Race report from Alex Wisdom Racing
We have received from An American rider Alex Wisdom.
It seems excited race was opend, check out for further information by clicking below!!
April 2012
04/30/2012
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 30th April
West storms to 16th and just misses a point
Rosell out of the race with an early crash
QMMF Racing Team rider Anthony West was one of the sensations of today’s Spanish Moto2 Grand Prix. The fearless Australian, who handles treacherous track conditions like nobody else in the World Championship, ignored damp and slick patches around the half-dry Jerez circuit to storm from 29th place on the starting grid to an impressive 16th place when the race was red-flagged because of another rain shower. With just another half lap, West could even have finished in the point rankings.
Spanish team-mate Elena Rosell also felt good on her Moriwaki bike today, but ran into bad luck when she got caught out in one of the damp sections of the track and crashed on lap five. Luckily, the only female rider in Grand Prix racing didn’t get hurt and now looks forward to racing again at Estoril next week.
Anthony West – 16th
“Just before they put the red flag out, I had passed Iannone, so I was quite upset when I realized the race was finished and I had missed out on a championship point. If they had waited 30 seconds longer, I would have passed the finish line in front of Iannone. But never mind, we did the best we could in very difficult conditions today. The bike was the best it has been all weekend thanks to the changes the team made to the set-up, but in order to be fully competitive, we need a big change on the bike itself. I know that Moriwaki is working very hard and that they have been testing a lot in order to be able to come up with a modified bike very soon, hopefully for the Grand Prix in Le Mans!”
Elena Rosell – did not finish
“I ran into bad luck and crashed in the Nieto corner. In the Moto3 race, a whole bunch of riders has gone down there due to a remaining patch of water, and the same happened to me. I had a highsider and tried to hang on to the bike, but in the end I wasn’t able to save it. I was especially upset and angry about the incident because I was making progress. I could match the lap times of the guys in front of me and there were many more laps to go in which I could have improved further and gained positions. But then, this corner came and I went down!”
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 29th April
Dry conditions create new problems
for Anthony West and Elena Rosell
After their strong results in wet conditions on Friday, QMMF Racing Team riders Anthony West and Elena Rosell ran into difficulties when the Jerez circuit dried up for the Moto2 qualifying session. West dropped back to 29th position, Rosell ended up in 31st place on the starting grid for the race on Sunday. At the same time, both riders are confident to get a lot faster with the introduction of further modifications to their Moriwaki bikes in the near future.
Anthony West – 29th in 1.46,117
“We made some big changes between the Qatar Grand Prix and now. Qualifying practice today gave us the first chance to ride with these changes in dry conditions and we are still trying to find our way with the settings to suit these changes. It was a difficult practice because there were sill a few wet patches around the track which made it a big risky, but also because we are still in the process of finding the right settings for this frame. I already suggested to Moriwaki to make some more and drastic changes to the bike. Once they are done, we are going to be a lot faster for sure. I am pretty confident that we know exactly what is wrong, we just need time to fix it. If I had this time in pre-season testing, it would be a different story now. In the race tomorrow, we will do the best we can!”
Elena Rosell – 31st in 1.47,284
“Qualifying today was our only dry practice session this weekend, and since I crashed in dry conditions at the IRTA tests one month ago, it was difficult for me to push. Due to the cold conditions and the recent rainfall, the pace in general was slower than during these tests. But more than anything else, we still have some problems with our Moriwaki bike to sort out. I hope that we can make progress step by step despite the fact that I don’t have a lot of experience with this bike and the Moto2 machines in general. I really tried to concentrate on riding fast, but the bike was moving a lot and it was also difficult for me to enter the turns. I did whatever I could. Of course I wanted to do more but it didn’t turn out the way I would have liked it to. It’s also difficult to work on the set-up in the same session in which you are supposed to push for a fast qualifying time. I hope that both of us, Anthony and I, can make progress tomorrow, because right now, we are not where we want to be!”
