May 2018 - Page 2 of 3

16 May, 201824 May, 2018

MotoGP GP of France – Le Mans

Reale Avintia Racing team riders Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon head to Le Mans for the fifth round of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship.

Rabat, who was not able to show his real potential in Jerez after a bad start, arrives in France determined to use all what he learned during the one day test after the Spanish Grand Prix. He has a good set-up on his Ducati and he aims to get back in the top 10 at Le Mans.

The French Grand Prix is like his home race for Simeon. The MotoGP rookie will be backed by thousands of Belgian fans that will travel to Le Mans to see him racing his Reale Avintia Ducati.

The weather forecast for the weekend is completely unusual for Le Mans, sunny and warm from Friday.

“I was not happy after Jerez, the race didn’t go as planned and I was disappointed. But we had a positive test on Monday and we saw and improved many things. That’s why I go to Le Mans full of confidence. The weather forecast is good, although the forecast can always change in France. I like the circuit and I think it suits my Ducati perfectly. It will be important to get back to the level we showed in the first races. My aim is to qualify well on Saturday and do a good start on Sunday. If I can do that, I’m sure I can do a great race.”

“Le Mans is like my home Grand Prix. It’s really close to Belgium and it’s a circuit I really like. But as at all circuits this season, we arrive there without experience, so the first practice sessions will be important to see where we are. My goal is to do well in qualifying and to get closer to the pace, as we did in the test at Jerez on Monday. I’ve trained hard this week to arrive at Le Mans at the maximum and I’ll be fighting from Friday to improve.”

15 May, 201815 May, 2018

Reale Avintia Academy – GP of France – Le Mans

After the disappointment at the Spanish Grand Prix, Livio Loi and Reale Avintia Academy head Le Mans for the fifth round of Moto3 World Championship this weekend. The Belgian rider needs to get back to the level showed in the first few races of the season and, he is lucky, as Le Mans is one of his favourite tracks. But he should work hard with his crew to find the best set-up for his KTM on a stop and go circuit, where the braking stability and acceleration are crucial.

Once again the target will be top ten on Sunday, but to get that, Loi and his team will have to work hard during the weekend.

“I’m looking forward to Le Mans, because it is one of my favourite circuits. We need to get back to the level from Argentina and Texas, so we’ll have to be focussed from the first free practice on Friday. Le Mans is quite close to my house, so this will be like my home race. Lot of Belgian fans will come to support us, so I head France at 100%”.

7 May, 20187 May, 2018

MotoGP Jerez Test– Circuito Angel Nieto

Reale Avintia Racing team riders, Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon, stayed today at Jerez for a one-day-test and both have been able to improve their feeling after a Spanish Grand Prix that was not as both expected.
Tito Rabat, who was disappointed yesterday despite scoring two championship points, improved his best lap time of qulaifying and completed a race simulation in 1’39s mid low and some 38. Rabat also worked hard to improve his feeling with the clutch to on the start, one of the main issues that affected his result on Sunday’s race.
Simeon also enjoyed a very productive test day, he changed his position on the bike, and now he is more comfortable and consistent. In the afternoon he had a small crash without consequences, and he leaves Jerez quite satisfied.
In addition to Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon, in these test the team hosted, the Andorran rider Xavi Cardelus who made his debut in MotoGP as team’s test rider. His first experience with the Ducati has been very positive and after completing his first Grand Prix in Moto2 as a ‘wild card’ for Cardelus, testing one of the Reale Avintia Racing bikes has been the culmination of a week full of emotions.
Now the team will head to Le Mans, where the French GP will take place from May 18^th to 20^th.

“This was a very positive test and we got very good conclusions. I have improved my qualifying lap time, we did a fast race simulation. But although all this makes me very happy inside I feel a great disappointment for not having been able to do it yesterday in the race, because the test doen’t count. In the end I spent a good time practicing exits; I already have clear how to start well and without problems, at least I’ll be able to maintain my position, because we can’t loose so much in the exits. Now I’m thinking in Le Mans where I hope to be fighting again in the top 10”.

“We have no new parts to test with this bikes, son we focused on trying new things to improve my feeling. We have changed my position on the bike we have seen positive things. I have found myself much better than during the race weekend. I have also worked a lot to change my riding style, but didn’t improve as much as I would like to. But we must be patient because it is a long process and every time I go a little better. I do not want to push myself, but it is clear that I would like to be much faster”.

“In just a few days I had many emotions together. First for my debut in the Moto2 World Championship, and I think that it went quite well. And today testing the MotoGP bike was just amazing. I’m very happy and I don’t have words. I was surprised how fast is the bike, it’s incredible, but the biggest impact for me was acceleration. The carbon brakes are also interesting, they work in a very different way from what I’m used to, but I liked the feeling. It is also a bike that needs to be riden in a very special way, in 40 laps I to adapt my style, but it was not easy. I want to thank Raul Romero and the entire Reale Avintia Racing team for this opportunity and I hope to repeat it in the future”.

