Zarco celebrates Moto2 title with pole

Laurent Fellon and Johann Zarco with shoutout

Freshly crowned Moto2 champion Johann Zarco takes his seventh pole of the season ahead of Thomas Luthi and Jonas Folger.

Ajo Motorsport’s Zarco set the fastest ever lap by a Moto2 bike around the Twin Ring Motegi, a 1’50.339, shaving over half a second off Tito Rabat’s 2014 Pole Record (1’50.854). The Frenchman managed to set this time despite cooler conditions on Saturday afternoon (Track temp. 23˚C) to finish 0.171s ahead of Derendinger Racing Interwetten Thomas Luthi. It was Luthi’s first front row start since Argentina.

AGR Team’s Jonas Folger (+0.577s) was a further 0.406s back from Luthi as he completed the front row in his best Qualifying performance since the Catalan GP. Speed Up Racing’s Sam Lowes (+0.614s) heads up the second row in fourth. The British rider managed to set the exact same time as Paginas Amarillas HP40’s Alex Rins (5th), but starts ahead of the Spaniard due to his next best lap. Rins missed out on the front row for the first time in six races.

Petronas Raceline Malaysia Hafizh Syahrin equalled his best Qualifying performance of the season and will start from the back of the second row in sixth, but was 0.947s off the pace of Zarco.

 

Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Takaaki Nakagami will start from seventh at his home grand prix ahead of Axel Pons (AGR Team), Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Forward Racing) who completed the top ten.

Reigning Moto2™ World Champion Tito Rabat is sitting out the rest of the weekend after being declared unfit at the end of FP1 with his broken left radius, hence why Zarco was crowned champion on Friday.

Philipp Oettl he hit the tire decision with 3rd place

Philipp and Peter is a drinking beer from the drunk with coughs and sneezes

In Indianapolis and Philipp Oettl showed a brilliant race. The secured by an absolutely flawless race the first podium finish of his GP career. I still can not believe it.

Huge cheers in Schedl team: Philipp Oettl had after his fall in qualifying set off from last place, but the 19-year-old in made decision and moved to the warm-up lap on slick tires. This paid off. Oettl plowed through the field, opponents snapped to opponents and secured 3rd place behind Livio Loi and John McPhee.

After the podium ceremony www.speedweek.com met the overjoyed Peter Oettl: That was huge. Philipp Oettl has taken this decision all by himself. He said right away that he comes after the warm-up lap, when it is not raining . We have prepared everything and changed the tires the fastest. Our team has worked perfectly. Before the race I was in the paddock of the American championship, because these drivers had completed a wet training . I spoke with Josh Hayes and JD Beach. They told me that the grip is perfect even in the rain. I could not give to Philipp Oettl. He has perfectly implemented. He has only done right pressure, but in the end he has secured the place, what was right.

Father's Peter Oettl stood for the last time in 1996 at the Grand Prix of Mugello on the podium. He won the race in the 125cc class. Philipp Oettl and Schedl GP Racing made ​​in the Moto3 race at Indianapolis everything right. Indianapolis is always a difficult track for me. After the fall in qualifying was really down. I had to start from the back. But my team did a very good job. I had always hoped for dry conditions, but now i'm third and very happy. My team is doing a good job, the KTM is a good bike.

I do not know what to say, Philipp Oettl laughed Peter Oettl talking to www.speedweek.com, i said that i want to replace the tires after the formation lap when it is not raining. That was true. The first few laps I then risked a lot, there were only a few places wet. At first i did not see that i'm so far ahead. I saw and then already rank 6 and then I was third . It all happened too fast. Then i saw that my boss was very big on Fenati. So i did not risk so much at the end. It was very difficult not to think of the podium. My arm was at the end of the race very hurt, but it went.

Can you even believe what you've just done? No, not yet really. I do not know what to say. From last place on the grid shelf can not you dare, unless you're Danny Kent, laughed Philipp Oettl. He has now collected fewer points than me. But that may be the case sometimes. I had nothing to lose, with the podium but I had not expected.

