Tech3 pair ready to hit Cathedral of speed at full power
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:25 pm
@Tech3 pair ready to hit #Cathedral of speed at full power
Monster @Yamaha #Tech3 Team riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro head to the legendary Assen circuit this week for round 8 of the 2015 MotoGP World Championship optimistic of clinching success. The venue, which has a deep history, is the only event on the MotoGP race calendar to have held a Grand Prix every year since it's creation in 1949. In terms of layout, the narrow 4.5 kilometre circuit features many rapid corners and the Geert Timmer chicane always provides an exiting close to the lap for the thousands of ecstatic fans who flock to the track to witness the action.
Bradley Smith will be aiming to follow up his two consistent 5th place finishes at Catalunya and Mugello with another notable result aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 at the Motul TT Assen. The young British rider, who concluded the rain affected post Catalunya GP test at the head of the pack, will take the positives from Spain as he intends to meet the chequered flag inside the top six in Saturday's race. Meanwhile Pol Espargaro is fully confident of jumping straight back to a high scoring position at Assen after luck went against him at his home Grand Prix in Catalunya. The young Spaniard, who won from pole position in his title winning year of 2013 in the Moto2 class, will look to battle as closely as possible with the factory MotoGP bikes and complete the eighth round with a strong result.
Bradley Smith
Championship: 6th, 68 points
"The Motul TT Assen is a race that we all look forward to due to the track itself and also because of the festival atmosphere of the crowd who are always so excited about the MotoGP paddock coming to their country! The first half of the circuit is quite slow, but the second is much faster so it really is a mix of two halves and a good challenge for the riders. Plus, it has a very short straight, which means that we don't get much of a break during this race. I've ridden to two podiums in the lower classes here, so I will be going all out for another top result in order to continue my form this season. At the post race Catalunya test we found some useful settings that should certainly aid us, so we will put these to use and get on the pace as soon as practice begins on Thursday. It will be vital to have a strong free practice run so that we can get into Q2 and then do our best in the race, which I am pumped for!"
Pol Espargaro
Championship: 9th, 45 points
"I'm really looking forward to attacking the cathedral of speed on my Yamaha and I fully intend to close the weekend with a notable result. After my home Grand Prix, which didn't go to plan, I am more determined than ever to finish as close as possible to the factory bikes, especially as I've had some good results here in the previous years. Unfortunately, the test on Monday after the Catalunya race was disrupted by the weather, but nevertheless, we have a few settings that we must try at Assen so it's important that we make the most of the available track time in order to be ready for the race. It rained last year right before the start of the GP, therefore we must be aware that this could happen again. Yet, I am much more confident about riding in the wet this year, so if it happens, I'll be ready. Rain or sunshine, I'm going to give it my best and my intention is to battle with teammate to the finish line so the Dutch fans can watch a great fight on the track!"
Going to Assen for the eighth round of the season
After the test on the Barcelona circuit, it's time to get back on track for the riders of the Athinà Forward Racing team who this week will be competing in the eighth race of the 2015 season at the historic Assen TT Circuit. The riders of the Swiss team will get back on their bikes on Thursday to repeat the positive results obtained in Catalunya almost two weeks ago.
In MotoGP, Stefan Bradl, who scored his first Open win in Barcelona, is motivated to lead the pack again with the goal of reaching the points and close the gap in the standings to his rivals. Loris Baz is looking forward to get back on his Yamaha Forward, he is currently second in the Open class only behind Barbera. The Frenchman is well suited for the characteristics of the Dutch track and is convinced he can do well.
As usual, the race at the historic Assen circuit will be on Saturday instead of Sunday.
Loris Baz
Championship: 16th, 13 points
"It was not an easy race in Barcelona, nevertheless I ended up 13th overall. I picked up three important points in Catalunya and I am very close to the leader of the class. Assen is a track that I like and that I think suits the Yamaha Forward well. In Superbike I always went well here, I hope to repeat myself in MotoGP."
Stefan Bradl
Championship: 19th, 9 points
"I'm very motivated to go to Assen. In Barcelona I had a really good race, not only did I win in the Open class, but I also hit the Top10 managing to fight throughout the race with the factory riders. It will be important to continue in this direction at Assen with the aim of getting more points and get closer to the head of the Open standings."