6 May, 20186 May, 2018

MotoGP GP of Spain – Circuito Angel Nieto

After a difficult weekend, Reale Avintia Racing riders Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon leave Jerez without the results they were expecting at the Spanish Grand Prix. With higher temperatures and different conditions from last year’s test on this track, Tito Rabat was not able to find the feeling he had in November. Furthermore, his start from sixth row of the grid was not the best and he lost several positions, that he struggled to recover during the race. The only positive point for Rabat at the Spanish Grand Prix was that with 14^th place, he is still inside the top ten on the championship standings after four races.

Xavier Simeon came to Jerez determined to score some championship points. The Belgian rider made some steps in the right direction in the free practice sessions, but he never really found the perfect set-up to be more comfortable riding his bike, which was obvious during the race. At least, Simeon finished the race and got more experience in MotoGP.

Both Reale Avintia Racing riders will stay in Jerez for a one-day-test tomorrow where they hope to find solutions ahead of the French GP, that will take place in Le Mans in just two weeks.

“It was a really difficult weekend. I thought I would be able to go faster in the race, but it was not possible. The start was not good and then I never got a good feeling with the bike. It was strange, so I decided to settle down and keep my pace until the end. It was impossible to go faster, and it’s a shame that this happened in my first home race. Tomorrow we will have a test where we will analyse what happened this weekend. I’m looking forward to this test, but I’m even keener to forget this weekend and to get to Le Mans.”

“The race today was very difficult, because we went worse and worse every lap. I didn’t have the pace we expected. We changed many things to solve the rear grip issue from yesterday, but at the end we just made things more difficult. I wasn’t able to push and ride the bike with confidence and I didn’t enjoy the race today. The only positive thing is that I kept a constant pace and got some more experience.”

6 May, 20187 May, 2018

Reale Avintia Academy – GP of Spain – Circuito Angel Nieto

The Spanish Grand Prix started with problems from Friday and came to an end today in the same way. Livio Loi pushed hard to recover in today’s race, but he continued without feeling and at the end he finished the race in 18^th place in Jerez.

The Belgian rider is working hard with his Reale Avintia Academy crew to improve and try to recover the feeling to be fighting every race for the top 10.

Now the rider and the team are looking forward to go to Le Mans and work even harder to find a solution. The French GP will take place from 18^th to 20^th May.

“This weekend was very difficult for me. In the first lap I lost a lot of time because several riders hit me and, then it was very tough to recover the gap with the front group and fight for the top 10. It was a weekend to forget and now we have to work harder. We need to get back and show our real potential.”

5 May, 20185 May, 2018

MotoGP GP of Spain – Circuito Angel Nieto

Both riders of Reale Avintia Racing team improved their lap times and the feeling with their Ducati Desmosedici bikes on the second day of practice for the Spanish Grand Prix and were satisfied with their progress. But nevertheless, Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon expected to finish the crucial qualifying session with a better result.

Rabat has a very good race pace, which he showed it in FP4 where he finished seventh fastest and with a lot of confidence for the race.
For Simeon, the FP4 session was also very positive, as he felt very good on the bike. But just like his teammate, he has was not happy with his grid position.
The warm-up session on Sunday morning will be crucial to refine the set-up of the bikes and to be completely ready for the 25-lap-race, in which both are riders are determined to put up a fight, show their strong race pace and achieve a good result.

“It’s been a difficult weekend so far, but we’ve found a method to go faster and that’s why I’m happy. We had a very good pace in FP4, where I was able to see many things riding behind Dani Pedrosa. We are refining setting issues so we can finish the race in a good position. In qualifying, I was pushing harder and I crashed, which was a pity for the team and for me as well. Tomorrow I hope to make a good start and to recover positions step by step. We are only 17^th on the grid, but I am still happy with the work we’ve done and the progress we made.”

“This morning we made an important step and it gave me a lot of satisfaction, so I had high expectations for qualifying. My goal for this race is to get closer to the top 15 and we have shown that we can do this. But in qualifying, with the highest temperatures of the day, we had problems with tyre grip and it was very difficult to ride. I expected to do much better. I had a hard time repeating my best time of the morning. We need to solve this grip problem if we want to make a good race”.

5 May, 20187 May, 2018

Reale Avintia Academy – GP of Spain – Circuito Angel Nieto

Livio Loi and Reale Avintia Academy team still trying to find feeling with his KTM at Jerez circuit.

Following a difficult first day on Friday at Angel Nieto circuit, the team and the rider were hoping for some improvement today and try to be in the top 15 places of the grid, but the feeling was not good again and tomorrow Loi will start the race from the 28^th place of the grid.

Qualifying practice has been also bad and really difficult as the rest of the weekend so far, and the Belgian rider was not able to feel comfortable with his bike to improve the lap times.

