Julian Simon heads close Moto2 timesheets

Reigning world 125GP champion Julian Simon headed the timesheets on the second day of official Moto2 testing at the Valencia circuit in Spain yesterday.

And hopes that a spec Honda engine, controlled electronics and Dunlop tyres would create close and spectacular racing seem to be bearing early fruit.

Simon headed the field with a best time of 1.37.156 but interestingly less than 1.5s split the top 20 as riders continued to adjust to the new spec Honda CBR600RR motor.

Just 0.215a adrift of Aspar RSV rider Simon came Kenny Noyes, who continued to surprise with his impressive pace.

The American rookie, riding a British-built Harris chassis, logged a 1.37.371 to beat a host of established Grand Prix regulars, including Spaniard Toni Elias.

Former Gresini Honda MotoGP rider Elias was quickest on the opening day but slipped down the rankings to third on day two with a quickest time of 1.37.540.
Tech 3 rider Yuki Takahashi continued his impressive preparations on a bike built by the French-based satellite Yamaha MotoGP squad.

The Japanese rider was fifth behind Claudio Corti with a best time of 1.37.635. That was 0.266s faster than former MotoGP rider Alex de Angelis, who moved further into contention with a lap of 1.37.901 putting the San Marino rider in the top six.

British rider Scott Redding narrowed the gap to the leaders but slipped further down the rankings on the Marc VDS Racing bike that uses a Swiss-built Suter chassis.

The youngest rider in history ever to win a Grand Prix ended in a lowly 28th position with a best time of 1.39.198. That left him 2.042 clear of Bradley Smith’s former 125GP team-mate Simon.