Both QMMF Racing Team riders Julian Simon and Xavier Simeon reached their goals of taking top ten finishes at the Grand Prix of The Americas. In an action packed race, Simeon escaped an early contact with another rider and managed to storm from 18th to eighth place despite a damaged front fairing.
Teammate Simon, who started from 11th on the grid, battled against chatter and clutch problems and still managed to get ninth place, right behind Simeon.
“I am very, very happy with the race. The first laps were completely crazy. We had a lot of contacts because everybody wanted to push toward the front, which is what happens when you are in a group coming from behind,” Simeon said after the race.
“I was very lucky because I had a big contact with (Alex) Marquez, which destroyed my front fairing. I did all the race without the windshield, but I could continue. After that, I had a very good pace. Thanks to a very good bike, I was able to do fast and consistent lap times and catch all the riders in front of me. I am very happy to finish eighth starting from 18th and I hope I can have exactly the same feeling again in Jerez and fight for a good result again.”
Simon was ecstatic after taking a top ten finish in his 100th start in Moto2.
“It was a good weekend, we worked well and we understood better how we want the motorcycle to be. I took my first points of the season today, in a race that was very special to me because it was my 100th start in Moto2,” Simon said.
“I had a good start and the only problem I had was chatter, which I had all weekend long and which was strange because it occurred with the throttle open and not with the throttle closed as it usually does. Now I look forward to my home race at Jerez, where we can hopefully take advantage of our new set-up base and be strong again.”