2'09.462 1.291
11 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team 2'09.480 1.309
12 Simone CORSI Fontana Racing 2'09.741 1.570
13 Michael RANSEDER CBC Corse 2'09.962 1.791
14 Luis SALOM Jack & Jones Team 2'10.024 1.853
15 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix 2'10.081 1.910
16 Esteve RABAT Blusens Aprilia 2'10.239 2.068
17 Marcel SCHROTTER Toni - Mang Team 2'10.269 2.098
18 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'10.269 2.098
19 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'10.297 2.126
20 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 2'10.471 2.300
21 Lorenzo ZANETTI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'10.500 2.329
22 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia 2'10.685 2.514
23 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix 2'10.752 2.581
24 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten 2'10.958 2.787
25 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing 2'11.074 2.903
26 Luigi MORCIANO Junior GP Racing Dream 2'11.122 2.951
27 Alessandro TONUCCI Junior GP Racing Dream 2'11.332 3.161
28 Jasper IWEMA Racing Team Germany 2'11.387 3.216
29 Karel PESEK Pesek Team 2'12.123 3.952
30 Lorenzo SAVADORI Fontana Racing 2'12.286 4.115
31 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing 2'12.303 4.132
32 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse 2'12.482 4.311
33 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA Loncin Racing 2'12.840 4.669
34 Luca VITALI CBC Corse 2'13.176 5.005
35 Ladislav CHMELIK Moto FGR 2'16.667 8.496

Not classified
16 Cameron BEAUBIER USA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport KTM Lap

Out of limit time
68 Ivan VISAK CRO Team Migomoto Honda

Czech GP - Friday Quotes - 125cc

1st Bradley Smith 2.09.211 (21 laps):
"I think that this was the ideal way to return to action. After two weeks off I needed to get back on the Aprilia, and what better way to do so than with the best time of the day? An hour without rain was fantastic to have, because it is much easier to move forward. We were coming along great during the run, and even the asphalt was getting better; at the start the bike was sliding, but it gradually got more grippy. The wind gave some problems -as it does at Brno- and you need to get a slipstream to keep from losing time. We were all practically even today, so we have to keep concentrated to be the best this weekend."

3rd Julián Simón 2.09.409 (19 laps):
"This first day has been pretty positive, as Brno is a track that I've always found difficult. You have to let the bike run on, and that isn't something that I particularly like. We were up there from the start, and the bike was clearly improving as the session went on, above all with the engine. We tried various tyres, and know that if the conditions continue to be the same in every session we will have to use a different combination than we did today. The riders at the top are close together, so I am going to keep looking for pole tomorrow. If it doesn't rain then we will have more time to prepare the bike and the race will be more exciting."

5th Sergio Gadea 2.09.618 (18 laps):
"I am very happy with this opening session, because we were right at the top for most of the way, continually improving. I did an early 2'09 and felt very comfortable , but I had a small problem with my confidence in the rear end. It was a tyre problem and kept my busy for the second half of the run. For this reason I took a fall ten minutes from the end and didn't have enough time to improve my final lap when I got back on track. In any case I'm not worrying too much about that, because we know what the mistake was and I'm sure that tomorrow it will be sorted. Despite that tiny setback I was still only four-tenths from Smith, which isn't much at this track. The engine is going well, so we just have to work on the rear and we will be ready."

Bancaja Aspar Riders Look Forward To Brno

Julián Simón:
"Brno is a great circuit to race at, I love it. It's long and difficult and that makes it much more exciting, you have to work hard to ride quickly round there. I'm eager to get back to work as the championship has been sensational so far and we are being very consistent, which I think is crucial if you want to think about winning a world championship. Race by race we are working positively and fortunately the results have come with it. This weekend I hope to continue like at the last two races and will aim for another victory on Sunday if possible. If not, i will focus on finishing the race and picking up as many points as possible. These past two weeks I lowered my training intensity slightly, just to disconnect a little, so I am keen to get to Brno to get on the Aprilia again."

Sergio Gadea:
"To be honest, the break came at a really good time for me, and I enjoyed a few days in Madrid and some in Ibiza to relax. After the crash in the UK I want to wipe the slate clean and start again. Everything has been going well for us this season and we can't get down over a small error which was due to the rain. We simply have to continue working as we have done so far. Brno is a track I really enjoy and have had good results at in the past. It is quite fast and long, which means we'll have to work well on setting up the bike to not lose power anywhere. I'm sure Julián will continue to be strong, and we mustn't drop any more points to be able to challenge him. Whatever happens, we aim to keep our consistency up. This year we have had a great base setting and I'm certain that at Brno I can get back onto the podium."

Bradley Smith:
"I'm hoping for a positive race in Brno, I'm extremely determined to make it a good result after the crashes at Sachsenring and Donington. Brno is a technical and wide track, with ample opportunities for overtaking. In the 125s it will be difficult to escape because it's another long circuit where slipstreaming is key. It's a bit like Mugello, in terms of length and the combination of esses and elevation changes. That means it will be crucial to get the set-up right at Brno, and to be strong at the end of the race. I hope that after the last two wet races, we can enjoy another sunny weekend and good conditions for racing."

