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Team Estrella Galicia

Alex Rins: “The end of the season that we have done has been spectacular”

written by Hugh

After a superlative end to the 2022 season with two epic victories in Suzuki’s farewell to the MotoGP grid, Alex Rins now faces a new challenge with another manufacturer ahead of an upcoming campaign in which he will ride for the LCR Castrol independent team. We spoke to the rider just after the end of the first official IRTA preseason test at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, a few hours in which the Spanish rider was able to get on his new bike, although he could not comment specifically on it due to an existing contract that expires at the end of year.

Watch here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzkb2ARhM8Q

Q. During the 2022 season it came as a surprise that Team Suzuki would not continue with the MotoGP project. How did you experience that moment? Has this situation conditioned the way you have faced the rest of the season?

A. “Of course it was hard when we got the news. After this news we had several races with bad results, with a mixture of bad luck that involved several times in crashes with other riders, who hit me. In one I broke my hand and then it was like a mountain of bad things. But in the end, without giving up, we managed to come back and make the end of the season that we did.”

Q. After your thrilling victory in Australia, the excitement was palpable in the air. Then came the win in Valencia, the last race of the season and also for the Suzuki team. Was it a dream ending?

A. “The answer is yes. The end of the season that we have done, getting two wins in the last three races, has been spectacular after looking for those good positions all year long. I deserved it and the team deserved it, so I think we’ve had a great end to the season.

Q. The aforementioned victory you achieved for Suzuki at the brand’s farewell has caused a big media impact. How would you like to continue writing your story? How would you like to be remembered as a rider?

A. “Well, I would say that I would like to be remembered by Suzuki as a good rider, a rider who developed and made a winning machine. About next season, I want to continue to grow as a rider and as a person. We have a very nice project ahead and I would like to make it grow and develop a winning bike again, so these are the goals for next season.”

Q. This end of the season you have made the philosophy of “never give up” your own better than anyone else. What would you say to those who, due to difficulties in life or work, may be on the verge of giving up?

A. “Don’t give up! I would tell them to keep fighting for their dreams and keep trying because, no matter how bad the times are, there will be better times to come.”

Q. What kind of Alex Rins will we find on track for the 2023 season?

A. “Of course, a better version of Alex than there has been up to last year.”

Q. Next year will bring a new project for you. What are the goals you set for yourself and what do you think a different manufacturer will expect from you as a rider in this first season?

A. “Well, goals and dreams go a bit together. Honestly, right now it’s difficult to set a goal or an objective, so we’ll see what the future is bringing to us.”

Courtesy of Team Estrella Galicia

17th November 2022 0 comment

Motor Sports

Lowes signs off from 2020 with unbelievable podium finish

written by Hugh

22nd November 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 to sign off 2020 season with Portuguese Grand Prix

written by Hugh

17th November 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Di Meglio signs off MotoE 2020 with another second place at Le Mans

written by Hugh

13th October 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Moto3 continue season with French Grand Prix

written by Hugh

8th October 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Second place for Lowes after brilliant Barcelona battle

written by Hugh

**DNF**

It was a dramatic start to the day for Augusto, who had to dismount his bike in warm-up due to a technical problem with the sealing of his fuel system. Thanks to the hard work of his Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS mechanics, he started the race with a perfect machine.

The recently turned 23-year old enjoyed a great start to the race and gained three places on lap one. By lap 15 he had made real progress and was sitting in sixth while having a good fight with Enea Bastianini.

Engaged in a four-rider fight for fourth place, Augusto’s race came to an unfortunate end on the penultimate lap when he lost the front of his machine at turn seven.

The fall sees Fernández drop to 16th in the World Championship with 36 points, the same number as Fabio Di Giannantonio in 15th.

**“We were fighting for the top five so this a good step”**

“It’s a shame to finish the race like this. I enjoyed this race a lot. I did a good start from twelfth. I didn’t feel good in the first laps but I found my pace and was recovering positions, riding fast and with a good pace. I was faster than what I was expecting. At the end of the race I was a bit on the limit. I wanted to win the fight with Bastianini and we were catching Roberts in fifth. I felt stronger than them and I wanted to beat them. I pushed a bit hard in the braking zone at turn seven and just closed the front. It was a tricky Sunday for us with the fire on the bike in warm up and then a crash in the race. Overall, I think I did my best, I gave my 100 percent. We were fighting for the top five so this a good step. Good times will arrive, I’m sure of it. We just need to keep pushing.”

**2nd , +0.981 s.**

Despite losing four positions on the first lap, the Briton soon found his rhythm. He posted the fastest lap of the race – a 1:43.544 – on the eighth circulation as he closed in on the leading trio of Luca Marini, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Jorge Navarro.

The 30-year old shrugged off a mistake on lap seven when overtaking Di Giannantonio to then hunt down the leader Marini, 1.2s ahead. He then passed the Italian with a brilliant move at turn one on lap 16 to lead the race.

