Espargaro gets all-clear from doctors and will race at Laguna Seca
Immediately after the unfortunate Sachsenring race the that saw both Pramac Racing Team’s riders finish prematurely the race of the eni German Grand Prix, the team has organized everything for the transoceanic transfer to the United States for the U.S. Grand Prix. Unfortunately, the German Grand Prix saw both riders involved in the ninth lap incident, Aleix suffered serious damage to his bike and he could not take part to the second start. Different think for Mika that, despite having had the front rim slightly damaged, pitted and immediately restart for the second departure. Unfortunately, the excessive speed with which he had approached the first corner and the tyres still in a not perfect temperature, has made him loose grip in the rear and made his bike slipped on the track. Pity, because both riders had proved to be very fast on this track and they were able to gain a leading position in the final standings. A top ten for both was a real goal if they had a little more luck. Now we all move to Laguna Seca’s circuit for the Grand Prix of the United States exclusively reserved to the MotoGP category. Both Pramac Racing Team riders have never had the opportunity to race on this Californian circuit since Aleix is a rookie in this category, while Mika last year did not take part in this race because he was injured. It is expected an apprenticeship weekend for both that will study the track with their engineers to be able to be fast since Friday. In the past, the results obtained on this track by the Pramac Racing Team are not exciting. In the five years that the MotoGP has returned to race on this track, made famous for the “Corkscrew” curve, the Italian Team has scored a seventh position as best result with Elias in 2008.
Paolo Campinoti – Team Principal Pramac Racing Team
“Too bad for the Sachsenring’s race, we could get a good number of points but we have left Germany with empty-hand. Unfortunately the races are in this way, you never know what can happen. Both our riders were a little unlucky, during the ninth lap Aleix has found De Puniet bike’s in front of him and he was not able to avoid it. Fortunately he didn’t have damaged, but only a contusion and a big fright. I feel sorry for De Puniet’s incident, I hope he will return soon to the race. Mika had the great desire to make a good result on this track, his first departure was not the best, and he wanted to recover immediately positions with the second start. Unfortunately he had arrived too fast at the first corner and compromised his race. Next Sunday they can both be able to bounce on Laguna Seca’s track, where both have never race before. I hope that they can be fast since Friday. On this track we’ve never had excellent results, a seventh place two years ago is our best result, I hope that this year we could improve that result.”
Aleix Espargarò – Pramac Racing Team
“I am very sorry for the Sachsenring’s race outcome, I fell when I was in twelfth position, but I was very close to the riders ahead of me. I wanted to take part in the second stint, but the regulation prohibits it. Luckily I have not broken anything in the fall. I had a little fear when I was in Chemnitz hospital because the doctors had no common opinion on the diagnosis. After the x-ray , some say that my C7 vertebra was broken and that I had to rest for two weeks. Others argued that what they saw was an old fracture and that I would still have no problem to ride my bike next weekend. Fortunately, the final diagnosis was that I haven’t got fractures during the fall. I have always heard about Laguna Seca’s and the Corkscrew myth, I cannot wait to face it and see if the change of direction and the subsequent fast downhill take your breath away as they say. I studied the track with my engineers, it will be very important to start to be fast since Friday and continue to progress in the following days. ”
Source: Pramac Racing