With 39 points and Phillipp Oettl now lies in 15th place of the overall standings behind champion Livio Loi.

Has it now Indy but managed in this way under your favorite tracks? Well, yeah. Of course i have it now positive memories.

Philipp Oettl ran into the pits to change tyres

Philipp Oettl after pointing with smiley

Almost 20 years after his father won his last race, Philipp Oettl secures his first Moto3 World Championship podium.

Throughout the year Philipp Oettl (Schedl GP Racing) has shown flashes of speed with frequent visits to the top five during practice. But, as in Indianapolis, there have usually been problems in Qualifying. For Sunday’s race Oettl started down in 34th, dead last, after a crash in the Qualifying. Just before the Moto3 riders lined up on the grid it began to rain, but by the time the lights went out the track was drying. Oettl with little to lose, dove into the pits to change his tyres to slicks at the first opportunity

While many other riders waited till their second or third lap to change, Oettl was already on track pushing. Livio Loi (RW Racing GP) had started on slicks and had already disappeared into the distance, but John McPhee (SAXOPRINT RTG) was within striking distance. Push as hard he may, the young German was unable to catch McPhee and instead settled for third, claiming his debut podium. This comes 19 years and two months after his father, Peter Oettl, claimed his last podium at Mugello in 1996.

Philipp Oettl left on wet tyres, I think it was the wrong decision and I ran into the pits to change tyres as quickly as possible. The team made a really amazing job today and I went straight back out and pushed every lap. To have a gap at the end was important because there were still spots of rain and I just said please don’t rain.

Moto2 world standings to the round 3

Gran Premio Red Bull de la Repứblica Argentina in 2015 Moto2 season.

1st, Johann Zarco #5, FRA, Ajo Motorsport, Kalex, 53 pts

2nd, Álex Rins #40, ESP, Paginas Amarillas HP 40, Kalex, 49 pts

3rd, Sam Lowes #22, GBR, Speed Up Racing, Speed Up, 41 pts

4th, Franco Morbidelli #21, ITA, Italtrans Racing Team, Kalex, 33 pts

5th, Jonas Folger #94, GER, AGR Team, Kalex, 32 pts

6th, Mika Kallio #36, FIN, Italtrans Racing Team, Kalex, 31 pts

7th, Thomas Lüthi #12, SUI, Derendinger Racing Interwetten, Kalex, 30 pts

8th, Xavier Siméon #19, BEL, Federal Oil Gresini Moto2, Kalex, 20 pts

9th, Hafizh Syahrin #55, MYS, Petronas Raceline Malaysia, Kalex, 20 pts

10th, Sandro Cortese #11, GER, Dynavolt Intact GP, Kalex, 20 pts

11th, Esteve Rabat #1, ESP, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS, Kalex, 17 pts

12th, Lorenzo Baldassarri #7, ITA, Athinà Forward Racing, Kalex, 14 pts

13th, Anthony West #95, AUS, QMMF Racing Team, Speed Up, 11 pts

14th, Julián Simón #60, ESP, QMMF Racing Team, Speed Up, 10 pts

15th, Takaaki Nakagami #30, JPN, Idemitsu Honda Team Asia, Kalex, 8 pts

16th, Louis Rossi #96, FRA, Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2, Tech 3, 7 pts

17th, Álex Márquez #73, ESP, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS, Kalex, 7 pts

18th, Luis Salom #39, ESP, Paginas Amarillas HP 40, Kalex, 5 pts

19th, Simone Corsi #3, ITA, Athinà Forward Racing, Kalex, 5 pts

20th, Dominique Aegerter #77, SUI, Technomag Racing Interwetten, Kalex, 4 pts

21st, Marcel Schrötter #23, GER, Tech 3, Tech 3, 3 pts

Johann Zarco first win great success in taking leader

Alex Rins, Johann Zarco, Sam Lowes think is the fast with sign.

Johann Zarco, don't wait, my talk and think our together.

Johann Zarco, create group, my talk on the feel.

Johann Zarco, this crazy, stop making people.

Johann Zarco, eventually finishing in 1st position.

