Quick-learning Torres progresses to close up to Simeon

After ‘riding in a programmed way’ Jordi Torres has continued to make key progress as stand-in rider at Avintia Ducati taking 19^th place and finishing just two seconds behind team-mate Xavier Simeon using the older Ducati.

Torres, who officially split from World Superbike team MV Agusta going into the Thailand round to focus on his MotoGP efforts, continued to act as replacement rider for the injured Tito Rabat at Avintia and had a small advantage in Buriram having previously raced at the track in the production-based series.

While Torres focused on developing his riding style and his understanding of the Michelin tyres, MotoGP’s Magneti-Marelli electronics and the Ducati GP16, the Spanish rider made impressive gains to finish 19^th and just two seconds behind team-mate Simeon despite the Belgian racing the faster GP17 machine.

“I think that the race was okay, because I was able to finish a really hard race in scorching hot conditions, with tyres that are vey different to the ones I’m used to and that wear in a completely different way,” Torres said.

“But more than anything, I had to learn how to manage fuel consumption, changing the engine mappings when I was signalled to do so from the pits, and to be smoother with the throttle…there were many new things and therefore, I wasn’t riding as smoothly as I would have liked to. I didn’t ride according to my talent, instead I was riding in a programmed way.

“As far as everything else goes, the race was okay, I managed to show my front wheel to a couple of other riders, which had been my plan, and later I was able to hunt Xavi and get close to him. I just didn’t have the courage to show him my wheel as well.”

Torres will continue for Avintia Ducati alongside Simeon at the next round in Japan in two weeks’ time, with Rabat’s fitness set to be assessed in the coming weeks to gauge his comeback schedule over the final rounds of the season.