The final run-in to the Moto2 World Championship gets underway this weekend in the land of the rising sun, as Japan plays host to the first of three races in as many weekends across intercontinental borders. A three-week trip ends on 28th October at Phillip Island, with thousands of miles and some important and exciting racetracks to cover in between. First up is the Twin Ring Motegi, a hard-braking track located deep in the Japanese forest. The local geography lends itself to rainy conditions meaning this race could prove to be a spanner in the works of the Moto2 title chase, with Marc Márquez currently leading by 48 points from his closest rival Pol Espargaró, winner of the last round at Aragón.
MAPFRE Aspar riders Nico Terol and Jordi Torres can hardly wait for the fourteenth round of the season to get underway, having both enjoyed a positive weekend at Aragón. Terol has been gathering momentum and confidence over the last few rounds and he is hoping this can be the weekend he turns it into a major result. Torres was the surprise package of the race with eighth place at Motorland and having already ridden Motegi in 2011 he is hoping to build on the experience with another positive performance this weekend.
Nico Terol: “This is the final sprint in the championship now with three races so close together. Tomorrow we head to Motegi and I can't wait to get there because it is a circuit I like and it is something a bit different to the tracks we have visited recently. It has some tight corners and you need to be hard on the brakes and early on the gas. It will be important to get a good feeling from the first session this weekend. We managed to do that at Aragón last week and I am sure that if we work to the same system as at Motorland we will be ready for the race. We are doing a great job at the moment and we just need to finish it off with a great race. I am sure that moment is very close now and we will have to remain very focused to try and achieve it during a very difficult period. I am full of energy and looking forward to this three-week adventure.”
Jordi Torres: “Motegi was a good circuit for me last year, even though I wasn't able to finish the race well because I was run off track and I hope we can have a similar feeling there this time. It is a circuit with a lot of hard braking, where you have to get the bike stopped and turned, without too many long straights. It is a good circuit for me and I am mentally well prepared for a good result. I would like to continue with the progress we began to make at Motorland and after competing in the European Championship last weekend I hope it doesn't affect me too much. Hopefully the weather is good to us and makes for a straightforward weekend.”
Mapfre Aspar Moto2 Press Release
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