New challenge for Aprilia Racing in Asia as Japanese GP kicks off

VIÑALES AND ESPARGARÓ ARRIVE AT MOTEGI FOR THE SIXTEENTH ROUND OF THE SEASON

MotoGP doesn’t stop, and just a few days after the Indonesian GP, Aprilia Racing is ready to land in Motegi for the Japanese Grand Prix, the sixteenth round of the 2024 World Championship and the second stop on the Asian tour.

Maverick Viñales returns to action with the goal of fighting for the top spots after a promising weekend at Mandalika, where he regained the feeling and the speed. The Spanish rider knows the Motegi track well, having finished on the MotoGP podium there in 2016 and securing second place in the race for three consecutive years: in Moto3 in 2012 and 2013, and in Moto2 in 2014.

Coming off a difficult weekend at Mandalika, Aleix Espargaró is aiming for a strong result at a track where his best finish was fourth in 2016. Determined to bounce back from the difficulties he faced in Indonesia, Espargaró is ready to draw on all his experience to be competitive at a historically challenging track.

The Mobility Resort Motegi circuit, previously known as Twin Ring Motegi, has a very unique layout, with few fast corners and many slow ones, interspersed with straights. With a length of 4.800 meters, 8 right-handers corners, and 6 left-handers corners, this "stop & go" track is one of the most demanding for brakes.

MAVERICK VIÑALES
"The Japanese GP is always a great weekend; I really enjoy going there, I love the culture and the track as well. It’s going to be a big challenge for us, especially as it's a circuit known for heavy braking. However, I think we can use it as an opportunity to improve our braking performance. I'm confident that we can achieve a good result.”

ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
"Motegi is one of my favourite tracks; it's always a special Grand Prix. I can't wait to get there and try to find a better feeling compared to the last few races. It's a stop & go circuit, and this year we've made progress on this type of track, as shown by the podium in the sprint race in Austria, so we’re hoping to do well here too."