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 28th April
Rain king West fourth on day one in Jerez
Rosell improves lap by lap and gains confidence
Under the watchful eyes of FIM vice president and team owner Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, Anthony West presented QMMF Racing Team with its best ever practice result so far. The 30-year-old Australian, who is re-known for his incredible speed and skills in wet conditions, took fourth place in the wet first free practice session on Friday morning and repeated this performance in even trickier conditions in the afternoon. Heroic Spanish team-mate Elena Rosell, who battles with a pelvis injury and an inflamed right shoulder, also stood her ground within the fierce competition of the Moto2 category. From 28th in the morning session, she improved to a promising 25th place in the afternoon, which put her in 30th position in the combined standings.
“We did some changes to the bike after the season-opening race at Qatar, and Anthony now shows the true potential of this bike”, said Mr. Al Attiyah. “Even though we still need to improve the bike in a similar way for dry conditions, today’s result is a milestone for our team. We appreciate Anthony’s support and the work he does, because results like today really boost the confidence of the entire team, including his team-mate Elena. She is doing a good job and she is improving day by day!”
Anthony West – 4th in 1.56,206
“So far, everything is going well. The bike is new to me and I hardly had a chance to test, so we knew that it would be difficult in the first races and that we needed to learn as much as we possibly could in the shortest possible time. The Moriwaki bike is very different to the Moto2 bikes I rode previously, but I like new challenges and I think it’s fun to look for a way out of a difficult situation when you are surropunded by good people and when everybody works well together like in the QMMF team. We made some big changes to the bike after the first race at Qatar and we went the right direction. I have a good feeling with the bike now and I am confident that we can make big improvements over the next races. The conditions today were really tricky, wet and dry, but it was fun to ride!”
Elena Rosell – 30th in 2.00,896
“This afternoon, the conditions were really difficult with the track being half dry, but this morning, things went really well. It was my first time in the rain, and lap by lap, I managed to build up my confidence in this kind of weather. It was strange in the afternoon, with a narrow line drying up and then a drizzle starting again, but at least I managed to get experience under all kinds of conditions, which could well be the same again on race day. I am happy I brought the bike back in one piece because it would have been easy to make a mistake! Apart from that I am recovering well from my pelvis fracture. It is much better than during the first race in Qatar, even though I have to move more on the bike than others because I am not as tall and this is still painful at times. I am suffering more from the shoulder inflammation that I have since the Qatar Grand Prix. Riding on a wet track helped me today because you don’t need to use as muchforce as in dry conditions!”
04/25/2012
Press Release From Gresini Racing 25th April
| WILAIROT HOPING TO MAKE UP FOR QATAR DISAPPOINTMENT AT JEREZ |
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Ratthapark Wilairot heads to Spain this weekend looking to make up for his disappointment in the opening round of the Moto2 season in Qatar, where he struggled to get a good feeling for the Team Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2 Moriwaki MD600 despite relentless hard work and experimentation during practice. At Jerez 'Feem' is determined to improve his feeling with the bike and get his season on track. |
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Ratthapark Wilairot “In Qatar it proved difficult for our team for improve and challenge at the front. We knew what the problem was and we tried very hard to fix it, changing many things on the bike, but the problem remained. Our target at Qatar in the end was just to finish the race, check the information and find out more about the bike. We have had three weeks between Qatar and Jerez and every day I have been training in the gym and working with the doctor on my knee. Now my knee is a lot better and now it is a case of building my strength and confidence on the bike. We have some good news to look forward to from Moriwaki, who have been working very hard on the bike. Jerez is a very nice circuit for me, I always enjoy riding there but at this track every rider in Moto2 has tested many times so the lap times are very strong. I am confident about what I can do at Jerez and we'll certainly try very hard to be at the front." |