Johann Zarco cruises to a comfortable maiden Moto2 win ahead of Alex Rins and Sam Lowes in Argentina to lead the Moto2 World Championship.

Zarco takes maiden Moto2 victory to lead Championship.

Ajo Motorsport rider Johann Zarco claimed his first win of the 2015 season to take over the lead at the top of the Moto2 World Championship standings.

At one point it looked like Speed Up Racing’s Sam Lowes might hunt down Johann Zarco, but he didn't have quite have the pace and found himself coming under pressure from Rookie Alex Rins on the Paginas Amarillas HP40 machine towards the end of the race. Alex Rins eventually overtaking the Brit with 2 laps to go to take second place as Sam Lowes ran into some tyre issues, although the Brit managed to hang on to claim the final podium spot.

Last years Moto2 runner-up Mika Kallio (Italtrans Racing Team) was in fourth, ahead of his Italian teammate Franco Morbidelli (Italtrans Racing Team) and Thomas Luthi (Derendinger Racing Interwetten) on Kalex.

Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP) finished in 7th, ahead of Lorenzo Baldassari (Athina Forward Racing), Jonas Folger (AGR Team) and Hafizh Syahrin (Petronas Raceline Malaysia) on the bike completing the top ten.

Reigning Moto2™ World Champion Tito Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) took the hole shot into the first corner, but then ran wide after dicing with Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) for the lead, and was forced to rejoined the track at the back of the field, eventually finishing in 12th.

Johann Zarco tried to catch Sam Lowes

Johann Zarco and Sam Lowes think is the fast with sign

Sam Lowes and Johann Zarco the award give, please, make a smile

Xavier Simeon and Johann Zarco promise

Ajo Motorsport's Johann Zarco took second place in Austin, scoring the first ever Moto2 podium for the Finnish team.

Bad luck struck for him in Qatar, but this Sunday in Austin, Johann Zarco could finally finish off a great weekend with his first podium of the season, his second position was one he fought for right from the first lap, and was a deserved reward for a great start to the year, this is also the first podium for Ajo Motorsport in Moto2, in their rookie season in the class.

Mixed track conditions did not set Zarco back at the start of the race, starting from the second row, the Frenchman took the lead just after the first corner, from that moment, the Ajo Motorsport rider pushed hard and ignored the drops of rain that fell on the opening laps, he would only relinquish the lead of the race with 6 laps to go, as eventually race winner Sam Lowes got past him.

It was a very nice race.

I'm happy, because after the opening corners i was leading the race and for a long time i was up at the front and feeling comfortable.

It was a pleasure to lead.

Six laps from the end, Sam Lowes overtook me he was going a little better and although i tried to follow him, it was not easy and he slowly pulled away.

I had a little incident with Xavier Simeon and i lost some time.

I did not know he had crashed, so i feel bad for him.

I tried to catch Sam, but he was very fast. Second position is very important and very good for the championship.

The bike went very well, so i thank the team for a good job.

We have to keep working because i can still go faster, and that will be important for the next races.

Xavier Siméon pointing with sorry and frustration as crash on award give, Johann Zarco discussing with fear and happy tear as the lead on the 2nd position we finish line, my promise.

Zarco the end result in Qatar was unfair

Please, make a smile.

Johann Zarco, who was cruelly denied The Moto2 victory in Qatar, is relishing the chance to make amends in Austin.

Only a mechanical failure prevented Johann Zarco from taking his first win in Moto2 in Qatar, on his debut with the Ajo Motorsport team.

A superb weekend, in which he never placed outside the Top 3 in practice, was halted only by bad luck preventing the French rider from opening 2015 with a win.

In the end he had to settle for a creditable eighth place.

Still smiling, Zarco heads to the United States confident and convinced that following the same working formula will bring success soon enough.

Eighth position at Losail was his best start to a season in the intermediate category, but not a just reward for a weekend in which his chances of a win were high.

Zarco arrives at the Circuit of The Americas optimistic and aware of the potential of the package available to him.

Despite a crash in the race last year, a front row achieved in 2014 and sixth - gaining 11 places in 2013 are two happy memories of the track.

