Category: MotoGP

Esponsorama Racing returned to action this Friday for the first two free practices of the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

During the first session, both riders were able to work on the set-up of the Ducati Desmosedici GP19. Johann Zarco finished in a magnificent fourth position after setting a time of 1’33.181. For his part, Tito Rabat stopped the clock at 1’34.619, which allowed him to finish 21st.

Looking ahead to the second session, Zarco took the opportunity to accumulate laps and add up the kilometers to the Italian track. The French rider has managed to improve his morning time by a tenth to finish 14th. Rabat managed to take a step forward and reduced his time by seven tenths after riding 21 laps.

Tomorrow the third and fourth free practices will take place and then the qualifying, where Esponsorama Racing will fight for the best possible starting position for Sunday’s race.

“Today was a good start, I had a good feeling, and I see that I can be fast. I got more pain on my right wrist, more than I expected, so that is why at the afternoon I took some anti-inflammatory and it was better in the afternoon about the pain. The track is good about the grip, because you can get a good confident with the tires, front and rear, to push. I hope I will feel better tomorrow because I feel I can go fastest but I can’t relax me.”

“It has been a difficult day, in which we finished +1.7 from the lead in a sunny day and testing the new asphalt. Tomorrow we will continue working”

Two weeks after the Grand Prix of Styria, Esponsorama Racing will face this weekend at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli the sixth round of the season, the San Marino Grand Prix.

After a great start to the season, Johann Zarco arrives to Misano with the intention of continuing the upward line he is crossing. After the great performances in Brno and Austria, the French rider faces the weekend with optimism to continue achieving good results that will allow him to get important points for the world standings.

Tito Rabat faces the San Marino Grand Prix with a good base thanks to the data collected during the last few races, with the confidence to take a step forward and return to the points.

On Friday at 9:55 Esponsorama Racing will be back in action for the first free practice of the San Marino Grand Prix.

“These weeks at home I have tried to recover my wrist the best as possible, I just coming back very well, I will not say at 100 percent because it is a place that needs time to recover perfectly but much than two weeks ago. I did a good training physically, running a lot, and it’s a good way to understand if you are in a good form or not. So, I will see in Misano, that is a track that I like, I got many times good feelings and good performance so I think with the Ducati is possible to go very fast too, they are many information on this track. I will hope to be at the level to fight to podium like in Czech Republic, the new victories of other riders get me motivated.”

“For the weekend I feel good, these two weeks at home I have not stopped doing things. I have renewed energy, I have rested when I had to rest, and we arrived at Misano, which is a track that I like, it seems that the weather will respect us and it is a good opportunity to solve problems, improve, achieve better results and continue to improve.”

Esponsorama Racing concluded the Grand Prix of Styria with Johann Zarco and Tito Rabat in 14th and 21st position respectively at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg.

The fifth round of the season was seemed to take place in wet conditions, but at the end the rain was respected on the Austrian track and the race was declared dry. The race was conditioned by a strong crash of Viñales, which caused a red flag and forced a second race with only twelve laps to go.

Johann Zarco, who started from the pit lane, has scored two valuable and hard-fought points. The pain in his right hand has respected him during the race and the Frenchman has managed to cross the finish line inside the points zone after completing a great comeback.

For his part, Tito Rabat had to settle for 21st position, just four seconds from the ‘top-15’.

After three consecutive races Esponsorama Racing will be able to rest and continue working to return stronger to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, which will host the San Marino Grand Prix on September 11th, 12th and 13th.

“I’m happy. During the race I’ve been fighting for getting the best pace possible and to gain positions and I need six laps to catch the group. At some moment of the race I felt some pain on my hand but during de red flag I could put some cold. The restart was good with all the group, but I still need to improve on the overtaking because I need to wait too much behind the gas. I am proud of my team. It was a good fight and at the end with Quartararo I overtook him, but he was very strong on brakes. I am happy because it has been a tough week and finally, I get into the points. Now it’s time to understand all these things and come back stronger at Misano.”

“It’s been a race from which we can take positive things. We have been able to follow the group, I have seen that where we lose a little time is in the first meters in acceleration and we have to work to be able to solve it. We know which way we have to go and we will come back stronger at Misano.”

