With both Ana Carrasco and Scott Deroue being faster than ever before on the Jerez circuit RW Racing GP has ended preseason testing with a good feeling. The team is looking forward to the first race in Qatar with confidence. Both riders set their personal best times in the second session of this final day: Ana Carrasco recorded 1.47.587 (23rd overall), Scott Deroue was on her heels with 1.47.797 (24th overall).
RW Racing GP team manager Jarno Janssen was happy with the results of his hotshots. “Both did an excellent job, improving their best lap times ever. And not just single laps, but constant solid lap times. Ana and Scott have worked hard and showed progression. Compared to the test in Jerez a few weeks ago, they both are significantly faster.”
Janssen was especially satisfied with Deroue’s progression. “Scott has moved closer to the top riders. He is over a second faster than a few weeks ago, while the front runners are not that much faster. A month ago the difference was 2.6, now it is only 1.5. Considering this is a learning year, we have no specific goals set for Scott but to show an upward trend. In the light of that he is on the right track.”
Concerning Ana Carrasco Janssen was satisfied as well, although the team manager believes his Spanish pupil can go faster. “Ana has not reached her limits yet, I’m sure of that. She is faster than she has ever been and she is working tremendously hard, but I have the feeling she still has to overcome some kind of barrier.”
The team skipped the final session of the three days test in Jerez, to get everything ready for Qatar where the first Grand Prix of the season will be held in little over a week time. Both bikes were equipped with new engines and all equipment was packed into crates to be flown to Doha. The team heads home tomorrow morning to spend a few days with their families and arrange the last things before leaving to Qatar on Tuesday.
Ana Carrasco – 1.47.587 (23)
“Yesterday I was close to improving already and now I even managed to get under the 1.48. Not just a little bit or only once, but quite a big slice and several laps. It feels so good to be that fast and set personal bests. The position is a little bit disappointing, but we are close and the differences are small. My team has worked hard to give me a good bike and I have a good feeling with it. I’m getting to know the Kalex KTM better and better. With these results and progression I’m looking forward to Qatar with confidence. Let’s get started!”
Scott Deroue – 1.47.797 (24)
“I lost some time this morning due to an electronic problem with my bike, but my team worked hard to solve it and I managed to get over that pretty quickly. From the data we knew my ideal lap time was 1.47.8 and I was able to ride that. I am happy with the lap times, but not so much with the position. I would have preferred to be closer to the top 20. Looking at where I stand from a rookies point of view, I am satisfied. Karel Hanika is a class of his own, but apart from him I’m the best rookie. That is one of my personal goals. Now we are heading to Qatar and I am eagerly looking forward to my first Grand Prix.”
RW Racing Press Release
