Yamaha factory’s Massimo Meregalli, Wilco Zeelenberg content with season finale results – MotoGP
Yamaha Factory Racing’s Team Director Massimo Meregalli and Team Manager Wilco Zeelenberg were pleased with the results earned at the MotoGP season finale at Valencia, Spain.
The team officials praised the hard work done by factory team rider Ben Spies. Especially the last part of the race was a scene of pure struggle for the win under wet conditions.
Zeelenberg also praised the effort made by factory’s test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga. The Japanese test rider replaced the team rider Jorge Lorenzo due to recovery from injury and following surgery.
Yamaha Team Manager, Zeelenberg said, “That was a very surprising race but very exciting as well! We are very happy with the results; Nakasuga-san’s sixth position is fantastic. 30 laps in dry and wet conditions are very difficult when you have to push.
To finish in front of regular GP riders is very good.”
The team manager further added that taking a podium finish between two strong competitors was brilliant. The Honda RC212V has dominated the whole season.
Spies encountered the strong Honda with a courageous performance in the rain. Though Spies took podium place, but it was a disappointment to be passed so close to the finish line.
Season’s final race weekend was a great outing for the factory team with positive results. Now the team will focus on the 2012 season.
The preparations were underway during the 2011 season, but now there is no stress to concentrate on the races.
Meregalli was stunned and pleased to see the stunning performance delivered by the factory rider. After having a tough couple of outings at Phillip Island and Sepang, it was a great comeback by Spies.
Yamaha Team Director, Meregalli said, “What a race! For sure it was a really difficult one. Ben did a fantastic job; his reactions to everything on track were great. Unfortunately we lost the race for just 0.015 seconds. It’s very important to me how we
finished the Championship and this is a very good starting point for next season.”
Factory’s other rider Jorge Lorenzo was injured during the QP session at Phillip Island and missed the Australian and Malaysian GP.
In both races, he was replaced by Nakasuga. The Japanese rider was able to perform well at the Ricardo Tormo circuit and took sixth place across the finish line.
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