Repsol YPF

After the long winter break the Repsol Moto3 riders, Álex Márquez, Miguel Oliveira and Maverick Viñales, have had a chance to get on their new bikes for the first time this year at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. In spite of the low temperature the young Repsol team members were able to get out onto the track and get some experience under their belts on the first of three days of practice.

Maverick Viñales and Repsol have joined forces in 2012. The best rookie of 2011 will race in Moto3 defending the colours of the Spanish energy company the coming season. Viñales is from Roses (Girona), is 17 and joins the select group of riders sponsored by the energy giant in World MotoGP.

After winning the world title in his first year with the Repsol Honda Team, the reigning World Champion is now ready to tackle the new season, one that is full of novelties, in both the professional and personal spheres. In MotoGP 2012 Casey Stoner will have to adapt to the new regulations and a new work-tool, the 1000cc RC213V. Regarding his family the Australian and his wife are expecting their first child in just a few weeks.

This week the first practice sessions of the 2012 pre-season took place in Malaysia, three days of testing in the heat at the circuit of Sepang, where Dani Pedrosa ended third fastest of all the riders. With the return of 1.000cc bikes in the top class of MotoGP the Repsol rider did a thorough set of tests to develop the Repsol Honda RC213V, a direct descendant of the bike that won the World Championship in 2011.

The Repsol Moto2 rider will not participate in the tests that will take place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo de Cheste next week. Marc Márquez will continue with his recuperation after the operation he had to correct the problems he had with his -eye in Barcelona last January. Although his recovery is going well last year`s runner-up in Moto2 prefers not to take any risks for the time being