You might recall that, a couple of weeks ago, I flagged a private test for Aussie rider, Damian Cudlin, with the Sito Pons-run Moto2 team. Damian was chuffed to get the call, but less than happy with the fact that he finished 17th on the time sheets when the Moto2 test day took place immediately after the Grand Prix weekend. I don’t know what he was worried about, actually, as 17th in that field is pretty damn good, especially if you’ve never ridden one before. But, like most top riders, Damian is a perfectionist and would have been much happier had he figured somewhere up in the top 10.
Well, he needn’t have worried. Word through this morning that he has been hired by the Kalex/Pos Team to replace Axel Pons who is out injured. And he seems to be doing a pretty fine job, being 13th after FP1 on Friday, only .6 behind Simone Corsi who set the fastest time.
Unfortunately, the other Aussie due to make his Moto2 debut, Andrew Pitt, will have to wait for the next meeting as crash damage to the team’s bikes (including Nicola Canepa’s “crash and burn” at Catalunya) has left the team without either time enough or parts enough to build two bikes.
In FP1 yesterday Rossi showed he will be a force, finishing 7th, behind the usual pace-setters, Pedrosa and Stoner.
Direct telecast of the German GP tomorrow night on OneHD from 1845, and, yes, I DID double check the times this time. 🙂
Saturday Practice Times:
1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 22.253s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 22.393s
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 22.686s
4. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 1m 22.753s
5. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1m 22.859s
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 22.988s
7. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 23.062s
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 23.202s
9. Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar 1m 23.262s
10. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 23.392s
11. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 23.395s
12. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1m 23.674s
13. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 23.703s
14. Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing 1m 23.709s
15. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 23.751s
16. Alex de Angelis RSM Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1m 23.839s
17. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 23.844s