“A lot 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 received in gear, with Championship chief Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) joined by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Crew), Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Crew). Guess the subject!
Then, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was joined by rookie Pedro Acosta (Pink Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Alex Rins (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) in Press Convention 2.
Listed below 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 risk?
“For certain it will likely be a difficult weekend, I’m joyful concerning the final end result however it’s up to now and now we’ve got to focus. I do not forget that we’ve got 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 it will likely be higher than final season and we even have another concepts to try to get quicker. Final yr Aprilia was on one other degree right here, so the goal is to shut that hole however no person 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 an excellent job.”
Are you in talks with KTM or Aprilia and if it’s not with Ducati have you ever received a most popular choice?
“I feel the outcomes at Le Mans or Jerez or what is going to occur right here is not going to change the ultimate choice. I perceive Ducati as they should perceive what they want and learn how to put it collectively. So let’s wait, within the subsequent two weeks, I’ll resolve my future as I’ll know the Ducati choice and all my decisions. I’m joyful that a number of factories have knocked on my door which suggests I’m doing an excellent job. Now we’ve got to attend and I can not management what is going to occur so I’ll attempt my finest right here in Montmelo and Mugello and we are going to see what the longer term brings us.”
PECCO BAGNAIA
How are you feeling after final yr’s race at Catalunya?
“I hope to make it additional than three corners this season! Final yr 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 yr 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 may 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 an excellent compromise however for certain the April’s would be the one to beat.”
MARC MARQUEZ
Are you able to clarify what’s lacking to struggle 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 want to search out this consistency which shall be a problem Montmelo as a result of it’s one among my tough tracks plus with the brand new bike it seems like they may acquire within the lengthy corners however we are going to discover our personal strategy to be quick and struggle with the highest guys.”
Would you be pleased with a manufacturing facility Ducati in one other group or would you prefer to be within the manufacturing facility group?
“My state of affairs has modified a bit from final yr as for this season I used to be seeking to have enjoyable, to search out the sensation and step-by-step I’m coming again to an excellent degree to have the ability to struggle with these guys. However if you wish to struggle for a Championship it’s attainable this yr however when you’ve got a neater life on observe it helps you. Each rider is on the lookout for one of the best and I do know which is my first thought, I’m very intelligent, I used to be intelligent up to now, I used to be intelligent final yr, and I’m intelligent for subsequent yr 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 yr.”
What’s your thought?
“To be quick on the race observe or near them as a result of as I stated in Jerez or in Le Mans it’s already nice that I can struggle with them till the final nook. These are the 2 guys that had been competing for the Championship final yr and are the 2 strongest opponents on the market. So I’ll maintain working with what I’ve to try to discover the utmost.”
ENEA BASTIANINI
How aggressive do you’re 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 yr I made an enormous mistake at flip one and crashed with different riders. Let’s see the way it goes this yr as it’s a unusual race as a result of the grip is low, so you will need to have an excellent base arrange.”
Are a transfer to Gresini or Aprilia choices that you simply’re contemplating should you can’t keep as Pecco’s teammate subsequent yr?
“I do know it’s in all probability essentially the most tough choice for Ducati in the mean time as we’re the highest 4 within the World Championship and with Pecco already underneath contract it may be a tough choice. In the mean time my state of affairs isn’t unhealthy because the Ducati is so quick in any respect tracks and it has improved since final yr. I might be a manufacturing facility rider for subsequent yr however I do know the pace of Jorge or Marc so it will likely 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 yr right here in Montmelo it was extraordinary for Aprilia however yearly is completely different so from my viewpoint we’ve got to stay calm and you will need to be prepared for any situation. In fact, we arrive right here considering that we will struggle for victory however we have to keep in mind it’s a completely different yr and that the tyres really feel completely different. The competitors is excessive in the mean time however we are going to try to take the utmost from what we’ve got and if I’ve the chance I’ll go for it each time. We have to try to do not forget that after we deliver the bike to its most we’re in a position to win races and that’s what we are attempting to do right here.”
Response to Aleix’s retirement:
“I didn’t count on it, I used to be anticipating him to proceed racing. In Aprilia, we’re each commanding the group and he has been an essential 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 try to obtain extra victories and if he’s quick it would assist me lots.”
PEDRO ACOSTA
Do you suppose you’ll be able to 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’ve got labored like hell this week to keep away from the issues that we had in Le Mans. On Sunday we made an enormous step however we have to begin from zero now as we all know it’s a tough observe. We additionally want to know how our bike will work right here as final season it was not simple 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’ve got had knowledgeable relationship however when he began to speak and get sentimental I used to be near crying and I stated “Man how may I not cry”. However I’m tremendous joyful 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 joyful about this and the prospect to share a MotoGP™ season with him.”
ALEX RINS
How do you’re feeling it will likely be your 2 hundredth GP and do you count on to be extra aggressive?
“I didn’t realize it was my 2 hundredth Grand Prix so it will likely be a bit of extra particular now. As you talked about after Le Mans we had been at Mugello, testing some new objects and reconfirming some objects from Jerez. I used to be shocked because the fairing we examined in Jerez was working effectively so we’ve got 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 it will likely 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 joyful 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 up to now however he’s a fighter. He trains actually onerous, daily to attain his targets and I’m tremendous happy with him and want him luck sooner or later. After he finishes this season it’s time for him to get pleasure from time along with his household.”
