Feem eyes more power after debut in qatar
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Thai rider Rattapark "Feem" Wilairot failed to claim a point on his team debut for Thai Honda Gresini Moto2 after trailing home a lowly 21st in the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix.
After five years with Stop & Go since his world championship debut in 2007, the 23-year-old decided to part company with the Spain-based team to join Italian Moto GP stalwarts Gresini in the close-season. Hopes were raised that the team change would bring an improvement following a disastrous 2011 campaign that saw Feem finish 30th with only four points from 17 races.
However, it was the same old story on Sunday, with set-up problems ruining his ride in the season’s only race under floodlights. He could draw comfort, however, from besting team-mate Gino Rea, who ended up in 26th, 14 seconds behind the Thai.
Feem was quick to put the Doha disappointment in context and turn his focus to the next race, in Jerez, Spain, on April 29:
“We knew it was going to be a tough race but we set ourselves the target of making it to the end, preferably in the top 20 or top 15 if possible, because we need as much data as possible. I am very happy with the team, we are all working hard together but we just don’t have the bike at the moment. Hopefully we will have something better at Jerez,” said the Chon Buri native.
Fausto Gresini, team owner and manager, promised to deliver a better-performing bike in two weeks’ time. “We will work our hardest to give it to him and I am sure the results will come quickly.”