The end result in Qatar was unfair after the great weekend we had, but that's racing and anything can happen.

Anyway, i will keep a smile on my face because the work we did - throughout the whole team - was excellent and i felt very comfortable on the bike, it was very easy to ride and the times were good every day.

In the end we picked up eight important points.

The objective in Austin will be to copy exactly the same way of working and hope that luck is on our side on Sunday.

Last year i failed to finish the race but started from the front row and in 2013 i was in the top 10, so it's a circuit i think is fairly good for me.

Lorenzo lost half of my vision

Jorge Lorenzo, this night, my wait.

Double MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo explains why he faded towards the end of the race in Qatar, eventually finishing in 4th.

Lorenzo was competing at the sharp end for most of the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar, leading the race for a number of laps before mysteriously dropping back from the front runners in the latter stages.

It turns out that he had a good reason for his sudden lack of pace.

It was a difficult race.

After the first lap, i found myself in second place and i followed Andrea Dovizioso.

I was faster and i passed him where i could in the fast corners.

On the speed and in braking the Ducati was much stronger than our bike, but we could recover on corner speed while the acceleration was similar.

To be honest, i thought that i could win the race, though it surely wasn‘t going to be easy, because Valentino Rossi had a very strong pace at the end of the race.

I was feeling better and better, but suddenly there was something wrong when in the top part of the helmet the foam came loose and came down.

I couldn‘t see the corners very well and couldn‘t concentrate or ride like before and i was losing half a second or more per lap.

In a race where, at minimum i could fight for the win, i finished fourth.

Folger wins as Lowes crashes and Zarco has mechnical issues

Jonas Folger, just the lap become far, my first win.

Johann Zarco, finish the race in 3rd gear, problem with the gear shift, 8th position.

Folger was victorious in a dramatic Moto2 race that saw Zarco suffer a mechanical fault, while favourites Lowes and Rabat crashed out.

The 21 year-old German Jonas Folger (AGR Team) took advantage of Johan Zarco’s mechanical fault, after the Frenchman had established a comfortable lead, to take the checkered flag and claim his first Moto2 victory.

Xavier Simeon (+5.051s) finished 2nd on the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Kalex, ahead of Thomas Luthi (+12.123s) in 3rd.

Alex Rins (+12.202s) launched an incredible attack at the end to almost steal the final podium spot, but had to settle for 4th on the Paginas Amarillas HP40 bike.

Johann Zarco still have the same excitement

If chased dreaming

The new Ajo Motorsport project in the Moto2 World Championship debuts this weekend in Qatar with rider Johann Zarco on board a Kalex.

Despite their project being a mere five months old, Zarco and his team arrive at the first race of the year in top form.

They set the fastest times at the first two tests in Valencia and Jerez, whilst last week in the second Jerez test, only rain and wind prevented a repeat result.

Content with his Kalex in all conditions, the Frenchman is more optimistic than ever heading to a circuit where he has struggled to achieve great results in the past.

It will be my seventh time competing at the Losail circuit in Qatar, but i still have the same excitement about it as the first time.

It's a fast circuit with a very long straight, and different to the Valencia and Jerez tracks where we undertook a good part of the preseason.

The truth is that traditionally i have found it quite hard to do well at this track, because i was always a little stressed.

Now my team and i are going there with a smile and confidence, so we will try to enjoy the moment.

Racing at night makes it more special, i can’t wait to start the season.

Marc Márquez there are a lot of fast riders on fast bikes

Good night

Repsol Honda reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Márquez cannot wait for the 2015 season to begin in Qatar.

The Losail International Circuit in Qatar once again hosts the opening round of the MotoGP World Championship this weekend.

Defending champion Marquez will be looking to stake his claim for the title, in what is only his third season in MotoGP™, after winning at the Losail International Circuit in 2014.

I can’t wait for the season to begin! It’s been a long Winter and then testing was cut short in Qatar last week due to rain, which was very strange, but I’m confident going into this first race.

This circuit isn’t one of my favourites but it’s still fun to ride and it marks the beginning of the Championship which is great.

