A look at the qualifying timesheet from last season and this season in Moto2 shows just how fast the riders are developing in the intermediate class. Today times were almost 1.5 seconds quicker than the 2011 record, and three Spaniards were those taking the class to new heights. Espargaró, Márquez and Rabat occupy the positions on the front row, with plenty of rivals behind them putting in a strong, consistent pace. The duel between Espargaró and Márquez for the title promises much, but there are a great deal of riders who could have their say before the end of the Japanese GP.
Everything is set up well and now the final blow needs to be delivered. The MAPFRE Aspar riders have undertaken four positive practice sessions at Motegi and are in fine form. Nico Terol and Jordi Torres spent much time finding a strong pace today. Terol performed a magnificent lap for ninth on the grid, with Torres sixteenth and ready to break into the top ten –as he did last time out at Aragón.
9th Nico Terol 1.51.977 (19 laps):
“So far we are having a good weekend, concluding each session in the top ten. I'm happy with ninth place, but I still have a slightly bittersweet taste in my mouth because at the end of the qualifying session I lacked a bit of oomph to take a tenth off my time. I think we have a good pace for the race tomorrow. In the race we should be alright; we will fight to finish this magnificent job that we have been doing over the past few weeks with a good race. When I can get ahead and stay at the front in a race from start to finish, I know it will change my attitude for the rest of the season. We are improving a lot, but our steps forward are small. The important thing is not to stop this progression. Keep in mind that in this category everyone is going faster with every day, the level of demand is very high.”
16th Jordi Torres 1.52.239 (20 laps):
"This morning we did a great job, and the few changes we made worked well; we finished in the top ten. This afternoon I continued with the same inertia and so I kept a good pace, but I lacked putting it all together for one fast lap. I would have liked to have put in one more fast lap to sneak into the top ten. Tomorrow we will start strong and complete the first two laps all-out. I must confess that today I stalled a bit and I struggled to choose the best tyres for bettering my times. I am thinking positive, we have a good pace and that is what should prevail in the race tomorrow. I will have to be alert, as I’m sure the start will be chaotic, but I hope nobody will knock me off like they did last year.”
Mapfre Aspar Moto2 Press Release
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