Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Jet to Jerez for Spanish GP

After a two-week intermission, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are ready to start the European leg of the 2019 MotoGP season this weekend at the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto.

Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), 1st May 2019

Having flown back across the North Atlantic Ocean, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team get back to action this weekend at the Gran Premio de España.

Valentino Rossi currently holds second place in the championship rankings after taking second place at the two previous rounds. He has set himself a firm goal for this weekend: he is going to try to make it a podium hat-trick.

The Italian is expecting a hard battle, as the previous two years in Jerez were challenging, but to his advantage, he knows the track like no other. So far, he has claimed seven wins at this circuit (in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2016), secured two second places (in 2008 and 2014), and achieved three third places (in 2000, 2010, and 2015) in the premier class alone. He was also successful here in the lower classes, securing a 125cc and 250cc win in 1997 and 1999 respectively, and a 250cc second place in 1998.

Maverick Viñales arrives in Europe holding twelfth place in the championship standings after a disappointing end to the otherwise positive COTA weekend. Nevertheless, the Spaniard shows a strong determination to add another solid performance to his record at Jerez, which he considers one of his home races.

With the support of the local fans he hopes to better his sixth-place best MotoGP finish there and revisit the Andalusian podium for the first time since his Moto3 win in 2013.

The Circuito de Jerez was built in 1986 and has been one of the most popular MotoGP events of the season ever since. Blessed with good weather, beautiful scenery, fast corners, hard braking areas, and a natural amphitheater, the 4.4km Jerez circuit offers spectators a great view of the unforgettable racing action that takes place here.

Massimo Meregalli

Team Director

"It's always nice to return to Europe after the first overseas rounds. The fans here have waited for months to have the opportunity to visit a GP and watch the racing in real life, so that makes the atmosphere in Jerez always extra special. Our bike has been competitive at the previous rounds in Argentina and Texas, so we want to continue to show that form this weekend, especially after two difficult years here. As per usual, preparation will be key: the Friday free practice sessions will be important, because we need to start the weekend off the right way. It will be a full-on week, even more so because the Spanish GP is directly followed by the one-day Official IRTA Jerez Test. But after the minibreak between COTA and Jerez, we're happy with the additional track time and the opportunity to get extra work done."

Valentino Rossi

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"I love racing in Europe because the tracks are fantastic, and I know them very well. We start at Jerez, which has been a difficult track for the Yamaha in the last two years, but we did well at the last two races, so it will be very interesting to see if we can be strong there. We have had a little break and from now on it's 'bam, bam, bam', a very packed schedule until the race at the Sachsenring. We're good, strong, and we are working well. It looks like the bike improved a lot. For sure, there are some areas that we need to work on. We need some time for that, but we can be competitive."

Maverick Viñales

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Rider

"I'm happy because finally we arrive to the European rounds. In Austin, despite the problems we encountered, I felt very good riding my bike and I had a very good race pace. We've had some difficulties in Jerez in the past, but I think that we've made good steps lately, so potentially we could be arriving at a very good track for the Yamaha. I hope to be fighting for the podium from the start of the race. We are going to work very hard all week to make it happen."

MiCHELIN Racecard: Spanish GP