Remy Gardner 9th on Valencia Test Day 1
Remy Gardner worked relentlessly with his new team as he sustained the positive start to his career at Tech3, ending the Valencia Test Day 1 in ninth with a 1:35.499 after 105 laps.
The Australian determinedly completed over 100 laps aboard the Mistral 610 and he now confidently looks onto the rest of the test where he will continue the preparation for his debut full season in the Moto2 class in 2017.
Remy Gardner – 9th – 1’36.499 – Laps 105
“Today we made some more positive advances and I’m confident that we can improve on the lap time tomorrow. We experienced some slight chatter issues in the middle of the day, but the team identified what was wrong and then, in the afternoon, we made another positive alteration to the setup of the bike and I set a time that I am satisfied with. However, I feel that we have some more work to do tomorrow so that we can move up the field and get to where we want to be but I am looking forward to getting back on the track.”
Tech3 Racing Team rider Xavi Vierge outlined his intent for the forthcoming season by closing the first part of the test in second after making continuous steps forward throughout the day.
The Spaniard set his personal best time on hard race tyres, as opposed to some of the other leading riders who used soft compounds, highlighting the significant performance by Vierge.
Xavi Vierge – 2nd – 1’35.790 – Laps 75
“It was a very productive and positive first day at Valencia. I tried many different parts and we experimented a lot with the setting as well as the KYB suspension and in the end, I made a step forward with every alteration or change. The improvement was gradual but the most important thing is that the Mistral and myself moved closer to the top all the time. I hope that the weather stays clear tomorrow and that there won’t be any interruptions so that we can continue in the same way that we did today. In general, I am very happy with what we achieved and I want to say thanks to the Tech3 Racing Team.”
The test unfortunately ended prematurely for Team Federal Oil Gresini’s Jorge Navarro, who was forced to stop due to the dislocation of the left shoulder.
The 20-year-old Spanish rider has already planned for a December 1st shoulder surgery to solve the problem, which had already effected him during the 2016 season.
The preparations of the Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 for the 2017 World Championship will resume next year, after the winter break.
Jorge Navarro
“The test was already going very well, we had just made a change to the bike set-up and I was feeling at ease, then under braking at Turn 8 I felt the dislocation of my left shoulder. I ended up in the run-off area, and when I arrived on the gravel it was difficult to keep control of the bike, because I had no strength, and I went down, but without consequences. I have already had this problem several times during the season because of an old injury, in fact I had already planned a surgery next December 1st. Unfortunately the problem emerged also today and I’m very sorry because I won’t be able to continue the test. Now I look forward to the surgery in order to recover as soon as possible, and resume in the best possible way my adaptation to this category”.
