MOVISTAR YAMAHA MOTOGP POISED FOR SILVERSTONE START
Fresh from a private test at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP prepare to commence the GoPro British Grand Prix weekend.
Silverstone (UK), 22nd August 2018
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP‘s Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales are traveling to the United Kingdom for the GoPro British Grand Prix, held at the Silverstone Circuit this weekend.
The teammates arrive at the twelfth round feeling ready for the 2018 MotoGP World Championship fight again, after a full-on private test held at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli last week.
Both riders look forward to riding at Silverstone, a circuit with fast sweeping corners that’s well suited to their YZR-M1s.
Rossi is currently holding second place in the championship standings and is feeling extra motivated to win at Silverstone. He was in the mix for the win at the British GP last year but came just short and would love nothing more than a do-over.
He still thinks back with pleasure to his 2015 win at Silverstone. When the British Grand Prix moved there in 2010, he missed out on the first edition due to injury but stood on the podium three other times when he scored third places in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Viñales has expressed that he is a fan of the Silverstone Circuit numerous times, and the statistics back up his claim that the UK is a successful podium hunting ground for him. He secured a Moto3 class victory there in 2012, a third place in the Moto2 class in 2014, and he took his first ever MotoGP victory on British soil in 2016.
Last year the young Spaniard landed a double podium for Yamaha, taking second place from his teammate who finished third. Holding fifth position in the current championship standings, he is fully focused on securing a top result to climb back up the rider rankings.
Silverstone was added to the MotoGP calendar in 2010 but has an over-sixty-years-long racing history. Thanks to innovations and investments, the circuit became one of the fastest tracks on the calendar and earned high praise from the riders. Their enthusiasm is echoed by the fans, whose passion for racing gives the weekend an incredible atmosphere, making the British Grand Prix a must-be-at event.
Due to the UK being situated in a different time zone, the schedule of the British GP will slightly differ from the usual Central European Grand Prix timetable. The FP1 and FP2 sessions will take place on Friday from 09:55 – 10:40 and 14:05 – 14:50 local track time (GMT+1). On Saturday FP3 will be held from 09:55 – 10:40, followed by FP4, Q1 and Q2 in the afternoon at 13:30 – 14:00, 14:10 – 14:25 and 14:35 – 14:50. On Sunday the Warm Up will be staged at 09:30 – 09:50 and the race is scheduled to start at 13:00.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
We’ve got a lot of work done at the Misano test last week, so now we are ready for the next round of the championship at Silverstone. Maverick really loves this track and also Vale has enjoyed great successes here. The British GP has historically always been a strong race weekend for our team, because the track lay-out suits our bike well and our riders both like its fast corners and sweeping lines. Last year we secured a double podium, and this year we’ll fight even harder. We’re at a crucial part of the season, so we have to keep pushing 100% every race weekend.
VALENTINO ROSSI
MOVISTAR YAMAHA MOTOGP RIDER
August is a really busy month. After the last two races in Brno and Spielberg we had work to do. On Sunday at the Misano test we tried different set-ups and electronic solutions, and it was important to prepare better for the San Marino Grand Prix, that‘s coming up fast. But first we focus on this weekend. We now go to Silverstone, a track that I really like. As usual, with my team we will work strongly to achieve the best results. I hope that at Silverstone we can be fast, so I can have a good race.
MAVERICK VIÑALES
MOVISTAR YAMAHA MOTOGP RIDER
After the test in Misano last Sunday we come to the Silverstone Circuit in a positive mood. We have a good feeling and the satisfaction of having worked hard. The team is looking forward to getting this weekend started, because the track’s fast lay-out suits our bike, as the results of the previous years show. As I always said, Silverstone is a special track for me because I won my first MotoGP race there. I like this circuit a lot; there are many fast corners, many chicanes, and that’s something that really suits my riding style. Honestly, it’s one of the best tracks on the calendar for me. It’s one of the Grands Prix that I’m always eager to go to, and I will do my best and give my maximum to be on the podium again, like I was in 2017, or even better. Last year we were the fastest on the last laps, so we are going to try to be more competitive and even stronger this weekend.