A first Moto2 victory in four years was within sight but Marini retook the lead just two laps from the checkered flag. Lowes tried to respond on the penultimate lap bit a mistake at turn seven consigned him to second.

Still, this fantastic second place was Lowes’ first back-to-back podium appearance since May, 2016. He remains in fourth place in the World Championship with 103 points to his name, 47 behind Marini in first and just 11 back of Marco Bezzecchi in third.
**“I’m happy to have my second podium in a row”**

“Nearly! I nearly had the win! To lead the race with two laps to go and finish second, you have a bit of a sour taste. Honestly when I got to the front I tried hard and put my pace. I was really happy with my own pace but Luca stayed with me. Then in the last two laps I made a small mistake and lost the victory. I’m happy to have my second podium in a row. It’s my first time on the podium in Catalunya. It’s a really important time of the year. The races come really fast, really close together. We’re in a good direction and have some good momentum. The team have done a fantastic job. Every weekend I say it, but it’s true. The bike is always there, improving every weekend and giving me confidence. Thank you to them and I look forward to the next race!”

**Joan Olivé**
Team manager

“The victory will arrive soon”

“We are very happy with Sam’s podium. Once again, he has shown he is really strong this year. Also, it’s so important to consistently be on top each weekend. The victory will arrive soon as well. With Augusto, unfortunately this crash with two laps to go meant he couldn’t take any points. But on the other hand, he was posting very good lap times and fighting for the top positions as well. He made a step forward and we are sure that in Le Mans all of his hard work will pay off.”

“The victory will arrive soon”

“We are very happy with Sam’s podium. Once again, he has shown he is really strong this year. Also, it’s so important to consistently be on top each weekend. The victory will arrive soon as well. With Augusto, unfortunately this crash with two laps to go meant he couldn’t take any points. But on the other hand, he was posting very good lap times and fighting for the top positions as well. He made a step forward and we are sure that in Le Mans all of his hard work will pay off.”

Contact:
**Berta Brau**
Press Officer & Media Manager
+34 679 531 502
media@marc-vds.com

More info at:
www.marcvds.com

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29th September 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Richly deserved podium for Lowes in Brno

written by Hugh

Sam Lowes rode a faultless race to finish second at the Czech Grand Prix while Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS team-mate Augusto Fernandez finishes an excellent season best fifth.

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS had reason to celebrate in the Czech Republic for the fourth round of the 2020 Moto2 season, as Sam Lowes scored the team’s first podium finish of the year and Augusto Fernandez posted his best finish of the season so far.

Track conditions were extremely tough with riders having to manage tyre degradation in track temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius on an extremely bumpy surface with very little grip over 19 laps.

The excellent work through the weekend from the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS squad gave the rider from the Balearic Islands greater feel with the front end which helped him to qualify in eighth place.

He passed Marcel Schrotter for seventh on lap three and from there he needed his fighting instincts to challenge the fast quartet of Jorge Martin, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi for fourth place.

The three-time Moto2 race winner overtook Martin on lap nine and Bezzecchi on lap 14 to finish an excellent fifth, his best result of the season. His improvement was clear in his race time: Augusto finished 24 seconds behind the winner at the Andalusian Grand Prix. Today he was just 10 seconds behind.

The eleven points for fifth place see Augusto climb to thirteenth in the World Championship with 17 points to his name.

“We are coming, getting back the confidence and good feelings”

“It was nice to be fighting at the front again! All weekend I’ve felt good. In the middle of the race I didn’t quite have enough for Bastianini. He rode really smoothly. I made a few mistakes. Well done to him. He’s coming off a great result at Jerez. He’s come here and ridden well. I can still take the positives. In the race I was losing too much time in one corner and it was hard to come back from that. Anyway, I just have to say thank you to the team because in every session the bike improves a lot and, each weekend, I feel comfortable. That’s something I’ve been missing these past few years. Thanks to them and hopefully we can keep this going and take this form to Austria!”

9th August 2020 0 comment

Motor Sports

Fernandez and Lowes ready to restart 2020 World Championship

written by Hugh

Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders are full of enthusiasm and motivation ahead of the resumption of the World Championship. In a shortened campaign with no room for error, Fernandez and Lowes share the same objective of fighting for results that will allow them to challenge for the title.

With less than two weeks to go before they return to competition, Fernandez and Lowes share their opinions and views on the unique challenge they are about to face. How have they prepared themselves during lockdown? Has anything changed since the season opener in Qatar back in March? Are they physically and mentally ready for when racing kicks off again in Jerez on July 19? In this special interview with both, the Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders answer those and other questions.How are you facing the imminent return to competition?

Augusto Fernandez (AF): “I’m really happy to be back racing, back in competition working with the team and giving my all on my Kalex. I’m looking forward to it.”

Sam Lowes (SL): “I can’t wait to be on the grid in Jerez! I’m happy and looking forward to it. I’m also very grateful that they didn’t let up in trying to make the 2020 World Championship happen, however different it may be.” What do you think of the new calendar?AF: “Obviously it’s very different to the usual one. Especially because of the reduction in the number of tracks, which means we have to repeat venues, but also because of the fact that we run so many weekends in a row. In any case, it will be the same for all of us, so we will adapt as best as possible to it. I want to start so badly that I would have raced again in any format. The important thing is to be able to race again!”

