Before departing for the long tour in Japan, Australia and Malaysia, the MotoGP championship will take on the penultimate European race on the 2016 calendar. The race will be hosted by Motorland Aragón, a 5,078 metre circuit located in Alcañiz in the autonomous community of Aragona. It is a very complex track, fast thanks to the long straight, but demanding for riders and vehicles alike.
The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini is taking on the Spanish round after good performance in Misano, with Bautista riding his RS-GP straight through to Q2 and then to a top 10 race finish. The Spanish rider and his teammate, Stefan Bradl, tackled two days of tests on the Valencia circuit, both to continue developing the new chassis configurations introduced in recent races and to assess electronic updates aimed mostly at perfecting the V4 engine’s power delivery.
Bautista: Aragon has different characteristics
“I am coming to one of my home rounds highly motivated, especially after the good performance at Misano, going through to Q2 and having a race pace that took us into the top 10. We will pick up from here with the goal of being competitive and improving even more. It will not be easy, but we will try our hardest. Aragón has very different characteristics. It is a complete layout where it will be essential to work well straight away on how to use the tyre, which is usually very stressed here”.
Bradl: The Valencia test gave us confidence
“It is difficult to predict how the RS-GP will perform here at Aragón. We will be able to tell only after the first practice session. I like the track; both the layout and the structures of the circuit are really interesting. There are many corners with different inclinations and direction changes. Overall, it is a fast track since there is also a long straight. I think that the confidence gained in Misano and the two days of testing at Valencia will help us take on this Spanish race with a good package”.
After securing a double podium at Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s second home Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli nearly two weeks ago, the team shapes up for the Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón. The fourteenth Grand Prix of the season at the MotorLand Aragón circuit holds a special significance as it’s not just a home race for Lorenzo but the team’s title sponsor, Movistar, has also taken title sponsorship of the Aragón round for a third year in succession.
After a strong race at his home Grand Prix where he secured second place, Rossi aims for another top result in Aragón, where he secured a podium finish in 2013 and 2015 with two third places. Over the last four races, he has been gradually reducing the margin to the championship leader to 43 points in the overall standings. This weekend the nine-time World Champion aims to hit the ground running on Friday, as he looks forward to another exciting battle with the frontrunners.
Teammate Lorenzo also arrives in Aragón with high hopes to continue the momentum of the last round at his penultimate home race of the season. His third place finish at the last round in Misano keeps the Mallorcan in third place in the championship, 18 points behind his teammate. He is eager to add another podium result to his tally at the MotorLand Aragón circuit, scoring two consecutive wins over the last two years, two second places in 2012 and 2013, and a third place podium finish in 2011.
The MotorLand Aragón circuit was added to the MotoGP calendar in 2010 and was given the IRTA Best Grand Prix of the Year award that same year. Situated near the town of Alcañiz in Northern Spain, the track is only a few hours drive from Barcelona and draws thousands of fans. The fast and challenging 5.1 km long circuit, with ten left and seven right corners and a 968 m longest straight, has one of the most spectacular elevation changes of the season and multiple flowing corners, making finding the right set-up vital.
Rossi: I really like the track but it’s not one of my favourites
“Even though I wanted to win in Misano, I can say that it was a good race anyway. In all the next races we will do our best to get always the best result, just like we did in Misano. The only thing that interests me now is to do good races. In Aragón we will have to work well from day one, as we have been doing this entire season. This circuit has fast corners and hard braking, so it will be important to have a good bike, with a perfect set-up. I really like the track and, even if it is not one of my favourites, we will try to do our best.”
Lorenzo: I’m eager to fight
“Despite the high expectations in Misano, we finally could come back to the podium after some bad races. In Misano we worked really well throughout the weekend but ultimately Dani and Vale were faster than us. At least we got another podium and we found the line regarding the setting with the bike. Now it’s time to go to Aragón. This track never suits our bike perfectly but over the last years we were able to win several times so you never know, especially this season with the new tyres everything is challenging and tricky. I’m eager to fight on home soil and I will try to taste victory again.”
