MotoGP – The Moravian March –

Posted on by admin

The Moravian March

MotoGP - The Moravian March -

After a month’s break, the MotoGP riders are preparing to resume service in the Czech Republic. Technical and demanding, the Brno track should offer a superb spectacle and spice up a comeback that already promises to be very tough ! Trailer.

Located in the middle of the Moravian region in the Czech Republic, the Brno circuit takes full advantage of the rugged terrain on which it stretches to offer riders and their mounts a particularly arduous challenge..

"It’s a great challenge with fast turns, sometimes uphill and sometimes downhill. In addition, it is wide, which allows you to try different trajectories", sums up perfectly Dani Pedrosa, author of a superb duel against Valentino Rossi last year (read).

Alternating up and down, steep and downhill turns, six curves to the left and eight to the right, Brno is indeed a real masterpiece..

Unlike the last two tracks visited by the Intercontinental Circus caravan, the Czech track therefore allows MotoGP prototypes to fully express themselves, especially in the three successive stretches leading to the finish line..

Finally, only the particularly uncertain weather this summer worries Hiroshi Yamada, head of motorcycle racing at Bridgestone: "we will need to bring tires with a wide range of uses"… The tire war continues (read)…

To arms, Randy and Sylvain !

"I think the Ninja ZX-RR will perform well here, with good power to tackle the straights and lots of acceleration.", already notes Randy de Puniet !

The French MotoGP Ninja also recalls that on this track, he has "won in 2003, finished second in 2004 and obtained many top 10 in the 250 cc class"… Last year, in his first premier season, Randy won two points in Brno. Hopefully he scores a lot more this year. !

For his part, Sylvain Guintoli believes more and more in his chances: "the package I have is progressing and I think I will be able to appear higher in the results table after the break, from the Grand Prix in Brno", noted" Syl "after being relatively disappointed with his 13th place in the USA.

But the 8th place of his teammate Makoto Tamada suggests better results to come … It has even become a real necessity for the two Tech 3 drivers, one of whom – or both – will definitely leave the box at the end. of the year to make way for James Toseland (read).

But our French riders will not be the most eagerly awaited this weekend: at the top of the list of favorites is undoubtedly Casey Stoner, the Little Prince of MotoGP. !

44 points ahead !

Because if in the World Superbike, the Ducatis fear competition on the undulating circuit of Brno (read), in MotoGP they have a nice track record.

Third in 2003 for her first participation, 5th in 2004 then 2nd in 2005 and victorious in 2006, the beautiful Italian – the GP7 was unveiled for the first time during post-GP testing last year on the Czech track (read) – should be at the forefront this year again! Championship leader Stoner will take the opportunity to try to increase his lead over Rossi (44 points) and Pedrosa (66)…

"It’s a fast rolling circuit, much like Mugello or Phillip Island, so it’s always been one of my favorites", warns the now famous n ° 27. As usual, the young Australian remains modest and cautious:"Loris did very well last year, but he also did very well in Jerez and we paddled there a bit at the start of this season, so we have to wait and see what happens."It’s hard to imagine Stoner not fighting for victory this weekend, however. !

1st in 2003, 2nd in 2004, 1st in 2005, 2nd in 2006 … and in 2007 ?

For the second year in a row, Valentino Rossi is approaching the end of the season with the aim of getting back in touch with the leader! Last year, the Italian driver was already 51 points behind Nicky Hayden with six races to go…

This year, the Doctor will benefit from an additional test – and what a test: "his" GP in Misano! – to take 44 points back from Casey Stoner. But if mathematically, the challenge seems easier, human and material factors will complicate its task….

Indeed, Vale remembers that in 2006 he had benefited from a drop in form from Hayden, due in particular to the development of his RCV and a blunder from Pedrosa to Estoril, to take back the controls of the championship just before the final of Valence…

"This time it will be very, very hard", admits the n ° 46 of the Fiat Yamaha team,"because Stoner is very strong and makes no mistakes "."But I won’t give up", he hastens to add. We would have guessed !

Step by step

Dani Pedrosa, on the other hand, does not prefer to think of the championship: "our priority is to be sure that we have a competitive package in every race and that we can fight ahead. Only after that we can think about the championship", simply reasons n ° 26 of the Repsol Honda team.

Third last year after a good fight against Valentino, Dani should be able to hold the seven-time world champion high even longer this year and aim for the victory, which he has already obtained on the Moravian land in 2003 in 125 cc and 2005 in 250 cc.

Note that last week, the leaders of Repsol YPF and Honda announced the renewal of their sponsorship contract for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Will we see a tenth Honda Repsol world champion in the premier class soon? ?

Released !

Fourth in the championship but with half the points of his compatriot, Chris Vermeulen took advantage of his boat in Australia during the summer break. "But I have to go running again: it’s my job !", rejoices the n ° 71 of the Rizla Suzuki team.

Glad to be rid of the negotiations for the 2008 season – he remains with Suzuki -, Chris can calmly prepare for the end of the season: "I will be able to concentrate on my driving and get the best possible results for the rest of the season, starting with Brno !", he warns.

