Pole Position for Alex Debon in the GP of Qatar, the first in his carreer.

Alex Debon got the pole position, for the first time in his carreer, in the GP of Qatar, the first race of the 2008 season. The Spanish rider of the Lotus Aprilia team was two tenths of a second faster then Hector Barbera and Alvaro Bautista, heading the grid with Spanish riders on first three places.

1st, ALEX DEBON
I couldnt think of a better way to start the season. Im very happy and I want to thank the team for their execellent work, here in Qatar as well as for their work in the whole pre-season. This allowed me to get the first pole position of my life. After two years of only competing some times getting the pole position is something great. The race is tomorrow and Im prepared for the battle, without forgetting we already have done something great.

THE NEW SEASON STARTS FOR THE LOTUS APRILIA TEAM

Alex Debón arrived in Qatar with a good set of mind to start the World Championships of 250cc. At the circuit of Losail (5.380 meter) the Spaniard starts the challenge of being the official rider of a bi-champion team, last two years with Jorge Lorenzo. Now, he wants to pay back the confidence the Lotus Aprilia team had in him.

Ales Debón already raced the circuit of Qatar twice. In 2004, the year of the first Grand Prix in the country, he finished at a deserved 8th place. The second time around he finished 11th, after that he hasn´t been back to Losail. In the pre-season training sessions Alex had some more than satisfactory results, above all, the last training day in Qatar he finished the session in fourth place (2´00.444), just two tenths of a second behind the pole. Reason enough to acknowledge that Debón´s comeback to the Persion track is at the height of his professional career. With his 31 years and riding the Aprilia RSA, which he developed himself the last two years, he expects to be in front during the race to make clear to everyone that the first podium of his career in Valencia last year, wasn´t a coincidence at all.

Alex Debón:
"I am facing the opportunity of my life. I am in a official team now and I´m going to try to live up to the confidence Dani Amatriain and the sponsors have given me, with all means. This is the result of so many years of work and dedication I have put in my career. I expect that all things go as we want them to go, so, I´m not going into the World Championships with anxiety or pressure, just with the wish to have fun and to aim at the highest possible. I am well aware that we can reach to great heights. The RSA, which I tested for the last two years, is very strong and gave a very good feeling for all the pre-season. At the moment, almost nobody takes us in count, above all, because I didn´t race every weekend the last two years. I think that, step by step, people will change their minds and take us in count on the bases of the results we are going to achieve.

Álex Debón ends the Valencia test sessions with the fastest time


Álex Debón, from Catellón (Spain), was the fastest in the last test session in the 250cc class. Debón, who won his first podium in the World Championships last November at this same circuit of Cheste, nearby Valencia, was 19 milliseconds faster then Finish rider Mika Kallio. Kallio was along the fastest pilots during the three day test session with his KTM. Behind them Julián Simón, also with KTM, was the leader of the group of Spanish drivers. He was followed by Bautista, Faubel, Barberá and Espargaró.

The 125cc and 250cc will now go to the circuit of Estoril to finish the test sessions of the pre-season before they go to the circuit of Jerez for the official IRTA test days which start the 17th of February.

GP Australia – Phillip Island
250cc Race

BAUTISTA WON HIS SEVENTH PODIUM OF THE YEAR.

A very good result for Álvaro Bautista. Bautista proved ones again that he is one of the strongest riders in his category. The rider from Talavera de la Reina had a good fight for the second place during the complete race. Mostly with Andrea Dovizioso, but also with riders like Luthi and Aoyama, Bautista became the winner of this battle. Racing for the first place was impossible for all of them from the start. Bautista knew when to fight his battles to get to the end of the race with some options left and to control the situation. This result is the seventh podium for the rider from the Master-Mapfre Aspar team in the 250cc category.

Álvaro Bautista: ´It has been a difficult race. The condicions were very difficult with a lot of wind. Lorenzo escaped from the start and it was impossible to get him. So we had to concentrate on the fight for second place. This was my objective. Everybody tried to pass me, while I was trying to go as fast as possible. In the last round Andrea got by me, I thought that I had to get him back before the beginning of the straight, because my bike was very fast. In the end I became second. The bike went very well, but it was difficult to drive it with the wind. But I´m pleased, especially because I´ve got a very good ´feeling´ this first year in the two-and-a-half. I hope it will go like this the coming two races´.

Next race in Malaysia, Sepang, 21st of Octobre.