Reale Avintia Academy team is looking forward for tomorrow’s warm-up session where they hope to find the way for the race.

“We still in the same situation and we can’t move forward and improve. I was confident for today and hoping to get more comfortable on the bike to improve my pace and get closer to the top, but it was not possible. Tomorrow I hope to get a new opportunity during warm-up and find something that gives me an extra boost to go faster.”

4 May, 20185 May, 2018

MotoGP GP of Spain – Circuito Angel Nieto

Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon started their preparation for the Spanish Grand Prix at the renamed Angel Nieto Circuit of Jerez today, with the first two free practice sessions in the MotoGP category. The Jerez weekend is the first home Grand Prix for Reale Avintia Racing, and the first European round of the Championship.

After his great start of the season, Tito Rabat arrived at Jerez highly motivated. Even though it didn’t reflect in the time sheets, he had a positive first day, working very efficiently towards the race on Sunday. He already knows which tyre combination to use and he is also sure about the set-up of his Ducati, so he can concentrate now on improving his lap times in qualifying and battling for a good position on the starting grid.

Teammate Xavi Simeon also had a good day. The MotoGP rookie had very good feelings with the bike from his first exit and his race pace was strong. He was not able to get the maximum from the soft rear Michelin tyre, but he is still confident for Saturday and hopes to improve his grid position for the race.

“It was a difficult day, but a positive one nevertheless. We tried all the tyre options available and also different settings on the bike. It was clear that the track conditions were completely different in comparison to when we tested here at the end of last year, so knew in advance that it was going to be difficult, but we are not too far away. Let’s see if I can improve my lap times in FP3 and then make another step in qualifying, so I can start the race in a good position. I’m quite confident for the race as we know which tyre to use. The feeling with the bike is very different from the test in November, but it’s the same for everybody.”

“Today the feeling was much better than in Austin. We had a good pace from the beginning. I finished last, but not so far from the riders in the top ten, which shows that we did improve. At the end I was not able to get the maximum out of the soft tyre, it felt as if I had too much grip and I was not able to get the bike to slide. I didn’t get the best out of the tyre, but the fact that my feeling with the bike was good is more important. I feel better and I can push harder. Tomorrow we will try to do a good FP3 and get close to the top 15 in qualifying.”

4 May, 20187 May, 2018

Reale Avintia Academy – GP of Spain – Circuito Angel Nieto

The opening day at Angel Nieto Circuit has not been easy for Livio Loi and Reale Avintia Academy team. But, at least the first day at Jerez has been useful for the rider and the team to try to find a new way to improve his feelings and recover the competitiveness shown in Texas.

Both FP1 and FP2 sessions have been tough for Loi who didn’t managed to find good feelings with his KTM, and he finished the day at the end of the standings in Moto3 with a lap time of 1’49.629.

Tomorrow will be crucial as the result in qualifying will be the key to get a strong result on Sunday’s race. Loi need to work very hard to catch up the race pace and fight to be back in the top ten in the first European date of the season.

“Today was very difficult for us. We need to see what happened today. Now we have to work and try find a solution. Tomorrow will be a new day, but we have to be much more competitive to be with the front runners. Qualifying session makes the difference for the race. We need to get closer to the front and for that we have to work very hard.”

1 May, 20185 May, 2018

MotoGP GP of Spain – Circuito de Jerez

Reale Avintia Racing team riders, Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon, head Jerez for the fourth round of the 2018 MotoGP World Championship this weekend. The Spanish Grand Prix will be the first European race of the season after three overseas races in Qatar, Argentina and America.

Tito Rabat heads his home race confident, Reale Avintia Racing rider is ninth on the standings thank to his great performance in the first three races. He is really comfortable with his new bike and his crew and, in Jerez, a track he knows very well and where he has been testing with his Ducati GP17 during the winter, Tito expects to be fighting at the front.

The track will be also familiar for the MotoGP rookie Xavier Simeon, as the Belgian rider completed a positive test at the Spanish circuit back in November and he is looking forward to start working from Friday to get close to the points positions. It wont be easy, because the level in MotoGP this season is very high, but Simeon is getting closer and he wants to step forward in Jerez.

“We did a great start of the season so far and I’m very happy with my performance in the first three races. Now we arrive in Europe and we will find smaller and more technical circuits, so we will see how we go there. I head Jerez al 100% and looking forward for a good result, we did a good test back in November and we will start with base set up. Racing at home is always special and the fans give you extra motivation, so we need to give our best to give them something to celebrate.”

“If I look back to my three first races in MotoGP I think that overall result has to be positive. We learned many things, like set up the bike fast and get the best of the 45 minutes available in each free practice session, we learned to get decisions with the tyres, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and we did improve the bike and my riding style. Now we go to Jerez, a track where I have some experience with the MotoGP bike and I want to improve further to get a good result on Sunday.”