Monster Yamaha Tech3 team riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith head straight to Phillip Island for the second consecutive flyaway race at the Tissot Australian Grand Prix this weekend. Having challenged the stop and go Twin Ring Motegi circuit on Sunday, the riders now look towards round 16 of the MotoGP World Championship fully prepared as they both aim to fight for another top 6 battle.

The Phillip Island circuit is located 140 kilometres from Melbourne and has a deep and thoroughly rich history in motorsport. The highly regarded 4448 metre track was constructed in 1956 and became a permanent fixture in the MotoGP calendar from 1997 onwards. It’s meandering and high speed nature consists of seven left corners and five right, with a longest straight of 900 metres. The spectacular track is a firm favourite for both riders and fans, which continually guarantees highly entertaining race action.

Pol Espargaro will be looking to ride the flowing curves of the Australian circuit to success this weekend having had a superb record in recent years by winning the Moto2 race twice in succession. The rookie will be aiming to utilise the speedy track with his Yamaha YZR-M1 to challenge as the leading satellite bike once again. Whilst, British star Bradley Smith, intends to undertake another hard fought plus successful battle in Australia and up his level from Motegi to confidently contest in the top six in the 27 lap sprint on Sunday.

Pol Espargaro - Championship : 7th Points : 116

"I am very much looking forward to the Tissot Australian Grand Prix as it really is one of my favourite events on the calendar and I am keen to see what I can do on the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike. I’ve always enjoyed this track and have won twice here in back to back seasons, with last year having been my best race so far. With regards to the circuit itself, I liked it even more when it was bumpier before they resurfaced it, but it’s still fantastic and always fun to come down Lukey heights at full speed! Even though the wind and the conditions can be troublesome, it all adds to the experience of Phillip Island which is truly unique and unlike any other circuit we go to. I love everything about this GP: the track, the location, the scenery and Australia in general. All of that makes it a great event with a super fan base. It feels like a fifth home race for me so I really can’t wait to get going!"

Bradley Smith - Championship : 10th Points : 92

"There’s not much rest for us as we are now going to Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix. I am feeling optimistic for this upcoming race as I really enjoyed riding there last year aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1. However, we have to stay grounded and be a bit cautious of our hopes and expectations because the factory teams were testing there at the beginning of the year, so they will have the upper hand and more data than the rest of us. In general, the track suits the nature of the Yamaha, it’s fast and flowing with not so many hard braking points, therefore, I am sure we can have a strong run here. We have made some good steps forward recently with the bike as well as my riding style so it will be interesting to see the comparison to last year and the level of progression we have made. In addition, I am very happy to be racing three consecutive weekends as I won’t be at home just waiting for the next race to come. It means we, as riders, don’t go stale and remain sharp plus are totally ready for the action."

Hervé Poncharal - Team manager :

"This week we return to the superb Phillip Island circuit for the second of the three flyaway races which will always hold a special place in our hearts. In 2000, Olivier Jacque won the 250cc title for Tech3 in what was a truly memorable event for us all. We have high hopes for this race and it will be great to get to a fluid and fast flowing high speed track again. Pol has a really strong record at Phillip Island and he seems to like the style of this track so we are excited to see what he will be able to do on the Yamaha. Realistically, we expect him to be battling for the top five. As for Bradley who did a convincing job by trying his best in Motegi, we have a good feeling for him as he enjoyed the track last year. This, twinned with the characteristics of the Yamaha suiting the circuit, makes us believe that he will be close to the top five with his team mate and challenging for the position of the leading satellite bike. It is a circuit which always ensures some fantastic racing and it is right next to the ocean making it a special one, so we can’t wait to start and up the ante this weekend in Australia."

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