The Algarve rider Miguel Praia debuted this Sunday in the biggest class of the Brazilian speed championship, the Moto 1000GP category, at the Interlagos track, in São Paulo (Brazil), reaching 9th place and thus managing to score.
In a starting grid where the best Brazilian values and some foreign riders of international renown appeared, the driver from Albufeira felt some difficulties with a completely unknown motorcycle and without any preparation to face the better prepared machines used by the competition.
«With the arrival of the bike very close to the start of the championship, my CRB 1000RR was not prepared in any way and I started training with a bike that shows a difference of about two dozen maximum horsepower compared to my opponents . Electronics are also of origin and little could be done for this first race. Without timely preparation, on a track that many of the riders know well, the objective was to score», explained Miguel Praia.
Miguel Praia tuned his Honda in the best possible way for this first race, but in practice it was immediately clear that it was impossible to get better with the bike in a basic preparation stage.
At the end of practice he took the 13th time, just over two seconds off the best time set by former Moto GP rider Alexandre Barros.
Praia knew, therefore, that the race would be very difficult, but after a lot of work in the practice sessions and, thanks to the team's commitment, the bike was well balanced in terms of chassis and suspensions, to face a race where clearly the goal of scoring was the main thing.
And that was exactly what the Center Moto rider did, securing at the end of this first race of the year, the 9th final position. after managing to gain positions. along the 15 laps of the São Paulo route with 4.309 meters in perimeter.
Miguel Praia even lost places at the beginning, but in the eighth lap he settled in ninth position, which he maintained until the end, to add the first seven points of the season.
“I have to consider this result as positive. This was the start of a new season and we started from scratch, but the team was committed to helping me get the best solution for the bike and they did everything they could to help me», said the Portuguese rider.
“In the next race, we will be better, because the bike will undergo improvements in terms of engine and electronics, as well as a slimming cure to make it more balanced against more powerful and better prepared bikes. We left here with seven points that could be important at the end of the season».
Alexandre Barroa won this first race of the season, ahead of his teammate Luciano Ripodino and Diego Faustino. The next race will take place on May 26 at the Curitiba circuit and, with the Honda CBR 1000RR renewed and strengthened, Miguel Praia will be able to walk closer to first place.
Comments