Category: Crew On Two

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Shakey – A Tribute to a Champion

 

Shane Byrne took an emphatic double win at Donington Park to not only take back top spot in the standings, but to go more than 25 points clear than nearest rival Leon Haslam, However, this is more of an opinion article and not a race report. Is Shane Byrne the greatest BSB rider of all time?

His career started back in 1999, when the Londoner jumped on a very old, privateer Kawasaki. However, he rode the wheels off it, and the next season, he was given the all new SP1 Honda. A year littered with injuries meant that he didn’t utilise neither his nor the bike’s potential. We must remember that this was the same bike that Colin Edwards was winning on in WSBK and that Joey Dunlop had won his last TT on. For 2001, he joined the Performance House Suzuki, achieving five top-5 finishes.

But, the best was yet to come. In 2002, Shakey jumped aboard Mark Griffiths’ Highland Spring Renegade Ducati, alongside experienced BSB star, Michael Rutter. The year was also a big year for the team; Griffiths had decided to enter the world of road racing, with the first event being the North West 200. Rutter crashed out of both Superbike races, the second one of which he crashed out with more than a minute lead to his advantage.

Things would improve back in England though, as Byrne romped to his first win of his career in tricky Donington Park conditions in just his 5th race of the year. He crashed out dramatically at Snetterton when he wiped out teammate Michael Rutter, but was gifted a win at Knockhill, one of the most intense final laps in BSB history. The late, great Steve Hislop was leading by a narrow margin from Michael Rutter, with Byrne just two seconds back in 3rd. On the run out of the Clark’s, Rutter went wide, all but ending his chances of victory. Then, Michael did the unthinkable. In a desperate attempt to win the race, the Midlander went for the gap that Steve Hislop didn’t leave. Rutter the Nutter went into the back of Hislop at final corner of the final lap, wiping them both out. 40,000 Scots were stunned. Byrne inherited the win, his 2nd of what was to turn out to be an illustrious career.

In 2003, Byrne dominated the championship and wrapped it up with a few races to go at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. He left Superbike racing altogether for two seasons as he went to MotoGP. Uncompetitive machinery and injury plagued his first year in 2004, despite leading a race briefly at Mugello. In 2005, he joined the KTM team which was a disaster from the off.

Every British Superbike fan smiled when the news was announced Byrne would be back in the championship on a Rizla Suzuki for 2006. It wasn’t his best season, but a win at Knockhill proved that he still had what it takes to become a champion once more. In 2007, he moved back to the PBM team, winning races on the Stobart Honda, but that wasn’t enough for Shakey; he left the team once more and joined up with Ducati specialist Colin Wright, who won back to back titles in 1999 and 2000 with Troy Bayliss and Neil Hodgson.

2008 was a Shakey season. Dominating from start to finish, Byrne won title number two at Silverstone. However, like in 2003, Byrne would not stay around to defend his title and was snapped up by the Sterilgada Ducati team in World Superbikes. One podium meant that Byrne didn’t particularly shine, but he stayed in the championship to join Carlos Checa at Althea Unibat Ducati. However, the WSBK championship was a lost cause, and in 2011, it was announced that he would return to BSB for the 2nd time.

HM Plant Honda was the team of choice this time, but after a run of bad luck at the start of the year, Byrne wasn’t able to take it to Hill and Hopkins at Brands Hatch. He won the final race of the year and finished 3rd overall. He left the team to join Paul Bird Kawasaki, where he has stayed ever since, although now, it’s a Ducati.

Byrne has accumulated an incredible 77 wins in his career, which leads me to ask the question: has anyone ever been so successful and will anyone ever match him in the future? He has maintained the same level of enthusiasm year in, year out, something that is a skill in itself.

He always makes time for his fans too. I met him for the first time back in 2008 and he has remained one of my favourites ever since. I met him at Donington Park in 2016 and yet again, he was well up for the selfies and for signing the tops of his fans. Even after the years of being stopped in the paddock, he still finds the will to meet his fans. And it isn’t fake either. A lot of riders now do it because it’s “good PR stunts” or “because they have to” but Shakey is different; Byrne is genuinely happy to be stopped in the paddock and will often go out of his way for his fans. And that is a very rare gem.

