Disappointing Crash for Di Meglio While in Eighth Place

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Despite a crash with just five laps to go, Team JiR and rider Mike Di Meglio enjoyed a very positive race today at Assen.

The former 125cc World Champion had a steady start from ninth on the grid, dropping to 13th on the first lap before he reeled off two fastest laps early in the race which helped him climb back into the top ten.

With race leaders Pol Espargaro and Scott Redding battling for the lead, Mike had his own battles to contend with, catching the group ahead and slipping into eighth place, which he held for much of the race. Sadly, with five laps to go Mike lost the front-end of his Moto2 machine, but both team and rider were positive that he could maintain a good rhythm in the race and are looking forward to the next round.

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Team Rider

"I’m very disappointed for the team for the crash which was my fault. I didn’t get the best of starts but I got into a rhythm which was difficult to keep up as it was hard to pass people. Eventually I could get free and pull myself up to the next group but I just couldn’t catch Xavier Simeon. Before the crash the bike felt really good and I’m happy with our performance over the weekend as a whole. We now know that we need to concentrate fully on getting a good qualifying performance so that I’m not making hard moves during the early part of the race. Despite the disappointment I’m now looking forward to the next race as I’m getting better with the Moto2 machine all the time.”

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Di Meglio Hopes for a Competitive Race at Barcelona

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It's time to return to Spain for the sixth round of the 2013 season, which will see the riders of the MotoGP World Championship enjoy a busy Sunday, June 16th on the Catalan circuit of Montmelo.

Following Mugello, the JiR Team stayed at the Tuscan circuit for a day of testing, during which they analysed the problems that have emerged so they began the search for new technical solutions even in adverse weather conditions. The primary objective of the Team is to give the rider a better feeling on the bike to find the performance and consistency of performance during the race weekend.

Gianluca Montiron – JiR Team Principal

“The race at Catalunya is important to give a twist to the season. The goal for the weekend is to start from the very beginning with determination without getting lost with minor changes and focus to prepare for the race. Mike has to be good at finding a better adaptation to the bike and be much more effective during the race. This year's Moto2 lap times show that there isn’t a single rider that can make a difference among all the others, therefore our rider needs to do a step up as we had a glimpse of at Le Mans.” 

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Team Rider

"The weekend in Mugello has not been very positive for us, we struggled to find the competitiveness that we expected. The following Monday, we stopped for a day of tests that allowed us to better investigate the problems encountered and possible solutions draw. We need to find a good base set-up that allows us to deal with every weekend, from which to make adjustments and finalization that adapt to any track or weather conditions. We have made progress in this direction, we will try to find in Barcelona confirmations of the work done and I hope that we can be more competitive, both in practice sessions for the starting grid and in the race to progress and get closer to the fastest.”

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Mike Di Meglio Ready for Another Improvement at Mugello

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The time is getting closer and closer to the exciting moment of the Italian GP, the historic race on the MotoGP calendar that often in the past proved to be decisive for the outcome of the championship. 

The charming Tuscan hills have always been a fascinating scenario that fires up the passion not only of Italian fans but also the passion of fans from around the world, eager to enjoy the exploits of their heroes that on this track always offer some spectacular battles.

The JiR Team has carefully prepared for this event in particular on the aerodynamic studies that will lead to developments for both the Italian race and the next test in Barcelona. Both of these circuits are very fast with long straights and therefore require special aerodynamic equipment, different configurations of which have been tested on the MotoBI.

The former World Champion Mike Di Meglio feels the passion of the Italian event: after the good progress shown so far, especially in his last home Grand Prix at Le Mans, it is now important to continue the work to approach the leading group.

