Both Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres were highly satisfied with their performances as the first ever Chang Thai Round was staged at the weekend. The former picked up two further second place finishes, following on from one second and a race victory at Phillip Island, as team-mate Jordi Torres continued to impress his team with a pair of fourth places – meaning he has finished fourth in three of his races thus far this year.

“The team did a great job,” Haslam declared. “Between the two races we took a big step forward. Rea was simply too fast today. We decided to use a harder front tyre and maybe with the softer one we could have been faster in the first part of the race, but it didn't gives us the guarantees we needed in terms of distance. In any case I'm pleased with the weekend, especially because compared to Friday we have really improved and I can't wait to get to Aragon. Being on the podium for the first two rounds of the season is definitely a great starting point.”

Torres decided that discretion was the better part of valor as he elected not to attack Tom Sykes in Race 1, before successfully passing the Englishman in Race 2.

“I am really happy about the work we did this weekend because, despite missing a session, we were able to come back well,” the Spaniard commented. “The FP2 session is important for me because in the first session I learn the new track, whereas I need the second session to set up the base from which to work. Then on Saturday I have to focus on being fast for the qualifiers and Superpole.

“When I found myself behind Sykes I thought back to Phillip Island, where I crashed whilst trying to overtake him, and I decided to stay calm and study him in Race 1 without taking any risks. That was useful for me in Race 2. In the end I finished in the same position, but I'm learning lap after lap. Like I always say, the Aprilia RSV4 was made to win, and only when I reach that goal will I be able to be 100% satisfied.”

For Round 3 in three weekends’ time, Haslam and Torres will head to MotorLand Aragon in Spain which is the first of two home tracks for Torres this season.