The day started with sunshine, but in cold conditions some wet spots still remained on the track from Wednesday. Julián Simón experienced one as he fell after five laps early in the day, but the Spaniard climbed back aboard the RSV of the Mapfre Aspar team to clock a 1’49.8 later on. Tech3’s Yuki Takahashi registered the same time, after an inactive Wednesday.

Kenny Noyes (Jack&Jones by A. Banderas) was the sixth and final rider to come in under the 1’50.0 marker, setting his time in the morning to make him the quickest of the early session. Roberto Rolfo dislocated his left shoulder after falling on his fourth lap and will now require four weeks recuperation, following a promising start to the day.

Claudio Corti on the Suter of Forward Racing, Alex Baldolini (Caretta Technology Race Dept) and Dominique Aegerter (Technomag-CIP) all timed in at under 1’51.0, a time which Mike di Meglio – who experienced a fall in the afternoon – recorded. The Mapfre Aspar man was uninjured, and was joined by Pons Racing’s Sergio Gadea on that pace.

The first rider out on track for the day was Scott Redding of the Marc VDS Racing Team on his Suter, and the Brit was one of three riders – Mashel Al Naimi (Blusens-STX) and Fonsi Nieto (G22 HolidayGym) the others – grouped on 1’51.2. Axel Pons (Pons Racing) and Raffaele De Rosa (Tech3 Racing) were fractionally slower.

Thomas Lüthi’s (Interwetten Moriwaki Racing) morning crash failed to dent his enthusiasm and he was back out in the afternoon to lap at 1’51.8, with Robertino Pietri (Italtrans STR), Joan Olivé (Jack&Jones by A. Banderas) and Stefan Bradl (Viessman Kiefer Racing) – on his first day at the test – getting in at 1’52.0 or just under. Vincent Lonbois of the Marc VDS Racing Team had a minor fall in the afternoon.

Unofficial times from day two:
Shoya Tomizawa – Technomag-CIP – 1’49.4
Jules Cluzel – Forward Racing – 1’49.6
Yonni Hernández – Blusens STX – 1’49.6
Julian Simon – Mapfre Aspar Team – 1’49.8
Yuki Takahashi – Tech 3 Racing – 1’49.8
Kenny Noyes – Jack&Jones by A. Banderas -1’49.9
Roberto Rolfo – Italtrans STR – 1’50.0
Claudio Corti – Forward Racing – 1’50.1
Alex Baldolini – Caretta Technology – 1’50.3
Dominique Aegerter – Technomag-CIP – 1’50.7
Mike di Meglio – Mapfre Aspar Team – 1’51.0
Sergio Gadea – Pons Racing – 1’51.0
Mashel Al Naimi – Blusens STX – 1’51.2
Fonsi Nieto – G22 HolidayGym – 1’51.2
Scott Redding – Marc Vds Racing Team – 1’51.2
Axel Pons – Pons Racing – 1’51.4
Raffaele De Rosa – Tech 3 Racing – 1’51.5
Thomas Luthi – Interwetten Moriwaki Racing – 1’51.8
Robertino Pietri – Italtrans STR – 1’51.9
Joan Olivé – Jack&Jones by A. Banderas – 1’51.9
Stefan Bradl – Viessmann Kiefer Racing – 1’52.0
Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – 1’52.8
Vladimir Leonov – Vector Kiefer Racing – 1’52.9
Yannick Guerra – G22 HolidayGym – 1’53.6

Source: motogp.com

Second into the first corner, things were off to a good start but after dropping to fourth, then to fifth after a near collision at the beginning of lap two, things were becoming very risky. There was a five way battle for the lead which soon dropped to four, all of whom had led the race. It was then down to three with one of the riders crashing out and with all the slipstreaming and hard breaking at this circuit it appeared that nobody could escape at the front.

Kev decided to wait his time and with two laps to go moved through to second place. It was only at this moment did Kev realise that the race leader was farther in front than he had thought and now Kev had a gap of over a second to make up in the final two laps. Kev gave his all, putting in the fastest lap and lap record on the final lap but it was not enough for the victory. He crossed the finish line just 0.2 seconds behind the race winner.

By far the most exciting and hard fought race of the year, Kev was a bit disappointed to have missed out on the top step and by such a small amount but he and the team were pleased with how he rode and that they had pulled farther in front in the championship table.

Live MotoGP – 11.40am
Catalunya Grand Prix: 125cc Practice
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP – 12.45pm
Catalunya Grand Prix: MotoGP Practice
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP – 2.00pm
Catalunya Grand Prix: 250cc Practice
(Eurosport 2)

MotoGP – 9.10pm
Catalunya Grand Prix: MotoGP Practice (rpt)
(Eurosport 2)

………………………………………

Saturday June 13th

MotoGP – 11.00am
Catalunya Grand Prix: Practice (rpt)
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP – 12.00pm
125cc Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP – 12.45pm
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP – 2.00pm
250cc Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

MotoGP – 9.30pm
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying
(Eurosport 2)

………………………………………

Sunday June 14th

MotoGP – 9.00am
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix: Qualifying (rpt)
(Eurosport 2)

Live MotoGP – 10.00am
125cc Catalunya Grand Prix
(Eurosport)

Live MotoGP – 11.00am
250cc Catalunya Grand Prix
(Eurosport)

Live MotoGP – 12.30pm
Catalunya Grand Prix
(BBC2)

MotoGP – 4.00pm (*Delayed broadcast)
MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix
(Eurosport)