Gosselies, Belgium: Scott Redding heads for his home Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend brimming with confidence after a podium finish in France and the best start to a season since he joined the Moto2 World Championship in 2010. Mika Kallio is also looking for a good result this weekend at the British Grand Prix, after a spirited ride at Catalunya saw him maintain his unbroken run of top ten finishes this season. Redding currently lies fifth in the Moto2 standings, 38 points behind championship leader, Tom Lüthi, with Kallio just ten points further back in sixth. Both Marc VDS riders will be looking to close the gap on Lüthi even further with two good results this weekend at Silverstone. Winner of the 2008 British 125cc Grand Prix at Donington Park, Redding remains a firm favourite with the British race fans. The 19-year-old Gloucestershire teenager can be sure of strong support this weekend, as he looks to repeat the podium success of Le Mans in front of his home crowd. Kallio is also a former British Grand Prix winner; having stood on the top step of the 250cc podium the same year his Marc VDS teammate took victory in the 125cc race. The 29-year-old Finn has his sights set firmly on a top five finish this weekend at Silverstone, where he’ll also be looking to qualify on the front three rows of the grid after struggling to battle his way through the field last time out in Barcelona. Scott Redding #45: “I love racing at home, for me it’s always very special. You see all the support in the stands – the banners, the Union Flags – and it just gives you that little bit of extra motivation. It’s a real buzz to come home to Silverstone and that’s down to one thing; the British race fans. We’ve had a good start to the season and I’ve really gelled with the Kalex Moto2 bike, so I hope we can give everyone something to cheer about this weekend. Of course, in typical fashion, the weather forecast doesn’t look great, but then it wouldn’t be the British Grand Prix if it wasn’t lashing it down with rain and blowing a gale! I’m looking forward to the weekend ahead. Bring it on!” Mika Kallio #36: “The plan this weekend is simple; we need to focus on qualifying. We know from the last few races that we have a good race set-up, but we also saw in Barcelona that when you qualify so far back on the grid your race is already destroyed. In the past we’ve chased a better set-up in practice, but this has meant the bike felt different every time I exited pit lane and that doesn’t inspire the confidence needed to push to the limit in qualifying. This weekend we’ll limit set-up changes to Friday morning and then use the remaining practice sessions to build my confidence in the bike ahead of qualifying. I don’t need to be on pole, but if I’m to aim for the top five in the race then I certainly need to be starting from the front three rows.” Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal “Scott is immensely popular with the British race fans and he seems to feed off this energy whenever we come to Silverstone. This time we arrive off the back of a strong start to the season, so the sky really is the limit. He likes the track, he loves the atmosphere and he wants to give his home crowd something to cheer about. A win may be asking too much, but I’m confident he’ll be fighting for the podium. Scott may find he has competition from Mika this weekend though, as he’s going from strength to strength on the bike. If he can improve his qualifying position here at Silverstone then I expect to see him fighting up at the front too. Race results aside, both riders need to close the gap on the top four in the championship and that remains our main aim this weekend.” More information and high resolution images are available on the Marc VDS Racing Team website at www.marcvds.com. More, from a press release issued by Karel Abraham’s publicist: Abraham will participate at Silverstone despite the double fracture Karel Abraham will participate on 6th MotoGP event of this season despite the double fracture of the left fingertip. The final decision to race on legendary Silverstone circuit will be done in Britain after consultation with doctors. Karel Abraham “I´m leaving to Silverstone on Wednesday after medical examination. We´ll try to put out the splint and we´ll see if the movements with the hand will be painful and if the cut fingers won´t bleed again. I really would like to race at Silverstone. We need to collect another points in championship and I´ll do everything to be at the track. On the other side it would be irresponsible to race at all costs, risking that the healing will take longer. There´s a series of four races starting by Assen and it would be really catastrophe to lose these races.” More, from a press release issued by Power Electronics Aspar Team: ESPARGARÓ AND DE PUNIET TAKE CRT CHALLENGE TO SILVERSTONE POWER ELECTRONICS Aspar pair looking forward to riding new breed machines at iconic British track