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

GP OF ITALY – ROUND 4

PREVIEW

It is the Mugello circuit which will welcome the fourth race of the 2004 Championship.
The Italian GP will be particularly difficult for the riders of the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP. The Italian riders in fact, sustained by their own public, will be for sure racing with extra motivation. Nevertheless, the Team “azul” accepts this challenge and will present itself during this home GP with the same motivation and concentration as the other Grand Prix with the goal of winning.

Sete Gibernau needs to defend his position as leader of the MotoGP championship on this Tuscan track which generally favors the Italian riders (in 2003 an all Italian podium with Rossi, Capirossi and Biaggi). Sete Gibernau will not disappoint, a rider who is loved by the Italians and who rides for an Italian team, and even he is considered a favorite here in Italy, favorite enough that the

Press considers him as the fifth Italian rider of the MotoGP.

#15 SETE GIBERNAU

“It is too early to think about the Championship. I will race this Italian GP with the same commitment and concentration of the past races. I still believe we have a lot of work to do. For sure it will be a difficult race as the Italian riders will be in front of their public, therefore they will have an extra gear as to be even more motivated that usual.

Plus Mugello isn’t exactly a circuit I particularly like. Last year on this track we had the worst result of the season, but for sure I will be racing to win. I have lots of Italian fans and it would be a fantastic gift for my Italian mechanics and for my Team.”




#45 COLIN EDWARDS

The Texan of the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP arrives to the Mugello extremely motivated. ” For many, my race in Le Mans went well, but not for me, I think it was a disaster. This isn’t my potential, I am used to being up fron! t and fighting for the podium.”

The Team believes in his riding skills even though during the races he still hasn’t shown his full potential. After the French GP the Team stopped in Michelin’s own home track of Claremont Ferrand for a two day test. These two days have proven to be fundamental for a better set up of the RC211V, in particular to study two problems the bike has: the jumping it tends to show while entering a corner and the tendency to wheelie while accelerating.

“After the test in Claremont Ferrand my feeling with the bike is much better, we had problems with the front wheel whenever the air temperature rose and it tended to wheelie excessively. We changed the forks and we resolved these problems. Now I can’t wait to go to Mugello.”

The Italians are given as favored but there won’t only be Rossi and Biaggi, Sete and I will be up there to fight also. Mugello is a special track, full of history, I like the atmosphere.”