Calendar & Results
GP 5 : France
Simón eighth; Rabat and Márquez, protagonists in 125
THE HAULOTTE PILOTS ARE UNCOVERED IN LE MANS.
THE HAULOTTE PILOTS ARE UNCOVERED IN LE MANS.
Even if the final results of the Grand Prix in France don’t give testimony to it, the truth is that the three Haulotte riders starred in an exciting Sunday of races in the Le Mans Circuit. The rain finally appeared on the French track, affecting the 125 especially, and in a smaller degree, the 250 as well. Jultio Simón was eighth in his race, but after riding second and after fighting for quite a while against the Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi for a place on the podium. In 125, Marc Márquez was thrown off his bike, after a spectacular start that let him take a glimpse of the first positions of the race in what is his third appearance in the World Championship. And Tito Rabat took a huge step forward that let him into the group that was at the head for 125, although a fall due to the rain when he was first, finally end up frustrating his aspirations.
Grazing the podium
Simón was looking towards the Grand Prix in France with enthusiasm after resting at home, and going through an intense rehabilitation plan for his forearms in order to avoid the pains that had limited him in previous dates. During the first qualifying practices, Julito soon found a good set up for his KTM, which let him move up front right from the beginning. “These qualifying practices have been much more positive than those during the first days at other circuits. We found the way quicker and the ideal settings for Le Mans. During the morning I was up ahead, and ended up sixth, close to the first. In any case, there were a few things left to adjust, especially the engine, that was too aggressive”. Simon’s was the best of the three KTMs that competed in that category. During the official practice on Saturday, the rain began, even if at the end of the session the riders were able to enjoy fifteen minutes of normality. Not enough for Julito, who was unable to improve Saturday’s time. “The weather played a dirty trick on us. I lost some time and pace, and was only able to equal what I had done on Friday. Even so, the bike gave me better feelings, and that made me more confident for the race”.
The starting grid for the 250 was chaos on Sunday. The rain that fell during the 125 left the track wet, but with the perspective of it eventually drying. And the election of tyres was key. From his seventh position, Simón did a good start. Taking it easy, step by step in order to avoid any falls, the Haulotte rider started getting ahead and settled into third position. Few laps later, he started to approach the second classified, and together they left their competitors behind. Julito was riding straight to the podium. Although an unexpected mechanical injury ended up jeopardizing his great performance. “I’m convinced I would have fought for the podium, because I was doing well. I started well and kept calm for the first laps on water. As the track started drying I started riding faster. I had a good feeling, but halfway through the race I started to have problems with the rear brake. The bike started to lose oil and I was unable to control it as the right stirrup was slipping, and I couldn’t brake, giving me a more than a scare when taking the curves. Even so, I was able to finish eighth. It’s not the result I could have achieved, but I’m satisfied”.
New chassis, new hope
Tito Rabat had suffered very much at the beginning of the year with his new KTM. And in France came the solution to his problems. The Austrian company let him be the first one to try their new frames that finally brought a smile back to the young Haulotte rider. From the first qualifying practice on Friday, Rabat was seen again amongst the first positions of the classification tables. “The feeling on Friday was that finally we were going to leave the tunnel where we had been stuck in, behind. From the first qualifying practice I was riding comfortably, that’s why I was able to always be amongst the first eight. On Saturday morning, it was more difficult due to the conditions of the track that made me finally crash. The official practice was very strange from the beginning, and I wasn’t able to improve. I ended up tenth in the starting grid but with a good sensation”. Rabat’s performance during the race was fantastic, a strange race that was forced to be interrupted during the 14th lap due to the rain, turning it into two races. During the first one, on a dry track, Tito was at the head, with the best riders of this category, and showed a great deal of determination and aggressiveness with each manoeuvre. The interruption frustrated his hopes to obtain a great result, although he quickly recuperated his concentration again. The beginning of the second race was spectacular. With a great start, Rabat took first place but the track’s conditions finally made him crash out on the ground. “During the first race I was in ninth position and with a good start I finished fourth. The truth is that the bike has improved a lot, especially in the corners. It’s a pity that it started raining and the race was interrupted. In the second part I was seventh and had a good start. I got into first place but went a little bit fastin the first corner. I tried to rectify in the second and when I touch the throttle a little, I crashed out. In any case, I think it has been a very positive weekend, because I have recuperated my confidence and I know how I’ve done it, not like last year that I simply got good results. This time I’ve had to work for them”.
Once again, Marquez left his mark.
Even if he was unable to finish the race, Marc Márquez was able to shine during his third race in the World Championship. Logically, since this was his first visit to Le Mans, he had to dedicate the practices to learning all the ins and outs of the French track. “It was a new circuit for me. The first day I had to work on the bike quite a bit, to find the right set up. It was hard, and I even had a fall. Saturday wasn’t the best of days, because we changed something, and then realised that it didn’t work out as we expected. That is why the bike was not in perfect conditions for the race”. Márquez got over the technical difficulties and after a doing well during the warm-up, started to get ready for a great performance during the race. In twentieth position at the starting grid he starred in a meteoric start that placed him seventh in just a couple of corners. A dream. The Haulotte rider suffered a bit to keep up with the pace of the head but, thanks to his quality he held on. Until another rider, the Japanese Koyama, charged into him and threw his hopes down the drain. “It didn’t go well, because I crashed. But we must look at it from the positive side, that is that throughout the whole weekend we have been improving. During the race I did a very good start, and the first time past the finishing line I was sixth. After that I maintained the distance with the group at the head. Then, I don’t know if I crashed or if I was thrown off, but the fact is I ended up on the ground. Throughout the whole weekend, both the team and myself, have done a good job, and I want to thank them for it because they have made a great effort so that I could ride as comfortably as possible”.
