IRTA testing began at Jerez de la Frontera yesterday, the first official engagement before world competition begins on March 9th at the Qatar night race. The day of testing was divided into various phases; a five-hour shift in the morning for both the 125 and 250 and one-hour shifts (starting at 3pm) dedicated exclusively to the 4 and 8-liter, respectively.


The 250cc tests were significantly affected by the bad weather. It was tough to dry the wet track, soaked by a heavy overnight rainstorm, under a cloudy sky. The only eleven riders that made it onto the track in the morning were thus forced to use rain tyres. The situation improved in the afternoon, although the track was completely dry for the last laps only. Six riders decided to not leave the box, including Luthi, fresh off the injury he sustained in Valencia. It was a better time for Mika Kallio, whose KTM stopped the chronometer at 1:46.369, followed by Simoncelli's Gilera and his teammate Aoyama. It was the fifth-best time for Bautista with a 1.47:487, sixth for Imre Toth, and ninth for Pesek, who was followed by his countryman, Abraham.

250 CC TIMES

  • 1. Mika Kallio – KTM – 1.46.369
  • 2. Marco Simoncelli – Gilera – 1. 46.881
  • 3. Hiroshi Aoyama – KTM – 1.36.1
  • 4. Julian Simon – KTM – 1.36.3
  • 5. Alvaro Bautista – Aprilia – 1. 36.3
  • 6. Imre Toth – Aprilia – 1. 36.3
  • 7. Yuki Takahashi – Honda – 1. 36.5
  • 8. Ratthapark Wilairot – Honda – 1. 36.5
  • 9. Lukas Pesek – Aprilia – 1. 36.5
  • 10. Karel Abraham – Aprilia – 1. 36.6
  • 11. Hector Barbera – Aprilia – 1. 36.6
  • 12. Mattia Pasini – Aprilia – 1.37.4
  • 13. Hector Faubel – Aprilia – 1.37.4
  • 14. Eugene Laverty – Aprilia – 1.37.6
  • 15. Manuel Poggiali – Gilera – 1.37.6
  • 16. Russel Gomez – Aprilia – 1.37.7
  • 17. Doni Pradita – Yamaha – 1.38.4