Bo Bendsneyder back in training

Bo Bendsneyder is back in full training. Not on his NTS Moto2 machine unfortunately, but on a virtual version of it. This Sunday Bendsneyder will participate in the virtual race on the circuit of Jerez, where the Grand Prix of Spain should have been this weekend.

In reality, Bendsneyder can also resume training soon. The rider of NTS RW Racing GP, along with six other Dutch riders of international level, was allowed from the Dutch motorsport association KNMV and sports association NOC*NSF, to get back on the bike. “We have to wait and see where and when exactly, but it is nice that there are opportunities to train again,” says Bendsneyder. “Unfortunately I still have to miss my NTS Grand Prix machine, and there are many other limitations, but it will be nice to be on a bike again anyway and experience speed. The last time on the bike was early March; almost two months ago. I have no idea when we can really start racing again – that can take quite some time – but it is good to be able to get back to work again, more or less.”

For now the virtual race is the closest to the real world and a very nice concept, according to Bendsneyder, who takes the Virtual GP quite seriously. “It is weird to sit in front of a screen at home and train like that, when we should have been in Spain now, for the first European round of the Championship,” says Bendsneyder. “I miss racing and I miss my team, but this is a lot of fun to do. Virtual racing is very different from reality, but I certainly expect the same battle. The previous Virtual GPs of only the MotoGP riders were very competitive. I usually play this MotoGP game with friends, for fun. It will be a bit more serious now, because of course everyone wants to score well, so I am fully training. I think it is a good concept and very nice that now the Moto2 and Moto3 can participate as well.”

The Virtual GP is on Sunday afternoon at 15.00 CET. Like in reality the Moto3 class will start, then the Moto2 will race, with MotoGP as the final event. Each virtual race (of eight laps) is preceded by a qualification. In Moto2, Bendsneyder will compete against Jorge Martin, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Enea Bastianini, Marcos Ramirez, Jorge Navarro, Marcel Schrötter, Aron Canet, Jake Dixon and Luca Marini.
The races will be broadcasted live via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and MotoGP.com.
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1255062376367431681?s=20
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotoGP/posts/10158869274355769
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeVQYslzQ7k
The press conferences afterwards are on Instagram (MotoGP account).