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 - Saturday Quotes 125cc

4th Julián Simón 2.08.542 (14 laps): “I am happy with the result, because the team and myself have worked phenomenally. We have what I feel is the perfect setting for the race, and we know what tyres to use. We could have had a better time, but I lost a bit of concentration when riders were following me, for instance Cortese. It was a mistake on my part to be worrying about other riders. The most important thing is that everything is clear and we can have a good race, fighting for the victory and the maximum amount of points. I think that on the opening laps four or five riders will be up front, with Terol, Smith, Iannone and myself involved. Terol and myself have been the most consistent, but we will see what happens and I will try to open up a gap.”

5th Bradley Smith 2.08.957 (14 laps): “The qualifying session was the only less than perfect session that we have had so far. In the free practices we were able to improve a lot, but this afternoon we went in the wrong direction. We fought to find the best setup for the Aprilia, and it looks as if we nailed it in the end. Fifth isn’t a fantastic place, but it is hardly a disaster either, and I have the poleman in front of me as a reference at the start. Our biggest problem has been the rear suspension, which was too hard and means that we don’t have al the feedback that we would like. It is important here to have a balanced bike, with al the ups and downs and fast corners. I think that we have everything more or less sorted, and we will adjust the rear in the warmup. It’s going to be a slipstreaming race, so we will have to be aware.”

7th Sergio Gadea 2.09.240 (14 laps):“We still have a little way to go in order to be ready for the race. To tell the truth it has been a complicated weekend up to now, with my crash yesterday and the continual problem with chattering that persisted even when we were going for a fast lap. The mechanics are working against the clock and finally found a solution. We had a rear end issue in the afternoon, because of which the bike was hard to turn in and didn’t give any feeling when opening the throttle on the exit. Luckily I found Smith and follow him for a lap, taking me to the second row. It’s not a bad place to start, but tomorrow I see it being very hard work. I’m going to fight for the top positions in any case, and the important thing will be to not let Simón get away. We have to take points from him.”

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."

Czech GP - Friday Practice Results 125cc

1. Smith (Aprilia) 2min 9.211sec
2. Marquez (KTM) +0.113sec
3. Simon (Aprilia) +0.198sec
4. Terol (Aprilia) +0.299sec
5. Gadea (Aprilia) +0.407sec
6. Cortese (Derbi) +0.523sec
7. Iannone (Aprilia) +1.008sec
8. Bradl (Aprilia) +1.094sec
9. Espargaro (Derbi) +1.134sec
10. Redding (Aprilia) +1.190sec

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."

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."

Private Test Valencia, 17./18.06.2009

The private two-day test at the Valencia circuit saw different fortunes for the 250cc Aspar squad. While Balatonring Team rider Balazs Nemeth suffered a hand fracture after a nasty crash, Mapfre Aspar rider Mike Di Meglio was able to make full use of the opportunity to get some further track time on his new Aprilia RSA machine. Teammate Alvaro Bautista did not participate in the test.

The 125cc Bancaja Aspar Team also made good progress with all three riders finishing the test with similar laptimes. Julian Simon and Bradley Smith both suffered crashes, but fortunately walked away uninjured.



Mike Di Meglio - 1.37.16 (98 laps)
"We started very well yesterday, but soon we had some problems with the engine that cost us some time. We began with a setting very similar to the one I used in Catalunya and I started to gain confidence with the Aprilia, getting some good laptimes and I felt very comfortable on the bike. Later we tried to make improvements, always from working from the frame onwards, but it did not work as we hoped. Today we continued looking for chassis solutions and we tried really and infinity of changes to see which setting fits my riding style best. In the end I think that the base setting that we used at the last GP, with some slight modifications, is the one that I like best, so I will try to use this for the next races. It's been two really productive days in which although we didn't find the one setthing that fits us 100%, we already sorted out everything that didn't help us."

