Kuwata: "We will try to fight for the podium or victory in the next race!"
Tetsuhiro Kuwata outlines Team HRC’s goals following its first podium of the year at MotorLand Aragon
MotorLand Aragon has been a happy hunting ground for Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) since he moved to MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. In 2019, he claimed three victories at the circuit while in 2020, following his switch from Ducati to Honda, he claimed the team’s first podium since 2016 with third place in Race 2 at the Prosecco DOC Aragon Round.
Bautista had shown pace throughout the weekend before issues on Friday meant he missed out on a lot of running during Free Practice 2, only completing shakedown laps. This put him on the back foot, but a strong Tissot Superpole Race meant he started fourth for Race 2 before he was able to move up one place to finish in third.
Reacting to Team HRC’s first podium of 2020, Tetsuhiro Kuwata (Team HRC – Director and General Manager of the Race Operations Division) said: “I have to say to thank you to everyone that has been involved in the project. This is our first podium since 2016 but this is a step. Our target is assured, it’s the top step of the podium. We will continue to work hard to achieve that target. Our target is always to take victory in the races. We will try to fight for the podium or victory in the next race.”
Bautista’s previous success at MotorLand Aragon combined with Team HRC’s pace shown at the Aragon Round, hopes will be high as WorldSBK stays at Aragon for the Pirelli Teruel Round for back-to-back race weekends at MotorLand Aragon. If Friday’s issues do not repeat themselves and the team does not lose out on running times, there is no reason why Team HRC cannot challenge for podiums once again.
You can follow the Pirelli Teruel Round using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
