Danny Kent Looks Back At Superb Jerez Showing
Danny Kent has been looking back on his excellent season-opener weekend at Jerez on his blog on the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies website…
“Jerez free practice started off real good considering the tyres had already done 15 laps at the Valencia Test. I ended up the fastest in the free practice, only being 1.4 seconds off the lap record which was great. I tried to find a good set-up which I was struggling with due to the tyres.
Qualifying 1 was all about getting a good set-up as I had new tyres, I was struggling to find a good set-up and my times were off the pace, my best time was a 1.53.915 which put me in 9th place. But on the positive side I didn’t crash.
Qualifying 2; my aim was to try and improve on my time and to get the bike handling. I managed to go slightly faster with a time of 1.53.493 which put me in 7th; I was disappointed with the times and the set-up with the bike but once again I didn’t crash and to start on the 2nd row I knew I had a good chance in both races.
After 2nd qualifying I was speaking to Rob and Carlos about the handling with the bike and Rob (WP) found a problem with the front suspension as a rubber O ring in the front fork had broken and was leaking fluid very slightly. Rob replaced it for the race and it boosted my confidence.Race 1; I felt very confident and I knew it was going to be a good close race between the top 10.
Off the line I managed to get up to 3rd into the first corner, my aim was to be in the top group and to not let anyone pull away, as I knew Daijiro, Harry Stafford and Dani Ruiz had a good consistent pace from qualifying.
Throughout the race I was battling for the lead, the aim was to be in the top 3 for the last lap as I felt very confident in myself and the bike.
Half way through the last lap I took the lead and knuckled down and tried to pull a gap as I knew Daijiro and Dani Ruiz would try and make a pass into the last corner. I used my head and covered my lines, braked as late as I could and crossed the line in 1st position with Daijiro in 2nd and Dani Ruiz in 3rd.
To be on the podium in the first race was great but I knew it was going to be another hard race in race 2.Race 2: I started in 7th again, my aim was to be in the top 3 by the end of the first lap. As in race 1 the times were down because of the top 7 were always battling and causing us to bunch up, I was in the top 3 by the first corner again which was great, i knew i was going to have to battle all the way to the end as Daijiro, Dani and Harry were fast in race 1.
In the race itself, Daijiro and Dani had pulled a slight gap but then we started changing places which meant our times were getting slightly slower and allowed Harry and Mathew and some others to catch us up.
As in race 1 I needed to be in the top 3 going into the last lap to have a chance of getting on the podium. Going into the last corner I was in 3rd and was hoping to pass them on the inside but Daijiro and Dani were already on the line I needed. I had to go on the outside and got a good drive out and ended up in 2nd place, passing Daijiro out of the last corner.It was great to be on the podium again and collected another 20 points, it was a great weekend to come away with 2 podiums totalling 45 points. I am now leading the championship by 4 points with Dani Ruiz in 2nd and Daijiro in 3rd. I know it’s early in the season and there’s a long way to go but all the goals I have set myself I have achieved so far.
My aim is to be consistent through out the season but I know there are 25 other riders who can put a stop to it.I’d like to say a well done to Dani and Daijiro and I’d like to say well done to Harry Stafford as he rode excellent all weekend and this year he has got through Jerez and will be riding at Mugello,
I’d like to thank Niki, Peter, Michaela, and all the mechanics especially David for doing a great job, and also I’d like to say a big thank you to all the Red Bull hospitality staff for doing an excellent job with the new set-up, the food was excellent as was the service.”
your so cute