Danny Kent and Niklas Ajo head to Catalan Grand Prix confident of good showing, stuff following positive day of testing at Mugello.

The World Championship heads to Spain for the second time this season, for sale for round seven of the Moto3 campaign. Husqvarna riders Danny Kent and Niklas Ajo are prepared for the Catalan Grand Prix after undertaking a day of testing at Mugello last week, making an important step forward with their bike setups. Both begin the weekend in Barcelona with 27 points to their name in the overall standings.

The Italian Grand Prix weekend did not go as well as hoped for Danny Kent, but the Briton claimed a valuable point in the race. The subsequent day of testing on Tuesday was also valuable for the Red Bull Husqvarna Ajo man, who was half a second faster at Mugello than during the weekend. With a new setup, Kent hopes to continue adding points to his tally –as he has done at every race to date this season.

After the best performance of his World Championship career to date with fifth place in Italy, Niklas Ajo is keeping his feet on the ground and continues to work as hard as ever to repeat the result. Although it will be tough, as the Finn has not taken points from his last two visits to Catalonia, the Avant Tecno Husqvarna Ajo rider is confident of continuing his positive season and claiming a good result at one of his less favoured tracks.

The Catalan Grand Prix takes place this Sunday from 11am. However, work for the Husqvarna riders begins this Friday with the opening practice sessions.

Circuit information – Barcelona-Catalunya
Length: 4.727 m / 2.937 miles
Width: 12 metres
Left corners: 5
Right corners: 8
Longest straight: 1.047 m / 0.651 miles
Constructed: 1991
Modified: 1995

Danny Kent

“The Barcelona circuit is similar to Mugello, with a long straight and some long corners. It is a nice track, at which I have ridden for many years. It isn’t the best track for me, but I like the layout as it is fast. I have some good memories from there, because last year I took one of my best Moto2 results in Catalonia. I hope to repeat my good feeling this year. After the day of post-race testing in Italy, I think that we are more than ready. The aim has to be to work, work and work. That is the only way that we will obtain good results.”

Niklas Ajo

“The aim for the Catalan round has to be to work in the same way that we have been recently: Focused right from the first practice sessions. We have to do our own work, try to be consistent and find a good pace that helps us for the race. We want to keep in the leading group and fight to be as high up the order as possible –we won’t set ourselves limits. Fifth place in Italy was good for my confidence, but we need to keep our feet on the ground. I am happy and raring to go, but we need to work ever-harder. This isn’t one of my favourite tracks, but there have been other circuits that I don’t like so much this season which I have been able to adapt to this year. We shall see what happens this weekend.”