GP of Portugal – Estoril
250cc Race

BAUTISTA CLAIMED AN IMPRESSIVE VICTORY IN ESTORIL

Last year, Álvaro Bautista won his first race on the RSA 125 in the GP of Portugal, this year he repeated the same in the 250. It was an incredible GP of Portugal, with the Master-Mapfre Aspar pilot starring. Finding himself in 12th position after the first lap, he was able to overtake everyone, finishing first with a lead over Andrea Dovizioso, who finished second, of more than 4 seconds. Right from the start Bautista imposed with a very strong rhythm, realizing up to 4 fastest laps in the first 10 laps of the race. From here on, he gained first place already, he continued his impressive race with another two fastest laps, setting a new lap record for the circuit. With these laps he took his distance from his rivals and went on to win the race. This being the second victory this year for Bautista, after Italy, confirms he is the revelation of the year, with a 4th place in the championship standings.

1st – Álvaro Bautista: I didn’t have a to good of a start. I passed the start line in 12th position after the first lap, but from here on I tried my very best to drive as strong as possible to recover as much positions as I could. In the end, when I was in 3rd position, I realized that the distance to Dovizioso and Lorenzo wasn’t getting smaller, so I gave a hundred percent; I didn’t have anything to lose so I just went for them. I had a very good rhythm and I was able to catch them and to pass them. I saw that my rhythm was very good, a bit faster than theirs, and again went for it. I felt very comfortable on the bike during the complete race. It was the first time this year I was riding the bike with the ease like I was riding a 125. I’m very happy; because last year I won with the new RSA 125 on this same circuit and now I repeated winning with this new bike. Aprilia is doing very well, like my team. Thanks to all my sponsors, all the people who follow the races, all the people who came to Estoril and my family .

The sensational victory of Álvaro Bautista at Mugello gives way to the launch of the new Spyder III R, Álvaro Bautista Replica.

1st – Álvaro Bautista: I’m very pleased with my first win. I already said my goal this year is to learn, and I’ll continue to do so. But I knew also we did a great job and that this could happen any moment. Yesterday I won my first pole, today my first race. I believe this weekend has been perfect for me. About the manoeuvre in the last lap, I saw that Alex stayed in first place and I was very strong. I knew I really wanted to win this race and that I couldn’t ease off. I tried to pass Lorenzo and went through with it. When we got to the end of the corner, we touched each other. I think it’s a normal race accident in a last lap and that these things happen all the time. About De Angelis, we entered the straight side by side. My bike was a bit faster then his, and that’s what made me win

Next race: Grand Prix of Catalunya, Montmélo Circuit, 10th of June.

New Spyder III R, Álvaro Bautista replica

Now in production: the first helmets of this newborn winner are available in shops at the end of this month.

With characteristics of a proven race helmet and details like:
- Buttons to fit tear-off films
- Temperature regulating microfiber interior (Outlast) and microfiber anti-sweat interior (Dry Fast Dry)
- Possible blocking of the shield
- Double D-rings fastening system
- Completely detachable and washable interior
- Anti-mist shield
- Very effective and easy to use ventilation system
- Shell made of carbonfiber with chrome finish

The new Spyder III has become the reference in its category, getting very good critics in comparing magazine articles. You already know about its first win in the Motorcycle World Championships.

With outstanding functions and the best looks, the Spyder III starts ahead of the competition. Furthermore, the first issues of the helmet are accompanied by a specific promotional action, you’ll hear about that soon.

Circuit of Le Mans. 20th of May, 2007.

FANTASTIC SECOND PLACE FOR BAUTISTA

Alvaro Bautista has surprised once again in his 4th race of 250c.c.. . Bautista has recovered after initial problems when the race has started. Lap to lap Bautista has overpassed up to nine riders and has scored the third podium of his carrer of 250c.c. The second place of Bautista has been gort by fighting very hard body to body to Dovizioso.?

2º - Álvaro Bautista: “I knew that my rithm was good but, during first lap the engine has stopped for a while and I thought that the race was finished for me. Suddenly the engine has restarted and the fight against a lot of riders has started. I say fight because everybody was breaking very well today and it has taken me a lot to be in front of the second group. The podium was to far. I have gone to look for my limit but Lorenzo was scaping then and I was not sure to catch De Angelis and Dovizioso. Anyway, I have concentrated on racing as quick as possible and I have overpassed Dovizioso and I have trided to scape. Dovizioso and me have touched in the last curve and I have got the second place. All podiums give me satisfaction. maybe this is a little better for me because I never expected to be there after initial problems”. Next race Grand Prix of France.