German GP - Quotes Friday

125cc

1st Julián Simón 1.28.594 (15 laps): “the truth is that we’ve taken a lot of positives out of today because this is a circuit I like a lot and I was highly motivated to do well. I was quickly able to tell that I was going to be able to enjoy riding the bike here and I was comfortable form the start, even though we still have some things to work on – in particular with the engine. We need to focus on adjusting the gear ratio to improve the acceleration and get out of the corners quicker. Hopefully the weather is better to us tomorrow so that we can everything sorted for the race. I’m happy with our performance in the wet because I did two laps and went pretty quick. I feel good one way or the other so we’ll wait and see what we can do tomorrow. I’d like to get the work done tomorrow that will allow us to fight for victory on Sunday because it is very important to hang on to the championship lead over these next two races.”

3rd Bradley Smith 1.29.423 (19 laps): “It was amazing how the conditions changed in just a matter of minutes. The good thing is that even though we didn’t have much time we were able to test things in the wet and in the dry. It is also good to have a basic idea about which direction to go in tomorrow, when we’ll be working a little more on the setting of the engine. It is a slow process so we have to work hard on making sure everything is right, without taking any risks because if not the race will be upon us before we know it. I’m happy because I know the team will be working hard on the bike tonight so that we only have small things to work on tomorrow.”

5th Sergio Gadea 1.29.776 (17 laps):“In general I’m very happy although we had a small carburetion problem in the dry - the bike was cutting out at the end of the straight, and it wouldn’t rev, especially at the top end. We were working hard on it and it seems as though we found a solution just before it started to rain. I felt comfortable in the wet and in the dry and I think we have a good base set-up, we just need to squeeze a bit more out of the engine now. I’m not obsessing about Sunday’s result – just making sure we work hard over the weekend as we have done so far and I know that will be enough to ensure we’re at the front in the race.”


250cc

5th Mike Di Meglio 1.25.493 (25 laps): “I am happy because I’ve spent the last couple of weeks relaxing and trying to prepare myself as well as possible to come here with my batteries fully charged and so far everything is going well. This is a tough circuit with the 250 but thanks to my mechanics, who did an incredible job, I was able to get a good feeling straight away. As the laps went by I found my reference points and worked out the characteristics of this track. The mechanics were on top of me throughout the session trying to find a chassis set-up that made the Aprilia feel as comfortable as possible. The engine worked well so basically as long as the weather is good tomorrow we’ll try our best to perfect the set-up for Sunday.”

8th Aleix Espargaró 1.25.771 (26 laps): “It was important for me to get a few laps in at the start of the session in order to get a feel for this circuit but the telemetry wasn’t working well and I had to do short runs, with several pit stops to try and solve the problem. I couldn’t get any rhythm together and when I did go out I got held up, so it was difficult. Thanks to the magnificent work by the mechanics we worked it out in the end and I was able to set four good laps. The truth is that once we found the solution everything was fantastic and I’m happy because I got my pace together and those four laps are the ones that count. I was a bit lost for the first part of the session but it’s fair to say I’m getting used to riding the 250 again. After a day of adaptation today, tomorrow will be when we really get to work. You spend virtually the whole time leaned over at this circuit so it will be important to get the Aprilia turning well.”

11th Álvaro Bautista 1.25.836 (30 laps): “We usually have set-up problems at this circuit and today I tried a couple of new configurations, one of which I like quite a lot. Being a second off the pace is a big gap but it could have been worse so we have to stay optimistic and be prepared to improve tomorrow. Sachsenring is a difficult circuit in that the faster you try to ride the slower you end up going, and you find yourself with more and more work to do. Let’s wait and see if we can improve things tomorrow, mainly on the front end. The key to it is in T2 and if we can improve through there we will be much closer. We knew things wouldn’t be easy here and now we’re even more determined to work at it tomorrow. I have confidence in the team and we’ll all give 100% to improve the set-up of the bike for the race.”

German GP - 125cc Results FP1

Heavy rainfall and thunderstorm halfway through the session prevented the riders to improve their laptimes.

Pos. Rider Nation Team Lap time

1 J. SIMON SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'28.594
2 M. MARQUEZ SPA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport + 0.671
3 B. SMITH GBR Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc + 0.829
4 N. TEROL SPA Jack & Jones Team + 0.984
5 S. GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc + 1.182
6 S. CORTESE GER Ajo Interwetten + 1.258
7 D. WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix + 1.373
8 S. CORSI ITA Fontana Racing + 1.403
9 J. OLIVE SPA Derbi Racing Team + 1.433
10 S. BRADL GER Viessmann Kiefer Racing + 1.458
11 R. KRUMMENACHER SWI Degraaf Grand Prix + 1.519
12 A. IANNONE ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 1.728
13 P. ESPARGARO SPA Derbi Racing Team + 1.753
14 E. RABAT SPA Blusens Aprilia + 1.805
15 J. FOLGER GER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 1.962
16 M. SCHROTTER GER Toni - Mang Team + 1.978
17 E. VAZQUEZ SPA Derbi Racing Team + 2.008
18 S. REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia + 2.018
19 D. AEGERTER SWI Ajo Interwetten + 2.028
20 T. NAKAGAMI JPN Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 2.039
21 A. MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing + 2.359
22 D. KARTHEININGER GER Freudenberg Racing Team + 2.405
23 L. SALOM SPA Jack & Jones Team + 2.480
24 L. SEMBERA CZE Matteoni Racing + 2.729
25 L. ZANETTI ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 2.836
26 C. BEAUBIER USA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport + 2.949
27 J. ZARCO FRA WTR San Marino Team + 3.362
28 M. RANSEDER AUT CBC Corse + 3.395
29 T. FINSTERBUSCH GER Freudenberg Racing Team + 3.512
30 J. IWEMA NED Racing Team Germany + 4.179
31 L. SAVADORI ITA Fontana Racing + 4.669
32 E. KUPARINEN FIN Ajo Motorsport Jr. + 5.065
33 D. RAEMY SWI RBS - Honda Racing + 5.960