After qualifying sessions of the Styrian Grand Prix, Esponsorama Racing will start tomorrow’s race at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg with Johann Zarco starting from pit lane and Tito Rabat in 22nd place.

In the third free practice, Johann Zarco has gone on track to test physically after the operation, getting to finish the session in 12th place just eighty-four thousandths of the cut. Rabat, on the other hand, could not improve yesterday’s time and finished 22nd in the combined table. In FP4, the Spanish rider has continued to work ahead of tomorrow’s race, but his team-mate has decided to reserve his right wrist for the qualifying session.

Both riders had to compete in the Q1, on the one hand, Tito Rabat had set a time of 1’24.916 that will allow him to leave in 22nd position. Johann Zarco, for his part, has from the beginning fought for the two best positions that allow the pass to Q2, getting the best time of the session with a time of 1’23.609. Despite knowing that tomorrow will start the race from pit lane, Zarco wanted to make a good classification and so it has been. The French rider has taken third place on the grid after being operated on Wednesday morning by his right wrist.

Tomorrow at 14:00 will start the MotoGP race of the Styrian Grand Prix in which our riders will give the maximum.

“Today I had the maximum concentration to make a good time, I am very happy with this third position. Since this morning when I have left pit lane, I have felt that the pain is not unbearable, so I have been able to make few laps, but of quality. All day long I’ve been focused on doing a good riding style. From my point of view, today I have learned a lot about the bike, and I think I can take a step in the next race.”

“What happened over the weekend is not very normal. In FP1 with used tires I rode in 1’24.8 and although I fell it was without consequences. Then during the weekend, we could not return to do this, we got a 24.9 in the classification. I am convinced that my entire team is working well, I am focused and working well, but I am not able to find that it fails. The good part of all this is that at least I’m having fun, that we’re doing our best, but to see how the situation evolves. Tomorrow in the race we will forget everything external and we will continue learning.”

Esponsorama Racing has completed the first day of the Styrian Grand Prix with a single rider in the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg.

In the morning session, Tito Rabat has hit the track with energy to continue squeezing his Ducati to the fullest. Despite the session, the Spanish rider finished in 19th place less than a second behind the leader.

In the afternoon, the Catalan could not improve his morning record thus ending the day in the 20th position. Despite not improving, his time of 1’24.806 is three tenths better than last weekend’s best time, showing that his feelings on the bike are getting better.

As for Johann Zarco, today was a singular day. At the end of the first free practice of MotoGP it was known that the Gaul will have to start the next race from the pit lane due to the last Sunday’s incident with Franco Morbidelli. The good news of the day is that Johann Zarco has been declared fit to compete in this Grand Prix of Styria.

Tomorrow at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg will take place the third and fourth free practices and qualifying for Sunday’s race, where the team will fight for the best possible position.

“In the morning it was a good day, it was a good training, I went out on the track and I threw, finishing 0.9 of the first classified. But in the afternoon is has cost us a little more, although anyway we will try to see if they can help me with the electronics and so be able to accelerate more in the first meters that is what I lack”

“About today, the positive thing is that I’m declared fit to ride tomorrow and this is really important. It’s true that my wrist is improving very fast and I’m happy with this. So clearly, it’s a good opportunity to ride tomorrow to have some feelings, some confidents and to enjoy on the bike. I think I will have some pain, and I will see how I can control this pain but is good to try. I’m happy with the medical check they said that I can ride, and also, I’m happy with the penalty. I was thinking to make an appeal by the FIM, but then it’s a bit tricky and it will be again to push the problem even and even later. And in the case, maybe my appeal is not accepted, then the situation will be not good, so I prefer to solve this penalty and start on the pit lane this weekend and close the history. Better do in that way and then put my best on the races in Misano.”

One week after the Austrian Grand Prix, Esponsorama Racing will dispute the Grand Prix of Styria this weekend at the same Red Bull Ring – Spielberg.

Johann Zarco went under surgery on Wednesday after the big crash during the race last Sunday due to a fractured scaphoid in his right hand. The French rider will have to undergo a medical check-up tomorrow as, by regulation, this check-up must take place at least 48 hours after the operation, so he will not be able to return to the track until Saturday if he is declared fit. Besides, after declaring today with the stewards for the incident that occurred last weekend, Zarco is waiting for the resolution of the case.