Julian Simón - 1.40.4 (110 laps)
“It has been a very positive test for the championship, I think that is always good to try and improve, it's just been a pity that it's been so warm. The laptimes have not been too fast, but nontheless I leave the test satisfied because we have tried many things with the engine which let us find out what works best and gives us the best performance. We have found many solutions and there are also some things that can help us in the next races. I am satisfied for that and again very motivated, because I've been riding the bike again after Barcelona and the feeling on the bike is still equally good.”

Sergio Gadea - 1.40.5 (91 laps)
“These two days have gone really well. We tested some material and we tried to work on the base setup, although the conditions have not been the best and the temperature was a bit problematic. The laptimes have not been especially fast, but considering the heat I believe that we can be satisfied, in addition we had a constantly fast rhythm during both days. I am content, because I rode with the same tyres for a long time, getting a feel for it and always thinking about race conditions. We decided to finish around 3 PM because we didn't have much left to test and didn't want to risk a stupid crash.”

Bradley Smith - 1.40.7 (107 laps)
“I think this is a big advantage, to be able to count on a team like this, because it is not normally the case to have a test during the season, so I believe this has been a magnificent opportunity to continue doing some laps and understanding the basic aspects of the bike. This test has been very important for me right after Barcelona where we had some small problems with the setup. We tried to solve all those small details that did not work for us in the last GP. Our setting of the chassis was more or less clear, so we worked mainly on new configurations of the engine. At the very end of yesterday's afternoon session I had an unfortunate crash, but luckily today we have been able to continue working under normal circumstance. Overall I'm satisfied, because although we did not make some huge progress we tested out a lot of things and I think this is the most important.”

Pics Of The Day: Catalunya, Saturday 125cc

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 - 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."

Jerez GP - 125cc Quotes after FP1

1stBradley Smith 1.47.385 (15 laps)
“I went out with my mind set on setting a fast pace from the start. We’ve struggled to run at the front in the first two rounds and it has been frustrating so it is important that we were able to go so quick today with such relative ease. My feeling with the Aprilia and the circuit was fantastic and I felt really confident. I could notice every slight improvement with the set-up and that helped me get faster as the session went on. We couldn’t have made a better start but the points don’t get dished out today, nor does pole position, so we have to stay focused on keeping this up for the rest of the weekend. We have a few small changes to make for tomorrow but in general I’m really happy.”

2nd Julián Simón 1.47.689 (16 laps)
“The truth is that I felt really comfortable today and everything went well. As the session went on we got closer and closer to the setting we had here in the winter and it worked well. We could maybe do with a bit more speed through the corners but in general I’m pleased with the performance of my Aprilia. We still have plenty of time to work on the bike tomorrow and hopefully we’ll have a race in perfect conditions. I think it’s going to be a close race on Sunday and that gives me even more motivation to set a fast lap time tomorrow and be up there from the start.”

5th Sergio Gadea 1.48.722 (17 laps)
“I’m really happy because we’re at the right end of the time sheets in practice again and that is very positive for the race. Jerez is one of the circuits I like the most but I’ve not gone too well here in the past so it is important to build up my confidence. I’m a little disappointed because even though the lap time is good I still haven’t found the limit of the bike and my riding was very mechanical today – I wasn’t having fun. We’ll make a few changes to the front end tomorrow to improve our position ahead of the race. The engine performance is incredible so once we sort the front end out we’ll be in great shape.”

Jerez GP - Preview Quotes 125cc

Julián Simón
“We arrive at Jerez lying second in the championship and really keen to play a lead role. The first two races have been really strange as far as the weather is concerned and the truth is that I’m looking forward to having a race in normal conditions. In Japan things went really well and looking towards Jerez the idea is to improve the set-up as much as possible, as well as improving my riding in order to be as best prepared for the race on Sunday as we can be and see if we can take our first win of the year. The fans are going to get behind the Spanish riders and we have to try and pay them back with a big performance.”

Bradley Smith
“I know the Spanish guys won’t be making it easy for us but Jerez is a circuit where we know we can go fast and we are not going to let the opportunity of a good result slip through our grasp. We have a lot of information from preseason testing that I’m sure will help us to get off to a good start and be on the pace from Friday. We haven’t had much luck with the weather over the opening two rounds so now is the time to follow up all the hard work we’ve been doing with a top result.”

