Estoril Test: Quotes Scott Redding & Danny Webb

Concluding the 3-day test in Estoril, Danny Webb and now red-haired Scott Redding gave their thoughts on the test and their preseason process.

Danny Webb:
"This wasn’t the best day of the test here at Estoril. We struggled in the morning with the set-up of the engine but at the end of the morning we had a good set-up. Unfortunaly the weather changed compare to the two days before. Their was a lot of wind today and it is hard to improve your lap time. In the afternoon it went better and we worked a lot on the suspension set-up. Two hours before the end of the day we had small engine problem and decided to call it the day. I’m quite happy with this test. The bike has a lot of potential. We still have five more days of testing and I can’t wait for next week to ride again during the official IRTA test at Jerez."


Scott Redding
"I am more and more comfortable on the RSA and I am getting better sensations from it. We are working very hard to get a good setup for the beginning of the season but we have not got it quite right yet though, but we are getting closer. What I most like about the RSA is the low rev power, but what is most difficult for me is to get a good setup on the chassis. At the start of these three days in Estoril we had a lot of problems, but as the time passed we found the right solutions and I think that we will go to the IRTA in Jerez in good conditions."

Estoril testing 125cc Day 3 17/03/09

Aspar having finished a day early, left only 2 brits left on track.

1. Andrea Iannone (Aprilia) 1:45,969
2. Sandro Cortese (Derbi) 1:46,474
3. Pol Espargaro (Derbi) 1:46,846
4. Esteve Rabat (Aprilia) 1:47,231
5. Joan Olive (Derbi) 1:47,244
6. Scott Redding (Aprilia) 1:47,520
7. Randy Krummenacher (Aprilia) 1:47,618
8. Takaaki Nakagami (Aprilia) 1:47,647
9. Efren Vasquez (Aprilia) 1:47,705
10. Jonas Folger (Aprilia) 1:47,881
11. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) 1:48,168
12. Stefan Brandl (Aprilia) 1:48,278
13. Dominique Aegerter (Aprilia)1:48,517
14. Danny Webb (Aprilia) 1:48,680
15. Lorenzo Zanetti (Aprilia) 1:48,719
16. Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia) 1:48,982
17. Johnny Rosell (Aprilia)1:49,615

Confirmation Of 125cc Entry List For 2009

Now finally confirmed by the FIM:

5. ALEXIS MASBOU, LONCIN RACING
6. JOAN OLIVE, DERBI RACING TEAM
7. EFREN VAZQUEZ, DERBI RACING TEAM
8. LORENZO ZANETTI, ONGETTA TEAM I.S.P.A.
10. LUCA VITALI, CBC CORSE
11. SANDRO CORTESE, AJO INTERWETTEN
12. ESTEVE RABAT, BLUSENS APRILIA
14. JOHANN ZARCO, WTR SAN MARINO TEAM
16. CAMERON BEAUBIER, RED BULL KTM MOTOSPORT
17. STEFAN BRADL, VIESSMANN KIEFER RACING
18. NICOLAS TEROL, JACK & JONES TEAM
24. SIMONE CORSI, JACK & JONES TEAM
29. ANDREA IANNONE, ONGETTA TEAM I.S.P.A.
32. LORENZO SAVADORI, FONTANA RACING
33. SERGIO GADEA, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
35. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, DEGRAAF GRAND PRIX
38. BRADLEY SMITH, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
44. POL ESPARGARO, DERBI RACING TEAM
45. SCOTT REDDING, BLUSENS APRILIA
53. JASPER IWEMA, RACING TEAM GERMANY
60. JULIAN SIMON, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
66. MATTHEW HOYLE, HAOJUE TEAM
69. LUKAS SEMBERA, MATTEONI RACING
71. TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA, LONCIN RACING
73. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI, ONGETTA TEAM I.S.P.A.
77. DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, AJO INTERWETTEN
87. LUCA MARCONI, CBC CORSE
88. MICHAEL RANSEDER, HAOJUE TEAM
93. MARC MARQUEZ, RED BULL KTM MOTOSPORT
94. JONAS FOLGER, ONGETTA TEAM I.S.P.A.
99. DANNY WEBB, DEGRAAF GRAND PRIX

Webb Unhurt in Estoril Crash

Danny Webb survived a pre-season scare when he crashed his new 2009 Aprilia 125GP machine on the second day of testing in Estoril yesterday (Monday).
The British rider, who claimed a career best result of fifth at last year’s Estoril race, crashed his DeGraaf Aprilia at Turn Four but luckily escaped injury with just a month to go before the first race in Qatar.

