Indy GP - Preview Quotes 250cc

Álvaro Bautista: "After the last race where we struggled a lot during practice and really had to grit our teeth in order to win back some points in the championship, I feel highly motivated about the Indianapolis Grand Prix. I want to work well on Saturday and Sunday and make sure we don't have the same problems as Brno. I have sorted out my immediate and long term future now so I can focus solely on thje job at hand, because there is still a lot of work to do this season and we cannot afford to lose concentration for a single second. I know I feel more relaxed now and I think I can perform better. My objective will be the same as it was in the Czech Republic, which was to try and win but if it is not possible then just try to pull back points in the championship. We got knocked out of our stride by the cancellation of last year's race because we had gone there on the back of victory at Misano so I hope nothing strange happens this time around."

Mike Di Meglio: "Indianapolis is a circuit that nobody really knows that well because we haven't done many laps there in the dry. We're all starting pretty much from zero in terms of getting our reference points. The weekend went fairly well for me here last year until the race, when I had mechanical problems. I am very eager to continue my learning process on the 250 and I want to have a good race this Sunday. It is not one of my favourite tracks but it is a nice place and I know I can be fast there. I was running with the lead group in the Czech Republic until I ran off track so I hope I can finish with them this Sunday. We are working hard every weekend to get good results but small mistakes seem to be costing us dear. We need to make sure that doesn't happen this weekend but be careful at the same time because we have two races within a week."

Balázs Németh: "I have been watching last year's races from Indianapolis to try and get to know the circuit a little. I have never been to the United States before so everything will be new to me. From what I could see on the television the track looks wonderful and the atmosphere seems special, so hopefully I can use it to my advantage. It will be a proud moment for me to race in America and after scoring my first championship pointa in the Czech Republic I go there in the knowledge that I can compete at this level and my target is to continue scoring points until the end of the season."

Indy GP - Preview Quotes 125cc

Julián Simón: “Indianapolis is a place that I really enjoyed last year, although unfortunately we were unable to race. Despite that, I like the layout and consider it to be amongst my favourites. We are working tremendously well this season, which makes me sure that the Indianapolis Grand Prix will be another good race for us. The main goal will be to get the best setting for my Aprilia right from Friday, one that allows me to ride comfortably and get to Sunday with the chance of a win and the best points total possible. We have 54 points over the second placed rider in the standings, so we will have to fight to keep the gap –or extend it if possible. It’s going to be a tough two weeks, because we have two races on the bounce and will have to watch out not to tire ourselves out.”

Bradley Smith: “Indianapolis is a fantastic circuit, both in terms of layout and history. The people there are incredible, and you can tell that they live and breath motor racing. For the atmosphere alone the Indianapolis Grand Prix ranks amongst the best of the year for me. I really love the United States as well. We didn’t get on the podium at the last round, but the fourth place was a good enough result to start regaining form and I hope that we carry on doing well this weekend. The track is new for everyone, as we only rode there last year. That means that nobody knows it too well nor has all the data necessary to ride fast straight away. It is a strange place to ride, because there are lots of bumps and changes in asphalt, and it’s also a very technical circuit. We will see what happens over the weekend, but I hope for another successful race and more points for the title fight.”

Sergio Gadea: “In the Czech Republic I was fast, but I didn’t find a setting good enough to allow me to be at the front. Now we go to Indianapolis, a circuit that I like a lot. There are two corners that stand out for their difficulty, but generally it is a good track for my riding style. Nico is very strong and I’m sure that he will keep up his form, but right now he is our rival and we have to beat him. Beating Julián and Smith also has to be a goal, because they are ahead of both of us and Julián in particular needs to be stopped from clinching the title. In Donington we had an unexpected DNF, and at Brno the result wasn’t as good as we had hoped. That means that this is the moment to take risks in order to gain points. Indianapolis is a strange track, but I like it –although I would prefer not to have the same weather as last year!”

Czech GP: 250cc Quotes after race

3rd Álvaro Bautista: “The only good session this weekend was the race. Fortunately everything worked out okay for us when it came to the crucial moment. It took just two laps for the tyres to degenerate, and that was a warning for me not to push things and look out for points. The weekend was a tough one for us, because we never had the right setup. I could have tried to follow Simoncelli and Pasini, but it looked to be too risky and I concentrated on Aoyama instead. I’ve closed the gap on him in the standings, and if we continue like this we can catch him. I left it until the warmup to choose my setting in the suspension, and I didn’t have as much chance in this race, so I’m happy with third.”

9th Mike Di Meglio: “I had a worse start than I was expecting, but I was still able to keep up with the lead group. I felt comfortable on the Aprilia, which was different to my feeling earlier in the weekend, so I tried to push for the best positions. My strategy was to learn from the leading riders. I tried to pass Aoyama but ran wide and had to straighten up in order not to fall. That run-off lost me a lot of time, and I think that if it weren’t for that I’d have placed in the top five. I was able to make up place, although ninth isn’t the result that I hoped for after al our hard work and potential over the weekend.”

14th Balázs Németh: “I am delighted with today’s result, and to finally have some world championship points. The start was better than any that I’ve done before; not losing a single position was a very positive point. I started overtaking other riders and on the second lap I was already fifteenth. I saw that there wasn’t much space between myself and the rider ahead of me, so I pushed to catch him. I felt very comfortable on the Aprilia and lap by lap was able to reduce my times, thinking about taking points for the first time. The bike worked fantastically well during the race, thanks to the work that my mechanics had performed throughout the whole weekend. I know that now I can ride quickly, and the goal from here on in is to keep up this kind of performance.”