2015 MotoGP Netherlands
Assen 23/06/2015
Circuit Length:
4555
Lap Record:
1'34.525
(Daniel Pedrosa, 1-1-2010)
Fastest Lap Ever:
1'33.713
(Casey Stoner, 30-6-2012)
Last Years Winner:
Marc Marquez
Monster @Yamaha #Tech3 Team riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro head to the legendary Assen circuit this week for round 8 of the 2015 MotoGP World Championship optimistic of clinching success. The venue, which has a deep history, is the only event on the MotoGP race calendar to have held a Grand Prix every year since it's creation in 1949. In terms of layout, the narrow 4.5 kilometre circuit features many rapid corners and the Geert Timmer chicane always provides an exiting close to the lap for the thousands of ecstatic fans who flock to the track to witness the action.
Bradley Smith will be aiming to follow up his two consistent 5th place finishes at Catalunya and Mugello with another notable result aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 at the Motul TT Assen. The young British rider, who concluded the rain affected post Catalunya GP test at the head of the pack, will take the positives from Spain as he intends to meet the chequered flag inside the top six in Saturday's race. Meanwhile Pol Espargaro is fully confident of jumping straight back to a high scoring position at Assen after luck went against him at his home Grand Prix in Catalunya. The young Spaniard, who won from pole position in his title winning year of 2013 in the Moto2 class, will look to battle as closely as possible with the factory MotoGP bikes and complete the eighth round with a strong result.
Bradley Smith
Championship: 6th, 68 points
"The Motul TT Assen is a race that we all look forward to due to the track itself and also because of the festival atmosphere of the crowd who are always so excited about the MotoGP paddock coming to their country! The first half of the circuit is quite slow, but the second is much faster so it really is a mix of two halves and a good challenge for the riders. Plus, it has a very short straight, which means that we don't get much of a break during this race. I've ridden to two podiums in the lower classes here, so I will be going all out for another top result in order to continue my form this season. At the post race Catalunya test we found some useful settings that should certainly aid us, so we will put these to use and get on the pace as soon as practice begins on Thursday. It will be vital to have a strong free practice run so that we can get into Q2 and then do our best in the race, which I am pumped for!"
Pol Espargaro
Championship: 9th, 45 points
"I'm really looking forward to attacking the cathedral of speed on my Yamaha and I fully intend to close the weekend with a notable result. After my home Grand Prix, which didn't go to plan, I am more determined than ever to finish as close as possible to the factory bikes, especially as I've had some good results here in the previous years. Unfortunately, the test on Monday after the Catalunya race was disrupted by the weather, but nevertheless, we have a few settings that we must try at Assen so it's important that we make the most of the available track time in order to be ready for the race. It rained last year right before the start of the GP, therefore we must be aware that this could happen again. Yet, I am much more confident about riding in the wet this year, so if it happens, I'll be ready. Rain or sunshine, I'm going to give it my best and my intention is to battle with teammate to the finish line so the Dutch fans can watch a great fight on the track!"
Going to Assen for the eighth round of the season
After the test on the Barcelona circuit, it's time to get back on track for the riders of the Athinà Forward Racing team who this week will be competing in the eighth race of the 2015 season at the historic Assen TT Circuit. The riders of the Swiss team will get back on their bikes on Thursday to repeat the positive results obtained in Catalunya almost two weeks ago.
In MotoGP, Stefan Bradl, who scored his first Open win in Barcelona, is motivated to lead the pack again with the goal of reaching the points and close the gap in the standings to his rivals. Loris Baz is looking forward to get back on his Yamaha Forward, he is currently second in the Open class only behind Barbera. The Frenchman is well suited for the characteristics of the Dutch track and is convinced he can do well.
As usual, the race at the historic Assen circuit will be on Saturday instead of Sunday.
Loris Baz
Championship: 16th, 13 points
"It was not an easy race in Barcelona, nevertheless I ended up 13th overall. I picked up three important points in Catalunya and I am very close to the leader of the class. Assen is a track that I like and that I think suits the Yamaha Forward well. In Superbike I always went well here, I hope to repeat myself in MotoGP."
Stefan Bradl
Championship: 19th, 9 points
"I'm very motivated to go to Assen. In Barcelona I had a really good race, not only did I win in the Open class, but I also hit the Top10 managing to fight throughout the race with the factory riders. It will be important to continue in this direction at Assen with the aim of getting more points and get closer to the head of the Open standings."
2015 MotoGP Netherlands
Assen 23/06/2015
Circuit Length:
4555
Lap Record:
1'34.525
(Daniel Pedrosa, 1-1-2010)
Fastest Lap Ever:
1'33.713
(Casey Stoner, 30-6-2012)
Last Years Winner:
Marc Marquez