In 2020, there will still be a season, despite a pandemic which, however, and at any time, can spoil a party organized against all odds by the promoter Dorna. With a sustained pace, Grands Prix sometimes on the same track which had never before been visited during a hot summer, the game looks uncertain. But everyone will be in the same boat, while everyone is aware that they will have to do their part to, quite simply, survive this year. Johann Stigefelt, who flies the Petronas colors, gives his opinion on the question…
Johan Stigefelt is the team director Petronas SRT, which means that he has a broad vision of this unprecedented season impacting the entire paddock. With 13 races concentrated in Europe from July to December, including five consecutive events and three circuits mobilized for meetings on successive weekends, the physiognomy will impose, without a doubt, a different approach to what was in progress until then.
Mentally and physically, the drivers must be ready while the team will not be allowed to make mistakes. Including respect for a strict sanitary protocol. « I think the schedule is more or less the most we can do in such a short time »Says Johan Stigefelt on crash.net. " Starting in mid-July and doing 13 European GPs with a lot of doubles, sometimes triples, will be very demanding for everyone ».
High temperatures expected from the start in Jerez
« It will definitely be difficult, but we will do it, we are all in this together and we will do our best he adds. " I think there will be new challenges, for sure. In the first race, the high track temperatures expected in Jerez will be demanding ».
« The very busy schedule and the sequence of races will be very difficult, but I think the pilots are prepared for it. They are all in good shape, they all want to ride and get back to what they do for a living: racing. We know the schedule, so everyone is mentally prepared, and all our drivers will be fit and ready ».
He adds : " we don't want to have any injuries in any of the races because it could have a negative impact for two or three events. It's important to ride safely and smartly, but also to push as far as possible and get the most out of that schedule ».
« If we have three races abroad on top of that, it will be a very intense end to the year, but we want to support the championship as much as possible » he finishes, specifying about his pilots fabio quartararo et Franco Morbidelli in MotoGP, Jake dixon et Xavi Verge in Moto2, as well as John McPhee et Khairul Idham Pawi in Moto3: “ I talk to the pilots more or less every week. I can see they've been training hard and now they're getting back out on the track with their practice bikes, which is great. It's the best thing they can do to get used to the speed and handling ».
« I'm not too worried because each of our drivers will adapt quickly and return to cruising speed. Wednesday's test session in Jerez is a good way to make sure everyone can get back to normal ". Looking forward to three weeks!
