Bendsneyder again impressive at Jerez test

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped the second day of testing for 2018 for the intermediate class at Jerez, putting in a 1:41.518 to just beat Day 1’s fastest Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) to P1 by a tenth. There’s no official timing, but most of the grid are present and most with transponders – with Joan Mir (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) once more the fastest rookie, in P16 and 1.2 seconds off the top. 2017 Moto3™ World Championship runner up Romano Fenati (Marinelli Rivacold Snipers) was P23, with Bo Bendsneyder (Tech 3 Racing) beating the Italian to the honour of second fastest rookie. Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was third fastest another tenth back on Bagnaia, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in P4. Danny Kent (Speed Up Racing) moved significantly forward on Day 2 to lock out the top five as he returns to the intermediate class grid in an impressive showing on the Speed Up – making it three chassis manufacturers in the top five. Sam Lowes (CGBM Evolution) was P13 on his return as he readjusts to life in Moto2™, and was just seven thousandths quicker than Hector Barbera (Pons HP 40) as the Spaniard also moves from the premier class. Lowes is now on a KTM – who topped the timesheets with Oliveira – and Barbera on a Kalex.

Bo Bendsneyder (21st 1.42,898):

“I think we can say we had a very positive first test on the Tech 3 Moto2 bike. we did again a lot of laps . And I felt that I was near that 1.42 lap a long time. I did constant low 1.43’s. At the end we put in a used tyre and I was able to put in a few 1.42 laps. I’m very happy about that. As I said yesterday: nothing to compare with, laptimewise; nobody is running a homolagated Moto2 engine; everyone is using a normal CBR600 engine. Despite the fact that Tech 3 prepared a block that is nearly the same as the Moto2 spec used during the GP’s, there were some different sounds on the track aswell. However, our priority wasn’t to do a fast lap, but to gain as much experience possible on the for me, new Moto2 bike. I got a good feeling about it and the team was very satisfied. Now we have a few days off, and then we will be back on Monday at the test at Valencia. the last two days of testing before the Winterbreak. “

Timesheet day 2 Jerez test