The 14th round of the MotoGP championship will be kicking off with tomorrow’s free practice sessions at the Motorland Aragon circuit and in this afternoon’s pre-event press conference we hope to find out why Jorge Lorenzo changed his mind on Motegi, whether Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi will be going to Japan next month and if other riders and/or teams will be confirming their partecipation.
Here’s what some of the riders said about the Misano race two weeks ago and what they think of the Spanish circuit that replaced Balatonring last year when the constructors were unable to complete the work on the new Hungarian circuit in time for last year’s race due to financial difficulties.
Casey Stoner:“I’ve managed to rest since the hard race in Misano, where I was totally worn out.
The hectic schedule we follow had drained me completely and I had no energy, nothing left to give, so I’ve enjoyed relaxing this past week and getting back to some training.
The Aragon track is ok, it’s not one of my favourite circuits, I feel it could be a little faster.
We ran well there last year, mainly due to the fact we took a big step in the set up on the bike.
This year we arrive there with a totally different bike so we have a lot of things to learn in FP1, getting the gearbox set up right and a few other things in general.
It will be interesting to go there on the Honda, Dani was competitive there last year and I think we can work well there also, and expect a good result.
We’ll get there and see what we can do”.
Andrea Dovizioso:“We arrive in Aragon third in the Championship looking to close the gap to Lorenzo in second, but also needing to defend from Dani in fourth.
I like Motorland Aragon, the circuit is very nice and it’s fun to ride.
The key characteristic is the downhill braking areas and it has some similarities to the Istanbul circuit with interesting corners and changes of direction.
It’s not so fast but all in all I like to race there.
Last year it was a new track so I think that with one year of experience we can be even more competitive.
Last year I crashed on the very last lap while I was fighting with Ben Spies for 5th position, this year we arrive confident that we can have a strong race”.
Dani Pedrosa:“I have very good memories of the Grand Prix of Aragon, last year we started well and we had a good race.
I’m satisfied with our performance in the past few weeks and I feel better every day.
This week I’ve been able to rest and recover some energy and now I’m really looking forward to this race.
People from all around Spain attend the Aragon GP and the atmosphere there is incredible.
The circuit is spectacular and very technical, it combines fast and slow corners, some of them complicated and blind where you need to find points of reference outside the track.
We need to set up the bike very well for this track and make the most of all the practice sessions.
The data we have from last year can help us on this and it will be important to start in a good direction but we cannot relax.
I’m excited to see the Spanish fans again after missing the Catalunya race and I hope the home support will give me an extra boost so that we can enjoy this race together”.
Jorge Lorenzo“I am very happy to be riding at home again and for a second time in Aragon.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the fans there, and especially my Fan Club who are coming.
Last year I couldn’t get the podium which was a big shame.
I wanted it because I was competing in Spain and the season had been perfect and also because I was wearing Shoya’s helmet in his memory.
I had a good race two weeks ago in Misano and now I am very confident we can obtain another podium, we believe we can again reduce our gap to Casey.
”Ben Spies“It’s great to come to a track on the calendar where I have the same level of experience as the rest of the field.
Last year was one of my most enjoyable races, it was great fun fighting with Dovi to keep fifth and we weren’t so far from the battle for third until I made a small mistake.
I’ve had a chance to relax at my home in Como after the Indianapolis and Misano back to back races so I’m feeling good and looking forward to seeing what we can do.
”Valentino Rossi:“Last year at Aragon was the best race of the year for Ducati, so we approach this round with our expectations a little higher than usual.
In addition, after the difficult practice sessions at Misano, we found a good setup in the end and I had a better feeling with the bike and managed to ride it better in the race, especially in the early laps.
Now we’ll try to combine the two things—the track that seems to work well with the Desmosedici and the good setup work—in order to find the same feeling on Sunday.
”Nicky Hayden:“It’s nice to go back to Aragon, which I like.
We haven’t been there a lot, so it’s still new and fun.
Last year, it was clearly our best weekend of the season, and in theory, it should suit me and our bike a little bit this time as well.
The track was brand-new then, and it was grippy and completely smooth, so we’ll see how well it’s held up.
It has a lot of ups and downs, and quite a few corners with open exits, which should be good for us.
I’m 100% okay from my crash at Misano, so no excuses there.
