Another Qatar MotoGP Preview

Another Qatar MotoGP Preview

© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Grand Prix of Qatar, Losail, Qatar. September 30, October 1, 2, 2004

TITLE RACE HEADS INTO UNKNOWN TERRITORY

This seasons mighty tussle for MotoGP honours takes itself to the Middle East for the first time in the sports history. The Grand Prix of Qatar will offer what looks on paper like an interesting racetrack and will throw in punishing conditions for good measure just as the struggle for premier class supremacy reaches a peak.

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) has 229 points after 12 races. His nearest challenger in this seasons intriguing battle is Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) who has accumulated 190 points so far. Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V), after two DNFs at the last two rounds, is on 158 points.

But with four rounds still to go and 100 points available to the winner of all four races, this season is far from over. Gibernau has failed to finish twice this year, matching Biaggi, who was on target for a finish in every race of the season until Loris Capirossi (Ducati) interfered with his progress: once directly in Portugal, and then again in Japan, when the Italian Ducati rider triggered a six bike pile-up at turn one on lap one.

The law of averages points towards Rossi being due one more failure to finish to bring his tally of one DNF so far into line with that of his primary rivals Gibernau and Biaggi. No one relies on luck in this most technical of sports but in any arena, fortune, good or otherwise, usually has a part to play.

Biaggi, no matter how much the Roman refuses to believe his title challenge is over, is no longer a realistic candidate for the title this year. But he will certainly be a factor when it comes to the distribution of valuable points between the top two, Rossi and Gibernau.

Rossis 39 point lead over Gibernau is a commanding one but the impetus of this years title fight has already swung twice and there is every reason to suppose it might swing again. Rossi is in the driving seat now, but this is a capricious and unpredictable sport; title aspirations can sometimes be as fleeting as a desert mirage

The Losail International circuit lies ten kilometres from Qatars capital of Doha. The 5.4km track is an unknown quantity for all riders in all classes and the race comes at a critical time in the Championships. The only other track as seldom visited as this is Welkom in South Africa, the opening race in this years season.

The ability of teams and riders to rapidly fathom the fast lines and favourable set-up is paramount here. Failure to get to grips with the track from Friday free training is likely to spell doom such is the pressure this year.

Losail features more turns than any other track on the calendar, six lefts and ten right-handers in all. Nor is there a chicane of any description. This puts a high premium on machine agility and it also brings tyre wear issues into sharp focus. Artificial grass has been placed along the track to allay riders fears of sand being blown onto the surface.

The heat will be relentless with track temperatures of up to 50 degrees expected. Ambient temperatures will be equally elevated and any rider not at absolute peak fitness will surely wilt in the oppressive conditions. Set-up will be directed at making the machines manageable with a minimum of physical input from the pilots.

There is also the matter of a 1062m straight, 20m longer than the longest used so far at Catalunya. This puts power and top speed among the requirements and also braking at the end of a 320km/h flat out blast in top gear.

Another factor will be the performance of the track workers. Marshals and officials from Valencia in Spain have been drafted in to ensure the local employees get fully up to speed with the specific requirements of MotoGP. With $52 million US dollars already lavished on this facility, nothing has been spared in ensuring Qatars inaugural race is anything less than a resounding success.

The track remains a mystery until were able to ride during the first free session and understand the real situation, said Gibernau. The high temperatures will definitely be a problem for the tyres and the engine but our biggest worry is sand being brought onto the track. After the Japanese Grand Prix the gap with Valentino is increased but I wont give up, I will continue fighting. We are going through a difficult moment, maybe the most difficult of the season, but we are not lost, we know the cause of the problems we had in the past two races and we will work to be competitive.

Gibernaus team-mate Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) said, Despite the unlucky race at Motegi I arrive with confidence in Qatar because at Motegi I found a very good setting, and thanks to the new chassis I have a very good feeling with the bike. Qatar is a completely new track, no one has data so we all arrive fresh. We all start from zero and we can use that positively.

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) lies fourth overall and said, I’m really looking forward to racing at Doha, a new track and a new challenge. I’ve been racing in GPs for a few years now and nothing is very new any more. I’m very excited and pretty curious as well. We will all start with no data, no experience and no idea what to expect really. It will be very hot and I’m sure the conditions will create challenges in themselves.

His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is equally determined, This whole season had been real weird, he said. For a whole bunch of reasons it has been pretty hard this season. But I don’t want to make lame excuses. At least we all start at Doha on a level playing field and I’m real looking forward to the challenge. Im feeling a little better physically; my shoulders coming good although my knee isn’t responding to treatment as quickly as I want which is a bit of a worry.

Max Biaggi is confident the new track and extreme conditions will suit him. The Roman said. I really like the idea of this race, because it reminds me a bit of the beginning of my career, when everything was new to me, and I had to learn a track in just a couple of days of practice. Besides, I enjoy riding in extremely difficult weather conditions, where the heat doesn’t bother me too much. So I’m hoping to do a good race, if nothing else to make up for the misfortune at Estoril and Motegi. This year I had been scoring regularly but to get two zeros in a row have made the championship difficult. That’s what is most disappointing, and also the fact that on both occasions my team and I, along with the Honda technicians, managed to do some fantastic work during practice and the bike was really going well. So because of that I want to at least get the satisfaction of getting some good results race by race.

Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) is the man in form having scored his second GP win of the season at his home grand prix two weeks ago. The ebullient Japanese rider said. Winning in Motegi, in front of my friends and compatriots, was honestly fantastic, a great emotion that I wont ever forget, but now we have to concentrate on the next race. Qatar is a track that no team knows of course and none of the tyre manufacturers either. This means that the riders talent will be even more important than normal and that’s why I can see myself fighting for the podium at the end of this race. I’ve seen the track plan and the design looks simple, without too much technical difficulties. It will be better to ride it though before saying too much. Lets say that it shouldn’t be too tough to learn, but that we will only know how to act once we get the wheels on the track, but I’m very confident and feeling strong.

In the 250cc class Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) has a commanding lead over his nearest rival, the consistent, if unspectacular Randy de Puniet (Aprilia). Dani has 234 to de Puniets 187. But Sebastian Porto (Aprilia) with 186 is still part of the World Championship equation.

Its always nice to get to know new places and new circuits, said Dani. It will be crucial to get an idea for the track in the first session and I guess well all need a little more time than usual to find the best settings. On Wednesday they’re going to take us round the track in a car so well really have to pay attention and pick up as many details as we can.

His team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW)arrives fresh from his first podium finish of the season, at his home race two weekends ago and said, I would have raced at Qatar on the Monday after the race in Japan. To be on the podium for the first time this season at my home race was incredible. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the bike, riding in qualifying and racing. We’ve got three Grands Prix in a row now and I want a good finish to the season.

Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) has been having a tough season and will be going all out to rectify matters here. His terse assessment reveals his sense of purpose. “We go to a track completely new for all of us, he said. I have seen the map and that’s all I know about the place. It looks interesting.”

His team-mate Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) is finding form now after a troubled start to the year and he said, The bike worked really well at Motegi and I’m looking forward to racing at Qatar. Its a new track for all of us so it will be important to find a good set up quickly, we have to keep our momentum going.

The 125cc World Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) has a commanding 45 point lead over his nearest challenger Hector Barbera (Aprilia), but he knows he must keep the pressure on his rivals until the mathematics makes it impossible for him to be deprived of his first ever World title.

The results at Motegi worked out well for me, he said. And I now have a good lead in the championship. We will go to Qatar not thinking about the title and we will prepare for this race as we have all season, I will be racing to win but I will not be taking risks.



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