Gianluca Montiron – JiR Team Principal

“Each race has its own story, the Moto2 riders are within a few tenths of each other and this year the riders battling in the individual races are different and there doesn’t seem to be a stand-out leader like last year. For now, the lap times have not improved compared to 2012, each race is a good opportunity to break into the top group and take advantage of each occasion. Mike is being applied to improve his approach in the management of the race weekend, giving us satisfaction and we are working to build a solid foundation that will enable us to be consistent on all tracks around the world and not only the occasional opportunity. From the technical point of view we are lavishing resources to improve our motorcycle along with that of all our suppliers and everyone has helped out. We have just finished the aerodynamic tests using the straight of an airport and a small step forward has been made. In other areas, we can count on a new exhaust meanwhile other technological research continues with the logic of small steps. It would be a lie to say you have no expectation for the race as it feels like home, moreover, the adrenalin is the fuel that powers our engine and that has allowed us to do the work that is our passion.”

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Team Rider

"I'm excited to return to the circuit of Mugello, a track that I really like and that always gives great emotion to all of us. With my team we are working well, we come from a number of positive improvements and the good result centered at Le Mans has further fuelled our hopes. Mugello is a very fast track as well as the next one in Barcelona, so with the team we have done several tests in recent days to improve the aerodynamics of the bike and thus be more competitive. We are continually making small steps forward, this is very positive for us, I cannot wait to get back on track and continue on the path we have taken."

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Team JiR and Mike Di Meglio Take A Superb Seventh at Le Mans

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Team JiR’s Mike Di Meglio had a spirited ride to take a fine seventh place in a rain-hit Moto2 race at Le Mans.

The Frenchman made a good start from 12th position on the grid and had taken two places on the first lap. With the conditions on the track drying steadily the lap times soon began to fall, but so did other riders as they were caught out by the damp patches that were still on the track.

While front-runners such as Pol Espargaro and Esteve Rabat crashed out, Di Meglio kept his head and stayed solidly in the top 10 for the duration of the race. Mike battled for the entire race with Mattia Pasini, taking sixth place on lap 24 of the 26 scheduled laps but then the rain began to fall heavily and the race was red-flagged and the results went back a lap with Mike in seventh place.

The race was won by Britain’s Scott Redding, with team-mate Mika Kallio in second and Xavier Simeon in third. 

Gianluca Montiron – Team JiR Team Principal

“Today is a good day for us. During the weekend Mike and team worked well and we saw the result. All the time he made improvements and was able to stay with the top guys and I hope we start this way for the next race. I’m happy to have made some changes in the team and now we will hope that Mike will stay with the top group from the next race onward. What we want to see is Mike be consistent all through practice and qualifying and keep a good rhythm. I think we will see Mike make further improvements from now on.”

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Moto2 Team Rider

Final position: 7th 

 “I enjoyed that race. I’m happy for the final result, but also a little sad as I also lost some time in middle of the race which could have seen us higher up. I think the bike could run with the front group now, and I think we have improved a lot compared to the first three races. The important thing is also we have got some good points for the championship and we want to improve and so I am really looking forward to the next race. I like riding this bike and enjoy it more each time I go out on in.” 

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Mike Di Meglio Fully Motivated for Le Mans

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Here we go towards Le Mans for the fourth appointment of the Moto2 season, a highly emotional circuit for the JiR Team as it is the home race for its rider Mike Di Meglio.

In preparation of the race that will happen on Sunday the JiR Team’s technicians worked hard to bring some evolutions in aerodynamics that will debut in the French GP and then will be further developed throughout the season. Little steps forward that will bring the technical evolution for the machine that hopefully will help the French champion to find some more consistency toward the counting positions. The weather is still unpredictable for the weekend, so the whole team will stay ready in order to react to any conditions.

Gianluca Montiron – JiR Team Principal

“Just like last year this French GP will be very special for us, having in our team a French rider who is looking for a good result in his home race. Last year we had an emotional weekend that saw our bike well performing, so much so Johann Zarco caught the leader and only a crash prevented him from a good result. The weather will be a factor but we all know that we need to stay focused, ready to take advantage of any chance. We look positively to the upcoming races, Mike will make a further step forward in his riding style and his approach to the practice sessions, we do have trust in his capabilities and we’re working hard to put him in the best conditions and find back the champion he has been before.”

