Jerez test paves the way for the upcoming season opener
Just under a week before the eagerly awaited season opener in Qatar, the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 team concluded a short and intensive test phase with the third and final day of testing in Jerez de la Frontera, during which both newcomer Tatsuki Suzuki and Collin Veijer were able to gain valuable insights.
The conditions in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, were almost ideal after the rough weather on the Portuguese Algarve coast days earlier had immensely slowed down the lightweight class in their testing plans for the private test.
Having turned 19 just a few days ago, Collin Veijer took part in the test days in Jerez in his usual focused manner, despite feeling slightly sick, not only in order to further test the new Pirelli tyres, but also the 2024 Husqvarna, with which the Dutchman will attempt to build on his rookie successes of the previous year. Even a small crash on the last day could not dampen the positive feeling with which the youngster will continue his journey to Qatar. Veijer completed the top three on day 2, finishing just 0.501 seconds behind the fastest rider, David Alonso.
Over the past three days, the Intact GP new addition Tatsuki Suzuki made up for the kilometres he missed out on in the dry in Portimao due to the weather conditions. The 26-year-old is aware that there is still a lot of work to do before the floodlights at the gates of Doha herald the start of the season on the Qatari race track, especially as the experienced rider has to adapt to a completely new machine after many years on a Honda. But thanks to the informative test, the Japanese rider can now prioritize his work ahead in order to be as well prepared as possible for the approaching first race of the season on the 10th of March.
Now it's time to pack up for a 21-race long season in which the Moto3 duo will be fighting for nothing less than the team and rider world championships once again.
Results
DAY 1 (combined)
1. D.ALONSO/ COL/ CFMOTO – 1'44.356
2. J.RUEDA/ SPA/ KTM – 1'44.358 (+0.002)
3. D.HOLGADO/ SPA/ GASGAS – 1'44.409 (+0.053)
4. C.VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – 1'44.445 (+0.089)
12. T.SUZUKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – 1'45.216 (+0.860)
DAY 2 (combined)
1. D.ALONSO/ COL/ CFMOTO – 1'43.315
2. J.RUEDA/ SPA/ KTM – 1'43.640 (+0.352)
3. C.VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – 1'43.816 (+0.501)
16. T.SUZUKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – 1'45.245 (+1.930)
DAY 3 (combined)
1. J.RUEDA/ SPA/ KTM – 1'43.276
2. D.ALONSO/ COL/ CFMOTO – 1'43.509 (+0.233)
3. I.ORTOLÁ/ SPA/ KTM – 1'43.610 (+0.334)
6. C.VEIJER/ NED/ HUSQVARNA – 1'44.190 (+0.914)
15. T.SUZUKI/ JAP/ HUSQVARNA – 1'45.072 (+1.769)