The second of three circuits that the MotoGP calendar shares with Formula 1 comes back-to-back with the first this weekend as the world’s premier bike racing series moves from Catalunya to Silverstone. This is the third season that the iconic British track will host Grand Prix motorcycle racing since its return from a lengthy spell at Donington Park and it is an event that the riders always look forward to. Almost six kilometres in length, its fast, flowing and wide layout is ideally suited to the 1000cc machines. At Montmeló the series leader Jorge Lorenzo extended his advantage at the top over Casey Stoner and the rest of the field need to break up their dominance of the championship quickly if they are to stop them from escaping out of sight at the top. The POWER ELECTRONICS Aspar team is looking forward eagerly to its next track appointment after a successful day of testing in Barcelona following the fifth race of the season. Aleix Espargaró and Randy De Puniet remain the men to beat in the new CRT class, with the Spaniard having taken the flag as the first of the new breed machines in three of the five races so far and the Frenchman a consistent reference for the rest. Aleix Espargaró: “I am really looking forward to the next race. I have never been involved in a dry race at Silverstone in MotoGP or Moto2 so hopefully the weather is good to us this weekend so that we can have fun on the bike. Silverstone is a very fast track and that should suit me. It is a bumpy track but once you work things out it is not too difficult to get on the pace. We tried a new swingarm in Barcelona that has improved rear traction, which was a major problem for us, and now that all the MotoGP riders are using the same front tyre I hope our situation improves still further. My objective for this weekend is to keep working in the same way that we have up to now and maintain our leadership of the CRT category.” Randy De Puniet: “Along with Catalunya Silverstone is one of my favourite circuits on the calendar and I always feel comfortable riding there. It is very fast with a lot of second and third gear corners that suit somebody with good corner speed and that suits me. With it being such a long track we might lose out a little bit compared to the factory MotoGP biles but I am very highly motivated, I’m looking forward to getting started and getting everything ready for the race. We have a lot of work to do but I think we can do really well on Sunday. We will have to keep an eye on the weather because it is always likely to rain in England but if that’s the case we will do our best to adapt to the conditions.” More, from a press release issued by Bankia Aspar Team: MOTO3 HEADS FOR SILVERSTONE AFTER WEEKEND OFF Faubel targets repeat of last year’s podium as Moncayo hopes for change of luck Almost six kilometres of wide open, fast and flowing tarmac beckons the new Moto3 class this weekend as the Silverstone circuit in the UK plays host to the sixth round of the championship. The longest track on the calendar is also one of the fastest and bumpiest due to F1 racing, with the British summer weather always another factor to take into account. After four different winners from the opening four round of the season last time out in Catalunya Maverick Viñales became the first rider to double up, although the Spaniard still trails to the current series leader Sandro Cortese. Heavy rain and high winds made life particularly difficult for the minor category here last season and the forecast is for similar weather this weekend. BANKIA Aspar rider Héctor Faubel coped better than most in the wet and wild conditions last year, finishing third – a result he would love to repeat after showing podium potential in practice over the opening five rounds without being able to realise it on a consistent basis. His team-mate Alberto Moncayo will run the new Kalex this weekend and after a difficult Grand Prix in Barcelona he is hoping to return to the fight at the front, where he featured in the previous round at Le Mans. Alberto Moncayo: “We’ll have a new update for the bike at Silverstone and according to my team-mate Héctor it should make the bike perform much better. I know that we are going to take a step forward and our aim is to put a bad weekend in Barcelona behind us. Motivation is high and we are looking forward to working hard with the new material to make sure that we are improving at least at the same rate as the rest of the field. We are getting closer to the points and we need to make another push this weekend. I am not a big fan of Silverstone but everything will be new with the Moto3 bike so we have to be positive and work hard from the first session because as usual every minute will be crucial.” Héctor Faubel: “We have performed to a high level over the last two rounds but we’ve been out of luck in terms of turning our potential into results. I hope it’s third time lucky because we were in with a good chance at Le Mans and Montmeló