Fresh from Dani Pedrosa’s convincing victory at Misano and a productive day of testing at the same track two days later, the Repsol Honda Team arrives in Aragón for round 14 of the Championship, the last on European soil before the traditional trio of flyaway races – Japan, Australia and Malaysia – and the subsequent return to Spain for the season-ending Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana.
The ultra-modern 5.077 km track, which comprises 17 turns (10 lefts and seven rights) and a long straight of 968 m, hosted its first Grand Prix in 2010. Since then, current Championship leader Marc Marquez, who lives less than 200 kilometres from the track, has won on two occasions – in 2011 in Moto2 and in 2013 in MotoGP – and taken second in 2012 (Moto2). Dani has only raced in MotoGP at Aragón, winning once, in 2012, and finishing second three times: in 2010, 2011 and last year, when he came out on top of a great battle with Valentino Rossi.
One of the most unpredictable and hard-fought Championships ever currently sees Honda leading the Rider, Constructor and Team standings, having won four of the last six races, with four different Honda riders.
Marquez: Aragon is a circuit I Like
Aragón is a circuit that I like more than Misano, and I think it suits my riding style better. That said, it’s also true that a particularity of this year is that things may change a lot from race to race, so we’ll see if we’re able to manage things well and if we can have a good weekend. We’ll approach the race ready to adapt to the situation we encounter, but of course we’ll try to fight for the podium again in front of my home crowd and my fan club.”
Pedrosa: We must remain totally focused
“Of course we’ll arrive at Aragón in a good mood, as things that had already started getting better a couple of races earlier went perfectly at Misano, and we were able to achieve a great result. Anyway, it’s important that we keep our feet on the ground, as the races are very close and hard-fought this year. We must remain totally focused on our job and on our goals, which are to continue building on the base setup we’ve been working on lately and to find the pace to stay at the front. My fan club will be here and I’ll try my best to put on a good show for the fans.”
The 2016 Moto2 World Championship resumes this weekend at Motorland Aragon, in Spain, with Sam Lowes and the Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 called to get a good result after the two setbacks suffered at Silverstone and Misano.
Despite the lack of results, in England and on the Adriatic Coast Lowes showed the potential to fight for a podium finish, therefore at Aragon the target is to fight once again for the top position, in order to collect important points for the standings, which now sees the 26-year-old British rider in fourth place with 137 points.
Lowes: The test at Valencia was productive
“We head to Aragon determined to get a good result: I like the track a lot and I can’t wait to be back on track and start working together with the team. After the race at Misano we moved to Valencia for two days of testing that proved very productive: we worked hard, trying many solutions together with Kalex and Ohlins, getting a good feedback and maintaining a good pace. Therefore we look with confidence to this weekend’s Grand Prix!”.
The Generalitat of the Comunitat Valenciana and Dorna Sports are pleased to announce the season finale of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship is set to remain at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia for another five years. The agreement to renew the circuit’s place on the MotoGP™ calendar was recently reached between the President of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, the Councillor for Education, Research, Culture and Sport, Vicent Marzà, and CEO of Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta and has been announced this morning in Valencia with all the parts involved.
The unique and arena-like Circuit Ricardo Tormo has become a favourite on the calendar with its record of season-ending showdowns, with the visibility and atmosphere provided by the venue proving something unique since it first hosted the final event in 2002. The history made so far at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo will now continue for another five exciting seasons of MotoGP™ action; confirmed until the end of 2021, with the new contract finalized two months ahead of the end of the current agreement.
President of the Generalitat Ximo Puig praised the stability of the new agreement for the Gran Premio de la Comunidad Valenciana, and the triple impact of the event in terms of sport, economy and tourism: “We are going to do everything possible to make the most of the Valencia GP and to assure the efficiency of how any public resources are used.”
