During the first official 2024 test with Pirelli tires which took place last Monday in Valencia, Alonso lopez in Moto2™ and Daniel Holgado in Moto3™ were the fastest riders, setting the all-time lap record on the Spanish circuit in their respective categories. Does this arrival of the Italian manufacturer portend a move to the premier category in the short term?
Last Monday, the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia hosted the first official 2024 test for Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders, which also marked the start of the Pirelli era in these championships.
Alonso lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp – BOSCOSCURO) was the fastest rider of the day in Moto2™ with a time of 1'33.061, setting a new all-time lap record for this circuit and category.
Similarly, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was the fastest in Moto3™ in 1'37.300, even improving the lap record for this category by a second.
Alonso lopez set the new all-time lap record in the first session, on his 24th lap of the 26 completed, improving by two tenths the record set by Aldeguer this year during FP3. Daniel Holgado did the same during the second session by completing the 13th of 17 laps, shattering Binder's previous record (1'38.286) dating from 2020.
All riders used DIABLO™ Superbike slick tires in soft and medium compounds for the front and rear. In Moto2™ in dimensions 125/70 R17 at the front and 200/65 R17 at the rear, in Moto3™ 100/70 R17 at the front and 120/70 R17 at the rear.
These are standard tires and not prototypes, which means they can be purchased by any motorcyclist as they are regularly on sale.
» We are very satisfied with the results obtained during this first official 2024 test with the Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders and teams. For us, the objective was to confirm the good impressions observed at the beginning of September on the Montmelò circuit. On this occasion, as it was a private test, no official times were provided, while today it was possible to make a direct comparison with the times of the weekend that has just been flow, under similar weather conditions and temperatures. Reaching the lap records ever achieved on this circuit in the respective championships, and even improving them by a second in the case of Moto3, is certainly clear and easily quantifiable proof of the excellent performance that our tires are able to deliver. to guarantee. Some drivers completed more laps than the race distance using the same set of tires, even if they were not consecutive, with limited drop and good wear. All compounds performed well, with the softer ones generally being the ones that allowed riders to set their best times. We know that the tests, although representative, are never like a race weekend and that each circuit has its own history, but we can say that the conditions to do a good job next season are all there. »
Not only were the Pirelli tires appreciated by the drivers, but so was the support provided by the transalpine manufacturer during this test. After such a positive start, the question was naturally asked to George Barbier to know if the category MotoGP was targeted in 2027, since Michelin has a contract until 2026, just like Pirelli in Formula 1.
But the response from the competition manager at Pirelli can leave room for all kinds of interpretation...
"It's something we were already thinking about this year, because we were negotiating the renewal of Formula 1 when we started talking about this championship. And we never thought that one championship could replace another. They are completely different things, especially because we are talking about cars and motorcycles, because we are at the top of motor sports in terms of media too, that is in Formula 1, and the second is the MotoGP, of course. But these are completely different areas for us. »
This shows that Normandy can sometimes extend much further than one might think, but the other answers from George Barbier, much more instructive regarding the Italian manufacturer's approach, will soon merit a complete report...
Moto2 ™
COMBINED
1) 21 Alonso LOPEZ (Beta Tools SpeedUp – BOSCOSCURO)
1'33.061 – Lap 24/26 Session 1 – ALL TIME LAP RECORD
2) 44 Aron CANET (Fantic Racing – KALEX) 1'33.074 – Lap 24/25 Session 1
3) 54 Fermín ALDEGUER (Beta Tools SpeedUp – BOSCOSCURO) 1'33.151 – Lap 27/27 Session 2
1 SESSION
1) 21 Alonso LOPEZ (Beta Tools SpeedUp – BOSCOSCURO) 1'33.061 – Lap 24/26
2) 44 Aron CANET (Fantic Racing – KALEX) 1'33.074 – Lap 24/25
3) 54 Fermín ALDEGUER (Beta Tools Speed Up – BOSCOSCURO) 1'33.456 – Lap 22/22
2 SESSION
1) 44 Aron CANET (Fantic Racing – KALEX) 1'33.146 – Lap 21/22
2) 54 Fermín ALDEGUER (Beta Tools SpeedUp – BOSCOSCURO) 1'33.151 – Lap 27/27
3) 14 Tony ARBOLINO (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – KALEX) 1'33.383 – Lap 23/23
3 SESSION
1) 18 Manuel GONZALEZ (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™ – KALEX)
1'33.270 – Lap 26/27
2) 75 Albert ARENAS (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™ – KALEX) 1'33.302 – Lap 11/23
3) 44 Aron CANET (Fantic Racing – KALEX) 1'33.350 – Lap 18/22
Moto3 ™
COMBINED
1) 96 Daniel HOLGADO (Red Bull KTM Tech3) 1'37.300 – Lap 13/17 Session 2 – ALL TIME LAP RECORD
2) 99 José Antonio RUEDA (Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM) 1'37.683 – Lap 15/17 Session 3
3) 80 David ALONSO (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS) 1'37.975 – Lap 14/15 Session 2
1 SESSION
1) 96 Daniel HOLGADO (Red Bull KTM Tech3 – KTM) 1'38.239 – Lap 18/19
2) 99 José Antonio RUEDA (Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM) 1'38.572 – Lap 19/21
3) 31 Adrian FERNANDEZ (Leopard Racing – HONDA) 1'38.649 - Lap 24/29
2 SESSION
1) 96 Daniel HOLGADO (Red Bull KTM Tech3 – KTM) 1'37.300 – Lap 13/17
2) 80 David ALONSO (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS) 1'37.975 – Lap 14/15
3) 31 Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing – HONDA) 1'38.133 – Lap 27/29
3 SESSION
1) 99 José Antonio RUEDA (Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM) 1'37.683 – Lap 15/17
2) 80 David ALONSO (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS) 1'38.208 – Lap 12/15
3) 36 Angel PIQUERAS (Leopard Racing)
1'38.291 – Lap 20/25
