Marc VDS Racing’s Tito Rabat2014 Circuit of the Americas Qualifying ResultsThe winner of 2014 Moto2 Championship’s opening round at Qatar’s Losail, Marc VDS Racing’s Tito Rabat, secured the pole at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas.
The Spaniard, who won at COTA last season, posted a 2:10.135 around the 3.426-mile circuit containing 20 corners. Joining him on the front row will be Johann Zarco (AirAsia Caterham Moto Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (Technomag carXpert).Rabat outpaced Zarco by 0.266 of a second for the top spot on his Kalex machine, but Zarco’s Caterham team will also be pleased to be on the front row at just their second Grand Prix.Aegerter was 0.287 of a secondoff pole to secure his first ever front row start. Just behind the Swiss rider on the grid is Belgium’s Xavier Simeon (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) who heads a second row which also features Spanish duo Julian Simon (Italtrans Racing Team) and Maverick Viñales (Pons HP 40)German Moto2 rookie Jonas Folger (AGR Team) qualified seventh, ahead of Italian Simone Corsi (NGM Forward Racing) and Japan’s Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) on row three.Another German Marcel Schrotter (Tech 3) rounded out the top ten and therefore heads the fourth line of the Austin grid.There were crashes for Sandro Cortese (Dynavolt Intact GP), Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2) and Axel Pons (AGR Team) but all escaped unharmed, a relief for Cortese after a big accident on Friday and the heavy crash he suffered in Qatar.As for the solo American on the grid, Caterham Racing’s Josh Herring 27th, 2.495 of a second off Rabat’s time.The Moto2 race at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas takes place at 1:20 p.m. ET Sunday.
Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark + Chip Doherty with Neale Bayly
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
The Motos & Friends Podcast is brought to you by the Yamaha YZF-R7. The R7 is a brilliant supersport machine that is also comfortable. Now there’s an idea! Check it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or you can see it for yourself at your local Yamaha dealer.
This Podcast is also brought to you by the new Schuberth C5 modular helmet. The flip-up C5 is light and it blends safety with amazing quietness. Visit Schuberth.com for more information.
This week, in the first segment Senior Editor Nic de Sena talks to us about the new Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark. This somewhat entry-level machine still comes with all the great Ducati hallmarks of excellent low down torque and impeccable handling. If you like to hear about fun motorcycles, then you’ll enjoy this one.
In the second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly brings us another of his interviews, this time it’s with Chip Doherty.
Chip’s amazing resume includes motorcycle racer, restorer and collector. Back in the early 2000s he used his engineering background to start motorcycle clothing manufacturer Motophoria.
After selling that company in 2007, Chip’s resume gained him entry to NASA where for 7 years he was responsible for launching the space shuttle! Since moving on from NASA, Chip expanded his collection of classic British bikes. Eventually Neale persuaded him to ride to Peru and help Neale’s Wellspring Foundation raise money for the orphanage there.
So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!
Neale Bayly’s Wellspring Foundation always appreciates donations. Just $5 will help feed an orphan.