“We are thrilled that MotoGP will be returning to Valencia for another five years,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports. “The new agreement to return to the track is fantastic for the Championship, for the Comunitat Valenciana and for fans both in the region and worldwide, with the Circuit Ricardo Tormo always providing a unique and memorable event to end the season.”
The track has been host to many thrilling races across all classes, including both the 2006 and 2015 MotoGP seasons, the 2009 250cc title decider and also the last French premier class win with Regis Laconi, back in 1999.
MotorLand Aragon hosts this weekend round 14 of the 2016 Moto3 World Championship: after having narrowly missed out on victory with Enea Bastianini and collecting another positive Top Ten finish with Fabio Di Giannantonio at Misano, the Gresini Racing Team Moto3 arrives in Spain confident to get another good result.
Bastianini, in particular, is going through a period of great form and he’s keen to attack Championship leader Brad Binder and try to get a win, which he missed out at Misano for just a few tenths under the checkered flag. The 18-year-old rider from Rimini, now second in the overall standings, enjoyed a great race at Aragon in 2015, setting the pole position with the new track record and fighting in the leading group until the final corners, when a contact with Binder led him to crash.
Aragon promises to be a favorable track also for Fabio Di Giannantonio: the 17-year-old rookie from Rome got the last of his three victories last year in the MotoGP Rookies Cup on the Spanish track. Always in the Top Ten in the last eight races, “Diggia” will try to bring home other important points in the fight for the “Rookie of the Year” trophy, in which he is opposed to Nicolò Bulega and Joan Mir.
Bastianini: I’ve always liked Aragon
“Aragon is a track I’ve always liked a lot and last year we have been very competitive: after starting from pole position, I was fighting for the win on the final lap, when unfortunately I made a mistake touching Binder and crashing. This year we will try to be fast right from the start of the weekend, as it’s happening lately, in order to work well and get prepared for the race. Binder has a great advantage in the standings, but we still try to attack and we won’t give up until the math keeps us in the game!”.
Di Giannantonio: I expected better in Misano
“Honestly I was expecting to get a better result at Misano, although all in all we again hit the target to enter the top ten. Aragon is a track that I quite like and I know very well, having raced there for two seasons in the MotoGP Rookies Cup. Therefore we head to Spain ready to have fun and to do our best to get a good result!”.
Seeing as I was stationed in the ePayMe Yamaha Racing camp over the Friday and Saturday, I decided I was going to do a Q&A with the former MotoGP podium finisher, so that’s exactly what I did. John Hopkins speaks to me about the BSB world in comparison to MotoGP, his 2017 plans and also how his former rivalry with Tommy Hill still drives him on today.
How does the Yamaha compare to a GP bike and other Superbikes?
Well to be honest, it’s hard to compare any Superbike with a MotoGP bike because the contrasts are so big, even though they were even bigger before! They are getting closer nowadays and I have to say, this Yamaha is definitely the closest Superbike I have ridden in comparison to a GP bike. GP bikes are extremely rigid and tend to have really stiff chassis, meaning you feel everything from the circuit. The Yamaha has a very rigid chassis but yeah, it’s definitely not a million miles off the characteristics of a GP bike.
On a whole, what’s the difference between MotoGP and BSB?
British Superbikes is definitely more family friendly and less commercial. It is way more corporate in MotoGP. The fan base over here in BSB is absolutely amazing and I would say it is by far the best and most competitive domestic Superbike championship anywhere in the world. The BSB crowd attendances embarrass the WSBK series; the World championship has a lot of catching up to do because a lot of the tracks they go to, they really struggle with pulling people into the stands. Rain or shine, BSB is thriving and we always seem to get a really good turn out and as a rider, I’m really grateful for that.
How do you keep fit, seeing as the bikes get more powerful and harder to handle?
I like to stay fit by riding and keeping active on two wheels. Motocross has always been my passion and it was my first love before I even got into racing so yeah, I am always motocrossing at every chance I get as well as mountain biking. When I was in MotoGP, the teams and factories always wanted me to be cautious in case I did myself an injury but I would never sign a contract if it meant I had to stay away from a motocross bike.
