The 2010 MotoGP season opener will be a celebration for one Rizla Suzuki rider, and a debut for another.
Loris Capirossi will celebrate his 300th Grand Prix start after lining up on the grid at Losail International Circuit in Qatar this weekend; the Italian currently holds the record for most Grand Prix starts. At Misano in 2008, after Capirossi raced his 277th GP event, he surpassed the record held by Alex Barros.
“The Qatar GP will see a big milestone in my career as I start my 300th race,” he said. “I never thought I would get to this many, but I have been lucky in my career and I have always given 100-percent and kept myself fit so that I have been able to stay at the top. I never really think about how many races I have been in, but this number is very special and I guess it will probably never happen for another rider.
“Anyway, once the race has started, my attitude will be the same as it was in 1990 - full gas and full attack! The race for the team is also important because we have to continue with the improvements and good direction that we found at the Qatar test last month. I know we have some work to do, but we are very close now and all the guys in the team and back in Japan have worked really hard. I hope we can challenge the fast guys more consistently this year.”
And as the No. 65 rider Capirossi celebrates a lengthy history, his teammate Alvaro Bautista will make his debut in the premier MotoGP class. But Bautista is no stranger to competitive racing –the Spaniard is a 125cc World Champion, and is confident in his machine for the upcoming 2010 18-race season.
“For me this is a very important weekend because it will be my first race in MotoGP,” the No. 19 rider said. “I have done ok in testing, but racing is a different thing. I still have very much to learn about the bike and about MotoGP because it is so different from 250, so I must keep focused and take everything as it comes.
“A target for this year would be to be Rookie of the Year, but that will be difficult because there are so many good riders and the racing will be close. I must learn step-by-step and not do anything stupid in the early races. I am really excited about my debut for Rizla Suzuki and just can't wait to get racing!”
The first race of the MotoGP season will be this Sunday, April 11, at Qatar.
