Calendar & Results
GP 14 : Japan
The Japanese GP held this weekend in the Motegi circuit had two very different sides to it for the Haulotte riders. The positive side was the one where Julito Simón starred in, completing his best weekend so far this season. Simón proved he was competitive during the race, riding in second place until he was half way through it. In the end he finally signed a fourth position after fighting up to the finishing line for the third place at the podium. The negative side had already arrived before the 125 cc race. Even before the first round had been completed, both Marc Márquez and Tito Rabat ended up on the floor.
THE BEST JULITO
The 125 cc riders arrived in Motegi after not being able to ride in the previous GP in Indianapolis due to the suspension of the race because of hurricane Ike. Julito Simón was confronting the Japanese date with a lot of optimism, in a track where he had already had a podium with the KTM in his last year in 125cc. On Friday he was in a provisional second row at the starting grid. It was another day where rain was present. “It was a pretty positive day. We soon saw that our bike could be competitive. In the morning we rode on water, and we realised that in those conditions we had a good pace that let us ride up in the first positions. In the afternoon we were also doing well, although five minutes before starting we had a problem with the motor. Even so, I was happy, because we had worked well and I was sure that if everything had worked well I would have gotten into the front row. This was our objective for Saturday.” During the second day everything was going down the right path, even if Julito didn’t make his wish of getting into front row true, finishing in seventh place at the starting grid on Sunday. “ I crashed during the free practice and I had to use my second bike for the official. The set up wasn’t exactly the same and the motor’s performance wasn’t as good. So that’s why I wasn’t able to get past seventh place, although I think I could have done a little better. In any case I was very happy, because I felt very good in Motegi. I was in good spirits.” And so he should. The Haulotte rider got a move on from the start, and so was second, in Marco Simoncelli’s wake. In spite of the inferiority of his KTM, Simón kept up with the World Championship’s leader’s pace until they were mid-race. From then on some problems made him lose his second place, and he ended up fighting for the third place at the podium. Julito was overtaken by Alex Debón, but proved his exceeding quality. “ I was very close. It was a good race, I had a lot of fun, and that’s what it’s all about. I had a good pace in all the practices and I knew I could be at the front. The start was a little difficult, since I went on the outer side in the first corner and I lost some positions. But I soon got myself in second place. I knew that Simoncelli was my reference to escape from the group and avoid being overtaken, since I needed a little more motor. I did that and was behind Simoncelli a few rounds, until I made some mistakes because I was at my limit. Bautista arrived and following him was even more complicated because his motor accelerated better. Finally, I fought against Debón but he had a better chance because his pace was better. Also, I made a mistake that definitely took me off the fight for third place. I am happy with the result, with the team and my work in the race, because I fought like I had to."
TOO MUCH HEART
During the first day in Motegi, Marc Márquez was practicing with rain first, then with the track half dry and then finished with a crash. Even so the Haulotte rider had a positive conclusion for his debut. “ It was a day to get familiar with the circuit and to start getting the bike set up. During the first session I rode on water and I suffered a pretty hard crash in the last round. I ended up a little bruised, but fortunately in one piece. In the afternoon we started out on wet and half way through the practice the track started to dry, and we were able to ride pretty well. Márquez proved he is a rider that learns very quickly. This allowed him to take better advantage of the second day and get a good place at the starting grid (13th) “ The practices were somewhat better, since we rode all day on dry and we were able to work on the bike’s set up, although it wasn’t perfect. We had some problems with the front part of the bike, we had to make sure if it was the suspension or the tyres. In 125cc, the choice of tyres isn’t very big, so we had to choose well. I was hoping to make a good start, hook up to a group quickly and go towards the front.” Marc tried, but too impulsively. A mistake made him crash right after the start, taking Pol Espargaró with him. It was too short. “ It was a pity, since we had been progressing throughout the whole the weekend. It seemed as if we were sure of things. But at the start, when the tyres are still cold, there are always riders that graze each other and crash, and in this case it was my turn. It was my fault. I made a good start, but at the second corner I crashed and threw Pol. These things happen at races. I immediately asked him for forgiveness and he accepted. A pity.”
TITO’S BAD LUCK
Tito Rabat’s weekend was more complicated than his team mate’s, although it finished in the same way. On Friday even though he fell, he finished in a good 12th position, that led him to face the weekend in Japan with optimism. “ It didn’t go badly, in spite of the crash I suffered in the morning. In the afternoon I almost ended up on the floor again, but I finally saved it. I felt very comfortable on the bike, although we had some problems with the chassis. We had a little less motor than the Aprilia, something that was noticeable when we accelerated.” On Saturday things got more complicated. Tito had many problems during the free practice, besides for crashing with no physical consequences. In the end he finished in 21st place at the starting grid, far behind and far from his aspirations. “ It was a difficult day in which we had many problems. During the free practice I crashed again and in the timing I couldn’t find a set up for my bike that would let me ride comfortably. I did my best. I had problems both at the back- I skidded a lot- and taking corners-my direction would close down-, and the motor that didn’t ride fast enough. I couldn’t connect well with my bike in Motegi.” In spite of all this, the Haulotte rider showed his usual courage, and gave it all he had from the start. He took over various positions, but soon saw that his race was ending. Like Márquez he wasn’t able to finish the first round, although in his case it was because of another pilot that crashed right in front of him. A day to forget. “ It was a pity, because after working all weekend, and even if I wasn’t up ahead at the starting grid, I was able to make a good start and it looked like I could get there. But Iannone crashed and I couldn’t do anything to avoid his bike. These things happened. Physically, luckily, nothing happened. I only hit my knee.”
