After a stunning victory from Valentino Rossi in Argentina a fortnight ago, the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team flies back across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe for the Gran Premio de España at the Circuito de Jerez this weekend.
The Doctor arrives in Spain excited to add another top finish to his list of successes achieved in Argentina, Texas and Doha. Over the first three races he scored two sensational wins and a third place. He currently leads the championship by six points and is confident he can continue his momentum in Jerez. Rossi has claimed six premier class wins at this circuit in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009, two second places in 2008 and 2014, and a third place in 2010.
Jorge Lorenzo is also looking forward to putting on a show in front of the Spanish fans. The four-time World Champion holds fourth place in the championship standings and has an impressive record at Jerez, with two premier class victories in 2010 and 2011, a second place in 2012, and two further third places in 2008 and 2013. Last year saw him finish just off the podium in fourth place.
Circuito de Jerez is one of the most popular MotoGP venues, not only amongst riders but also fans, who travel from all over the world to see the action. The track was built in 1986 and hosted its first Grand Prix one year later. Blessed with consistently good weather and beautiful scenery, this track is usually filled to its full capacity, giving the event a great atmosphere. The 4.423km circuit sits within a slight valley that serves as a natural amphitheater, allowing race fanatics not to miss any of the overtakes that are bound to happen in the multiple fast corners and hard braking points.
Valentino Rossi
Championship: 1st
“I’m very happy to come back to Europe! These first three races have been very positive, although some of these circuits are not my favourites nor of the Yamaha! Yet my YZR-M1 has behaved very well and we rode nice races! To go to Jerez, after the victory in Argentina and holding first place in the championship, is certainly very positive. However the most important thing is that we’re doing a great job with the guys of the team. We must continue to work well together. The championship is still very long! I feel good and returning to Europe is nice. I really like the Jerez GP. The track is beautiful and also the atmosphere is fantastic. It also has very fast turns and I like that a lot. I did good races at this circuit in the past and I’ll try to have a good race also this year!”
Jorge Lorenzo
Championship: 4th
“After the three first races of the championship I have to say that, though the results weren’t as I expected, this season is still long, so we are very focused on working hard and trying to get better results from now on. During last week I was able to train a lot. In front of us is the GP in Jerez, one of the most challenging races of the year and it’s also one of the most exciting, because of the atmosphere. We come back to Europe and Spain and I like that. I look forward to racing there in front of all the Spanish fans and I will do my best to try to get my first podium of the season. The track is really nice and I hope to do a good job with my YZR-M1.”
Massimo Meregalli – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director
“Coming back to Europe after the first three overseas races is always nice, especially now that we are leading the championship. Racing in Jerez always gives a special taste thanks to the really nice atmosphere. The riders are on top form and the competitiveness of our YZR-M1 is really good so we are really looking forward to starting the weekend in the best way possible. We are very optimistic that we can continue our form from Argentina.”
Tech3 ready to hit Spanish asphalt at full speed
The Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro return to Europe this weekend for round 4 of the 2015 MotoGP World Championship fully confident of seizing success in the battle at Jerez. After the opening three rounds in Qatar, Texas and Argentina, the MotoGP paddock will embark on the European run, starting in Andalusia at the 4.4 kilometre circuit which is a firm favourite for riders and fans alike. The circuit can accommodate up to 250,00 fans who typically attend the event full of enthusiasm and passion.
Britain’s Bradley Smith who has started his third year aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 brightly, will determinedly seek to follow up his strong double of two top six finishes in the last two races. Once again, he will aim to fight to finish as the leading satellite rider with another noticeable display at the fast flowing Circuito de Jerez. Young Spanish rider Pol Espargaro will look to storm to a top tier result in front of his home fans and join his teammate in fighting for the honours of the fastest satellite MotoGP rider in Sunday’s 27 lap race. Espargaro has won twice at the circuit in the lower leagues and intends to add another strong finish to his successful tally here.
Bradley Smith
Championship: 7th
“I’m really excited about racing at Jerez this weekend and I aim to continue the positive momentum that I have so far this season. As it’s my third year with the team aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1, I know the bike and the guys all well by now and I know we can be strong here in front of the superb crowd. The start of the year has been great and we’ve been in the hunt for the leading satellite position at every race so far. Now it’s time to take to the European soil and fight for this again. This track has a special place in my heart as I won my first race in the 125cc class in 2009 and I’ve had some other strong results here as well, so this weekend I will be aiming to extend my positive record. The track is fast flowing and as always, Friday and Saturday will be crucial for setting up the bike for Sunday, but we are full of optimism and I can’t wait to start the fight again.”
Pol Espargaro
Championship: 9th
“After the first three races, we’re heading back to Europe and for the first GP in my home country, which is always brilliant. The fans really help and motivate me and in Jerez the support is incredible. So I want to repay them with a great show in the race. We have been a bit unlucky in the three opening rounds and couldn’t perform at our best, therefore I wasn’t able to challenge my teammate. Yet, the team is doing a great job and I feel confident on the bike so overall, I am ready to go and challenge for the positions that I want and need to be in. The track is fast and it’s such good fun to ride on the Yamaha, which really likes the rapid corners. We have a few things to work on, but we will hit the ground running, aim to qualify well and then see what happens. It was nice that we had a few days back at home to relax before we go to Andalusia for round 4 and the first European race, where I feel more confident about competing on these familiar tracks.”
First European stop in Jerez for the team Athinà Forward Racing
After an overseas start of the season, it’s time to go back to Europe for the team Athinà Forward Racing and its riders this weekend. The crew will be busy at Jerez de la Frontera where the bwin Spanish Grand Prix will take place.
After the first points in Argentina, Stefan Bradl and Loris Baz are looking forward to get back on track to fight for the lead of the Open class and gather more points riding their Yamaha Forward bike. Both rider will be working hard this weekend and will develop the bike further on Monday after the race with a test scheduled right after on the Spanish track.
Loris Baz
Championship: 19th
“In Argentina we worked really well and we made a good step forward. In the race I suffered in the early laps with a full tank, but then I found a very consistent pace and I finished the race in crescendo approaching my rivals. Jerez is a track I know, on which I have already raced and I have a good base to start with.”
Stefan Bradl
Championship: 20th
“The race in Argentina was not an easy one for me. I collected the first points of the season, but in the race lost the feeling and I could not push hard. We did analyzed the data and we arrive at Jerez ready to do well and fight for the lead in the Open class: during the last test on this track I was very fast on the Yamaha Forward.”
2015 MotoGP Spain
Jerez Circuit 28/04/2015
Circuit Length:
4423
Lap Record:
1’39.731
(Daniel Pedrosa, 1-1-2010)
Fastest Lap Ever:
1’38.120
(Marc Marquez, 4-5-2014)
Last Years Winner:
Marc Marquez
