ENG – POSITIVE DEBUT FOR THE FORWARD RACING TEAM AT JEREZ

The three-day test at Jerez de la Frontera closes with positive feelings for Lorenzo Baldassarri and Luca Marini.
The two riders had to cope with an unfavorable weather and they preferred to wait for Saturday to try the Andalusian track and test the new Kalex 2016.
Baldassarri did 43 laps and immediately felt at ease with the new chassis posting a time of 1:43.362 which earned him the third position on the timesheet.
Marini, debutting with Forward, went on track with great enthusiasm as soon as possible and focused on finding the right feeling with the new bike. After 34 laps he managed to record a personal best of  1: 44.885 which earned him seventh place.
The two riders of the VR46 Riders Academy will be on track next week, again at Jerez, hoping for a better weather, in order to get as much feedback as possible for the beginning of the season.

ITA – DEBUTTO POSITIVO PER IL TEAM FORWARD RACING A JEREZ

La tre giorni di test a Jerez de la Frontera si chiude con segnali positivi per Lorenzo Baldassarri e Luca Marini.
I due portacolori del team si sono trovati alle prese con un meteo non favorevole e hanno preferito aspettare la schiarita del sabato per scendere in pista sul tracciato andaluso e saggiare le nuove Kalex 2016.
Baldassarri ha potuto effettuare 43 giri e si è subito sentito a suo agio con il nuovo telaio siglando nel pomeriggio il tempo di 1:43.362 che gli vale la terza posizione della classifica dei tempi.
Marini, all’esordio con Forward, è sceso in pista appena possibile con grande entusiasmo e si è concentrato sul trovare il giusto feeling con la nuova moto. Dopo 34 giri effettuati è riuscito a far registrare un buon 1:44.885 che gli vale la settima posizione.
I due piloti della VR46 Riders Academy scenderanno ancora in pista la prossima settimana, sempre a Jerez, confidando in un meteo più clemente per poter ottenere più feedback possibile in vista dell’inizio della stagione.

LORENZO BALDASSARRI

“I felt immediately at ease with the new Kalex, both the front and the back are easy to ride. I did not focus much on the lap time but I felt immediately that I can push more easily with this bike. It’s a shame we couldn’t go on the track before but we’ll be back next week, I think we can really do a good job with the team”.

“Mi sono trovato subito a mio agio con la nuova Kalex, sia sul davanti che sul di dietro. Non mi sono concentrato molto sul tempo sul giro ma ho sentito subito che su questa moto si riesce a spingere più facilmente. Dispiace un po’ non essere potuti scendere in pista prima ma ci rifaremo la settimana prossima, penso che si potrà fare un buon lavoro con il team”.

LUCA MARINI

“I’m delighted to finally get on track with this bike, I would like to thank the team and Giovanni who immediately made me feel at home. I had an instant positive feedback with the new chassis, in a few laps I was able to approach the time I posted last year. We even started to try different setup and I think we are moving in the right direction, I cannot wait for Tuesday to start over”.

“Sono contentissimo di poter finalmente scendere in pista con questa moto, innanzitutto vorrei ringraziare il team e Giovanni che mi hanno fatto subito sentire a casa. Con il nuovo telaio ho avuto un immediato feedback positivo tanto che mi sono avvicinato in pochi giri ai tempi dell’anno scorso. Nel proseguo abbiamo perfino cominciato a provare diverse cose e penso ci stiamo muovendo nella giusta direzione, non vedo l’ora che sia martedì per ricominciare”.

ENG – Luca Marini in Moto2 with Forward Racing

Forward Racing is pleased to announce that Luca Marini, member of the VR46 Riders Academy, will wear the colors of Forward Racing in Moto2 from next season on. The promising 18-year old from Tavullia, who signed a multi-year contract with the team of Giovanni Cuzari, will join Lorenzo Baldassari riding the 2016 Kalex.
Marini will debut in the World Championship after a wild card in Moto3 in 2013, another one in the Moto2 Grand Prix of San Marino in 2015 and after finishing fifth overall in the Moto2 CEV Championship this season. The newcomer, in combination with the confirmation of Baldassarri, doubles the commitment of Forward Racing with the VR46 Riders Academy in Moto2 championship. Forward Racing fully supports and shares the aim of the Academy from Tavullia: the professional growth of young Italian riders in the world of motorcycling.

ITA – Luca Marini in Moto2 con Forward Racing

Forward Racing è lieta di annunciare che Luca Marini, pilota della VR46 Riders Academy, difenderà i colori del team in Moto2 a partire dalla prossima stagione. Il promettente 18enne di Tavullia, che ha stipulato con il team di Giovanni Cuzari un contratto pluriennale, andrà ad affiancare Lorenzo Baldassari in sella alle Kalex 2016.
Per Marini, wild card in Moto3 nel 2013 e in Moto2 nel 2015 nel Gran Premio di San Marino e quinto assoluto nel CEV Moto2 in questa stagione, sarà l’esordio nel Motomondiale. Il nuovo arrivo, aggiunto alla riconferma di Baldassarri, raddoppia l’impegno di Forward Racing con piloti VR46 Riders Academy nella categoria intermedia del Campionato. Forward Racing supporta e condivide l’obiettivo dell’Accademia di Tavullia: la crescita professionale di giovani piloti italiani nel mondo delle due ruote.

