Following a breath-taking Moto2™ race in the championship finale in Valencia yesterday, the intermediate-class was back on track this morning to commence a one-day official test kicking off the 2013 season.

The promised rain held off for the first part of the Moto2™ test this morning, which saw some new faces, team-swapping, as well as some of last season’s regulars out on track. Marc VDS Racing Team’s Scott Redding was one of the first riders out on the dry circuit, working predominantly on set-up, as was Mapfre Aspar Team’s podium-sitter of yesterday, Nico Terol.

The Tech 3 Racing outfit also wasted no time getting their Rookie duo of Louis Rossi and Danny Kent out on track to get a feel for the 600cc prototypes. Notable changes include Simone Corsi and Mattia Pasini lining up for the NGM Mobile Forward Racing team, Mike Di Meglio for JiR Moto2, Johann Zarco for the Came IodaRacing Project outfit, Julián Simón for the Italtrans Racing team and Toni Elías for Avintia Blusens.

Some of the new faces in the paddock are British rider Kyle Smith, who was on track for the Blusens team, as well as Doni Tata Pradita on board the Thai Honda PTT Gresini Moto2 machine. Anthony West, who was unable to compete in yesterday’s race due to a ban, was able to get back on board his QMMF machine to prepare for next season.

Much of the initial work out on track for the teams was either to bed in a new rider, or focus on general set-up changes. Moto2 championship runner-up, Tuenti Movil HP 40’s Pol Espargaró, was however also testing a new swingarm, clutch as well as the new spec Dunlop tyres for next year early on. His teammate Esteve Rabat is testing chassis modifications for the team. Espargaró unfortunately crashed, as did Desguaces La Torre SAG’s Marcel Schrötter, with both riders escaping unhurt.

By the mid-day point the majority of riders had made it out on track, wanting to get as much track time in as possible in case the threat of rain did materialise. The test is not officially timed, yet motogp.com will round up the unofficial times at the end of the day.

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