LOSAIL CIRCUIT HOSTS FIRST ROUND OF 2009 SEASON
Álvaro Bautista joined by Mike di Meglio as Aspar team prepare for victory
The lights will go ON this Sunday for the second ever MotoGP night race, with the Losail International Circuit the focal point for the most exciting action on two wheels. The third longest circuit on the calendar at some 5.380 metres, the track is fully illuminated by floodlights in an amazing spectacle for fans and riders alike. The nature of the track also makes it ideal for 125cc and 250cc action, with the lower cylinder classes providing some great racing at the circuit since 2004.
For the second year in a row, Álvaro Bautista has been the man to beat in preseason. The Mapfre rider has even taken the track's unofficial record for the fastest lap along the way. A right collarbone injury has been the only low point of the winter for the Spaniard, who hopes for a positive start to the year. He took pole at the track in the 2006 125cc race, a year in which he won the world title, and will once again be pushing for the front this weekend.
Teammate Mike Di Meglio is eager to start his 250cc career, off the back of his being crowned 125cc titlist in 2008. His adaptation to the Aprilia 250 has been a swift one, despite his rookie status, and the Frenchman is ready to fight at the front and possibly spring a surprise in his category debut.
|
biography
|
Alvaro Bautista:
"I think that we have had a good preseason. I had a bit of bad luck when I got hurt, but the recovery has been fast. I'm back to having a good feeling with the bike. After getting injured we were competitive in Jerez and Qatar, and I think that we are pretty clear about where we are for the first race. We can't throw caution to the wind though, we have to be prudent. Our Friday work will be hard, because nothing comes for free in this class, so we'll see whether we have the luck to start this year better than the last. I think that it will be fun, and that we will have a good result."
|
|
biography
|
Mike Di Meglio:
"I have been able to enjoy two days of rest ahead of this race, and they have gone down well with me. Sometimes the last test can be unpredictable, but we have to maintain our concentration and concentrate on our hard work. I hope that conditions will be good. I went well in the last test, but I don't want to say anything now, just that we should work hard and look for development. We don't have much time to practice, so I can't afford to make an error, but I don't want to put more pressure on us than is necessary. It will be my first 250cc race, and I have a lot to learn still."
|
|
