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.”
Kiko Giles