Czech GP: 125cc Quotes after race

2nd Julián Simón: “I am very happy with this race. Second place is a fantastic result considering that I said before coming here that the fast corners were difficult for me. I was very decisive throughout the weekend, trying to set the bike up best for today. We maybe lacked a bit of acceleration compared to Nico, but we did a great job with the chassis that gave me the advantage in braking and pace. Nico was very tough, making it more difficult for me with every lap, and he closed down every opening when I tried to make a move on the final lap. I am satisfied because the 20 points allow us to leave Brno as leaders of the championship and give me extra confidence. We know that this is the way to go if we are going to win the title. We are going for wins in the final part of the year, but we have to keep our heads to get points.”

4th Bradley Smith: “It was a pity that I had that scare on the opening lap. I think I might have hit the clutch lever at just the wrong moment, shutting off the engine and nearly going down. I was just about to hunt down Iannone and lost concentration. I think that without this I could have beenup there with the top three. In any case, after the disasters at Sachsenring and Donington I got back in the points, and that was my goal. Fourth isn’t bad, but I will take more from fact that it comes after troubles yesterday and the in the warmup. I leave Brno a little disappointed, because Iannone and Nico are both rivals who finished ahead of me. I already have my sights set on a podium at Indianapolis.”

9th Sergio Gadea:“I could have een fifth in the group in which I was riding, but I wouldn’t have even been satisfied then. I wasn’t at all comfortable and couldn’t follow Nico and Iannone, even after a good start. When Simón passed me I tried to hang off his back wheel, but I didn’t have the necessary feeling to do that and risked crashing. I gave everything I could, but when there is nothing you can do, there’s nothing that you can do. I have to wait now until Indianapolis for a better result.”

Czech GP - Saturday Quotes 250cc

5th Mike Di Meglio 2.02.426 (15 laps): “For the majority of the qualifying session I was unable to wring the most out of my engine and I don’t know why that was. We worked very hard to come up with a solution and, just before I went out for the final time, with a parts change it looked like we had found one. Then I felt comfortable and was able to do my fastest lap. I was lucky to hang on to Barberá and Aoyama to use them as reference points. It’s strange, as the morning went fantastically but the afternoon was much harder. I hope that we can give a final big push in the warmup no get us up there in the race. I will try to be one of the front group, but I am well aware that it will not be an easy race at a circuit that has always been tough for me to find a good feeling. It is very different to other tracks.”

8th Álvaro Bautista 2.02.748 (15 laps): “The crash was totally unexpected, as I had already put two laps on the new tyres. I got into turn five and everything seized up, causing me to fall. This morning we did various tests on the front suspension and found some things that worked, then we continued with the front end in the afternoon but lost our way. The changes in place at the end of the practice are the ones that I would favour for the race and I am sure that if we had done more laps with this setting then we would have done better today. We will go back to it tomorrow in the warmup and try again. In the race I wil have to start well in order to be at the front and fight like I have done this season. I will have to take risks if necessary, because I can’t afford to lose more points.”

18th Balázs Németh 2.05.493 (17 laps): “At the beginning of the session we tried to play around with the chain setting, and little by little we looked for ways to make my riding more comfortable. It looked like it wasn’t going to work, but we made some front end and rear end adjustments that have given us the perfect geometry for tomorrow. This afternoon we had a lot of fun riding; I didn’t want the session to end! I am convinced that tomorrow I can have a good race, but I have to be careful not to lose places at the start. I will try to find a group to keep my pace up, with my objective being to take my first GP points and give the Hungarian fans here a race to remember.”

Czech GP - Saturday Quotes 125cc

4th Julián Simón 2.08.542 (14 laps): “I am happy with the result, because the team and myself have worked phenomenally. We have what I feel is the perfect setting for the race, and we know what tyres to use. We could have had a better time, but I lost a bit of concentration when riders were following me, for instance Cortese. It was a mistake on my part to be worrying about other riders. The most important thing is that everything is clear and we can have a good race, fighting for the victory and the maximum amount of points. I think that on the opening laps four or five riders will be up front, with Terol, Smith, Iannone and myself involved. Terol and myself have been the most consistent, but we will see what happens and I will try to open up a gap.”

5th Bradley Smith 2.08.957 (14 laps): “The qualifying session was the only less than perfect session that we have had so far. In the free practices we were able to improve a lot, but this afternoon we went in the wrong direction. We fought to find the best setup for the Aprilia, and it looks as if we nailed it in the end. Fifth isn’t a fantastic place, but it is hardly a disaster either, and I have the poleman in front of me as a reference at the start. Our biggest problem has been the rear suspension, which was too hard and means that we don’t have al the feedback that we would like. It is important here to have a balanced bike, with al the ups and downs and fast corners. I think that we have everything more or less sorted, and we will adjust the rear in the warmup. It’s going to be a slipstreaming race, so we will have to be aware.”

7th Sergio Gadea 2.09.240 (14 laps):“We still have a little way to go in order to be ready for the race. To tell the truth it has been a complicated weekend up to now, with my crash yesterday and the continual problem with chattering that persisted even when we were going for a fast lap. The mechanics are working against the clock and finally found a solution. We had a rear end issue in the afternoon, because of which the bike was hard to turn in and didn’t give any feeling when opening the throttle on the exit. Luckily I found Smith and follow him for a lap, taking me to the second row. It’s not a bad place to start, but tomorrow I see it being very hard work. I’m going to fight for the top positions in any case, and the important thing will be to not let Simón get away. We have to take points from him.”