Out of limit time
L. MARCONI ITA CBC Corse
L. VITALI ITA CBC Corse
T. KOYAMA JPN Loncin Racing

German GP - Preview Quotes

125cc

Julián Simón: "I'm really looking forward to the German Grand Prix because Sachsenring is a circuit I like and a place I have tended to go well at in the past, both in 250 and 125. Last year I qualified second and finished fifth despite the wet conditions. Sachsenring is well suited to my riding style and the team and myself are ready to keep working hard to continue picking up good results and defending top spot in the championship. The objective for the race is to avoid any kind of incident and finish as high as possible - if that means victory then so much the better. At this stage of the season it is really important to consolidate our position in the championship. I also think it is time to go on the attack a bit more and see who is really up for the fight for the title."

Bradley Smith: "I scored a good result at Sachsenring last year and it's kind of weird that I'll be racing in the Aspar Team colours this year because I spent the whole race last year fighting for the podium with Talmácsi. In the end I finished fourth so I hope it can be different this time. I tend to go fast straight away at Sachsenring and I've qualified on the front row for the past two seasons so I'm optimistic and I think we can aim to be on the podium on Sunday afternoon. It is a fairly straightforward circuit - tight and twisty - and the lap times tend to be close, so we have to be really focused on finding those last few tenths. The majority of corners are left-handers so the wear and tear on the left hand side of your tyres and your body is higher than at other tracks. Other than that, I just want to get a good result and generate even more motivation, if that's possible, to take to my home race at Donington."

Sergio Gadea: "Sachsenring is a circuit I like quite a lot and it is where I scored my first World Championship points. I have good memories of it but also some bad ones because I haven't managed to finish the race for the last couple of years there. I'm highly motivated and I would like to be fighting to win again but if that's not possible I'll take as many points as I can. The second section is where I tend to have most difficulty at Sachsenring but I think the work ethic we have shown so far this season should help us work it out. Sachsenring is a twisty track where chassis set-up is crucial to having a bike you feel comfortable on. I spent a day celebrating after my win at the Dutch TT but other than that I have trained constantly to make sure I stay just as strong at the next few races."


250cc

Álvaro Bautista: "We head to Germany full of motivation and strength, having left with the taste of honey on our lips at the last Grand Prix. We have to respond to what happened there but without losing our heads. Even though we lost the championship lead there is no need to panic because the gap is not a huge one and it is important we just continue to work as we have been doing, picking up as many points as possible. The Aprilia is perhaps not best suited to the Sachsenring circuit and the Honda will definitely be a more effective package here so we have to work as hard as we can on the set-up to make sure we are ready for Sunday. It is a twisty circuit that is more suited to go-karts than motorcycle racing. I've spent the last two weeks relaxing and putting the Assen crash behind me, having taken a heavy blow to my elbow. I've also been able to keep up my training regime and stay in good shape."

Mike Di Meglio: "Sachsenring is a very technical circuit and I like it a lot. I always really enjoyed racing there on a 125 so I hope it's the same on a 250. Hopefully I can get a good feeling from the start on Friday and prepare well during practice so that the race is more straightforward. The idea is to continue working hard with the team as we have done up to now and make sure we are completely ready by Sunday. I led for most of the 125 race last year and in the end I won with quite an advantage over the line, so hopefully I can show my ability again this year and finish with a good result. I've been able to get some rest over the past couple of weeks but I've also been training hard."

Aleix Espargaró: "I've been looking forward to getting back on the 250 ever since Assen because I enjoyed it so much. This is another big opportunity for me and I want to make the most of it, just as I did two weeks ago. Sachsenring is a small and slow circuit where I have gone well in the past, so I hope to continue that tradition and enjoy myself on the bike again. A short while ago I was testing at Valencia on a Moto2 bike and I was back there at the weekend for the CEV (Spanish Championship) race. At the start of the year I didn't have a bike to ride and now I am barely off one! I am really excited by the Moto2 project and by the opportunity to replace Bálazs for a couple of races with the Balatonring Team. Hopefully everything continues as well as it has done up to now!"

