Motourage

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.”

With the initial Moto2 World Championship almost concluded – with just two of the
17 rounds remaining – FTR Moto’s Steve Bones reflects on the first year of the new category.

Q. In early 2009, the Moto2 class was discussed by the Grand Prix Commission and the decision was made to introduce the new category in 2010. Has it evolved in the manner you expected?

A. Not really. No. The initial belief was that the class would be combined with 250cc two-stroke machines from 2010 and that the engine regulation would be 600cc but open to any manufacturer. So, the eventual grid for the opening round in Qatar in April this year was 100 per cent four-strokes and all Honda engines. But it’s all worked out, been positive and for the good of the class. I think the Moto2 class has captured the imagination of everybody – even if it is a bit daunting sometimes watching 40 machines hurtling into the first corner.

Q. From FTR’s business and marketing viewpoint, has the 2010 Championship been a success?

A. Yes, definitely. As a brand, we were unknown a year ago, and now I’d like to think that plenty of people know the FTR Moto name and, hopefully, are complimentary towards our work. We set out with no real ambition other than to be on the grid for the 2010 Championship.

Q. With all four of your permanent riders achieving podium finishes in 2010, could the season have been any better?

A. For a very first year of World Championship competition, I’m pretty sure we would have said a big “yes” to the results we’ve had if they had been offered to us back in March. But then Alex Debon got second place on the FTR M210 in Qatar – the very first race of the new Championship – so our ambitions changed with that. Once we knew we could be competitive and we’d had that taste of success, we began wanting it every race, almost demanding it. So when

Karel Abraham's third place in Motegi ensured podium finishes for all four FTR riders.

completed the quartet of FTR riders on the podium with a great third place in Japan, it simply became another tick in a box. And I’d like to recognize the one-off wild card appearances of Kev Coghlan at Aragon and Jason DiSalvo in Indianapolis; their displays are a good gauge of the capabilities of the M210.

Q. Obviously, Andrea Iannone can still get runner-up place in the World Championship. Is that what you expected in 2010 or is it better than expected?

A. I suppose it is better than what we expected, but we’ve also learned an important lesson this year in our own education about racing and recognizing that the team and its technical personnel are crucial, and we’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best technical teams of the 2010 Championship.

Q. During 2010 you’ve developed the M210, was that in response to one specific team or to the general feeling from all of the FTR M210 riders?

A. Yes. We’ve listened to all of the teams, riders and technicians throughout 2010 and it’s really important, imperative, to have that feedback and information, not just in motorcycle racing but in any technological arena. We revised the frame, introduced an improved version of our triple clamps and improved the fuel tank and seat, all based on that feedback.”

Q. The original FTR prototype, raced in Spain at the end of last year, featured a stemless steering arrangement, that doesn’t seem to have been adopted by the 2010 teams, will it be seen again?

A. Yes, without a doubt. The problem was the lateness in which many teams confirmed their plans for 2010 and, as a result, testing time pre-season was limited, and the teams were keen to continue with a steering arrangement that they knew, so we reverted to their proven option.

Q. How do you generally think Moto2 machinery has been received?

A. Overall, the new machinery has proven very popular. In addition to the World Championship we’re racing in the Spanish Championship and that has 25-30 riders, we ran at the Isle of Man TT and the fans loved the noise of the machine and simply watching a pure racing machine. We’ve had discussions about national championships in a lot of countries and there’s plenty or interest in our retro machines based on Moto2.

Q. What are the next steps for FTR Moto and Moto2?

A. We’re already under way with a new aerodynamics package and further changes to the frame, swing arm and steering in readiness for the 2011 World Championship and in response to demand for the M211 machine. We’ve had plenty of inquiries about the 2011 machine, and we’re now in the final stages of concluding agreements for World and Spanish activities.

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 goes in search of a tenth podium finish of the year in Sunday’s 15th round of the Moto2 World Championship at the Phillip Island Circuit in Australia.

The firm’s M210 machine has taken three wins in 2010, and its leading rider of the four permanent FTR entries, Andrea Iannone, is just five points behind Spanish rider Julian Simon in the battle for second place in the inaugural World Championship.

Andrea Iannone is five points behind Julian Simon in the battle for second place in Moto2

Iannone, on the FIMMCO Speed Up Team’s M210, took third place in last Sunday’s Malaysian round and with three rounds remaining will be looking to add to his hat-trick of race wins and secure the World Championship runner-up position.

Iannone’s FIMMCO Speed Up team-mate Gabor Talmacsi currently sits in seventh place in the Championship and the Hungarian is looking to improve on a season-best third place in the Aragon round four weeks ago.

Alex Debon returned to form in Malaysia on the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210 with fifth place – the kind of form which took the determined Spaniard to a podium finish with second place in the opening round in Qatar in April.

After a career-best finish of third in Japan two weeks ago, Karel Abraham fought through to a solid sixth place in Malaysia last Sunday and will be hoping to continue that form at Phillip Island. Abraham, on the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210, also qualified in seventh place in Malaysia – another career-best performance from the Czech Republic rider.

“We’ve achieved a lot more than we expected in out debut year,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “But the successes from our four regular riders and their respective teams have just left us wanting more and more success.

“Work on the 2011 machine is well under way but we’re still learning about the challenges each circuit offers and Phillip Island is certainly unique with its coastal position and changing temperatures and weather conditions. This weekend offers a fascinating insight once more into the performance of the M210 on a new circuit.”

