Repsol youngsters excited to start the Moto3 class in earnest at Qatar

The Losail International Circuit will light up this weekend for the opening round of the 2012 MotoGP World Championship. The Repsol riders, present in the three Grand Prix categories of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3, are excited about the challenge ahead after an excellent two months of preseason. The Qatar Grand Prix will be the only race of the 18 on the MotoGP calendar to take place at night.

This Grand Prix also marks the debut of a new category. The 125cc two-strokes make way for the four-stroke Moto3 machines this year. Maverick Viñales and Miguel Oliveira both made their World Championship debuts in Qatar last year, taking ninth and tenth place, respectively. Now is the turn of Álex Rins to ride his maiden competition on the world stage. 2011 Rookie of the Year Viñales will be eyeing a victory in the desert, whilst Oliveira and Rins will be looking to place as high up as possible in the first event of the year.

Miguel Oliveira: “The first Grand Prix of the season is one that I am facing enthusiastically but with a cool head. The Qatar track is very long and different to all the others, being run at night. I am starting the season with a lot of motivation, as it is the debut of a new category and my debut in this great team. I hope that everything goes well and that together we do a good job”.

Álex Rins: “To tell the truth, I’m a little nervous about the start of the season. I’ve never been to Qatar, but I have played the track on the Playstation to get used to it a little. I have the feeling that it will be a rather difficult track —even more so with the race taking place at night. Riding there for the first time will be an experience. I have to thank Fermín, Cristina and Dani, my physios, for their great help in getting me to 90% for Qatar. The entire team have made a huge effort to get everything ready for my debut”.

Maverick Vinales: “I am very excited about the start of the World Championship. Of course, you are always a little nervous when the first race comes around, because it’s when you really find out the true potential of the teams and riders. It’s more curiosity than nerves. I am keen to find out if we are going to see the same battles in Moto3 as in 125cc and which riders will adapt best to this category.

These bikes are a little easier to ride, which might bunch things up even more than in 125cc. We’ll see. It is definitely going to be a close class. The preseason has been good for us though, so we are heading to Qatar in high spirits. We have a competitive bike and I am feeling strong ahead of this first race. I like the track and riding at night makes it a special race”.

Source: Repsol Media