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Lundberg: the level in Moto3 has never been so high

Mir's crew chief speaks out: "Joan, Fenati, Canet and Martin are setting the championship's pace. The key is the last lap"

Moto3: Lundberg: the level in Moto3 has never been so high

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During the first part of the season, the Moto3 championship has had only one star: Joan Mir. The team Leopard rider has won 5 of 9 races and leads in the standings, 37 points ahead of Fenati. His Technical Director, Christian Lundberg, reviews the season so far.

What conclusions can you draw from the first part of the season?

"Next week we will start from where we left off.  The victory at the Sachsenring was a morale boost, but above all it must be a stimulus to improve our performance in the second part of the Championship. We've seen that there is a fine line between the win and the lower Top 10 spots, it's all down to the last lap."

What is the atmosphere like inside the garage?

"We have a competitive spirit but are now more focused. We have to analyse how we were able to succeed in those five races, but also look at how we have thrown away precious points in the other four. Why, despite having won more than half of the races and being the only ones to have always finished in the points zone, do we "only"  have a 37-point lead? Above all we have to understand why in races like Austin, Mugello or Assen, we have not even managed to reach the Top 5."

Back to work with the Czech Republic/Austria double-header...

"Brno is a track that historically has always been tough for our Team, while Spielberg, Misano and Aragon are among Mir's favorite tracks so that fills us with confidence. We are looking forward for a good result in the Czech Republic, which would serve as motivation for the rest of the season. Some of our rivals have tested at the Brno track, which gives them a small advantage, a factor which must be taken into consideration."

Who do you see among the favorites for the final sprint?

"Our direct rivals are Fenati, Canet and Martin (although the latter suffered a crash at the Sachsenring). Together with Joan, they are the real protagonists of Moto3, These guys are impressive this season, with a speed that we have hardly seen in previous seasons."

Will there be other variables to consider?

"This year we have not really raced in the wet, we'll see what will happen in the remaining nine rounds of 2017: Brno and Silverstone for example, could be two events where wet conditions could reshuffle the cards on the table and affect the result, presenting a more complicated scenario than expected. But we have also worked hard on this aspect during free practice and qualifying and Joan's speed has improved: we hope to manage the situation as best we can. It is important that both Joan and the other Moto3 players have already clarified their plans for next season, whether moving to the Moto2 class or renewing with their respective teams. This means that there is no uncertainty, that the Championship remains solid and focused, with no "loose cannons" wanting to prove their potential at all costs, which could be dangerous for those fighting for the world title."

Translated by Heather Watson
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