Pata Yamaha Expands Identity as European Season Begins at Aragon

Excited by the prospect of racing their WorldSBK-spec YZF-R1’s on European soil for the first time, Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team’s Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli are looking forward to round three of the 2016 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Motorland Aragon this weekend. Swelling the Pata Yamaha ranks further, Lowes and Guintoli will also be joined for the first time by FIM Superstock1000 Cup representatives Florian Marino and Riccardo Russo as the European season gets into full swing at the Spanish circuit.

Built in the heart of the historic street-racing area of Alcaniz, 100km from the region’s capital of Zaragoza, Motorland Aragon is a blend of sport, culture and technology. Opened in 2009, the Herman Tilke designed track can be utilised in numerous configurations, with the WorldSBK Championship competing on the 5,077m FIM-homologated circuit which runs anticlockwise throughout its undulating 17-corner layout.

Buoyed by his points-scoring finishes in each of the first four races, Frenchman Guintoli is eager to continue the development work undertaken already in the year’s opening quarter. With progress already made and updates continuing race-by-race, Lowes is just as impatient to get back to work and put his turbulent start behind him with a good showing at the Spanish circuit.

The Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team commences track action at 10:15 local time on Friday 1st April for the first of the day’s two, hour-long free practice sessions, while lights go out for the two 18-lap races at 13:00 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Sylvain Guintoli
Championship: 5th / 40 points

“After a solid start to 2016 in Australia and Thailand, I am looking forward to carrying on the development of the World Superbike YZF-R1 as the season really kicks in with the European rounds. We have some new parts to try in Aragon as well as continuing the work already started with the electronics strategies. So it will be back to work as normal on Friday morning.”

Alex Lowes
Championship: 14th / 12 points

“I’m looking forward to getting back out on the YZF-R1 at Aragon this week. The team have been working hard on development since the Thai races so I’m looking to close the gap on the guys in front. I’m anxious to see how quickly we can improve and take the next steps in the project and push hard for our first podium of the year as we move into Europe.”

Source: www.motorcycledaily.com