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Fausto Gresini “The Grand Prix of Qatar was a disappointment for the team and for Ratthapark Wilairot so we have no option but to make up for it at Jerez. At Losail 'Feem' never managed to get a good feel for the bike, which is still a little behind with the 2012 updates. Gino Rea went to Japan last week to complete a test for Moriwaki at Suzuka and hopefully the fruit of that work can be reaped by both him and Ratthapark at Jerez.” |
04/24/2012
Press Release From Gresini Racing 24th April
Gino Rea travels to Spain for the season round of the Moto2 season this weekend after a flying trip to Japan for a two-day test at Suzuka with Moriwaki. The Japanese factory engineers were keen to get valuable data as they look to improve the MD600 following a disappointing start to the season in Qatar. Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 and their British rider are now determined to get their season on track and show their true potential at Jerez. |
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Gino Rea "Obviously Qatar couldn't have gone much worse really, the new chassis just wasn't working. We changed the forks for the race as we had nothing to lose but the change made it worse and I was trying hard not to crash, even at that pace. Since then I have been training hard and we had a two day test at Suzuka that we hope proves useful for Jerez. Preseason testing at Jerez didn't go that great but with a few modifications I hope we can improve the bike. It's not my favourite circuit but I know it from the tests, which means I can focus on bike set-up from the first lap, instead of having to learn the circuit first. It will be a bit easier for me than Qatar but it's the same for everyone, they all have good set-ups from the test so it will be as hard as always. Still, I'm looking forward to trying our bike modifications in the first free pratice.” |
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Fausto Gresini “There is no doubt that the performance levels in Qatar were below expectations and it is important for the team, Gino and Moriwaki to make up for it as soon as possible. With this in mind Moriwaki organised two days of testing for us at Suzuka to try and improve the set-up of the bike going to Jerez. The main objective is to give Gino a bike he can get a good feeling for, which was missing in Qatar, so that he can show h is quality on track. A more competitive package will give him the confidence he needs to be running at the front of the pack.” |
04/17/2012
2012 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship, round2 Suzuka 2&4
The round 2 of All Japan Championship was held on April 15, along with Formula NIPPON.
Prior to the Sunday event, qualifying session was schedule on Saturday the 14th. It started in wet condition at 11:20 but soon was disrupted by an oil spill at chicane caused by a fall. This red-flagged suspension extended to total cancellation of the session. The original Knock-down qualifying was changed to 30min time trial and rescheduled to start from 16:20. The wet weather turned to dry quickly around noon and, despite the strong wind, the qualifying session started in almost dry condition.
Yamaguchi, TOHO Racing with MORIWAKI was in and out of his pit in that short session and timed 2'08.907 at last 3min to take 6th position in the starting grid.
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The race started in dry under the sunny sky at 12:40 on April 15, with 17.2 degree C air. Everyone went through the first and second corner without mishap and Yamaguchi stayed in 7th at the end of the opening lap. Kagayama, Takahashi and Nakasuga formed the leading pack and Yanagawa was following them. Yamaguchi was in the battle for 5th with Yasuda and Tsuda in the latter of the race. Yamaguchi, then the 6th, cut inside of Yasuda at the chicane of the final lap. He went through the last corner keeping the position and finished the race in 5th, two 5th finishes in the last two races.
TOHO Racing with MORIWAKI
Qualify / 6ht
Final / 5th
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The next round of All Japan Road Race Championship goes to Tsukuba on May 13.
Thank you for your continuous support to MORIWAKI FAMILY!!
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MFJ Official website
http://www.mfj.or.jp
http://www.mfj.or.jp/user/contents/race_result2012/road_race/2012result/rd02/index.html
MFJ SUPERBIKE Fan-Site
http://www.superbike.jp
04/13/2012
Honda Moriwaki GP3 Junior Cup tijdens de Paasraces in Assen
A report of Moriwaki GP3 Junior Cup has come, check it out by clicking below link.
