Remy Gardner’s Moto2 switch to a Kalex chassis, and the new Triumph engine.
Last year the son of Australia’s first 500-class champion Wayne rode the Honda-powered Tech 3 Mistral chassis, and was able to shine spasmodically, at maximum risk and mainly in the wet.
This year, on the ONEXOX SAG Kalex, he has been a top candidate in testing, and remained so in practice and qualifying, placing third on combined session times.
Asked on the difference between riding last year’s bike and this, he said laconically: “It’s easier, that’s for sure.”
In line with the general impressions, he appreciates the benefits of the more powerful and race-ready second-generation Moto2.
Remy Gardner, Moto2, Qatar MotoGP 2019
The most obvious difference is that the bikes no longer run into all the corners sliding sideways.
“That’s mainly to do with the electronics, with the throttle blipper,” he said.
But overall the bike offered more alternatives in all areas.
“The old bike was really just one-line, with high corner speed. With this you can ride it in different ways – square the corner off, or run a smooth line.
“There’s definitely more rider input.”
Along with the established stars like Binder, Marini and Lowes, Gardner is widely tipped as a potential race winner and even title candidate.
Remy Gardner, Moto2 test, Feb, Jerez 2019
Qualifying at Qatar
After 157 races, Marcel Schrotter claimed his first pole position and the first in the new Triumph Moto2 era, almost 1.5-tenths clear of a batch of ultra-close times, the top 15 all within the same second.
The session was almost a Kalex whitewash, with the German chassis taking nine of the top ten slots – the only exception being Brad Binder’s Red Bull KTM in eighth.
Schrotter (Dynavolt Kalex) will be joined on the front row by Xavi Vierge (EG-VDS Kalex) and Pons HP40 rider Lorenzo Baldassarri.
Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Kalex) came through from Q1 and considered himself lucky to be leading row two on an earlier time in the session, after crashing on his second run.
Remy Gardner continued his strong run, placed seventh on his ONEXOX SAG bike; with Sam Lowes (Gresini Kalex) surviving a dramatic lap on an increasingly slippery cold and windy track to place sixth.
Former title runner up Tom Luthi (Dynavolt Kalex), back from a fruitless MotoGP year and a heavy crash yesterday, heads row three from Binder and Alex Marquez (EG-VDS Kalex), with Augusto Fernandez (HP40 Kalex) completing the top ten.
Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM) crashed early in the session but stayed 11th, best of the crop of fast rookies, with Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Kalex) 13th, Niccolo Bulega (SKY VR46 Kalex) 15th, but Fabio Di Giannantonio (+Ego Speed Up) missing out on a chance in Q2, after his fourth-fastest time in Q1 was disallowed for exceeding track limits.
By Michael Scott
Photos GnG