Sergio Gadea
“I’m really looking forward to getting to Jerez because we still haven’t been able to complete a race in normal conditions and it feels a bit strange. We’re working well but haven’t been able to reap the fruit of it yet. In Japan we made the wrong tyre choice and weren’t able to show our true potential. Jerez is not one of my favourite circuits but that’s not a reason for us not to be up there fighting for the win. I’m really happy with the set-up of the bike and engine performance, as well as the way the team is working, so we have to just keep going like this until the results eventually come.”

Japanese GP - 125cc Race Quotes

2nd Julián Simón
"To tell the truth it was a pity not to ride in normal conditions here in Japan. In any case it was a longer and more fun race than in Qatar, and I enjoyed myself a lot on the opening laps. I was, however, unhappy with myself for my bad start. The race was hard because the conditions weren't great and the engine wasn't going through the revs well, but I don't think that we chose badly on the tyre front. All through the race I had good pace, and I am happy because I gave my all at every moment. I tried to keep up with Iannone but it was tough, so I can just be content in the work done by the team and see how we can improve in order to take the win at Jerez."

10th Bradley Smith
"The start of the race was pretty difficult, because I was using slicks and had no grip. I was just thinking about not crashing with the knowledge that the track was drying out rapidly, because my plan was too push on in the last part of the race. I had some problems with the engine on the corner exit, and it was more aggressive and harder to control. I don't know why this happened. With three laps to go I nearly crashed after the bike bucked, but I was thankfully able to complete the race. Tenth isn't what I expected, but at least there's a few more points on the board, so next weekend in Jerez I am convinced that we can be more successful."

19th Sergio Gadea
"When I started the race the track was wet, but you could see that there were some dry areas. The tyre choice was a risky one, and I knew after a few laps that we had probably made a mistake. I tried to start fast and gain places in the opening part of the race, but when the track dried further there was nothing that I could do. Despite this fiasco I am calm, because under normal conditions I know that we would have been at the front."

Japanese GP - 125cc Quotes, Saturday

2nd Julián Simón 2.00.864
"It is a real shame that the weather has prevented us from riding again. I finished up second fastest yesterday but I set a lap that would have been good enough for pole – the only thing was they didn’t show the chequered flag and I was out of time, even though I didn’t realise it. Anyway, I’m happy because we’ve got a good pace in the wet and the bike is working well. I’m keen for the race to get started and it would be nice if the weather allows us to run full distance because it would give us a better idea of where we all are. Whatever the conditions are, we’ll try and run up front and if it’s wet the main thing will be to stay concentrated and not make mistakes."

7th Bradley Smith 2.01.608
"We’re on the second row, which will be important tomorrow in order to make a good start. We’ll have to wait and see what the weather does but personally I’d prefer dry conditions. This morning I had a problem with my exhaust and the bike wouldn’t rev, even though the feeling with the Aprilia was good. It’s disappointing that we didn’t get chance to compete this afternoon but I just hope we can get a full race in tomorrow, unlike Qatar. The front folded on me under braking at the end of the straight this morning and I ran off track but luckily it was just a scare."

12th Sergio Gadea 2.02.333
"I’m not happy because I know we could have been much higher up the order than this. We set a good pace yesterday but we didn’t go flat out for a lap time and even though we could never have predicted this to happen today we’ve been caught out. Even so, I think we can have a good race tomorrow. We’ll have to be careful at the start and try to make up as many positions as possible without crashing. The whole session went well this morning apart from the crash in turn eleven but that was caused by the standing water so I’m not concerned by it."

Qatar GP - 125cc - Quotes Qualifying

1st Julián Simón 2.06.974 (14 laps)
"I have never been on pole in a Grand Prix before and I'm really happy. It is payback for a perfect job so far, now we need to finish it off in the race. The session went well - we ran the harder tyre too and it felt great. I think it's going to be a tight race because Smith and Iannone have closed the gap. It's obviously impossible to predict what could happen tomorrow because the slipstream is a major factor here with the long straight and it's difficult to escape, but I think it is going to be between us three. My objective is to finish well and leave Qatar with a job well done. This pole has given me a real boost because I gave it my all and everything worked out how we hoped."

