San Marino: Julian Simon, yesterday stormed to fifth place in Moto2 race at the San Marino Grand Prix, celebrating his best result since joining QMMF Racing Team.
The 28-year-old Spaniard started well and held tenth, ninth and eighth place on the opening laps of the race and was rewarded with sixth position when Dominique Aegerter and Alex Rins crashed out at the end of lap six, fighting for the lead.
Simon won another position with two laps to go, when he overtook German rider Jonas Folger. Only eventual race winner Johann Zarco, reigning champion Tito Rabat, Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami and local hero Simone Corsi were too far gone by this stage.
“I am happy with this race because I had a good rhythm and we got a strong result,” said Simon after the race.
“I want to thank all the team because they did a very good job throughout the weekend. In the race, I stayed highly concentrated from start to finish,” he said.
“I got off the line well and I was aggressive in the beginning, which allowed me to pass some other riders on the opening laps. I lost a little bit of time with Syahrin, and without him slowing me down I probably could have charged for the podium. But nevertheless, I’m happy and I look forward to the next race at Aragón, which is one of my home Grand Prix,” he added.
“I am highly motivated to continue in this line at all remaining races of the season,” he said.
Team-mate Anthony West saved a world championship point with 15th place, but the small success did not outweigh the disappointment of both the Australian rider and his team with the results achieved in this season so far.
West scored one unforgettable victory in the wet race of Assen 2014 and a total of three podiums in his first three years with QMMF Racing. But similar results and the desired top ten finishes remained out of reach in 2015.
As a consequence, the management of QMMF Racing Team and the 34-year-old Australian decided to discontinue their long-running working relationship after the Misano Grand Prix and to go different ways.
All members of QMMF Racing Team want to thank Anthony West for the moments of glory they achieved together and wish him all the best for the future.
THE PENINSULA
