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Category: Moto GP
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ALEIX ESPARGARÓ SEEKS HIS FIRST POINTS IN TEXAS, SCOTT REDDING KEEN TO CONTINUE THE POSITIVE TREND
Before beginning the long European tour, MotoGP is making its last overseas stop to take on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. This is a track that created some difficulties for teams and riders because of rather bumpy asphalt, but which has now been partially resurfaced (between turns 1 and 9 and between turns 16 and 19), the effects of which will be clearer after the first practice sessions.
Scott Redding is approaching the American round after picking up his first championship points astride the Aprilia RS-GP in the last race in Argentina. The feeling with the Italian bike, which Scott is in his first year riding, is increasing consistently. This is partly due to the British rider's work method, analytical and always focused on improving in terms of race strategy rather than on instantaneous performance.
Aleix Espargaró is more than ready for redemption after being unable to earn points in the first two round of the season, despite clear demonstrations of his competitiveness, like his brilliant Saturday in Argentina. The Spanish rider's value and grit that shone through brightly on that occasion let him look at the upcoming race with renewed optimism.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"Qatar and Argentina were not two lucky races for me. On both occasions, I felt good and we had prepared well for the race, but we were unable to take points due to unexpected issues. During the break before Texas, I tried to rest up and recover energy together with my family - kind of a reset to rediscover the positive feeling for the upcoming race. It's not easy, but I know that I have always given my all, so we need to stay focused and continue working."
SCOTT REDDING
"The race in Argentina was an important one for me. It allowed me to recover the feeling that I had lost in Qatar after good pre-season training. My race position, just outside the top 10, is the result I was expecting to achieve at the beginning of the season. Riding race distance alongside other riders also gave me a chance to compare our performance with that of our rivals and see which areas we need to work on. I want to start from this foundation to keep growing and to grow the RS-GP, knowing that I am moving in the right direction."
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Customers of James Whitham’s track day training schools at Mallory Park can also test ride the GSX-R1000R, with added incentives for those that go on to purchase the championship-winning machine.
Starting from next week’s event on April 18 at the ‘friendly circuit’ and included at no extra cost, customers can choose to take a GSX-R1000R out on track for a 20-minute session. Those that go on to purchase a new GSX-R1000 or GSX-R1000 before the end of 2018 will then have the cost of the track day reimbursed, and will be automatically granted a free place on Suzuki’s 2019 All-Star track day event.
Three-time British Superbike champion John Reynolds – who played a pivotal role in the development of the GSX-R1000 both in Japan and Europe – will also be on hand to answer any questions and offer additional on-track instruction.
Suzuki GB marketing manager, Rob Cooper, said, “There’s nowhere better to get a taste for a GSX-R1000R than a race track, which is why we want to give people that chance. James already uses GSX-R1000Rs for the instructors on his days, so it made sense to add to the number of bikes at his Mallory Park events and let customers experience the bike for themselves too, including its full suite of electronics and MotoGP-derived engine.”
Customers that purchase before the end of April will also get a free Yoshimura Hepta Force exhaust, while the GSX-R1000 is currently on Suzuki’s low-rate finance offer, which allows customers to choose from either a PCP or hire purchase deal, 2%, 3%, or 4% APR, and an agreement term to match. The offer runs until the end of June.
To book a place on James Whitham track days, visit www.jameswhitham.com/track-training. GSX-R1000R test rides will only be available at Mallory Park events.
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APRILIA FLIES TO TERMAS DE RIO HONDO IN ARGENTINA
It will be the 4.8 kilometres of the Argentinian Termas de Rio Hondo track hosting the second round on the 2018 MotoGP calendar. A fast track (more than 170 km/h average) with plenty of treachery, especially in terms of grip conditions. The weather forecast, with a chance of rain, contributes to increasing the uncertainty expected from the South American round.
This is an exam that Aprilia is tackling with renewed ambitions, comforted by both the potential of the new 2018 RS-GP and by the wide margins of improvement shown in Qatar.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"We need to keep working. In Qatar, the feeling in the race was rather good before the problem in the end that kept us from a top-10 finish that was well within our reach. I am confident because we confirmed our strong points, especially over race distance, whereas we have room to improve our flying lap in qualifying. We are at the beginning of the season. We have set some ambitious goals for ourselves which will certainly not be easy to confirm, but we have all our papers in order to have a good season."