It’s also Byrne’s on-track heroics that make him one of the most liked riders of the paddock. Named “Shakey” because of his style in his early days, I would call him “Smooth” but that’s not quite right either. He rides the wheels off everything he races, he’s even more determined now than he was before. Look at Silverstone this year; he almost chucked himself off the bike going for the inside line to win the 2nd race of the day, in the most incredible finish ever in BSB (that didn’t decide a title).

However, some say that Byrne hasn’t helped BSB because of his domination and four championships. However, because this is an opinion article, I don’t particularly share that view. If anything, I think that Shakey has made the sport even more popular. His incredible flamboyancy and his heart-warming personality makes him one of the biggest stars, not only in BSB but in World championships.

To conclude with, I’d like to say that Shakey has made us all realise just how hard it is to ride one of these beasts. He has re-invented himself every year with different bikes in different eras, on different tracks with different rules. He has won with and without the showdown, on Ducati and Kawasaki, against all kinds of opposition from all series worldwide. He has highlighted that to be the best, you have to better yourself, even if you were King of the Castle one year previous. He has made step changes, even at the age of 39, to be at the top of the standings and to be the best he can possibly be. One of the most versatile riders in motorcycle racing history, Byrne has contributed to make British Superbikes one of the most attended sports series, not just in the UK, but across Europe, and without doubt made it a ‘class to be in’ for all motorcycle racers coming through the ranks. Thank you Shane, for the memories you have provided us with, continue to provide us with and we all hope you keep providing us with in the future.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

Photo Credit to Gareth Davies

Rizla Suzuki Photo Credit to Suzuki Racing Archives

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Suzuki riders at Aragon, Concerned by ‘Tricky Weather’

Team Suzuki Ecstar heads back to Spain this weekend for the third time this year and the last European race before the overseas leg of the MotoGP™ Championship. The spectacular Motorland Aragon circuit will be the scene of the 14th round, with its variety of characteristics that makes it very challenging for technicians and demanding but fun for the riders.

Maverick Viñales arrives in Alcañiz after the historic victory at Silverstone and a solid race in Misano. The previous round in Sam Marino had been a positive performance on a circuit where the characteristics of the track weren’t the most suitable for the GSX-RR; fifth place gave him positive points for the championship, but also signalled the capabilities of the team to finalise a well-performing machine.

The Spanish round in Aragon will also be a good change for improvements for Aleix Espargaró. His struggle to finalise an effective strategy influenced his race in Misano, in particular the feeling with the front tyre, but the characteristics of the Motorland circuit will give him another chance to continue with the good steps forward he has made in the latest races.

The Motorland Circuit of Aragon is a modern facility that was remodelled in 2010 to fulfil the security and standards requested by the MotoGP™ organisation. The origins of the Grand Prix have their roots in a solid history of street racing in Alcañiz and the circuit has hosted events between 1963 and 2003. Eventually it was modernised by renowned German circuit architect Hermann Tilke.

The track is 5.077km (3.16 miles) long and has 17 turns: 10 left-handers and seven right-handers. The longest straight is 968 m (3175.85 ft.) and the Grand Prix will be raced over 23 laps, which correspond to a total length of 116.8 km or 72.7 miles.

Maverick Viñales: We can fast in high temperatures
“The Motorland circuit is a very interesting one, it has a variety of areas that make it a demanding but fun layout. We arrive here with a positive feeling, the victory at Silverstone gave us an extra injection of confidence and in Misano we did the best we could considering the conditions. Also, Aragon is tricky regarding the weather; it could be cold or extremely hot. Some races ago we were more worried about hot temperatures, but after Misano we can approach this with more confidence, as we finally proved we can be competitive in high temperatures; and that was one of the things we were worried about previously.”