Czech GP - Friday Quotes - 125cc

1st Bradley Smith 2.09.211 (21 laps):
"I think that this was the ideal way to return to action. After two weeks off I needed to get back on the Aprilia, and what better way to do so than with the best time of the day? An hour without rain was fantastic to have, because it is much easier to move forward. We were coming along great during the run, and even the asphalt was getting better; at the start the bike was sliding, but it gradually got more grippy. The wind gave some problems -as it does at Brno- and you need to get a slipstream to keep from losing time. We were all practically even today, so we have to keep concentrated to be the best this weekend."

3rd Julián Simón 2.09.409 (19 laps):
"This first day has been pretty positive, as Brno is a track that I've always found difficult. You have to let the bike run on, and that isn't something that I particularly like. We were up there from the start, and the bike was clearly improving as the session went on, above all with the engine. We tried various tyres, and know that if the conditions continue to be the same in every session we will have to use a different combination than we did today. The riders at the top are close together, so I am going to keep looking for pole tomorrow. If it doesn't rain then we will have more time to prepare the bike and the race will be more exciting."

5th Sergio Gadea 2.09.618 (18 laps):
"I am very happy with this opening session, because we were right at the top for most of the way, continually improving. I did an early 2'09 and felt very comfortable , but I had a small problem with my confidence in the rear end. It was a tyre problem and kept my busy for the second half of the run. For this reason I took a fall ten minutes from the end and didn't have enough time to improve my final lap when I got back on track. In any case I'm not worrying too much about that, because we know what the mistake was and I'm sure that tomorrow it will be sorted. Despite that tiny setback I was still only four-tenths from Smith, which isn't much at this track. The engine is going well, so we just have to work on the rear and we will be ready."

Mapfre Aspar riders look forward to Brno

Álvaro Bautista: "Brno isn't one of my favourite tracks, but I think it's a good opportunity to get a good result because it's a fast track which should in theory suit my Aprilia. I am keen to get back on track because I wasn't at 100% physically last time out, and I think I could have fought for victory if I had have been. I want to be at the front from the off this weekend, I need to take as many points as possible off Aoyama. My elbow is much better, although still a bit swollen the wound is healing well and I think by Friday it should be all back to normal. I spent these two weeks relaxing and spending time with my family as we had two very important events. They were two busy family weeks, but I continued training hard. I was also at the race in La Bañeza which I really enjoyed and I got to feel the support of the fans."


Mike Di Meglio: "Brno is a complicated circuit, which is fast and where you have to work hard to get the set-up right. I aim to be as focused as I was in England, putting in all the hard work with the team in practice and then following it up in the race. It's important to get a good rhythm going in the Czech Republic, because if not it's easy to lose ground quickly. I hope to be back at the front like in the UK, not make any mistakes and give the team another positive result. They are working so hard for me, and thanks to them I am more confident every time I sit on the Aprilia, so I'd like to repay them. My objective will be to keep picking up experience on the bike, trying to improve every time I am on track, and with this mentality I'm sure the results will come. These last two weeks I stayed at home to relax a little and I think it did me some good. I'm very eager to get back to work though."

German GP - Quotes Friday

125cc

1st Julián Simón 1.28.594 (15 laps): “the truth is that we’ve taken a lot of positives out of today because this is a circuit I like a lot and I was highly motivated to do well. I was quickly able to tell that I was going to be able to enjoy riding the bike here and I was comfortable form the start, even though we still have some things to work on – in particular with the engine. We need to focus on adjusting the gear ratio to improve the acceleration and get out of the corners quicker. Hopefully the weather is better to us tomorrow so that we can everything sorted for the race. I’m happy with our performance in the wet because I did two laps and went pretty quick. I feel good one way or the other so we’ll wait and see what we can do tomorrow. I’d like to get the work done tomorrow that will allow us to fight for victory on Sunday because it is very important to hang on to the championship lead over these next two races.”

3rd Bradley Smith 1.29.423 (19 laps): “It was amazing how the conditions changed in just a matter of minutes. The good thing is that even though we didn’t have much time we were able to test things in the wet and in the dry. It is also good to have a basic idea about which direction to go in tomorrow, when we’ll be working a little more on the setting of the engine. It is a slow process so we have to work hard on making sure everything is right, without taking any risks because if not the race will be upon us before we know it. I’m happy because I know the team will be working hard on the bike tonight so that we only have small things to work on tomorrow.”

5th Sergio Gadea 1.29.776 (17 laps):“In general I’m very happy although we had a small carburetion problem in the dry - the bike was cutting out at the end of the straight, and it wouldn’t rev, especially at the top end. We were working hard on it and it seems as though we found a solution just before it started to rain. I felt comfortable in the wet and in the dry and I think we have a good base set-up, we just need to squeeze a bit more out of the engine now. I’m not obsessing about Sunday’s result – just making sure we work hard over the weekend as we have done so far and I know that will be enough to ensure we’re at the front in the race.”


