Motourage

Czech motorcycle rider Karel Abraham started his MotoGP World Championship in a good form and finished 13th under the floodlights at Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

While Randy de Puniet crashed and his teammate Loris Capirossi had technical problems, the Cardion AB Motoracing rider made a good start and was 14th after the first lap. Karel Abraham also defeated Toni Elias, who crashed on lap 19 when he was more than 15 seconds behind the Czech rider and didn’t finished the Grand Prix of Qatar

“I am sorry that they did not complete the race because I wanted to fight with them,” said Karel Abraham, who also had technical problems during his debut in the premier class. “I had problems with the brake on lap two. I ran off the track and almost hit the gravel. I lost contact with the group in front of me and unfortunately I wasn‘t able to catch them. My physical fitness is okay, but I have to work on my hands because in the end of the race I lost some time due to lack of strength,“ concluded satisfied Abraham.

Cardion AB Motoracing team is now heading back to the Czech Republic.

2011 MotoGP Qatar race results:
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Honda
2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda
4. Andrea Dovisioso (ITA) Honda
5. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) Honda
6. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha
7. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati
8. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha
9. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati
10. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda
11. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha
12. Hector Barbera (SPA) Ducati
13. Karel Abraham (CZE) Ducati
DNF Toni Elias (SPA) Honda – crash
DNF Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati – retire
DNF Randy De Puniet (FRA) Ducati – crash

IODA Project's Simone Corsi

FTR Moto will be represented by five teams running a total of 10 riders in the 2011 Moto2 World Championship, which gets under way in Qatar on Sunday, March 20.

Buckingham, England-based FTR has retained its relationship with two of the three teams from 2010 – Alex Debon’s Motor Sport 69 project and the Speed Up Team while the third 2010 partner, Karel Abraham’s Cardion Team, moves to the MotoGP class after Abraham won the season finale Moto2 race at Valencia in November.

The Motor Sport 69 Team is being managed by the now-retired Debon and features one rider, Scotsman Kev Coghlan. Speed Up has replaced its two 2010 riders with Spaniard Pol Espargaro and French youngster Valentin Debise.

The established BQR squad moves to FTR machinery with a three-rider lineup of Esteve Rabat, Yonny Hernandez and Kenny Noyes. Noyes runs under the Avintia STX banner in a team established by financial and technical partners GP Tech and FOGI Racing, the latter continuing its relationship with FTR after supporting Spanish Championship and GP wild card entries in 2010.

Giampiero Sacchi’s Italian IODA Project team features Simone Corsi and Mattia Pasini on FTR M211s while the Spanish SAG squad fields Colombian Santiago Hernandez and Ratthapark Wilairot.

“From our four riders of 2010 things have really moved on this winter and the level of interest in FTR Moto is exactly what we hoped for,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “The team partners we have for 2011 offer a variety of everything imaginable in racing, from experience to youth and from very well established teams to relatively new ones.

“In theory the 2011 Championship should offer more stability in terms of consistency from riders but from the winter testing it really is difficult to see any pattern emerging. We know from 2010 that the class can be unpredictable and that may well be the case once more.

“At the beginning of 2010 Alex Debon took his one and only podium finish in the first round while Speed up’s Andrea Iannone struggled to 19th place in Qatar then won three races. We still have interest from other teams for 2011 but, right now, everyone at FTR is really geared up for an exciting 2011 campaign.”

FTR Moto is looking to close the inaugural Moto2 World Championship in successful fashion with victory in this weekend’s 17th and final round at Valencia in Spain.

Leading FTR M210 rider Andrea Iannone, in the FIMMCO Speed Up Team colors, could clinch second place in the Championship if he can overcome a six-point deficit to Julian Simon in Sunday’s 27-lap race at the 2.49-mile circuit.

FIMMCO Speedup Moto2 rider Andrea Iannone

Iannone has three race wins this year – at Mugello, Assen and Aragon – and has taken five pole positions, two more than any other rider. The 21-year-old Italian has also recorded the fastest lap of six of the 16 races so far.

“Andrea has been a stand-out rider in 2010 and has achieved far more than anyone anticipated,” admitted FTR’s Steve Bones. “When he rode a four-stroke for the first time – in a Spanish Championship race at Valencia at the end of last year – he really looked like he would take a long time to adapt. Thankfully he quickly got used to the FTR M210 and has been devastating at times.”

Iannone’s teammate Gabor Talmacsi will be looking to protect his sixth place in the Championship at Valencia after the Hungarian scooped a first pole position in Portugal last week and finished the race in eighth place.

Karel Abraham, riding the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 for the final time before moving to the MotoGP class, can climb as many as five place in the Championship if results were to go his way on Sunday at Valencia – a circuit where he took a 250cc career-best sixth place finish last year.

