Shoya Tomizawa springs Moto2 surprise

It might be difficult to gauge the performance potential of anybody in the new Moto2 class until the arrival of Honda’s spec CBR600RR engine, but Japan’s Shoya Tomizawa was the surprise pacesetter in Catalunya yesterday.

At present, there is a wide variety of engines being used by teams getting vital developments miles on their chassis.

Some are using standing CBR600 engines while some are using former World Supersport motors.

Tomizawa, who finished 17th overall in the 2009 250GP series, led the way in ideal conditions at the Catalunya circuit yesterday with a best time of 1.49.4. That put him 0.2s clear of French rider Jules Cluzel.

Best of the top names involved in the inaugural Moto2 series, which replaces the 250cc two-stroke series, was reigning 125GP world champion Julian Simon.

He clocked the fourth best time to finish on the same time of 1.49.8 with Japan’s Yuki Takahashi, who again impressed on the Tech 3 machine.

With the official Honda engine not available until the first official Moto2 test in Valencia between March 1 and 3, none of the leading contenders are testing in Barcelona, including pre-season favourites Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis.

Times

Shoya Tomizawa Technomag-CIP – 1.49.4
Jules Cluzel Forward Racing – 1.49.6
Yonni Hernández Blusens STX – 1.49.6
Julian Simon  Mapfre Aspar Team – 1.49.8
Yuki Takahashi Tech 3 – 1.49.8
Kenny Noyes Jack&Jones by A. Banderas -1.49.9
Roberto Rolfo  Italtrans STR – 1.50.0
Claudio Corti Forward Racing – 1.50.1
Alex Baldolini Caretta Technology – 1.50.3
Dominique Aegerter  Technomag-CIP – 1.50.7
Mike di Meglio  Mapfre Aspar Team – 1.51.0
Sergio Gadea Pons Racing – 1.51.0
Mashel Al Naimi Blusens STX – 1.51.2
Fonsi Nieto G22 HolidayGym – 1.51.2
Scott Redding Marc VDS Racing Team – 1.51.2
Axel Pons Pons Racing – 1.51.4
Raffaele De Rosa Tech 3 – 1.51.5
Thomas Luthi Interwetten Moriwaki Racing – 1.51.8
Robertino Pietri Italtrans STR – 1.51.9
Joan Olivé  Jack&Jones by A. Banderas – 1.51.9
Stefan Bradl  Viessmann Kiefer Racing – 1.52.0
Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing – 1.52.8
Vladimir Leonov  Vector Kiefer Racing – 1.52.9
Yannick Guerra G22 HolidayGym – 1.53.6