Let’s see how the conditions are after all the rain last week.

As usual it will take a few sessions of the different classes on track to clear the racing line and then we will see how the grip level.

As we saw during testing, so this first race weekend will be interesting for sure.

Stefan Bradl i’m really happy to be back on track

I need to say with think

Stefan Bradl looks ahead to the first round of the 2015 MotoGP™ World Championship in Qatar, with his new Athinà Forward Racing Team.

After a winter of work and testing in Malaysia and Qatar, it is time for Athinà Forward Racing to get on track for the first race of the season in Qatar.

In MotoGP, Stefan Bradl is aiming to lead the Open class from the very first race, The German, despite a difficult test in Qatar, is feeling comfortable riding the Yamaha Forward and aims to be competitive straight away.

After a winter of testing, i’m really happy to be back on track for the race, it was an intense pre-season.

I came to a new team and I had to become familiar with a completely different bike compared to last year.

The overall feeling is positive and I look forward to ride the Yamaha Forward.

As mentioned, the goal is to be able to approach the head of the Open class and try to win the title in this category.

Philipp Oettl outpaces rivals in mixed conditions

Look at this face, Speak now, Hear sounds the conversation

Philipp Oettl let riding your motorcycle in the heavy rain

German rider Philipp Oettl was the quickest of a small group of Moto3 riders who tested at Valencia on Wednesday.

The second day of the three day test for the smaller classes at the Spanish venue saw the riders struggling for pace on a damp track, with Philipp Oettl just one of three riders to go out in the morning.

Indeed the Schedl GP Racing rider’s fastest time of that morning session (1’52.107) made him the fastest of the day, well over 12 seconds down on Fabio Quartararo’s sharp lap in the dry on Tuesday (1’39.392).

Philipp Oettl was also fastest in a slightly busier second session, followed closely by Alessandro Tonucci (Outox Reset Drink Team) and Jorge Martin (Mapfre Mahindra Aspar Team).

Tatsuki Suzuki (CIP), Francesco Bagnaia (Mapfre Mahindra Aspar Team), Ana Carrasco (RBA Racing Team), Remy Gardner (CIP) and Daryn Binder (Outox Reset Drink Team) also ventured out in that session.

The third and final session of the day was an all Mapfre Mahindra Aspar Team affair with Juanfran Guevara joining his colleagues Jorge Martin and Franceco Bagnaia on track.

Philipp Oettl and Juanfran Guevara both suffered light crashes during the day but were not seriously affected.

Fabio Quartararo fastest will time sheet on day one of Valencia test

If you see garage inside

Fabio Quartararo let riding your motorcycle in cloudy

The first day of testing for the Moto3™ riders at Valencia concluded with Fabio Quartararo at the top of the timesheet.

Three sessions over the course of the day at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit gave the 2015 Moto3 rider line-up a chance to reacquaint themselves with the Spanish track as they prepare for the forthcoming World Championship season.

One of Estrella Galicia 0,0 team’s new recruits this year, young French rookie Quartararo is the reigning FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 champion and he enjoyed the day of testing, with his 1’39.392s best lap at the end of the third session putting him ahead of the rest of the field on an updated Honda machine.

Second on the combined timesheet was Danny Kent (Leopard Racing), with the Englishman notching a 1’39.415s, also on a Honda machine, in the second session of the day. Enea Bastianini (Junior Team Gresini Moto3) was third quickest with a 1’39.669s effort on the last of just ten laps registered by the Italian in the final outing.

Niccolò Antonelli (Ongetta–Rivacold) made it an all Honda top four overall with his best time of 1’39.784s. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was fifth quickest on the new KTM, whilst the top ranked Mahindra rider was Juanfran Guevara (Mapfre Mahindra Aspar Team) in ninth.

A crash from Spanish rider Efren Vazquez (Leopard Racing) in the second session left him with a suspected right foot injury and he was therefore unable to take part in the final session.

Mercedes F1 Team officially uncovers title defending is this trophy

Nico Rosberg #6 and Lewis Hamilton #44

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton is selfie taking

Nico Rosberg is expression

Mercedes gives its F1 title-defending W06 its public debut ahead of the first F1 pre-season test in Jerez.