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Team Rider

"Le Mans is one track that I like, it is my home GP, and it's always a pleasure to be there with all the fans. In the past when I won it was something that will stay always in my mind. In Jerez we had a very difficult weekend, my team works very hard to understand what has happened, and I work to understand what I can improve! We work very hard all of us, and I’m very excited to be again on my bike! We know our bike is fast in the rain and dry and in Le Mans the weather can be difficult! We can have a very good weekend and I’m fully motivated for this!”

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Mike Di Meglio Ends in 20th the GP of Spain

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Team JiR’s Mike Di Meglio suffered a tough race today at the Spanish Moto 2 Grand Prix at Jerez. The Frenchman initially made a good start from 17th on the grid, battling in the early laps for the points scoring positions against experienced Moto2 riders such as Thomas Luthi and Randy Krummenacher, but an issue in the faster corners and higher track temperatures saw him unable to maintain a good rhythm in the second half of the race.

Maiden winner Esteve Rabat continued his weekend’s dominance with a fine display, leading from the first corner to take the win from Scott Redding and a slow-starting Pol Espargaro, whose battle with Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami made the race a thrilling spectacle in the final laps. 

Team JiR and Di Meglio will now go away to analyse all the data to improve their fast-corner performance in time for Mike’s home race at Le Mans in a few weeks time.

Gianluca Montiron – Team JiR Team Principal

“We made a different setting on the bike from yesterday to today thanks to the condition of the track temperature which was higher. Mike was able to lap in the 45s bracket but he was suffering from a spinning rear wheel, so we need to analyse the data and perhaps we need to look at other things also. In slow corners Mike is able to drive out of them well, but we seemed to lack a little something out of the fast corners. For sure we have to work better in practice and qualifying and the lap time of Mike has to be more consistent as he is a fast rider but we need to help him get a good rhythm and consistency for the whole race. We were close to the points scorers today but just not able to take points – this isn’t Mike’s favourite track and we need to move to France and hope for the best for Mike’s home race.” 

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Moto2 Team Rider

Final position: 20th

“It was a difficult weekend for us but we were looking for grip from the rear and changed a lot for the race but I think we need to understand what’s happened so we can solve it in time for the next race. The rear was spinning during the second half of the race and we need to understand why. Le Mans is in a few weeks time and now we need to work on things for the faster corners. In the slow corners the bike is very good and we have the drive, but we now need to cure the problem in time for my home race. I’m moving forward to Le Mans with a positive outlook that my experienced team and myself can improve the bike for the next race.”

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First Points with JiR for Di Meglio at Austin

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The Frenchman suffered a crash in the final stages of qualifying yesterday which saw him down in 18th on the grid for today’s race, but the 25-year-old former 125cc World Champion showed determination to finish just outside of the top-ten in 11th place, taking five valuable world championship points. 

Di Meglio made a stunning start, being as high as eighth place in the early stages of the race, battling riders who started much further up on the grid.

In an exciting race Spaniard Nicolas Terol took his maiden win from Esteve Rabat and Mika Kallio. Pole-sitter Scott Redding finished fifth.

Gianluca Montiron – JiR Team Principal

“Today was not too bad for us as we take our first points, which is important to us and generally I think it was a positive day. On Friday Mike was with the top group and on the second day things were more difficult but in today’s warm-up he was fast and able to stay with the top group. In the race he made a good start and his rhythm was good but he soon found some issue with his pace in the second part of the race even though he was as high as 8thplace early on. This was the first time for him under full race conditions near the front and fighting with the front group so it was important for him to finish the race and we were not so far away from the top. We need to improve Mike’s riding style to the Moto2 machine so it is a good challenge for us to develop both our machine and rider to get them both in a  better condition for the next race.”

