Gosselies, Belgium – 9 September: Just 17 points separates Tito Rabat and Mika Kallio at the top of the Moto2 World Championship standings and the two Marc VDS riders will go head-to-head once again at this weekend’s Grand Prix di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini at Misano.

Rabat, who has won half of the 12 races run so far this season, heads to Misano off the back of victories in Brno and Silverstone, but Kallio was second in both races and is keen to rediscover the form that saw him dominate proceedings to win in Indianapolis.

As the close racing between the two at Silverstone illustrated quite clearly, no quarter will be asked or given by Rabat or Kallio in the remaining six races. While this is great news for race fans, it may well mean Team Principal Michael Bartholemy will be sporting a few more grey hairs by the time the championship is brought to a conclusion in Valencia!

Misano is another new circuit for Moto3 rider Jorge Navarro, who endured two difficult weekends in Brno and Silverstone. However, the 18-year-old Spaniard will be looking to add to his points tally in Misano, after a confidence boosting second place in the CEV Moto3 round at Navarra aboard the Marc VDS Racing Team’s Kalex-KTM last weekend.

Tito Rabat:
“The win at Silverstone was important, because we won when others had a better set up than we did. We worked hard all weekend to improve the bike, but we were still a little way off compared to others when we lined up for the start. But now we need to focus on Misano, a different track, a different weekend and a different country. Our approach this weekend will be the same as always and the aim also remains the same; to go out on Sunday and win the race.” 

Mika Kallio:
“When the championship battle is this close it’s important that, when you can’t win, you finish on the podium and limit the damage. That’s what I’ve done the last two races, but I know I need to start finishing in front of Tito if I’m to close the points gap over the next few rounds. Misano is a more technical track than Silverstone, which will suit both our bike and our settings better, so it would be good to come away from there with a race win. We will have to see how the weekend works out, but that’s certainly the goal.”

Jorge Navarro:
“We made a big step forward with the Kalex-KTM during the Aragon test and at Navarra last weekend and I now have more confidence in the bike. We also know in which direction we need to continue working this weekend in Misano. The track is another new one for me, but we will work step-by-step during the practice sessions, I will try to adapt quickly to the track and I hope this will allow me to be closer to the front in Sunday’s race.”