04/11/2012
Press Release From Gresini Racing 9th April 2012
Rattapark Wilairot gave his best in tonight's season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar but unfortunately it served for little, the Thai rider unable to perform to his full potential due to set-up problems that have dogged the team all weekend. The team now have three weeks to try and come up with a better solution ahead of the next race in Jerez, Spain.
Ratthapark Wilairot (21st) “We knew it was going to be a tough race tonight but we set ourselves the target of making it to the end of the race, preferably in the top twenty or top fifteen if possible, because we need as much data as possible. I am very happy with the team, we are all working hard together but we just don't have the bike at the moment. Hopefully we can have something better at Jerez."
Fausto Gresini “We knew it was going to be a tough race and we were right. Ratthapark gave his best and he deserves to have a better bike beneath him for the next race. We will work our hardest to give it to him and I am sure the results will come quickly.”
Press Release From Gresini Racing 9th April 2012
DEBUT TO FORGET FOR GINO REA
ino Rea's lack of feeling for his Moriwaki Moto2 machine continued into his Grand Prix debut tonight, the British rider bravely battling to the finish despite the high risk of a crash. The team now face a race against the clock to produce a better machine ahead of the next round at Jerez.
Gino Rea (26th) "I am very disappointed. It has been a tough weekend with many problems. We tried something different for the race but it didn't help to be honest. Even at this pace it felt dangerous on the edge of the tyre and I was constantly close to a crash. To almost be on the floor on every lap is not right when you are this far from the front so we have work to do. We can see the problems on the data and the team are working really hard. Hopefully we can come up with something for the next race."
Fausto Gresini “We knew it would be a difficult race. Gino has been struggling all weekend and we have not seen his true potential here. We have to work hard to give him a better bike for the next races and when we do his performances will be much better.”Fausto Gresini “We knew it would be a difficult race. Gino has been struggling all weekend and we have not seen his true potential here. We have to work hard to give him a better bike for the next races and when we do his performances will be much better.”
04/10/2012
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 9th April 2012
West learns a lot and gains confidence for the future –
Elena Rosell pushes on to a heroic race finish
Even though the final results were not what QMMF Racing had hoped for, the season-opening home race for the team at Qatar was still a milestone to be proud of. New QMMF rider Anthony West, who jumped in without any pre-season testing at all, learned enough about the bike over the weekend in order to give the technicians the input they need to make the overall package more competitive. Elena Rosell celebrated a personal victory, because she rode through the pain barrier with a fractured pelvis and an inflamed shoulder to score a heroic race finish. Wild Card entry Nasser Hasan Al Malki ran into bad luck and was forced to stop with a slow rear tyre puncture.
Anthony West – 25th
“We learned a lot in the race. 25th is definitely not where I want to be, but it was the first time for me on the bike and it is the position we have to expect. The race was really good in one respect, because it gave me time to understand the bike. I actually changed my riding quite a lot to suit the bike and riding by myself for a long time made me understand what the bike needs. We can improve the package, but we need to work hard to get close to the front. I am confident we can do it, because we now know what is wrong with the bike. I am happy the team gave me this chance and I’ll be doing the best I can!”
Elena Rosell – 29th
“It was a very tough race for me because my inflamed shoulder still hurts like hell. In the beginning, I was able to ride at a good pace and I could hang on to the group with my team-mates Nasser, Anthony and Lundh. Later on, they were too fast for me, because it was really hard to maintain my rhythm due to the shoulder problem. But I managed to finish the race which makes me happy, especially for my team that put such an effort in to get things right for me!”
Nasser Hasan Al Malki – did not finish
“At the start of the race, I was in a good position and wanted to push more in order to pass some riders, but as soon as I tried, I noticed that something was wrong with the bike. It started moving a lot and there was no way to stay with the others. I rode on and was close to crashing on a few occasions, so after ten laps, I decided to pull in. We checked the tyre pressure and it was down to 0.7 – almost nothing! I was lucky that nothing happened, but of course it was bad luck at the same time!”
