MotoGP – MotoGP enter the arena! –

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MotoGP enter the arena !

MotoGP - MotoGP enter the arena! -

The 2005 World Championship draws to a close and it is on the atypical circuit of Valence that the pilots will fight one last time … But the stakes vary and the pressure is not the same for all! Presentation and tour of the board.

The Valencia circuit, named Ricardo Tormo in honor of the former 50cc World Champion, was created in 1999. The track is literally besieged there with stands from which spectators can see almost the entire circuit. The atmosphere is therefore inflamed, the chorus of 120,000 spectators sometimes even covering the howls of MotoGP !

This course, which is one of the slowest of the year, often offers some great fights. We remember in particular the fight in 2002 opposing a freshly crowned Rossi in 4-stroke to a supercharged Barros riding the RCV! The Brazilian was imperial, allowing himself to beat Rossi on a regular basis for the second time in three races !

If the Doctor had dominated the 2003 race with head and shoulders (read), that of 2004 had required more effort: Tamada and his Bridgestones had animated the start of the race, Rossi barely managing to keep the Japanese targeted. Halfway through the race, Tamada had lowered his pace, leaving Valentino to take the lead which he did not leave despite an impressive return from Max Biaggi (read).

The arenas of Valence

The Valencia circuit is a stadium dedicated to motorcycle racing even if Sylvain Guintoli, in the interview he gave us (read), does not hesitate to compare it to a "giant kart circuit !"

It is true that, confined between high stands, the tortuous layout of Valencia has nothing in common with the tracks of Suzuka, Mugello or Montmeló. Which does not detract from its interest, quite the contrary! Controlled by a fast left, the straight line of barely 900 m still allows MotoGP to exceed 300 km / h! And the rest of the circuit offers an uninterrupted series of turns where braking on the angle and reaccelerations at low speed are particularly dangerous..

The suspension settings are made easier by the absence of irregularities or bumps on the track. The wheelbase of the motorcycles is shorter than usual because the pilots favor an agile and lively machine in these sequences of short and slow turns..

The other feature of this track is the fact that the pilots turn counterclockwise on it. As a result, it is the left side of the tires that wears more, particularly in the penultimate left which is negotiating in fourth at nearly 200 km / h … A particularity that must be taken into account when when to choose erasers…

Without pressure

The only driver to have scored points at each Grand Prix this season, Colin Edwards, fourth, is now 24 points from the runner-up position and 15 points behind Hayden, third behind Melandri. The American will therefore only have to control Max Biaggi – or rather the shadow of him … – to secure his fourth position in the general classification.

In addition to keeping its place in the championship, the Texan Tornado will devote this weekend to working on its new driving style: "i hate that part of my career where i have to learn something completely new, i try to gain speed in the corners by adding aspects of the 250 cc style to my superbike instincts"… Will this change – which comes three years after his arrival in MotoGP – allow him to fight with Rossi in 2006? !

Loris Capirossi is coming out of a convalescence which will have prevented him from participating in a promising Australian GP at the end of which Checa, his teammate, is on the podium (read). His right lung having suffered a hemorrhage, the Italian is still banned from flying but this in no way affects his motivation: "I traveled in a mobile home but my desire to run is so great that I could have come on foot !"And even if its shape will not be"in the top", if the Valencia track is not his favorite, if"it’s too tight for MotoGP"to his liking, Capirex could well create sparks, like Troy Bayliss who finished third in the race in 2003 or Tamada who took pole last year with the Bridgestones.

At Suzuki, John Hopkins will be joined by test driver Nobuatsu Aoki, replacing a Kenny Roberts Jr who will not be able to compete in his last race on the GSV-R. Sad end therefore for the 2000 world champion, who could however race next year on the handlebars of a Roberts powered by a Honda V5 !

In 2006 and 2007, Chris Vermeulen will share the stand with Hopper. Paul Denning is aware that the coming season will be difficult: "neither Chris nor Suzuki have any illusions about the burden of the task ahead, but we are confident and believe that Chris is the right choice for the future.". Barry Sheene’s young protege still has a lot to learn: new bike, new brakes (carbon), new tires and new circuits … Moreover, it seems that Honda – annoyed by the young prodigy’s escape – is giving him sticks in the wheels by forbidding him to pilot a motorcycle of another make before 2006 … Case to be continued.

