The MotoGP World Championship heads to Aragón, Spain for round 13 this weekend and welcomes a brand new circuit to the calendar. As the riders get to know their surroundings, we check six with their eye on the podium...
Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) – Honda
Dovi heads to Spain defending third place in the championship and currently sits nine points clear of the chasing Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner. Having been round the track on a production bike last week, the Italian is relishing the chance to race on a circuit where none of the riders have any previous experience. After fourth in San Marino, he is also looking to end his seven-round absence from the podium. “We are very determined to score a good result in Aragon. At Misano, Italy and in the previous races we have been fast and close to the front, but now we need to take the final step and convert that speed into a strong result at the end of the race. This is the target for the weekend.”
Valentino Rossi (Italy) – Yamaha
Rossi continued his impressive comeback as he finished third in Misano last time out. That was the Italian’s second podium in five races since returning from a broken leg, and he has set his sights on another top-three finish this weekend as he chases Andrea Dovizioso for third in the championship. “I am feeling stronger and fitter every day so I will be aiming for the podium again this time,” he said. The 31-year-old has reason to be confident too as he is the most successful rider in history at GP events held in Spain – having won 19 across all classes.
Gold & Goose/Red Bull Photofiles
Dani Pedrosa (Spain) – Honda
Victory last time out in Misano handed Pedrosa his first ever back-to-back premier class wins, and took his season’s tally to four wins – doubling his previous best. Those two wins have also helped the Spaniard take 14 points out of Jorge Lorenzo’s lead at the top of the championship as the battle heads to Aragón – where of course neither rider has any experience. “I did some laps in July with a Honda CBR1000RR street bike and I really enjoyed the layout – I loved the circuit,” Pedrosa said. “It’s very different to the ones we are used to racing at in the MotoGP Championship, and so it will be really interesting this weekend.”
Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) – Honda
Lorenzo’s second-place finish in Misano meant he became only the fourth rider in history to finish all of the first 12 races of the season on the podium. It also limited the damage to his title ambitions inflicted by Dani Pedrosa’s fourth win of the season. And, having won in Spain twice already this year, Lorenzo is confident he’ll be back on the podium come Sunday, “I hope lots of people but especially my fan club are coming because I think it will be a good weekend. My aim is to get on the podium again and to push as hard as I can. We're ready to start working.”
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Photofiles
Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) – Honda
The Japanese rider only returned from serious injury two rounds ago in Indianapolis, USA but after finishing 12th there and again in Misano, he is hoping the new track will provide a level playing field and enable a return to the top 10. “I am looking forward to this new GP circuit,” the 28-year-old said. “There won’t be a big difference between the rookies and the veterans of this class. I will have a bigger chance to improve, as it will be equal for all of us. My physical condition is also improving. I am not 100% fit yet, but I can feel that every time it is getting better.”
Casey Stoner (Australia) – Ducati
Stoner heads to Spain level on points with Valentino Rossi in fourth and after a couple of frustrating weekends – a DNF in America was followed by fifth at Misano – is determined to get back on the podium. The Australian is also still searching for his first win of 2010. “I'm happy to be going to Aragón. The last two races have been difficult for us and racing at a new track is exciting. We'll go into the weekend with optimism and hope that the track is good fun and well suited to the Ducati, although being realistic we know we face a tough job to find something extra.”
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