  

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Moto2 Team Rider

Final position: 11th

“I made a very good start and we were not too bad early in the race. My feeling with the bike improved even though the track conditions were changing and therefore I had to change how to ride, pretty soon in the second part of the race I didn’t have feeling with the front of the bike towards the end of the race. Overall it was a positive weekend, but we need to move forwards for the final day of qualifying as if we were 10th we would have been so much higher up. We need to remember these are our first points but we can and want to do so much better.”

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Positive First Day for Mike Di Meglio at Austin

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Despite a high-speed crash at the end of today’s final session, Frenchman Mike Di Meglio had a positive first outing at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The 25-year-old former 125cc champion led the early part of the session and was in the top three until the final ten minutes of the period. Then, as he aimed to push his Team JiR machine back up the rankings, he suffered a high-speed crash in turn six on the track with just two minutes remaining.

Despite the crash, Mike finished the session in eighth place. Fastest was Britain’s Scott Redding.

Gianluca Montiron – Team Principal

"Today we had a good result for Mike. It’s a new track for everybody so this makes it all the more important. Today we worked well on helping the rider get to know the track. As well as being new for everybody it is different to European tracks and Mike’s approach was very good in the first session. He simply went out and rode without worrying about the setting, but just to learn the track, which he did. For second practice we moved forward on set-up and he made some good times on the same tyre and I think this is positive. From now we need to concentrate and make another step forward as the grip on the track will be more consistent from tomorrow and we will need to refine the set-up as the lap times improve. I think we have a good challenge and opportunity to show that Mike and the team will recover well from the bad luck in Qatar.”

Mike Di Meglio – Team Rider Position: 8th Best Lap: 2’13.271

"Today was good we were fast from this morning and improved every time we went out on track and I think we also have a good rhythm. We need to work on the bike still further of course, but the track itself is nice and I think we will be near the front and improve our rhythm further if we carry on in this way. Towards the end of the second session I did crash. I lost the front as I was trying to push hard towards the limit but despite being fast, it was a small crash and we have plenty of information and data for tomorrow so need to concentrate on what happens then, for now.”

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Mike Di Meglio Looking for Progress at Austin

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For the second race of the 2013 Moto2 World Championship, the teams head to Texas, and the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.

This new 3.427mile track is the fourth circuit in the continental United States to host a grand prix motorcycle event and three events will be held this year on the MotoGP calendar: the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, Laguna Seca in California (the only MotoGP class) and Indianapolis.

For Team JiR and rider Mike Di Meglio, both will be hoping for better luck after the first GP in Qatar where an ECU problem meant the 25-year-old Frenchman had to start from pitlane, eventually finishing the race just outside of the points.

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Team Rider

"What is good is that this is going to be a new track for everyone and from what I can see it could be a difficult track to learn and ride well on as you really need to find and understand the best line around the circuit. Looking forward we know that we did a good job in Qatar, but things just went wrong when we got to the grid. Despite this, I’m very motivated for this weekend’s race. Every time we went out on track at Losail we improved and we went faster and grew in confidence with the bike. We now need a good weekend’s work where we can progress and be ready for Sunday’s race.”

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Mike Di Meglio Close to the Points in Losail

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Team JiR and French former World Champion Mike Di Meglio suffered bad luck in today’s opening race of the Moto2 World Championship at Losail tonight.

The 25-year-old Frenchman had his Team JiR Moto2 machine cut out on him after the warm-up lap just before the start of the 20-lap race.

With his Team JiR mechanics unable to start his machine in the required time, the 2008 125cc World Champion had to start from pit-lane. When the race began he made excellent progress, showing the sort of pace shown by the riders in the second group in the race. Despite this pace – and after a collision with Mattia Pasini – Di Meglio finished the race in a creditable 16th position, just outside of the points.

Gianluca Montiron – JiR Team Principal

“After the warm-up lap we had an issue with the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which led to Mike’s machine cutting out on the grid, just before the start of the race. With us unable to start the bike in the time allowed he had to start from the pit-lane. This was a great shame, but he showed great spirit and the sort of pace shown from the second group in the race. This is a big shame for us following such a weekend where we have all made progress together. But, this is racing and it is just unlucky. We now look forward to the next race where we hope to have better luck.”