250cc

5th Mike Di Meglio 1.25.493 (25 laps): “I am happy because I’ve spent the last couple of weeks relaxing and trying to prepare myself as well as possible to come here with my batteries fully charged and so far everything is going well. This is a tough circuit with the 250 but thanks to my mechanics, who did an incredible job, I was able to get a good feeling straight away. As the laps went by I found my reference points and worked out the characteristics of this track. The mechanics were on top of me throughout the session trying to find a chassis set-up that made the Aprilia feel as comfortable as possible. The engine worked well so basically as long as the weather is good tomorrow we’ll try our best to perfect the set-up for Sunday.”

8th Aleix Espargaró 1.25.771 (26 laps): “It was important for me to get a few laps in at the start of the session in order to get a feel for this circuit but the telemetry wasn’t working well and I had to do short runs, with several pit stops to try and solve the problem. I couldn’t get any rhythm together and when I did go out I got held up, so it was difficult. Thanks to the magnificent work by the mechanics we worked it out in the end and I was able to set four good laps. The truth is that once we found the solution everything was fantastic and I’m happy because I got my pace together and those four laps are the ones that count. I was a bit lost for the first part of the session but it’s fair to say I’m getting used to riding the 250 again. After a day of adaptation today, tomorrow will be when we really get to work. You spend virtually the whole time leaned over at this circuit so it will be important to get the Aprilia turning well.”

11th Álvaro Bautista 1.25.836 (30 laps): “We usually have set-up problems at this circuit and today I tried a couple of new configurations, one of which I like quite a lot. Being a second off the pace is a big gap but it could have been worse so we have to stay optimistic and be prepared to improve tomorrow. Sachsenring is a difficult circuit in that the faster you try to ride the slower you end up going, and you find yourself with more and more work to do. Let’s wait and see if we can improve things tomorrow, mainly on the front end. The key to it is in T2 and if we can improve through there we will be much closer. We knew things wouldn’t be easy here and now we’re even more determined to work at it tomorrow. I have confidence in the team and we’ll all give 100% to improve the set-up of the bike for the race.”

German GP - Preview Quotes

125cc

Julián Simón: "I'm really looking forward to the German Grand Prix because Sachsenring is a circuit I like and a place I have tended to go well at in the past, both in 250 and 125. Last year I qualified second and finished fifth despite the wet conditions. Sachsenring is well suited to my riding style and the team and myself are ready to keep working hard to continue picking up good results and defending top spot in the championship. The objective for the race is to avoid any kind of incident and finish as high as possible - if that means victory then so much the better. At this stage of the season it is really important to consolidate our position in the championship. I also think it is time to go on the attack a bit more and see who is really up for the fight for the title."

Bradley Smith: "I scored a good result at Sachsenring last year and it's kind of weird that I'll be racing in the Aspar Team colours this year because I spent the whole race last year fighting for the podium with Talmácsi. In the end I finished fourth so I hope it can be different this time. I tend to go fast straight away at Sachsenring and I've qualified on the front row for the past two seasons so I'm optimistic and I think we can aim to be on the podium on Sunday afternoon. It is a fairly straightforward circuit - tight and twisty - and the lap times tend to be close, so we have to be really focused on finding those last few tenths. The majority of corners are left-handers so the wear and tear on the left hand side of your tyres and your body is higher than at other tracks. Other than that, I just want to get a good result and generate even more motivation, if that's possible, to take to my home race at Donington."

Sergio Gadea: "Sachsenring is a circuit I like quite a lot and it is where I scored my first World Championship points. I have good memories of it but also some bad ones because I haven't managed to finish the race for the last couple of years there. I'm highly motivated and I would like to be fighting to win again but if that's not possible I'll take as many points as I can. The second section is where I tend to have most difficulty at Sachsenring but I think the work ethic we have shown so far this season should help us work it out. Sachsenring is a twisty track where chassis set-up is crucial to having a bike you feel comfortable on. I spent a day celebrating after my win at the Dutch TT but other than that I have trained constantly to make sure I stay just as strong at the next few races."


250cc

Álvaro Bautista: "We head to Germany full of motivation and strength, having left with the taste of honey on our lips at the last Grand Prix. We have to respond to what happened there but without losing our heads. Even though we lost the championship lead there is no need to panic because the gap is not a huge one and it is important we just continue to work as we have been doing, picking up as many points as possible. The Aprilia is perhaps not best suited to the Sachsenring circuit and the Honda will definitely be a more effective package here so we have to work as hard as we can on the set-up to make sure we are ready for Sunday. It is a twisty circuit that is more suited to go-karts than motorcycle racing. I've spent the last two weeks relaxing and putting the Assen crash behind me, having taken a heavy blow to my elbow. I've also been able to keep up my training regime and stay in good shape."

Mike Di Meglio: "Sachsenring is a very technical circuit and I like it a lot. I always really enjoyed racing there on a 125 so I hope it's the same on a 250. Hopefully I can get a good feeling from the start on Friday and prepare well during practice so that the race is more straightforward. The idea is to continue working hard with the team as we have done up to now and make sure we are completely ready by Sunday. I led for most of the 125 race last year and in the end I won with quite an advantage over the line, so hopefully I can show my ability again this year and finish with a good result. I've been able to get some rest over the past couple of weeks but I've also been training hard."