Dutch GP, Assen: 125cc Results FP2

Pos. Rider Nation Team Lap time

1 S. GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'45.994
2 B. SMITH GBR Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc + 0.119
3 P. ESPARGARO SPA Derbi Racing Team + 0.254
4 A. IANNONE ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 0.339
5 J. SIMON SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc + 0.384
6 N. TEROL SPA Jack & Jones Team + 0.524
7 D. WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix + 0.641
8 S. CORSI ITA Fontana Racing + 0.683
9 M. MARQUEZ SPA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport + 0.729
10 E. VAZQUEZ SPA Derbi Racing Team + 0.744
11 J. OLIVE SPA Derbi Racing Team + 0.935
12 S. REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia + 1.239
13 S. CORTESE GER Ajo Interwetten + 1.286
14 R. KRUMMENACHER SWI Degraaf Grand Prix + 1.454
15 E. RABAT SPA Blusens Aprilia + 1.568
16 C. BEAUBIER USA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport + 1.694
17 L. ZANETTI ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 1.712
18 S. BRADL GER Viessmann Kiefer Racing + 1.723
19 D. AEGERTER SWI Ajo Interwetten + 2.040
20 L. SAVADORI ITA Fontana Racing + 2.051
21 T. NAKAGAMI JPN Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 2.106
22 J. ZARCO FRA WTR San Marino Team + 2.360
23 L. SALOM SPA Jack & Jones Team + 3.127
24 A. MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing + 3.209
25 M. VAN DER MARK NED Dutch Racing Team + 3.365
26 M. FRITZ GER LHF-Project Racing + 3.444
27 J. IWEMA NED Racing Team Germany + 3.732
28 K. PESEK CZE Pesek Team + 3.867
29 T. KOYAMA JPN Loncin Racing + 4.029
30 L. SEMBERA CZE Matteoni Racing + 4.510
31 L. MARCONI ITA CBC Corse + 4.561
32 P. BIJSTERBOSCH NED Racing Team Bijsterbosch + 5.595
33 J. FOLGER GER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 5.989
34 L. VITALI ITA CBC Corse + 7.042

Out of limit time
R. POUW NED Team Holland

Assen: Thursday Team Quotes - 250cc & 125cc

250cc

1st Álvaro Bautista 1.40.817 (27 laps):
"To be honest the lap times weren't particularly quick today. We had a problem at the start of the session and the rear of the bike was sliding around a lot - also the engine wasn't working as it should be but as the session progressed we ironed things out. I'm still not completely happy with the rear of my Aprilia because it is not gripping and I can't open the throttle when I want to. So that is mainly what we need to work on tomorrow and I'm convinced we can make big improvements. It's not bad for the first day but we can't afford to go to sleep tomorrow. Barberá and myself are a little ahead of the rest but that doesn't mean anything because the pace will increase tomorrow. In our case we know where we can go faster and that is what we need to do in order for me to have fun on the bike."

3rd Mike Di Meglio 1.41.472 (25 laps):
"I'm really happy because I felt comfortable throughout the session. It was very windy but our pace was good - not incredibly fast but good enough for the first day and I'm satisfied. It is good to start out like this, to be up there from the first few minutes and to know that we can get better. I hope we can continue with this evolution tomorrow and consolidate our position amongst the top guys. The test at Valencia worked out well for us because now we have the chassis configuration more or less clear, even though we can refine it more on the second day here."

Aleix Espargaró:
"I'm really glad to be back in the World Championship - after such a long time away I'd almost forgotten what it's like! It's incredible how things can change - one minute you are sat at home and then you get a call four days before a Grand Prix from one of the biggest teams in the 250cc class to see if you will ride for them! I just tried to stay focused from the start today and even though the bike felt really small I just tried to get some laps in and get a feel for it. Thankfully the team helped me a lot - they just said get out there and ride until you feel comfortable. I honestly didn't know where the limit was so I just made sure I wasn't taking too many risks because the last thing I needed was a crash. At the end of the session Álvaro came past so I latched onto him and managed to get a fantastic lap in. The objective today was to break the ice and get a feel for the Aprilia, which I think we have done and then some!"


125cc

1st Julián Simón 1.46.725 (19 laps):
"The truth is that after what happened in Barcelona I really wanted to make a strong start here. I'm happy because even though Assen has never been a circuit that suits my riding style we've done a fantastic job today and I felt comfortable throughout the session. We've tried a few things with the engine, amongst other things, on the back of the tests we did at Valencia and in the end we found a tyre that we think can work well. First place is always a good result and it has filled me with optimism for the race, so hopefully we can have more good weather tomorrow. The incident at Montmeló left me feeling very highly motivated about this race and all I can think about is winning. I actually think we have a better chance of doing it here than we did in the last race. The team have been really supportive and told me to forget about Montmeló, so I'd love to pay them back with a win on Saturday."
 
2nd Sergio Gadea 1.46.925 (21 laps):
"I felt really comfortable during today's session despite a couple of problems with the front end. I managed to clock a '46.9 pretty early on but when I tried to push harder I was losing the front of my Aprilia to the point where at one stage I almost crashed. We put a softer tyre on and that stopped it from moving around so much, which made me feel better. We've set a good pace throughout the session and I'm happy because we still have plenty of room to improve. It is positive to start a weekend out like this and obviously providing we don't have a mechanical setback we can stay up there. Anything can happen in a race but I'll try and start as near the front as possible and hopefully be able to win! We've been consistent so far but now is the time when we need to start winning races."

