Bridgestone Previews The MotoGP Race At Catalunya

Bridgestone Previews The MotoGP Race At Catalunya

© 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Montmeló June 9th, 2005 Catalunya Grand Prix Preview Bridgestone looking forward to more excitement After the successful Italian Grand Prix in Mugello last weekend, where Ducati and Bridgestone celebrated the first podium finish in their young MotoGP partnership, both the Italian team and the Japanese tyre manufacturer look forward to this week’s Catalunya Grand Prix with excitement and anticipation. Inaugurated in 1992, the Catalunya circuit has been hosting both the MotoGP and Formula 1 championships, but it doesn’t feature stop-and-go characteristics that are so common on many other modern tracks. The circuit is fast and flowing instead, with long bends, up- and downhill corners, and another kilometre-long and ultra-fast main straight with top speeds in excess of 340 kph. The layout perfectly suits the characteristics of Ducati’s Desmosedici, and will provide Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa, who scored Ducati’s best result this season so far with third and fifth place in Mugello, with another thrill ride. “We had a good race in Mugello, and from now on, I expect things to go better and better for us. Catalunya is a great track, with a long straight and plenty of fast corners, which should suit the character of our bike. We tested here in March but the weather conditions didn’t work for us. This time, we come back with better tyres, because Bridgestone are improving all the time”, says Loris Capirossi, who had made racing history when he rode to Ducati’s first ever MotoGP victory on the Catalunya track in 2003. “There are a lot of long corners, and you are at maximum angle a long time, so tyres are very important”, adds his team-mate Carlos Checa who also has plenty of sweet memories in Catalunya: His first MotoGP victory in 1996, and a total of three podium finishes on his home track. “There are always a lot of friends and family in the paddock. I want to make them smile on Sunday”, says Checa. Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone is also fully prepared for the challenge. After collecting a massive amount of data during the IRTA test session in March, the tyre technicians developed completely new tyres to suit the new surface of the 4.727 kilometre track, with special emphasis on grip, handling and braking ability on the front, and side grip, traction and overall grip consistency on the rear tyre. Out of a total of 1100 tyres that have been shipped to Montmeló, each of the three Bridgestone MotoGP teams will have the choice of 4-5 specs of front and 6-8 specs of rear tyre slicks. Hiroshi Yamada – Motorcycle Racing Manager Bridgestone Motorsport “Last week in Mugello, Ducati’s improved and well-balanced Desmosedici, Loris Capirossi’s skillfull and determined riding style, and our latest generation of tyres made for a fantastic package, and we were rewarded with our first podium finish with Ducati. The new tyres that we brought to Italy worked very well and deepened our confidence that we are heading in the right direction. The Catalunya Grand Prix this week is another very important race for us, with high hopes not only for Loris Capirossi, but within all our three strong partners Ducati, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. We are confident to be able to continue on our upward trend, and to achieve good results yet again!”

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