For his part, Tito Rabat, who race after race is showing great progress and improving his feeling on the Ducati Desmosedici GP19, will have another chance after finishing close to the points at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Tito Rabat will return to action tomorrow at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg for the first two free practices of the Styria Grand Prix, awaiting Johann Zarco’s medical check-up to see if he is fit to return to the track on Saturday.

“The operation was good. Now I need to wait 48 hours for the medical check, so tomorrow I will not ride the bike, I hope I can do it on Saturday. After the surgery I’m getting better, but I don’t feel ready yet to ride. I hope that waiting 24 hours more I will feel better and I can do some laps on Saturday to improve the feelings with the bike. To miss tomorrow the two free practices it’s not a big drama because we have last week references and the bike is fast in this track. Today I had the meeting with stewards to explain everything well about the overtake to Morbidelli and contrast it with the data. I didn’t do anything crazy so I hope they understand this, and we will wait to the final decision.”

“Second week in Austria. The first week it was difficult to get a stability because of the bad track conditions in FP1, then in the second and third free practice with rain, so it was a bit difficult to focus, but this weekend we will have a clean track. It seems that on Friday and Saturday the weather will respect us, so we will have to take advantage of it and focus on getting a good set-up for Sunday.”

After the heavy crash and later impact during the Austrian Grand Prix race at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg on Sunday, Johann Zarco had a medical check-up on Monday morning as pain persisted in his right wrist. After knowing the results Zarco will travel to Italy and undergo surgery on Wednesday after a small fracture on the scaphoid in his right hand.

The recovery period, the check-up at the medical centre and the rider’s own feelings will determine his availability for this weekend’s Styian Grand Prix.

“On Monday I did some controls on my right wrist because it was still some pain, and I got a little fracture on the scaphoid. I will go to Italy to do the operation on Wednesday morning, with a doctor that has very good contact with Ducati, this is the doctor that many times operates riders. Then we will come back to Austria, and I will be on Thursday at the track to have a meeting about the big incident that happened on Sunday. If the feeling is OK on the wrist and the medical center declares me fit to ride I will try and see if I can ride the bike. The advantage this weekend is we already have all the references from the week before, so this is not a big drama if I miss few sessions and I can take one more day to feel if my wrist is ok. Now, the main thing is the operation, and after that see if my feeling improves. The team is working on the bike to prepare it, and I know everything will be ready if I come back on the bike. Maybe there will be some rain, so also this is a chance because on the rain we have less effort on the bike and for me will be really a good chance with the rain if I can race without much effort on the wrist.”

Esponsorama Racing finished the fourth round of the World Championship, the Austrian Grand Prix, with Tito Rabat in 16th position and a big crash for Johann Zarco.

The French rider, who yesterday completed a good qualifying session that allowed him to start the race in 9th position, was doing a great performance fighting for the top positions. With 20 laps to go, Zarco was involved in an unfortunate incident and was hit by Franco Morbidelli in turn three, causing a spectacular accident that didin’t allow him finishing a race that promised a successful result. After the crash, both bikes were thrown out and nearly caught up with Rossi and Viñales, but fortunately both Zarco and all the riders involved were unharmed.

After the comments and declarations that have been made, Johann Zarco is very affected, as at no time did he intend to carry out a manoeuvre that would endanger any other opponent. However, the French Esponsorama Racing rider wanted to apologize and clarify with each and every one of the riders involved in this race incident.Nevertheless, after the Austrian Grand Prix, the telemetry showed that Zarco was braking later in turn 3 than in the rest of the race, so it is clear from this analysis that at no time was his intention to harm Morbidelli’s braking and close his line.

For his part, Tito Rabat, who set the 21st fastest time in qualifying, had a solid race and made a comeback, although he was unable to get into the points for just a second. The Barcelona-born rider, after starting the race again after the red flag, managed to get into the top-15, but finally had to settle for 16th position.

With no time to rest, next weekend Esponsorama Racing will have another chance to show its great potential at the same Red Bull Ring – Spielberg, in this case for the Styria Grand Prix.

