Jokingly referred to by many paddock wags as more of a go-kart circuit than a MotoGP circuit, the smallest track on the Moto2 calendar plays host to the eight round of the season this weekend as the Sachsenring prepares to welcome the fastest motorcycles on the planet. At just 3.76km the German track is tight, twisty and full of elevation changes that make it both physically and mentally demanding for the riders – especially so this year considering that they have had just a couple of days to recover from the last round in Holland. Marc Márquez remains on top of the intermediate championship although there has been a change in his closest rival with Andrea Iannone moving up after Pol Espargaró and Tom Luthi both failed to finish at Assen on Saturday.
MAPFRE Aspar rider Toni Elías gave another example of his fierce determination to battle from 21st on the grid to finish ninth but the Spaniard remains angry that he has not yet challenged for the results that correspond to a man of his talent and experience. The German circuit holds plenty of happy memories for Toni and he is determined to make sure that there is more joy in store. Nico Terol continues his adaptation to the Moto2 class with the aim of returning to the top fifteen, having score points in both France and Catalunya only to miss out in the last two races.
Toni Elías: “Even though practice didn't go as well as we would have hoped at Assen we managed to keep a good pace during the race and take some conclusions from it. We are still not happy with the set-up but the team and I are working as hard as possible to find a solution. This weekend presents another important opportunity to try things at a circuit I like a lot. Sachsenring requires an almost perfect chassis setting because it is so demanding but I am glad this race is next because I have good memories there and I am determined to give my all again to score a good result.”
Nico Terol: “In Saturday's race we managed to solve some of the front-end chatter issues we have had this season and it is thanks to the great job being done by the team in every session that I am able to feel more and more comfortable on the bike. I feel positive and I am sure that over the next two races at Sachsenring and Mugello we will improve our results because that's what we deserve. Sachsenring is probably the most twisty circuit on the calendar with a lot of left handers that are physically very demanding. I am fully fit but we need to work on the bike to try and make sure we don't get too much spinning on the rear. It is not one of my favourite circuits but it's not one of my worst either although that doesn't alter the plan: to give it everything from Friday morning.”
Aspar Mapfre Press Release