but for various reasons missed out twice. We are not going to let that affect us though and the objective will be to push hard from the first session to be as competitive as possible on Sunday. I finished third at Silverstone in the wet last weekend and I hope I can be back on the podium this time, on the top step if possible. Silverstone is a very fast circuit and I hope it is as good to us on the Moto3 as it was on the 125.” More, from a press release issued by Mapfre Aspar Team: SILVERSTONE OFFERS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAPFRE ASPAR PAIR Elías and Terol hope to close in on their individual goals in England, with a podium and a top ten finish their respective priorities It’s all eyes on the skies this weekend as the Moto2 World Championship heads for Silverstone, venue of the sixth round of the season. The longest circuit on the calendar at almost six kilometres is also one of the most unpredictable in terms of the weather and it promises to be a dramatic weekend in the intermediate category, with Spanish pair Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró renewing an increasingly tense rivalry whilst in pursuit of series leader Thomas Lüthi of Switzerland. MAPFRE Aspar Team pair Toni Elías and Nico Terol have their own objectives for the British round, with the vastly experienced Elías looking to complete his return to the front of the field and the rookie Terol hoping to continue his progression into the top ten positions. Elías still has work to do to find the best setting for his Suter machine and a little more rear grip is the target for this weekend, after sliding out of the podium battle last time out in Barcelona. Terol has finished in the points at the last two races and is now looking to make the next step in his adaptation to the bigger category after stepping up as 125cc World Champion. Toni Elías: “I am really looking forward to getting to Silverstone and continuing the work we have started. We have been on the right lines for the last few races without being able to convert our progress into a result so we’re going to do our best to make it happen this weekend. You never know whether you will get rain or shine in England and although the temperatures are usually quite low I always enjoy racing at Silverstone. If we do our job well with the bike set-up we can come away with a good result. We are closer to the front every week and I hope we can take the next step this weekend and finish where we belong.” Nico Terol: “We have been in the points for the last two races and I feel like I am getting to grips with this category. The next step is within our grasp and when we make it we will be able to make up a lot of positions. We want to be consistently in the top ten and I think we have the pace to do it. The next goal is to qualify better so that we start higher up the grid and give ourselves a better chance. I have to admit that I find Silverstone quite difficult but everything will be new on the Moto2 so we can’t rule anything out. There are circuits I found easy on the 125 where I have struggled at on the Moto2 so this could be the reverse scenario. All I know is that I will have to push to be as fast as possible from the first session.” More, from a press release issued by Blusens Avintia Moto3 Team: Blusens Avintia Moto3 team ready to strike again in England There is no denying that each and every member of the team to which Maverick Viñales belongs is feeling very confident in the rider’s potential and everybody is getting ready for a new battle at Silverstone. After celebrating their home win in haste both technicians and mechanics set to work so there will be no loose ends at this GP of England. Last year he got his first pole position in the world championship at Silverstone but he also crashed which forced him to drop out of the race. The Blusens Avintia rider is second of the world championship with two wins in the pocket at the moment and he is willing to get a good result that would enable him to remain in such a good position. Maverick Viñales: “Of course we are expecting a lot from this G.P. of Silverstone after winning at home but always bearing in mind how difficult it is to overcome in this class. Winning at home doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be easy to repeat it and I am sure our rivals will have got ready without leaving any loose ends before the English round. I like this track as its layout suits my riding style and last year I also got my first pole in the world championship there. That’s why we are excited but we will remain cautious.” More, from a press release issued by Blusens Avintia Moto2 Team: Julián Simón to make a fresh start at Silverstone Today Blusens Avintia Moto2 team Julián Simón is travelling to Silverstone with renewed strength after the bitter taste of the G.P. of Montmeló. Julián wants to leave his failures behind. As a matter of fact he would rather face this new round optimistically and