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Team rider

“I’m very angry after the race and disappointed really as we could have had a really good race and we were hoping to stay in the top 10 where we ended qualifying. This is just one of those things really and we have to look forward to the next race now. The positives are that we improved every session and were looking good for the race as well as showing good pace in the race, despite ending just outside the points. I now look forward to the next one.”

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JiR Moto2 Team Ready for Improvement at Qatar GP

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The JiR Team and its rider Mike Di Meglio are leaving for Qatar, where on Sunday, April 7th there will be the opening race of the 2013 season. After the hard work done over the winter to prepare the new machine at its best all the team members are looking forward to returning to the adrenaline of the race weekend, even more in the picturesque night setting of Losail.

The technological innovations introduced during the tests enabled the team to deliver to the rider a bike with growing performance, while the work of Di Meglio has concentrated on finding a riding style that can suit the characteristics of the bike.

The concentration and the charge of the whole racing team are high, as well as the desire to compete again against both the stopwatch and competitors.

The race weekend in Qatar will be special for both the time (held at night, during the evening in Europe) and the ways: the practice sessions will be spread over three days instead of the usual two.

Gianluca Montiron – JiR Team Principal

“During the winter we have put a lot of effort to build up a technical package that can compete in the class, which we know is already very demanding. The regulations of the Moto2 class tends to equalize the absolute performance among all participants, but the margins of work remain crucial both in terms of the dynamic behavior of the bike and, above all, for the difference that can be made by the rider. The new frame has already proven to be a great starting point to work on, as well as the aerodynamic configuration. Mike has the experience and the charisma of a world champion, he has been working intensively on his riding style to make it more consistent with the category, showing improvements. The race will give the first indication of the work done so far, but we are aware that we can count on the strength of a team that has a wealth of experience behind us. The entry of new and prestigious partners allows us to work with due serenity, while technical research and development never stops.”

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Team Rider 

“During the winter we did a lot of miles to develop the bike and to find the right balance between its potential and the way I ride. Qatar is a circuit that I like, I cannot wait to discover the dynamic characteristics of my new machine in addition to looking forward to battling with the other competitors. We know that the competitive level of the class is very high, then the priority right now is to find a base set up that allows me to have a good feeling and improve steadily. "

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Team JiR Back on Track in Jerez

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After the season’s opening in Valencia with the first IRTA tests the JiR Team moved to the warm weather of Almeria for a two-days private session, taking advantage of two sunny days during which much hard work has been done to introduce the newly-arrived Mike Di Meglio to the MotoBI machine.

Yesterday team and rider took the track in Jerez, for a three-day IRTA session, with an intense working plan to be checked that has been ruined in the first day by the unstable weather conditions. Despite this the Frenchman and former World Champion confirmed his good feeling with the bike, staying in the top ten of the Class, and now the Team is getting new settings ready to be tested concerning the rider’s position on the bike, even if weather forecasts are not so good for the forth-coming days.

Gianluca Montiron – JiR Team Principal

“We are only at the beginning of our work plan and it has been very useful for us to ride also under the rain conditions. Our rider’s feeling with his machine and the team is getting better and better, during yesterday afternoon session some parts of the track were almost dry so Mike had the opportunity to test the bike’s reactions in different conditions all together, all the situations that we already know we will find along the 17 races season. At this point the time is not as relevant as the rider’s approach to the work is: at least until when all the riders will get the official engines, only then we will start to look at the times.”

Mike Di Meglio – JiR Moto2 Team Rider

“The feeling with my MotoBI is getting better and better the longer I ride, the 560 km made in Almeria and the same in Valencia had been very important to me as I’ve tested different set-ups conditions etc, and so I could have a taste of all the possibilities that this machine allows. Here in Jerez in wet conditions I have confirmed that this feeling has increased and this makes me confident for the future, although being aware that we are just at the beginning yet.”

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