First test of the year for Fabio Quartararo, Jorge Navarro and Maria Herrera at Almeria. Next Tuesday they will return to action in Valencia.
The 2015 season has begun for the Repsol riders in the Moto3 World Championship. The reigning champion and runner-up from last season’s FIM CEV Repsol, Fabio Quartararo and Jorge Navarro, were back onboard their Honda NSF250RWs at Almeria for testing. They were joined by Maria Herrera, riding a Husqvarna, for two days at the southern Spanish circuit.
Strong winds and lower temperatures prevented the Repsol riders from completing more than a few laps yesterday, but today they had good conditions in which to begin their preparations in earnest. Quartararo, Navarro and Herrera put in 76, 75 and 105 laps, respectively, to end their first test of 2015 with a positive feeling.
The three Repsol riders in the lower cylinder category will be back on their bikes on Tuesday, February 10th, at the Circuit de Valencia, for three more days of testing.
Fabio Quartararo, 76 vueltas, 306 km.
“Yesterday it was very difficult to ride at this circuit because it was very windy, but today the gusts of wind were not as strong and we could work better. During the morning and afternoon we went out on track more often, which allowed us to work intensely on the development of the new Honda. In this test we focused mainly on getting a good feeling onboard the bike, after a two month break since the end of the FIM CEV Repsol. This bike is a lot like the one I rode last year, but now I’m riding with faster riders so it is really fun. I look forward to continuing riding at the next test, in Valencia next week”.
Jorge Navarro, 75 vueltas, 302 km.
“These two days of testing have been useful for both me and the team to get back into competition mode. It was the first time I have ridden at this circuit, although we could not do it yesterday because it was very cold and windy. Today the conditions had improved a lot and in the morning I could go out and continue learning the circuit. In the afternoon we began to make some small changes to the bike, and with used tyres I felt much better. When we put new tyres on and I wanted to push a little more, I crashed, but fortunately I’m fine. I’m happy with this first day and we are already thinking about Valencia”.
María Herrera, 105 vueltas, 422 km.
“I am very satisfied with these two days of testing; we have improved a lot. At first I felt a little strange after going so long without getting on the bike, but quickly I regained the good feeling and we have progressed from yesterday -mainly because today it was not so windy. I also felt very comfortable working with the team, as they had already welcomed me very well at the first test we did, last year in Valencia”.