be convinced that it is still time that he made up for this unlucky start to the season. The Villacañas rider is aware that he can rely on each and every member of his team in order to be efficiently prepared for the sixth round on the calendar and regain positions that really suit him. The Blusens Avintia team rider likes the English track and even though he did not take part in this G.P. last year as his leg was injured he finished in third position in Moto2 in 2010. Julián Simón: “I have got over what I went through during the weekend at Montmeló. I am feeling motivated and strong again before Silverstone. I have no doubt about the fact that we will manage to regain the positions where we belong and I will make it thanks to my team. They have all supported me and I hope I will able to repay them with my getting back on the right track. I just hope it won’t rain even if it sounds difficult so we can get some work done on the bike and fine tune the setting-up of the bike. I like the track and I ended up on the podium two years ago. Why not repeat it this year?” More, from a press release issued by Avintia Blusens MotoGP Team: Avintia Blusens MotoGP team feel self-confident before Silverstone The Avintia Blusens team riders are confident that they will achieve a well-deserved good result as they have not been lucky in spite of their efforts so far. The last testing in Montmeló and Motorland have highlighted a series of data which can prove to be very useful for this G.P. The work carried out on setting up the suspension and the traction control suggests that the Avintia Blusens MotoGP team can reach a really competitive level which would enable them to be ranked among the best riders in their class. Yonny Hernández is very familiar with the circuit of Silverstone where he achieved a good result in Moto2 last year. On the other hand Silverstone is unknown to Iván Silva who will discover its layout durin the first training practices. Yonny Hernández: “I am really motivated before Silverstone. I like this track where I finished in the top 10 in Moto2 last year. But what I am most excited about is the testing we did in Motorland where we managed to ride really fast and we found out solutions that might come in handy on the English track. I think we deserve a good result because over the last few races we have always been really close but never “made it” though. I hope the table will turn in our favour in England and our efforts will eventually pay off.” Iván Silva: “It’s not going to be an easy task as I am not familiar with the track but it doesn’t mean I am not motivated before the race. The Montmeló and Aragón testing has been positive and I believe we can start showing our true potential if we are in luck. I hope the climatology will allow me to ride in dry conditions so I can get familiar with the layout of the track and focus on the setting-up of the bike. I would really love to spend this G.P only focused on my riding.” More, from a press release issued by JiR Moto2 Team: British GP sees the debut of both Team JiR riders at Silverstone Silverstone awaits the JiR Moto2 Team with both its riders racing for the first time; Johann Zarco and the debut of Eric Granado. The pitbox will therefore be completed with the two working teams, with the objective to pursue the two different learning curves developed by the Team Principal Gianluca Montiron, two projects that are parallel in the mid-term but yet different in terms of characteristics and objectives. So far Zarco’s side of the garage already has many positives from the first five races of the Moto2 World Championship, showing swift adaptation as he’s already an effective and fast rider on his MotoBI. It will be now important for him to continue the development process with this machine and being able to consolidate his consistent performances. Granado, on his side, is a Moto2 World Championship debutant, but he has still run many, many kilometers on his MotoBI. Gianluca Montiron With Johann we will try to fight for the title of “Rookie of the Year” and to be consistently with the fastest pack of riders. I trust in the team and our rider’s capabilities for further progress and my benchmark in this, is to see how well the rider with whom he was fighting last year is doing. In the meantime, it is important for Johann to finish the races and gain experience in riding these machines. This race will be the debut of Eric Granado, the challenge for him racing with the other riders will not be so easy, we will let him take to the track being aware that we have made good preparation for this moment, considering that between tests and races we covered a distance that is about one half of the total distance of the whole 17 GPs that you find in a season. The presence of a Brazilian rider has to be considered a major event, after Alex Barros retired from the World Championship and I hope that this project could be a start-up to create a new generation of riders from the country. To me Brazil represents some excellent memories in the last GP ran in Rio in 2004 I stepped up onto the podium as a winner of the top class with Makoto Tamada. I hope this lets people understand the level of professionalism we have maintained across the years since then, as we are always looking for continued support to move forward with our plans for both this year and the future. Johann Zarco Following on from Catalunya I was initially not very happy, but I’ve been analyzing what happened. We must remember that for me to finish 11th and not be happy has shown how much we’ve improved. With the issues we have with the clutch at Catalunya, the MotoBI wasn’t feeling as good as it did in free practice where we were running in sixth. This information is always important to us, all feedback is. I enjoy the circuit of Silverstone whether it will be wet or dry! My aim as always is to fight with the best riders in this class, and they are Andrea Iannone, Pol Espargaro, Thomas Luthi and Marc Marquez. These are the best and I want to have them in my sights all through the weekend and fight to be in the top five. We saw in Catalunya that you need to be consistent and be fast in practice, qualifying and warm-up to have a good race, as the gap between the top ten is so small. We are making good progress and will continue to work in this way with the team. Eric Granado I have tried to prepare myself very intensively physically during these six months of preparation, the three steps I did in the CEV and some official IRTA training, I have learned a lot and I went through situations that are sure to serve me very in the World Championship because I know I have a team with much experience and that is helping me to evolve. So far I’ve suffered several crashes, the experience will teach me not to make those mistakes any more. During these weeks that I stayed in Europe before going to England, I prepared really well and I hope to be 100% for the race, not only physically but also mentally. I’ve watched many videos and races from previous years, about the track at Silverstone, to analyze the details of the layout, because to me this is a new track. I will have to adapt very quickly, so I’m sure the videos will help me very much and, along with my team JiR, which has lots of information on the track, I believe that we will get good results as my experience with the bike and team evolves. My goal in this race, like in the other races too, is to develop and learn from the better riders who are more experienced than me, because I still have much to learn! More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing: THE PRAMAC TEAM ARRIVES AT SILVERSTONE FOR THE 2012 BRITISH GRAND PRIX The MotoGP paddock arrives in the UK this weekend for round six of the World Championship, preparing to enjoy the recently modified Northamptonshire circuit. The 5.9km Silverstone Circuit has all kinds of character, a fast part and also a very tight infield. It looks a little bumpy in places, but with plenty of overtaking opportunities and remodelled sections including faster and sweeping corners. After a weekend of little luck in Catalunya recently, Pramac Ducati Team rider Hèctor Barberà has quickly turned his attention to this British Grand Prix at the legendary Silverstone circuit. The Spaniard riderÂ’s goal for the weekend is to bounce back from a poor Grand Premi de CatalunyaÂ’s result, where he struggled to find the right confidence with his Ducati GP12 during the race, although there was a great teamÂ’s work in the free practices. Despite that, after two days of MotoGP test , where the White and Green Team worked tirelessly to improve HèctorÂ’s feeling with his machine, the 25-year-old rider is looking to Silverstone as the ideal circuit to turn his luck around with a great result. Hèctor Barberà – Pramac Racing Team Rider “After the difficult CatalanÂ’s race, I am really looking forward to getting to England. IÂ’m happy with how we worked during the MotoGP test in Barcelona and in Aragon, last week. We tried some new stuff that allowed us to make progressive improvements, as the race pace and my confidence with my Ducati. The Grand Premi de Catalunya is in the past and the only thing I am thinking about is a good result on Sunday. The energy from the team gives me a lot of motivation and I am determined to get that feeling back to my crew. Silverstone is a fast circuit and I think it should suit our bike so we have the potential to do a good job.” Francesco Guidotti – Pramac Racing Team Manager – “ We arrived to England satisfied and confident with our potential. The two days test done after the Grand Premi de Catalunya was very important for us. We received a new electronic set from Ducati to evaluate and it allowed us to progressively improve and achieved some positive results during the last in-season test. From tomorrow we will continue to work hard and look for a good setup to do a brilliant race, here in Silverstone”.