MOTO2, TIME FOR ACTION TO RESUME IN AUSTRALIA
A new tripleheader is around the corner for Team Gresini Moto2 who will take to the track first at Phillip Island with the goal to keep both riders near top position following Manuel Gonzalez’s epic winner a fortnight ago at Motegi. The Spanish rider is currently sixth in the championship standings but only 15 points away from second place. Gonzalez, who’s charged up following his maiden Moto2 win, cannot wait to try and go for a repeat result in the upcoming races. The goal is to return to Europe as a top three rider in the Moto2 standings, before playing his final cards in the last round at Valencia.
Following an unfortunate encounter in Japan, Albert Arenas is looking forward to jump back on his bike: the Spanish riders is eager to make amends and get up to speed in Australia, while displaying the same consistent pace he had shown in previous rounds. There are still four races to go, and anything can happen.
Motegi also staged an incident that involved Manuel Gonzalez who wore a Japanese headband during the starting grid. Such act – although unintentional – eventually hurt the sensibility of the Chinese people. QJMOTOR and GRESINI RACING are now running a positive discussion and it is expected that everything will be solved very soon.
As a form of respect towards China, Gresini Racing Moto2 Team will race unbranded the remaining four rounds of the current season.
MANUEL GONZALEZ #18 (6th in the championship standings with 153 points)
“First and foremost, I’d like to give my sincere apologies to everyone who felt offended by my grid pictures in Japan. It was never meant to be a political message, but only a set of pictures related to the city hosting the race. This was never intended as a lack of respect or an offensive gesture to the Chinese people, it was an unwitting and involuntary gesture that I regret. I’d like to apologise once again, hoping to receive your forgiveness and support. Thank you. Having said that, I’m eager to be back battling for the podium and the win like at Motegi. I always liked Phillip Island as it’s a fast track and it suits my riding style. We can have a go! Then next, two hot races, Thailand and Malaysia: I love these conditions as the rider can make a big difference both physically and mentally. We will work hard with the team to make sure my feeling will be ideal in each race, so that we can make more ground in the championship race. I love Sepang and I think we can do well there, also because of the set-up we have as it adapts to this track. The goal is to finish this tripleheader on a high before eventually giving it all in Valencia for the top three in the championship: we’re very close and anything can happen.”
ALBERT ARENAS #75 (14th in the championship standings with 65 points)
“We are ready for another tripleheader: I really like when we have three back-to-back races, because this give us an opportunity to give continuity to the work we’re doing. It’ll be tough, because we’ll encounter very different weather conditions, especially between Australia and Thailand/Malaysia. We’ll face them one by one: I’m eager to make amends!”