From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN LOOK FORWARD TO ISLAND BUZZ

This weekend’s Australian Grand Prix completes a gruelling series of three back-to-back ‘flyaway’ races that precedes the season finale at
Valencia, Spain, in two weeks time. Sunday’s race is therefore everyone’s last-but-one chance to impress before the end of the 16-round
2004 MotoGP campaign.

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss are determined to impress once again at Phillip Island, where last year they
qualified second and fourth quickest. Loris scored a brilliant 2nd place finish while Troy crashed in the early stages of the race while he was with the leading group. The Australian circuit, which has hosted nine GPs since the nation’s inaugural World Championship event in 1989, is one of the most popular tracks on the GP fixture list. Riders love the picturesque seaside venue because it is ultra-quick and challenging, delivering one of the biggest buzzes of the season.

“All the riders love this track,” says Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “I like it too, especially because of the spectacular surroundings – it’s great to see bikes racing with the sea in the background. Phillip Island is also very different from the last two races – the weather will be much cooler! This circuit isn’t like most places – brake, corner, accelerate – it’s all fast corners and fast changes of direction with no really long braking areas. These characteristics should suit our bike, and I’m sure Loris and Troy will demonstrate it! ”

Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo reckons his team is in good spirits after Capirossi’s charging ride to sixth in Malaysia last Sunday. “We come to Phillip Island in positive mood and expecting a good weekend,” says Suppo. “We were very fast at last year’s race, so we’ll be working hard to have another good race.”

The Ducati Marlboro Team will be the only team to remain at Phillip Island after the race for two days’ testing during which a new version
of the tubular frame will be tested.

CAPIROSSI: UP FOR A SLICE OF THE ACTION

Phillip Island will always be a special place for Ducati Marlboro Team man Loris Capirossi. The Italian won his first World Championship at the track way back in 1990, inspiring a local Italian restaurant to create the Capirossi pizza in honour of his achievement. This weekend the
31-year-old comes back to the Island looking for his first podium finish of the year to back up his brilliant ride to second place at last year’s Australian GP.

“Ducatis always seem to go well at Phillip Island,” he says. “Last year we had a great race there, and though our preseason tests at the track weren’t so good, the bike has come a long way since then, especially in the second half of the season. But the level of the MotoGP championship is so high now, that even when we improve, we know that the other factories are also improving. As always in racing, we are looking for a little more performance.

Phillip Island is a really good track – it is one of those circuits where the rider can make the difference. I enjoy riding there, except
for the weather, which usually isn’t so good at this time of year. The cold and the wind can cause you problems, both with set-up and when
you’re riding.”

HOME-TRACK BOOST FOR BAYLISS

Troy Bayliss was going great guns at Phillip Island last year until he tumbled out of the race after making contact with another rider. Like Ducati Marlboro Team partner Capirossi, the New South Welshman is also searching for his first podium result of the year and would love nothing more than to achieve a top-three finish in front of his home crowd.

“The fans always give me a lot of support at this race, which gives me a bit of a boost,” says Bayliss who has won both Australian Superbike and World Superbike races at the track. “I love going back there, it reminds
me of when I started racing because we used to do a lot of races on the island, plus it’s a great track. It’s one of those circuits where you can have a lot of fun and it always makes for really close racing.”

Bayliss reckons that the track’s final left-handers are his favourite corners in MotoGP. Like most riders he also believes that bravery is a big part of success at this track, simply because so many of the turns are so quick. “The left before Honda hairpin is probably the scariest corner on the track,” he adds. “There’s been a few times I’ve lost the front there and then saved it. When that happens it gives you a bit of a blood rush!”

THE TRACK

Situated 130 kilometres south east of Melbourne, Phillip Island hosted its first motorcycle races way back in the 1920s, when riders competed
over a dusty 12-mile street circuit and the only access to the island was by boat! The circuit fell into disrepair but was redeveloped in the
late eighties and hosted Australia’s first bike GP in 1989. Since then the circuit has been renowned for creating ultra-close racing action.
The track is the second fastest currently used for motorcycle GP racing (after Dutch GP track Assen, another riders’ favourite) and demands much of machines and tyres. There are three essentials for a good result at the Victorian state venue: guts, determination and a sweet-handling motorcycle. Most riders count the track as one of their favourites because unlike many modern circuits that have been built to contain the speed of F1 cars, the Island is dominated by super-quick curves that test rider skill and daring to the limit. The Australian GP’s only negative is the area’s unsettled early spring
weather that can whip up dangerously strong winds off the nearby Bass Strait.

PHILLIP ISLAND DATA

Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Honda), 1:31.421 (2003)
Pole position 2003: Rossi, 1:30.068

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS
LORIS CAPIROSSI
Age: 31 (April 4, 1973)
Lives: Monaco
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP4
GP victories: 23 (1xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125)
First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125)
First GP: Japan, 1990 (125)
GP starts: 214 (44xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125)
Pole positions: 36 (3xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125)
First pole: Australia, 1991 (125)
World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998)
Phillip Island 2003 results: Grid: 2nd. Race: 2nd

TROY BAYLISS
Age: 35 (March 30, 1969)
Lives: Monaco
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP4
First GP: Australia, 1997 (250)
GP starts: 31 (30xMotoGP, 1×250)
World Superbike victories: 22
World Championships: 1 (Superbike: 2001)
Phillip Island 2003 results: Grid: 4th. Race: DNF