The wildest race of the year in Moto2 took place today in Sepang. The deluge of rain that fell just after the end of the Moto3 race test forced a delay to the intermediate category contest until 14:50. The race was declared wet and the riders were obliged to take a cautious approach, with the stronger riders showing prudence in the Malaysian GP. The lead changed continuously and there was even a spell in front for a local wild card, adding to the fun. On the final ten laps, the rain reappeared and the red flag followed with three laps to go, leaving Alex De Angelis as the winner, Anthony West second and Gino Rea third.
MAPFRE Aspar riders Jordi Torres and Nico Terol started from eighteenth and twentieth, respectively. They had a clear aim of making a comeback through the field, but the two fell foul of the wet conditions. On the start Terol gained five positions, but Torres lost four. The former pushed to stay in the points, but a lack of grip and continuous chattering put him down on lap twelve. Like Terol, Torres also fell at turn four, ending the day for both the MAPFRE Aspar competitors. Torres was also experiencing some front end difficulties.
In honour of Ginés Guirado, a friend of the Aspar Team and the entire paddock who passed away yesterday: “The Aspar family will always hold you in our hearts. Thank you for all our time together. RIP”
Nico Terol (DNF):
"We started the weekend very well, so I think it was a shame to finish it like this. Since yesterday we had a slight setback, because we had a crash in the qualifying session. Today we had a wet race to take on, and at first I felt good. My feeling was quite good on the first three laps, but then when I tried to brake hard, the bike stepped out a lot. Those ahead of me established a gap and I was more and more up against it. Then the track began to dry and I slid about a lot. I had a couple of scares, before in the end I locked up in turn four and went down. This weekend the positive was that we were quick in the dry. I searched for the limit in each session, so I think in Australia and we deserve a good result and we will fight for that."
Jordi Torres (DNF):
“We knew from the start that it was going to be a difficult race, because the asphalt was very slippery. I didn’t feel comfortable at any time, found it hard to go fast and it looked as if the bike wanted to throw me off continuously. Just before the race we made a change to the front suspension. I felt very strange in the wet, which is odd because the setup that we had for such conditions was very good. I fought on every corner to stay upright, until in the end the bike spat me off. The front tyre had gone off in a very strange manner, so the mechanics will investigate what might have happened.”
Mapfre Aspar Moto2 Press Release
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