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2017/10/19 - Australian GP / Preview

#AustralianGP: DOMINIQUE AEGERTER HEADS WITH NO REST TO DOWN UNDER

DOMINIQUE AEGERTER HEADS WITH NO REST TO DOWN UNDER

After last Sunday’s soaked Motegi race, the 27-year-old Swiss rider and his team Kiefer Racing continued their flyaway trip to the next destination at Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix.

The barely four-weeks trip with three races in Asia and Australia every year in October is nothing new on the calendar. All teams and riders already know the travel stress, even if the journey goes to the other end of the world for the Australian round. But this event within the picturesque landscape of Phillip Island enjoys the highest popularity among all participants.

Dominique Aegerter knows the ultrafast circuit surrounded by a wildlife park like his vest pocket even if he was not able to make the long-haul trip to Down Under in the last two years. After the race under that pouring rain last Sunday in Japan, the 27-year-old Swiss rider hopes for better conditions this weekend as the Island particularly is well-known for its steadily changing weather. Aegerter particularly names the very gusty wind coming from the close ocean as annoying.

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit located at the island of the same name about 150 km in the south of Melbourne is since 1997 the home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. At the 4,4 kilometres long track, one of the highest average speeds are achieved throughout the season. With a width of 13 meters, it can therefore be very narrow at some places. Due to the big time-difference with nine hours to Europe, the weekend’s schedule contains some major changes. On days of practice, all on-track action starts with a one-hour delay than usual whilst the 16th Moto2™ points haul will be started with two hours delays which means at 2:20 pm local time this Sunday. However, an unusually early wake-up call is nevertheless required.

#77 Dominique AEGERTER (Kiefer Racing, Suter MMX2), Championship position 11th (74 points):

"After two years, it is also a return to Australia for me. My first track sighting showed that there is obviously nothing changed with the conditions out there and its nature. This circuit, of course, is one of the fastest in the calendar. But in this respect, the wind causes problems at some places. In some fast corners, the wind pushes under the bike so this means that you have to be very careful in such situations. But otherwise, Phillip Island is such a hot track and I also like the entire location at this small but beautiful island. We enjoyed nice weather in the last days but for the weekend, it should change and like in the past it should appear very changeable with rainy and windy conditions. Therefore, we can adjust ourselves to typical conditions for this region here though in terms of temperatures, which should not be too hot and also not too cold, it would be perfect for our bike."

Moto2™ Time Schedule Australian GP (CET):
Friday, 20 October: 02:55 - 03:40 FP1
Friday, 20 October: 07:05 - 07:50 FP2
Saturday, 21 October: 03:55 - 04:40 FP3
Saturday, 21 October: 02:05 - 02:50 QP
Sunday, 22 October: 02:40 - 03:00 Warm-Up
Sunday, 22 October 05:20 Race (25 Laps - 111.2 km)

Facts Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit:
First time venue of the Australian GP: 1989
Length: 4.448 Meter
Width: 13 Meter
Longest straight: 900 Meter
Left corners: 7
Right corners: 5
Best Moto2™ Pole-Position: 1´32.470 (2014)
Moto2™ Circuit Lap Record: 1´32.814 (2013)

Moto2™ World Standings:
1 Franco MORBIDELLI / ITA / KALEX / 256
2 Thomas LÜTHI / SWI / KALEX / 237
3 Alex MARQUEZ / SPA / KALEX / 180
4 Miguel OLIVEIRA / POR / KTM / 166
5 Francesco BAGNAIA / ITA / KALEX / 146
6 Mattia PASINI / ITA / KALEX / 135
7 Takaaki NAKAGAMI / JPN / KALEX / 128
8 Simone CORSI / ITA / Speed Up / 96
9 Hafizc SYAHRIN / MAL / KALEX / 86
10 Xavi VIERGE / SPA / Tech 3 / 79
11 Dominique AEGERTER / SWI / Kiefer Racing / Suter MMX2 / 74
12 Brad BINDER / RSA / KTM / 69
13 Jorge NAVARRO / SPA / KALEX / 60
14 Luca MARINI / ITA / KALEX / 59
15 Lorenzo BALDASSARRI / ITA / KALEX / 48