Brno, Czech Republic – 12 August 2015: Tito Rabat heads to this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno determined to reclaim second place in the championship standings, after missing out on a podium finish last time out in America.

The reigning World Champion was demoted to third in the standings by Alex Rins, who took his maiden Moto2 race win in the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Rabat now trails his fellow countryman by three points, with series leader Johann Zarco a further 71 points ahead. It is a gap that the Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider is keen to close this weekend at Brno, a track at which he dominated with pole position, a new circuit record and the win last season.

Álex Márquez heads to Brno looking to build on a solid performance in Indianapolis, where he claimed his third top ten finish of his rookie Moto2 season. The reigning Moto3 World Champion has targeted the podium in the second half of the season and will be looking to finish closer to the top five this weekend in the Czech Republic.

The Brno race promises to be a hot one, both on and off the track. The Czech Republic is currently enduring an extended heat wave, with temperatures predicted to rise to almost 40°C on all three days this weekend. But it’s not just the heat the two Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders will have to contend with, as the weather forecast is currently predicting a race day disrupted by thunderstorms.

Tito Rabat:
“We were strong in Indianapolis, but the rain on Sunday made a big change to the track conditions and we had to make a lot of changes to the set up of the bike for the race. For Brno I feel strong, I feel good, but the weather could play a big part once again this weekend. Fully wet or fully dry is good while mixed wet and dry conditions is not good for anyone, but we will see. My feeling is good with the bike and with the team, who’ve worked hard this season, so I hope to be up their fighting for the win in Brno.”

Álex Márquez:
“We went to Indianapolis knowing we couldn’t win the race, but we did make a step forward and that was important so we left there in a positive frame of mind. Brno is a really nice track on the Moto3 bike, one of my favourites, and I think it will remain so with the Moto2 bike. It’s a long lap with a lot of changes of direction so it will be physically demanding on the heavier Moto2 bike, especially with the hot weather that is predicted, but we’re prepared for that. In terms of a goal for the weekend; we need to continue working in the same way we did at Indianapolis, to find the next step.”