Bautista looking forward to race at one of his favourite tracks

Rizla Suzuki has travelled to Sepang in Malaysia for the second leg of the Pacific Ocean triple tour with both riders in a confident mood.

Álvaro Bautista heads to Sepang following a strong performance last weekend in Japan. His seventh position there came after three successive eighth place finishes in the previous races and he is determined to keep that improvement going, on a track that he knows well and likes a lot. Sepang is one of the only circuits on the MotoGP calendar that Bautista will visit for a race weekend with previous knowledge of riding at on a MotoGP bike – following tests there earlier in the year – he hopes that information, allied with the improving Suzuki GSV-R, will serve him well at a circuit where he has tasted victory in both the 125cc and 250cc classes.

The Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix is celebrating its 20th year this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit – a venue that has staged the event since 1999. The first Malaysian GP was at Shah Alam in 1991, before it moved to the Johor circuit in 1998. The current home is one of the most modern on the MotoGP calendar, the 5,548m circuit has 15 corners which are interlinked by two long straights and overlooked by some of the most amazing spectator grandstands to be found anywhere in a sporting arena.

Rizla Suzuki takes to the track on Friday – for the first of two free practice sessions – the second being held on the following morning. Qualifying for the 20-lap race will take place on Saturday afternoon, with the main event getting underway at 16.00hrs local time (08.00hrs GMT) on Sunday 10th October.

Álvaro Bautista: “I am really looking forward to this weekend because this is one of my favourite tracks and one of the only ones that I will ride at this year with some reference points for a MotoGP bike. That will help me from the start and make sure that I can work on setting the bike up immediately. I like this track a lot and I have good memories about the place, I still hold the 125cc lap record, so I know how to go around here quickly – I now need to do that on a MotoGP bike. I am sure we can get a good result here in Sepang and be up in that top six where we should be.”

Source: Rizla Suzuki MotoGP