Development of Honda NSF250RW takes step forward at Circuito de Jerez, where Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo rounded off three positive days of testing.
On the final day of testing at Jerez, Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo continued working in the same way as yesterday and continued to feel good onboard their Moto3 machines. Working on their respective setups, the pair rounded off the second official test of 2014 in ninth and fourteenth place, respectively, on the combined timesheet for the three days.
The morning fog and the low track temperature affected lap times today. Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo added another 49 and 50 laps, respectively, to the clock and kept developing their bikes. The Spaniard closed the day with a best time of 1:47.566, while his teammate for the week set a top lap of 1:47.898.
With the data gathered over three intense weeks of work, the HRC engineers will take the baton from the riders to continue development of the bikes ‒with the start of the World Championship rapidly approaching. The riders return to action in two weeks’ time at the MotorLand Aragon circuit.
Alex Marquez
1:47.566, 49 laps, 217 km.
“We started to ride at 1pm because it was very foggy and, due to the track conditions, it was a little more difficult to lower our times than in previous days. Today we did not have as much feeling as yesterday, but that did not stop us trying different settings to progress even more with the development of the Honda NSF250RW. Overall these three days were very positive. We rode fast and I went quicker despite my shoulder injury. I’ve noticed a lot of improvement from the test in Valencia. Day after day the crew and I have more data about the Honda. We know at all times what we need and this helps us a lot in our quest to have a good season.”
Fabio Quartararo
1:47.898, 50 laps, 221 km.
“Today it was a little more difficult to work, due to unfavourable weather conditions. We encountered a lot of fog in the morning and the track was cold, but that did not stop us going out there and trying different configurations, allowing us to lower my times from last year. I am very happy to have been involved in this World Championship test, as my goal is to win the CEV Repsol this year and become a GP rider next season.”