Aleix Espargaró: "I've been looking forward to getting back on the 250 ever since Assen because I enjoyed it so much. This is another big opportunity for me and I want to make the most of it, just as I did two weeks ago. Sachsenring is a small and slow circuit where I have gone well in the past, so I hope to continue that tradition and enjoy myself on the bike again. A short while ago I was testing at Valencia on a Moto2 bike and I was back there at the weekend for the CEV (Spanish Championship) race. At the start of the year I didn't have a bike to ride and now I am barely off one! I am really excited by the Moto2 project and by the opportunity to replace Bálazs for a couple of races with the Balatonring Team. Hopefully everything continues as well as it has done up to now!"

Team Aspar explore Assen track with Olympic gold medalist

Members of the 125cc and 250cc Aspar Team had the honour to explore the Dutch track alongside bicycle racer and Olympic gold medalist Samuel Sanchez on Wednesday, even using the competition bicycles from Sanchez' Euskaltel team.
The host of Spanish MotoGP competitors was completed by British Aspar rider Bradley Smith and former MotoGP champion Casey Stoner.
Two rounds around the track saw the Olympic champion giving some advice and also doing some mini battles with the team members.

Alvaro Bautista: "It has been very entertaining to ride alongside Samuel Sanchez. To be with an Olympic champion in a circuit like Assen is not something that you can do every day, so I enjoyed the experience a lot. He started to race for a moment and people stayed behind while Elías and me have stayed close to his rear wheel and that was fun. To meet so important people of the sport is always a pleasure. David Arroyo, also a cycling professional, is from my area and I have trained with him a few times, you realize immediately that they are at another physical level, it is incredible."

Julian Simón: "It's been great to share a couple of laps on the Assen track with Samuel Sanchez. He told us some secrets of the world of cycling and he let us ride his competition bike, it is super light! I like cycling, I do it pretty often to keep fit. I am happy to have had the opportunity to meet Samuel and to have a little chat with him."

Bradley Smith: "I had a lot of fun, in the first lap Julian and I have attacked a little to give the afternoon some excitement. And riding alongside Samuel has been really incredible. I believe that it is very important to have to an Olympic champion between us, meaning to combine cycling and motobikes. Personally I would like to wish him the best of luck for his next races and simultaneously we will try and get a good result for him on Saturday."

Sergio Gadea: "It has been a very rewarding experience to be able to ride next to an Olympic champion in a mythical circuit like this one. I've ridden those kind of bikes before, but these are totally different from anything I tried before. They are so light that it seems that you don't really have anything under you. It's been a great way to start this GP and we now have warmed up our engines."

Aleix Espargaro to ride in Assen

Spanish rider Aleix Espargaro, older brother of current 125cc rider Pol Espargaro, will replace injured Balasz Nemeth at Assen this weekend.
With Nemeth adviced to rest his injured hand for about a month, he'll not be able to participate in the Dutch GP, giving Espargaro a chance to ride a 250cc machine once more.
Espargaro was a part of the official Lotus Aprilia team last year which dissolved after the departure of Dani Amatriain. Due to the economic situatuon Espargaro was not able to find another ride for the 2009 season, but is currently riding the newly developed Promo Racing Moto2 machine in the Spanish Championship.



Aleix Espargaro: In Assen I rode a 250cc bike for the first time, everything was well and I have good memories of that first experience. At the moment I am involved in a project with a Moto2 and very satisfied, but this opportunity is a dream. It's been a while since I've ridden a 250cc bike, but I don't think they have changed so much in a year, so there will be a lot of work on Thursday and Friday to be competitive. I am very motivated, because I didn't participate in a world championship round since last season. It is early to give a prognosis, but to finish among the Top 6 would be a great result. I can't wait to arrive in Holland, meet the team and start riding."

Private Test Valencia, 17./18.06.2009

The private two-day test at the Valencia circuit saw different fortunes for the 250cc Aspar squad. While Balatonring Team rider Balazs Nemeth suffered a hand fracture after a nasty crash, Mapfre Aspar rider Mike Di Meglio was able to make full use of the opportunity to get some further track time on his new Aprilia RSA machine. Teammate Alvaro Bautista did not participate in the test.

The 125cc Bancaja Aspar Team also made good progress with all three riders finishing the test with similar laptimes. Julian Simon and Bradley Smith both suffered crashes, but fortunately walked away uninjured.



Mike Di Meglio - 1.37.16 (98 laps)
"We started very well yesterday, but soon we had some problems with the engine that cost us some time. We began with a setting very similar to the one I used in Catalunya and I started to gain confidence with the Aprilia, getting some good laptimes and I felt very comfortable on the bike. Later we tried to make improvements, always from working from the frame onwards, but it did not work as we hoped. Today we continued looking for chassis solutions and we tried really and infinity of changes to see which setting fits my riding style best. In the end I think that the base setting that we used at the last GP, with some slight modifications, is the one that I like best, so I will try to use this for the next races. It's been two really productive days in which although we didn't find the one setthing that fits us 100%, we already sorted out everything that didn't help us."

Julian Simón - 1.40.4 (110 laps)
“It has been a very positive test for the championship, I think that is always good to try and improve, it's just been a pity that it's been so warm. The laptimes have not been too fast, but nontheless I leave the test satisfied because we have tried many things with the engine which let us find out what works best and gives us the best performance. We have found many solutions and there are also some things that can help us in the next races. I am satisfied for that and again very motivated, because I've been riding the bike again after Barcelona and the feeling on the bike is still equally good.”