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 8th April 2012
West just half a second behind fastest Moriwaki –
Rosell and Al Malki in pain but determined to race
Anthony West, who jumped on the Moriwaki of QMMF Racing Team on short notice after having been away from racing for four months, made significant progress in the qualifying session for the season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar and cut the gap to the fastest Moriwaki in the Moto2 field down to just half a second. Spanish team-mate Elena Rosell, who suffered a cracked pelvis in a testing crash, is now also battling a shoulder inflammation, but pushed through the pain barrier to qualify for the race. Wild Card entry Nasser Hasan Al Malki wasn’t well either after the removal of a bad tooth, but showed the same amount of determination and also qualified for his home Grand Prix.
Anthony West – 29th in 2.03,621
“Qualifying started out good, but then I made silly mistakes just because I haven’t ridden a bike for about five months now. I am still trying to learn the bike and I’m driving the data guy crazy, because I am changing my line in every lap just to understand the bike and trying to get a feeling of what works and what doesn’t. I now understand more how to go faster on that bike, as I’m only half a second away from the fastest Moriwaki, which is not bad for me considering that the others had the whole winter to prepare themselves. We are not happy with our practice result, but with our progress. We are just trying to take this race as a test!”
Elena Rosell - 32nd in 2.05,183
“Qualifying was really tough because I have a lot of pain in my right shoulder. Apart from my pelvis fracture, I have some sort of tendinitis in the shoulder joint, it got inflamed, and even though I’m getting the best possible treatment from the crew of Dr. Claudio Costa, I can’t wrestle and push the bike the way I’d like. I can do two or three decent laps, but then I am in too much pain to keep my pace. I’m suffering a lot out there, but I still want to race and be part of this Grand Prix, since it is the home race of my team and therefore very important. I hope to be in better shape tomorrow, because the race is going to be long and hard. More than anything, I’m happy that I was able to qualify and that I’ll be on the starting grid close to my team-mates. I really want to put up a fight!”
Nasser Hasan Al Malki – 33rd in 2.05,591
“Today was very different to yesterday. We made many changes and I improved by one second and a half, which is very good for me. My problem is that I am still sick. On Thursday, I got an agonizing toothache and I knocked on the door of a dentist surgery at three o’clock Friday morning to get the tooth removed. I felt really dizzy and ill afterwards and now I’m under medication to battle the infection. Nevertheless, I really tried to push today. If I felt better, I could have gone faster, but I was too tired. I hope I feel better tomorrow, because I now really enjoy riding the bike. In the first practice it wasn’t good, I fought the bike too much. Now the feeling is much better and I hope to be able to push more tomorrow!”
04/09/2012
2012 MotoGP World Championship Series 1st round, COMMERCIALBANK GRAND PRIX OF QATAR
2012 season of MotoGP has opened at Losail Circuit, Qatar, known to be the only night race in the Grand Prix.
4 MD600 riders are listed in the regular entry: Ratthapark Wilairot from THA Thai Honda Gresini Moto2, Gino Rea from Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 and Elena Rosell and Anthony West from QMMF Racing Team.
And a Qatari rider, Nassar Hasan Al Malki joined his home race with QMMF Racing team as a wildcard.
Gino Rea led MD600 riders in the qualifying practice of the first round of Moto2, timed 2’02.934 to be 27th, followed by Ratthapark Wilairot 28th, Anthony West 29th, Elena Rosell 32nd and Nassar Hasan Al Malki 33rd.
The race started at 20:22 local time in dry, 25 degree air and 24 degree ground.
It started rather smoothly and everyone went through the first corner. It was a tough race for all the MORIWAKI riders. Ratthapart Wilairot finished in 21st and that was the best finish amongst MORIWAKIs. Nassar Hasan Al Malki retired after 10 laps whilst other riders completed the laps, finishing the opening round of the season.
