The clouds that hung over Montmeló today brought a respite for the riders in the 125cc category, as always the stars of the first race this Sunday. With the sun hidden and a cooler temperature than on the last two days at the circuit de Catalunya – today the air was at 30º C and the track at 37º – the race this morning saw some exciting moments and some great battles, and in the thick of them the Repsol rider Marc Márquez.
The race began with Iannone and Simón setting a fast pace from the very start and the two rapidly opened up a gap. It was clear that it was going to be a two horse race, the rest of the riders having to make do with 3rd position and lower. A second group quickly formed after the first few laps, with Márquez, 12th at the end of the first lap, making contact with them on lap 7. Behind him Rabat rode in 11th place, Redding 15th after a bad start, and Beaubier, on his return to racing, was 21st.
The laps went by and Márquez stayed at the back of the group of four riders – with Folguer, Gadea and Terol – all fighting for 3rd place. Out in front, Iannone and Simón rode with a cushion of more than two seconds protecting them.
The four riders in Marc`s group took turns at the front until with one lap left there was a big change thanks to a mistake by Simón on the home straight. The Spanish rider crossed the finishing line thinking he had won the race, he raised his arms and then Iannone overtook him to get away and ride alone on his way to the victory. Terol, Gadea, Márquez and Folguer also got past him just as he realised his error. And so the battle for 2nd and 3rd places was on.
Iannone won, but behind him five riders were involved in a very exciting final lap, and they all crossed the finishing line in a group. In the end, in spite of his excellent performance, young Márquez had to make do with a deserved 5th position. Even though he did not get onto the podium the rider from Lerida put in a great race in front of a home crowd.
Discreet performances from the rest of the Repsol riders at the Circuit de Catalunya, with Scott Redding 11th, Esteve Rabat 12th and Cameron Beaubier 18th.
Marc Márquez, 5th at 2.356 sec >> Audio >> Audio (cat)
“Yesterday we had some bad practice sessions and I started a bit down the field, and what is more on lap 3 or 4 I made a mistake and that made it hard for me to make contact with the second group. When I arrived I took things a bit easier, taking a rest at the back because I had made a great effort to catch them up. Today it was not as hot so we used the soft tyre on the rear, and on the first few laps it went very well, but then it started to wear a lot. But whatever, I think 5th position is very good. Perhaps we just needed the bike to a be bit better set up, although I have confidence in the work done by KTM and that we can make progress in the next few races. I have a good taste in my mouth, because we have done some great work this weekend, knowing that it would be difficult, all we lacked was a little bit of engine, although I have total confidence in the factory.”
Esteve Rabat, 12th at 16.515 sec. >> Audio >> Audio (cat)
“I would have liked to have done better in my home race, but it just was not possible. On the one hand, I am pleased because we have been able to make some very positive conclusions concerning things that had been affecting us a lot up to now. We had a problem coming out of corners – I could not accelerate like the riders around me – and we have realised why the bike did not feel so good. But we knew how to solve the problem and that is something very positive to come out of this race. I started quite a way back and at the beginning it was very hard, but I am pleased because I really fought hard today. In the end I lost contact with the group when lapping a straggler, and after that I was not able to fight for a higher position.”
Scott Redding, 11th at 16.427 sec. >> Audio
“This was a tough race, because I was almost not even able to ride in the warm-up this morning and I did not know the exact state of the track, so I was at a bit of a disadvantage. And I started very badly so I had to overtake a lot of riders. When things settled a bit I was not able to catch Smith and Bradl who were ahead of us, and we stayed in a group of four battling it out between us. But on the final lap, entering the stadium zone, the same thing that happened in Mugello happened again, I was almost thrown off the bike when I opened the throttle, luckily I did not fall but my rivals overtook me.”
Cameron Beaubier, 18th at 48.847 sec. >> Audio
“I made a terrible start because the clutch was not working right and it took some time to work as it should. I got left behind and I had to make my way past several riders when I could, although I also made some mistakes. I tried to keep a steady pace and reach the others gradually. In the end, I got a lot of vibrations on the fast corners and I could not ride as I would have liked, I even went off the track a few laps from the end and so I could not win any points. I have suffered a lot this weekend, but I think we have moved forward, learning a lot from the rest of the riders. I am really looking forward to Assen.”
