NGM Forward Racing Team in the spotlights at start of 2014 season
The long winter wait is over as the NGM Forward Racing Team prepares this week for the first race of the 2014 MotoGP season, the Grand Prix of Qatar, under the floodlights of the Losail International Circuit.
Aleix Espargaro arrives in Qatar confident to fight with the front riders, having delivered several impressive performance in winter testing in Sepang and recently at Losail with a race simulation at a race-winning pace.
Team mate Colin Edwards also looks forward to the first race. During the final pre-season test session, he was able to improve his feeling with the bike and consequently his lap times. Colin can claim one podium finish at Losail in 2004 when a MotoGP round was hosted for the first time in the desert on the outskirts of Qatar’s capital city Doha.
The MotoGP team will start working on Thursday for the first free practice, where they left for the test, while for the Moto2 riders Simone Corsi and Mattia Pasini, it will be the first time this season to ride under the floodlights. Both riders look forward to make their debut on board of the Forward KLX. Mattia has good memories at Losail, where he won in 2008 (class 250cc).
Circuit info
Length: 5.380 m / 3.343 miles
Width: 12m
Left corners: 6
Right corners: 10
Longest straight: 1.068 m / 0.664 miles
Constructed: 2004
Race length: 22 laps MotoGP, 20 laps Moto2
Colin Edwards:
“I look forward to the start of the season in Qatar. I’m very happy to return on board of a Yamaha and to continue with the NGM Forward Racing Team. Together with the team we will work on the development of the bike and I’m confident that we can get good results.”
Aleix Espargaro:
“After the strong pre-season, I am really excited to make my debut in Qatar on board of the Forward Yamaha. It’s the first time, since I have been racing in MotoGP, that I arrive at the opening round of the season with the opportunity to fight for the front positions. I’d like to thank the NGM Forward Racing Team for their trust and I hope to get good results for the whole team.”
Simone Corsi:
“I’m very excited and confident for the first race on board of the Forward KLX. We arrive in Qatar determined to reduce the gap from the front riders. The Moto2 teams didn’t test at Losail this winter, so we all start without recent data and I think we can do well.”
Mattia Pasini:
“It’s very important to make a good start with the new bike. I’m very and determined to do my best for myself and the team. In the pre-season test we worked in preparation of the championship, focusing on the bike set up in race configuration. I think we have done a good job and I look forward to this first round.”