Mercurial weather asked questions of the riders in the opening round of the FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship
Qualifying for the much-anticipated FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship got underway at the Motor Valley and Emilia-Romagna round under ominous skies. Threatening to burst throughout, the clouds at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli finally broke as the morning’s practice sessions drew to an end, although the sun did manage to shine sporadically during proceedings on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
As the only rider to break into the 1:41s, Jesus Rios (MRE Talent) claimed pole position in the FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship on a sensational debut in the class, recording a lap time of 1:41.953. In the Moto2™ European Championship Alberto Surra (Team Ciatti – Boscoscuro) started the 2024 campaign as he left off last year, securing pole as he looks for a fifth consecutive podium finish in Moto2™ ECh. Meanwhile, in the European Talent Cup Marco Morelli (MLav Racing) sealed pole for the first time in the class with a time of 1:45.379 in Group B’s Q2 session, doing so in assured style as he pursues a second win in the ETC. And in the Stock™ European Championship experience made the difference during qualifying, with former Moto2™ World Championship rider and Moto3™ World Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta sealing pole position.
FIM JuniorGP
In JuniorGP™ the two Finetwork Team riders complete the front row, with just 0.012 seconds separating Adrian Cruces (Finetwork Team) in P2 from Ruche Moodley (Finetwork Team) in P3. Cruces edged ahead of his teammate but found himself three tenths of a second behind polesitter Rios as he looks to build upon the impressive form that saw him achieve more points than any other rider in the second half of the 2023 season, including an impressive win and second place finish in Valencia in the final event of the campaign. Moodley meanwhile, although less experienced at this level, looks well-equipped to compete this year.
The fight for the second row was just as competitive as the first for the first. P4 was taken by Cormac Buchanan (AGR Team). Despite missing out on the front three by a hundredth of a second, the New Zealander is well placed to aspire for his first podium in JuniorGP™. The margins were just as tight further back, with Rico Salmela (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Casey O’Gorman (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) claiming P5 and P6 respectively.
Moto2 European Championship
The home advantage appeared to make all the difference in Moto2™ ECh qualifying, with polesitter Surra’s Italian compatriots following the Turin-born rider onto the front row. Francesco Mongiardo (Fantic Cardoso Racing) secured P2, while reigning MotoE™ World Champion Mattia Casadei (Team Ciatti Boscoscuro) joins his teammate to make up the front three.
European Talent Cup
After Morelli in the European Talent Cup came David Gonzalez (AC Racing Team), who finished top of Q2 in Group A, and will look to strike further up the rankings after finishing seventh in the Championship last year. Making up the front row is Giulio Pugliese (Aspar Junior Team), who is still chasing his first podium at this level.
Stock European Championship
Following Dalla Porta onto the front row in Stock ECh are Dino Iozzo (IUM Motorsports), who finished fourth in the class in 2023 and will look to add to his four podium finishes last year when beginning from P2, and France’s Andy Verdoia (Team Honda Laglisse), who will look to make an immediate impact in the class from P3.
With qualifying concluded, the excitement of race day is on the horizon. The action begins at 11:00 (UTC+2) with the first JuniorGP™ race of the 2024 season, the first ETC race is scheduled for 12:00 (UTC+2), and the Moto2™ ECh race is set for 13:00 (UTC+2). JuniorGP™ returns for Race 2 at 14:00 (UTC+2) and is followed by the second ETC race of the day at 15:00 (UTC+2). The thrilling Motor Valley and Emilia-Romagna round concludes with the Stock ECh race due to begin at 16:00 (UTC+2). Race day brings a veritable feast to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, make sure you don’t miss out!
For more info checkout our dedicated FIM JuniorGP™ news page superbike-news.co.uk/cev-repsol/
©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of https://www.fimjuniorgp.com/en