SCOTT REDDING
“The sensations after Qatar were not the best, but I am sure that we will be able to solve the problems that came up in the race. The RS-GP worked well up to that point, so apparently we missed something and that is what we will focus on in Argentina. With so many new components introduced on the 2018 RS-GP, it becomes essential to analyse the data and the bike's reactions carefully in order to create a working base that can then be dialled in as the weekend progresses."
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ESPARGARÓ STOPS WITHIN A SHOUT OF THE TOP TEN
SCOTT REDDING TWENTIETH IN HIS DÉBUT RACE ASTRIDE THE RS-GP
A fuelling problem stopped Aleix Espargaró on the final lap, just as a good placement in the top ten was within reach.
In the second half of the race, Aleix had found a good pace, moving up several position, thanks in part to a couple of crashes by riders ahead of him. At the start of the final lap, he had caught up to Miller (tenth) and Iannone (ninth) with a good chance of overtaking them, considering the significant difference in pace. However, precisely during the last lap, a fuelling problem silenced the V4 in the number 41 Aprilia. In any case, Aleix managed to cross the finish line (in 19th place), but he had already lost his chances for the good result.
In his first race astride the Aprilia RS-GP, Scott Redding had to reckon with grip problems and was unable to move up from the rear guard, finishing twentieth.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"Despite the result, I am satisfied with the way I managed the race. I gave 100%, using a very conservative map straight away and managing in any case to maintain a good pace. I hoped to be able to use the more aggressive map in the race finale, where we know that we are faster, but that wasn't possible. During the final lap I was about to attack Miller and Iannone, but some fuelling problems cost me a lot of positions. A ninth place finish in these conditions would have been an important result. We need to work together to solve this problem, without which I am convinced that we would have been able to battle in the group of the best 5-6 down to the end."
SCOTT REDDING
“I can't be pleased with the way the race went today. From the start I had poor grip on the rear and then at the end of the race things started working, so much that I did my fast lap on the last lap. Right now I am struggling to understand why. We need to analyse the data and it is most likely a problem that we did not have during the tests. Now we need to start working straight away to improve in view of the upcoming races. We know that our potential is greater than what we demonstrated today, but evidently we are missing something.”
ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
"This was a rather troubled weekend because of grip that came and went - extremely particularly tyre use conditions. These were very different conditions from last year as well as from those in the last pre-season tests. Even if we are still lacking something, we found a good solution with Aleix in the race, but we had a fuelling problem just as we were about to bring home a good top ten finish."
FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
"It's a pity about a problem like that right in the last lap that frustrated all the hard work done by the riders, Aprilia and the entire team. We still need to get to know this new bike well, but I think it has huge potential. This complicated the entire weekend but, given the way Aleix's race finished after a brilliant comeback ride, I'd say that we were also a bit unlucky. It was a difficult weekend, but the bike has improved a lot and I am sure that we are not far behind the leaders. We know that we still need to make an effort, but we have a whole championship season ahead of us."
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GOOD SENSATIONS FOR ESPARGARÓ AND REDDING ON THE SECOND DAY OF TESTS
In the Aprilia garage, the work programme is divided, but the sensations at the end of the second day of tests in Qatar are similar. In fact, both Espargaró and Redding are satisfied with the way the tests are going, the last ones before the season opener.
Espargaró went out on the track with different chassis settings looking for more confidence on the Losail asphalt and his feeling at the end of the day satisfied the Spanish rider. Tomorrow Aleix will work toward improving, especially in braking and acceleration, before doing a race simulation long run.
This is a simulation that Scott Redding did toward the end of the session today, completing about 15 laps with excellent times and consistency. The new entry in the Aprilia camp confirmed the quality of the Italian V4 in terms of proper tyre wear management, able to use a soft tyre on several laps without evident signs of deterioration.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"We have to be happy. We are making progress and working hard. I still don’t feel like I’m at my best braking, but overall I am satisfied with the way the tests are going. We are struggling to take full advantage of the new tyre for a fast lap, but we are competitive in terms of pace. I am very curious to see my race simulation tomorrow and what the others will do in order to have a more concrete idea of what our potential could be over race distance. As for what we’ve seen up to now, and counting on improving more, I think that we will be able to demonstrate a good pace."
SCOTT REDDING
"Today we weren’t focusing on lap times, but we worked to prepare for the final long run. I had done one in Thailand that did not satisfy me, whereas here, despite starting later than race time, things went rather well. The times and the easy ride satisfied me, although there is still work to be done in order to increase the edge grip. I used a soft tyre on the rear, which is new for me, and I was surprised at how good condition it was in at the end and how my feeling improved lap after lap."
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