“Plenty of factories have knocked on my door”
After a packed out French GP, it’s time for one more and this time within the Mediterranean jewel of Barcelona. First, the podcast welcomed Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez to speak about his profession and season, with the #25 becoming a member of the pod for the primary time on the Gran Premi Monster Vitality de Catalunya.
Then it was an emotional interlude as Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) introduced his retirement from being a full-time rider in a one-off Press Convention at 15:15.
The primary press convention for the weekend forward then acquired in gear, with Championship chief Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) joined by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Group), Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Group). Guess the subject!
Then, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was joined by rookie Pedro Acosta (Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Alex Rins (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) in Press Convention 2.
Listed here are some images and quotes from the opening day!
JORGE MARTIN
How are you feeling after a double win in Le Mans and are Aprilia a menace?
“For positive will probably be a difficult weekend, I’m glad in regards to the final end result however it’s prior to now and now we have now to focus. I keep in mind that we have now struggled with the grip within the final two years right here for all of us, so let’s see how the brand new bike performs right here. I feel will probably be higher than final season and we even have another concepts to attempt to get quicker. Final 12 months Aprilia was on one other degree right here, so the goal is to shut that hole however no one is aware of how the bike or the tyres from one season to a different. I’m assured that I really feel good in the mean time and that I’ll do a very good job.”
Are you in talks with KTM or Aprilia and if it’s not with Ducati have you ever acquired a most popular choice?
“I feel the outcomes at Le Mans or Jerez or what is going to occur right here won’t change the ultimate choice. I perceive Ducati as they should perceive what they want and methods to put it collectively. So let’s wait, within the subsequent two weeks, I’ll determine my future as I’ll know the Ducati choice and all my decisions. I’m glad that a lot of factories have knocked on my door which implies I’m doing a very good job. Now we have now to attend and I can’t management what is going to occur so I’ll attempt my greatest right here in Montmelo and Mugello and we’ll see what the longer term brings us.”
PECCO BAGNAIA
How are you feeling after final 12 months’s race at Catalunya?
“I hope to make it additional than three corners this season! Final 12 months was nice as the primary two days we had been aggressive after which in Sunday’s race we had some points and didn’t have the chance to complete the race. Final 12 months we had been very aggressive, we had been feeling nice and I used to be in a position to compete with the Aprilia. On the Sunday with the medium rear tyre, I feel our potential might have been very promising. I feel the brand new bike will make us have much less grip however will assist with turning which might be a very good compromise however for positive the April’s would be the one to beat.”
MARC MARQUEZ
Are you able to clarify what’s lacking to battle for the Championship?
“We’re lacking the consistency of those two guys as a result of they’re quick each apply and each qualifying apply. They’re at all times inside the highest three or the highest three, and though I’m quick, I really feel aggressive, and in Jerez and Le Mans I used to be tremendous near them, I would like to seek out this consistency which might be a problem Montmelo as a result of it’s one among my difficult tracks plus with the brand new bike it appears like they may achieve within the lengthy corners however we’ll discover our personal strategy to be quick and battle with the highest guys.”
Would you be proud of a manufacturing facility Ducati in one other workforce or would you prefer to be within the manufacturing facility workforce?
“My state of affairs has modified a bit from final 12 months as for this season I used to be seeking to have enjoyable, to seek out the sensation and step-by-step I’m coming again to a very good degree to have the ability to battle with these guys. However if you wish to battle for a Championship it’s potential this 12 months however in case you have a neater life on observe it helps you. Each rider is in search of one of the best and I do know which is my first thought, I’m very intelligent, I used to be intelligent prior to now, I used to be intelligent final 12 months, and I’m intelligent for subsequent 12 months on what I wish to do. So let’s see if I can do I nice job on the observe to have extra choices for subsequent 12 months.”
What’s your thought?
“To be quick on the race observe or near them as a result of as I mentioned in Jerez or in Le Mans it’s already nice that I can battle with them till the final nook. These are the 2 guys that had been competing for the Championship final 12 months and are the 2 strongest opponents on the market. So I’ll preserve working with what I’ve to attempt to discover the utmost.”
