From a press release issued by Alice Aprilia Racing Press Information:

A NEW CHALLENGE CLOSE TO THE OCEAN

This is the hot zone of the world championship: the Portuguese GP of this Sunday will be the last European race before leaving for Brasil, Japan, Malaysia and Australia to end the championship in Valencia in the first week of November. The challenge is difficult but the Alice Aprilia Racing Team is ready considering all the news as usual. Marcellino Lucchi went to Mugello last week (Wednesday and Thursday) in order to test some solutions for the chattering problems that prevented the improvements of the Rs Cube in the last three races. A difficult job for the technicians and Michelin staff as well who tried new tyres on the Noale bike. Anyway Haga and Edwards worked hard to reach that objective.

The Japanese rider became daddy for the second time last 25 of August but he did not decide the name yet as the Japanese tradition allows him to wait for two weeks before taking the decision. Maybe the announcement could be made Saturday night during a special event organized by Aprilia in the hospitality unit. Colin Edwards came to Europe some days ago after the presentation of the new RSV1000 at the Nürburgring track.

Anyway the Aprilia riders will find a difficult track this week end with a long main straight (almost 1 km) and a series of slow corners in the final part. Moreover the wind is very strong bringing a lot of saddle into the track changing the grip features. Nothing easy for the MotoGP riders!!!

GIGI DALL’IGNA (Project Leader): “We did not make any vacation during the summer break: we still want to get better results in the final part of the season. For this reason the team worked hard in order to solve the chattering problems we had especially at Brno. Marcellino Lucchi tested several solutions working in the suspensions system. Then we had a good cooperation with Michelin (our official tyres supplier) that is going to create a new rear tyre exclusively for our bike. Finally a new fairing that will be used only in the next oversea races. Well. the development of the bike is increasing and I expect something interesting for this Portuguese race”.

THE TRACK

Fernanda Pires da Silva – Estoril: lenght 4.182 metres, equal to 2.599 miles.

Lap record: 1:40.683 Loris Capirossi (Honda 2001)

2002 Pole: 1:39.793 Carlos Checa (Yamaha 2002)


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Press Information:

HONDA RIDERS OUT IN FRONT IN CHAMPIONSHIP RUN-IN

The MotoGP entertainment machine is fully fired up and running at the rev-limiter as the concluding six races of a compelling season of racing so far begin at Estoril, near Lisbon in Portugal on Friday. Reigning World MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V) predicted his Championship defence would be harder than ever this year — and so it is proving.

But the Italian, with able assistance from title hopefuls Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) and Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V), is providing some of the closest racing yet seen in the premier class. At Brno in August the top five riders were covered by just 1.17 seconds before Rossi snatched the lead from Gibernau on the last lap, breaking the lap record as he won by just four hundredths of a second from the Spaniard.

As the title race intensifies, this level of fully committed combat looks set to continue at Estoril. The three main protagonists are looking to change the shape of the World Championship points table before the Rio Grand Prix in Brazil and before MotoGP later moves east for three rounds in close succession: Motegi in Japan, Sepang in Malaysia and Phillip Island in Australia. Then the series returns to Europe for the final race at Valencia in Spain in November.

Estoril is thus a pivotal race in the Championship and Rossi, who has tasted success in Portugal in 2001 and 2002 will be looking to secure a bigger points lead in Sunday’s race. He heads the Championship from Gibernau by 34 points with Biaggi in third place just 37 points behind Gibernau. With 150 points up for grabs from six races, the destiny of the 2003 title is by no means certain.

The 2.598km circuit is likely to provide intriguing racing. With one long straight the Autodromo Fernanda Pires Da Silva on the Atlantic coast 30km north west of Lisbon puts something of a premium on top speed. But it is also one of the ‘slowest’ tracks on the calendar with a series of 13 turns, some tight, some long constant radius and with a tricky chicane on the back section of the circuit too.

Machine set-up requires a bike that has good balance with stable turn-in, as braking into the entries to the corners is crucial, especially in the final two turns that lead onto the start/finish straight. Good drive out of the turns is also a prime requirement and a machine that can ‘hook-up’ well out of the corners is what riders will be searching for during the two days of qualifying.

The track also has its fair share of bumps, especially through turns one and two, and as ever, a balanced trade-off between agility, stability and the ability to ride the rippled tarmac of the early corners will be the ideal. That Rossi, Gibernau and Biaggi are all Honda RC211V-mounted only adds to the pressure that all three be under as they begin the long process of maximising the performance of their V5 four-stroke Hondas.

