Scott Redding makes fast start to 2011

Scott Redding made an impressively fast start to his preparations for the 2011 Moto2 world championship when he finished the Valencia test last weekend sharing the quickest time with Marc Marquez.

The 18-year-old clocked a personal best time around the Ricardo Tormo track with a 1.35.6 set on the final day in cool by sunny conditions matching the pace of Repsol-backed rider Marquez.

Redding was impressed with improvements made with rear traction on the revised 2011 Suter MMX machine and he said: “I set my fastest ever lap around Valencia, so it’s definitely been a successful test for us. The new bike has been set-up to suit me more, with a different footrest position and a longer seat unit, but these changes have also affected the balance of the bike. At the start the new bike was riding too much on the rear, but we have been able to improve things a lot in this area.”

Redding, who is under new management with Marc VDS Racing team boss Michael Bartholemy overseeing his affairs, is due back on track tomorrow (Tuesday) for a further three-day test at the Estoril track in Portugal.

See the February 16 issue of MCN for further reaction from Redding on the Valencia test.