Perfect start for Simon in first ever Moto2 GP

Following the opening of the 125cc 2010 season with the lower cylinder category’s first official run, history was made at the Losail International Circuit. The first practice session for the new Moto2 class in a Grand Prix setting. The intermediate category was not short on debutantes for its premiere either, as with 41 riders participating this year it is the most packed grid of all the three Grand Prix classes. The results of the session continue the precedent set in testing, suggesting that an extremely close race is on the cards for Sunday night under the floodlights. Although the natural selection process saw some of the cream rise to the top, the top eight on the timesheets were separated by just a single second.

Mapfre rider Julián Simón was one of the starring eight, setting the pace in the opening practice run. The Spaniard was suffering from a slight lack of grip on the front of his RSV, but fought through the problem to find his place near the top of the standings. After minor modifications he continued to improve, and in the last of his eighteen laps of the Qatari circuit he arrived at his definitive time for the night –2’03.868. It was the third best time of the first Moto2 session. Mike di Meglio was not as lucky as his teammate, as a strong start was hindered by gearbox issues that dropped him down the order. Also experiencing grip issues, he slipped and slid to 30th on the provisional Moto2 grid, but is determined to improve upon his performance in the two Saturday outings.

3rd Julián Simón 2.03.868 (18 laps): “I am very happy with how the season has started in this opening session. The most important thing for us is that we were riding up front for the entirety of the session, although we need some work on the front of the RSV because I am experiencing some chattering. Tomorrow we will increase the tyre pressure on the front end to si if we improve our grip, but I can say that I am satisfied. We have confirmed that the bike is performing much better than at Jerez with the new bodywork. We thought that there was a lack of top speed in preseason but it was not like that today. I am convinced that tomorrow we will have improved the front suspension and will be able to find a good pace with which to have the bike race-ready.”