Repsol riders in the Motorcycle World Championship eager for Jerez

The Repsol riders of the Motorcycle World Championship are ready to land at the Jerez Circuit, where the second round of the world championship season, the Spanish Grand Prix, will take place, so everyone is set for the first race on European soil.

It is also an important day for one of them, as Dani Pedrosa celebrates his 100th Grand Prix in the premier class, and he does so at one of his favorite tracks, where he has always stood on the podium over the last 7 years, so he has Jerez figured out. As if that were not enough, he arrives full of energy after his race in Qatar, where, after all the problems over the weekend, he secured second place in the race with a most interesting performance.

For his part, Casey Stoner, the 2011 world champion, arrives eager to put right the small problems he had in Qatar, where after leading almost the entire race he gradually lost pace and watched Lorenzo and Pedrosa overtake him. Now he comes to this second race with his batteries recharged and ready to give 100%, so watch out for the Australian, who wants the first win of the season.

In the Moto2 category we have Marc Márquez, who arrives at this round with good feelings but without lowering his guard. He knows that in his class there are many riders with the potential and strength to win, and that they will give him a fight, so it is best to stay focused and take it step by step at Jerez. Besides, the Andalusian track has not gone very well for him lately, so he hopes to change that and get a good result.

Meanwhile, in Moto3, Miguel Oliveira and Álex Rins will head out to keep getting to grips with their machines, but with a desire to do more, especially the Portuguese rider, who crashed in the first round in Qatar. For his part, Rins will try to score points again and keep improving day by day, and he returns to a track he knows from the CEV, so the young rider will put up a fight. They will not be alone either, as Marc Márquez’s brother, Álex Márquez, will make the first wildcard appearance of those planned for this season for the Estrella Galicia 0.0 team, and he does so full of energy after celebrating his birthday yesterday and winning in Navarra last Sunday.

Statements from Dani Pedrosa:

The preseason test at Jerez was positive and we finished happy. We had good feelings on the bike, so I am really looking forward to racing at the Grand Prix. We have to be very focused and put in a good qualifying performance so we can start well in the race.

Starting the championship well is important, but we have to stay concentrated. I like the circuit, I always feel my fans’ support very close, so I hope to be able to put in a good race. The fans always give so much and I hope that this year we have the circuit full again, since racing there is always very exciting.

Statements from Casey Stoner:

After the difficult race in Qatar, I am looking forward to going to Jerez. We did some very good testing in preseason, and it is a circuit that has not gone very well for me in the past, so the fact that we were able to lap at a good pace in the tests gives us a lot of confidence. We still have some problems we need to solve, especially the chatter on corner entry and exit, and once we manage to fix it we will have a very competitive package.

After the first Grand Prix I have been treating the arm pump problem and I feel much better. I have followed the same treatment I used when I suffered from it at Silverstone in 2010 and I hope it will not be a problem this weekend.

Statements from Marc Márquez:

We arrive at Jerez happy and motivated. The win in Qatar gives us a lot of confidence, but we have to be careful because the pressure and the desire to do well in front of all the Spanish fans can take their toll. The Jerez Circuit is a track where we have already ridden in preseason and there are many riders who are fast, so we will have to be one hundred percent focused to try to have a good weekend.

Statements from Miguel Oliveira:

It will be a more complicated Grand Prix than the one in Qatar, because in the preseason tests we ended up a bit further from the best times. I trust the team and I am sure we will get a very competitive bike setup so we can be up front. I liked the circuit more with the 125cc; with the Moto3 bike I still struggle a little, maybe because we had some chassis problems in preseason, but I am sure we will improve.

Statements from Álex Rins:

This Grand Prix will be totally different from the one in Qatar. The schedules are back to normal and I know the circuit. We were riding there in preseason and did quite well; let’s see if we can find a good pace and do the best we can. I hope to be able to ride fast from the first free practice sessions and keep improving the bike to try to be in the front positions. It is one of my favorite circuits, quite fast with a couple of slow corners. I think I can do well.

Statements from Álex Márquez:

This Friday I make my debut at Jerez and I am really looking forward to it, because it is a very special circuit for me. Besides, I will be competing alongside great riders who are faster than those of us in the CEV. I am going to try to enjoy it, learn as much as possible and gain experience. I have not prepared in any special way, I am treating it as if it were a CEV race.

Right now I am calm, although in the moments before the race and on the starting grid I will certainly be more nervous. I am sure that with the team we will do a great job and be able to get a good result.

Source | Repsol Media Service