News

The champions are back: Carrasco and Garcia return to title fight!

Wednesday, 12 June 2019 07:37 GMT

The WorldSSP300 champions of the last two seasons have joined the fight at the front of the 2019 season!

After a tough start to 2019 in WorldSSP300, Marc García (DS Junior Team) finally came to the fore in the Acerbis Spain Round. The Spaniard, who was the champion of WorldSSP300 in 2017 - took his first victory of the season in the Race 1 on Saturday at the Jerez track. On Sunday, Garcia backed it up with a second place in the second race after being slipstreamed on the run to the line by Manuel González (Kawasaki ParkinGo Team).

After a stage in the Moto3 Junior World Championship, the 19-year-old returned to WorldSSP300 this year with the aim of recovering his crown, and with his double podium in the Andalusian track he has taken a step forward in that direction.

"I am very happy with this weekend, I think we are getting what we were missing" said ​​Garcia, who had an 11th place (in Assen) as the only positive result in this campaign. "It was about getting confidence with the bike and we're getting it. On Saturday, I went first and today second, they are very good points for the championship."

Also, the reigning champion of the category, Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300) urgently needed a good result to shore up her aspirations to retain the crown she won in 2018. After the misfortune in Aragon and an eighth in Holland, the occasion of her return to the front also arrived at the Circuito de Jerez- Angel Nieto. She had to fight hard though, with the inevitable WorldSSP300 battle ensuing. In any case, two consecutive podiums, and very good feelings for the next round, left the 22-year-old satisfied.

"I'm happy with today's result, I think we have made a good weekend" began Carrasco. "I wanted to win, but on the last lap I got a little bit boxed in at Turn 6 and I lost a bit of the options to fight for the victory in the last corner, but still happy to have finished on the podium. I think we are working very well, and we will continue pushing for victory to come soon."

Garcia has gone on a double-race weekend from the 14th to the 3rd position in the standings, 38 points from the leader. Carrasco, from the 11th to the 6th, 48 points from the first. With five founds remaining, the two past champions have finally presented their credentials for the 2019 title. However, it is Manual Gonzalez who leads the championship; he has achieved three wins out of four this year. The Spanish trio locked-out the podium places on Sunday - it had only happened once before, last year in Magny-Cours, with Borja Sánchez, Dani Valle and Mika Pérez.

Relive the vibrant races of the Round Acerbis of Spain with the WorldSBK VideoPass!