MotoGP Debut For Dakota Mamola At Silverstone

Earlier this season the Aspar Team announced that they would provide the technical support for Dakota Mamola to make his debut in the FIM CEV Repsol with the GRT Racing Team. Now, after just three rounds competing at national level, the American-Belgian rider is set to make his World Championship debut with the MAPFRE Aspar Team in this weekend's Moto2 race at Silverstone, substituting for the team’s regular rider, Nico Terol, who is recovering from muscle fatigue issues that have dogged him all season. Terol hopes to be fit to return to action for the following round at Misano.

On his debut at the British GP Mamola, son of four-time 500cc World Championship runner-up Randy Mamola, said, “First of all I would like to wish Nico a swift recovery. Thanks to him and the Mapfre Aspar Team I have this incredible opportunity…”

“I’m really excited for my first Grand Prix and to be riding back at Silverstone,” he continued. “I rode there in 125 in the BSB championship and the fans are the most crazy part about it. Even if it rains, snows, they always come out to see us and I hope there is going to be a big crowd.”

Mamola also explains that his father, four-time 500cc World Championship runner-up Randy, is helping him to go into his debut GP weekend in a relaxed manner.

“My Dad isn’t talking too much about it as he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on me,” the American-Belgian comments. “He knows how much pressure I already have from other people because of being his son. The team are also saying ‘we don’t want to put any pressure on you this weekend’. They just really want me to have a good time, to learn from them.”

Meanwhile, the likes of Bradley Smith and Cal Crutchlow are also there to lend advice, which Mamola is more than grateful for.

“From Cal and Brad I’ve been texting on and off with them and they’ve been helping me out on pointers. But I won’t get any more information before Thursday when I get there and we’re going to be walking the track together. I’ve asked them to help me out a bit. They are a great help, two MotoGP riders and especially Brad as he also knows the Moto2 bike really well,” concluded Mamola.