4th Bradley Smith 1.47.113 (25 laps):
"It is nice to be competitive from the opening day, especially considering how hard we found it to get on the pace at Montmeló. We needed to make sure that everything was still working okay and today was a good start. I found it difficult to go any faster because it was quite windy out there today but on the other hand the track temperature was high and that helped us do our job. In general the lap times aren't that fast, probably because of the wind, but I expect we'll all pick the pace up tomorrow. It was a shame that I ran into a lot of traffic over the last three laps and it prevented me from getting a fast lap in but I'm happy with the job we've done. We'll work on finding a better feeling tomorrow with the front suspension and stiffen it up a little because today I couldn't brake as hard as I'd like."

Dutch GP, Assen - 125cc Results FP1

Business as usual in the 125cc class with Bancaja Aspar rider Julian Simon again clocking the fastest laptime of the day. This time however without as much domination with Simon taking the top spot from teammate Sergio Gadea only in the last minute.
Fellow Aspar rider Bradley Smith finished the day in 4th, the last rider to be within half a second of Simon's laptime.

Pos. Rider Nation Team Lap time

1 J. SIMON SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'46.725
2 S. GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc + 0.200
3 N. TEROL SPA Jack & Jones Team + 0.318
4 B. SMITH GBR Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc + 0.388
5 D. WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix + 0.552
6 M. MARQUEZ SPA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport + 0.847
7 E. VAZQUEZ SPA Derbi Racing Team + 0.899
8 S. CORTESE GER Ajo Interwetten + 0.994
9 A. IANNONE ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 1.049
10 R. KRUMMENACHER SWI Degraaf Grand Prix + 1.136
11 S. CORSI ITA Fontana Racing + 1.160
12 L. SAVADORI ITA Fontana Racing + 1.216
13 S. BRADL GER Viessmann Kiefer Racing + 1.418
14 P. ESPARGARO SPA Derbi Racing Team + 1.519
15 E. RABAT SPA Blusens Aprilia + 1.597
16 J. OLIVE SPA Derbi Racing Team + 1.744
17 J. ZARCO FRA WTR San Marino Team + 1.918
18 D. AEGERTER SWI Ajo Interwetten + 2.296
19 A. MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing + 2.371
20 S. REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia + 2.455
21 C. BEAUBIER USA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport + 2.475
22 J. IWEMA NED Racing Team Germany + 2.758
23 J. FOLGER GER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 2.883
24 T. NAKAGAMI JPN Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 2.931
25 M. FRITZ GER LHF-Project Racing + 3.430
26 L. SEMBERA CZE Matteoni Racing + 3.450
27 T. KOYAMA JPN Loncin Racing + 3.555
28 L. ZANETTI ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. + 3.592
29 K. PESEK CZE Pesek Team + 3.733
30 M. VAN DER MARK NED Dutch Racing Team + 4.092
31 L. MARCONI ITA CBC Corse + 4.916
32 L. SALOM SPA Jack & Jones Team + 5.038
33 L. VITALI ITA CBC Corse + 6.406
34 P. BIJSTERBOSCH NED Racing Team Bijsterbosch + 7.210

Out of limit time
R. POUW NED Team Holland

Aspar Team - Assen Previews

250cc

Álvaro Bautista:
"I think we're strong right now and we go to Holland with plenty of confidence and motivation after the victory in Barcelona. Assen is a circuit I really like, with a mixture of fast and twisty sections, and in general it's a nice place. Last year we won from pole and we have good references, so hopefully the weather can be on our side like it was at the last round so that we can set the pace again. Our objective will be to work hard from Friday and find the best set-up possible so that we have every chance of fighting for the win on Saturday. Being the series leader is a source of great motivation but you have to remember that there is still a long way to go in the championship and it is important we stay consistent. If I have a chance to go for the win I won't think twice about it, but if it's not on then I'll take as many points as I can."

Mike Di Meglio:
"Assen is a wonderful circuit and I like it a lot, so I hope I can perform well there. Last year things didn't go well for me in the race because I had some problems with my bike but hopefully in this new category and with this new team we can work well for this race. The idea is to continue to learn and make progress but I would really like to cap it off with a good race. Over the past couple of rounds we've done well in practice but for one reason or another we haven't been able to finish the job off on a Sunday. From now on I'll be taking extra care not to crash because we've thrown away too many points already."



125cc

Julián Simón:
"I really like Assen a lot. The old layout was better but it is still fun to ride here. I am really motivated because I know I can run at the front, even though we won't know exactly what we're capable of until we get out there. I'm sure that if we keep working as we have done up to now we'll be up there. The weather is going to be an important factor, as it always is here, and there's usually a day or two of rain. I really want to get back to winning ways, like at Le Mans, and be up there fighting for victory the whole race. I also want to put the disappointment of Montmeló behind me. Being back on top of the championship givers me a lot of motivation and I think it is a position befitting of the job we're doing."

