Danilo Petrucci (Tech 3 KTM) – the Italian hopes for an increase together with his fans. It is to be feared that his future is already hanging by a thread, while his team-mate Lecuona will certainly not be there next season.

Aprilia’s voices before the Grand Prix in Andalusia

Aleix Espargaró: “We are definitely coming into this weekend with a positive outlook. In the first three races we tackled two tracks, both special in their own way, but still showing that we have the pace to fight the best. Jerez is a very traditional route if you will. But the course is very versatile and therefore demanding. I felt good here in the winter tests, but now we will find different conditions and, above all, fierce rivals. We are not afraid of the challenge because we work well, and we need to keep growing.“
Lorenzo Savadori: “The points in Portimão are definitely an important point for my confidence. I’m still missing something to consistently achieve the points. This is an impressive championship, as are the rivals we face every weekend. My goal remains the same. I have to aim to narrow the gap behind both the best and my teammate. In each session we add another building block to learn more about the bike and the settings. It is important to continuously improve.”

Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) – the fast sunny boy from Granollers in the immediate vicinity of the Barcelona circuit at the Portuguese GP. Aleix crossed the finish line in front of both Marquez and was then completely ignored by most of the media. On the official MotoGP page there wasn’t a picture for the fans, but 6 of Valentino Rossi’s fall (© Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).

Honda in Jerez with five – and still some excuses before that?

In addition to the background noise before the Jerez Grand Prix, there were some that deeply confused MotoGP fans. While Repsol Honda stressed in their press release that Marc Marquez had seriously prepared himself in the fitness studio for his return to Jerez, others were spewing strange sounds. One portal is said to have even emphasized that he had given up training and that his doctors had given him a “driving ban”. Many observers hardly believe that the most successful pilot of the last decade really has what it takes. It reads like you need some excuses before even driving the first meter on the Circuito de Jerez. For this we are with the skeptics who simply claim that a true champion does not need this at all. Honda is now competing with five, because Bradl will drive with a wildcard. So here you go, it should be enough for a sack full of points, even without any previous over-the-top modesty!

Stefan Bradl Photographed by us in Jerez de la Frontera before the Jerez GP 2019 on the grid with the HRC Honda. With a tenth place, the German did a respectable job in his wildcard at the time. Hopefully at least he doesn’t need any excuses after Sunday afternoon.

Are we living in the year of excuses?
At KTM, too, some of them don’t seem to have understood what it’s all about. Pit Beirer is said to have recently been quoted as saying that the World Cup would begin in Jerez, in which case the sports director of the oranges could no longer be helped. Even KTM drivers apparently stated that they had received worse tires than the competition. If even one spark of that were true, it would be scandalous. The public is wondering more and more whether we will now experience the year of excuses in MotoGP. At least some teams, relevant media and drivers seem to be working towards this. The thing about Marquez is absolutely clear. If he is considered fit according to the Medical Commission, then he drives and accelerates. Just like on his comeback in Portugal. The rainbow press and public relations departments of the teams should then leave the assessment of his performance to the fans. Except for a few young people among them, they are absolutely mature.

Turn 3 in Jeren de la Frontera was photographed by us on a WorldSBK weekend in the WSSP Warm Up. Here Marc Marquez stumbled while in the lead in the first race of 2020 and then had to start a race to catch up while in P16. In pursuit of the Yamaha duo Quartararo and Viñales lying in front of him, he overdid it and fell spectacularly into the gravel with a highsider. His first race after that was the Portuguese GP in 2021 with 7th place.

What can the fans expect at the Jerez weekend?

From a sporting point of view, a few words are enough to answer the question asked at the beginning: A sensational amount of tension. From Friday, we will report on it daily in our live blog, as well as offer some reviews of what happened. We hope that we will not have to report any similar theatrical gestures by the Repsol Honda returnees as on his comeback in Portugal. There are several favorites from Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Honda, and there is even a secret favorite for the podium with Aleix at Aprilia. On the other hand, we won’t know whether KTM will catch up before qualifying.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) – The young Frenchman is bursting with self-confidence and, as a double winner from Jerez last year, is of course one of the top favorites at the upcoming Grand Prix in Andalusia.

Championship stand in all classes before the 4th round in Jerez de la Frontera

From left to right the World Championship stand of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 with some names that one would not have expected so far ahead before the start of the season, but supposed favorites very far behind.

Schedule and TV program Jerez Grand Prix

At the time of our publication there was an error on the official MotoGP website and the Q1 of Moto2 was given as a duration of 25 minutes, which is of course wrong. This has of course already been corrected in our timetable.

Unless otherwise stated, this applies to all images (© MotoGP).