Sergio Gadea - 1.40.5 (91 laps)
“These two days have gone really well. We tested some material and we tried to work on the base setup, although the conditions have not been the best and the temperature was a bit problematic. The laptimes have not been especially fast, but considering the heat I believe that we can be satisfied, in addition we had a constantly fast rhythm during both days. I am content, because I rode with the same tyres for a long time, getting a feel for it and always thinking about race conditions. We decided to finish around 3 PM because we didn't have much left to test and didn't want to risk a stupid crash.”

Bradley Smith - 1.40.7 (107 laps)
“I think this is a big advantage, to be able to count on a team like this, because it is not normally the case to have a test during the season, so I believe this has been a magnificent opportunity to continue doing some laps and understanding the basic aspects of the bike. This test has been very important for me right after Barcelona where we had some small problems with the setup. We tried to solve all those small details that did not work for us in the last GP. Our setting of the chassis was more or less clear, so we worked mainly on new configurations of the engine. At the very end of yesterday's afternoon session I had an unfortunate crash, but luckily today we have been able to continue working under normal circumstance. Overall I'm satisfied, because although we did not make some huge progress we tested out a lot of things and I think this is the most important.”

Italian GP - Quali Quotes 125cc & 250cc

125cc

1st Bradley Smith 1.58.134 (17 laps): "It has been a great day for me, setting pole position and a new lap record with it. My race pace is also really good. I was extremely focused today and everything worked out. I've been on pole before and I know that it doesn't necessarily meaning everything is perfect for tomorrow. It is always difficult to escape when there's a straight as long as this one and I think we're going to see about eight or even ten riders fighting in the front group. So far it's been a fantastic weekend and now I'm just hoping for a good start tomorrow. We made a few adjustments to improve the front end feel today and to be honest I don't think we can make it much better now. The Aprilia engine is working perfectly and that will be crucial to make sure we don't lose even the slightest bit of time on the straight tomorrow. There are obviously a few riders ahead of the game but like I said before I think it will be a group race and even the slightest mistake will be paid for dearly."

3rd Julián Simón 1.58.575 (17 laps): "I'm really happy with how practice has gone. I would have loved to be on pole because I was fastest in both free practice sessions so I'm pretty gutted about that but I'm also happy for Smith because it was an incredible lap. My main plan for the race is to get a good start and then just keep my pace up because I know it is good. My Aprilia is completely ready so the target is to win and if that's not possible then finish the race and score points. I think it will be a group race of only three or four riders and it will be a fight for the win between Smith and myself. It's going to be fun and I think it will go right to the wire. Past races at Mugello have shown that the person who leads out of the last corner doesn't usually win so we'll see what happens."

4th Sergio Gadea 1.58.621 (16 laps): "I'm happy that we've been consistent today and I want to keep it going. I suppose it will be the usual group race here tomorrow so I'll try to stay in touch with the lead group and then play my cards right at the end. The most important thing will be to finish with as many points as possible. Smith is looking really strong and Simón will be able to go with him more easily than I will, but hopefully it will be tight. I was able to follow Julián on the last lap and I could see where he was getting away from me, so that is something for us to work on for tomorrow and if we improve these areas I'll be more comfortable. I've been working on my pace through the final corner all weekend but you never know what can happen there in the race so we won't worry about it too much and we'll see what happens."

250cc

1st Álvaro Bautista 1.52.804 (20 laps): "The truth is that the times are very close! Things didn't go well this morning and I wasn't comfortable on the bike. I didn't have a good feeling with the front and couldn't brake well or get into the turns as I like. We stiffened the front up a little for the afternoon and it felt like a different bike. I immediately recovered the good feeling I was missing this morning and felt I could do a low 1'52, which I managed. I think we've done a great job and our pace is good. All of the riders on the front row are going to want to win at all cost, each of us for their own reasons, so it will be tough. I'll try to get a good start and stay with the lead group but I'm sure it's going to be a close battle like Jerez. It is highly satisfying to set pole but the gap between the front three is tight so the important thing tomorrow will be to stay focused."

14th Mike Di Meglio 1.54.363 (18 laps): "I had a few problems with my right forearm again and I could hardly brake - I was losing feeling for my Aprilia in every corner. I tried to recover as much as I could over lunch for qualifying and then tried to follow a couple of riders over the opening laps to set a good pace and get some references, but my confidence was low. I'm disappointed because under normal circumstances I'm sure I could have done much better. I'm fourteenth on the grid and it will be strange to be so far from the front but I'll push myself to the limit to have a good race. I just have to get a great start and stay focused to try and make up as many positions as possible. I'll spend this evening in the Clinica to try and get in the best possible shape for the race. With the way this weekend is going, a top ten finish will be a good result."

Italian GP - Mugello - FP1 Quotes125cc & 250cc

125cc

1st Julián Simón 1.59.437 (21 laps): “The weather has been kind to us all day, which is very important. The heat has taken its toll on the tyre but my Aprilia was phenomenal all session and the team worked really well again. I feel as though leadership of the championship has given me extra confidence and motivation. It’s a different feeling and I hope I hold on to it as the season progresses. Anyway, we won’t get it for free and we have to work and fight hard in every session towards winning more races. Hopefully we can have two more good sessions tomorrow and get a good set-up for the race. The work we did today was based around the tyres and aerodynamics, which is really important here with the slipstreams.”