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MD600 Qualifying Practice result:
--27th
TEAM / Federal Oil Gresini Moto2
RIDER / No.8 Gino REA
TIME / 2'02.934
--28th
TEAM / Thai Honda Gresini Moto2
RIDER / No.14 Ratthapark WILAIROT
TIME / 2'03.031
--29th
TEAM / QMMF Racing Team
RIDER / No.95 Anthony WEST
TIME / 2'03.621
--32nd
TEAM / QMMF Racing Team
RIDER / No.82 Elena ROSELL
TIME / 2'05.183
--33rd
TEAM / QMMF Racing Team
RIDER / No.96 Nasser Hasan AL MALKI
TIME / 2'05.591
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MD600 Race result:
--21st
TEAM / Thai Honda Gresini Moto2
RIDER / No.14 Ratthapark WILAIROT
--25th
TEAM / QMMF Racing Team
RIDER / No.95 Anthony WEST
--26th
TEAM / Federal Oil Gresini Moto2
RIDER / No.8 Gino REA
--29th
TEAM / QMMF Racing Team
RIDER / No.82 Elena ROSELL
Not Classified
TEAM / QMMF Racing Team
RIDER / No.96 Nasser Hasan AL MALKI
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The Moto2 goes to Spain for the second round of the season, on April 29.
Thank you for your continuous support to MORIWAKI riders!!
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MotoGP official website
http://www.motogp.com
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/Moto2
Result
http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics
04/06/2012
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 6th April 2012
QMMF president Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah:
Full support for lady racer Elena Rossell
Elena Rossell had a tough first day of practice at the Grand Prix of Qatar. Whereas her new team-mate Anthony West and local hero Nasser Al Malki just struggled with the set-up of their bikes, the Spanish lady racer battled the pain of a pelvis fracture that was detected after her crash at the last pre-season test in Spain less than two weeks ago. Despite her difficulties with fast direction changes, the 25-year-old from Valencia, Spain, is determined to push on for her team and to make the best out of the unique experience of her first ever night-race.
Encouragement came not only from the technicians in her team, but also from Mr. Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, president of QMMF and vice-president of the International Motorcycle Federation FIM. “We have Anthony West, one of the best international racers, we have Nasser Al Malki, our wild card entry and the hero of the fans here in Qatar, and we have Elena Rossell, the only lady racer in motorcycle Grand Prix racing. This is a marvellous moment in the history of our team and it will be a very exciting weekend for QMMF and for motorcycle racing in our country”, he said. “Our best wishes go to all our riders, but especially to Elena who is competing at our home Grand Prix despite a painful injury. Having a female rider in our world championship team has been our goal for a long time, because we want to show the world that we are serious about developing top woman riders in Grand Prix racing. We’ve worked successfully with female riders in the Qatar championship and in the Endurance world championship, and now we are the first team to offer a lady the opportunity to ride a full Moto2 world championship season. We want to encourage women to compete on world level and it is part of my responsibility as vice-president of FIM to open up such opportunities. At the same time, we show the world that we are a very open-minded country and that we believe in the right for women to live up to their true talents. Women are not only there to hold umbrellas – I believe that they can compete on eye level with their male rivals in motorcycle racing and that they have they same amount of talent to win!”
Anthony West – 29th in 2.05,652
“When I got this chance to ride for QMMF Racing Team, I couldn’t believe my luck. I spent the winter trying everything in my power to continue in Grand Prix racing and it was mentally tough because I changed and swapped and spent lots of time talking to teams and trying to raise money, when all I wanted to do was to ride a bike. Now I am happy to be here in a good team and to be able to concentrate on my real job. Yesterday, I saw the bike for the first time, and sitting on it in the box was my pre-season test! When I went out on the track today, I noticed that the seating position was quite different to what I was used to previously. It’s the first thing I want to try and work on with this bike, to sit more in the center, because right now, I feel like there is too much weight on the rear of the bike which makes it difficult to turn. I haven’t ridden a Moto2 machine since the Valencia Grand Prix last year and I am not riding it at a 100 per cent yet. The bike has the potential to be good, we just need a bit of time to find the right direction!”
