Moto2 & Moto3 Test: What happened at Jerez?

After the official MotoGP test which took place last Thursday and Friday on the Jerez circuit, the Andalusian track did not close its doors, since it hosted Moto2 and Moto3 on Sunday and Monday, and still does Today. But what is it exactly?

Unlike their big sisters in the premier category, it was not an official IRTA test, which explains the absence of Live Timing, but a private test before the winter ban in December/ January.

As is often the case in these circumstances, the Ángel Nieto circuit was rented by the VDS team which then offered the other Moto2 and Moto3 teams the opportunity to participate in these two days of running in exchange for a contribution to the costs of this test which was not open to the public.

In addition to Sam Lowes et Tony Arbolino for the Belgian structure, responded on Sunday Sean Dylan Kelly* et Cameron Beaubier for American Racing,  Gabriel Rodrigo* et Will Bendsneyder for Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team, Celestine Vietti et Niccolò Antonelli* for VR46 Racing Team, Filip Salač et Alessandro Zaccone* for Gresini Racing, Zonta Van Den Goorbergh* for RW Racing GP (on an NTS while waiting for a Kalex as indicated in the official list), Aron Canet et Jorge Navarro for Flexbox HP40, Jeremy Alcoba* et Marcel Schrötter for Liqui Moly Intact GP, Simone Courses et Marcos Ramirez for MV Agusta Forward Racing, Roman Fenati* and Fermín Aldeguer* for Speed ​​Up Racing in Moto2, to which we can add Alberto Surra* and Andrea Migno for Snipers Team in Moto3.

*Rookies

In the morning, the track was still dotted with patches of moisture from heavy overnight rain, before drying out due to the sun and wind. No timing has been disclosed.

Note that while his little comrades participated in the last Grands Prix of the season, Sean Dylan Kelly and his father traveled throughout Italy, France, Spain and Portugal in a van, to log as many kilometers as possible on a Moto2 before taking part in this test. The American driver has thus managed to accumulate more than 4 km on several of the GP circuits on which he will compete during his next 000 season under the American Racing colors.

Monday, came to join Albert Arenas et Jake dixon for Aspar Team under the GasGas colors,  Peter Acosta* and Augusto Fernandez for Red Bull KTM Ajo, as well as John mcphee et Ayumu Sasaki for Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max.

Unofficially, Celestine Vietti managed to set the best time of the day in 1'41.706 followed by the Spaniard Aron Canet in 1'41.931. Third best time for Fermín Aldeguer in 1'41.959, followed by Jake Dixon in 1'42.209, Simone Courses in 1'42.330, and Augusto Fernandez in 1'42.410. The Spanish Albert Arenas finished eleventh in 1'42.834, while Peter Acosta, during his first contact, obtained a time of 1'42.895 which placed him in 13th place, after a total of 41 laps on the Jerez track.

We unfortunately deplored the injury of Jorge Navarro, the driver of the Pons Flexbox HP40 team back on a Kalex after three years with Speed ​​Up – Boscoscuro, who fractured the malleolus of his left leg: “ It wasn't the start we would have liked mbut we will come back stronger in February. Now I just have to think about recovery and rest. Tomorrow in Barcelona we will carry out all the checks with Dr. Mir's team to understand how to repair the ankle fracture. »

Once this last day is over, the next private test, this time organized by the aforementioned Pons team, will take place on February 16 and 17 in Jerez, just before the official IRTA test in Portimão from February 19 to 21.

We now have all winter to get used to these new rider-motorcycle compositions, here are some examples…

Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team)

Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing Team)

gabriel rodrigo (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team)