Hopefully we can catch a little break and have a good weekend at Aragon.
”Marco Simoncelli :“The last lap at Misano was a wonderful moment for me – I had great fun battling with Dovizioso and Spies, passing each other two or three times, and to have won that particular fight was great for me and my fans.
Now we have to keep this momentum going and make sure we have more to shout about before the end of the season.
We are improving and I have been more consistent in recent races but even though the race was exciting at Misano we really need to be fighting for the podium positions.
Aragon didn’t go badly for me last year and I like the track so hopefully I can have a good race.
We need to find a bit more pace in practice so that we can be challenging for better grid positions, like we were at the start of the season.
It goes without saying that my feeling with the team is brilliant and that is just further motivation to fight for good results.
”Hiroshi Aoyama: “I could maybe have finished with a better result at Misano but I am pleased that I have my confidence back with the bike as well as my own physical fitness.
I feel in good shape to improve my results throughout the final stages of the season, starting at Aragon.
Even though I didn’t go so well there last year I feel I can improve on my result at Misano.
Living in Barcelona I consider this to be another ‘home’ race for me and I want to make a good job of it.
We are in good shape to do well and with the help of the team I think I can do it.
We are improving and on our way back to being as competitive as we were at the start of the season.
”Álvaro Bautista:“This was a really good event last year and I am looking forward to going back.
It’s a fun track, a fantastic facility and a circuit that I think we can go really well at.
I am feeling very confident that we can run well right from the start and get a good qualifying position.
It’s great to race at home again, I do it four times a year, but each one seems special to me.
I want to put on a good show for all the Spanish fans and think that we have the package and data to be able to do that.
”Colin Edwards:“I can’t believe I’m going to be making my 150th MotoGP appearance this weekend.
It feels like only yesterday since I moved from World Superbikes but I’ve had an awesome time in MotoGP and long may it continue.
Although it is a landmark race in my MotoGP career I’ll just try and treat it like every other race and do the b est possible job I can for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team.
The Aragon track has a really cool layout and I can’t wait to get back there, even though my result wasn’t the best last season.
And I’m definitely keen to bounce back from Misano, which didn’t end how I expected at all.
I had a great weekend up until the race but the arm pump was the worst I’ve ever had.
I’ve had a few days to rest and relax at home so I’m sure I’m going to be 100 per cent this weekend.
”Cal Crutchlow:“I’m raring to start this weekend having spent a few days with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in France.
It has been great spending some quality time with the crew while also training hard after a couple of really physically demanding races in Indianapolis and Misano.
We’ve managed to pick up a couple of respectable results recently to restore my con fidence, but as a rider you always want more, so the goal this weekend will be to qualify and finish the race inside the top 10.
Aragon is another track I’ve only ever seen on TV and I can’t wait to ride it.
It looks like a lot of fun with some undulation and some fast, sweeping corners.
I think it might suit my style because it doesn’t look like a circuit with a lot of strong braking points.
It is never easy trying to learn a new track, but the confidence gained in the last couple of the races means we can start the weekend in a positive frame of mind.
”Héctor Barberá: “I had a good weekend in practice at Motorland last year and a good race too.
I am confident that we can achieve a top result this weekend.
We are in incredible form at the moment ,the team are helping me a lot and I am enjoying every session on the bike.
We have found a good base set-up and we are getting the most out of the bike at the moment.
This is also another home race for us and after qualifying as the best Ducati and finishing the race as the second one I am highly motivated.
I love the track – it is very complete and it suits my riding style perfectly.
The set-up we have should work well here at Motorland and the objective is to continue in the same way we’ve been working recently because if we do that the results will come.
I would love to be the top Ducati again.
”Loris Capirossi:“At 38 years old, and a few races away from my retirement, it’s funny to think of myself as a newcomer.
It will be my first time at Aragon, as I missed last year’s race.
It will be interesting to get to know another track, but of course I’ll be starting off with a disadvantage compared to the other riders.
I’ll give it my all, like always.
I want to finish out my career with a smile.
”Randy De Puniet:“I’m still a little disappointed for the misstep at Misano.
After the nice race at Indy, I thought I could do it again in Italy, but something didn’t go right.
We must do a good job and try to immediately find the right setup for the bike at Aragon.
I like the track, which is very complex and technical.
I want to get a nice result.
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