Submitted by David Emmett on
Thomas Luthi put in a fast lap at the end of the first session of practice to top the Moto2 timesheets on Friday morning. The Interwetten Paddock rider nipped ahead Marc Marquez in the final minutes of FP1 to set the fastest time. Simone Corsi finished the practice in 2nd, after occupying top spot for a portion of the session and swapping places with Marc Marquez, who ended in 3rd. The two Marc VDS Racing men took 4th and 5th, Scott Redding just a fraction faster than his teammate Mika Kallio.
Results:
| Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Diff Previous |
| 1 | 12 | Thomas LUTHI | SUTER | 1'38.303 | ||
| 2 | 3 | Simone CORSI | FTR | 1'38.458 | 0.155 | 0.155 |
| 3 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | SUTER | 1'38.727 | 0.424 | 0.269 |
| 4 | 45 | Scott REDDING | KALEX | 1'38.788 | 0.485 | 0.061 |
| 5 | 36 | Mika KALLIO | KALEX | 1'38.880 | 0.577 | 0.092 |
| 6 | 29 | Andrea IANNONE | SPEED UP | 1'39.063 | 0.760 | 0.183 |
| 7 | 40 | Pol ESPARGARO | KALEX | 1'39.123 | 0.820 | 0.060 |
| 8 | 77 | Dominique AEGERTER | SUTER | 1'39.162 | 0.859 | 0.039 |
| 9 | 71 | Claudio CORTI | KALEX | 1'39.191 | 0.888 | 0.029 |
| 10 | 80 | Esteve RABAT | KALEX | 1'39.308 | 1.005 | 0.117 |
| 11 | 4 | Randy KRUMMENACHER | KALEX | 1'39.318 | 1.015 | 0.010 |
| 12 | 15 | Alex DE ANGELIS | SUTER | 1'39.427 | 1.124 | 0.109 |
| 13 | 60 | Julian SIMON | SUTER | 1'39.442 | 1.139 | 0.015 |
| 14 | 95 | Anthony WEST | MORIWAKI | 1'39.560 | 1.257 | 0.118 |
| 15 | 63 | Mike DI MEGLIO | SPEED UP | 1'39.578 | 1.275 | 0.018 |
| 16 | 5 | Johann ZARCO | MOTOBI | 1'39.661 | 1.358 | 0.083 |
| 17 | 18 | Nicolas TEROL | SUTER | 1'39.687 | 1.384 | 0.026 |
| 18 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | KALEX | 1'39.688 | 1.385 | 0.001 |
| 19 | 24 | Toni ELIAS | SUTER | 1'39.808 | 1.505 | 0.120 |
| 20 | 19 | Xavier SIMEON | TECH 3 | 1'39.874 | 1.571 | 0.066 |
| 21 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | TECH 3 | 1'39.885 | 1.582 | 0.011 |
| 22 | 76 | Max NEUKIRCHNER | KALEX | 1'40.041 | 1.738 | 0.156 |
| 23 | 88 | Ricard CARDUS | AJR | 1'40.294 | 1.991 | 0.253 |
| 24 | 49 | Axel PONS | KALEX | 1'40.329 | 2.026 | 0.035 |
| 25 | 44 | Roberto ROLFO | SUTER | 1'40.335 | 2.032 | 0.006 |
| 26 | 47 | Angel RODRIGUEZ | BIMOTA | 1'40.420 | 2.117 | 0.085 |
| 27 | 14 | Ratthapark WILAIROT | SUTER | 1'41.268 | 2.965 | 0.848 |
| 28 | 7 | Alexander LUNDH | MZ-RE HONDA | 1'41.404 | 3.101 | 0.136 |
| 29 | 8 | Gino REA | SUTER | 1'41.678 | 3.375 | 0.274 |
| 30 | 72 | Yuki TAKAHASHI | SUTER | 1'42.733 | 4.430 | 1.055 |
| 31 | 10 | Marco COLANDREA | FTR | 1'44.034 | 5.731 | 1.301 |
| 32 | 82 | Elena ROSELL | MORIWAKI | 1'44.639 | 6.336 | 0.605 |
2012
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Comments
Tech 3
Already a pattern seems to be emerging and unless there is a number of wet or damp races it seems the 2012 champion will be from the current top 6 riders. Shame to see Tech 3 down in midfield, hardly an auspicious start to the season and if Bradley hopes to make it to the MotoGp grid next year he's going to have to do rather better than his current form or there will be pressure to keep him down a class for another year.
Even though his teamate is in a similar position, that's not a good enough excuse for a potential MotoGP rider.
Stoner's retirement of course throws out some interesting scenarios for 2013, but let's not get carried away.
To be fair...
Tech3 only has two bikes on the grid to gather data and drive development. Besides, I always get the feeling that Tech3's Moto2 chassis and parts are primarily designed and created in the back of Guy Coulon's garage. (Contrast this to Kalex, Suter, and FTR).
Tech 3
True enough, but I can't see them entering just to make up the numbers and as a quasi-factory Yamaha MotoGP team they will have access to a lot of factory input.
Yamaha may not be entered in Moto2 but I bet they will be giving some technical support.
Tech3
I've always assumed that Smith would be on a Tech3 CRT bike next year with a Yam engine, so the team would effectively run on the same model as Gresini with a prototype and CRT entry. My view has always been that the CRT'ing of MotoGP (exactly what Stoner is shying away from) is there to open it up competitively to those riders coming up from Moto2, because as things stand you've got to be a wunderkind to make the leap successfully.