Luckless Alex Debon and his Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team will miss this weekend’s final round after Debon suffered a fractured right collarbone during practice at Estoril last week.

“The final round promises to throw up some spectacular action with a lot of riders wanting to end the Championship on a high, some are still to confirm a place for 2011 so therefore keen to impress and most are just looking for some final round glory,” added Bones.

“Since Estoril we’ve been moving forward with our own 2011 plans and had some really interesting track time with potential new riders at Aragon on Monday. In all we’re pretty confident about next year’s program with the much-improved M211.”

FTR Moto took two more top-10 finishes in an action-packed 16th round of the Moto2 World Championship at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal on Sunday.

Gabor Talmacsi took his first pole of the season in Portugal

Gabor Talmacsi, on the FIMMCO Speed Up Team machine, finished in eighth place after taking his first pole position of the year and the sixth for FTR Moto – after two days of wet practice on Friday and Saturday led to a dry race.

Karel Abraham worked his way through from 22nd place on the grid and the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 rider finished in 10th place after making a trademark burst in the second half of the 26-lap race and finishing just four seconds behind the race winner.

Hard-charging Andrea Iannone looked set for a fourth win of the year as he battled through from 34th place on row nine of the grid to hold fourth place with six laps to go – after a succession of fastest laps for the Italian. But the luckless Iannone crashed out on the FIMMCO Speed Up Team machine at the start of lap 20 to end his challenge. He remounted to finish the race in 21st place. Iannone remains third in the World Championship with Talmacsi moving up to sixth. Abraham sits in 14th with Debon 15th.

Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210 rider Alex Debon was a non starter at Estoril after the Spanish rider crashed in Saturday’s free practice and fractured his right collarbone.

“The lack of dry practice made for an interesting race and it looked like Andrea Iannone was going to pull off a fantastic victory at one point but it wasn’t to be,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “Seeing Gabor Talmacsi get pole position then lead the race was superb and the battle for third on the last couple of laps could have easily gone a different way and Talmacsi and Karel Abraham could have been in contention for podium finishes.

“The weekend was obviously a disappointing one for Alex Debon and we wish him well in his recovery. We’re all looking forward to Valencia next weekend now and hopefully a victorious finish to the 2010 Championship.”

FTR Moto is looking to add to its 2010 success with the M210 machine when the Moto2 World Championship reaches its 16th and penultimate round at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal on Sunday.

FTR is also aiming to take a step towards its target of all four permanent riders finishing in the top 10 of the Championship. At present Andrea Iannone sits in third place, two points adrift of second place, his teammate, Gabor Talmacsi, is seventh while Alex Debon is 13th and Karel Abraham 15th – the latter just 13 points behind 10th place.

FIMMCO Speed Up's Gabor Talmacsi

All arrive in Portugal after mixed fortunes in the three-race tour to Japan, Malaysia and Australia. Iannone continued his 2010 success with podium finishes in Sepang and Phillip Island on his FIMMCO Speed Up M210. Debon, on the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210, returned to some consistency with top 10 finishes in all three of the races with a best of fifth place in Malaysia. Abraham enjoyed a career-best and spectacular finish of third place in Japan on the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 and is now aiming to better that result in the final two rounds of 2010 – at Estoril and Valencia – before the Czech Republic rider moves to the MotoGP class in 2011. Gabor Talmacsi, on the second FIMMCO Speed Up M210 will be looking to recapture his consistency at the 2.597-mile Estoril venue after failing to score in the past three rounds.

“We’ve worked with the teams since the last round in Australia and are optimistic that we can get them all into the top 10 of the Championship by Sunday evening in Valencia on November 7,” said FTR’s Steve Bones.  “With the improvements to the M210 in recent weeks and the efforts of the teams and riders it’s left us all really looking forward to these final two rounds. The Estoril and Valencia events will also include a lot of talking about 2011 plans.

“We’ve had interest from around half a dozen teams but we’re also keen to retain the highest level of support and, for that reason, we may well have to limit the number of FTR M211s on the grid.”

FTR Moto celebrated a 10th podium finish of the year as the FIMMCO Speed Up Team’s Andrea Iannone took third place in Sunday’s 15th round of the Moto2 World Championship at the Phillip Island Circuit in Australia.

Andrea Iannone battles with Alex Di Angelis and Scott Redding

Iannone qualified at the head of the second row, in fifth place – despite a crash in qualifying – and was quickly at the head of the race, looking to add to his three races wins of 2010. The Italian grabbed the lead on the second lap – setting the fastest lap of the race at the same time – and was then involved in a battle for the lead with Scott Redding and eventual race winner Alex de Angelis.