The most serene driver on the field is obviously Valentino Rossi. With his title in his pocket for three races, the constructor title and that of the teams, His Serene Highness now only runs for records! On the program this weekend: that of the number of victories in a season held by Doohan (12), that his Holiness could equalize, and that of the number of points gained in a season – helped it is true by the fact that this season includes one GP more than those of the previous six years…

On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the tuning forks brand, Vale and Colin will wear the colors of Yamaha and its legendary OW.

"Half" pressure

The premises of the stage will necessarily be a little more under pressure, starting with Sete Gibernau who will compete in his last race on the handlebars of the Gresini – and probably an RCV … Replaced next year by his young compatriot Toni Elias , Catalan is expected at Ducati … still unofficially. "After a very difficult season, during which I learned a lot, I would like to end this championship with a good result", declares Sete who would like so much to catch up with Biaggi (13 points) but above all to protect himself from Capirossi who is only two small points from his sixth place…

Carlos Checa can’t help but smile when he talks about next season as he prepares to make the reverse transfer of Sete from Ducati to Honda, presumably at Pons alongside his former teammate Biaggi. But the contracts are not signed, the Spanish have an interest in achieving a good service at home! "We have a good time because the progress of tires has allowed us to draw the full potential of our bike", assures Carlos who"aim for the podium and hope to fight for the top step".

Tech 3, which was to be the antechamber of the Yamaha factory team, is in the process of becoming that of the team … Honda Gresini! After the successful transfer of Marco Melandri last year, it is indeed the turn of Toni Elias to leave Poncharal M1 for the Italian RCV! The young Spaniard, more and more efficient at the end of the season, will be keen to shine in front of his audience before walking in the footsteps – or the flower beds? – by Marco in 2006…

While Olivier Jacque will not race this weekend in the end, Alex Hofmann hopes "a positive end to his season on the occasion of his last race with KawasakiThe German, who has scored points only five times this year and is two places behind OJ in the general classification, has no handlebars for next year and sees his hopes of playing in the 2006 season. in MotoGP dropping seriously … The last chance race ?

High pressure

Same first name and same uncertain future with Alex Barros, whose victory in Portugal (read) does not hide an irregular year. Fortunately, the Brazilian has excellent memories on this track which he enjoys very much "despite its slow appearance". The 12 points which separate him from 7th place in Capirossi are therefore affordable, on condition that he regains his feelings of 2002…

A good fight is announced between the two Japanese of the plateau because Makoto Tamada is only 9 points from Shinya Nakano! The Honda rider, who like Hofmann was injured at the start of the season, was very comfortable on the Spanish track last year but suffered from the premature wear of his Bridgestones. The Michelin, to which he has apparently not adapted, will they allow him to hold out until the checkered flag ?

But Shinya Nakano is not ready to let slip his tenth place, a range which does not satisfy him: "my goal was to finish better than 10th in the championship, but for the moment it is Kawasaki’s place with the factory Honda, Yamaha and Ducati motorcycles in front"… The young Japanese would like"end the season with at least the same result as in Jerez", where he qualified and finished the race in an encouraging fifth place.

But the two most anticipated drivers this weekend are indeed the contenders for the title of Vice-Rossi: Marco Melandri and Nicky Hayden…

After his victory in Turkey, Marco took a slight lead over the American (195 points against 186) and showed himself to be calm: "the runner-up title was just a dream at the start of the season, now it’s a real goal to achieve. I have to think about the championship during this GP". But will he be ready to let Rossi run away at the head of the race – this is an example! – just to control Nicky? Nothing is less certain…

In the end, Marco may not have to ask himself the question because Nicky Hayden will undoubtedly push him to his (last?) Entrenchments … Especially since Valencia seems to be a track designed for Kentucky Kid. It has many points in common with the circuits on which Nicky shone this year (Laguna Seca, Sachsenring, Phillip Island …): it turns counterclockwise, like dirt tracks track that Nicky appreciates, and it is very collected, which reminds him of the American circuits. Still, Hayden will have to get rid of his bad habits taken on this circuit: fall! During his two participations, the American indeed fell while fighting in the leading group.

Under pressure or not, one thing is certain: the MotoGP riders will have a great time in this last event, just like J. Arsouille who will return his last copy … for 2005 !

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