From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

PREVIEW GP OF SACHSENRING

Round 8, The Sachsenring, a slow and torturous track

The Championship arrives at its exact half of the 2004 season here at Sachsenring for the GP of Germany.

Situated 100 km south of Dresda, in what was known as East Germany, the Sachsenring is a likeable for its changes of level, but being that it is short and torturous it isn’t very loved by the MotoGp riders. Here the 250 cc times are very similar to the MotoGp ones. There are not very many overtaking points and lapping is more frequent than usual.

Throttle control is everything at the Sachsenring being that the MotoGp is able to use the complete power of its engines only for 15% of the distance of a lap. Here the agility of the bike is more important than the power of it, especially during the first part of the track, the slowest and most torturous part, so much so that this track seems more like a go kart circuit than a MotoGp one.

In fact, the first corners are all about gear and direction changes, the throttle doesn’t really count much. The tyres are particularly strained in the series of six left corners at the half way point. The German track in fact is a slow one, technical and very demanding of the tyres.


#15 SETE GIBERNAU, THIRSTY FOR VICTORY

The German public, made up of real motorcycle fans and intenders, will definitely remember Sete Gibernau’s win during the 2004 race, when at the last lap he won after a long and spectacular duel with Valentino Rossi.
Theatre of one of the best races of the Spaniard’s career, the German track is particularly difficult for these heavy and powerful MotoGp machines. This track requires physical and mental strength to withstand all 30 laps of the race.

Called to repeat his German victory, Sete Gibernau arrives at the Sachsenring strong and determined. The Rio fall has not altered the leading positions in the riders championship because the GP of Rio was the spectacle of falls (fortunately without consequences) of Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau, the two riders at the head of the Championship.

“In Rio I made a small mistake and I paid very dearly for it. It is a shame as we worked well all weekend and I was riding on a 1:49, a pace that would have allowed me to fight for the victory. We lost an occasion but I am strong and positive as myself as a rider and the entire team have now gained a very high level of competitiveness. We’ll see you at the Sachsenring.”


SETE GIBERNAU AND THE SACHSENRING TRACK


What are your memories regarding this track?

Sachsenring is a slow and difficult track for MotoGp. I have nice memories of this circuit as I won last season, I disputed one of the best races of my life.

Which is the best sector of the tack?

It is a difficult and torturous track, I can’t say I have one area which I particularly prefer.

Which is the best place to overtake?

For sure the last two corners, (left –left), this is the best place to overtake : hard Braking and overtake.

Which is the fastest sector?

After the main straightaway, the piece of track that is in descent is for sure the most difficult and quickest of the entire track.

The secret to a good lap?

The setting has to be perfect, in this track it is important to open throttle – only in certain points – without being to aggressive.



#45 COLIN EDWARDS, A FORWARD PASS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Texas Tornado arrives at the exact half of the 2004 Championship, exactly half of the races in program for this season, fourth in the Riders Championship. In constant progress of bettering his results, Colin Edwards, with his Rio Gp has consolidated his position and has arrived closer to the leaders of the Championship. The team awaits from him another step forward at the Sachsenring.

COLIN EDWARDS AND THE SACHSENRING

“When I think of the Sachsenring I think of Fire”, Colin smiles but certainly last years experience, when his RS cube lit on fire because the tank lid came off, was a strong and scary experience for the Texan who fortunately came out of it without any serious injuries (only some superficial burns in fact).

“The Sachsenring is strange, very tight. In the first sector (turns 1,2,3,4) it is not possible to overtake. After turn 4, which is a right corner, an infinite series of left corners begin which bring you to do 360° on the same side. During this sector the tyres are under a lot of strain on the left hand side, therefore the choice of the tyre here is fundamental because they must not overheat.

After this long series of left hand corners, the track radically changes, you meet a right descending corner (here you must be particularly careful during the first laps because the right side of the tyre may still be cold). The last uphill corner is spectacular. Generally this isn’t a tack that requires a lot of physical strength because it puts the left side of your body to the test. This isn’t a circuit I particularly like.”

The best place of overtake?

The Sachsenkurve braking

The best Sector?

The Sachsenkurve.


THE TEAMS COMMENTS

Fausto Gresini, Team Manager

“The Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGp has arrived to its eighth appointment leading the team Championship, a great satisfaction which demonstrates the quality of work which the team and riders bring forward race after race. Sete Gibernau is heading the Riders Championship, tied for points with Valentino Rossi, while Colin Edwards is in fourth place. In Rio we lost a good occasion: it is really to bad for Sete had a good lap pace and was going really quick, I am sure he would have fought for the victory. Colin’s race was ok, but I would like to see him up front fighting for the podium. His contribution in fact is very important to make our team even stronger.”