Aleix Espargaró: I feel really comfortable now
“Unfortunately in Misano I made the wrong choice of the tyre and this resulted in a bad race, but we had many positives from the work we’ve done. The machine has improved a lot and in many situations I feel really comfortable now. We are doing a good job and if we manage to make a further step we can be really competitive. Aragon will be important because it’s the last one before the three back-to-back races, and the circuit is a nice one. It is a mix of the most famous parts of many other circuits and this makes it very enjoyable to ride. Also, our machine is improving in performance and effectiveness so I hope we can enjoy more positive results.”
Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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EXCLUSIVE: James Rispoli: If you can do it in BSB, you can do it on the World

I was very lucky to be able to chat for ten minutes with America’s next World Champion. James Rispoli took himself and his flamboyant style up to BSB on the Anvil Hire Tag Racing Yamaha and despite finding it difficult, he’s determined to make it work in the remaining rounds. We talk all things MotoAmerica, the level of competition in BSB and his ambitions for the rest of his career!

How is this season going for you?

Well, it’s been far from the best but we keep pushing every session. We have had some good qualifying sessions, especially the 7th at Silverstone. At the beginning of the year, we had a massive tyre life issue, and we couldn’t really figure it out. We have managed to find some pace but just not been able to find a result. The class is so stacked this year, you could be half a second off and be 10th. We have been in positions where we were just 0.5 off but ended up 18th. Our aim is to get inside that 1 second bubble, which has been tough this year, but we are getting there. Right now, we are just preparing ourselves for next year.

How have you found then transition from Supersport and Superbike?

Well, it’s definitely not point and squirt on the Yamaha. If you do that then you will be going nowhere. It’s been tough at some of the circuits because their nature is point and squirt but for us we are trying to figure out how to ride the thing and it seems to show, as we are moving further up the order now.

How do you find racing in the UK after your time in the US?

I really enjoy it in the UK, it’s where I want to make home for a bit. The fans are amazing! There’s huge crowds, it has to be one of the most stacked championships in the world, it’s similar to Moto2. If you’re just a little bit off the pace, then you are nowhere.

How do you find having a teammate?

Last year it was brilliant because I had Andy Reid as a teammate and in every session last season, it was rare that we were more than a second apart at the front. It was great to look at his data and we would always recognise where one of us was faster. This year, it’s a different game. Shaun (Winfield) is doing really well as he is doing some of his best lap times but the series is that strong that you can’t really learn much. All in all, it’s been OK.

Do you get any support from the factory?

Not a lot if I’m honest. I do personally through my connections with Bradley Smith and stuff like that but nothing from the factory.

Do you see yourself as the next big American rider on the scene?

Yeah I mean that’s what I’m trying to do. I believe that if you can do it here then you’ll be able to do it on the world stage, and that’s no disrespect to any of the world guys, I just think that because both series are so strong, if you can go well on a good bike here then you’ll be able to go well on a good bike there. I’m not saying you’d be able to take it to Jonny Rea or anything like that but you could manage a top 10. BSB is great preparation for the world stage. It’s always been my dream to be a world champ, it’s just how do we put those steps in place. Cameron Beaubier and those guys are doing what they need to do; they’re making the best decisions they can at the time. Cameron has a factory Yamaha deal over in America and he’d be stupid to leave it, as he’s making good money.

Do you have much involvement with MotoAmerica?

No, I don’t actually. I used to bigtime but not anymore. It seems like they are trying to pull the plug and get things moving on it, but we will see what the deal is.

What are your 2017 plans?

We are trying to work on a few options now but nothing is solidified but yeah we should be in BSB next year, and that’s all I can say!

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Milwaukee and Shaun Muir confirm Aprilia Switch, Savadori partners Laverty

Two Aprilia RSV4 bikes will be on the track in the 2017 & 2018 World Superbike Championships in the Milwaukee Aprilia Racing Team colours.

The agreement specifies that technical material and related direct assistance and support will be provided by Aprilia Racing, including bike development, which classifies Milwaukee as a Supported Factory Team.