“A pity Sunday because I got a big crash in the race with Franco Morbidelli. On the brake he touched me, and we flew away, he has been surprised because we were so close and with the speed it was not easy to slow down. Then we have been scared because our bikes really could hit somebody but finally no one was really injured, so that is the most important thing. It is a pity because I got a good weekend, I was competitive, and I could expect a great result in the race. It was maybe the race where I can have the best pace during the 28 laps, but it finished before. It is very important to have next race in the same place and next week. I need to improve to have the chance to fight for the podium, so I will rest the maximum during the three days and work well next week.”

“I had a pretty good start and was able to move up two positions. After that it was difficult to keep up with the pace, however, the front group wasn’t far away and we were able to finish the race, although without points. We are going through a little bit of a bump, but next week we will have a new opportunity.”

After the Austrian Grand Prix qualifying session, Esponsorama Racing will start tomorrow’s race at the Red Bull Ring – Spielberg with Johann Zarco and Tito Rabat in 9th and 21st position respectively.

Despite the great pace shown during yesterday’s and this morning’s free practice, Johann Zarco had to go through Q1 which, after setting the best time of the session, qualified to Q2. Despite not being able to complete a perfect last lap when he was disturbed by an opponent, thanks to a time of 1:23.828 and being only three tenths of a second off pole position, Zarco will start from the third row of the grid, which will allow him to fight for a good result from an advanced position.

Tito Rabat showed a positive evolution from the first free practice yesterday morning until the qualifying session. The Barcelona-based rider, after setting a time of 1:25.287, will be fighting for points positions from the seventh row of the grid.

Tomorrow at 14:00 the Austrian Grand Prix will start, which will be the fourth race of the season for the MotoGP class.

“Happy about today. Overall, this afternoon the job has been good. When I missed the good lap this morning in FP3 it was a shame to have to do de Q1, but finally it has been a good opportunity to do more laps. FP4 has been quite good and then in Q1 I did a good lap, so I could be qualified and go to Q2. Then I expected to improve my lap time but it was not easy and at the end I finished 9th, only three tenths of the top and this is positive. I have a lot of chances to do tomorrow a good race, I just need to see how are going to be the conditions because it seems we can have some rain. So, I am working with the team to improve and to see what I can do better. We’ll see if tomorrow I can do all these things.”

“Difficult weekend and there’s been a lot of rain. In the first FP3 the track was very dirty and it was difficult to be consistent in the times. In FP4 we tried to be as consistent as possible and have a good base of information for tomorrow’s race. In qualifying, on the first attempt I went long in turn 3 and on the second I ended up in the gravel, luckily I didn’t crash. Tomorrow in the warm-up we will go as far as we can and I am optimistic for the race.

The motorcycle world championship does not rest. After the Czech Republic Grand Prix last weekend, Esponsorama Racing will take on the Austrian Grand Prix this week at the Red Bull Ring-Spielberg circuit.

Located in the Styrian region, the Red Bull Ring-Spielberg offers a beautiful circuit located in the Austrian forests and characterized by steep slopes and unevenness. A total of 4,318 kilometres and ten turns make it one of the fastest tracks on the calendar.

Esponsorama Racing faces a new weekend of races with high expectations and motivation after the ‘pole position’ and the podium obtained by Johann Zarco in Brno, being the first of the team since his debut in the MotoGP class, and the great evolution that Tito Rabat is showing during this beginning of the season, doing a great job on his Ducati Desmosedici GP19.

The first two free practices of the Austrian Grand Prix will take place on Friday morning at 9:55am.

“After a nice Czech Republic Grand Prix, we arrive to Austria, a track that normally is good for Ducati, so I’m very curious to see my feeling on the bike. I still have many things to learn and I’m working on myself to control always better the bike and it seems that weather will be very changing, so it will be I think the first time I can ride the bike in wet. If the grip is quite OK and there are not surprises, even on wet I can be competitive. So really looking forward to start this Friday.”

“After the Czech Republic Grand Prix we had a few days to rest. From what we analysed in Brno we saw that in terms of fast lap and race pace we are not bad, although there is a lack of competitiveness in close competition and this is what we will try to improve here in Austria. I am very motivated and looking forward to getting back on track.”