It can’t rain all the time…

Marco Melandri not only shares the same number of points in the championship as Vermeulen, but he also knows where he will ride next year (Ducati Marlboro, read). Marco writes on his official website that Fausto Gresini, his team manager, keeps the "best memory of me"…

In his "diary", Marco adds among other things that he admits to having reassured himself during the GP of Laguna Seca: despite a nasty injury, the Italian Hedgehog indeed obtained an incredible third place: "it can’t rain all the time !", recalls Melandri, that the film" The Crow "probably marked…

"The bike works the way I want now and allows me to do fantastic things despite my injuries that I never dreamed of doing before, even in my best physical condition !", testifies n ° 33.

After a two hour session on the Misano track last Monday at the controls of the CBR600RR, Melandri was declared fit to drive this weekend, like his teammate Elias! Even if they will not be fully recovered, will Marco and Toni climb to the Czech podium, which has eluded them since their arrival in MotoGP? ?

Capi-zuki ?

"We have three offers: one from Suzuki, one from Kawasaki and one from Ducati", exposed Monday Carlo Pernat, agent of Loris Capirossi, to the Italian news agency AGR. But it would seem that it is Suzuki who has the favors of Capi-T-Rex…

Present since the beginning of the Ducati adventure in MotoGP in 2003, the Italian would not be satisfied with a third official GP8 lined up alongside the young Stoner and Melandri. As for Kawasaki, after having poached Hopkins, the Greens’ bank account would no longer allow them to secure the services of n ° 65 … Answer Thursday ?

Meanwhile, Capirossi explains that he loves to drive in Brno "because it is a swift track with a lot of fast curves, but at the same time quite complicated with some descents and climbs", attests the overwhelming winner of the 2006 edition:"you therefore need a balanced machine that gives confidence". Answer Sunday !

Ready to run ahead !

Unlike Loris Capirossi, Colin Edwards did not have a great race last year in the Czech Republic. Tenth, the American has never done better than 7th in 2004 and 2005. Not to mention that in the United States a month ago, the Texas Tornado suffered a difficult setback…

Despite this, the number 5 of the Fiat Yamaha team remains optimistic: "I had made great progress during practice after the race", remembers Colin (read)."but this time i plan to do them before the race", he notes mischievously.

"I believe I am not lying when I say that no one at Yamaha and Michelin has taken a vacation since we left Laguna Seca", declared his team manager, Davide Brivio."I know that in Japan they worked a lot on the engine and we hope to get a little improvement for the Brno race.", specifies the Italian lip service.

For honor

For his part, Nicky Hayden is waiting for new pieces from the HRC! For the RCV too, it will be a question of finding a few additional horses to face increased competition. "Power is your best friend on climbs and long straights", assures the World Number One who no longer runs to keep his crown, but for his honor.

Delighted to have been able to breathe three full weeks after experiencing a catastrophic first half of the season, Hayden is eager to return to competition. "To tell the truth, I’m glad the vacation is over because I’m really ready to get back on the bike", launches the Kentucky Kid.

During the last three GPs, the former n ° 69 of the Repsol Honda team seemed to have found a better rhythm: 3rd in Assen then in Sachsenring, he could not defend his chances in the USA because of a collision from the first turn with John Hopkins … revenge this weekend ?

For the podium

John Hopkins must also forget his fall at Laguna Seca … But Sunday’s race seems to be a great opportunity! "I love Brno, it’s a great track and seeing how the bike and the tires are working this year, I really think we have a great opportunity to take", explains the # 21 of Team Rizla Suzuki.

Better: "corner speed being the key ingredient to success in Brno, I think we have a good chance of getting on the podium again", analyzes the Anglo-American. Seventh last year, Hopkins had described his race as one of the most beautiful of his season. Like what, pleasure and result do not necessarily go hand in hand !

Recover lost points

"I’m happy to be back in the heat of the moment", also rejoices Alex Barros. Injured in the right hand since the tests in Germany, the Brazilian hopes to be able to fully exploit the capacities of his Ducati mounted Bridgestone…

"Finally, with this break, my right hand has regained its strength and I’m ready to run to recover the points lost in the last two races.", informs the n ° 4 of the Pramac d’Antin team who will team up with Ivan Silva, replacing Alex Hofmann.

Rediscover the sensations

Anthony West was probably not hoping to score so many points as soon as he entered the round at the Intercontinental Circus. Eleventh at Donington Park – could have done even better without a gardening session! – then 9th, 8th and finally 7th in the USA, the young rookie from Kawasaki never ceases to be noticed since his freelance in World Supersport !

"Before the break I had hardly stopped driving so I felt a bit lost", realizes the young Australian! From this weekend fortunately, the n ° 13 will find his dear ZX-RR. And this time, unlike Laguna Seca, Anthony will already know the track …"Brno should be nice", predicts West !

For their part, Kurtis Roberts, Carlos Checa and Shinya Nakano will try to do their best with machines (KR-Honda and RCV) apparently difficult to adjust and to operate at the limit of their capacities….

As for J. Arsouille, he will not need any particular adjustment to deliver again, from Monday, his inimitable "turn by turn". To read on Site, of course !

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *