Just a few days after the European Grand Prix, the Circuit Ricardo Tormo will host the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana, the penultimate round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship this weekend. Yet, Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Miguel Oliveira feels well prepared after battling inside the top 5 during his first premier class race at the Spanish track last Sunday, aiming to further improve his sensations aboard the KTM RC16 in order to achieve another superb outcome.
At the same time, MotoGP rookie Iker Lecuona is excited to hopefully get his home round kicked off, after being forced to miss out on the ultimate GP, when he had to quarantine as his brother and personal assistant had tested positive for Covid-19. Due to the quarantine rules, he will have to do another PCR test today and with a negative result, he will just be allowed to travel on Saturday morning, targeting to take part in Free Practice 3 on Saturday at 10.55 local time.
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Miguel Oliveira
Championship: 10th
Points: 90
"I think we are now with a clearer idea of what we can improve this weekend. The team did a great job in such a short time to give me a very competitive bike to perform good in Sunday’s race. So, I hope Friday and Saturday here in Valencia will give us some more ideas on what to do this Sunday. I hope I can be in the top group, fighting for the top 5 positions again. I’m very excited to continue our path on this circuit this weekend."
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Iker Lecuona
Championship: 17th
Points: 27
"I was really happy to get to know it will be possible for me to travel to Valencia this week, even it will just be on Saturday, it means I can ride my bike and start the race, so this is great news. I need to do another PCR test on Tuesday and if this is negative again, I can come to take part at my home Grand Prix, therefore, I’m obviously very excited."
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Hervé Poncharal
Team Manager
"It’s the second run of MotoGP in Valencia 2020 for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. We hope to repeat or even improve the Valencia one result, where Miguel really shone and impressed all through the weekend in damp, wet and dry conditions. His race was really strong resulting in a top 5, without any crashes in front and with a really strong pace and a clever way to analyze when to back off a bit to reach the chequered flag and get 11 points. For sure, this round was a bit of a shame for Red Bull KTM Tech3 with only half of the line-up. The potential good news is, Iker has been confirmed by the Andorran authorities that if his test this week is negative, he will be allowed to drive from Andorra on Saturday – not before – to Valencia. So, he will be driving very early on Saturday morning in order to arrive at the track around 9.00 or 9.30 and like Valentino Rossi did last week do FP3, FP4, the Qualifying sessions and the race. But again, I would like to stress, that this is still upon the fact that the next test, he will do this week will be negative. Outside of that, for sure like everyone else, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team is hoping to improve. We have a few ideas of how to have a better setting. The race was very important, likewise the analysis of the race data. We just can’t wait to start, hopefully with our two guys. The weather seems to be more stable for this event and it will be for sure another interesting race for the MotoGP World Championship, but also for us, because we would really like to keep a top 10 position in the final classification for Miguel and hopefully give Iker the possibility to race on his home circuit, that he likes so much and where he started his MotoGP rider career last year. So, fingers crossed and see you in a few days at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo."
