Viñales and Carrasco arrive in Qatar eager to get racing
The world championship kicks off this weekend in Qatar. After a great pre-season, the riders of Team Calvo, Maverick Viñales and Ana Carrasco, are already in Doha to compete in the first GP of the 2013 season.
On Thursday the first free practice sessions will be held, and the first race of the season will take place on Sunday. Despite arriving in Qatar a little battered and bruised after injuring his hand during the last tests of the pre-season, Maverick Viñales hopes to repeat last year’s win.
The rider from Roses will not be at 100% but is full of confidence, because ever since getting on the back of his Team Calvo KTM he’s been breaking all lap records of the circuits he’s been riding on, and further to this, the Losail circuit is one of his favourites.
For his team mate Ana Carrasco, Qatar will be the first GP. The young rider will make her debut in the Moto3 championship after recently celebrating her 16th birthday. Her aim will be to finish the race in the points. Even though she starts without pressure, Team Calvo’s experience and Ana’s determination will be crucial to achieve this.
Maverick Viñales #25
Everything has gone really well since the operation and I’m really looking forward to get to Qatar and get back on the bike. When the moment arrives, we’ll see how much the pain I still feel influences my riding, but I’ll try to arrange myself with it and adapt my riding accordingly.
Qatar is a circuit that I like and apart from that I enjoy riding at night, and so I’m very confident. I think with the KTM we have an advantage on this fast circuit. I am very determined and we’ll try to achieve the best possible result in this first race of the year.
Ana Carrasco #22
I want to start. I am very much looking forward to getting on the bike, and after all the work that we’ve done with the team during winter, I believe we can get a good result. I don’t know the circuit, I’ve been learning it on the Playstation and I’ve also walked one lap on foot. I like it a lot and I think we can do well.
Now I’ll have to see what it’s like to race at night, but I guess I’ll get used to it. I’m nervous about my debut in the championship but once I’ll sit on the bike I’ll be very calm.
Pablo Nieto (Team Director)
Qatar is the first race of the championship and we can’t wait to get started. I think the pre-season has been very positive as well for Ana as for Maverick and we’re quite anxious to see how well we can really do. The objectives for this first race after Maverick’s injury will be defined once he’s been on the bike but I’m sure he’ll be fine, ideally he’ll be in the top 3. For Ana it will be her first race in the championship and she has to enjoy it and learn a lot, because I’m sure this is going to be a race she’ll never forget.
Source: Team Calvo
