MOTOGP IN GERMANY AT THE SHORTEST CIRCUIT ON THE CALENDAR
ANOTHER EXAM FOR THE APRILIA RS-GP, BAUTISTA AND BRADL ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED
The MotoGP Championship approaches its ninth round of the season on the shortest track of the calendar. In fact, it will be the 3,671 metres of the Sachsenring in Germany hosting the next round of the premier category. This will be the umpteenth important exam for the Aprilia RS-GP on a very peculiar circuit. With only 3 right-handers and no less than 10 left-handers, the German track demands great efforts from technicians and riders alike to find the right setup.
The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders arrive in Germany highly motivated, albeit for different reasons. Stefan Bradl is on his home pitch, keen to do well in front of his fans and improve his feeling compared to Assen, a race where he struggled, despite achieving a solid eighth place finish. One of the protagonists in the Netherlands, Alvaro Bautista saw an excellent result for himself and for Aprilia go up in smoke just a few turns from the chequered flag. The bitter finale, however, does not cancel out the excellent progress shown by the Spanish rider, determined to confirm his growth on the Sachsenring.
ROMANO ALBESIANO – APRILIA RACING MANAGER
“The Sachsenring is a decidedly peculiar track, where engine performance has little impact on the overall result. Just imagine that maximum power is used for about 10-15% of the lap, whereas the electronics setup and the chassis features are fundamental. What is needed most of all is handling and the ability to find the right line on the turns, both in acceleration and without the throttle. Another delicate aspect concerns the first right-hander after a long section with the bike leaned to the left, a crucial point of the track that must be managed very carefully. As for our development path, in Germany we will be bringing a new swingarm, significantly lighter and with different stiffness parameters, and some components on the intake side of the engine that should guarantee a step forward in terms of torque at medium rpm”.
FAUSTO GRESINI – TEAM MANAGER
“We are coming from a couple of positive races and we would like to continue this trend in Germany as well so we can finish out this first half of the season well before the summer break. On paper, the Sachsenring could be a favourable track for the RS-GP. Up to now we have done some significant work on the bike, which is obviously ongoing, constantly striving to be more competitive. On such a winding track, where top speed is relatively not so important, it will be important to find a good compromise for the setup and we are confident that we will be able to do just that. We are, therefore, arriving in Germany confident that we can battle for a good placement with both of our riders”.
ALVARO BAUTISTA
“The break gave me a chance to release the tension from Assen. It was not easy, but now I am motivated and ready for battle. The Sachsenring is a slow, narrow track with a lot of left-handers, very difficult. As always, we are starting from zero, so we’ll have to begin working well from Friday morning on the bike setup. We are doing a good job. It would be nice for me to start the summer break with a good race, battling in the top ten as we have in the last rounds”.
STEFAN BRADL
“It will be a special weekend for me. Many of my fans and friends will be at the Sachsenring to support me. Despite the track not being my favourite, the excitement of racing at home is always very strong. Especially this year, since in 2015 I missed the race in Germany before beginning my adventure with Aprilia. I hope that my RS-GP adapts well to this track. A good result is within our potential and, all things considered, it would be particularly satisfying for me”.
