The drivers of Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Tom Luthi et Franco Morbidelli are traveling this weekend to Spain, to the Jerez circuit, where the fourth round of the 2018 MotoGP world championship is being organized.
After experiencing difficulties during the last race which was held on the very physical and technical Circuit of the Americas, the two rookies in the MotoGP championship intend to do much better next Sunday in Andalusia.
To Lüthi, the Jerez circuit has often been a field of success in the intermediate class. The Swiss driver has been on the podium three times. On his side Morbidely will have the advantage of having already been able to carry out a test session on the Spanish track with his Honda RC213V. It was last November. Injured after his fall during practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix, Lüthi could not then drive.
Jerez is a demanding circuit in MotoGP. The narrow track, which has been resurfaced since the last Spanish Grand Prix, offers a combination of slow corners and fast curves with two short straights. A technical route which makes the focus sharp.
If this Spanish Grand Prix promises to be demanding for Lüthi et Morbidely who are starting this year in the premier class, the two drivers of Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS are nevertheless ready to take on this new challenge.
Tom Lüthi:
« I'm happy that the competition in Europe and that we can race this weekend in Jerez. Even though I was unable to participate in the test organized last November on this circuit, my team was there to work and Gilles Bigot, my chief mechanic, has experience on this track with the Honda RC213V. So we should be able to start the weekend at a certain level. In Austin, we didn't really manage to progress on Saturday and Sunday and that's what we must not relive this weekend in Jerez. The objective will be to evolve over the three days to get into the points at the finish of the race. »
Franco Morbidelli:
« After the difficult race in Austin, it will be very important to regain confidence this weekend. Jerez is a circuit where we have been testing. We therefore have data and more experience than in Argentina and Texas. We know that on this circuit it is important to control the power and the wheelies coming out of the corner. We will have to work at it and take another step with the motorcycle »
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
« After a satisfactory start to the season in Qatar and Argentina, we struggled in Texas. We failed to provide riders with settings that would make them feel comfortable. This will be our goal this weekend in Jerez. We know that it is a winding and technical circuit which does not forgive bad settings. It will therefore be necessary to be very diligent at this level in finding the right direction to work on the focus. This weekend in Spain will offer us a new challenge but I am sure that Tom and Franco will take advantage of it to continue their learning of the Honda RC213V »