2nd Sergio Gadea 1.59.721 (23 laps): “I’m happy because everything went well from the first lap. The engine on my Aprilia is working perfectly because of the great job my mechanics are doing and I think we’re starting to reap the fruit. It is really important that we have the confidence and calmness to go fast from the first session although today wasn’t all plain sailing because as always Mugello is bumpy and it’s tricky to find the right set-up. I used the same rear tyre for virtually the whole session and then set a fast lap on a new tyre at the end, which was good enough for second. We have a few issues in the cycle part of my Aprilia but I’m sure we can sort them out tomorrow.”

4th Bradley Smith 1.59.862 (21 laps): “I think it was a good session and with an hour you can test a lot of things. I’m happy with the rear end setting of my Aprilia – at the beginning it was too soft and I was struggling to get on the throttle coming out of the corners but we improved it a lot as the session went on. I imagine the heat affects me more than the locals because I’m English and I’m not used to it! Provisional fourth place, four tenths off and with room for improvement, isn’t a bad start. We’ll work more with the front end tomorrow because having confidence in it through the fast corners here is crucial. Basically the idea will be to make the bike more rigid to try and gain a little stability.”


250cc

1st Álvaro Bautista 1.53.814 (26 laps): “It is only the first session, but it is obviously always better to be up at the front. I think that we had a good practice, and at the end I was putting in a string of pretty fast laps. The last lap of the session saw me clock my quickest time, without even changing tyres, something that shows that we can go even faster. The confidence that knowing that we have been working well since preseason means that I can go much faster and concentrate more. Being the series leader also takes the heat off, but it is still too early to say what will happen on Sunday. In any case, we’ve started well and I am going to try and win at all cost. My mentality is a winning one, and we want to fight for victory at every race. I love the track, but it is demanding because you have to unlock the secret to three or four parts to go fast.“

13th Mike Di Meglio 1.55.978 (21 laps): “I really didn’t expect it to be so difficult to adapt here, as it is a circuit that I love. With the 250cc bike it is hard to get reference points. I am going to try and work out what I need for tomorrow, because we are far off fast lap times. I’m convinced that we can do this if we keep working like we have been. With the 125cc you corner quickly here, but with the 250cc the direction changes are harder. The bike isn’t as agile and it feels heavier. The last race went the opposite way: good practices and a tough race, but I’m sure that we will be able to do what it takes to have a good Sunday.”

Balazs Nemeth: "This first encounter has been a tough one, because everything was completely new for me. From the team to the bike and the track, it was a lot to get used to. I'd never ridden a two stroke before, so I spent the entire session adjusting my riding position and style on the Aprilia. I improved step by step, but there wasn't much time to improve. I hope to continue getting better tomorrow, in order to have a good race on Sunday."

Jerez GP - 250cc Quotes after FP1

1st Álvaro Bautista 1.43.429 (22 laps)
"Setting the pace on Friday is the best way to start the weekend. I felt comfortable even though I didn't have the same feeling I had in the recent MotoGP test here. I was struggling to get into the corners and it all felt too slow, although the lap times weren't too bad. The track conditions are different to when we tested here because of the extra heat and maybe that's why we're having to work a bit harder to find the right setting. I'm satisfied with the setting we've found for the first day and with the lap time, so let's see if we can improve tomorrow and get back to the level we set here in the winter. We've still got a full day tomorrow and I'm sure the lap times will get closer. Aoyama is looking really strong and I'm sure he'll be one of my main rivals on Sunday."

5th Gábor Talmácsi 1.44.278 (18 laps)
"I think my position today is quite good and I'm happy with the lap time, although we did have some grip problems and I couldn't set a consistent pace. The main issue is with the rear and I can't open the throttle without getting the feeling I'm about to be thrown into the air. We didn't have the right carburetion settings at the beginning of the session but luckily we sorted it out for my final run. We have to reflect on the work we've done today so that we can set quick times tomorrow and a consistent rhythm."

7th Mike Di Meglio 1.44.385 (19 laps)
"It was a tough session because we struggled to get on the pace at the start although we weren't too far off by the end so I'm happy. I would have preferred to be a little closer to the top and a little faster but we've still got the whole of tomorrow to keep working. The grip levels are different compared to the last time we rode here at Jerez and the wind was a factor too. We tried a variety of rear compounds to try and improve traction and we've got a few more ideas for tomorrow. We used the set-up we found here in the winter and the results were good, but I hope that tomorrow we can take that little step forward we need to get closer to the front."

Jerez GP - 125cc Quotes after FP1

1stBradley Smith 1.47.385 (15 laps)
“I went out with my mind set on setting a fast pace from the start. We’ve struggled to run at the front in the first two rounds and it has been frustrating so it is important that we were able to go so quick today with such relative ease. My feeling with the Aprilia and the circuit was fantastic and I felt really confident. I could notice every slight improvement with the set-up and that helped me get faster as the session went on. We couldn’t have made a better start but the points don’t get dished out today, nor does pole position, so we have to stay focused on keeping this up for the rest of the weekend. We have a few small changes to make for tomorrow but in general I’m really happy.”

2nd Julián Simón 1.47.689 (16 laps)
“The truth is that I felt really comfortable today and everything went well. As the session went on we got closer and closer to the setting we had here in the winter and it worked well. We could maybe do with a bit more speed through the corners but in general I’m pleased with the performance of my Aprilia. We still have plenty of time to work on the bike tomorrow and hopefully we’ll have a race in perfect conditions. I think it’s going to be a close race on Sunday and that gives me even more motivation to set a fast lap time tomorrow and be up there from the start.”

