The 2016 MotoGP World Championship has started in a very positive way for Hector Barbera and Avintia Racing. The Spanish rider, who started from the eighth place of the grid, made a great race to reach the chequered flag in ninth position and get his first seven points of the season. The race was hard and he had two big moments that prevented him to fight for a better place, but overall the result has been positive and gives the team confidence for the next few races.
The result was not so positive for Loris Baz, who did a great start from the 16th place to 12th position, but on the eighth lap he crashed after losing the front of his Ducati in turn two. But the Avintia Racing rider is confident on improving his performances in the next two rounds in Argentina and Texas.
HÉCTOR BARBERÁ #8 / P9
“We have reached the goal we had before the race which was to finish in the top ten, but today I wanted to get something more. But we have to be realistic and know that we are fighting against factory bikes, and this is not an excuse. Now we are closer to the front and we can get better results. During the weekend I’ve been tense because it was the first race, we did not work as well as in the test and I made many mistakes. I’m the one who has to be more calm and transmit it to the team, but I’ve been nervous because I’ve seen myself close to the front and with more chances to get a good result. The championship just started and our real goal is to be in the top ten at every race, and when we have a really good chance, to fight for the top five. It was a shame, because I made a mistake riding behind Pol Espargaro and then Smith overtook me. Today we had the chance to fight for the seventh place, but nevertheless, to be the third Ducati is something positive.”
LORIS BAZ #76 / DNF
“I was doing a good race, and step by step I was building my confidence to get a good pace. I was quite comfortable with Aleix, but I had some lack of front grip going into the corners and also traction getting out of them. I tried to change my lines to get the maximum of the bike, but going into the second corner I lost the front and crashed. I don’t know why, but it’s clear that I reached the limit. The first race went better than we expected and there are some positive things, as Hector had been showing. We have to keep working in the same line from the winter and I’m sure that in Argentina, a track I really like, we can do much better. We have 17 more races ahead and, although is always better to start the season with a good result, we have to be positive. I’m not a rider who crashes often during the races, and I feel sorry for my team that worked very hard during the weekend.”
