Qatar GP - Post Race Quote From Alvaro

Alvaro Bautista -7th:
"It was a complicated race, the whole weekend had been going fantastically, but today's big storm really spoilt the party. From the start I went wide on the corner and I found it difficult to ride. I didn't feel comfortable at any moment, and it was hard to gain confidence. The end of the race saw my back tyre almost completely worn out, and I had to ride very carefully. Fortunately I was able to move up some positions, but I had to be very careful on the final laps.
I could have got on the podium, but the worn tyre made me drop down again. It's a pity, because things were going well, but we can only hope that we continue from qualifying and practice when we get to Japan. The circumstances were unique, and took us by surprise, as we had a track more like earth than asphalt."

Qatar GP - Alvaro 7th After Difficult Race

Well, a pretty dismal race for Alvaro really; and a result that will probably give great comfort to the missing Marco Simoncelli.
A dreadful start off the line (in a shortened 13 lap race delayed by damp conditions), back in about 6th or so at the first corner then 11th by the end of lap one - Alvaro then started a charge back (which appears to have shredded his tyres) that had him challenging for 3rd before a mugging from teammate Mike di Meglio which sent him stumbling back to 7th.
Not a good start to the season - not what any of us fans either expected or wanted.

RESULT:
1 Hector BARBERA SPA Pepe World Team APRILIA 26'50.940
2 Jules CLUZEL FRA Matteoni Racing APRILIA 26'51.766 + 0.826
3 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc APRILIA 26'57.121 + 6.181
4 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Scot Racing Team 250cc HONDA 26'57.549 + 6.609
5 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Scot Racing Team 250cc HONDA 26'57.596 + 6.656
6 Thomas LUTHI SWI Emmi - Caffe Latte APRILIA 26'57.612 + 6.672
7 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team APRILIA 26'58.548 + 7.608
8 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT SAG HONDA 26'59.289 + 8.349
9 Roberto LOCATELLI ITA Metis Gilera GILERA 27'05.972 +15.032
10 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Balaton Racing Team 250cc APRILIA 27'11.+ 20.348
11 Hector FAUBEL SPA Valencia CF - Honda SAG HONDA 27'11.405 + 20.465
12 Shoya TOMIZAWA JPN CIP Moto - GP250 HONDA 27'19.342 + 28.402
13 Lukas PESEK CZE Auto Kelly - CP APRILIA 27'19.846 + 28.906
14 Alex DEBON SPA Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens APRILIA 27'24.719 + 33.779
15 Alex BALDOLINI ITA WTR San Marino Team APRILIA 27'27.928 + 36.988
16 Bastien CHESAUX SWI Racing Team Germany HONDA 27'52.670 + 1'01.730
17 Imre TOTH HUN Team Toth Aprilia APRILIA 27'54.452 + 1'03.512
18 Vladimir LEONOV RUS Viessmann Kiefer Racing APRILIA 28'23.325 + 1'32.385
19 Aitor RODRIGUEZ SPA Milar - Juegos Lucky APRILIA 28'29.692 + 1'38.752

Alvaro Bautista - Quote After Quali, Qatar

1st Alvaro Bautista 2.00.677 (19 laps):
"I am happy to have got pole position despite the difficulties posed by the wind. At the start of the session it started to rain, and we didn't know if we'd have qualifying at all. We had a good pace but at the start I had to work a little bit. We tried a new tyre that didn't work out and then returned to what we had before. I was going round in a pace below 01.
Tomorrow's race will be complicated, as Aoyama will be up at the front and Barberá and Di Meglio will also have something to say. I expect a difficult race, but I want to have fun with it, and the important thing is that we have everything ready. In any case, we'll have the warmup for some final adjustments."