Nasser al Malki – 32nd in 2.06,886
“I am happy to be back in Grand Prix racing for this weekend and it’s fantastic to have a chance to compete in front of all my friends and family here at Qatar. Apart from the first round of the Spanish Championship in Jerez last weekend where we didn’t learn a lot due to bad weather and ever-changing track conditions, I haven’t been riding a Moto2 bike in many months and I need more time to get the right feeling and a better set-up. I don’t feel good on the bike, neither on the entry nor on the exit of the corners. Some riders enter the turns really easy, but whatever I try, I can’t keep the same lines. We definitely need to improve!”
Elena Rossell – 33rd in 2.06,934:
“I was in pain after my crash in Jerez and I thought that I pulled a ligament or something, but when the problem continued, I had another medical check where a crack on the right side of the pelvis was detected. Riding with this injury hurts a lot and I wasn’t able to move on the bike the way I should. I hope things get better over the next days, because I really want to make the best out of this opportunity here at Qatar. It’s the first Grand Prix of the season and the home race of my team. It’s also the first ever night race for me and it’s a fantastic experience to go out on the track under flood lights. At the same time, there is no doubt that we have a lot of work ahead of us: I’ve only ever ridden here once on a street bike and we are still at the beginning as far as track knowledge and set-up of the bike goes.”
04/05/2012
Press Release From Gresini Racing 3rd April 2012
The 2012 Grand Prix of Qatar will be a race to remember for Gino Rea and Federal Oil, who make their debut together in the opening round of the new season. Indonesian fuel company Federal Oil has teamed up with Gresini Racing in a new partnership that will help promote the sport in an important market in Indonesia, where interest in MotoGP is on the rise. Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 and Gino Rea are targeting positive results from the first round of the season and, above all this weekend, an improvement on the final preseason test at Jerez.
Gino Rea "I am really looking forward to it! I'm so excited to get out to Qatar. It is a new championship for me which is extremely competitive but I am ready for a new challenge. I hope we can continue to improve the bike from the Jerez test. I have not been to Qatar yet so I hope I can learn the circuit as quickly as possible, then start to work on bike set-up. Qualifying will be very important. Racing at night is a very exciting prospect for me, I have never done it before! I have heard it is only the shadows that are a problem but the vision is okay. Everything looks so cool at night under floodlights so I can't wait to get to Qatar!"
Fausto Gresini “Gino Rea makes his debut in the Moto2 World Championship and we are happy that he is doing so with us in a new project with Federal Oil. As a team we are proud to have brought such an important new sponsor into the sport in Federal Oil, who will help our championship grow in a major market in Indonesia. So in Qatar it will be a double debut of sorts, with a clear target for Gino to improve on his performance at the Jerez test. There is a lot of work to do because we received the bike late and we have an important new technical partner in Showa, which will require time. We are ready to race in Qatar though and over the course of the championship I am sure we will see notable progress from this bright young English talent.”
Press Release From Gresini Racing 3rd April 2012
RATTHAPARK WILAIROT READY FOR NEW CHALLENGE
Ratthapark Wilairot begins his third season in the Moto2 World Championship this weekend hoping it can be the year that sees him consistently fighting at the front after signing for Team Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2, a project born through a new collaboration between AP Honda Thai and Gresini Racing. On board the new Moriwaki MD600 2012 the rider known to his friends as 'Feem' will be looking to improve on his performance from the final preseason test at Jerez and kick off the season with a top ten finish. The professionalism and experience amongst the Gresini Racing staff will certainly help him achieve his goals, whilst the ongoing backing of his Thai sponsors should help him get the support he needs in his home country..
