SPANISH GP

David Alonso aims for the Moto3 lead in Jerez

The CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider is only two points behind the leader after his victory in Austin

CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider David Alonso arrives in the fourth round of the Moto3 World Championship with a big challenge: to regain the lead. The young Colombian shone at the Circuit of the Americas, dominating all the practice sessions, taking his first pole position of his Moto3 career and winning the race after leading from start to finish. With this victory, Alonso is only two points behind the leader, Dani Holgado, who finished second in Austin. Now, the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team rider will fight to get back to the top of the standings at a circuit where he already knows what it feels like to be on the podium. Last year, at the Spanish Grand Prix, Alonso took his first World Championship podium when he crossed the finish line in second position. However, Alonso is aware that it will not be an easy task this year, as it is a circuit that all the Moto3 riders know well as most of them have competed there countless times in the previous categories and they have already been there in February for pre-season testing. Alonso and Holgado are the only riders to know what it is to win this season and are leading the standings, but their rivals will not make it easy for them this weekend at the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto. Ángel Piqueras, who got his first podium in Moto3 in America; José Antonio Rueda, who missed the last race due to appendicitis, but finished fifth last year in Jerez; or Iván Ortolá, another of the main candidates for the title, but who has only been able to shine in Portugal, will fight to become the third winner of a race this season. 

The other representative of the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team, Joel Esteban, arrives at Jerez with the main objective of going directly to Q2, something he already achieved in the Portuguese Grand Prix, to avoid possible problems in Q1 and having to come back from behind in the race. Esteban is confident of improving his performance at the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto after the pre-season test last February, where he finished 1.8 seconds off the fastest time on one of his first days on the new bike. Esteban's goal on Sunday will be to finish the race as the best rookie and having fought with the leading group. 


David Alonso: "We are looking forward to our first Grand Prix in Spain. We did a pre-season test at the Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto: the sensations were good and we did a great job. But it is true that it is a circuit that all the riders know well and where it is difficult to make a difference. I really want to come back to Jerez because I got my first World Championship podium there. I hope I can fight to be at the front."

Joel Esteban: "I am really looking forward to the Jerez race because the pre-season testing was very positive. The goal for the weekend will be to go straight into Q2 and to get a good result in qualifying on Saturday. As it is a circuit where I have already ridden, I want to fight to be in the front group and to be the best rookie."