After another podium finish for Dani Pedrosa in Germany, and with the Repsol riders showing that they can once again keep up with the best MotoGP goes to the track of Donington Park in the UK this weekend. A track where Pedrosa has already won at in the MotoGP category, and where one year ago Marc Márquez became the youngest Spaniard ever to get a top three finish in the World Championship.
Donington Park, venue for the British GP since 1987, will see the Continental Circus visit its installations for the last time as the race returns to Silverstone for at least the next 5 years. And it will see Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso fighting for another victory in the top category after the big improvement seen in the last few races, that is compared to the beginning of the season.
Pedrosa will be out to round off what he began in Germany, where in spite of having the pace to win, was not able to do so owing to problems with the front tyre on his Honda. Even so, Pedrosa managed to finish third but that was not his real objective. For the Italian this British GP will be the perfect chance for him to get the good result that he has almost achieved in recent races, the improvements seen on his bike were cut short by two falls and a defective tyre.
This will be a special race for two of the Repsol riders in 125cc because Scott Redding and Marc Márquez created a bit of racing history here last year – the former becoming the youngest rider to win a World Championship race, and the latter became the youngest Spaniard to get a podium finish.
The race also has another connotation for the Briton, after two GPs without winning any points he will be fighting to be among the leaders in front of a home crowd. Last Sunday he had got some good sensations out of his bike until it suddenly stopped. And so with the desire that comes from racing in front of his compatriots and at a circuit that he knows very well he will be very motivated. His teammate Esteve Rabat, will get back on his bike after a very complicated weekend in Germany, but with the aim of making up for lost ground.
For Márquez it will be a chance to confirm that he is one of the strongest riders in the smallest category. After a spectacular race in Germany, where he showed all his courage and determination, the Repsol rider has an opportunity to make up for his disappointment, he fell on the final corner, just seven days afterwards. His teammate Cameron Beaubier, will continue gaining experience at this level and at a circuit where he raced two years ago. He also has the boost of having won points in Germany last week.
Dani Pedrosa
“We’ve built some momentum with our good results in the last two races and we’ll be looking to take that to Donington this weekend. It’s a circuit I like and I’ve had some good results there so I’m confident we can have a strong weekend. To be honest, while the podium in Germany wasn’t a bad finish and we weren’t far behind the winners, we thought another win was possible last weekend. So our motivation is high to fight hard for that in Britain before the summer break. Naturally, the weather is always a consideration at Donington so we need to be prepared for anything. We gained some valuable experience on the Bridgestones in the wet in Germany so we’ll be working to make maximum use of the practice sessions, whatever the conditions. It’ll be sad to see the back of Donington because the track itself is very good to ride and one I li ke. I hope I can sign off there with a good result.”
Andrea Dovizioso
“Unfortunately this year will be the last time that we race at Donington Park and it’s a pity because the circuit is fascinating to ride. I like it, in particular the first section which is very fast, and of course the Craner Curves which plunge down hill and take your breath away every time your ride them. Last year I had a good race at Donington and I have always liked this track. We arrive this time after two difficult races where I had the pace to fight with the leaders but for different reasons, we didn’t get the results. But our motivation is high and everybody in the team is working hard. Honda is working hard too and we’ve had machine updates recently which are moving us in the right direction. So I arrive in Britain determined to get a good result at out last visit to Donington and to prove our real potential.”
Marc Márquez
“I can`t wait for this race because it is at a circuit that was good to me last year, and I really like the track, I don`t know if it is because of last year though. I hope I like it after this weekend`s race too! There are many ups and downs, a bit like Germany but it is faster, where you take the corners much faster on the first section. We will be hoping for good weather because it is a circuit with a good level of grip, but if it rains it is one of the slippiest, this is they say because of the nearby airport. I am in good spirits after the last race because it was clear that we can finish on the podium, and when I have not finished it has been because of bad luck.”
Esteve Rabat
“I like the circuit of Donington Park a lot, and I hope to get back on the right track after the disaster at the Sachsenring where we had many problems. This would be a good way to finish before the second half of the championship begins. This is a circuit that seems like a two-in-one, because there are two very different parts. The first has a nice downward slope and fast corners; and the second has some really slow ones. It is a circuit where the bike never goes perfectly and you have to find a good compromise, as you need different things for one part and for the other. But it is great fun and it will be important to work well on the Friday and Saturday so that we geet a good position on the starting grid and a set up that does not give us any problems in the race.”
Scott Redding
“I hope the weather is better than in Germany, or we will suffer again, but it is also my “home” GP, and the whole team will be very concentrated so that we give it our best shot, as always, and a little more. I want to perform at 120% of my ability so as to get a good result because in the last few races I have had a bit of bad luck, and I hope that we can be up with the leaders again. It is a circuit I like and where I hope I can get a good result.”
Cameron Beaubier
“We have another tough weekend ahead of us, at a circuit that is a bit complicated, although I am dying to race there. The track is a bit of a strange one, with a fast downward slope, dangerous in the wet, and then not so fluid as other circuits like Mugello because all of the final part is made up of straights where you accelerate flat out and slow corners, such as the chicane where you almosy have to stop. If it rains I hope to do things better than in Germany, but in Britain it usually rains. I am sure that the track will be really slippery and there will be a lot of falls, so we will have to watch out for that.”
