Moto2 Opener
The 2010 season-opener marks the debut of the Moto2 class, which replaces the 250cc World Championship. The class’s glorious 61-year history came to a fitting end last year when Hiroshi Aoyama won the final title for Honda. That gave the marque an even 20 crowns, most in class.
The Moto2 machines bring a new concept to world championship racing. The chassis and suspension specs are wide open, and a fierce competition has emerged among chassis builders, but there will be no variation in the engine or tyres: The 40-strong field will be powered by control Honda CBR600RR engines and run on control Dunlop tyres.
Tom Lüthi (interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 Team) says: "I don’t know what is waiting for me in Qatar. We didn’t have the possibility to test the new Moto2 bike at a night test in the desert, therefore I can´t say how I will be able to handle the conditions there."
"I know that the Top 10 were very close in the last tests and I was only missing half a second to the Top. That´s not a bad start I would say. I really hope that we can stay with the Top in the race and finish it at least with a Top 5 result."
Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda PTT Singha-SAG / Bimota) says: "After finishing the pre-season tests at Jerez I went back to Thailand to attend the Bangkok Motorshow, a very important date for Honda Thailand. We have the new sponsor Singha to accompany us you during our journey throughout this season in the Moto2 world. I took this opportunity to be close my family before the Qatar Grand Prix."
"My family and my friends give me serenity and motivation to tackle this year as it is announced very competitive. I hope that Qatar is a Grand Prix in which the equipment and I myself obtain permanent basis to work with the Bimota HB4 and that in the race we can fight for the prestigious positions in the classification. "
Bernat MartÃnez (Maquinza-SAG Team / Bimota) says: "I have really wanted to go to Qatar to reach my dream. I’ve been working hard to make the leap to the world championship and after much effort I achieved this. I do not know the Losail circuit but I have been studying the circuit using the Play Station and other peripherals to go knowing the path."
"Also, nobody has been in the circuit with a Moto2, so let’s start all from scratch without references. We follow the line of work to evolve step by step, every movement is done well to the optimal configuration of the Bimota. We have hard work ahead in Losail, the team has good chemistry from the first moment and I feel very good on the bike. I look forward to the Grand Prix and some successful product our good work."