“There is no destination… just ride your bike!”: Riders ready for a new challenge in Jerez
Quartararo, Bagnaia, Mir, Morbidelli, Marquez and Acosta take stock and are looking forward to the Gran Premio Red Bull de España
Thursday April 29, 2021
After another roller coaster ride in Portugal, the grid for the Gran Premio Red Bull de España is ready for action again. Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) chaired the pre-event press conference, along with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo team), reigning world champion Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar team), the best independent team rider in Portugal, Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha) SRT), eight-time world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Moto3 ™ rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Here are some key quotes:
Fabio Quartararo. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
Fabio Quartararo: “I’m pretty excited, especially because I love this track, but also because I feel great on the bike and in the team. I just think that we work the same way we do in Qatar and not think about the fact that I won both races here last year because I saw Miguel win at Portimão last year and then had some problems this year, so I just want me focus on working the same way and getting ready for Sunday. It doesn’t mean anything that we won both races last year.
“I have the feeling that the 2020 season helped me a lot because a lot of things happened. Everything was perfect in 2019 and I really enjoyed it with seven podiums and six pole positions. However, 2020 was more up and down. We started well, but then we had some engine problems, some electronics problems and I went a little crazy. Then we got it back, but the end of the season was a total disaster and I feel like I’ve learned a lot. The most important thing for me is to keep calm because if I get a little angry on the bike, my comments to the team are not clear. Being a lot calmer on the bike works a lot better for me and the results in the first few races show that. That’s why I want to keep working like this. I know it’s not easy but I feel great and I have a feeling that we are going in the right direction so I am happy. “
Francesco Bagnaia. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
Francesco Bagnaia: “I’m very confident because I feel good about everything at the moment. my bike, my team. I was competitive here last year, especially in race two, and I was just lucky again to have an engine failure, but we were strong. I think it can be a positive weekend for us and I think we can try to stay in the top three again. “
Has Pecco seen that he has a huge fan in ex-MotoGP ™ rider Ben Spies who says his riding style makes the most of the Ducati?
“I saw Ben’s tweet. It’s always nice to see previous drivers say something about us and I really appreciate that. Last year I tried to ride the Ducati differently and now I understand better how to do it. Last year in the second half of the season I had big problems and it was difficult to accept and understand what was happening. But then I had the same feeling again during the preseason testing and maybe all the work we did this winter in training and in the gym with the others from the academy gave me extra motivation and confidence. In the first race in Qatar I tried to handle the tires, but I learned from that race that I had to use the tire differently. In the second race I was faster than in the first, but made mistakes and missed the chance to win. In Portimão I was very confident on the bike and felt great about everything. We know our acceleration and braking potential is great and I’ve tried to focus more on that area and the bike turns well when you push. It’s strange, but something that works well with our bike. “
Joan Mir. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
Joan Mir: “Last year was a difficult start to the season here. It is true that last year’s heat made it pretty difficult for everyone and it looks like this year will be colder. That can be good for us. Everyone knows this track very well and it is always very difficult to make a difference but we will try to do our best with the package we have. Our goal is to be on the podium, fight for the podium, and then we’ll see. It’s true that last year wasn’t that good here, but Portimão wasn’t that good either and I got a good result so I’ll try to do my best. “
Franco Morbidelli. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
Franco Morbidelli: “Portimão felt great, I felt great to get back to some of the top positions and positions, and it just felt great to drive the race that I did. I had a good fight in the beginning and then tried to keep the most consistent pace I could during the entire race so it was nice. Here we have good faith in this track. Last year I was close to the podium in both races and unfortunately I didn’t make it for two different reasons either, but we’ll see. I’ll try to do my best this weekend to keep the momentum that I hope started at Portimão and we’ll see. “
Is his mental, philosophical approach the key to overcoming harder times?
“It’s the story of my life trying to overcome difficult times. It happened in the past and it will happen in the future and I hope to be hard enough and ready enough to overcome the difficult moments I will encounter. “
Marc Marquez. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
Marc Marquez: “Portimão was a special weekend, but everything is a little quieter here and that’s important, it feels like a normal weekend. It’s not that my physical condition is completely different, they are very similar, but I hope I can ride better from the first RP and my goal is to hopefully be more stable with my physical condition all weekend.
“I have good memories and bad memories here, of course, but better memories than bad ones, so this will be important. There is no destination, no clear destination, just ride a bike, have more kilometers and try to get a better feel for the bike’s position. We know where our limit is now and it’s not about the bike or the tires, it’s more about me. We know where the limit is and where we need to improve, but we need time, days and kilometers on the bike. “
Pedro Acosta. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
Pedro Acosta: “I feel amazing, after a good preseason we knew we could get good results, but nothing like that, when you come to the world championship you don’t think about winning races in the first half of the year or something. We have to keep working.
“I was nervous a few minutes ago, but when I’m here it’s because we are doing well.”
Me and Marquez were also asked about the rookie’s incredible achievements:
Me on Acosta: “I imagine how he feels. I remember the first time I attended a press conference I was very nervous. I think he is the same! Pedro is doing a really good job, during last year in the Rookies Cup I was there to see him and wish him the best of luck in a few races because one of my mechanics Fernando is Pedro’s neighbor and Fernando has spoken a few times about him and that he is quick. He was right! I think he’s doing a great job, I think he has a bright future ahead of him. He drives really well and shows that he is the main competitor this year even if he is a newcomer. “
Marquez on Acosta: “I’ve talked to him before and his driving style is good, his talent is good, he is fast and the results show that! To be here at the press conference between MotoGP riders when I was 16 … I think it’s difficult to deal with because it may be too much pressure but like I told him forget everything, enjoy it now, you are a young talented Child. If he wins on Sunday it’s okay, if he hits the top 5 or top ten it’s okay. It’s his first year! Now is the time to enjoy, it is my advice to him, he will have time to put pressure on himself and aside from that, congratulations for being amazingly riding and soon to be arriving! I will try to be there but he will be competing with us soon! “