Ben Spies just won his first career MotoGP victory and the Yamaha rider is eager to get back to the track. Spies will get his chance this weekend as the Yamaha team heads to their home track at Mugello.
“These few days off seem to have taken forever, when you finish a race like Assen you just want to get straight back in and try to do it again,” Spies said. “My first GP victory still hasn’t sunk in properly. It was pretty special for me to be able to do it at such a legendary circuit (Assen) and at this unique time in Yamaha’s history. The red and white livery definitely bought me luck! I’m looking forward to Mugello, the track has apparently got a new surface with lots of grip so it should be pretty good for the bike and pretty exciting for the fans.”
The Yamaha team’s headquarters are just a few hours from the Mugello circuit, and although Spies is a long way from home, he should be getting a very warm welcome when he hops on his motorcycle this weekend.
Jorge Lorenzo should also feel right at home on the Tuscan track. Lorenzo has one win at Mugello in the 250cc class. The 2010 MotoGP champion took second place in both of his premier class visits to the track.
Lorenzo didn’t get the points he wanted at Assen, but his performance was still impressive. Lorenzo crashed during the race at Assen, but was able to pick up his bike and finish in 6th place.
"We are going to Mugello, no time to rest and think about what happened last Saturday,” Lorenzo said. “The team did a great job and I believe the bike now can be better, making a step ahead. We have to be positive after all! Mugello is a track I like so much, maybe one of the most beautiful around the world, my favorite with Phillip Island. This track is full of chicanes and this year there is new asphalt! I've never won in MotoGP, but we will try to be there and give a show to all our fans. Also I hope the weather changes after the previous races, summer has arrived."
The Mugello track is considered one of the fastest circuits in the world. The track features a straight that is longer than a kilometer (.6 miles) long, giving the MotoGP riders time to push their bikes to more than 200 mph.