The third place finish means Iannone heads to the final two rounds – in Portugal and Spain – just two points adrift of Julian Simon, currently in second place in the World Championship points standings.

Alex Debon continued his consistent run of finishes on the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210 by taking ninth place, the third finisher in a thrilling 10-rider battle for seventh place. The Spaniard fought hard throughout the 25-lap race after starting from 21st place on row six of the grid.

Debon edged out fellow M210 rider Karel Abraham for ninth – the Cardion AB Motoracing Team rider being forced wide at the left-hand Siberia corner in a frantic last lap. Abraham crossed the finish line in 10th place, all after qualifying in 10th place.

Iannone’s FIMMCO Speed Up team-mate Gabor Talmacsi finished 18th after holding the same position for all of the 25 laps, the determined Hungarian rider completing a tough weekend after starting the race from 22nd place.

All four of the FTR M210s remain in the top 15 of the World Championship with Iannone third, Talmacsi seventh, Debon 13th and Abraham in 15th place heading to Estoril and Valencia for the season finale.

“Another podium finish for the M210 is all we hoped for and we’ve gathered more data for next year and the M211 model,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “Phillip Island offered a unique challenge in terms of set-up and I’m pleased that the FTR chassis has again proved to be adaptable.

“It’s back to Europe and Estoril in two weeks and I’m sure all four of the permanent FTR riders will be keen to end the season on a high note and it would be great if we could get a fourth victory and end up winning around a quarter of the races.”

FTR Moto continued its run of podium finishes and point-scoring successes in the Moto2 World Championship as all of the FTR M210 finishers did so in top six places in Sunday’s 14th round at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia.

Andrea Iannone held off Toni Elias for the first half of yesterday's Moto2 contest

Three-time 2010 race winner Andrea Iannone took his sixth podium finish of the year as the FIMMCO Speed Up Team rider took third place after leading for eight of the 19 laps and twice setting a new lap record around the 3.44-mile circuit. Iannone’s points haul has left him just five points adrift of second place in the Championship.

Alex Debon, on the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210, bounced back from a crash in qualifying to celebrate his 150th Grand Prix race start. Debon came from 10th place on the 39-strong grid to take fifth and equal his second best finish of the year. The result moves the Spaniard into 11th place in the Championship.

Following on from a sensational podium finish in Japan last week, Czech Republic rider Karel Abraham was again in impressive form at Sepang as the Cardion AB Motoracing Team rider battled through the field to take sixth place on his M210, moving him into 13th place in the Championship.

Iannone’s FIMMCO Speed Up team mate Gabor Talmacsi was in 11th place and heading for a top 10 finish when he slid off without injury with five laps remaining, recording only his second non-finish of the year. Talmacsi sits in seventh place in the Championship with three races remaining – in Australia, Portugal and Spain.

“We made a big step forward with the M210 in Malaysia,” revealed FTR’s Steve Bones. “The results were very good but there was very little circuit data available and in the heat and humidity I’m pleased that the FTR chassis preserved the Dunlop tires and gave the riders the feeling they needed.”

Bones continued: “It’s really good to see the three FTR M210s in the top six and I’m sure Gabor Talmacsi could have been at least in the top 10 but for his small mistake. The chassis has certainly proven to be adaptable and user-friendly and – with Speed Up and FTR points combined – we’re only about 40 points off the lead of the Constructors’ Championship.

“I’d also like to congratulate Toni Elias and the Gresini Team for their 2010 success in clinching the inaugural Moto2 World Championship.”

FTR Moto is hoping to add to its 2010 success in the Moto2 World Championship at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia this weekend after Karel Abraham took third place at Motegi in Japan last Sunday to complete the achievement of all FTR M210 riders finishing on the podium in this year’s inaugural Championship.

Karel Abraham grabbed his first Moto2 podium last weekend at Motegi

Abraham’s third place came after a determined last lap by the Czech Republic rider on the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210, passing Alex de Angelis to record a career-best third place and a first visit to a World Championship podium.

The FTR run of podium finishes began immediately, in the opening round, when Alex Debon secured runner-up place on the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210 in Qatar. The run was then enhanced with a mid-season brace of victories – in Italy and Holland – for the FIMMCO Speed Up Team’s Andrea Iannone.

Iannone then added a third victory at Aragon three weeks ago and his team-mate and fellow FTR M210 rider Gabor Talmacsi secured his first podium finish with third place, also at Aragon.

“We’re naturally really happy with the performance of all of the FTR riders this year, especially in a new championship where the opposition was difficult to gauge in the beginning,” said FTR’s Steve Bones.

