Full Gas Blog: Making an Impact – Former Moto2’s Jordi Torres and Nico Terol impress on WSBK debut

 In News, World Superbikes

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FULL GAS: Our special, new regular blog by Kermit Abadilla from the Philippines – taking a look back at the weekend’s race action and sharing other MotGP, Moto2, Moto3, and WSBK related stuff. A fan of the sport since 8, he is interested in fitness, sports, inspiring businesses and stories, reading, and likes daydreaming and helping. He also does social media & content writing.

jordi-torres

Every athlete, whether playing at the amateur or professional level, wants to make an immediate impact on the first season of the championship they are competing in. Spanish riders and fellow World Superbike Championship rookies Jordi Torres and Nico Terol did just that on the opening round of the WSBK Championship at the very fast Philip Island circuit in Australia.

The first race saw Jonathan Rea take a dream win racing for the first time for the Kawasaki Superbike Team. His 16th carer victory though was not handed easy to him as he had to battle the 22-lap long race with Aprilia’s Leon Haslam, the latter taking the victory in an another exciting, neck-and-neck fight to the finish line in race 2. Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing û Ducati Superbike Team) scored two third place finishes, making it an all-British podium.

Torres and Terol were teamates last year in the Moto2 World Championships riding for the Mapfre Aspar Moto2 Team. There were high expectations for both riders to be title contenders for the 2014 season with Terol winning three Grand Prix and Torres winning one at Germany during their 2013 campaign. However, both riders struggled all season and can’t seem to find the confidence riding their Suter Moto2 bikes. Torres and Terol would only manage to finish the season in 16th and 28th positions respectively. This led team boss Jorge Martinez Aspar to discontinue his Moto2 project and have Torres and Terol both searching for a ride for 2015.

Fortunately, some World Superbike teams still believed in their talent and potential. Terol, a former 125cc World Champion, was signed by Althea Ducati Team. Torres, former Spanish Moto2 Champion, was welcomed by the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils. We’ve seen in the past former MotoGP racers do well in Superbikes. But Jordi Torres and Nico Terol showed that racers makng the transition from Moto2 to World Superbike could do well too. Torres would even top the second free practice session on Friday. He was close to clinching a podium finish in race 1 by finishing an impressive 4th place but would suffer a crash later in race 2. Meanwhile, Terol was pleased to finish the two heats in 8th and 6th places.

Torres said he learned a lot during the race weekend but says that he can be fast but still needs to improve the way he manages the race. Will the Spanish pair be able to consistently ride like this the whole season to be title contenders remains to be seen. The Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils, seeing their new rider cross the line ahead of 2014 champion Sylvan Guintoli and 2013 champion Tom Sykes, must be delighted they signed the right guy to their team. The Althea Ducati Team too, must have been happy to see their new rider back to his form.

The World Superbike Championship just got more interesting with the addition of the funny but hard working and fast Jordi Torres and a determined to bounce back Nico Terol who is ready to show that he is a world champion for a reason. For sure, these two rookies have made their presence felt in the WSBK paddock.

Photo source: Red Devils Roma

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