PRAMAC SENDS GUEVARA TO QATAR AS MOTO2 TITLE FIGHT TIGHTENS

Izan Guevara and Pramac will contest the Qatar Grand Prix after the Moto2 team chose to travel to Lusail, despite uncertainty following Yamaha’s decision to withdraw its MotoGP teams from the event. Pramac had the option to sit out, but Guevara’s position in the title fight made racing an important opportunity: he is just 3.5 points behind championship leader Manuel Gonzalez, with three rounds remaining.

“Every point matters,” Guevara said. Qatar has not previously brought him a podium, but he arrives in strong form, having finished on the podium four times in the past six races. He also said he likes the circuit and hopes this weekend will give him a chance to change his record there.

The track’s many fast corners will require an adjustment in riding style, Guevara noted. He is encouraged by the team’s recent work and by the fight he showed in Malaysia, where he battled through to the end of the race. “I’m looking forward to getting the weekend started and continuing to work in the same way we have been doing so far,” he said.

Pramac team manager Alex De Angelis acknowledged that Qatar was difficult for the squad last year, when Guevara and the team were not yet at their current level. He said their prospects have since changed substantially, pointing to Guevara’s steady progress from the middle of last season and his eventual victory in Valencia.

De Angelis believes the team has since shown it can be competitive at different circuits, in varied conditions and from different grid positions. That gives Pramac reason to expect a stronger showing in Qatar this time, he said. The priority, however, is to collect as many points as possible and avoid mistakes. De Angelis added that Guevara is good at managing the championship pressure and that the team will focus on every detail to provide him with the best possible package.