The British GP, the ninth race of the season, sees the world championship enter its second phase. With the first eight races now behind them, Team MoviStar Honda MotoGP can boast seven podiums and two riders among the first five in the overall championship standings. Marco Melandri is lying in second place with 107 points and Sete Gibernau is lying fourth, just 5 points off from 3rd-placed Max Biaggi. The next race will be on 24th July at Donington Park the heartland of British racing tradition. Set in the countryside, just a stone’s throw from Sherwood Forest, this circuit is steeped in motorcycling history. Anachronistic in terms of facilities and logistics, it nevertheless remains one of the most beautiful race tracks of the entire championship. Consisting of a highly technical series of dips and rises, the track can essentially be divided into a fast initial section and slower second one, with the last three bends offering good overtaking opportunities: it’s no coincidence that most duels are resolved along this last tract. One of the most distinctive features of the circuit is undoubtedly the Craner Curve, a sweeping fifth-gear bend that riders would be wary of underestimating as it is notoriously deceptive and requires perfect maintenance of trajectory. Contradictory by nature, the Donington race circuit is something of challenge for technicians and engineers alike. The first, faster, section requires smooth error-free handling, while the second, slower section requires a more aggressive approach: the right set-up is the one that produces the right compromise between good braking performance and outstanding acceleration. In short the rider needs a precision motorcycle in the first section and an agile one in the second. HISTORY Built in 1931, the circuit later underwent extensive modifications following a long period of inactivity. The most important changes, made in 1985, resulted in the current configuration; 4023 metres long with 11 bends. LOCATION Donington lies at the centre of the East Midlands, about 60 km from Birmingham and 200 km from London. The nearest large towns are Derby, Leicester and Nottingham. MICHELIN PREPARES FOR DONINGTON PARK We asked Nicolas Goubert, Michelin’s motorcycle racing division manager, what sort of problems a track like Donington Park presents from a tyre manufacturer’s point of view: “Donington is not in itself a particularly difficult track to prepare for, especially since the new asphalt was laid last year. The difficulties at Donington, like Assen, lie in the fast-changing weather conditions and temperatures. The air and asphalt temperatures may vary a lot. That means we have to bring along a set of tyres that covers an extremely wide temperature range.” SETE GIBERNAU AND DONINGTON PARK “I don’t find the track easy at all. The bike has to be set up to perfection to handle the heavy braking and steep downhill sections. The Craner is notoriously difficult: there’s no visibility and the switch in direction has to be taken blind. The track consists of two very different sections: an initial fast section and a subsequent slower one with plenty of braking. My favourite tract is the last two bends, traditionally the setting for some spectacular overtaking. Because it’s so close to the East Midlands airport the track can be a little slippery on account of the burnt kerosene discharged by incoming aircraft. Fortunately, the new asphalt laid last year has improved the situation considerably. My best memory of this track? Last year I was on the podium – but it’s the test day after the race that I remember best. After analysing the problems encountered during the race, on the Monday we got some great test results and some valuable experience under our belts.” MARCO MELANDRI, READY FOR HIS SECOND “HOME” GP “Donington is something special, characterised by an exciting fast section and a second, slower section. Thanks to the new asphalt laid last year the track has improved enormously and now gives outstanding grip. It’s the section where the first two intermediate times are taken that I like best: the downhill tract and the sweeping uphill bend on the left: it’s pure exhilaration and requires every last drop of skill. The best spots for overtaking are the three slow bends towards the end of the track. The secret behind a good lap time at Donington Park? First and foremost, decisiveness and determination especially as you speed into the Craner (the downhill bend) on those qualifying tyres! You also need to be flexible enough to adapt to the characteristics of the track, being ready to switch from the fast bends at the start to the much slower ones that follow (especially the last three). The secret, then, lies in finding the right compromise between hard braking and smooth handling. In a way the Donington GP is my second “home” race as I live less than two miles from the circuit. Yet it’s a whole different atmosphere compared to Mugello. It’s good to see the number of spectators continuing to rise year after year, clear evidence of growing British interest in MotoGP, yet we’re a long way off from the passion of an Italian crowd! My best memory of this track is undoubtedly my 250cc victory back in 2002. And the worst memory is still fresh in my mind: the fall in the 2004 GP in which I broke my right thumb: it had to be operated on, and ended up conditioning the rest of the season.” DONINGTON PARK THE TRACK Name of the circuit: Donington Park Grand Prix: betandwin.com British Grand Prix Opened: 1931 Modified: 1985 Length: 4.023 km Width: 10 m Pole position: left Right curves: 7 Left curves: 4 Longest straight: 564 m MotoGP race: 30 laps RECORD: Track record 2004 Edwards (Honda) 1:29.973 pole position: 2004 Rossi (Yamaha) 1:28.720 2004 Race : 1st Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2nd Colin Edwards (Honda) 3rd Sete Gibernau (Honda)