ENEA BASTIANINI
How aggressive do you are feeling heading into this weekend?
“I’ve been actually unfortunate on the Catalan GP within the final two years as in 2022 I crashed and final 12 months I made a giant mistake at flip one and crashed with different riders. Let’s see the way it goes this 12 months as it’s a unusual race as a result of the grip is low, so you will need to have a very good base arrange.”
Are a transfer to Gresini or Aprilia choices that you simply’re contemplating when you can’t keep as Pecco’s teammate subsequent 12 months?
“I do know it’s in all probability probably the most tough choice for Ducati in the mean time as we’re the highest 4 within the World Championship and with Pecco already below contract it may be a tough choice. For the time being my state of affairs is just not dangerous because the Ducati is so quick in any respect tracks and it has improved since final 12 months. I might be a manufacturing facility rider for subsequent 12 months however I do know the velocity of Jorge or Marc so will probably be tough however I’m assured that I’ll keep right here.”
MAVERICK VIÑALES
How excessive are the expectations so that you can ship this weekend?
“It’s true that final 12 months right here in Montmelo it was extraordinary for Aprilia however yearly is completely different so from my viewpoint we have now to stay calm and you will need to be prepared for any situation. In fact, we arrive right here pondering that we will battle for victory however we have to bear in mind it’s a completely different 12 months and that the tyres really feel completely different. The competitors is excessive in the mean time however we’ll attempt to take the utmost from what we have now and if I’ve the chance I’ll go for it whenever. We have to attempt to keep in mind that after we deliver the bike to its most we’re in a position to win races and that’s what we try to do right here.”
Response to Aleix’s retirement:
“I didn’t anticipate it, I used to be anticipating him to proceed racing. In Aprilia, we’re each commanding the workforce and he has been an vital a part of my journey. But when he has determined like this it’s as a result of he feels it’s proper. I simply wished to say that it has been a pleasure to have been his teammate. He was one of many hardest teammates I’ve had. Nonetheless, we nonetheless have an extended season forward, so I feel he needs to be very motivated to attempt to obtain extra victories and if he’s quick it should assist me rather a lot.”
PEDRO ACOSTA
Do you assume you may have the tempo for the victory?
“It’s a new observe for us on a MotoGP™ bike so we have to begin from zero and we have now labored like hell this week to keep away from the issues that we had in Le Mans. On Sunday we made a giant step however we have to begin from zero now as we all know it’s a difficult observe. We additionally want to know how our bike will work right here as final season it was not straightforward so we have to use all the info from Jack and Augusto to know how we will enhance the bike.”
Response to Aleix’s retirement:
“For the final 5 seasons, we have now had knowledgeable relationship however when he began to speak and get sentimental I used to be near crying and I mentioned “Man how might I not cry”. However I’m tremendous glad for him and we all know that he enjoys many issues in life like biking. I feel he’ll begin to get pleasure from his new life and priorities and I’m tremendous glad about this and the prospect to share a MotoGP™ season with him.”
ALEX RINS
How do you are feeling will probably be your 2 hundredth GP and do you anticipate to be extra aggressive?
“I didn’t understand it was my 2 hundredth Grand Prix so will probably be somewhat extra particular now. As you talked about after Le Mans we had been at Mugello, testing some new gadgets and reconfirming some gadgets from Jerez. I used to be stunned because the fairing we examined in Jerez was working effectively so we have now two bikes with the brand new aero and one thing new that we examined at Mugello which we have to reconfirm. I’m tremendous excited to start the Catalan GP as it’s a very nice observe however low grip so will probably be tough to handle the tyre life however I’m prepared!”
Response to Aleix’s retirement:
“It was very large information however I’m tremendous glad for him as a result of if he decides to cease racing it’s as a result of that’s what he desires and deserves. He has had some actually nice and tough seasons prior to now however he’s a fighter. He trains actually laborious, day-to-day to attain his objectives and I’m tremendous pleased with him and need him luck sooner or later. After he finishes this season it’s time for him to get pleasure from time together with his household.”