Do you see yourself returning to the world stage?
Right now, I still feel like a have a point to prove in British Superbikes and you know, where ever it goes from there we will see. I do kind of miss the world stage in terms of seeing the countries and going on the big, Grand Prix circuits but now I have a wife and two kids, it is nice being at my home away from home and being able to have a base in the UK. I mean, most of the WSBK circuits are in Europe anyway so yeah, we will see how it goes but right now, I’m still enjoying BSB and like I’ve said, I have a point to prove.
Where do you think you could have been without the injuries?
Well, I’d like to say we would be well within the top six and in the showdown at this stage of this season if I hadn’t injured myself at Knockhill. I think the following circuits after my injuries are by far my favourite circuits in BSB. Thruxton, Snetterton are all my favourite circuits and I am gutted not to have more of a say in the title. My plan now is to be in an imaginary showdown and try and sign off this year on a high!
What are your 2017 plans?
I would like to stay in BSB on a competitive package, I haven’t signed anything yet but we have had a couple of offers but my main focus at the moment is to finish off this season and try and do the best I can. I have the pace and I know I can be competitive on a good bike.
How does your previous rivalry with Tommy impact on your working relationship?
It’s just banter really. At the time it was obviously serious, and he could have been my worst enemy. We both had our race faces on and it wasn’t anything personal, it was just the fact that we both wanted the same thing. There are absolutely no regrets, it happened the way it was supposed to, as it was all clean and to just be a part in that championship season was absolutely amazing! That is one of the races that is still driving me today to try and succeed and win the BSB championship. If it came down to a last lap scrap this year and the rider I was battling with needed a win then I wouldn’t do something stupid but I am also riding for myself. I haven’t signed a deal just yet. I have respect for other riders but I am here for myself right now.
Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko
Photo Credit to Gareth Davies, for yet another fabulous image.
Stephane Sarrazin (FRA) Mike Conway (GBR) and Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Toyota Racing TS050 World Endurance Championship. 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas, USA. 14th-17th September 2016
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing earned another podium finish after a strong performance in a closely-fought 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas, the sixth round of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The #6 TS050 HYBRID of Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi finished third for their fourth podium of 2016, finishing just 26.096secs behind the winner after an exciting victory battle between all three LMP1 hybrid manufacturers.
Toyota Racing TS050 World Endurance Championship. 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas, USA. 14th-17th September 2016
Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima in the #5 suffered another unfortunate race, with several minor issues combining to keep it out of the podium fight, finishing in fifth.
The race had started promisingly for the #5, when Sébastien moved from sixth on the grid to fourth place during a charging first stint under blazing sunshine and with air temperatures over 35°C.
Mike took the start in the #6 and ran sixth during the opening stint before handing over to Kamui at the first pit stops. At the same time, great pit work on the #5 allowed Anthony to emerge in third, an issue on the wastegate of the turbo began to compromise performance and the #5 slipped to sixth by the 90-minute mark.
Toyota Racing TS050 World Endurance Championship. 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas, USA. 14th-17th September 2016
As darkness fell and the race reached half distance, the #5 lost more time when a damaged front end was changed after Kazuki’s stint, then suffered again soon after when a rear left puncture forced an unplanned pit stop for Sébastien.
But the #6 was lapping very quickly and continuing to push the Porsches. Mike took fourth place before dramas for the #8 Audi helped Kamui, now at the wheel, to run third as the race entered its final two hours.
That became second, with the #5 also moving up a place when the #7 crashed as the close fight at the front began to take its toll. A three-way fight between three different manufacturers for victory developed in the final hour.
Stéphane took over from Kamui for the final stint in third place, with the Audi #8 not changing tyres during its last stop. Stéphane had fresh tyres and pushed to close the gap, with the race leader also not far away.
A fighting performance in the final laps saw the gap close, but second place was just out of reach, with Stéphane taking the chequered flag only 2.455secs behind the second-placed Audi #8 and 26.096secs behind the winning Porsche #1. Sébastien brought the #5 home two laps down in fifth.
