M2: French GP: Team Aspar qualifying report

More progress for Moto2 riders with Suter chassis

Mapfre Aspar riders Julian Simon and Mike di Meglio continued their adaptation to the Suter chassis in the more competitive environment of a timed qualifying session today as the grid shootout for the Grand Prix de France took place at Le Mans. A general lack of grip and front end chatter were the main obstacles to their progress today, Simon also suffering the setback of a crash in this morning's free practice.

The Spaniard was able to return to the track in the afternoon, notably improving his pace with two late laps that secured ninth place on the grid, just four tenths off pole. The Frenchman was only a further six tenths slower but will start from 29th, having struggled with a steering problem that affected his pace.

9th Julian Simon 1.39.622 (18 laps): "All the riders are close and it is hard to pass people out there and improve your time. I'm satisfied today because we're doing a good job, even though we're still lacking front grip. We have tried altering the riding position to load more weight onto the front but it didn't totally solve the vibration. We still have to get to know this bike but I am happy that we're working in the right way. The difference between the front six rows is minimal so I'm sure the first few laps will be decisive. It will also be important to make a good start and not get trapped in a group in turn one."

29th Mike Di Meglio 1.40.315 (19 laps): "This morning we played around with the setting from Albacete and it worked well but today clearly wasn't our day because in the afternoon I had a problem with the steering shocks. Once we had fixed it I went back out but took a while to get my feeling back and then we ran into traffic. Again we are seeing that this category is extremely close and it is difficult to get past people and find your own reference points. Apart from that we are all pretty much within a second of each other and it's going to be a tough race. As far as I'm concerned I just have to try and make up as many positions as I can from 29th."

-source: team aspar