Loris Baz ends his rookie season in second place in the Open. The Frenchman has collected four class wins in Mugello, Assen, Misano and Brno on his Yamaha Forward bike and thanks to the 28 points gathered he ended 5 points away from Barbera in the standings.

Baz, who started from 15th on the grid, struggled from the early laps because of the low grip and lack of confidence with the rear of his Yamaha Forward and was forced to give way some positions to his opponnents. The Frenchman crossed the line 19th, the third place among the Open.

Toni Elias placed 20th, just behind his team-mate. 24th at the start, the Spaniard, with Forward Racing since the Grand Prix of Aragon, closed the season in Valencia and got the 27th place in the standings overall thanks to the two points achieved at Sepang.

LORIS BAZ

“It was a difficult race. Unfortunately since the first laps I struggled to find the right confidence with the rear and was not able to keep the pace of the other Open bikes. I had little grip, but I was able to reach the finish line. Too bad for not being able to win the Open title, we were close to the top of the category for much of the season, but at the end I lost something. Overall I can say I’m happy with this first rookie season: I struggled at the start, but I continued to work hard and thanks to all the team I achieved my goals ahead of schedule”.

TONI ELIAS

“A difficult season is over for me: I did not have a bike but with the team I had the chance to return to MotoGP. I’m happy and I want to thank Giovanni and Forward Racing for this beautiful opportunity which opens new perspectives. Compared with the competition I can’t say I’m 100% satisfied. I struggled at the start, I had little confidence with the full tank, but after a few laps I found myself fighting with Di Meglio, Laverty and West. I kept my pace and at the end I finished very close to Loris”.

Lorenzo Baldassarri closes the 2015 season with yet another positive result with the Forward Racing team at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia. After the good result in qualifying yesterday, the young Italian competed with the leaders throughout the race and crossed the line in fourth place. Good result also for Corsi, ninth under the checkered flag.

Baldassarri, who started from fifth on the grid, had a good start and was hunting for the podium positions when the race was redflagged because of the accident that involved Syahrin together with eight other riders. Back on the grid for a new starting procedure, the young rider from Marche repeated what he did in the first attempt and battled with Luthi for fourth. After eighteen laps he had to set for fourth crowning a great season with yet another placement in the top ten. With the points collected today, Baldassarri got the ninth place in the standings with 96 points.

Another positive result for Simone Corsi giving his farewell to Forward Racing with a ninth place. The Roman also had two positive starts but struggled to keep the right confidence with the front. After seven laps with the leading group, he was forced to give away some positions and finished in ninth place.

SIMONE CORSI

“I collected another positive result in this farewell Valencia race. I had good starts and I was close to the leaders. I was fifth when I started to struggle with the front and I was forced to give up some positions. I’m closing this adventure with Forward Racing after three seasons, I want to thank all the guys and Giovanni for these years together”.

LORENZO BALDASSARRI

“I managed to round off the Championship with a beautiful fourth place. I’m glad of what we did this season: I finally harvested the results of our hard work. Today in the race I kept the leaders’ pace. In the final laps I tried to go for third but Luthi had something more. Too bad for the podium as it was within our reach, but I handled it well. Thanks to all the team for this year together”.

Loris Baz will start tomorrow from 15th position on the grid aiming for the Open title in the last race of the 2015 season with Forward Racing at the Valencia circuit. His teammate Toni Elias will start in 24th, ninth row of the grid.
Baz, after struggling in the first day of practice, this morning tried some new solutions and was able to find the right grip for qualifying. With a good 1’31.856 he snatched second position among the Open bikes just a whisker away from Barbera and will start from the 15th place on the grid. The Frenchman, currently second in the Championship, 5 lengths off the lead, is aiming for the class win.
Toni Elias had a more complicated qualifying session, with a time of 1’33.092 he will start from the 24th place. The Spaniard suffered the lack of confidence with the front but remains confident for the race. The target is not to lose contact with his direct opponents and get in the points-zone.

LORIS BAZ

“I’m happy of what we achieved today: it was a positive qualifying and I’m close to the Open pole. I found more grip and was able to push. I am close to my opponents and I can do well in the race tomorrow”.

TONI ELIAS

“I’m glad of what we have done so far this weekend: the pace is good and I am confident we can fight during the race tomorrow with the other Open. In qualifying I had little feeling with the front and I could not push as I wanted. The goal is to start well and keep close to the other Open bikes at the start of the race”.