Ratthapark Wilairot “This is my third year of Moto2 and for this year I'm very happy to be joining the new team. It feels like a step forward and I know that this team can help me to improve and achieve my target. Of course racing at night in Qatar is always interesting. It looks very nice and although it's not easy when you're riding I feel more confident with the bike and that should allow me to enjoy myself. For sure we have to work very hard but we know the direction we need to take to prepare ourselves for the start of the season. ”
Fausto Gresini “This new project born through a collaboration between Gresini Racing and AP Honda Thailand is a fascinating one because it is built towards the future and opens up a huge motorcycling market. I am proud to be working together with Honda Thailand and the group of sponsors backing Ratthapark. For such an experienced rider 'Feem' is still very young and has plenty of potential to improve as a rider, so we will be working hard with him to get him running at the front of this category. In Qatar we will try to improve on his performance at Jerez by working hard on his bike and the technical updates we have available. Ratthapark can be fighting for a top ten finish, even though Moto2 is a very close and combative category where the smallest mistake can cost you several positions. 'Feem' will be giving his best and so will we, and if we put in the right amount of concentration and effort in Qatar we can reap the rewards.”
04/03/2012
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 3rd April 2012
2012 Spanish Championship. 1st, Jerez. Race - 01.04.12
NASSER AL MALKI TOOK A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN THE FIRST RACE OF THE SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIP
Qatari rider Nasser Al Malki made today one of the hardest races in the history of Spanish Championship. Weather conditions greatly hampered the race being necessary to make a tire change right after the start.
In these conditions Nasser has shown great adaptability learning a new circuit, overcoming difficulties and struggling perfectly in very difficult weather conditions
The team's goal is that Nasser could improve his ridding and to beat his laps in every time he go on track. This weekend they achieved the 100% of these goals. The complex weather conditions experienced this weekend have helped the QMMF Racing Team rider to increase an experience that will be very useful in the future.
NASSER AL MALKI, 20th position
"I’m happy because I came here to improve my ride and every time I went on track this weekend I made a great step forward. Yesterday I could made an improvement in my best lap time of more than five seconds and I know I can ride even better.
Today the race was really difficult because of the rain and for me it’s even harder as I do not have so much experience in the wet. Anyway, my feelings with the bike have been really good and now I’m looking forward to the next race to have a new chance to keep improving my riding".
Press Release From Q.M.M.F 3rd April 2012
Anthony West joins QMMF Racing Team
for the Moto2 World Championship
In an unexpected and exciting turn of events, Anthony West has joined QMMF Racing Team to compete in this year’s Moto2 World Championship. “It’s great to be back in Grand Prix racing, with a team that operates on such a highly professional level and with the support of Moriwaki, one of the most experienced and highly regarded manufacturers”, said the 30-year-old Australian. “We haven’t had the chance to go through the pre-season preparations together, so we can’t expect miracles at the team’s home Grand Prix of Qatar next week. But I’m really excited about this opportunity and I’ll push to the maximum to get the best possible result!”
West, a rain specialist and one-time 250 cc Grand Prix winner at the wet Dutch TT back in 2003, had a colorful career that saw him race on a variety of different machines and in different categories. After his first season in the 500 cc two-stroke World Championship in 2001, he returned to 250 cc racing for a number of years and then rode for MZ in the Moto2 class in 2010 and 2011, with two fourth places as best results. A planned return to the blue-ribbon class of motorcycle racing with a Claiming Rule Team in the MotoGP category failed due to financial reasons at the beginning of 2012 and West signed for a season in the British Superbike championship instead. “But my goal is and always has been Grand Prix Racing. I am sorry to turn my back on the BMW Supersonic Team, who gave me the chance to continue my career. At the same time, I am happy they understand my decision and I wish them all the best for this season.”
West replaces fellow Australian Damian Cudlin in QMMF Racing, who had struggled throughout the pre-season to get the right feeling with the bike and to get closer to competitive lap times.
