A couple more press releases from the MotoGP teams previewing the upcoming Estoril round, including words from the winner of the three last editions, Jorge Lorenzo:
YAMAHA FACTORY RACING PREPARE FOR ROUND THREE AS MOTOGP RETURNS TO ESTORIL
26/04/2011
The MotoGP paddock sets up at the Estoril circuit on the Atlantic coast in Portugal this weekend for round three of the World Championship after an extended break. The recent disaster in Japan and subsequent postponement of the Motegi round has resulted in a four week gap between races for Yamaha Factory Racing riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies.
Reigning MotoGP World Champion and current Championship leader Lorenzo returns to Estoril looking to extend a perfect score sheet from the Portuguese circuit. So far the young Mallorcan has three consecutive pole position starts, race wins and fastest laps, taking nothing less than victory from every Estoril race of his MotoGP career. The later scheduling of the Portuguese race in last year's calendar meant Lorenzo raced at Estoril in 2010 having already been crowned World Champion. He went on to deliver Yamaha's third consecutive Triple Crown that weekend with the help of his then team mate. A flawless performance under treacherous conditions in Jerez last month delivered Lorenzo's first race win of the season, the incident filled first Spanish round leaving most of the competition struggling to stay upright and reach the chequered flag. He arrives at Estoril nine points clear of his closest rival at the top of the Championship standings.
Yamaha Factory Racing rider Ben Spies heads back from his four week break in the USA preparing for his first Estoril MotoGP race. The 2010 round which saw Monsoon weather disrupt qualifying had initially looked positive for the then satellite Texan rider, combined practice times giving him a second row start for the race. An unfortunate high side on the second of two sighting laps however resulted in a dislocated ankle meaning Spies has yet to complete a MotoGP race here and has yet to turn a wheel on a dry Estoril track. The 2010 rookie of the year had been on track for his first podium of the year at Jerez last month. He had been running in second behind his team mate until he joined the many riders to crash out as the changeable track surface took its toll on the worn out rain tyres. Spies arrives in Estoril sitting in 12th in the Championship with ten points.
The Autodromo Fernanda Pires de Silva sits just seven kilometres from the Atlantic coast and as such is notorious for dramatic weather changes; riders can see conditions change in seconds from warm sunshine to high winds and gusts of rain. Estoril provides one of the most challenging circuits for set up, featuring one of the longest straights of the MotoGP calendar combined with the one of the slowest corners. Lorenzo and Spies will need all their rider skills to negotiate the slow twisty sections then hold their nerve for the high speed 200km/hr kink at turn five and the infamous final Parabolica corner leading to the finish line.
Jorge Lorenzo
"This week we will be in Portugal, a country where I've had nice moments! In Estoril I got my first victory in the MotoGP class in 2008 which I repeated over the last two seasons. The track has turned into a talisman for me and it is the place where the astronaut always comes back. We have been training for a month, and I hope that this makes us fit for a good race. We are in front of the standings, but it is very early and it is just the beginning. This week will also be important since we are testing on Monday and we will certainly be able to check a lot of things for the future set-up".
Ben Spies
"Although I've enjoyed the opportunity to head home and get some chill out time in Texas this break has been way to long for me. The team worked really hard over the weekend in Jerez and by race day had delivered a competitive set up that meant we could fight for the podium. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. I really enjoyed the first practice sessions here last year and was frustrated to have not made the race, I can't wait to get started on Friday morning and see what we can do."
Wilco Zeelenberg
"It seems like Jerez was last year, not the last round! It's a bit strange to have such a long time away from the track during the season but of course we all know the reason. We are really looking forward to Estoril, with the position we have and knowing Jorge is strong here we think he can do a good job and compete for the podium again. It's early in the season and our competitors have made big advances from last year but we are again fighting for the championship."
Massimo Meregalli
"Estoril is a good circuit for Yamaha, it's one of the favourite tracks for Jorge and he always gets good results here, as have other Yamaha Factory riders in the past. Despite not finishing the race at Jerez Ben showed he had the potential to finish on the podium so comes here looking to step forward again. Estoril has extra significance as we secured our Triple Crown for the third consecutive time here last year. We are confident that in the 50th year of Yamaha's involvement in Grand Prix racing we can continue our tradition of success in Portugal."
Don't forget to follow the Team live on Twitter over the season ? www.twitter.com/yamahamotogp
MotoGP World Championship 2011 - Grand Prix of Portugal - MotoGP Preview
MOTOGP FIRES UP AGAIN AFTER THREE-WEEK BREAK
MAPFRE Aspar rider H?ctor Barber? looks to build on Jerez sixth place at Estoril
The MotoGP World Championship resumes this weekend at Estoril following a three-week break since the last round at Jerez. The series stays on the Iberian peninsular with a short trip to Portugal, which should ensure a strong Spanish following in the local crowd. The event was hit by heavy rain last year, leading to the cancellation of qualifying on Saturday, and although Estoril is pehaps mainly known for its fickle weather the circuit itself has excellent characteristics within its 4,182m layout. A mixture of fast and slow corners and some dramatic elevation changes, as well as a main straight measuring almost a kilometre in length, make it a demanding proposition for the riders.
H?ctor Barber? emerged unscathed from a bruising race at Jerez last time out, picking up a highly creditable sixth place to boot. Whilst other riders fell around him the MAPFRE Aspar rider stayed upright in a confidence-inspiring performance that leaves him optimistic about the next challenge at Estoril. The Spaniard is confident that the Estoril circuit suits his style and is therefore looking forward to another good weekend. Last year he finished tenth in this race and he is hoping for more this time around.
biography
H?ctor Barber?: "The objective in Portugal is to improve the way we work during practice. Above all we want to improve the set-up of my Ducati with our focus on the race, like we did at Jerez. We want to line up on the grid with the best possible pace and fully aware of our potential. Estoril is a circuit that is usually kind to me and I have great memories. I was fourth for a few laps in my first season but I crashed because of a wet track and then the following year I won. I usually get to grips with it quite quickly so I hope that's the case again this weekend. I have prepared well over the last few weeks and I am looking forward to it."
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