Wind and dust are also factors to be taken into account on this coastal track. High winds, and frequently rain, are never a surprise here, and the dust that the winds blow onto the track can often reduce grip levels considerably – until the bikes have ‘laid down’ rubber on the racing line and cleaned the surface to the extent that grip becomes more predictable.

Rossi is on a roll after Brno. With four wins to his credit so far, the World Champion will be gunning for an Estoril victory. “The last race really was the result we needed,” he said. “Now we return to Estoril where I have done okay in the past and we’re hoping for another good result before the very hard flyaway part of the season. We tested after Brno which was positive and we are in good shape.”

His nearest challenger Gibernau expects Estoril to be a happy hunting ground. “I have something with the Portuguese track,” he said. “I like it a lot. Last year I was having a good race until I crashed towards the end. I had it in my hand and I threw it away. But my form is very encouraging and I feel it’s payback time for me in Estoril. I like the track, the bike is working well and I’m battling with Valentino. We just have to keep on doing the things we are doing well and keep working at it.”

Biaggi knows he needs a big result here. Having won only one race so far this year, the Roman needs a win to put pressure on the title contenders ahead of him and after riding 85 laps of Brno in the Czech Republic in testing last month, he is determined to make Estoril count for him. “We are all determined and working hard,” he said. “We are nearly where we want to be with the new parts we tested and now it’s time to get back to work.”

Biaggi’s team-mate Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) has been buoyed by a very positive test at Brno and the Japanese should enjoy a return to form in Portugal. He was fastest by seven tenths of a second at Brno – faster than Rossi, Biaggi and Gibernau – and he knows Estoril is a critical race of the season for him. “I now feel much more comfortable on the bike,” he said. “And I have to make this feeling count now and keep working.”

American Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is enjoying his rookie year in MotoGP and returns to Europe invigorated by the summer break. “It’s been real good getting back home for a bit and just chillin’ with my friends and family,” he said. “But I’m looking forward to getting back on the Honda and pushing higher up the table. There are six races to go and I’ve ridden the last four tracks so I should be able to push from the start.”

Japanese rookies Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) and Ryuichi Kiyonari (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) have yet to ride at Estoril. “I will be working on my starts,” said Tamada. “I have had to work too hard in races because I haven’t always been able get away with the main pack.” Kiyonari…

In the 250 class it’s tight at the top too. Manuel Poggiali heads the overall standings with 145 points, from Fonsi Nieto, who won here last year, (both Aprilia) on 136 and Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) on 135 is fighting with great skill and measured determination to get the better of the Italian machines.

“I enjoy racing at Estoril, I’ve had some good results there,” said Rolfo. “The Honda chassis is really good and I think we have the opportunity to do well this time. The handling characteristics of the Honda will be an advantage but we still need a little more speed. Good acceleration off the last corner onto the straight is vital at Estoril, if we find that we will have a chance on Sunday. I just hope it doesn’t rain, it’s not a good track to race on in wet conditions.”

The hugely experienced Argentine rider Sebastian Porto (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) is confident Estoril will suit his V-twin machine. “I like Estoril and had a good week here last year,” he said. “I was on pole and finished third in the race. The track will suit the Honda more than Brno because there is just one straight and the corners are closer together which is ideal for the handling and suspension characteristics of the bike.”

The 125cc category is typically tight, although the overall points standings don’t quite reflect the intensity of the competition. After his win at Brno Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS125R) heads the table with 162 points from Stefano Perugini (Aprilia) on 137 and Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) on 112.

The young Spaniard Pedrosa is typically frank about the tracks he likes and dislikes, but he knows he has work to do regardless. “At Brno it was important to show the others I was ‘fit’ to win again,” he said. “Estoril is not one of my favourite tracks, but it’s one of 16 we have to race on. As for the Championship there is still a lot of hard work to do in the six remaining races, 25 points is a good cushion – but nowhere near enough.”

Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) faces a medical examination at Estoril on Thursday before deciding if he will race. The young Swiss rider was brought down by a crashing rival at Brno. Luthi emerged with a crack in his upper thigh. “I will have a check up at the Clinica Mobile on Thursday, if I pass I will race. If not I will have to wait until Rio.”