Complete write-off for Pramac Team as Espargaro crashes out and Checa suffers arm pump

Unlucky race for the Pramac Racing Team riders, who have both completed in advance the Grand Prix of Portugal. In particular, Aleix Espargarò fell during the first lap just a few corners from the start. He had lost his rear tyre during a turn. The young Spaniard has slipped ending a weekend that saw him as one of the protagonists of the MotoGP. He had been the yesterday the eighth fastest rider during the third free practice session and the seventh fastest position during this morning warm-up. Aleix was also able to make a really good start that allowed him to conquer two positions in the first sector. Unfortunately, his race ended prematurely in the sand of the Portuguese circuit. Different think happened to Carlos Checa. The Spaniard that had join the Pramac Racing Team from the Superbike, has not had many opportunities to try the new bike over this weekend and this has irretrievably compromised his race. Carlos, thanks also to a good start, had conquer four positions in the first lap, but after six laps he has considerably increased his lap time becoming second last thanks also to the overtaken made on him by Aoyama first and then by Barberà. Then during the thirteenth lap, Carlos had came back into the pits complaining a terrible pain in his right forearm used for braking and he wasn’t able to ride the bike in the best way. Both will now have three days off to get back in the shape for the next Grand Prix of Valencia that will close, with Sunday’s race, this long season of the MotoGP World Championship.

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Technical Director
“Unfortunately the rain that we had during recent days have also damaged our race. Carlos had never got the possibility to try the bike on the dry track and this have not allowed him to ride the bike in the best way and to find the right riding position that would allow him to avoid him having to use too much his right forearm. I’m sure that if he had got the possibility to full race the first free practice and yesterday’s qualifying session, he could be able to do a good race today. We are very sorry for Aleix who had a good weekend, he was very fast and very close to the front riders by almost all the weekend, today he could be able to fight with many of his opponents.”

Carlos Checa – Pramac Racing Team – DNF in the race – Not classified
“My bike was perfect, but my forearm, unfortunately not. I feel sorry for the technicians who worked for me this weekend and for the Pramac Racing Team, for not having completed today’s race. The bike I got to ride in Superbike this year is very different from the MotoGP given to me by the Pramac Racing Team and it never got the possibility to try it on the dry asphalt condition for more than ten laps, this certainly haven’t helped me. After six laps my forearm pain was really insufferable, I could not properly use the brake, my lap pace was not very good as the beginning of the race, and because of the pain I could not be able to be as fast as I wanted. I tried to keep it until the end, but the pain was too strong to complete the fifteen laps that had separated me from the checked flag. I hope that in Valencia the weather condition will be kind with me so that I can be able to have a good race weekend.”

Aleix Espargarò – Pramac Racing Team – DNF in the race – 14th in the World Championship
“I cannot understand what happened. I made a very good start by passing from the eleventh to the ninth position after the first sector. My opponents were very close to me and the pace I had this morning had me had high hopes for today’s race. Then suddenly, while I was turning in to a curve, even not one of the fastest of the circuit, I completely lost the rear of my bike as I had found a patch of oil or something very slippery. I tried to go back in the saddle, but my bike was already turned off. Too bad because I really had a good rhythm on this track, both in yesterday’s practice and this morning during the warm up. My thoughts are now turned to Valencia for the final race of the 2010 World Championship.”

Source: Pramac Racing Press Release