Final test before the british riders big day
Posted on Mar 19, 2013 by MotoGP™
With the first grand prix of the season less than three weeks away there is a frantic week of testing action at Jerez in Spain for all three classes in the MotoGP™ World Championship.
The seven day test round the 2.748 miles circuit in southern Spain started this afternoon for both the Moto3™ and Moto2™ classes. They have four welcome days of testing before the MotoGP™ teams finish their preparation for the opening round of the championship in Qatar on April 7 with a three day test starting on Saturday.
It’s a big three days for the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha pair of Cal Crutchlow and MotoGP rookie Bradley Smith. Isle of Man – based Midlander Cal Crutchlow has looked in tremendous form at the start of his third MotoGP season. Last year the former World Supersport Champion grabbed two podium finishes and after the opening two tests of the season at Sepang in Malaysia in which he was fourth fastest many more look on the cards.
Twenty two year old Smith impressed in his first two tests but needs more track time to adjust to the M1 MotoGP Yamaha and three dry days in Jerez would be a massive boost before his long awaited debut.
Ulsterman Michael Laverty also impressed in Sepang in his MotoGP debut season. The 31 year old also needs more track time on the Paul Bird Motorsport machine with the GPMS designed chassis but already he has shown he is more than capable of mixing it with the top CRT riders on the Aprilia powered machine.
Twenty year old Scott Redding leads the Moto2 charge on the Marc VDS Kalex machine. The Gloucestershire rider still chases that first Moto2 victory but produced some great rides and four podiums to finish fifth in the championship last year.
Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent had a fantastic season last year winning two Moto3 grands prix. He steps up to Moto2 this year replacing Bradley Smith at Tech 3. Completing the British trio is Spanish-based Yorkshire teenager Kyle Smith who has a wealth of experience racing in Spain and who rides for the very competitive Blusens Avintia team.
The debut season of the Moto3 class replacing the 125’s was an unqualified success last year. Two British riders compete this year with contrasting grand prix experience. Kent-based Danny Webb celebrates his 22nd birthday this week looking for a change of fortune as he approaches 100 grand prix starts. He rides for the Ambrogio Racing team on the Suter Honda. Scottish teenager John McPhee impressed at the end of last season in some selected grand prix rides and gets his full time chance with the Caretta Technology – RTG team on the FTR Honda.
That big day under the floodlights in Qatar approaches fast and this week in Jerez is crucial for the teams and riders as they prepare for the 18 round MotoGP World Championship.