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CORTESE FASTEST IN VALENCIA TESTS ON SECOND DAY

published at 09.02.2012

Moto3 pre-season testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia continued with teams making the most of slightly warmer temperatures during the second day of their first test of 2012.

German rider Sandro Cortese of the Red Bull KTM Ajo team was again fastest on the Valencia circuit on Thursday when Moto3 teams gathered for the second of three days of tests. He registered the fastest time again of the field, a 1:41.3 best time and an improvement of three tenths over Wednesday’s top time.

Alberto Moncayo of Spain on the KALEX-KTM followed just one tenth behind the German, and commented “if we continue to progress as we are, we’ll do well the rest of the year. Today was good because I felt comfortable from the third lap on."

Briton Danny Kent was two-tenths behind his Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Cortese to rank third, while one of the season’s favorites in the new category of Moto3, Hector Faubel, finished fourth, four-tenths off Cortese and seven tenths quicker than his best effort yesterday.

Faubel was also positive, saying that the day had been very productive. “Overall I am very pleased that we got in a quick lap this morning even though the track was very cold. We’re collecting a lot of good data and making some fast improvements.”

The second day saw KTM riders take six of the top ten positions, an indication that the Austrian brand is looking promising for its re-entry into mainstream MotoGP competition in this new category.

There was a combined session on the circuit for the Moto2 and Moto3 bikes from ten till three o'clock, and then one hour especially for each class. The Moto3 riders were the last ones out on the second day.

Unofficial Moto2 lap times Thursday (recorded by teams)

1. Sandro Cortese (D), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 1'41.3 (KTM, 52 laps)
2. Alberto Moncayo (E), Aspar Team Moto3, 1'41.4 (KALEX-KTM, 42 laps)
3. Danny Kent (GB), Red Bull KTM Ajo, 1'41.5 (KTM, 56 laps)
4. Hector Faubel (E), Aspar Team Moto3, 1'41.8 (KALEX-KTM, 34 laps)
5, Miguel Oliviera (E), Oliviera Monlau, 1'41.8 (61 laps)
Other KTM
6. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (MA), Airasia-SIC-Ajo, 1'42.4 (KTM, 33 laps)
10. Brad Binder (RSA), RW Racing GP, 1'43.3 (KALEX-KTM, 41 laps)
14. Arthur Sissis (AUS), 1'44.5 (KTM, 55 laps)

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