The next race will be held in Italy, the 1st of June, in the beautiful Mugello circuit. A good chance for the Haulotte riders to certify the progress they have shown during this Grand Prix in France.
Grazing the podium
Simón was looking towards the Grand Prix in France with enthusiasm after resting at home, and going through an intense rehabilitation plan for his forearms in order to avoid the pains that had limited him in previous dates. During the first qualifying practices, Julito soon found a good set up for his KTM, which let him move up front right from the beginning. “These qualifying practices have been much more positive than those during the first days at other circuits. We found the way quicker and the ideal settings for Le Mans. During the morning I was up ahead, and ended up sixth, close to the first. In any case, there were a few things left to adjust, especially the engine, that was too aggressive”. Simon’s was the best of the three KTMs that competed in that category. During the official practice on Saturday, the rain began, even if at the end of the session the riders were able to enjoy fifteen minutes of normality. Not enough for Julito, who was unable to improve Saturday’s time. “The weather played a dirty trick on us. I lost some time and pace, and was only able to equal what I had done on Friday. Even so, the bike gave me better feelings, and that made me more confident for the race”.
The starting grid for the 250 was chaos on Sunday. The rain that fell during the 125 left the track wet, but with the perspective of it eventually drying. And the election of tyres was key. From his seventh position, Simón did a good start. Taking it easy, step by step in order to avoid any falls, the Haulotte rider started getting ahead and settled into third position. Few laps later, he started to approach the second classified, and together they left their competitors behind. Julito was riding straight to the podium. Although an unexpected mechanical injury ended up jeopardizing his great performance. “I’m convinced I would have fought for the podium, because I was doing well. I started well and kept calm for the first laps on water. As the track started drying I started riding faster. I had a good feeling, but halfway through the race I started to have problems with the rear brake. The bike started to lose oil and I was unable to control it as the right stirrup was slipping, and I couldn’t brake, giving me a more than a scare when taking the curves. Even so, I was able to finish eighth. It’s not the result I could have achieved, but I’m satisfied”.
New chassis, new hope
Tito Rabat had suffered very much at the beginning of the year with his new KTM. And in France came the solution to his problems. The Austrian company let him be the first one to try their new frames that finally brought a smile back to the young Haulotte rider. From the first qualifying practice on Friday, Rabat was seen again amongst the first positions of the classification tables. “The feeling on Friday was that finally we were going to leave the tunnel where we had been stuck in, behind. From the first qualifying practice I was riding comfortably, that’s why I was able to always be amongst the first eight. On Saturday morning, it was more difficult due to the conditions of the track that made me finally crash. The official practice was very strange from the beginning, and I wasn’t able to improve. I ended up tenth in the starting grid but with a good sensation”. Rabat’s performance during the race was fantastic, a strange race that was forced to be interrupted during the 14th lap due to the rain, turning it into two races. During the first one, on a dry track, Tito was at the head, with the best riders of this category, and showed a great deal of determination and aggressiveness with each manoeuvre. The interruption frustrated his hopes to obtain a great result, although he quickly recuperated his concentration again. The beginning of the second race was spectacular. With a great start, Rabat took first place but the track’s conditions finally made him crash out on the ground. “During the first race I was in ninth position and with a good start I finished fourth. The truth is that the bike has improved a lot, especially in the corners. It’s a pity that it started raining and the race was interrupted. In the second part I was seventh and had a good start. I got into first place but went a little bit fastin the first corner. I tried to rectify in the second and when I touch the throttle a little, I crashed out. In any case, I think it has been a very positive weekend, because I have recuperated my confidence and I know how I’ve done it, not like last year that I simply got good results. This time I’ve had to work for them”.
Once again, Marquez left his mark.
Even if he was unable to finish the race, Marc Márquez was able to shine during his third race in the World Championship. Logically, since this was his first visit to Le Mans, he had to dedicate the practices to learning all the ins and outs of the French track. “It was a new circuit for me. The first day I had to work on the bike quite a bit, to find the right set up. It was hard, and I even had a fall. Saturday wasn’t the best of days, because we changed something, and then realised that it didn’t work out as we expected. That is why the bike was not in perfect conditions for the race”. Márquez got over the technical difficulties and after a doing well during the warm-up, started to get ready for a great performance during the race. In twentieth position at the starting grid he starred in a meteoric start that placed him seventh in just a couple of corners. A dream. The Haulotte rider suffered a bit to keep up with the pace of the head but, thanks to his quality he held on. Until another rider, the Japanese Koyama, charged into him and threw his hopes down the drain. “It didn’t go well, because I crashed. But we must look at it from the positive side, that is that throughout the whole weekend we have been improving. During the race I did a very good start, and the first time past the finishing line I was sixth. After that I maintained the distance with the group at the head. Then, I don’t know if I crashed or if I was thrown off, but the fact is I ended up on the ground. Throughout the whole weekend, both the team and myself, have done a good job, and I want to thank them for it because they have made a great effort so that I could ride as comfortably as possible”.
The next race will be held in Italy, the 1st of June, in the beautiful Mugello circuit. A good chance for the Haulotte riders to certify the progress they have shown during this Grand Prix in France.
