Twentieth in the final general ranking this year, the Czech was ahead of Bradley Smith, Hector Barbera et Sam Lowes. Aged 27, the native of Brno competed in his 177th Grand Prix in Valencia, including 85 in MotoGP, with his best result since the Spanish GP in 125 in 2005 his exceptional victory in Valencia in Moto2 in 2010.
Karel started his 2017 season very strongly, settling in the middle of the front row of the Argentine Grand Prix alongside pole sitter Marc Marquez. In the race, he finished seventh at Assen.
“This season went better than expected » estimated the Moravian. “It was actually better than I thought at first. In Argentina, I took an excellent second position and finished tenth in the race. But apart from that we showed a lot of good performances.
“Every time I finished, I did it in the points. At the end of the season, we improved, even if it didn't translate into results.
“Keep in mind, though, that most of the other bikes have evolved over the course of the season, not ours. I was on track with a GP15, but at the end of the season I was still able to get involved in the top 15. That was important for me.
“Sometimes I even managed to be the best rider in a Ducati satellite team. Sometimes I could fight even against the factory riders.
“This was possible thanks to my team and the bike. The GP15 worked perfectly. I couldn't imagine a better team this season. The atmosphere and friendship certainly played a role, but from a professional point of view », assures Abraham, who is also working on two doctoral theses in addition to his career in MotoGP.
In 2017 you highlighted that the Ducati was the perfect bike for you. Why is that ? “I don't know exactly, I liked Ducati bikes before joining the MotoGP category in 2007. This bike suits my riding style, I'm very happy with Ducati, I like the power that Ducati is known for .
“In 2018 I will ride a Ducati 2016. This should be progress, I look forward to it… However, I will do everything to get a better bike for the future, because the Ducati 2016 is still a two year old machine…
“There will be a difference, which will affect the very small gaps in the MotoGP category, where sometimes there is only a second between first and fifteenth. »
Karel Abraham finished 2017 with 32 points, putting him 20th in the championship, ahead of Bradley Smith and Hector Barbera.
Photos © Pull & Bear Aspar Team, Michelin
Source: Speedweek. com
