Wagner ready for wildcard debut

Aiden Wagner is closing in on his life-long dream of competing in the world’s highest road racing stage when the 2014 Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix explodes into life at Phillip Island.

Aiden is Australia’s sole wildcard in the Moto2 race at Phillip Island -- Max Croker is a late withdrawal with sponsorship woes -- and recently returned from a very successful private test with the Marc VDS Racing Team at the Almeria circuit in southern Spain

“It was an amazing experience,” said a delighted Aiden on his return. “The team did everything to make us feel welcome and we were their guests at the Aragon GP as well.  I could not ever wish to have a better team than Marc VDS supporting me in my first grand prix.

“The Kalex bike was nothing like I have experienced and so different to the supersport machine I ride here. The grip levels of the Dunlop tyres are amazing, and the lean angles and corner speeds are something else.

“It was so much of a benefit to me. If I had waited until Phillip Island to ride the bike it would be completely different but now I have had time on the bike and know its characteristics, I will be fully prepared from the first session at the Island to go hard.”

The test was interrupted by rain and he only completed 30 laps, but Wagner still impressed the team with how quick he adapted to the bike and the lap times he managed to achieve.

One interested on-looker was Marc VDS rider and current Moto2 world championship leader Esteve “Tito” Rabat, who provided some tips and insider knowledge on riding the bike.

“Tito was fantastic as he showed me a few things and also helped with my riding style as I changed that a little with the way the bike was set up,” the 20-year-old Queenslander explained. “The Kalex is so agile it is surprising. Tito also looked at me out on track and offered some help in corner speed and lines as it is the most critical part of riding the GP bike.

“They have a similar horsepower to my 600 but the lap times are so much faster due to the frame and electronics and much faster corner speed.”

The 2014 Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix kicks off on Friday, October 17, with the three world championship races for Moto3, Moto3 and MotoGP to be held on the Sunday. There will also be national-level superbike and supersport support races during the three days, as well as two rounds of the 2014 Australian Supercross Championship.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.motogp.com.au.