Danny Kent made his debut on a Moto2 bike when he tested Tech 3’s Mistral 610 at Valencia on Monday. 24 hours removed from his sensational victory in the Moto3 season finale, Kent put in 74 laps on his new machinery with his unofficial fastest time of 1:38.2 good enough for 22nd place, 3.3s behind Pol Espargaro who finished runner-up in the class this year.
Kent admitted he has work to do before he is ready for the physical demands of a Moto2 bike but was pleased with how his first experience went.
“It has been a fantastic experience to start my career in Moto2 and I immediately felt at home in the Tech 3 Racing Team. Today was just all about getting a feel for the Mistral 610 because it is quite a bit different to the bike I’ve been riding in Moto3. There is more power but the thing I noticed more than anything is the extra weight, particularly in the fast changes of direction.
“I already have a plan to build up my strength in the winter but after 74 laps today, my upper body is aching a bit. I really enjoyed riding the bike though and today was all about getting comfortable and familiarising myself with the Mistral 610 and my crew. I have so much to learn but it is good that I am back on the bike later this week and that’s when the real work will start now that I have a better understanding of what to expect from the bike.”
Kent’s new teammate Louis Rossi, also a Moto3 graduate, was half a second slower in 24th and the Frenchman was also taken aback by the physical challenges of the four-stroke bike.
“It was a very positive day because I have been really excited to discover my new Team and new bike. It is a big step up from Moto3 to Moto2 and after 65 laps I am very tired because the bike is much more physically demanding to ride. Normally I can lap quite easily until the end of the day but today it was very difficult. Mainly it is because of the extra weight and the force you need to turn and change direction but also because of the extra power.
“I am just trying to get comfortable on the bike and slowly build up my confidence and experience. It was a good start today and now I’m looking forward to the next test in Albacete where we can continue the positive progress made in this test.”