Aspar Aragon GP race report

Excellent Start And Great Result For Barbera In Aragon

Hector Barbera, Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP

Photo by: Bridgestone Corporation

MAPFRE Aspar rider gains seven places on opening lap, eventually concluding the race in eighth

The MotoGP race at Motorland provided few surprises, as Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa carried over their practice session domination to race day. Stoner took the lead on the opening lap and never looked back, and Pedrosa did similar in second. The two were separated by eight seconds, with Lorenzo fourteen seconds behind the race winner. Thirteen riders took the chequered flag, with four crashing out.

Going from fourteenth place to seventh in a single lap, MAPFRE Aspar rider Héctor Barberá was on top form for his home race. His best start of the season had much to do with it, as he finally managed to get off the line with the speed that he demands of himself. He established a strong pace throughout the contest alongside Alvaro Bautista and Nicky Hayden, who battled against him for a long period. A mathematical mistake when looking at his rival’s pitboard at the end of the race confused him into a premature slowdown –unsure as to how many laps remained- and he lost a place as a result. Eighth was nonetheless an excellent result for a rider finding form in the home straight of the season.

8th Héctor Barberá:

“Today’s race was difficult, because the temperature was a lot different to that which we experienced in practice. The bike behaved a little differently and we had to adjust to the situation. I think that my start was good and I am satisfied with that, because I hadn’t done so before this season. There was a moment in which I had got up to sixth place, but Hayden and I traded positions over the course of a lap and Bautista escaped. With two laps remaining I focused on Hayden’s pitboard accidentally, and saw that they had put one less lap up for him. I got confused and Hayden took advantage to pass me; I got back ahead of him but I ran wide just after and lost my chance to keep up with him. It was a shame not to have finished as best Ducati, but our hard work was shown in today’s race. I want to emphasise that my team did a great job today, and gave me a great setup. I am on a run of successful races, and want it to continue.”