With no time to rest, the World Championship is travelling to Australia. The beautiful Philip Island circuit will host the second to last date for the 2008 season.
THE BEST JULITO
The 125 cc riders arrived in Motegi after not being able to ride in the previous GP in Indianapolis due to the suspension of the race because of hurricane Ike. Julito Simón was confronting the Japanese date with a lot of optimism, in a track where he had already had a podium with the KTM in his last year in 125cc. On Friday he was in a provisional second row at the starting grid. It was another day where rain was present. “It was a pretty positive day. We soon saw that our bike could be competitive. In the morning we rode on water, and we realised that in those conditions we had a good pace that let us ride up in the first positions. In the afternoon we were also doing well, although five minutes before starting we had a problem with the motor. Even so, I was happy, because we had worked well and I was sure that if everything had worked well I would have gotten into the front row. This was our objective for Saturday.” During the second day everything was going down the right path, even if Julito didn’t make his wish of getting into front row true, finishing in seventh place at the starting grid on Sunday. “ I crashed during the free practice and I had to use my second bike for the official. The set up wasn’t exactly the same and the motor’s performance wasn’t as good. So that’s why I wasn’t able to get past seventh place, although I think I could have done a little better. In any case I was very happy, because I felt very good in Motegi. I was in good spirits.” And so he should. The Haulotte rider got a move on from the start, and so was second, in Marco Simoncelli’s wake. In spite of the inferiority of his KTM, Simón kept up with the World Championship’s leader’s pace until they were mid-race. From then on some problems made him lose his second place, and he ended up fighting for the third place at the podium. Julito was overtaken by Alex Debón, but proved his exceeding quality. “ I was very close. It was a good race, I had a lot of fun, and that’s what it’s all about. I had a good pace in all the practices and I knew I could be at the front. The start was a little difficult, since I went on the outer side in the first corner and I lost some positions. But I soon got myself in second place. I knew that Simoncelli was my reference to escape from the group and avoid being overtaken, since I needed a little more motor. I did that and was behind Simoncelli a few rounds, until I made some mistakes because I was at my limit. Bautista arrived and following him was even more complicated because his motor accelerated better. Finally, I fought against Debón but he had a better chance because his pace was better. Also, I made a mistake that definitely took me off the fight for third place. I am happy with the result, with the team and my work in the race, because I fought like I had to."
TOO MUCH HEART
During the first day in Motegi, Marc Márquez was practicing with rain first, then with the track half dry and then finished with a crash. Even so the Haulotte rider had a positive conclusion for his debut. “ It was a day to get familiar with the circuit and to start getting the bike set up. During the first session I rode on water and I suffered a pretty hard crash in the last round. I ended up a little bruised, but fortunately in one piece. In the afternoon we started out on wet and half way through the practice the track started to dry, and we were able to ride pretty well. Márquez proved he is a rider that learns very quickly. This allowed him to take better advantage of the second day and get a good place at the starting grid (13th) “ The practices were somewhat better, since we rode all day on dry and we were able to work on the bike’s set up, although it wasn’t perfect. We had some problems with the front part of the bike, we had to make sure if it was the suspension or the tyres. In 125cc, the choice of tyres isn’t very big, so we had to choose well. I was hoping to make a good start, hook up to a group quickly and go towards the front.” Marc tried, but too impulsively. A mistake made him crash right after the start, taking Pol Espargaró with him. It was too short. “ It was a pity, since we had been progressing throughout the whole the weekend. It seemed as if we were sure of things. But at the start, when the tyres are still cold, there are always riders that graze each other and crash, and in this case it was my turn. It was my fault. I made a good start, but at the second corner I crashed and threw Pol. These things happen at races. I immediately asked him for forgiveness and he accepted. A pity.”
TITO’S BAD LUCK
Tito Rabat’s weekend was more complicated than his team mate’s, although it finished in the same way. On Friday even though he fell, he finished in a good 12th position, that led him to face the weekend in Japan with optimism. “ It didn’t go badly, in spite of the crash I suffered in the morning. In the afternoon I almost ended up on the floor again, but I finally saved it. I felt very comfortable on the bike, although we had some problems with the chassis. We had a little less motor than the Aprilia, something that was noticeable when we accelerated.” On Saturday things got more complicated. Tito had many problems during the free practice, besides for crashing with no physical consequences. In the end he finished in 21st place at the starting grid, far behind and far from his aspirations. “ It was a difficult day in which we had many problems. During the free practice I crashed again and in the timing I couldn’t find a set up for my bike that would let me ride comfortably. I did my best. I had problems both at the back- I skidded a lot- and taking corners-my direction would close down-, and the motor that didn’t ride fast enough. I couldn’t connect well with my bike in Motegi.” In spite of all this, the Haulotte rider showed his usual courage, and gave it all he had from the start. He took over various positions, but soon saw that his race was ending. Like Márquez he wasn’t able to finish the first round, although in his case it was because of another pilot that crashed right in front of him. A day to forget. “ It was a pity, because after working all weekend, and even if I wasn’t up ahead at the starting grid, I was able to make a good start and it looked like I could get there. But Iannone crashed and I couldn’t do anything to avoid his bike. These things happened. Physically, luckily, nothing happened. I only hit my knee.”
With no time to rest, the World Championship is travelling to Australia. The beautiful Philip Island circuit will host the second to last date for the 2008 season.