He continued: “We’ve developed the M210 throughout the year and we believe that the changes have ensured the machine has always improved in the same, positive direction and the results would seem to confirm that pattern.”

“There are four races left in the Championship and I’d like to think the run of podium finishes can continue – along with the consistent performance of the M210. We’ve also got all four riders inside the top 15 of the World Championship now and we’ll be doing everything possible to ensure they stay there.”

Iannone sits third in the Championship with Talmacsi sixth, Debon 12th and Abraham up to 15th place after his Motegi success.

FTR Moto hopes to build on its success at the Aragon round when its Moto2 riders take to the Motegi circuit in Japan for this weekend’s 13th round of the MotoGP World Championship.

Gabor Talmacsi and Andrea Ianonne celebrate in Spain with FIMMCO Speed Up team owner Luca Boscoscuro

FIMMCO Speed Up Team riders Andrea Iannone and Gabor Talmacsi were both on the podium in Aragon, Spain two weeks ago with the Italian, Iannone, securing a sensational victory, adding to his wins in Italy and Holland to sit in third place in the championship.

Talmacsi’s third place and first podium finish of the year was reward for the Hungarian rider’s consistency in the inaugural Moto2 World Championship – having finished all but one of the 12 races and having taken top 10 finishes on nine occasions. Talmacsi’s Aragon result also fired him into sixth place in the World Championship points standings.

Alex Debon will be hoping to improve on his 12th place in the World Championship aboard his Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210 after starting the 2010 campaign in fine style with a podium finish in Qatar but being plagued by injuries throughout much of the season.

Cardion AB Motoracing Team rider Karel Abraham goes into the next three back to back rounds – in Japan, Malaysia and Australia – looking to recapture the form on his M210 that took him to fourth and fifth place finishes in Catalunya and Germany respectively.

While its riders challenge for success in Motegi, FTR Moto’s engineers are currently preparing the 2011 version of their rolling chassis that has proved such a success in 2010. The current model already features recent improvements to the aluminum twin spar design, new triple clamps and an interim fuel tank and seat unit.

“We’re pretty conscious of just how quickly the FTR teams will want to be testing the M211 once the 2010 season is finished so we’re busy preparing for that right now,” said FTR director Steve Bones. “We’ve collected masses of data from 2010 and are able to target the general areas of improvement and those specific to our teams.

“The 2011 season is already looking promising and there’s definitely a buzz about Moto2 in other areas of the sport and it would appear that the class will become common in national championships worldwide in the near future.”

FTR Moto will field five M210 Moto2 machines in this weekend’s Motorland Aragon round of the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix. The four regular FTR–mounted riders – Alex Debon, Andrea Iannone, Gabor Talmacsi and Karel Abraham – will be joined at Aragon by wild card entrant, CEV Buckler Spanish Championship Moto2 rider Kev Coghlan on the Monlau Competicion/Joe Darcey Team FTR machine.

“It’s the third time this year that we’ve been able to field five machines and after the last wild card outing of Jason DiSalvo at Indianapolis and his ninth place finish we’re hopeful of a strong showing from Kev and the team at Aragon,” said FTR’s Steve Bones.

Coghlan is second in the Spanish Moto2 Championship, just seven points off the lead, and is relishing the chance to tackle the World Championship competition and on a circuit where he won round four of the CEV Buckler Spanish series in July.

“I had a good run at Aragon two months ago and managed to lead the race from start to finish so I’m keen to get back there,” said Coghlan. “We run Michelins in the Spanish Championship and the World Championship is on Dunlops so we’ve a bit of work to do on set-up; but the guys can handle that OK.”

FIMMCO Speed Up's Andrea Ianonne

Andrea Iannone will be hoping this weekend’s 12th round of the World Championship can complete a hat-trick of wins in the new class, adding to his victories at Mugello, Italy and Assen, Holland in June.

Iannone is fourth in the World Championship, just nine points adrift of second place, while his FIMMCO Speed Up teammate Gabor Talmacsi sits in eighth place after a consistent campaign and just one non-finish on his M210.

Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 rider Karel Abraham will be aiming to make up for the disappointment of missing the last two rounds while Spaniard Alex Debon and his Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team will be hoping for success on home soil after also missing the previous round at Misano due to injury.

Bones continued: “In addition to this being the 12th round of 17, there’s also a lot of focus now on 2011, and teams are well under way with their planning. We have a lot of interest from teams for 2011, and hopefully that will be complemented and endorsed by success in Sunday’s Aragon race.

“For Aragon – with a view to the final third of the 2010 World Championship – we have improvements to the M210 with a revised frame, new triple clamps and an interim fuel tank and seat unit all being supplied and tested and available to all of the FTR teams.”