2nd Bradley Smith 2.07.107 (17 laps)
"I was pleasantly surpised with how we were able to pick the pace up from free practice to qualifying. We've taken a big step with the lap times, I don't know why exactly but the grip has been improving gradually and so has my feeling with the bike. I think the conditions were better tonight than they have been all weekend. I set a lot of laps in the low 2'07s, which is really important for the race. I think it's going to be a close race between Julián and myself, and I'm sure Iannone will go with us, but there are other guys that will be able to make the most of the slipstream down this long straight and pick their pace up. We've done our homework, now we need to have a good rest tonight and get ready for the first race of the season."

6th Sergio Gadea 2.08.147 (17 laps)
"I'm happy with the result because we're steadily getting closer to the front. We're still missing something but I feel satisfied with this. I pushed for an extra lap at the end just to make sure and it felt quite easy but there was some traffic out there and it was a shame because I think I could have got a front row start. I just want to finish the race tomorrow at all costs and if possible do so within the top five. Bradley and Julito are a step ahead but it's not as big a step as it was and I'm sure the rest of us will get even closer because it's a long championship. Anyway, we're ready and I think we can look forward to a great race tomorrow."

Qatar GP - 125cc - Double Pole for Team Aspar!

Julian Simon and Bradley Smith reinforced their great preseason form by setting the fastest and the second fastest laps in the 125cc qualifying for the Qatar GP. Sergio Gadea will start tomorrow's race from the second row.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap
1 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'06.974
2 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'07.107 0.133
3 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'07.588 0.614
4 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 2'07.781 0.807
5 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 2'07.835 0.861
6 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'08.147 1.173
7 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 2'08.148 1.174
8 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 2'08.380 1.406
9 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Motorsport 2'08.417 1.443
10 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'08.424 1.450

Qatar GP - 125cc - Results FP2

Bancaja Aspar rider Julian Simon made his intentions for Sunday's race clear again by clocking the fastest laptime in the second practice, being almost half a second quicker than second-fastest Nico Terol.
Teammates Bradley Smith and Sergio Gadea finished with in 4th and 6th respectively.

Pos. Rider Team Motorcycle Lap time Gap

1 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc Aprilia 2'07.578
2 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team Aprilia 2'08.016 0.438
3 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2'08.022 0.444
4 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc Aprilia 2'08.056 0.478
5 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten Derbi 2'08.360 0.782
6 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc Aprilia 2'08.617 1.039
7 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 2'08.923 1.345
8 Simone CORSI Jack & Jones Team Aprilia 2'08.935 1.357
9 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Motorsport KTM 2'09.160 1.582
10 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2'09.228 1.650
11 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team Derbi 2'09.269 1.691
12 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten Derbi 2'09.360 1.782
13 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team Aprilia 2'09.588 2.010
14 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team Derbi 2'09.690 2.112
15 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team Derbi 2'09.718 2.140
16 Esteve RABAT Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 2'09.880 2.302
17 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing Aprilia 2'09.914 2.336
18 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 2'10.345 2.767
19 Lorenzo ZANETTI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2'10.622 3.044
20 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2'10.763 3.185
21 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing Aprilia 2'11.223 3.645
22 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse Aprilia 2'11.370 3.792
23 Cameron BEAUBIER Red Bull KTM Motorsport KTM 2'11.637 4.059
24 Jasper IWEMA Racing Team Germany Honda 2'11.760 4.182
25 Lorenzo SAVADORI Fontana Racing Aprilia 2'12.074 4.496
26 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 2'12.195 4.617
27 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing Loncin 2'12.308 4.730
28 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA Loncin Racing Loncin 2'12.970 5.392
29 Michael RANSEDER Haojue Team Haojue 2'13.538 5.960
30 Luca VITALI CBC Corse Aprilia 2'15.931 8.353
31 Matthew HOYLE Haojue Team Haojue 2'16.210 8.632