Eighteen riders took part in Moto2 testing at Valencia, and the surprise of the first day of testing was newly signed Pons Racing rider Pol Espargaro, who ended up being the fastest rider, setting an unofficial best lap on of 1.
36.
0 on the Kalex bike.
Pons Racing will spear head three riders next season, and joining Alex Pons and Pol Espargaro will also be Tito Rabat, who ended up second fastest and two tenths of second behind his new team mate.
Scott Redding was third and he too was on a Kalex after his Marc VDS Racing Team switched manufacturers for the upcoming season.
Andrea Iannone, as it was officially confirmed today will be staying in Moto2 with Speed Master but the team has now switched to a 2012 FTR chassis.
The Italian was fourth ahead of Aspar’s new rider, Aleix Espargaro, who also switched teams for the 2012 season.
Gino Rea is auditioning for Gresini’s Moto2 team and was 6th fastest, while former MotoGP rider Toni Elias will likely be showing up tomorrow for try outs with Gresini and Aspar, both team managers would like to have the 2010 Moto2 champion in their line-up.
Mika Kallio on the Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex was seventh just ahead of 125cc runner-up Johann Zarco on his second test on JiR’s MotoBi.
Claudio Corti was 9th and he’ll be staying with Italtrans, while All Japan J-GP2 rider Takaaki Nakagami also on the Italtrans Suter was 13th.
Retired Roberto Locatelli was gifted with a test ride by the Italian team, but he’s not returning to racing as he’s busy with Team Italia FMI.
Angel Rodriguez who just signed with Stop and Go Racing for two season was 1oth ahead of team mate Ratthapark Wilairot.
Alessandro Andreozzi with Speed Up was 12th ahead of 2011 125cc World Champion Nico Terol who was four seconds off pace from the top of the charts in his first test with Aspar’s Suter.
Jonas Folger is riding for MZ Racing with the FTR chassis finished ahead of JiR Team’s new rider Eric Granado while former Supermotard Bernd Hiemer also on MZ bike headed up the rear.
Also on track was Alex Hofmann who was testing a spec Aprilia RSV4 Superbike and getting information on how the bikes handles on Bridgestone tires.
Testing will continue tomorrowUnofficial Moto2 Valencia Test lap times:01- Pol Espargaro – Pons HP 40 Tuenti – Pons KALEX – 1’36.
002- Tito Rabat – Pons HP 40 Tuenti – Pons KALEX – 1’36.
203- Scott Redding – Marc VDS Racing Team – KALEX Moto2 – 1’36.
204- Andrea Iannone – Speed Master Team – FTR Moto M211 – 1’36.
805- Aleix Espargaro – Mapfre Aspar Team – Suter MMXI – 1’37.
306- Gino Rea – Gresini Racing Moto2 – Moriwaki MD600 – 1’37.
307- Mika Kallio – Marc VDS Racing Team – KALEX Moto2 – 1’37.
608- Johann Zarco – JiR Moto2 – MotoBI – 1’37.
709- Claudio Corti – Italtrans Racing Team – Suter MMXI – 1’37.
810- Angel Rodriguez – SAG Team – FTR Moto M211 – 1’37.
811- Ratthapark Wilairot – SAG Team – FTR Moto M211 – 1’38.
212- Alessandro Andreozzi – Speed Up – FTR Moto M211 – 1’38.
213- Takaaki Nakagami – Italtrans Racing Team – Suter MMXXI – 1’38.
314- Nico Terol – Mapfre Aspar Team – Suter MMXI – 1’40.
415- Jonas Folger – MZ Racing Team – FTR Moto M211 – 1’40.
616- Eric Granado – JiR Moto2 – MotoBI – 1’41.
217- Roberto Locatelli – Italtrans Racing Team – Suter MMXI – 1’41.
218- Bernd Hiemer – MZ Racing Team – MZ RE Honda – 1’41.
9Photo source telecinco.
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