The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya de MotoGP™ 2020 has given the starting signal today at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Although there was no activity on the asphalt, the World Championship riders walked around the track during the traditional track inspection and some of them attended the press conference to share their feelings about the upcoming event, which promises to be thrilling and very equalled.
The premise for this weekend is easily identifiable. Equality is turning the current season into one of the tightest of the championship’s history. Andrea Dovizioso, Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Viñales and Joan Mir are within four points only and the season has already had six different winners in seven races. Excepting Fabio Quartararo, who felt a bit unwell today, the rest of the main players attended the media at the Circuit today. Dovizioso, Viñales and Mir, were joined at the press conference by Pol Espargaró and Álex Márquez.
The central topic and the online questions made by the journalists followed the same lines. Everybody wanted to know who will win the Catalan GP and which are the keys to achieve such a challenge in this crazy season. The winner of the last race, Maverick Viñales, noted that “the championship is open and will continue to be open until the last races. Consistency will be very important”. Viñales, also dared to highlight the weak points of his Yamaha. “Our biggest priority is to start always from the front row, because battles are difficult, it is complicated to overtake with this bike” he stated.
Following this same line, Joan Mir, declared that “it is very important to be focussed and consistent, and I think that none of us has managed to do it yet”. Andrea Dovizioso, for his part, confessed that he is “very surprised about how the championship has started”. “It is a crazy championship, we all have difficulties in each race and this is the reason why the average score is very low. I think that the season is going to start now” he said.
Pol Espargaró and Álex Márquez are a bit further behind in the standings, and they are both facing their home-Grand Prix. The youngest of the Espargaró brothers regretted this situation, stating that “it is now when you feel really angry for the points that you lost”. Espargaró closes the top 10 in the standings, but he is not far behind as regards points. The youngest of the Márquez brothers accepted that the season is being hard. “It is a crazy championship and you have to make the most of the opportunities that you get at each race. We must improve a lot in qualifying and be among the top ten”, he remarked. The Catalan rider believes that he knows his weak point, as he considers that “I have to change my riding style and really exploit the bike; leave the Moto2 mentality behind”.
The surprise of the day was brought by Marc Márquez. Born in Cervera, Marc has missed several races due to his injuries, but he came today to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The reigning World Champion took the chance of what would have been his home race to meet his team and start planning the next season.
Strict anti COVID-19 protocol
In addition to the usual coordination with the General Secretariat for Sports and the health authorities, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, has been working closely with Dorna, organiser of the event, in order to guarantee for the highest safety for all parties implied in the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya de MotoGP™, implementing a strict contingency plan.
Among the many measures that have been introduced, there are, for example, compulsory PCR tests before the event for everybody having to access the paddock area. Moreover, to access the facilities people have to scan in a QR code stating the negative result of the test and undergo a temperature control. Working groups have been created for the whole staff on site, who have to follow social distancing rules and wear masks at all times.
These efforts will continue throughout the weekend, with an exhaustive and constant follow-up.