Elias and Terol hoping to confirm recent progress at Montmeló
The Circuit de Catalunya is about as close to the ‘complete challenge’ as it gets for a motorcycle racer, combining fast and flowing sections with some tight turning and elevation changes around its 4.727m layout. With a main straight of over a kilometre Montmeló has all the ingredients to make for another exciting weekend’s racing on Spanish soil, with the home riders desperate to impress in the battle for Moto2 honours. Local pair Pol Espargaró and Marc Márquez are separated by a single point at the top of the championship followed closely by Thomas Luthi, giving this fifth round of the season extra spice.
MAPFRE Aspar pair Toni Elías and Nico Terol are also eager for home glory, the two World Champions having already written their names into the history of this famous track. Elías rode a race bike for the very first time here and he is desperate to make more progress with some new technical updates for his bike at his home circuit. Terol picked up one of many victories from pole position at this circuit on his way to the 125cc title last year to bury the memories of a bad back injury sustained in the La Caixa corner in 2010. The Spaniard picked up his first Moto2 points in his fourth race at Le Mans last time out and he is looking for more this Sunday.
Toni Elías: “I love Montmeló and I have great memories of the track. I rode a Grand Prix bike there for the first time when I was just fourteen years old and I have cut my teeth there as a racer over the years. I love the first sector around La Moreneta and I always enjoy feeling the heat from the fans in the stadium section, which always gives me an extra boost. I am very motivated for this race, which we approach with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in the belief that it can be a turning point for our season. We have had some discreet results so far but we are making progress and I don’t see why we shouldn’t go out there to win on Sunday. We will have to work very hard to get our set-up right before the race but I plan to make the most of every available minute.”
Nico Terol: “It’s another home race, the fifth round of the season and we go there in good form. I struggled to get on the pace over the opening two races but I learnt a lot about Moto2 and over the last two rounds I have been able to experience it in all kinds of conditions. At Le Mans in free practice we showed that we are heading in the right direction and we have the opportunity to take another step forward this weekend. I like Montmeló a lot and if we work in the same way that we have over the last two rounds we can make big progress. Only a small improvement in this category can equate to a lot of positions so that is something that serves to motivate you even more. I like the fast turns at Montmeló as well as the braking into turn one and the last two corners, which are the secret to a good lap time. I am in form and expecting a lot from this weekend.”
Source: Aspar Team