Bradley Smith:
"After finishing eighth at Montmeló I'm looking forward to getting to Assen and fighting for a top finish. It wasn't a bad result and I'm still only a point and a half behind Julito but I was left with a bittersweet taste after that race. We have to think positive and keep working in the same way we have up to now. The Dutch TT last year was a strange race because of the red flag but I think I finished fifth, which isn't a bad result. I really enjoy riding at Assen - a lot of people I speak to say the old circuit was even more fun but I never had the chance to ride it. The first section is a bit slow and personally I prefer the second half of the lap because it's really quick. I think the work we did at the Valencia test should pay off because we improved engine performance."

Sergio Gadea:
"Assen is a circuit I've done well at in the past. Last year I broke down when I was in third place but I've been on the podium here before and I have plenty of good memories. I think I can be competitive here in wet or dry conditions and psychologically speaking we're strong after the podium at Montmeló and I think we can look for a top result. I just want to keep working as well as we have done up to now - I know we're 25 points behind Julián but we closed the gap in the last round and it is only one race difference, so it is up to us not to make any mistakes and to stay in touch. We'll try and do our job to the best of our ability in each race, not make any mistakes and I think our experience could play in our favour."

Pics Of The Day: Catalunya, Saturday 125cc

Catalunya GP - 125cc FP1, Simon leads Gadea

Scorching temperatures and sunny skies greeted the MotoGP circus in Catalunya today. The first 125cc practice saw another Bancaja Aspar 1-2 finish with Julian Simon being around half a second faster than teammate Sergo Gadea. Bradley Smith struggled with the bike setup and stayed in the box for a long time, he will hope to have solved the problems until tomorrow.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap

1 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'52.311
2 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'52.806 0.495
3 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 1'53.098 0.787
4 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 1'53.207 0.896
5 Lorenzo ZANETTI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 1'53.220 0.909
6 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 1'53.307 0.996
7 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 1'53.316 1.005
8 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia 1'53.374 1.063
9 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix 1'53.565 1.254
10 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 1'53.683 1.372
11 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'53.824 1.513
12 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 1'53.871 1.560
13 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA Loncin Racing 1'53.963 1.652
14 Esteve RABAT Blusens Aprilia 1'54.095 1.784
15 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team 1'54.200 1.889
16 Lorenzo SAVADORI Fontana Racing 1'54.243 1.932
17 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team 1'54.251 1.940
18 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team 1'54.256 1.945
19 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 1'54.536 2.225
20 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten 1'54.607 2.296
21 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix 1'54.828 2.517
22 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 1'54.850 2.539
23 Simone CORSI Jack & Jones Team 1'55.147 2.836
24 Jasper IWEMA Racing Team Germany 1'55.772 3.461
25 Cameron BEAUBIER Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 1'55.798 3.487
26 Alberto MONCAYO Andalucia Aprilia 1'56.469 4.158
27 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing 1'56.479 4.168
28 Sturla FAGERHAUG Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 1'56.586 4.275
29 Luis SALOM SAG-Castrol 1'56.650 4.339
30 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse 1'57.126 4.815
31 Johnny ROSELL Blusens BQR 1'58.090 5.779
32 Luca VITALI CBC Corse 1'58.658 6.347
33 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing 1'59.038 6.727
34 Jordi DALMAU SAG-Castrol 2'12.197 19.886

Catalunya GP Weekend - TV Schedules

Friday June 12th

Live MotoGP - 11.40am
Catalunya Grand Prix: 125cc Practice
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP - 12.45pm
Catalunya Grand Prix: MotoGP Practice
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP - 2.00pm
Catalunya Grand Prix: 250cc Practice
(Eurosport 2)

MotoGP - 9.10pm
Catalunya Grand Prix: MotoGP Practice (rpt)
(Eurosport 2)

.............................................


Saturday June 13th

MotoGP - 11.00am
Catalunya Grand Prix: Practice (rpt)
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP - 12.00pm
125cc Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP - 12.45pm
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP - 2.00pm
250cc Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

MotoGP - 9.30pm
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

.............................................


Sunday June 14th

MotoGP - 9.00am
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying (rpt)
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP - 10.00am
125cc Catalunya Grand Prix
(Eurosport)

Live MotoGP - 11.00am
250cc Catalunya Grand Prix
(Eurosport)

Live MotoGP - 12.30pm
Catalunya Grand Prix
(BBC2)

MotoGP - 4.00pm (*Delayed broadcast)
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix
(Eurosport)

Italian GP - Quali Quotes 125cc & 250cc

125cc

1st Bradley Smith 1.58.134 (17 laps): "It has been a great day for me, setting pole position and a new lap record with it. My race pace is also really good. I was extremely focused today and everything worked out. I've been on pole before and I know that it doesn't necessarily meaning everything is perfect for tomorrow. It is always difficult to escape when there's a straight as long as this one and I think we're going to see about eight or even ten riders fighting in the front group. So far it's been a fantastic weekend and now I'm just hoping for a good start tomorrow. We made a few adjustments to improve the front end feel today and to be honest I don't think we can make it much better now. The Aprilia engine is working perfectly and that will be crucial to make sure we don't lose even the slightest bit of time on the straight tomorrow. There are obviously a few riders ahead of the game but like I said before I think it will be a group race and even the slightest mistake will be paid for dearly."