Qatar GP - Alvaro Takes Pole

1. Bautista (Aprilia) 2min 0.677sec
2. Aoyama (Honda) +0.100sec
3. di Meglio (Aprilia) +0.436sec
4. Barbera (Aprilia) +0.497sec
5. Faubel (Honda) +0.959sec
6. Talmacsi (Aprilia) +1.016sec
7. Pasini (Aprilia) +1.022sec
8. Debon (Aprilia) +1.036sec
9. Luthi (Aprilia) +1.061sec
10. Locatelli (Gilera) +1.162sec

Qatar GP - Friday Quotes From Alvaro

2nd - Alvaro Bautista 2.01.943 (16 laps):
"We are a little far off the times that we did at the beginning of the week. The track isn't in the best of condition and this is definitely affecting our setting, as I haven't really felt comfortable on my Aprilia. It was vibrating a lot on the front when we entered the corners, so tomorrow I hope that when the other classes clean the track we can get a better grip from their rubber.
The wind has also been a handicap. We all have good data from the test, so we've been able to ride in similar times, but we need to see who is able to carry on improving when the times really drop. Tomorrow we first need to check the state of the track, and then try to improve. If the track is as it was during the two days of testing, then we will be able to continue with our original setting."

Qatar GP - Friday QP 1

1. Talmacsi 2min 1.902sec
2. Bautista (Aprilia) +0.041sec
3. Pasini (Aprilia) +0.294sec
4. Aoyama (Honda) +0.444sec
5. Barbera (Aprilia) +0.481sec
6. Wilairot (Honda) +0.481sec
7. Luthi (Aprilia) +0.524sec
8. Cluzel (Aprilia) +0.799sec
9. Pesek (Aprilia) +0.862sec
10. Faubel (Honda) +0.880sec

Qatar Test - Day Two - Tuesday

1. Alvaro BAUTISTA APRILIA 2:00.496
2. Hiroshi AOYAMA HONDA 2:00.873
3. Mike DI MEGLIO APRILIA 2:00.946
4. Hector BARBERA APRILIA 2:01.061
5. Karel ABRAHAM APRILIA 2:01.094
6. Raffaele DE ROSA HONDA 2:01.129
7. Thomas LUTHI APRILIA 2:01.152
8. Roberto LOCATELLI GILERA 2:01.203
9. Mattia PASINI APRILIA 2:01.391
10. Ratthapark WILAIROT HONDA 2:01.479
11. Lukas PESEK APRILIA 2:02.026
12. Gabor TALMACSI APRILIA 2:02.207
13. Alex BALDOLINI APRILIA 2:02.249
14. Hector FAUBEL HONDA 2:02.293
15. Shoya TOMIZAWA HONDA 2:02.781
16. Imre TOTH APRILIA 2:03.733
17. Alex DEBON APRILIA 2:03.788
18. Axel PONS APRILIA 2:05.293
19. Vladimir LEONOV APRILIA 2:07.115
20. Aitor RODRIGUEZ APRILIA 2:08.559

Qatar Test - Day One - Alvaro Quotes

2nd - Alvaro Bautista 2.01.121 (58 laps):
"This first day has been a little complicated because the track didn't have much grip and it has taken us a little to get a good rhythm. While we were riding we finally found a solution for the front part of the bike, which really caused us the most problems.
With some small variations we made great improvements, and progressively I've been able to ride more comfortable and the conditions of the track also improved. If we continue this line of work tomorrow then I am convinced that we will improve and I will gain confidence.
Most important thing about today is that little by little I have found some feeling on the Aprilia, although there is still room to improve with the suspensions."

Qatar Test - Day One - Monday

250cc
1.H.Barberá 2.00.545
2.A.Bautista 2.01.121
3.K.Abraham 2.01.406
4.H.Aoyama 2.01.685
5.T.Luthi 2.02.805
6.R.Locatelli 2.02.252
7.G.Talmacsi 2.02.279
8.A.Debon 2.02.442
9.M.di Meglio 2.02.469
10.L.Pesek 2.02.575
11.R.Wilairot 2.02.580
12.R.de Rosa 2.03.522
13.M.Pasini 2.03.708
14.H.Faubel 2.03.959
15.A.Baldolini 2.04.410
16.I.Toth 2.04.889
17.S.Tomizawa 2.05.051
18.A.Pons 2.06.151
19.A.Rodríguez 2.12.536

Final Picture & Words From Qatar

And here's Bati's post-race quotes; some measured disappointment, but a typically mature perspective on it all...

