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The Repsol Honda Team riders lead the way in the MotoGP World Championship ahead of the fifth round of the year. In Moto3, Rins and Marquez will try to maintain the good form demonstrated in France.
- Dani Pedrosa is having his best ever start to the season, with 83 points out of a possible 100.
- Marc Marquez has four podium finishes, matching the best start by a rookie since Max Biaggi in 1998.
- Alex Rins has been on the podium in all three races he has completed in 2013 –he did not finish the Grand Prix of Spain.
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This weekend the MotoGP World Championship moves to the heart of Tuscany, for one of the classic events on the calendar: The Grand Prix of Italy at the beautiful and challenging Mugello circuit. Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez, have both taken two wins on their previous visits to the Italian circuit, and attempt to add to that tally at the fifth round of the season. For Alex Rins and Alex Marquez, the Italian race comes after good results in France, where the former took a podium for the third time in four races and the second again placed in the top five.
With his victory at the French Grand Prix, Dani Pedrosa managed to tip the three-way tie on triumphs with Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo in his favour. The Repsol Honda Team rider scored his second consecutive win and leads the series, with a 6-point advantage over teammate Marc Marquez. He made a memorable comeback in his first wet race of the season.
In the lower cylinder category, Alex Marquez and Alex Rins bounced back from a disappointing Spanish GP to perform well in neighbouring France. Both were back on the pace and arrive in Italy with the serenity provided by a job well done. At Mugello they will once again have different challenges to face. Whilst Rins knows the track –he finished seventh there last year– Marquez makes his Mugello debut this weekend.
Dani Pedrosa
“After a the race in Le Mans, I’ve managed to relax this week and I feel good physically. Mugello is a nice track and one that I really enjoy to ride. It’s a fast track with long corners so it’s important to have a good feeling with the bike. Usually the weather is good to us and there is a great atmosphere with all the fans there. I am leading the Championship which is very special so I hope we can arrive in Mugello and that the bike works well there too and we can do a good race!”
Marc Marquez
“I’m really pleased with the race in Le Mans, it was great experience for me to ride in the wet but now I am happy to go to Mugello and hopefully have some nice weather! Mugello is a difficult circuit, perhaps one of the most difficult in the World Championship. It has many changes of direction so we must work hard from the beginning to find the right set up. These coming to races will be very important as they are difficult circuits and we must remain focused. The other riders are so fast in Mugello so I’m sure it’s going to be tough, but as always we will try our 100%!”
Alex Rins
“We arrive at Mugello after a second place at Le Mans, which always provides extra motivation. This is a circuit that I like a lot, because it is technical, but this also adds to the difficulty. Last year we did a good job at Mugello, but this year it will be tough. Maverick [Viñales], Jonas [Folger] and Luis [Salom] will push from the start and we will have to be very focused. Our aim is to finish the race and enjoy ourselves, as this is how the good results arrive.”
Alex Marquez
“Mugello is another track at which I have never ridden. I have been there three times to watch my brother and it looks tough. It is a quick, flowing circuit where it is hard to find your lines. I suppose that it will be difficult for me at first, but I will try to adapt step-by-step. We will continue as we always do: Learn the track first, work on the setup, do the best we can in the race and pick up further experience.”
