It is goodbye to beachwear for the Moto2 riders and hello winter wardrobe as the MotoGP World Championship heads from the tropical climes of Malaysia to the fresh springtime of southern Australia. The difference in circuits is of equal contrast to the difference in conditions as they travel from one of the longest on the calendar to one of the shortest. The fast and flowing Phillip Island has been the scene of many a world title triumph in the past and it could be so again this weekend, with the Moto2 championship looking almost certain to be decided. Despite a rare slip-up at Sepang Marc Márquez holds a 48-point advantage over Pol Espargaró, meaning he needs just three more to be crowned World Champion.
Nico Terol and Jordi Torres have their own common target in Australia, which is to turn the page on a disastrous Sunday at Sepang. Neither of the MAPFRE Aspar Team riders managed to finish the race in Malaysia but after making progress during practice they are hoping to benefit from their hard work at Phillip Island. The goal is to pick up where they left off as soon as Friday morning's opening free practice session gets underway and make sure that they score the results that their recent progress merits before the end of the season.
Nico Terol:
“Even though we didn't come away from the race with the result we were hoping for last Sunday I want to think positively and reflect on our pace in the dry over the whole weekend. Our level of performance is constantly improving and we are getting closer to the pace being set at the front. We are moving in the right direction and we won't stop until this progress turns into a result. Phillip Island is a fast circuit and it is one of my favourites. I usually go well there and I have good memories from the past so I hope we can have a perfect weekend there form start to finish. I think we deserve a good result now so hopefully Phillip Island can be the place. We know it won't come easily though because everybody is working equally hard towards the same objective.”
Jordi Torres:
“Sepang put the skids under a good run of form for us since Aragón. To be honest we struggled more than we expected to get on the pace there. It's a big circuit and if you lose only a little bit in each corner it is costly by the end of the lap. That is part of the past now and I am focusing purely on the lessons we learnt. In qualifying and in the race, up until the crash, I picked up a few things that should prove useful this weekend. We worked out how to get into the corners in a way that allows me to get on the throttle earlier on the way out. There are no excuses in Australia and we will go out to give it everything from the first minute. We are working hard and I want to continue our good recent form. I know Phillip Island is not an easy circuit but we will do whatever we have to do to adapt to it.”
Mapfre Aspar Moto2 Press Release
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