Spaniard sets fastest time in final practice of the preseason, hit by bad weather. Teammate Fabio Quartararo is third on the timesheets and Maria Herrera, nineteenth.
The Circuito de Jerez concluded the 2015 preseason on Thursday afternoon, just a week away from the start of the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix. On three days of testing affected by rain, the Repsol Moto3 riders took advantage of sessions when a dry track was at their disposal to finalise the setups of their bikes. Despite the few miles accumulated over these past three days, Jorge Navarro and Fabio Quartararo have both continued with a good feeling from previous tests ‒finishing first and third, respectively, on the combined timesheets. Maria Herrera, who had technical problems yesterday, finished nineteenth.
With less than a week to go before travelling to Qatar, caution prevailed at the Jerez test. Jorge Navarro, Fabio Quartararo and Maria Herrera put in relatively few laps over a rainy three days. Of the dry sessions, the best time of the week was set by Navarro yesterday, with a time of 1:48.189. His teammate, Fabio Quartararo, was third, stopping the clock at 1:49.033.
Maria Herrera was fourteenth on day one, with a best time of 1:50.528. That put her nineteenth overall. Yesterday she could barely complete a few laps in the dry, but went out in the rain in order to gather data in the conditions and found a good feeling.
The next time the three Repsol riders will be on their bikes will be in the first free practice for the Qatar Grand Prix on Thursday, March 26th. The race is the first of the season for the Moto3 World Championship.
Fabio Quartararo >> Audio >> Audio FR
3rd – 1:49.033, 27 laps, 119 km
“The overall assessment of the preseason is very good, as we have done a good job in testing and have found a good pace. We have been up at the top in the three official tests and, although on this last occasion we have only been able to put in 27 laps, the important thing is that we have a very good setup and plenty of confidence ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.”
Jorge Navarro >> Audio >> Audio CAT
1st – 1:48.189, 26 laps, 115 km
“Although the weather has not allowed us to put in all the kilometres we had scheduled, the overall evaluation of the preseason is very good. We have done a good job –both the team and myself– to find the best setup possible. Although we could only ride 26 laps here at Jerez, I leave here feeling happy about being the fastest rider at this test; it is always a good source of motivation. We’re heading to Qatar with a positive frame of mind and with the intention of learn as much as we can. I am sure that if all goes well, we will achieve very good results.”
Maria Herrera >> Audio
19th – 1:50.528, 38 laps, 168 km
“In the first time out this week the track was dry and we managed to place in the Top 15, even though it was very cold. The feeling was good, but later it rained and we couldn’t go out in those conditions. Yesterday we only rode in the wet to gain confidence with the bike and I felt very comfortable. We also decided which chassis we will use for the start of the season. On this last day we didn’t do any laps, because it was still raining. For the first race in Qatar I’ll take things calmly because it is a new circuit for me, but will also have to learn it fast to try to be close to the fastest riders. Until then, I’ll have to learn the track through videogames and then study it once we arrive.”
