M2: Portuguese GP: Marc VDS race report

FANTASTIC FOURTH FOR REDDING IN ESTORIL THRILLER

Scott Redding battled his way through the field to take a hard fought fourth place in today's Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril, missing out on a podium finish by the narrowest of margins. Hector Faubel completed a good day for the Marc VDS Racing Team, picking up championship points for finishing in 11th position.

Torrential rain at Estoril overnight meant that, while the Moto2 riders took to a dry track for the first time this weekend, numerous damp patches remained during the early stages of today's 26-lap Moto2 race. Redding, starting from 24th position on the grid following the cancellation of qualifying yesterday, made up positions on the run down to turn one, but then lost ground as everyone jostled for position in turn two.

The Marc VDS rider then proceeded to battle his way through the field, passing riders on every lap, until he eventually made contact with the battle for third place, which was being waged by a group of seven riders. After pushing his way through to the front of the group Redding then fought it out with his nemesis, Alex De Angelis, for the final place on the podium, losing out by just 0.012s in a photo finish at the line.

Faubel, starting just one place in front of his Marc VDS teammate in 23rd position, also got away from the line well and then proceeded to fight his way through the field into 15th place by mid race distance. The 27-year-old Spaniard was struggling to pass out of the slipstream on the main straight, but managed to pick off another four riders in the closing stages to take 11th position at the chequered flag.

Scott Redding #45: 4th
"With no dry track time this weekend the tyre choice for the race was a bit of a gamble. We opted to go with the harder option rear, but it was really loose in the early stages of the race, especially when you had to run through the damp patches on track. As the conditions improved and the track dried out the bike started to feel better and I could push harder. I had to take some chances and put in some hard passes to get to the front, but I got there eventually. I had a great battle for the final podium position at the end of the race, but just lost out on the line - I'm going to have to do something about Alex De Angelis, because he keeps doing this to me! I'm happy with the result though; we started with a big disadvantage, fought through the field and learnt a lot in the process."

Hector Faubel #55: 11th
"Today I got a reasonably good start, but most importantly I managed to get through the first two turns unscathed for once! The bike felt better with every lap, as conditions improved and the rear tyres started to work for me. I was able to fight my way through, passing riders as the race progressed, and I thought it was going to be possible to finish in the top then. Unfortunately, with four laps to go, I started struggling to pass riders out of the slipstream on the main straight, which reduced the overtaking opportunities. For me it would have been better if the race had been two laps longer, because I was closing on tenth place, but I'm pretty happy to finish 11th after starting so far down the grid today."

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
"I'm happy for both riders today. Scott rode what was probably his best race of the season this afternoon, showing great determination to fight his way through the field from 24th place on the grid and only missing out on a podium finish by the slimmest of margins. Alex De Angelis must spend his races waiting for Scott to appear now, as it's like they've been glued together the last few weekends! Hector also had a good race, fighting his way up to 11th position in conditions we haven't experienced previously this weekend. Each week we get stronger as a team and we now head for Valencia looking for that elusive first win in the Moto2 World Championship."

-source: marc vds