Scott Redding and Danny Kent dominate Jerez test

Scott Redding shared top spot in the ultra-competitive Moto2 class and Danny Kent led the way in the new Moto3 series at the end of a tremendous three-day test for the Brits in Jerez.

Gloucestershire rider Redding set a best time of 1.42.2 to match the pace of Italian Claudio Corti and Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami.

Redding’s best time set on the second day was 0.5s faster than Stefan Bradl’s 2011 pole position of 1.42.706.

Redding was sixth fastest on the final day with a 1.42.7 and speaking exclusively in the February 15 issue of MCN, the 19-year-old said: “This is the bike I wanted to ride. Firstly it helps a lot with my size because I’m the biggest rider on the grid.

“I can get tucked in coming out of the corners and I’m not struggling to get my elbows tucked in down the straight and losing a lot of time.

“I actually overtook somebody on the straight last week for the first time ever in Moto2 and it wasn’t a Moto3 bike! So with the same speed on the straight it is going to make life a lot easier for me.

“But now I can get the bike turned better and up on the fat part of the tyre exiting the last corner, so that all goes to help my top speed as well as the aerodynamics. I’m not fighting to get the bike turned all the time.

“Last year I was fighting the bike every other day and it gets frustrating. One really impressive aspect is the rear traction. I’m not sideways coming out of the corner or chasing grip.”

Bradley Smith set a best time of 1.43.0 to finish just 0.8s second behind the impressive Redding, who has yet to finish outside the top two in any Moto2 test so far this winter.

Smith continued to experiment with the new Mistral 610 and he said: “We came back to the November setting and that is definitely the best. We still have plenty of things to improve but I am happy.”

Gino Rea improved his pace to a 1.43.8 y but that left him in 20th position but only a second off the top seven.

Kent was in untouchable form as he proved to be the benchmark in the new 250cc four-stroke Moto3 class throughout the test.

The Red Bull KTM rider set a best time of 1.47.1 to beat pre-season title favourite Maverick Vinales by 0.4s. Spaniard Vinales and Alberto Moncayo were the only other riders to break into the 1.47 bracket with Kent.

Kent told MCN: “This test has been really positive and each day we kept making big improvements. To be fastest on all three days is a massive boost and shows we are pretty competitive already.

“I’m enjoying the Moto3 class and really enjoying the riding bike and at the moment everything is going really well.”

Mahindra rider Danny Webb finished with a best time of 1.49.7 that left him 15th.