The manufacturer had aleady given a glimpse of what the car would look like after releasing images of its during a shakedown at Silverstone earlier in the week.

Retaining a similar livery as 2014, when it dominated by winning all but three races and clinching the title in the hands of Lewis Hamilton, the car also features a more refined nose cone.

Nico Rosberg will get the first run in the car when testing begins shortly, with Hamilton taking over tomorrow.

Race on ice fun for NGM Forward Racing

Lorenzo Baldassarri #7 - Stefan Bradl #6 - Simone Corsi #3 - Loris Baz #76

Fun days in snow we many faces from this group

Two days of fun, snow and motorsports gave the NGM Forward Racing team a chance to reconvene and bond ahead of the 2015 campaign.

Quad racing and a rally on ice at Livigno with all the Forward riders Stefan Bradl, Loris Baz, Simone Corsi and Lorenzo Baldassarri provided the perfect opportunity to relax and have some fun over the last weekend before MotoGP™ testing recommences.

The team's new German recruit for 2015, Bradl commented, driving on ice is a great experience, it is so slippery! I like the winter time a lot, i enjoy being in the snow and skiing. In those activities always there is a lot of fun and this is the main thing. To be here in Livigno with all my teammates was great, we have created a great atmosphere with my team and the sponsors.

Looking ahead to this week’s Sepang test, Bradl added, i will try to get back on the bike in good form and be fast. Our main target is work on the bike and adapt to riding the Yamaha, but also we want to try to go fast and find a good setting that we can use for the race. Our goal for the upcoming season is win to the Open class and fight as much as possible in the top ten.

For Bradl’s new premier class colleague Baz there is also excitement and great expectation ahead of Sepang 1. The young Frenchman stated, in Valencia at the end of the last season the test was just for getting used to the bike and we are still modifying the position on the bike. The first real test will be this one, the first one where we can start to push. I just want to learn step by step and not make any mistakes. At the first race we will see where we are and then from there we can improve for the next races and can be closer to the top Open bike.

Difficult to be right there from beginning and Ferrari SF15-T

Esteban Gutierrez #21 - Kimi Räikkönen #7 - Sebastian Vettel #5

This was the first weekend as a Scuderia Ferrari driver for Sebastian Vettel

Esteban Gutierrez i'm keen to learn quickly.

Sebastian Vettel admits it will be difficult to mount an immediate challenge with Ferrari, but says he didn't join the team to finish second.

Sebastian Vettel has played down hopes of an immediate challenge for race wins in 2015 following his move from Red Bull Racing to Ferrari.

The four-time champion comes to the Scuderia Ferrari as both driver and team seek an upturn in fortunes after struggling to get a grasp of the new regulations in 2014.

Replacing the McLaren-bound Fernando Alonso, Vettel is excited to be joining an iconic team but echoes the sentiments of team manager Maurizio Arrivabene when he says it is unrealistic to think Ferrari can challenge the likes of Mercedes straight away.
 

There is a lot of change going on, new people in new positions, including myself so it always takes a bit of time to settle in and make proper progress. I am confident we are going in the right direction but I think it would be wrong to think of a lot of us because we are coming from a 2014 season where there was one team very dominant.
 

I think it will be difficult to be right there from the beginning but the main target it to really work together, make progress and catch up more and more.”

Despite this, Vettel is committed to spearheading a return to strength for Ferrari in time, saying he is 'not here to finish second'
 

There is a lot of change happening over the winter, so I think the most important thing is to get into the groove quickly in winter testing and make progress. If the situation is like last year it will be difficult to fight for victory but it is our goal, we are not here to finish second.

Esteban Gutierrez will make me a better driver, despige believing that he was good enough to stay at Sauber for the 2015 F1 season, Esteban Gutierrez can't see positives in his appointment as reserve driver at Ferrari.

Esteban Gutierrez at only 23 years of age, there’s plenty of time to get back in the game, 2 seasons as Sauber race driver did not live up to expectations.