Scott Redding sets pace in Valencia Moto2 test

Bitterly cold temperatures didn’t prevent British rider Scott Redding from making a brilliant start to 2012 in Valencia yesterday when he topped the timesheets on the opening day of Moto2 testing.

A quickest lap of 1.36.5 on the Kalex chassis in his 53-lap run was 0.5s faster than Spaniard Pol Espargaro in second place.

Claudio Corti was third fastest, Max Neukirchner fourth and Esteve Rabat fifth as the German-built Kalex frame dominated the opening day of winter testing.

Swiss rider Thomas Luthi was the fastest rider not using a Kalex in sixth. He powered his Suter chassis to a best time 1.37.9.

Former Moto2 world champion Toni Elias was only 11th on his return to the class he dominated in 2010. The Spaniard set a best time of 1.38.3.

Bradley Smith clocked a best time of 1.38.8 on the new Tech 3 Racing machine to end 14th, while Moriwaki Gresini rider Gino Rea didn’t complete a single lap.

Redding told MCN: “It was very cold out there and not the conditions to be really pushing. I just wanted to build up some speed and I am really happy with how it has gone. We didn’t really change too much on the bike because we have a pretty good setting from the Jerez test in November where I was fastest.

“The only change on the bike is a higher screen to try and give me some more protection on the straight. We can get a bit of head shaking because I’m taller but I prefer this new one.”

Smith said: “It was a pretty good day but it felt strange to be on the bike and I felt really rusty for the first 20-laps. I didn’t take any risks and kept it pretty simple so I could get a feel for the new bike.

“Valencia is just a shakedown test for us and our real test will be in Jerez because we got some data there at the end of last year and we can make a good comparison.”

Rea told MCN: “We didn’t get any laps in because of a problem with the engine and that is disappointing because with the new bike we could really have done with some testing.”