Europe awaits for the Pull&Bear Aspar Team2017-05-02 08:38The Spanish Grand Prix welcomes the MotoGP World Championship to Europe this weekend after several months of intercontinental travel that has taken in preseason tests and the first three rounds of the season. Valentino Rossi arrives in Jerez as the series leader for the first time since after the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2015. The Italian has yet to score a win this season but he was on the podium in Qatar, Argentina and Austin, whilst his team-mate Maverick Viñales picked up a first DNF of the season in Texas to lose top spot. The Spaniard's crash, which followed two straight wins, coincided with a first victory of the season for his compatriot Marc Márquez, who lies third in the championship. Andrea Dovizioso, Cal Crutchlow, Dani Pedrosa and rookie pair Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger are the men in closest pursuit of the top three after the first three rounds of the season. Álvaro Bautista and Karel Abraham return to Jerez feeling confident after their successful winter test there last November. The Pull&Bear Aspar Team riders are hopeful of rediscovering the positive feelings they established at this circuit five months ago, although they are both conscious that track conditions will have altered in the meantime. The Spaniard holds happy memories of racing at this circuit with the Aspar Team, having scored his first Grand Prix victory there together some eleven years ago. Bautista is looking to reproduce the pace he showed in the opening two rounds of this season and put behind him the difficulties of the last round in Austin, where a combination of the weather, the track, the tyres and a crash on Sunday limited him to fifteenth position in the race. Karel Abraham travels to Jerez still in some discomfort, with pain in his ankle and neck after his crash at COTA, although he is confident he will be able to ride at his maximum level this weekend. Álvaro Bautista:“After three races outside of Europe to start the season we arrive at Jerez in positive mood because of how competitive we have been in Qatar and Argentina. In Qatar we ran out of luck but in Argentina we were able to demonstrate our potential. In Austin, however, we had a few more problems due to a combination of the weather, the circuit, the tyres... I just wasn't comfortable but in the race if it wasn't for the crash I think we could have been fighting in the top ten. The crash was inexplicable, but it is time to look ahead. Jerez is special for the Spanish riders, it is our home race and I have very good memories of this track because it was where I scored my first win in 125. It was my first race with the Aspar Team and we won it. Also, we found a good feeling there in the November tests and to be honest that was the moment I started to feel good with this bike, even though the track conditions were different to what we will encounter this weekend. We want to work well from Friday, try to find the same feeling again, enjoy riding the bike and we'll see what shape we are in for the race. Our goal this weekend is again to be fighting in the top five positions, which will be difficult but the home support will give us an extra boost. I am looking forward to working hard, making more improvements and starting the European leg of the season on the right foot.” Karel Abraham: “I am really excited about the race this weekend in Jerez because I have already ridden my Ducati there in the test last November and I think this could be a good weekend for us, also because I really like the track. I am still recovering from the crash in Austin – my knee is quite good but the ankle is still quite swollen and painful, although it shouldn't be a problem on the bike. Luckily we are not marathon runners, we are motorcycle racers. My neck muscles are also improving every day so I think that when we get to Jerez I will be almost 100%”. Source: AsparTeam Click here to visit our forums to discuss this story |
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