Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Continue Championship Quest in Catalunya
After scoring strong results at Valentino Rossi‘s home race in Mugello, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP heads to Jorge‘s home race in Montmeló for this weekend‘s Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya.
Gerno di Lesmo (Italy), 10th June 2015
After a sensational race in Italy where Movistar Yamaha MotoGP‘s Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo scored the team‘s third consecutive double podium, they head to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the seventh round of the championship.
After being serenaded by home fans for his third place podium finish in Mugello, Rossi is excited to head to the next round in Montmeló. He has been leading the championship standing since the start of the season and is clearly in great shape. The Doctor holds a record of six premier victories with wins in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2009 and is also one of only two riders who have won the race in Catalunya from pole position, the other being his teammate.
Lorenzo has every reason to be happy; having found a good set up for his YZR-M1 he has won the last three races and currently holds second place in the championship. He hopes to continue his winning streak this weekend and bridge the six-points gap to his teammate in the overall standing. As Montmeló is a circuit he knows and loves, the Majorcan fancies his chances to add a fourth Catalan premier class victory to his earlier wins in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
The track hosted its first MotoGP race in 1992 and has been a crowd‘s favorite ever since. It has won the IRTA ’Best Grand Prix‘ trophy in 2001 and is known as one of the most atmospheric and exciting races on the calendar. The most famous battle in Montmeló happened between Rossi and Lorenzo in 2009.
VALENTINO ROSSI
I think Catalunya GP will be another good race, it seems that all races are great this year. The three main manufacturers are more or less at the same level and at every race you can expect everything. I love Barcelona, this is one of my favorite tracks. It‘s always difficult to go fast in that track but last year I rode one of my best races and this year I’m in good shape. We have to improve a few little things. We have to be better at finding the right set up for the bike and we have to be faster so we can start the race from a better position. The YZR-M1 is going really well, we are first and second in the championship and the last few races of Jorge proved the bikes’ competitiveness. We are close and we will work strongly to make it a nice weekend in Barcelona.
JORGE LORENZO
Three in a row is a good number of victories. I‘d never thought this would be possible after a strange beginning of the championship with some external problems that affected my riding and also the results. After the win in Mugello I‘m happy with my performance and also with the team‘s work. Everything is going well right now, I‘m only six points behind Vale and the bike is feeling the way I like. The next stop is Barcelona and this is like my home race. I know Montmeló really well, I‘ve been riding there for many years and I feel at home there. The track is really nice and is also good for Yamaha. I will give the maximum there and try to be prepared for the race so I can fight for the podium again.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
We had a great weekend in Mugello and we are feeling motivated for the next round in Catalunya. Last week it was Vale‘s and the team‘s home race, this week it‘s Jorge who gets to put on a show for his home fans. He is feeling good with the bike after his third victory in a row. Valentino is also in a good condition and will be strong here as always. Both of them really like this circuit and have had good results here in the past, so we are looking forward to getting started. It will be important to hit the ground running on Friday, so we are prepared for both qualifying and the race.