QATAR THE STAGE OF PONS AND BULEGA’S DEBUT WITH TEAM FEDERAL OIL GRESINI
The 2020 season opener is around the corner and Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2is in Qatar ready for the first battle. This year, the race will be contested in daylight conditions (the start is set on Sunday 8that 14:20 local time), with the recently concluded test that took place with a similar timetable with the racing weekend ahead.
Both Nicolò Bulega and Edgar Pons have enjoyed a successful test. The Italian finished with the eighth-fastest lap-time in the combined three-day timesheet (1’59.062secs) while his Spanish teammate was only three tenths away in 14thposition.
Bulega mainly worked on the race set-up and with used tyres (more than 100 laps completed), which is something he can continue working in free practice from Friday onwards. Pons, on the other hand, managed to solve the arm issues he experienced in Jerez and also managed to enjoy a circuit which is not exactly among his favourites.
Friday 6 March will mark the beginning of the new season, in a GP which will see – as by recent news – the absence of the premier class.
8thNICOLÒ BULEGA #11 – 1’59.062
“The test went quite well. I must say that there’s still something time-wise to improve on the quick-lap with fresh tyres as well as with the race pace and used tyres. The atmosphere within the team is excellent and we know what we need to do in order to find those tenths we’re still missing in race configuration. I like the Qatari track, so we need to make the most of free practice to improve our rhythm.
14thEDGAR PONS #57 – 1’59.346
“I must admit that this is a track I really struggle to like fully – it’s smooth and fast and these are surely two things that don’t go well with my riding style. Having said that, we’re improving at every outing: we finished the three-day test only six tenths away from second place, and this is very little gap on a two-minute lap. The goal is to be in the top-15, but as close as I can be to the top-ten. The test went well, and we still have Friday and Saturday to improve further. I’m also fully fit again as the arm issues in Jerez de la Frontera are gone. Obviously I can look at the work done and the race pace recorded with great confidence.”
