Jack Miller arrives at the Grand Prix of Spain this weekend as Moto3 World Championship leader. Karel Hanika aims to bounce back from last race with a good performance at a familiar circuit.

After rounds in Qatar, the USA and Argentina, the World Championship travels to Europe to begin a series of six Grands Prix in the continent. The first will be this weekend in Jerez (Spain), where Jack Miller will defend the leadership of the Moto3 class -after scoring two wins and a third place from the three events so far. His Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate, Karel Hanika, will look to add points to his tally after failing to complete the race last weekend in Argentina .

Miller was disappointed to be denied a third race win by contact from a rival rider on the penultimate corner of the Argentinean GP. Nevertheless, the Australian managed to place on the podium and complete the best start to a campaign of a Moto3 rider, with 66 points. At Jerez he will try to keep up his podium form and also claim a third consecutive pole position. In preseason he was fastest in each of the two weeks of testing at the Spanish track.

Also magnificent in testing at Jerez in preseason was Karel Hanika who, on his first kilometres with his KTM, was fourth fastest in the first IRTA test and third on the final week of action. The Czech rider is positive about his maiden World Championship event at the track and expects to bounce back from a DNF at the last round.

This will be the first of four events held in Spain this season. The schedule will be the regular one used in Europe, with the first free practice session on Friday and the fourth race of the year taking place at 11:00am local time on Sunday.

Circuit information – Jerez
Length: 4.423 m / 2.748 miles
Width: 11 metres
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 8
Longest straight: 607 m / 0.377 miles
Constructed: 1986
Modified: 2002

Jack Miller,
“Although not even a week has passed since the last race, I can’t wait to get back on the KTM at Jerez. During the last two weeks of preseason testing we were fast and very consistent there throughout and I think we have a base for a good set up for the Grand Prix. I look forward to racing in front of the Spanish fans, it’s always special. Also to try and get in front in the race, with so many fans watching on. We’ll see how it goes, but I hope to repeat and improve a great weekend like the past.”

Karel Hanika,
“I’m looking forward to the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. It’s a track where we rode a lot in preseason. I believe that, more than ever, it will be a very tight weekend and race, because every rider knows every centimetre of the track. Regarding last week, we have to improve in qualifying. If I manage to qualify further up the grid, I think we can be up in the first group. This is undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited races at the start of the season.”