Stephane Sarrazin (FRA) Mike Conway (GBR) and Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Toyota Racing TS050 World Endurance Championship. 6 Hours of Circuit of The Americas Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas, USA. 14th-17th September 2016
TOYOTA will now travel with optimism to its home race, the 6 Hours of Fuji on 16 October, which takes place just a few kilometres from the Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre where the 1,000hp TOYOTA HYBRID System – Racing is developed and built.
Toshio Sato, Team President: “I am pleased with our performance here in Austin. We have focused all week on race pace and it paid off today because we showed strong performance. It was a great fight with Porsche and Audi all the way to the end of an exciting race. I am particularly proud of the job done by everyone in the team, especially considering how difficult it has been in this heat. Our quick pit stops and effective strategy helped to achieve a strong result. This has been a good step towards our home race at Fuji Speedway, where we want to give our Japanese fans and colleagues a result to enjoy.”
Anthony Davidson: “That was another disappointing day for car #5. It feels like we just keep getting bad luck. We had a technical issue which hindered our performance and seemed to get worse as the race progressed. We just had to keep fighting and do the best we could, which was fifth.”
Sébastien Buemi: “Congratulations to car #6; they had a strong race and another podium which is good. For us it was another tough race. We were up to third after the first stop and it looked good, but then we had some technical issues and we had no chance after that. Nothing is going our way at the moment but we will try to change this in the next race.”
Kazuki Nakajima: “It was a difficult race for us. We had many small issues and it just wasn’t possible to overcome that. So it was more bad luck for us in a tough season but that’s life; we just need to get on and keep pushing. It’s our home race next so we will pick ourselves up and fight for a good result.”
TS050 HYBRID #6 (Stéphane Sarrazin, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi)
Stéphane Sarrazin: “It was an incredible race. Kamui, Mike and me did a strong job and the team gave us a good car. Our pace just got better through the race and the last hour was incredible. We were really competitive today. Audi have been so fast this weekend so to be so close is a positive sign. Now we keep pushing for our home race.”
Mike Conway: “I’m very happy to be on the podium again, for the fourth time this season. Our car came alive halfway through the race when we had strong pace. It was nice to see the pace we could get out of the car today. Stéphane and Kamui did a great job and the mechanics as well were really good in such tough conditions.”
Kamui Kobayashi: “I am pleased with our performance. We closed the gap to Audi and Porsche at the end and were part of an exciting race. I appreciate the job from the mechanics who did great pit stops and thanks to the whole team for helping us to be on the podium for the second race in a row; we had absolutely no mistakes.”
6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas results:
1st #1 Porsche (Bernhard/Webber/Hartley) 186 laps
2nd #8 Audi (di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis) +23.641secs
3rd #6 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +26.096secs
4th #2 Porsche (Dumas/Jani/Lieb) +1 lap
5th #5 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +2 laps
6th #7 Audi (Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer +6 laps
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 2016 Results:
Silverstone: #5: Qualifying 6th; Race 16th / #6 Qualifying 5th; Race 2nd.
Spa: #5: Qualifying 5th; Race 26th / #6 Qualifying 3rd; Race DNF.
Le Mans: #5: Qualifying 4th; Race NC / #6 Qualifying 3rd; Race 2nd.
Nürburgring: #5: Qualifying 6th; Race 5th/ #6 Qualifying 5th; Race 6th.
Mexico: #5: Qualifying 5th; Race DNF/ #6 Qualifying 6th; Race 3rd.
COTA: #5: Qualifying 6th; Race 5th/ #6 Qualifying 4th; Race 3rd.
Red Bull have performed well in Singapore in previous visits to the Marina Bay circuit and this weekend was no different.
Daniel Ricciardo began the race on the front row in second behind Niko Rosberg and despite starting the race on softer tyres the Australian was incapable of passing the German in the Mercedes who subsequently went on to win the race and leapfrog Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship.
