Scott Redding secured his second podium finish of the season today in Jerez, with a measured ride to second place in the Spanish Moto2 Grand Prix. The race was won by Esteve Rabat, who now leads Redding by just one point in the Moto2 World Championship standings.

Mika Kallio made a quick start and managed to fight his way up from 15th on the grid to quickly join the group battling for fifth place. The 30-year-old Finn could maintain the same pace as the riders ahead of him, but was struggling to find a way past. 15 laps into the race Kallio went underneath Dominique Aegerter at turn six to take eighth place, but lost the front as he turned in and crashed out of the race.

Livio Loi marked his Grand Prix debut by scoring his first World Championship point with 15th place in today’s Moto3 race in Jerez. The 16-year-old Belgian had just moved into 14th when the race was red flagged after a crash for Alan Techer, but was credited with 15th as the regulations dictate that the results are decided on the last full lap before the race was stopped.

Redding and Kallio now head to Almeria for two days of testing, while Loi travels further North to test for two days in Aragon.

Scott Redding #45: 2nd
“It was a strange race. I’m full of a cold at the moment, so the fact that it just got hotter as the race progressed meant I was fatiguing towards the end. At the start Rabat managed to creep away; it was just one or two tenths a lap, but it was enough to pull away. I tried to go with him, but it was feeling a little bit risky so I backed off to do my pace, that I knew I could maintain. It worked out pretty well. The tyres were spinning up a bit, but my lap times were okay, it’s just that Rabat was quicker today and I just have to accept that. I’m happy to be on the podium again.”

Mika Kallio #36: DNF
“We made more changes to the bike ahead of warm up this morning but, while there was a definite improvement in rear grip, there was still something missing. The plan was to make up as many places as I could in the opening laps, which I managed, but when I got on the back of the second group, I just didn’t have the drive out of the turns to set up a pass. Every lap they were pulling around five metres on me out of the turns, which meant I had to claw that back on the brakes. The crash was strange, as I didn’t brake any harder for the turn on that lap. I was a little bit closer to Domi and tried to go underneath him on the brakes. I didn’t brake any later than usual, but my line was different, the speed was a little higher and the front closed on me. It’s disappointing because a top ten finish was possible for me here.”

Livio Loi #11: 15th
“Starting from the seventh row I needed to make up places from the start, but I actually lost two places, which put me in the wrong group. I was trying to pass Eric Granado, but all the time he closed the door on me. When I tried to pass on the straight we clashed fairings. It was a big hit and I was lucky it was only the fairing and not my front wheel. Once I got past Granado I caught and passed Jasper Iwema and I’m pretty sure I could have caught Danny Webb if the race hadn’t been red flagged. Without the slow start I think I could have been looking at a top ten finish, so we know our level now. I hope we’ll see Alan Techer fully fit and back on the grid in Le Mans.”

Marc van der Straten: President, Marc VDS Racing Team
“After a good 2012 season I’m really excited about this season already, because I believe we will enjoy more good results throughout the year. I am happy to have seen Livio make his World Championship debut here in Jerez, and delighted that he finished in the points first time out. I think this young man will spring a few surprises on us this season, as he makes the most of what is a great opportunity with an experienced team behind him. Scott also rode a great race to finish on the podium once again today. I am proud of the fact that we are a Belgian team, but I’m equally proud of the fact that we are also truly international, as Scott’s podium illustrates very well.”