3rd Julián Simón 1.58.575 (17 laps): "I'm really happy with how practice has gone. I would have loved to be on pole because I was fastest in both free practice sessions so I'm pretty gutted about that but I'm also happy for Smith because it was an incredible lap. My main plan for the race is to get a good start and then just keep my pace up because I know it is good. My Aprilia is completely ready so the target is to win and if that's not possible then finish the race and score points. I think it will be a group race of only three or four riders and it will be a fight for the win between Smith and myself. It's going to be fun and I think it will go right to the wire. Past races at Mugello have shown that the person who leads out of the last corner doesn't usually win so we'll see what happens."

4th Sergio Gadea 1.58.621 (16 laps): "I'm happy that we've been consistent today and I want to keep it going. I suppose it will be the usual group race here tomorrow so I'll try to stay in touch with the lead group and then play my cards right at the end. The most important thing will be to finish with as many points as possible. Smith is looking really strong and Simón will be able to go with him more easily than I will, but hopefully it will be tight. I was able to follow Julián on the last lap and I could see where he was getting away from me, so that is something for us to work on for tomorrow and if we improve these areas I'll be more comfortable. I've been working on my pace through the final corner all weekend but you never know what can happen there in the race so we won't worry about it too much and we'll see what happens."

250cc

1st Álvaro Bautista 1.52.804 (20 laps): "The truth is that the times are very close! Things didn't go well this morning and I wasn't comfortable on the bike. I didn't have a good feeling with the front and couldn't brake well or get into the turns as I like. We stiffened the front up a little for the afternoon and it felt like a different bike. I immediately recovered the good feeling I was missing this morning and felt I could do a low 1'52, which I managed. I think we've done a great job and our pace is good. All of the riders on the front row are going to want to win at all cost, each of us for their own reasons, so it will be tough. I'll try to get a good start and stay with the lead group but I'm sure it's going to be a close battle like Jerez. It is highly satisfying to set pole but the gap between the front three is tight so the important thing tomorrow will be to stay focused."

14th Mike Di Meglio 1.54.363 (18 laps): "I had a few problems with my right forearm again and I could hardly brake - I was losing feeling for my Aprilia in every corner. I tried to recover as much as I could over lunch for qualifying and then tried to follow a couple of riders over the opening laps to set a good pace and get some references, but my confidence was low. I'm disappointed because under normal circumstances I'm sure I could have done much better. I'm fourteenth on the grid and it will be strange to be so far from the front but I'll push myself to the limit to have a good race. I just have to get a great start and stay focused to try and make up as many positions as possible. I'll spend this evening in the Clinica to try and get in the best possible shape for the race. With the way this weekend is going, a top ten finish will be a good result."

Italian GP - 125cc Quali: Pole and front row

Another dominating showing of the 125cc Bancaja Aspar Team saw British rider Bradley Smith taking pole position for the Italian GP, smashing the previous record and leaving the rest of the field behind.
His teammates Julian Simon and Sergio Gadea will complete the front row tomorrow together with another Brit in form of Scott Redding.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap

1 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'58.134
2 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia 1'58.431 0.297
3 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'58.575 0.441
4 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'58.621 0.487
5 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 1'58.947 0.813
6 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 1'59.121 0.987
7 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team 1'59.178 1.044
8 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 1'59.186 1.052
9 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 1'59.358 1.224
10 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix 1'59.478 1.344
11 Simone CORSI Jack & Jones Team 1'59.589 1.455
12 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 1'59.600 1.466
13 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix 1'59.726 1.592
14 Esteve RABAT Blusens Aprilia 1'59.974 1.840
15 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team 2'00.032 1.898
16 Lorenzo ZANETTI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'00.113 1.979
17 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team 2'00.118 1.984
18 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten 2'00.149 2.015
19 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 2'00.335 2.201
20 Lorenzo SAVADORI Fontana Racing 2'00.384 2.250
21 Riccardo MORETTI Elligi Racing 2'00.392 2.258
22 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'00.445 2.311
23 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'00.672 2.538
24 Luigi MORCIANO Junior GP Racing Dream 2'01.206 3.072
25 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing 2'01.406 3.272
26 Davide STIRPE CRP Racing 2'01.425 3.291
27 Alessandro TONUCCI Junior GP Racing Dream 2'01.814 3.680
28 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA Loncin Racing 2'02.353 4.219
29 Gennaro SABATINO Junior GP Racing Dream 2'02.821 4.687
30 Jasper IWEMA Racing Team Germany 2'03.135 5.001
31 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing 2'03.226 5.092
32 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse 2'04.577 6.443
33 Luca VITALI CBC Corse 2'05.793 7.659

Not classified
Cameron BEAUBIER USA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport KTM

Italian GP - Mugello - 125cc Results FP2

A dominant 1-2-3 of the 125cc Bancaja Aspar Team in the second free practice this morning.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap

