After a successful test in Valencia last weekend, both Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders get their third opportunity of 2018 to taste home success when the Moto2 World Championship arrives at MotorLand Aragon near the historic town of Alcañiz.

Joan Mir is looking to take his challenge for a top three overall finish in the 2018 Moto2 World Championship up a gear when he heads to the MotorLand Aragon track with high expectations this weekend.

Just 26-points cover eight riders in a fascinating battle for third in the standings with six rounds remaining, and Mir is firmly in contention after his aggressive charge through from 10th on the grid to fifth place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli earlier this month.

The reigning Moto3 World Champion is fifth in the current rankings but just five-points adrift of Brad Binder in third, and he is keen to slash that deficit in the last European round for almost two months ahead of a grueling global tour to Thailand, Japan, Australia and Malaysia.

Mir will draw strength from his dazzling ride to victory at MotorLand Aragon one year ago in an epic Moto3 tussle when he fended off the constant challenge from Fabio di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini to take a decisive win.

Alex Marquez is hoping the MotorLand Aragon track provides him with some home comfort after his luck deserted him again at the previous round in San Marino.

Confident he could fight his way into podium contention at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, his efforts were cruelly undone when contact from another rider saw him crash in the early stages.

Marquez then demonstrated great tenacity to charge his way back through the field to finish in 18th position from 32nd, and the speed displayed in his Misano rescue ride bodes well for a powerful attack on the podium this weekend.

Marquez is sure to get a vociferous reception from an impassioned home crowd who witnessed a memorable moment in his career back in 2016 when he rode to a maiden Moto2 podium in second place.

Mir and Marquez take to the track for FP1 on Friday morning at 1055am local time and their 21-lap race is due to get underway at 1220pm on Sunday afternoon.

Joan Mir: 5th in the overall standings on 114-points

“After the positive test in Valencia I can’t wait to go Aragon and be there as soon as possible. It is a track I have always been strong at in the past and made really good results there, so I hope that continues this weekend.”

Alex Marquez: 6th in the overall standings on 113-points

“I am going to Aragon 100% motivated to make a good result in front of all the Spanish fans. I have huge support there too from my fan club, so it is always a special weekend for me. I love the Aragon track and I can’t wait to get back on the bike after the Valencia test last weekend where we gained some good information. I want to make a lot of laps to be as best prepared for the race as possible to get a great result for all my fans.”

Track facts / MotorLand Aragon (Alcañiz, Spain)

Length: 3.155 miles
Width: 49.21 ft.
Corners: 10 (left) + 7 (right)
Longest straight: 3175.85 ft.
Moto2 Race: 21 laps (66.2 miles)
Best pole: Tito Rabat (1:52.232 – 2015)
Circuit record: Alex Rins (1:52.767 – 2015)
Top speed: Takaaki Nakagami (177.7 mph – 2012)
2017 race winner: Franco Morbidelli (40:00.904)