Tito Rabat plays down Moto2 favourite tag

Marc VDS Racing’s Tito Rabat has played down suggestions he is the overwhelming pre-season favourite for this year’s Moto2 world championship.

With compatriot Pol Espargaro and British rider Scott Redding graduating to MotoGP, Rabat has been installed as big favourite to capture the fifth Moto2 crown.

Rabat finished third behind Espargaro and Redding in last year’s title chase with three victories and he has been one of the standout performers during pre-season testing with Marc VDS teammate Mika Kallio.

But the 24-year-old doesn’t believe he is the red-hot favourite going into the season opening clash in Qatar this weekend and he told MCN: “I don’t think I am the favourite. Last year everybody said Pol was the favourite and after finishing seventh (in 2012) nobody mentioned me.

“But last year I fought with him and with Scott and this is Moto2 where everyone has the same tyres, the same engine and good chassis and many riders will fight for the win.”

Assessing where the big threat will come from in 2014, Rabat added: “This year there will be many people because there are many experienced riders like Mika and (Thomas) Luthi. Also there is (Nico) Terol and (Jordi) Torres who will both be fast.

“There are also many young riders with a lot of energy like (Maverick) Vinales and (Luis) Salom.  (Takaaki) Nakagami is always fast too, so we need to keep consistent and not relax.”