5th Sergio Gadea 1.48.722 (17 laps)
“I’m really happy because we’re at the right end of the time sheets in practice again and that is very positive for the race. Jerez is one of the circuits I like the most but I’ve not gone too well here in the past so it is important to build up my confidence. I’m a little disappointed because even though the lap time is good I still haven’t found the limit of the bike and my riding was very mechanical today – I wasn’t having fun. We’ll make a few changes to the front end tomorrow to improve our position ahead of the race. The engine performance is incredible so once we sort the front end out we’ll be in great shape.”

Jerez GP - Preview Quotes 250cc

Álvaro Bautista
“After the win in Japan I’m feeling happy, strong and confident about going to Jerez this weekend and picking up another good result. I hope that there can be a group of Spanish riders running at the front and putting on a good show for the home supporters. Discounting Qatar, where our performance was severely affected by the conditions, I think we’ve started the championship well and I’m convinced that all the set-up work we did in the winter will help us be competitive from Friday. Whatever happens, racing at Jerez is always special, I don’t know why but feeling the support from the fans in every corner somehow brings out the best in a rider and helps you to win.”

Mike Di Meglio
“We did a few preseason tests at Jerez and I think they really helped me to learn this new category. If we continue working as we have done up to now and put our hard work from the preseason into practice, I’m sure we can do well. I’m going to try and use my experience at Jerez to run at the top of the time sheets from Friday and try to get a good grid position that will allow me to compete in the race. Jerez is not one of my favourite circuits but I have good memories from the preseason tests there so I think we can run up front and put the fiasco in Japan behind us.”

Gábor Talmácsi
“Jerez is always a fantastic place to go racing – because of the fans, because my team is Spanish, because I love the circuit… so many reasons. We did a lot of testing there in preseason and it went well. I think we’re in much better shape now than we were back then and after the result in Japan I’m confident I can have a good race. My objective is still the same – to learn the new category and to hang with the front riders where possible. I had chance to spend two days at home after a tough week in Japan but every time I arrive at Jerez I feel really motivated to push for a top result and this year is no different. I know it will be tough because the level is very high in this class but we’ll be fighting to run up front.”

Jerez GP - Preview Quotes 125cc

Julián Simón
“We arrive at Jerez lying second in the championship and really keen to play a lead role. The first two races have been really strange as far as the weather is concerned and the truth is that I’m looking forward to having a race in normal conditions. In Japan things went really well and looking towards Jerez the idea is to improve the set-up as much as possible, as well as improving my riding in order to be as best prepared for the race on Sunday as we can be and see if we can take our first win of the year. The fans are going to get behind the Spanish riders and we have to try and pay them back with a big performance.”

Bradley Smith
“I know the Spanish guys won’t be making it easy for us but Jerez is a circuit where we know we can go fast and we are not going to let the opportunity of a good result slip through our grasp. We have a lot of information from preseason testing that I’m sure will help us to get off to a good start and be on the pace from Friday. We haven’t had much luck with the weather over the opening two rounds so now is the time to follow up all the hard work we’ve been doing with a top result.”

Sergio Gadea
“I’m really looking forward to getting to Jerez because we still haven’t been able to complete a race in normal conditions and it feels a bit strange. We’re working well but haven’t been able to reap the fruit of it yet. In Japan we made the wrong tyre choice and weren’t able to show our true potential. Jerez is not one of my favourite circuits but that’s not a reason for us not to be up there fighting for the win. I’m really happy with the set-up of the bike and engine performance, as well as the way the team is working, so we have to just keep going like this until the results eventually come.”

Japanese GP - 250cc Race Quotes

1st Álvaro Bautista
"It was a rather difficult race for us, because we had nearly no practice time on Friday and Saturday. I started quite badly and had some riders ahead of me on the opening corners, but soon I managed to get past and knew that I couldn't let Simoncelli escape. When I got up to third myself, Simoncelli and Aoyama were all together, and it was then that the wind picked up. Marco had a problem and that left myself and Aoyama, and I gave it my all to pass him. I am very satisfied with this result, and I think that it is an important victory that allows us to arrive at Jerez with our heads high. We have some good data for the race from preseason, and I hope to continue this way to give a win to the home fans."

4th Gábor Talmácsi
"I am very happy and I think that this is an incredible result. To tell the truth we had little time to prepare in either wet or dry conditions, and had near to no reference point for braking. Yesterday we made an important change in the practice session, but weren't able to try anything else when the qualifying session was cancelled. In the morning warmup we still had our doubts with the asphalt being a little wet, but I think that we made the right choice in the chassis setup. I felt comfortable when braking, and had a lot of fun Turing the race. I saw that Aoyama and Simoncelli were riding quickly, and I tried to keep up with their pace, but I had a scare at the same place that Di Meglio did, so I just tried to concentrate on my own race. I think that this is a satisfying result, and places us in a good spot in the standings, so that will help our morale when we get to Jerez."


Mike Di Meglio (DNF)
"I am a little disappointed with the crash, because I was feeling comfortable on the bike. After a good start I was convinced that I could have another great race, but I was unable to pass Gabor early on and when I did there was a damp patch on the track. My bike went out from under me, and there was nothing that I could do. It is strange, because right from the start I tried to concentrate and avoid making mistakes, but I suppose this shows my lack of experience. They are things that happen in racing, and now I just have to get back and try for a better result in Jerez."