This means that Aprilia Racing – the Piaggio Group racing department and technological point of excellence in the Italian motorcycle industry – is confirming its high level presence in the premier competition for factory derivative bikes, alongside its important efforts in MotoGP.

The goal is to compete at top levels in World Superbikes in order to emphasize the competitiveness of the Aprilia RSV4, capable of taking no less than seven World Titles (three Rider and four Manufacturer) between 2010 and 2014, proving to be the most victorious bike in recent World Superbike history.

The result of a project intended to create a true racing bike that any enthusiast could have, the RSV4 astonished from its rookie season, winning a race in its maiden year and then racking up repeated championship wins in both the Manufacturer and Rider competitions (twice with Max Biaggi and once with Sylvain Guintoli). All this while the street version – obviously also characterized by an exclusive narrow 1.0 litre V4 – continued to win comparative reviews year after year with the best competitors in the world, both European and Japanese.

The team run by SMR, which boasts two British titles, will be able to count on a top shelf rider lineup: in addition to the 2015 Superstock Champion Lorenzo Savadori, who quickly drew attention this year in his rookie World Superbike season, Northern Irishman Eugene Laverty will be back in WorldSBK, 2013 runner up astride none other than an Aprilia RSV4.

Romano Albesiano – Aprilia Racing Manager:

“In Shaun Muir’s team we found a partner who shares our goals and who, after making a good name for themselves in the British championship, wants to get to the top of a world category.

Our agreement includes, in addition to providing bikes and materials, support from Aprilia Racing personnel to manage and develop the RSV4, a jewel of technology that will once again be able to show its worth, within a Factory Support type relationship.

The birth of the Milwaukee Aprilia Racing Team also marks Eugene Laverty’s return to WorldSBK, a rider who we know well and whose professional and personal qualities have our utmost respect. He will have Lorenzo Savadori working alongside him, a young rider in whom Aprilia has invested who has been part of our sports project for two seasons in which he won the Superstock 1000 title first and then drew attention in WorldSBK with an extremely positive rookie year.”

Shaun Muir – SMR Team Principal:
“For SMR, collaboration with Aprilia Racing for 2017 and 2018 means a real chance to fight for the win. Aprilia has a strong and victorious history in World Superbike and we are determined to continue on the same path. Having Eugene and Lorenzo on board makes this a dream team.

Without a doubt, Eugene is coming back to WorldSBK for one reason only – to win. Lorenzo, on the other hand, is the fastest rookie and a sure protagonist. I wish to thank Milwaukee, Gulf and all of the partners who are supporting our project.”

Eugene Laverty: We can be competitve straight away
“I’m excited to return to Superbike with Aprilia and the RSV4, a bike with which I took ten wins and second place overall in the championship. I hope to be able to pick up where I left off with those results, thanks to the support of Aprilia and a fantastic team like SMR. Everything is in place for us to be competitive straight away.”

Lorenzo Savadori: I am highly motivated
“I am very happy to continue my adventure in World Superbikes with Aprilia. This is another chance to achieve great results, with one more year of experience on the RSV4 for me. In a demanding rookie season I was already able to express a good performance level, learning a lot, both about race management and working in the garage, but I do not want to stop here. We will definitely be highly motivated at the start, with an ambitious project and a great desire to do well.”

Jason Chiswell – Vice President of Marketing Milwaukee Tools: This could be a new winning chapter
“At Milwaukee Power tools our vision is always to win and that same mentality is shared with the SMR team. We see the next year with Aprilia as being an exciting and a new winning chapter in our World Superbike program.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

Credit to Gold & Goose for the images via Milwaukee BMW

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Aprilia Arrive at Aragon for Spanish round

 

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”.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Movistar Yamaha arrive at Aragon off the back of first double podium since Le Mans

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

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Honda hit happy hunting ground of Aragon

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.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Lowes “Determined to get a good result” in Aragon


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!”.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Valencia to remain as final race of the season until 2021

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.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Gresini Moto3 Ready for Aragon GP Battle

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!”.

Kiko Giles

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