Statement: Round 02: Qatar – Doha

„Finally the first race weekend of the 2020 season was here, but it was a strange feeling to arrive to the paddock and see all the MotoGP boxes empty.

On Friday we started with the first free practise sessions and it was just not the same feeling like in the test anymore. I tried to adapt my riding style… but nothing was working well.

For the FP3 on Saturday we changed some little things but the feeling was not getting better. My team and I decided to use this session not to make a time attack; because we need to understand more the bike. I had to go through Q1. We changed completely my bike and I felt immediately much better, now is just tried to put everything together and ride fast. I mad it into Q2 where we were fighting for the first positions. At the end P4 was a good grid position.

The race day started with a good warm up session. I felt ready fort he first race oft he season. Back on the grid after a long winter break I couldn´t wait till the lights turn off and the race begins. My strategy for the race was to keep it easy at the beginning, to safe the tyres as much as possible, that when I see the others start to have problems and their tyres drops, I could start to attack and overtake. It was not an easy race for us, as we missed in acceleration but we were fighting hard for a good position. The chequered flag was out and I finished 6th. We are happy of the start oft he season, and we take the positive things out of this weekend to prepare for the next races. We took the first important points for the championship.

It´s time to go back home and prepare for the next round, wherever it´ll be…“