Leonard Smith is at the Pramac Australian MotoGP and was on hand for festivities including Jack Miller’s announcement. Enjoy the news and day 1 photo gallery.
Photos by Leonard Smith
The Official Press Conference to kick off the Pramac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, round 16 of the 2015 MotoGP™ World Championship, took place on Thursday at the historic Phillip Island circuit.
The two men battling it out for the title, Movistar Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, were joined by Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Jack Miller (LCR Honda) and Moto3™ championship leader Danny Kent (Leopard Racing).
“Eighteen points can be a good advantage but it can also become a very small advantage. We have three races but now we have this track that I like very much. It’s always a good result and great memories here in the past but as always all the rivals are very strong, especially Jorge who is very fast here. From tomorrow morning will start another battle and the practice will be important to arrive ready for the race on Sunday.”
Valentino Rossi
“Obviously now it comes to the final three races in the championship and we must win a lot if we want to recover the points and have the chance in Valencia to be World Champion. The championship is the goal we have, but we are not very focused on the result just to keep working in the same way on the bike, on the setting and on my riding and if we keep working like that we are going to be fast and consistent. This is our goal from tomorrow.”
Jorge Lorenzo
“Next year we’ll be campaigning with the Marc VDS squad and I’m looking forward to starting my next chapter in MotoGP with them. The bike looks awesome and the package those guys have put together looks really awesome. To see them in their first year in the championship is good. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone including Lucio from LCR Honda, they’ve put together a good squad for me and it’s a real shame we’ve had to cut it short but I thank them for all the support and look forward to the next chapter of my GP career.”
Jack Miller
“We’re still working a lot to try to improve the bike. This weekend will be very important for us as it’s a completely different track and difficult to find the right set up to manage the tyre and be fast in these difficult conditions. Lots of wind and long corners with a lot of slides but my feeling improved a little last race so I hope to be fast here.”
Andrea Dovizioso
“Yeah you know in Japan there was a chance to win the championship but we needed a lot of luck to come our way. Coming into this weekend the chances of winning the World Championship is a lot more possible for me to do. Motivation is high and we’re looking forward to it.”
Danny Kent
A number of stars from the paddock got to meet some indigenous wildlife ahead of the Pramac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
On Thursday morning Australian Rules Football Ambassador Travis Cloke was joined by Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac Racing), Nicky Hayden (Aspar MotoGP Team), Anthony West (QMMF Racing Team), Romano Fenati (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Danny Kent (Leopard Racing) as they got up close and personal with some Australian wildlife. The riders got to hang out with a host of indigenous animals, including Koalas, kangaroos and dingo’s at the Maru Koala & Animal Park in Victoria, having fun and making some friends along the way.
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