In what is considered to be his home race of the MotoGP season, Yonny Hernandez spoke in the pre-race press conference ahead of the second round in Argentina.
The Columbian moved to the Aspar Team from the Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Ducati who he rode for the previous season. He did not finish the Argentinian round in 2015 due to his bike going on fire; he previously finished twelfth when the MotoGP first came to Argentina in 2014. Despite changing teams Hernandez has remained on the Ducati meaning he is familiar with the bike for this year and feeling confident as a result of it.
Michelin are the new tyre manufacturers for this year and this appears to be at the forefront of most riders’ thoughts. Hernandez said, “It’s difficult to explain now, the front tyre is the most difficult thing. You can put the same tyre with the same specification but sometimes it looks different. It’s strange but I think Michelin need some more time. But the improvement from Malaysia to now is big. I hope that during the season Michelin make a really good job to give us good tyres with some more feeling and some less crashes.”
Hernandez is hoping to finish in the top twelve; the aim is top ten and anything higher he described as ‘perfect’. He finished fourteenth overall last year. He took to the streets of Buenos Aires on street bikes with the Espargaro brothers, Pol and Aleix, a police escort and approximately forty other riders in tow. They began their tour at ‘La Biela’, a local café, before touring the city and ending up at ‘La Bombonera’ which is the home of the Boca Juniors Football Club.
Twitter: Setting off through the streets of Buenos Aires!
#YH68 #AE41 #PE44
#ArgentinaGP
https://t.co/Mlb5YuFXhl (@MotoGP)
“For me it’s like racing at home; it’s a lot of fans and people here wishing me well and to do a good race. It’s special to race here because it’s my race as a Latin American. It’s amazing to represent my country here and in MotoGP. I hope to work with my bike here for good points. I think the fans are growing especially in Columbia and here. When I come here all the people know me. When we went with Pol in Buenos Aires everyone was looking, it’s strange but good!”
Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider pol Espargaro was also present at the press conference as he is currently the top independent rider in the class after finishing seventh in Qatar; he felt he did not start well and the time lost at the start meant he missed out on finishing higher. Espargaro said, “It’s important to take points and to be the first satellite bike. We have to make our job like in Qatar, but for sure we have to improve a little especially at the start because I wasn’t really powerful there. Looking forward to the weekend.”
Twitter: Hola Argentina! Ready to rock and roll?! @polespargaro is! #LetsDoThis! #ArgentinaGP #BurningRubber https://t.co/1lHIyt9Gki (@Tech3Racing)
Speaking about his jaunt around Buenos Aires he said, “It’s amazing! We did some laps in Buenos Aires and it was funny, but to finish in the Boca Juniors was unbelievable because of the history you have. It was a new experience! I never expected to go in the middle of the stadium with motorbikes but we did and it was fantastic; and a great thing to do with my brother who is a football hooligan!”
Twitter: Brutal la visita de hoy a uno de los estadios mas miticos del mundo, la Bombonera!! Gracias a… https://t.co/80O2ptdbNV (@AleixEspargaro
