KTM debuts at Moto3 Valencia test

Héctor Faubel (Aspar Team) took to the controls of the KTM engine powered Kalex for the first time on Wednesday, the bike will ride next year in the new Moto3 category. The Valencian rider was only able to complete about 10 laps on the first of the two-day private Moto3 test that began yesterday in Valencia.

The first day of testing at the Valencia circuit was filled with more activity in the team pit boxes than on the track itself, as both the Aspar Team and the RW Racing GP Team needed several hours to assemble the machines that arrived directly from the factory. Neither Alberto Moncayo, who signed with the Aspar Team on Tuesday, nor Luis Salom of the RW Racing GP Team made it onto the pavement, though KTM test rider Joan Olivé was able to join Faubel on track.

Following his first contact with the Kalex-KTM, Faubel said: "The first impression is that the bike goes quite well, it moves pretty good for a new bike and the engine is very different, it’s flatter and the power band is lower than the two-strokes. Now we have a lot of work to do because this bike is like a baby and needs to evolve."

"I made a few laps, maybe ten, because they had to assemble and prepare the bike first, but I know the four-strokes and everything felt fine. It’s early to say anything more about the bike," continued Faubel. "Tomorrow I expect we will work on the carburetion and fuel injection, which is different from the two-strokes, and we will work a bit with the chassis, since we put the bike on the track as it came from the factory."

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Resource: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/kalex+ktm+debut+in+valencia+circuit

Roberto Rolfo returns to Moto2

An official agreement between the Technomag-CIP team and Roberto Rolfo was signed on Tuesday, contracting the two to spend the next season together. The Italian teams up with Dominique Aegerter in his return to the Moto2 class after spending a year in World Superbike.

The team will again be fielding a Suter as they have in the past two seasons, which Rolfo helped the chassis builder develop in 2009. The experienced rider also won the Sepang GP and took a podium at Sachsenring aboard the Suter in 2010 when he was riding for the Italtrans Racing Team.

The rider from Turin is pleased to return to the World Championship with this new project:

"In 2010 we disputed the final race in Valencia Moto2 and then…things were left unfinished," said Rolfo, referring to his partnership with the Italian team that was not carried over into the 2011 season. "But you can’t leave things halfway; you fight to carry them out. And so I’m returning to Moto2 in 2012 with Technomag-CIP, a team led by Alain Bronec. I’m very happy because the team operates at a high level and has shown great professionalism over the years, working with very fast riders."

"I'm happy to be back riding a 600. It’s a motorcycle that I love and I really enjoy the high corner speeds with the bike!" continued the 31-year-old, who is currently recovering from a leg injury. "I'm getting better, my knee rehabilitation has been going well and I’m looking forward to getting back on a bike. In early December, the team will meet to plan the winter work program and work on getting set for the first race of a season that is very important to me."

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Max Biaggi interview at EICMA - 2012 Season

The presence of the SBK Paddock Show at EICMA was a great opportunity for the public to get up close with many of the top WSB riders. One of the biggest draws was clearly the 2010 world champion, Max Biaggi. The ‘Roman Emperor' arrived on Saturday afternoon for the ritual photograph and autograph sessions, after which WorldSBK.com interviewed him backstage about the past year and the prospects for the 2012 season.

You're here at EICMA once again, this time at the World Superbike stand. What do you think of the show?

"EICMA is the biggest and best bike show in Europe. Every year there are always a lot of new bikes and it's just great to be here. I'm sure this negative period for the bike market will come to an end and things will start to improve again in the motorcycle industry."

The 2011 season wasn't particularly easy. You were injured at the Nürburgring, then you came back at Portimão with two strong races despite only starting in 17th slot. Are you glad you can get back on the bike again at the end of the month at the Algarve circuit?

"I finished third overall, with a bit of bad luck and after missing three rounds. For sure I wanted to do better but luck wasn't in my zodiac sign this year. But I'm back in shape, that's the important thing, I don't need to recover any more because I'm already at 100%. Now I can start to work on myself and see where I can improve, and hope that the bike will make further progress so I can get a good start next year in Australia. I aim to get the number 1 plate back again but we'll have to see what the other riders think about that. We'll only have an idea of the 2012 season once the first race gets underway."

Let's move on to Eugene Laverty. Another rider from over the Channel, as in the last two seasons but someone who scored some good results in his first season. Do you think that competition within the same team can help in giving you further motivation?

"My team is already tried and tested and Biaggi and his staff are all ready to go. Laverty will have a team all for himself who will as a result work for him alone. The only positive thing I can see is that it will be a good stimulus for me should I find myself in difficulty, in that case it'll motivate me even more to try and stay ahead."

 

Resources:

http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/5-news/9481-biaggi-backstage-at-eicma.html

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