1 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'58.853
2 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'59.113 0.260
3 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 1'59.370 0.517
4 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 1'59.394 0.541
5 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 1'59.395 0.542
6 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 1'59.948 1.095
7 Lorenzo SAVADORI Fontana Racing 1'59.956 1.103
8 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix 2'00.092 1.239
9 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix 2'00.378 1.525
10 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten 2'00.402 1.549
11 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia 2'00.525 1.672
12 Riccardo MORETTI Elligi Racing 2'00.535 1.682
13 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 2'00.761 1.908
14 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 2'00.805 1.952
15 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team 2'00.920 2.067
16 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'00.956 2.103
17 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team 2'01.032 2.179
18 Simone CORSI Jack & Jones Team 2'01.033 2.180
19 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team 2'01.033 2.180
20 Lorenzo ZANETTI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'01.146 2.293
21 Esteve RABAT Blusens Aprilia 2'01.158 2.305
22 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'01.492 2.639
23 Luigi MORCIANO Junior GP Racing Dream 2'01.572 2.719
24 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'01.835 2.982
25 Davide STIRPE CRP Racing 2'01.854 3.001
26 Alessandro TONUCCI Junior GP Racing Dream 2'02.182 3.329
27 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing 2'03.080 4.227
28 Jasper IWEMA Racing Team Germany 2'03.362 4.509
29 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing 2'04.630 5.777
30 Gennaro SABATINO Junior GP Racing Dream 2'04.761 5.908
31 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse 2'05.582 6.729
32 Luca VITALI CBC Corse 2'07.139 8.286

Not classified
16 Cameron BEAUBIER USA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport KTM

Out of limit time
71 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN Loncin Racing Loncin

Italian GP - Mugello - FP1 Quotes125cc & 250cc

125cc

1st Julián Simón 1.59.437 (21 laps): “The weather has been kind to us all day, which is very important. The heat has taken its toll on the tyre but my Aprilia was phenomenal all session and the team worked really well again. I feel as though leadership of the championship has given me extra confidence and motivation. It’s a different feeling and I hope I hold on to it as the season progresses. Anyway, we won’t get it for free and we have to work and fight hard in every session towards winning more races. Hopefully we can have two more good sessions tomorrow and get a good set-up for the race. The work we did today was based around the tyres and aerodynamics, which is really important here with the slipstreams.”

2nd Sergio Gadea 1.59.721 (23 laps): “I’m happy because everything went well from the first lap. The engine on my Aprilia is working perfectly because of the great job my mechanics are doing and I think we’re starting to reap the fruit. It is really important that we have the confidence and calmness to go fast from the first session although today wasn’t all plain sailing because as always Mugello is bumpy and it’s tricky to find the right set-up. I used the same rear tyre for virtually the whole session and then set a fast lap on a new tyre at the end, which was good enough for second. We have a few issues in the cycle part of my Aprilia but I’m sure we can sort them out tomorrow.”

4th Bradley Smith 1.59.862 (21 laps): “I think it was a good session and with an hour you can test a lot of things. I’m happy with the rear end setting of my Aprilia – at the beginning it was too soft and I was struggling to get on the throttle coming out of the corners but we improved it a lot as the session went on. I imagine the heat affects me more than the locals because I’m English and I’m not used to it! Provisional fourth place, four tenths off and with room for improvement, isn’t a bad start. We’ll work more with the front end tomorrow because having confidence in it through the fast corners here is crucial. Basically the idea will be to make the bike more rigid to try and gain a little stability.”


250cc

1st Álvaro Bautista 1.53.814 (26 laps): “It is only the first session, but it is obviously always better to be up at the front. I think that we had a good practice, and at the end I was putting in a string of pretty fast laps. The last lap of the session saw me clock my quickest time, without even changing tyres, something that shows that we can go even faster. The confidence that knowing that we have been working well since preseason means that I can go much faster and concentrate more. Being the series leader also takes the heat off, but it is still too early to say what will happen on Sunday. In any case, we’ve started well and I am going to try and win at all cost. My mentality is a winning one, and we want to fight for victory at every race. I love the track, but it is demanding because you have to unlock the secret to three or four parts to go fast.“

13th Mike Di Meglio 1.55.978 (21 laps): “I really didn’t expect it to be so difficult to adapt here, as it is a circuit that I love. With the 250cc bike it is hard to get reference points. I am going to try and work out what I need for tomorrow, because we are far off fast lap times. I’m convinced that we can do this if we keep working like we have been. With the 125cc you corner quickly here, but with the 250cc the direction changes are harder. The bike isn’t as agile and it feels heavier. The last race went the opposite way: good practices and a tough race, but I’m sure that we will be able to do what it takes to have a good Sunday.”

Balazs Nemeth: "This first encounter has been a tough one, because everything was completely new for me. From the team to the bike and the track, it was a lot to get used to. I'd never ridden a two stroke before, so I spent the entire session adjusting my riding position and style on the Aprilia. I improved step by step, but there wasn't much time to improve. I hope to continue getting better tomorrow, in order to have a good race on Sunday."