SL: “I really like it. It’s much better than I had imagined during the months of lockdown, so I’m happy with this schedule. After what’s happened, having a 14-race season is good and it will be a challenge to maintain good results where any mistakes will be costly.”For now, there are eight confirmed circuits, Jerez, Aragón, Barcelona, Valencia, Le Mans, Misano, Spielberg and Brno, do you like them?AF: “I really like them all, and they have been good for me so far. I have more problems in Brno and Austria, even though I’ve made a top five at both. So, we will have to be especially careful in those tracks.”

SL: “I’m happy with the tracks that make up the calendar. Austria is perhaps my weak point, but the rest are good, and I’ve achieved good results there in previous years, and that’s definitely a plus!”How do you think back-to-back races on the same track will affect the racing?AF: “On one hand, I think it will favour equality and on the other hand, it will open up the possibility of solving problems because by the second weekend we will already have accumulated a lot of laps. I think in a positive way, so if you have done well the previous weekend it is perfect because you start with a good feeling again in the same place. And if you have done badly, it is also perfect because you can turn it around with all the information gathered in the previous race.”

SL: “Even if the circuits are repeated, every race is a different story. Anything can happen and everything can change. You can see that it in World Superbikes. I think that the second weekend on the same circuit means there will be increased competition. We’ll have to see how much because in the Moto2 class things are already very tight and we’ll need the last thousandth! That’s an added difficulty as well as a huge motivation.”What do you think about racing without an audience in the stands? Will you notice it, and will it affect you a lot?AF: “It’ll be weird. On the bike we are so focused on riding that we can’t pay too much attention to the environment, it’s very nice to start and finish the practice sessions and races greeting the crowd. At that moment you really feel their presence and support a lot. We will certainly miss the fans. It’s another thing we’ll have to adapt to.”

SL: “We feel the presence of the public and the bond that is created is very special, especially when we do a good result. Without the public the Grand Prix will not be the same, but I understand the reasons for this decision, and I respect it. I hope the fans enjoy a good show on TV.”How would you rate your fitness ahead of the season?AF: “I feel very good and strong in every way. I am training very hard to get to 100% in the first race physically, technically and mentally.”

SL: “I’m definitely much better now than I was in Qatar when I had the shoulder injury from testing. I’m working hard on my physique and every day I’m getting better in terms of my shoulder and general tone. I’m ready to race.”Going into more detail, how have you prepared yourselves physically for this moment?AF: “During the lockdown I followed some pretty strict physical routines to keep in shape. We didn’t know when everything would return, so it was important to keep in good shape. Also, I train a lot with the bike as well to gain in endurance. Since I was able to get on a bike, I have been doing motocross and track work with a Kawasaki 400cc in karting. Although the sensations are not the same as the ones we have competing, it is a very demanding job as well as fun.”

SL: “From the beginning I focused a lot on doing shoulder rehabilitation work to gain mobility and flexibility. I combined it with my usual physical training routine. To work on cardio and endurance I did a lot of running, combining distances of 10km and half marathons, always trying to reduce my times. In the final stretch I started working with minibikes to test my shoulder and work on some aspects of braking. I also did off road to recover sensations like with throttle control, which sometimes is reduced if you are not riding for a long time. And of course, as far as I could, I jumped on the big bike to ride on longer tracks and recover sensations and speed.”And mentally? It will be a season in which there won’t be room for too many mistakes…

AF: “I haven’t done any particular work thinking about that, but I have become aware of the type of season we will be facing. There is no room for error, and we are already dragging the zero from Qatar. We will have to be very focused this season and above all keep control of our emotions.”

SL: “I haven’t changed anything and I won’t. During the lockdown I’ve continued to work with my psychologist as I usually do, and for the competition I’ll continue with the same approach as I have up to now. I think it’s the best thing to do. I feel very prepared.”Bearing in mind that you can’t ride your official race machinery, what are you going to focus on for final preparations?AF: “I will continue with my usual routine, bike or gym in the morning and train with the bike in the afternoon. We have already done a test with the team to recover sensations, reflexes and speed and there are a couple more planned before going to Jerez.”

SL: “I’ll work on trying to lose a kilo and be at my ideal weight for the race but other than that my physique is fine. I’ll focus on working well in the private tests that the team has planned so that, as well as strengthening my feeling, we can build that working relationship again with my crew.”What is your objective for the season? Is it still the same as it was in March?AF: “Yes. Our goal then was to fight for podiums every weekend and now it is still the same. We are going to give it our all to get into the fight for wins and the title.”

SL: “The goal has not changed. In a way this break has been good for me to get back in good shape. I feel that I have a second chance to go all out, so my goal is to be at the front regularly and to be able to bid for the title at the end of the season.”

3rd July 2020 0 comment