"Today was our day, but bad luck made it a bad one. I have started well and went to the front without problems, but from the 9th lap on the back tyre began to slide and it has been very difficult to maintain the race lead.
Lap by lap the situation got worse because I could neither enter the curves nor open the throttle in the curves. Today we had that bit of bad luck and I hope that it does not happen again during the season. This lesson teaches us that it is not enough to have the bike perfectly set up, but that sometimes it is also necessary to be lucky. When I realized that the fight with Barberá was lost, I tried to give my best to finish in a good position."

End of chapter one.
Onto Jerez... ;)

Qatar GP - 250cc - Results

Well - I have to admit to being fairly gutted after Bati's excellent grid position was ultimately squandered due to a bad call on tyre compounds.
Alvaro ran with a softer front (as did Barbera, who also suffered though not to such a great extent) and his initial move up to P1 was soon undone, and he slipped back to 6th - losing all pace and impetus.
Very disappointing; not the kind of start to the season I think we had expected or deserved.
Let's hope Jerez sees something very different.


Here's the results in full...
Pos - Rider - Make - Time
1. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 40:16.202
2. Hector Barbera Aprilia + 0.557
3. Mika Kallio KTM + 1.029
4. Alex Debon Aprilia + 1.418
5. Yuki Takahashi Honda + 12.944
6. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia + 14.480
7. Karel Abraham Aprilia + 16.721
8. R.Locatelli Gilera + 18.987
9. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia + 32.232
10. Hector Faubel Aprilia + 41.102
11. Julian Simon KTM + 41.457
12. Fabrizio Lai Gilera + 41.694
13. R.Wilairot Honda + 43.192
14. Manuel Poggiali Gilera + 44.228
15. Thomas Luthi Aprilia + 48.760
16. Hiroshi Aoyama KTM +1:11.031
17. D.T.Pradita Yamaha +2:05.461

*****************************************

Not Classified:

Rider - Make - On lap
Alex Baldolini Aprilia 14
Lukas Pesek Aprilia 12
Marco Simoncelli Gilera 7
Imre Toth Aprilia 4
Eugene Laverty Aprilia 0
Manuel Hernandez Aprilia 0

*****************************************

Fastest lap:
Debon, 1:59.379 on lap 20

Qatar GP - 250cc - Final Qualifying Results

Bati moved up from third to pole, only to lose it to Debon (and second to Barbera) in the closing moments.

Pos - Rider - Make - Time:
1. Alex Debon Aprilia 1:59.470
2. Hector Barbera Aprilia 1:59.629 + 0.159
3. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1:59.694 + 0.224
4. Mika Kallio KTM 1:59.814 + 0.344
5. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 1:59.863 + 0.393
6. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 1:59.911 + 0.441
7. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 2:00.108 + 0.638
8. Yuki Takahashi Honda 2:00.326 + 0.856
9. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 2:00.365 + 0.895
10. R.Locatelli Gilera 2:00.403 + 0.933
11. Karel Abraham Aprilia 2:00.517 + 1.047
12. Hiroshi Aoyama KTM 2:00.609 + 1.139
13. Fabrizio Lai Gilera 2:00.854 + 1.384
14. Julian Simon KTM 2:00.975 + 1.505
15. Hector Faubel Aprilia 2:00.998 + 1.528
16. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 2:01.000 + 1.530
17. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 2:01.149 + 1.679
18. Manuel Poggiali Gilera 2:01.391 + 1.921
19. R.Wilairot Honda 2:01.487 + 2.017
20. Eugene Laverty Aprilia 2:02.482 + 3.012
21. Imre Toth Aprilia 2:03.538 + 4.068
22. Manuel Hernandez Aprilia 2:03.703 + 4.233
23. D.T.Pradita Yamaha 2:05.343 + 5.873

