Moto2 tests in Jerez, D3: Axel Pons in the lead ahead of Sam Lowes, Johann Zarco behind but confident

Efren Vazquez, new rider for the JPMoto team riding the only Suter in the field, was the only one to take to the track.

We will have to wait until the second session to see the sun again on the Jerez track. It's the British Sam Lowes who then recorded the best time of the day in 1'42.075, “This day has been fantastic. I am second in the combined standings, but in the lead today,” comments Lowes. “This afternoon we completed long runs of 15 laps and tested new Kalex parts. “ 

However, he will have to bow to Axel Pons, undisputed leader in the combined ranking with a time of 1'41.730 achieved on Thursday. Note that the Spaniard fell yesterday after setting his best time, “I crashed due to a mechanical problem, but nothing that will prevent us from maintaining our good level,” confides Pons. For comparison, the fastest lap achieved during a Grand Prix weekend goes to Stefan Bradl in 2011 in 1'42.706.

Axel Pons, Sam Lowes and Lorenzo Baldassari complete the Top 3 of the 11 drivers below Bradl's record mark, “We tried different solutions on the front and back,” explains the Italian. “I am delighted with this result and I feel good on the bike. »

The fourth beat goes back to Alex Rins. Vice World Champion last year behind Johann Zarco, Rins had already carried out a private test on the same Jerez track shortly before. He took advantage of this test to work on his racing pace.

Dominique Aegerter, Takaaki Nakagami, Jonas Folger, Sandro Cortese and Marcel Schrotter complete the Top 10 of the combined classification of the three days.

John Zarco, reigning champion, finished this test with the 14th time, more than a second behind Pons' best time, “After these three days, it’s a shame that I couldn’t be as fast as I wanted,” explains Zarco. “I didn't have the feeling to force it. We tried different settings and I think we found the right one to go fast, but we didn't show it this week. » However, the Ajo team driver wants to be reassuring: “On worn tires, I am consistent at the same pace as my opponents. On new tires, I couldn't improve. At the moment we don't want to make any mistakes before Qatar. »

In the standings the Frenchman is ahead of the reigning Moto3 Champion, Danny Kent and Simone Corsi, the first non-Kalex rider in the standings. The Italian places his SpeedUp in 13th position in the combined ranking.

During this test, Dunlop tested new tires for the 2016 season. The manufacturer presented a new hard tire (new surface) for the tracks in Argentina, Australia and Sepang.