Honda Previews The Czech Republic Grand Prix

Honda Previews The Czech Republic Grand Prix

© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

GIBERNAU AND BIAGGI POISED TO REEL IN ROSSI

The pulsating 2004 MotoGP season resumes this weekend at Brno in the Czech Republic with Honda riders Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) and Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) locked together on 142 points as they chase MotoGP series leader Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) who has 164 points.

With seven races of this 16-race season left to run, there are 175 points up for grabs more than enough to suggest that even beyond the halfway point of this compelling season nothing can be taken for granted.

Even Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) who had been having a wretched season up until the British Grand Prix at the end of July is now likely to be a factor in the title run-in. It may be too late for him to nurse title dreams in fourth overall on 95 points, but his results are likely to have a bearing on the final outcome if he can maintain his Donington form and steal points from other riders.

The most consistent riders in the Championship are Biaggi and Edwards. They are the only two to have scored points at every round so far. As a result they lie third and fourth in the points table. Gibernau has failed to finish twice, Rossi once. Further DNFs for any title aspirant will now prove disastrous as Brno and the six races beyond become a reality after the summer break.

Brno lies 200km south-east of Prague and the area is steeped in the rich history of Grand Prix racing. Races were run on an imposing closed roads course before the dedicated circuit was built in 1987. The 5.403km track is a spectacular environment for motorcycle racing and its plunging turns and a power-sapping climb demand a maximum from riders and machines.

The track drops 73m from its highest to its lowest point and this gradient is felt chiefly by way of downhill corner entries that that ask a lot from the front tyre. Some of these tricky entries are compounded by negative camber that further increases demands for dependable front-end grip. And from turn four to turn 11 it’s all downhill.

There are fast chicanes requiring a chassis set up for rapid changes of direction. Precise steering is a must here even though the track is exceptionally wide at 15m without accurate turn-in at the high sustained speeds achieved here not even this super-wide circuit can accommodate wayward exits resulting from inaccurate turn-in.

Another factor is the huge, enthusiastic crowd, The Czechs love their motorcycle racing and tens of thousands flock to Brno where the viewing facilities are excellent. The event won’t quite attract the crowds of 250,000 who used to watch in the 1970s, but Brno, like the best tracks, always has a charged atmosphere.

One of the most successful riders here in recent times is Max Biaggi. The Roman maestro has won here four times (back-to-back) on a 250 between 1994 and 1997, and he has also scored three premier class wins here too in 1998, 2000 and 2002. Of all the riders hoping for a victory here this weekend, perhaps Max is man best qualified to reasonably expect one…

“This season has already proved however that nothing is decided until the end, and it is with this spirit that I will take on the second part of the year. I’m delighted that we kick off again with Brno, because it is a track that I like without a doubt, but I will approach it as I do any other. In the end every track is great when you feel at one with your bike. And every track can be a pitfall when you don’t think it will be. So, it’s good to go to Brno, but the job more importantly than ever is to work well with the team, with Honda and with Michelin to get ourselves into the best shape technically by Sunday so we can fight for victory.” he said

His team-mate Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres said, “The Brno track is one of my favourites; the design and the track’s rhythm are very special. I really think I can go well there. During the summer break the tyre development will have moved on, and with the right choice to suit the climate in the Czech Republic we can feature prominently in this race.”

For Sete the battle begins again. “We are going to fight for this World Championship,” he said. “And Brno is a track I love a lot, it’s one of my favourites. Both the setting and layout of the track are excellent. It has good grip and very few bumps. From the first corners to about three fourths the length of the track the circuit descends, while for the last quarter the ascent is very pronounced with two chicanes, a very slow one and another very fast one which brings you to the straightaway. I always like racing in Brno.”

Colin Edwards too is ready for the challenge of Brno. “It’s a great place and full of character. The best bit is about halfway round where there’s a mini-stadium section. It’s really difficult but it’s good. It’s a nice flowing track, and you’ve got to pick the right lines every time. After Donington I can’t wait to get back racing, to show people the real Colin Edwards again.”

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) currently lies fifth in the overall points standings and said, “I’m really looking forward to getting back on the bike on Friday and pushing hard. This season has been very frustrating for me so far. The team is working very hard but there are times when things don’t seem to go my way. But I think we should go well in Brno. The new exhaust system helps with traction out of slower corners and this circuit has several second gear turns where it is important to get the power down smoothly. I’m looking to make this race the start of the best half of the season.”

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) in sixth overall is another rider in need of a stronger second half to his season. “I was ready to get back racing half way through the break I’m so excited about the rest of the season! We’re working real tight as a unit and we’ve had a few good sessions and races but no weekend has been 100% yet and this is the goal. In my first year I finished fifth in the championship and any racer’s goal is to go better with every season.”

In the 250cc category Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) has simply set the class alight in his rookie year and the young Spanish flyer leads his nearest rival Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) by 34 points with Sebastian Porto (Aprilia) in third 18 points behind de Puniet.

Again consistency is the key and de Puniet has finished every race in the points and despite his single win to Pedrosa’s four the Frenchman is ahead of Portoin third who’s scored two wins but twice failed to finish. But Pedrosa’s rookie record so far is astonishing; four wins, four seconds and just one DNF from his first nine races in the class.

Dani said, “We’ve had a good first half to the season, better than we expected, but the end will be very tough and we have to be ready. I’m glad we’re starting off in Brno because it is a circuit that has always been good for me with the 125. There are only two races left in Europe, other than the last round at Valencia, and the ‘flyaways’ will be stressful, with a circuit that we don’t know thrown in at Qatar. I’m very motivated and I’m looking forward to getting back on track.”

“I was looking forward to going home to Japan after so long away,” said Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW), “Although I am very happy in Barcelona. The holidays were really nice, I was able to relax and recharge the batteries for the rest of the season. At the start of this year everything was new for me but now I feel more and more at home in the category and in the competition, although every Grand Prix represents a new adventure for me. I think I have had some good races, although I still need a little extra. I have been close to the podium on two occasions and I would like to be up there before the end of the season.”

Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) said, “I like racing at Brno, it’s fast with corners you can do something with and I’m looking forward to it after the break. The remaining races are very important for me and I have to win to improve my position in the Championship. The bike is fast but we need to work more on the rolling chassis to get the very best out of the machine now.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Team Kopron Scot Honda RS125R) currently heads the 125cc table just as he has done all season. He has finished every race in the points so far and with three wins among those finishes, the young Italian is showing the combination of speed and discretion that defines a potential World Champion.

But seasoned campaigner Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) is on his tail and hungry Hector Barbera (Aprilia) is only two points behind him. And even sitting on a considerable points cushion, ‘Dovi’ is in no mood to discount the challenges ahead of him.

“I’m going to Brno in good condition, said Dovi. “I have been training hard to improve my physique while on holiday in Sardegna. Running long distance and riding my CR450 Supermotard, a gift from our sponsors. Brno is not one of my favourite tracks and last year I had trouble getting the bike to turn as precisely as I needed on the wide corners. Even though I don’t really like the circuit I’m confident I will have a good race there. The team is working very hard for me, the bike is really good and I rode well at Donington.”

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