Webb ended the second day in 11th position on the timesheets as he clocked a best time of 1.47.679. That was 0.7s faster than his best on the opening day.

Estoril Test - Day Two - 16/03/09

1. Julian Simon (E), Aprilia, 1:45,925
2. Sandro Cortese (D), Derbi, 1:46,357
3. Bradley Smith (GB), Aprilia, 1:46,559
4. Sergio Gadea (E), Aprilia), 1:46,913
5. Pol Espargaro (E), Derbi, 1:46,925
6. Joan Olivé (E), Derbi, 1:47,360

Danny Webb passes driving test

Congratulations to DeGraaf Aprilia rider Danny Webb who recently passed his driving test. As a celebration of the event he bought himself a fancy Mini Cooper with the personalised license plate Y99 WEB, showing his racing number.

Estoril Test - Results Day 1

Great weather conditions welcomed the biggest part of this season's 125cc and 250cc field at the Estoril track yesterday. Bradley Smith, Danny Webb and Scott Redding all finished the first day of testing among the 10 fastest riders and started the "real" preseason in good fashion.

1° Simon (Aprilia) 1'45”864;
2° Cortese (Derbi) 1'46”341;
3° Smith (Aprilia) 1'46”624;
4° Espargaro (Derbi) 1'47”251;
5° Gadea (Aprilia) 1'47”252;
6° Bradl (Aprilia) 1'47”651
7° Olive (Derbi) 1'47”697
8° Webb (Aprilia) 1'48”379
9° Savadori (Aprilia) 1'48”560
10° Redding (Aprilia) 1'48”884
11° Rabat (Aprilia) 1'48”918
12° Aegerter (Derbi) 1'49”089
13° Krummenacher (Aprilia) 1'50”774
14° Vazquez (Derbi) 1'55”896

Webb awaiting first test with all-new Aprilia RSA

DeGraaf Grand Prix Aprilia’s Danny Webb is raring to go ahead of his first test of 2009, which takes place from this Sunday in Portugal. The Briton has a new version of the factory Aprilia RSA at his disposal and, after a handful of laps at the official team presentation at Assen, has high hopes for the machine.

“The new RSA is totally different. My team had said as much but I didn’t believe it, but the first time that we started the engine it just sounded a million times better,” enthuses Webb. “We did a few laps on it at Assen, but it was windy so we will really have to wait until the test in Portugal to see what it’s like.”

It won’t just be the bike that is brand new either, as Webb is joined by Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher in the Dutch team. He notes that he and Krummenacher get on well, also saying that he is a ‘different character’ to former colleague Stevie Bonsey –who moves on from the team for 2009.

“I think that we can pick up the pace despite not having tested much,” continues Webb. “We’ve got Portugal, then Jerez and then Qatar to work on things, and to be honest the people who have done testing already haven’t been able to ride so much because of the weather. We’ll just have to get learning the bike as soon as possible, and then see where we are.

“We’ve got a bike that can win races, so that has to be our aim. We’re looking at fighting for the top five and podiums at every race, making a title challenge.”

Brits back on track

All our 125cc Brits will be back on track this Sunday in Estoril. The Portuguese track will see most of the 125cc and 250cc big names together for the first time in 2009. Weather forecasts promise perfect conditions with three sunny days and warm temperatures around 25°C.

More Photos From The Molenaar Launch

Danny Webb @ Molenaar Racing Presentation

"I want the first DeGraaf Grand Prix Team by thanking once again the confidence in me to speak and give me the chance to this great team in 2009 to drive. We have a good season where we have shown very quickly to some circuits and that a winning team can be. I voted for this season really feel that we can fight the world. We have a fantastic team with the right people and this year we have a factory Aprilia RSA. We work very closely together in the team and it gives me a real family feeling. Hans Spaan as chief mechanic, Damion Bailey as suspension specialist engineers and my personal Rob van de Braak and Rick Vert eyes I feel that I am the best team in the world have! Especially with the attendant Marlon Flute dots on the i put. I see no reason not some Grand Prix 'to win and hopefully the world to the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team to!"

Molenaar Presents 2009 Squad

The Molenaar Racing Team presented their 2009 line-up at a slightly damp Assen today; that's Britain's Danny Webb alongside Randy Krummenacher.
We'll aim to share any quotes and interviews - and any other photos - as and when we can get hold of them but for now here's a pic of Danny from today's event.