Photos From Practice and QP1

Qatar Testing - 250cc: Day Three

DAY THREE - 250cc

1. Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) 1.59.761
2. Hector Barbera (Aprilia) 2.00.163
3. Thomas Luthi (Aprilia) 2.00.229
4. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) 2.00.274
5. Alex Debon (Aprilia) 2.00.444
6. Hiroshi Aoyama (KTM) 2.00.551
7. Mika Kallio (KTM) 2.00.595
8. Roberto Locatelli (Gilera) 2.00.606
10. Julian Simon (KTM) 2.00.974
11. Karel Abraham (Aprilia) 2.00.984
12. Marco Simoncelli (Gilera) 2.01.011
13. Lukas Pesek (Aprilia) 2.01.167
14. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) 2.01.270
15. Hector Faubel (Aprilia) 2.01.607
16. Alex Baldolini (Aprilia) 2.01.669
17. Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) 2.01.670
18. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) 2.01.900
19. Yuki Takahashi (Honda) 2.01.950
20. Fabrizio Lai (Gilera) 2.02.166
21. Ratthapark Wilairot (Honda) 2.02.373
22. Imre Toth (Aprilia) 2.03.128
23. Russel Gomez (Aprilia) 2.04.388
24. Doni Pradita (Yamaha) 2.05.567

And with Alvaro speaking in quotes about hopefully having "something extra" left, it's all pointing towards a very exciting season-opener don't you reckon?

250cc Tests - Qatar - Day Two

250cc - DAY TWO

1. Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) – 1.59.761
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) – 2.00.516
3. Hector Barbera (Aprilia) – 2.00.719
4. Thomas Luthi (Aprilia) – 2.01.156
5. Aleix Espargarò (Aprilia) – 2.01.270
6. Hiroshi Aoyama (KTM) – 2.01.275
7. Alex Debon (Aprilia) – 2.01.367
8. Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) – 2.01.670
9. Marco Simoncelli (Gilera) – 2.01.680
10. Roberto Locatelli (Gilera) – 2.01.717
11. Hector Faubel (Aprilia) – 2.01.798
12. Julian Simon (KTM) – 2.01.824
13. Lukas Pesek (Aprilia) – 2.01.825
14. Mika Kallio (KTM) – 2.01.836
15. Karel Abraham (Aprilia) – 2.01.865
16. Yuki Takahashi (Honda) – 2.01.956
17. Fabrizio Lai (Gilera) – 2.02.166
18. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) – 2.02.713
19. Alex Baldolini (Aprilia) – 2.03.073
20. Imre Toth (Aprilia) – 2.03.128
21. Ratthapark Wilairot (Honda) – 2.03.568
22. Russell Gomez (Aprilia) – 2.05.062
23. Doni Tata Pradita (Yamaha) – 2.07.607

Qatar Night Test - 250cc: Bautista 1st

Official Test: Night One
Combined Times — 250cc

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) 2.00.931
2. Hector Barbera (Aprilia) 2.01.288
3. Hiroshi Aoyama (KTM) 2.01.348
4. Marco Simoncelli (Gilera) 2.01.409
5. Roberto Locatelli (Gilera) 2.01.730
6. Thomas Luthi (Aprilia) 2.01.848
7. Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) 2.01.945
8. Yuki Takahashi (Honda) 2.01.950
9. Alex Debon (Aprilia) 2.02.423
10. Lukas Pesek (Aprilia) 2.02.518
11. Julian Simon (KTM) 2.02.606
12. Fabrizio Lai (Gilera) 2.02.663
13. Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) 2.02.753
14. Karel Abraham (Aprilia) 2.02.781
15. Hector Faubel (Aprilia) 2.02.914
16. Imre Toth (Aprilia) 2.03.140
17. Alex Baldolini (Aprilia) 2.03.191
18. Mika Kallio (KTM) 2.03.670
19. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) 2.03.921
20. Ratthapark Wilairot (Honda) 2.04.018
21. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia) 2.04.468
22. Russel Gomez (Aprilia) 2.06.057
23. Doni Pradita (Yamaha) 2.08.947

First Pictures From Qatar Night Test