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 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.”

FTR Moto is looking to add to its tally of podium finishes this year in this weekend’s 11th round of the Moto2 World Championship at the Misano circuit near Rimini on Italy’s Adriatic coast.

FTR is also hoping to add to the two race victories with its M210 and also to complement the 13 top six finishes so far in 2010 as a reduced line-up of three M210 riders embark on the San Marino round at Misano.

The Fimmco Speed Up Team’s Andrea Iannone and Gabor Talmacsi are joined by Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 rider Karel Abraham but Spaniard Alex Debon, of the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team, will be missing after further injuring the shoulder he broke at Assen two months ago when Ukrainian Vladimir Ivanov took him out of last Sunday’s Indianapolis round.

Gabor Talmacsi

Talmacsi’s consistent point-scoring is matched only by series leader Toni Elias with Hungarian Talmacsi finishing in the top 10 in seven of the 10 races so far and having just one non finish, at Silverstone.

His team-mate Iannone – with six Grand Prix wins to his name – arrives from Indianapolis in confident mood after setting the fastest time in last Sunday’s American race, finishing fourth and knowing that only a qualifying crash robbed him of a potential third win of the year on the Fimmco Speed Up M210.

The concussion suffered in a crash at his home Czech Republic Grand Prix last month was sufficient to rule Karel Abraham out of the Indianapolis race last Sunday but the Cardion AB Motoracing Team rider is expected to return to action at Misano.

FTR’s Steve Bones continued: “I’m disappointed for Alex Debon as the crash last week and the one in Assen were not his fault. Hopefully he will be fit for the Aragon round in Spain in two weeks. The Speed Up guys have done a good job this year and last weekend put in a really impressive display.

“Andrea Iannone qualified on the front row for the 125cc race at Misano last year so we’d expect him to be on the pace and Gabor Talmacsi’s efforts so far this year deserve a podium finish which he will surely get very soon. We’re pleased Karel Abraham is feeling a lot better and hopefully able to go into Friday’s free practice at Misano in the kind of mood that brought him fourth place at Catalunya.”

FTR Moto will field a record five riders on its M210 machines in next week’s Indianapolis, USA round of the Moto2 World Championship as American Jason DiSalvo has been awarded a wild card entry and will race the FTR machine owned by the Canadian FOGI Racing Team operation.

DiSalvo, 26, will join the FTR regulars of the FIMMCO Speed Up Team’s Andrea Iannone and Gabor Talmacsi, Karel Abraham on the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 and Spain’s Alex Debon and his Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team FTR machine.

Jason DiSalvo quit the Parkingo Triumph World Supersport team earlier this year citing lack of motorcycle performance

Former American Superbike and World Supersport rider DiSalvo becomes the ninth rider this year to race one of the FTR M210 machines and is the second World Championship wild card rider with an FTR after Kev Coghlan rode the same FOGI Racing M210 at Silverstone, GB two months ago.

The DiSalvo Indianapolis entry will be run by the GPtech Team of former American racer Geoff Maloney. AMA Pro Racing technical director Al Ludington is on vacation from his duties to serve as DiSalvo’s crew chief.

“It’s great that we’ve got a wild card rider in his home Grand Prix again and Jason has tremendous experience so could provide a formidable challenge,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “Geoff Maloney has called on a lot of existing FTR experience and personnel including the machine from Angus Borland of FOGI and the technicians from the Monlau Competicion Team who contest the CEV Spanish Championship. The guys have been testing in America this week and everything seems to be on schedule for Jason and the M210 to be competitive come next weekend.”

FTR Moto is looking to build on an excellent start to the inaugural Moto2 World Championship by increasing its efforts and challenging for more race wins.

FIMMCO Speed Up Moto2 rider Andrea Iannone

With eight races gone and nine to go, the four FTR M210 machines sit in third, ninth, 12th and 14th places in the World Championship standings with an incredible 33 riders having already scored points. FTR’s innovative machine has taken two wins and four podium finishes so far.

“Considering nobody really knew how the series was going to evolve – apart from being ultra competitive – we’re more than happy with our return to this point of the season,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “With Andrea Iannone third in the Championship he obviously looks a good bet to challenge for the first ever Moto2 World title.”

Iannone rides the FIMMCO Speed Up Team’s FTR, along with Gabor Talmacsi, while Spaniard Alex Debon – runner-up in the Qatar opener – pilots the Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team – with Czech Republic rider Karel Abraham on the Cardion AB Motoracing Team FTR machine.

Bones continued: “Talmacsi continues to show signs that he could win races. He’s had five out of eight finishes in the top 10, had an 11th and a 13th and the one non-finish so the consistency and quality is evident. Debon began the year in sensational fashion but has been really unfortunate.

“A small broken wire prevented him from qualifying on the front row in Jerez then he got tangled up in the multi-machine crash at the start of the race. He suffered a bad shoulder injury in the freak crash at Assen and has become frustrated so he will benefit from the four-week break more than most.

“In Abraham we have a rider who switched to our machine after three rounds and his last three results – of ninth, fourth and fifth respectively – suggest he could be on the brink of a first podium finish.”

The break in the Championship since the German race on July 18 has given FTR a chance to further develop the M210 in readiness for the second half of the year.

Bones concluded: “The feedback from our riders has been first class and we’re confident the changes we’re working on will further enhance the possibilities of more race wins and podiums – hopefully beginning with the next race at Brno a week on Sunday.”