LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP heads to South America with heavy heart
LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP’s Moto2™ and Moto3™ teams are facing significant setbacks ahead of this weekend’s round two of the season in Brazil.
Despite victories in the opening races and the current lead in both classes, the mood within the only team from the German-speaking world is decidedly sombre. The first tragic news before the team’s departure for Brazil came last Friday from Italy, when Roberto Lunadei lost his life in a motorcycle accident. «Roby», as everyone called him, worked alongside Senna Agius in the Moto2 team. The thoughts of the entire team are with his family and friends. With World Championship points once again on the line this weekend, everyone in the team will give its utmost for «Roby».
Following Manuel Gonzalez’s spectacular victory in the Moto2 race at the season opener in Buriram, Thailand, the championship standings were adjusted a few days later. Instead of receiving full points, only half points were awarded to the top 15 finishers. This means that Gonzalez now leads his closest rival by just two and a half points in the overall standings, down from a five-point lead. In Brazil, however, he will be back in full attack mode, as will his team mate Senna Agius. Despite the sad loss of his ever reliable and exemplary working mechanic «Roby», the Australian wants to make up for the points he missed in Thailand as soon as possible.
In Moto3 class, however, David Almansa, race winner at the Chang International Circuit, will be the sole rider competing for LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP this weekend. Team mate David Muñoz will not be able to race at the second weekend of the season after an examination revealed inflammation in his leg. On the advice of doctors, the Spaniard must now take a break. It’s a heavy blow, but the most important thing now is that he recovers well so he can return as soon as possible and at 100 percent. The entire team wishes the 19-year-old from Seville all the best for a speedy return to the team and the racetrack.
After a hiatus of nearly 22 years, the Grand Prix of Brazil returns to the World Championship calendar this weekend. The last time the World Championship made a stop in Brazil, at the Jacarepaguá circuit west of Rio de Janeiro, was in the summer of 2004. Prior to that, Grand Prix races were held in Goiânia from 1987 to 1989. Extensive renovations were carried out in preparation for the comeback, and the modernized facility is now set for its baptism by fire. Goiânia is centrally located within the vast country, about an hour and a half by plane from Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, with the Autódromo named after the famous and unforgotten Ayrton Senna situated within the city limits. At 3,835 meters in length, it is the second-shortest track of the year after the Sachsenring. The time difference from Europe is minus four hours. Since Goiânia is completely uncharted territory for the current generation of teams and riders, the schedule for Friday includes extended practice sessions for all three classes.
#BrazilianGP - Time Schedule for the weekend (CET):
Friday 20 March
13:00 - 13:35 Moto3™ Free Practice 1
14:00 - 15:50 Moto2™ Free Practice 1
15:05 - 16:05 MotoGP™ Free Practice 1
17:15 - 18:00 Moto3™ Practice
18:15 - 19:05 Moto2™ Practice
19:20 - 20:35 MotoGP™ Practice
Saturday 21 March
12:40 - 13:10 Moto3™ Free Practice 2
13:25 - 13:55 Moto2™ Free Practice 2
14:10 - 14:40 MotoGP™ Free Practice 2
14:50 - 15:05 MotoGP™ Qualifying 1
15:15 - 15:30 MotoGP™ Qualifying 2
16:45 - 17:00 Moto3™ Qualifying 1
17:10 - 17:25 Moto3™ Qualifying 2
17:40 - 17:55 Moto2™ Qualifying 1
18:05 - 18:20 Moto2™ Qualifying 2
19:00 MotoGP™ Sprint (15 Laps - 57.825 km)
Sunday 22 March
14:40 - 14:50 MotoGP™ Warm-Up
16:00 Moto3™ Race (24 Laps – 92.040 km)
17:15 Moto2™ Race (26 Laps – 99.710 km)
19:00 MotoGP™ Race (31 Laps – 118.885 km)