“I pushed so much at the end on the supersoft and really tried to do something but it wasn’t close enough. I don’t really leave here with any regrets. Obviously we came here to win and we didn’t but I felt we left it all on the track, “said the 26-year-old Red Bull driver.
Despite completing the race in second, Ricciardo’s podium finish means it was the third year in a row that the Australian has exceeded expectations in Singapore:
“We did everything we could and I thought it was pretty much a perfect race. The only thing that would have been better was to get Nico at the start.”
Verstappen had yet another meagre start and the Dutchman had an intriguing battle with Daniil Kyvat but he ended the race in sixth to extend Red Bull’s lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship:
“I had a bad start, it wasn’t as bad as Monza but it wasn’t good, which is disappointing. I had a lot of wheel spin and then with Hulkenberg spinning in front of me,
“I had to brake even more which compromised my whole start. I got stuck behind slower cars in front of me and after three or four laps you lose the advantage and it completely destroys the tyres,“ said the 18-year-old.
Team Principal Christian Horner was happy with his team’s performance over the exciting circuit in Singapore:
“A really exciting finish to a long and hard grand prix but tyres and strategy were always going to be key.
“Overall a positive weekend, we’ve extended our lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, we’ve scored another second place finish and produced an enthralling end to the grand prix.”
I was honoured and humbled when I was invited into the garage of the ePayMe Yamaha Team, which is run by Tommy Hill, the 2011 BSB champion. I was even more honoured to interview this incredible man about his past in BSB, his views on BSB and his future plans, including next season. Find out what Hill is thinking in terms of 2017 and also, what he wants from the remaining rounds of this years campaign.
What made you retire early in your career?
There wasn’t a definitive reason to be fair, there was a lot of factors contributing to it. I’d been riding a bike since I was six years old so the decision was massively difficult. There was a positive in finishing at the top of my game and also a negative; the negative being that you have to live with that and still feel like you could do a good job if you jumped straight back on a bike.
I’m involved with a new race team now, doing something completely different. I had a boy, got married and had a normal life really. It was a really difficult decision but I thought ‘I’m just going to have a normal life for a bit now’. Every day of my life was spent racing bikes or doing something around bikes. If I had a bad weekend and finished 4th, then I would be straight out the next day training and dieting and all in all, putting myself under a lot of unnecessary pressure. I wanted to know, myself as a racer, that I left that race meeting knowing I couldn’t have done anything more. It was lot to do with stress and I just fancied a break as it was taking its toll.
How has BSB changed from a riders point of view?
Every year something changes, whether that be a compound change in the tyre, a different spec of ECU, rule changes to make things simpler, but a lot of the rules were introduced for teams like ours so that it was more affordable. Some teams agree on the rule changes, others don’t. Generally, the people who disagree tend to be part of big teams with big budgets as it limits their spending and development to a certain extent. It makes it easier for teams like THM Yamaha to come into the championship and then challenge at the sharp end. To give you an idea on budget, in 2006 a top team was running on £1.5m a year and now the top teams are running on £600k. The introduction of the one bike rule has had a big part to play.
Did you find the one bike per rider rule pressurising?
100%! You over think it a lot more with just one bike and obviously it puts more pressure on the crew but that’s when you rely on the crew to work quickly and use all the spare parts. However, budget determines how many spare parts you have and how many pre-assembled parts you have too. It doesn’t take the risk element away so much, as when you go out there on track, you still have a job to do and you will push to the limit and do whatever it takes. If you go down then you go down, it is what it is.
Why is BSB so close?
Well there used to be more competition between tyres, ECU etc but now that is all controlled, it has made the series closer. Everyone is on the same tyres, ECU, most teams use the same suspension and all that together makes the times better and that hopefully creates a better spectacle at home.
What is the difference between management last year to ownership this year?
