Bautista looking to confirm strong form at legendary Assen circuit
Alvaro Bautista’s first ever MotoGP pole position at Silverstone came as no coincidence but as the result of many weeks of hard work. The Team San Carlo Honda Gresini rider was able to take the definitive step forward in a post-race test at Barcelona followed by another session at Aragon and now he is ready to play a lead role in the MotoGP World Championship as the series enters its second third at Assen.
Teamwork is proving crucial to the Spaniard’s progress as well as that of the CRT project, with Michele Pirro also closing the gap to the leaders and looking ready to fight for the top CRT spot. As usual the legendary Assen circuit promises to be a fascinating event.
Assen has been a fixture on the MotoGP World Championship ever since the series was born back in 1949 and it has become known as ‘The Cathedral’ of motorcycle racing. The circuit began life in 1925 as a street course on the roads surrounding the current facility, with an event that to this day is known as the TT (Tourist Trophy) – like its sister event on the Isle of Man. The most recent modifications to the layout, completed in 2006, have left only traces of the original circuit.
Alvaro Bautista “Silverstone was definitely a very positive weekend for us. After the changes we made in Barcelona my feeling with the bike improved a lot and at Silverstone we were able to confirm it. I felt comfortable and safe on the bike from the start and I was able to have fun, which showed through with the pole position on Saturday, my first in MotoGP, and in the fact that I ran with the front group throughout the race on Sunday. It was an important race for me and I was able to learn a lot from running with them. It was a very significant fourth place, because it is my best result in MotoGP and it was a nice reward for the team. I was able to celebrate a little after Silverstone with my friends, but I have been training hard, because we have three back-to-back races coming up and fitness will be crucial.
At Assen I will try to confirm my good form from Silverstone, run with the front pack again and continue making progress. The next objective is obviously the podium, but we can’t become obsessed with chasing it, because I am sure that if we continue working as we are then sooner or later it will come. Assen is a legendary track with a mixture of fast and slow corners and a lot of fast direction changes. Obviously the weather always plays an important role with the cold temperatures and constant threat of rain. The old circuit was definitely more interesting and I really liked it, but the new layout has some nice corners, too. The atmosphere is always incredible at Assen and it’s just a big motorcycling festival.”
Fausto Gresini “I was very satisfied with the results at Silverstone, in practice and in the race. After his splendid pole position on Saturday Alvaro was able to run with the front group throughout the race so the goal for Assen is to prove that was no fluke. We know anything is possible, because Honda have provided us with a great motorcycle and the work being done by Showa is allowing Alvaro great confidence with the RC213V in wet or dry conditions. After Barcelona and Aragon we have made significant progress and there will be no shortage of determination to continue working in this way.”
Source: Gresini Racing Press Release
