From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

Spanish GP – MotoGP

Camel Honda team all set for star role in Spanish GP

In South Africa the Camel Honda team fully lived up to expectations: that of playing a leading role right from the beginning in the battle to win the 2004 MotoGP championship, with its 16 races across five continents. Max Biaggi’s 28 laps at Welkom had millions of spectators around the world in breathless excitement and his satisfaction on the podium, together with that of the technicians, gives a clear indication of the spirit with which the team is now heading towards the cradle of Spanish motorcycling, Jerez de La Frontera, in Andalusia. And great determination also fires Makoto Tamada’s technicians, who in South Africa enabled the rider to make huge progress over the weekend and who are now aiming to provide the swift Japanese with the best bike-tyre package so that he can show off his talent to the full. Jerez is a circuit that many riders in the world championship like – and the two standard bearers of the Camel Honda Team are no exception – not just because it is a fine course, technical, medium-fast and almost always blessed with ideal weather conditions, but also because it is in the beautiful region of Andalusia and on the GP weekend it attracts a huge throng of biking fans.

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin tyres)

“I like the Jerez track because it’s technical, fairly difficult and very complete, in the sense that there are many different types of corner, from rapid sweeps to medium-slow, with a number of pretty abrupt braking points. There are no particular ups and downs but otherwise there’s everything it takes to ensure plenty of fun. The chassis settings are fundamental on this type of track and we’ll certainly be starting out with the ones we used in Welkom – which proved to be very effective – but of course we’ll be adapting them to the different characteristics of Jerez, and we’ll try to perfect the little details we didn’t have time to work out in South Africa. I’m feeling fully geared up after the race two Sundays ago. I’m highly motivated and I feel ready to work absolutely flat out with Honda and my team in order to get out ahead and achieve the result we’re going for.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone tyres)

“I’m anxiously awaiting the second round of the world championship at Jerez. First of all because I want to improve my performance after the race in South Africa. A good race even so, and an honourable eighth place, but I wasn’t happy about the gap separating me from the leader at the finish. I’m very pleased with the bike, the 2004 RC211V is much more powerful than last year’s but despite this improvement in performance, it’s still very easy to handle and ride. I’m also pleased with the tyres, for new materials are constantly being developed, though I was only able to try out the latest during the weekend in Welkom. After the IRTA tests, when it was almost always raining, I hadn’t gathered all the data I needed to get a complete idea of these new models. So we are going to have to make up for some lost time and the four hours of practice at Jerez will be fundamental. I love the Jerez de La Frontera circuit and I’m hoping to find the right weather conditions so that I can work well. What we’re aiming for is to get the package of bike-plus-new-tyres really balanced so that we can achieve the level of competitiveness that will let us stay out in front and make it up to the podium.”

Jerez circuit


2003 podium
1. V. Rossi (Honda)
2. M. Biaggi (Honda)
3. T. Bayliss (Ducati)

2003 Pole Position
L. Capirossi (Ducati-2003)
1:41.983

Official Record
V. Rossi (Honda – 2003)
1:41.983

No. of laps
27 (119.421 km)

MotoGP race time:
14:00 (GMT + 1)
*Greenwich Mean Time + 1 hour


Features
Length: 4,423 m
Width: 11 m
Right-handers: 8
Left-handers: 5
Built in: 1986
Modifications: 1994