The Circuit of Jerez was the setting for the Spanish Motorcycling GP back in May, but today it held the first of three days of practice for both the 125cc and 250cc teams as they both prepare for the imminent season.
With the first race of the 2009 season just around the corner – Qatar GP at the circuit of Losail 12th April – the teams are putting the final touches to their bikes so that they start the new season in the best possible way, and so that is why these three days of practice are so important.
In the smallest of the three categories, Marc Márquez & Cameron Beaubier will defend the Repsol colours as members of the official KTM team. For Márquez it will be his second season with Repsol and KTM in the World Motorcycling Championship. His teammate, the young American Beaubier, will make his debut in the World Motorcycling Championship in a couple of weeks, last year he raced in the CEV – Spanish 125cc Championship.
Together with Márquez & Beaubier, another two young riders will defend the Repsol colours in this the smallest category. Esteve Rabat, Márquez`s teammate last year in the Team Repsol KTM 125cc, has joined the Blusens Aprilia team for this season, alongside the young Briton Scott Redding – the revelation last year and winner of the British GP. These two will also represent Repsol on two Aprilia 125 RSA machines.
In today`s practice Marc Márquez set the fourth fastest time on a day that was spent testing modifications on the KTM engine and chassis setup, meanwhile his teammate, Cameron Beaubier, continued with his process of adaptation to the bike, taking in many new things as he prepares for his first year in the World Championship. Cameron was 14th today a little over two seconds behind the time set by Julián Simón. Some problems with the fuel injection meant that he lost some valuable time in the pits in the morning session, but his impressions at the end of the day were positive.
The two riders in the Team Blusens Aprilia also took advantage to do some tests today and so improve the setup on their bikes. Scott Redding set the 19th fastest time and his teammate Esteve Rabat, the 11th.
Tomorrow, that is to say Thursday, as well as Friday the riders in the 125cc and 250cc categories will continue working at the track in Cadiz province, but make way for the MotoGP teams on Saturday and Sunday for the definitive tests before the first GP of the season. The 125cc and 250cc riders will still have the chance to practice a couple of days at the circuit of Losail on the days running up to the first race of the 2009 season.
Marc Márquez, 1.48.534 secs, 57 laps, 252 Km. >> Audio
“Today we had the first day of official tests and it was the first chance to ride with all the others that will be on the grid. The truth is is that from the start things went well, in spite of the threat of rain. But then a bit of wind got up, the sky cleared and we were able to practice in very good conditions. We found a good setup after testing different things all day, and I think we set a good time because we rode with the worn tyres. We tried different setups on the suspension and the geometry starting with the base we had from the latest sessions we did here, and that helped us. In Montmeló I was told to try and play more with the movement of my body on the bike, and I tried to do that. I think that I have had a good day, and tomorrow we will try and improve some more.”
Cameron Beaubier, 1.49.718 secs, 40 laps, 177 Km. >> Audio
“We could not do a lot of laps this morning since we had some problems with the new fuel injection system and that meant we spent a lot of time in the pits. But later I was able to ride for quite a long time, and in the afternoon I went faster so I am quite pleased with the work we did today. I hope that tomorrow and the day after things go even better, to continue with my learning and getting better everyday, which is the real objective this year.”
Esteve Rabat, 1.49.029 secs, 53 laps, 234 Km. >> Audio
“Practice went quite well. It is the first day and we took things calmly, riding alone and finding agood pace, and I finished 11th. All day I was riding at a regular 1 minute 49, and I am very pleased since we managed to do that quite easily. As time went by we began to get some chattering on the fast corners, on the rear wheel, and we will have to work on that tomorrow. I am also pleased with the engine performance as the bike is very fast.”
Scott Redding, 1.49.014 secs, 52 laps, 230 Km. >> Audio
“Things have not started badly, although there was a bit of wind I got some good sensations; this is the first time that we have ridden here since last year because we did not come when others came a month ago. The bike is going better than the one I had last year, although the chassis is a bit different and it takes some getting used to. We are going to get better bit by bit, doing some good practice and setting good times. I just need to get more used to the bike, that is what I will do every time I get on it.”
