Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider and current Moto2 Championship leader, Franco Morbidelli, heads to Austin for round three of the 2017 Moto2 World Championship keen to maintain his perfect score, after winning the opening two races of the season in spectacular style.

The 22-year-old Italian was victorious from pole position in Qatar and then held off a serious challenge from his Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS teammate, Álex Márquez, to make it two wins in as many races in Argentina.

COTA is a circuit at which the Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider has struggled in the past, but Morbidelli is confident of a strong result this weekend as he looks to extend his 14-point lead over Tom Lüthi in the Moto2 World Championship standings.

Márquez heads to the United States of America looking to make amends for Argentina, where he crashed out of the race on the final lap while battling for the win with his Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS teammate.

The 20-year-old Spaniard is determined to bounce back in Texas with a good result and he is confident that if he can find the same form in free practice and qualifying as in Argentina then, once again, he can challenge for his first race win in the ultra-competitive Moto2 class this weekend. 

Franco Morbidelli:
“It's been a good start to the season with two wins from as many races, but now we head to Texas and the Circuit of The Americas, which is a track I've struggled at a little in the past. But this season we head there with more confidence and the knowledge that if we work in the same was as in Qatar and Argentina then we cam come away with a good result. I'm 100% motivated to defend my lead in the championship and I'm ready for whatever the weekend ahead can throw at us.”

Álex Márquez:
“Last year I had problems with arm pump in the race at Austin, but this year things are different. We head to Texas looking once again to fight for the win, after the disappointment of missing out on the podium in Argentina because of a last lap crash. We know now how we need to work during the weekend to put us in the strongest position for the race, so we need to ensure we continue in this way. I just need to stay focussed, put in a good qualifying performance like at the first two races and then push again in the race on Sunday. I'm confident we can do a good job here.”