Last year, I was supposed to have ownership of the team as well and that’s mainly the reason why I wanted to do it. I wanted to make sure that we have something at the end of it all, as there isn’t a lot of money in this sport anymore. You’ve got to try and make a business out of what you have outside of the racing. I had a lot of the stresses last season, as I was loyal to the team, the budget and our sponsors. I helped secure pretty much all of the sponsors last season, so I was loyal to them too and a lot of my sponsors are my friends and part of my history. For me, it is very similar to last year; I’m honest to myself, to my team and to our partners and at least at the end of the year I can say, ‘well, I made the right decisions for the right reasons’. There is no major difference as long as you are loyal and honest.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Yamaha?
The Yamaha has a fantastic chassis; it turns well and finishes the corners really well but sometimes the only downside is that Yamaha will never produce the most horsepower but the overall package is very, very good. With the championship so close this year with the rules, it makes it harder for our riders to get to where they need to be, which is when you rely on the rider to do a bit more and the crew also. It’s all about making the most of what you got.
How do you think your riders have been this season?
John is really pumped up now, he’s been great in the last couple of races but it’s getting to the point now where we need to start seeing results. Whether we put pressure on the riders or not, we need better results. We know we have the package, the team and the rider and it really is a matter of ‘when’. It’s been majorly frustrating as nothing has come to fruition. Everything looks good, feels good and now we just need that final product. One positive is that when John crashed out of the last round, he was up the field and battling for the podium, so the pace is there. It has been annoying because we have had different riders, who have different styles so therefore it’s hard to gather reliable data, but it is what it is.
Does your team enjoy having a control tyre supplier?
There is another front compound of tyre, however that is only available in the WSBK paddock. We have two specifications of front and rear but in WSBK they have four. We are working with what we have but it could be a lot better if we could get access to the other spec of front tyre. When you are trying to find 0.2/0.3s, then a different tyre could be better because it can give you half a second! We would rather see more variation in the control tyre supplier than more tyre suppliers and less variation within that brand. We are working with the best we have but we believe that there are better compounds out there.
What are the plans for 2017?
I signed a two-year deal with ePayMe at the start of this season and also a two-year deal with Yamaha, so that will stay the same. We hope that Yamaha could step up a bit more and give us more technical support and hopefully more financial support to move us a bit further up the grid. For me, we may be doing a good job as a new team but I think we could be doing better. We aren’t in talks with John yet but there have been riders calling me, which is great! One of them is an ex-British champion and for me that is quite reassuring to know that riders want to ride for us. I have also asked a few questions about Brad Ray but that is the most I’m saying on that!
How does your previous rivalry with John impact on your working relationship?
No not really. I respect John for losing the championship really. 0.006s later and it could have been me. I respect him and all the other riders but deep down we want John further up. Whatever it takes, I want him to win. As a rider, what you have to do is go to the bar, have a pint and think, ‘well this year wasn’t the year but next year will be’. It would be a dream for John to have won the championship with me this year; at the start of the year we genuinely thought that we would be in for a good season, but for whatever reasons, things just haven’t worked out. As a rider you need confidence, and as a team we are working well and the rider is working well with the team, so now all we need is a decent run of results.
Before departing for the long tour in Japan, Australia and Malaysia, the MotoGP championship will take on the penultimate European race on the 2016 calendar. The race will be hosted by Motorland Aragón, a 5,078 metre circuit located in Alcañiz in the autonomous community of Aragona. It is a very complex track, fast thanks to the long straight, but demanding for riders and vehicles alike.
The Generalitat of the Comunitat Valenciana and Dorna Sports are pleased to announce the season finale of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship is set to remain at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia for another five years. The agreement to renew the circuit’s place on the MotoGP™ calendar was recently reached between the President of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, the Councillor for Education, Research, Culture and Sport, Vicent Marzà, and CEO of Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta and has been announced this morning in Valencia with all the parts involved.
MotorLand Aragon hosts this weekend round 14 of the 2016 Moto3 World Championship: after having narrowly missed out on victory with Enea Bastianini and collecting another positive Top Ten finish with Fabio Di Giannantonio at Misano, the Gresini Racing Team Moto3 arrives in Spain confident to get another good result.
