From a press released issued by MS Aprilia:

MS Aprilia Racing Press Information

PREVIEW

Tuesday 1 October 2002

Bikes over the oceans: Japan, Malaysia, Australia.

The great exodus to the other ends of the Earth has Motegi in Japan as the first venue, the first of three rounds outside Europe before the grand finale in Valencia. The Twin Ring circuit, made by Honda in 1997 originally as its test track, has everything it takes to make this one of the great rounds of the World Championship: a “classic” circuit, four kilometres and eight hundred metres in length, and a high-speed oval circuit of 2.5 km specially designed for motorcar racing. Since 1999, the Twin Ring – a sort of ‘motor-city’ – has become a regular rendezvous for the MotoGP. The colossal facility contains a museum, cars and bikes of all periods, kart tracks and dirt tracks, as well as a vast range of services for enthusiasts who follow its exciting programme of motoring shows. On a plateau north of Tokyo, in the district of Kanto, Twin Ring is a very technical circuit. It has all the technical characteristics it takes to put technicians and riders of all categories to the test.

The circuit. Length: 4,801 metres – 6 left corners – 8 right corners – longest straight: 762 metres – Maximum width: 15 metres – year of construction: 1997.


2001 winners. 125 Class: Ui (JAP) Derbi – Class, 250 Class: Harada (Jap) Aprilia – 500 Class: Rossi (Ita) Honda.


Circuit records – 125: 1:58.816, Locatelli 2000 – 250: 1:52.253, Nakano, 2000 – 500: 1:50.591, Rossi, 2000.


APRILIA MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER in 250 Class

Four races from the end, Aprilia has conquered the manufacturers’ title in the 250 Class. This is the 16th championship title for the Venetian company in the World Road Racing Championship, and the 18th in the history of Aprilia when the two Trial world titles are considered. The 250 championship of 2002 was conquered thanks to the 7 wins by Marco Melandri, 3 wins by Nieto, De Puniet’s third place in Suzuka and Franco Battaini’s third place in the recent race at Rio, Brazil.. This the 9th world success for Aprilia in the 250 championship, in which it has won 5 riders’ championships: ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘98, ‘99, and 4 manufacturers’ titles, in ‘95, ‘98, ‘99, 2002.


APRILIA STILL AHEAD IN 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Noale-based Aprilia is still leading the way in another 3 World Championships in the MotoGP:

1st in the 250 Class riders’ championship with Marco Melandri

1st in the 125 Class riders’ championship with Arnaud Vincent

1st in the 125 Class manufacturers’ championship


The secret dream is naturally to win all three categories and go for an absolute first in the history of Aprilia: 4 World titles in the same year.


125 CLASS

In the 125 class, Arnaud Vincent (Aprilia – 214 points) made second place at Rio and thus increased the gap separating him from his closest rival, Manuel Poggiali (Gilera), third at Rio, and now has a 27-point lead. So far, Vincent has achieved four victories this season, more than any other rider, and is in the running for the title. The next four races will thus be crucial and the final rush could indeed be a close-run thing.

Aprilia is leading the manufacturers’ championship (260 points). It has won 7 out of 12 races so far, and has a 52 point lead over the “winged” bikes from Japan. However there are still 100 points to be won in the 2002 Championship. In theory, the title could be won before the return to Europe.


250 CLASS

After his shrewdly ridden race in Brazil, and fellow Aprilia rider Fonsi Nieto’s error, Marco Melandri (Aprilia) now has forty-five points to juggle with. Not a bad lead four races from the end, but the Spaniard has plenty of talent and could make a comeback. With 100 points still to be won, the two contestants are now coming into the hottest phase of the season. The World Manufacturers’ Championship has already been won by Aprilia. The RSW 250 has won 10 out of 12 races so far this year: Marco Melandri has achieved 7 victories and Fonsi Nieto 3, so with the addition of two excellent placings by De Puniet and Battaini, Aprilia has won the international laurels four races from the end.




MARCO MELANDRI – 250cc Class – Aprilia RSW 250

Marco Melandri rode another “tactical” race in the wet at Rio and got what he was going for. The race started on a partly wet track and ended in the driving rain, with Macio adopting an intelligent, long-term strategy. He was the fourth to pass under the chequered flag and thus increased his advantage over his closest rival Fonsi Nieto to 45 points. There are still 100 points to be assigned. It is worth noting that tactical races like the one in Brazil can pave the way for a chance of absolute victory. And Macio is perfectly aware of this fact. Montegi (Japan) will be the venue for the first of three races – one each week – leading up to the closing event of the 2002 World Championship on 3 November in Valencia (Spain). Right after Brazil, Marco flew off for a period of total relaxation. He chose Honolulu in Hawaii, an island that has always been one of his dreams. Far from the maddening rider market and pre-race stress, Marco opted for absolute repose in order to get ready to face the final part of the championship and the struggle for the world title, now increasingly within his grasp. He will soon be flying directly to Japan to join his team and prepare for the Pacific Grand Prix.


“I’ve always been crazy about the idea of Hawaii and this seemed just the right opportunity to go there. A bit of rest before the final rush begins. Far from the stress, far from Europe. This is a sort of earthly paradise, where I’ve been able to live the outdoor life, practice sport and just relax completely. We’re coming up for the final push now – three races one after the other – and it’s time to aim for the title before going back to Europe. I can’t deny that what I’d really love to do is to bag the laurels before we get to the last race in Spain. I’d really rather not to have to fight Fonsi for the title in his home country Spain.”


REGIS LACONI – MotoGP – Aprilia RS3

Régis Laconi too has been catching up on some total rest and sport since he returned to Switzerland from Brazil, but at the moment he is on his way out towards Motegi.


“I’ve been getting almost total repose to get over the effects of the fall in the race at Rio. I’ve done some targeted training but not too much, to get over the fatigue. But I’ve also been taking care of the cervical trauma I got when I went for that slide in Brazil. I’m back in fighting form now and ready for the Pacific Grand Prix. Motegi’s a smooth, technical track with plenty of slow corners followed by imperative accelerations. I like it and think we should be able to do a good race. The tarmac normally gives the tyres good grip: you could say it’s an ‘abrasive’ track in that the quality of the surface normally lets the bike go where you want it to. The temperature should be around 20° Centigrade, but there’s quite a risk of rain. We’ll see. There’ll also be a couple of Japanese wildcards I expect will be as fast as ever, even though on the Twin Ring at Montegi there are few really effective trajectories and the inventiveness of local riders can help, but it certainly isn’t decisive.”