DUCATI MARLBORO MEN READY FOR PENULTIMATE GP This weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the 17-event 2005 MotoGP season, is another historic landmark for the sport. MotoGP’s first-ever visit to the country that joins Europe to Asia comes during an era of rapidly expanding horizons, with MotoGP visiting the Middle East for the first time last year, China for the first time last May and returning to the USA after a decade’s absence in July.
And this is also a historic weekend for the Ducati Marlboro Team which will field a Japanese rider for the first time in MotoGP, Bridgestone test rider Shinichi Ito joining Carlos Checa as replacement for the injured Loris Capirossi. Winner of September’s Japanese and Malaysian GPs, Capirossi had been gunning for second overall in the championship until he fell during practice for last weekend’s Australian GP. After arriving back in Italy on Monday, Loris is now at Imola hospital, under the care of Dr. Claudio Costa of the Clinica Mobile. The aim is to help the healing process of his right lung, which suffered internal bruising in the crash, and allow the plucky Italian rider to get back on the track as soon as possible.
“We are obviously sad that we don’t have Loris with us this weekend, but at the same time we offer a very warm welcome to Ito-san,” says Ducati MotoGP project leader Livio Suppo. “He has done some great work doing tyre tests for us this year, and it will be really nice to see a Japanese rider race a Ducati for the first time in MotoGP. It will also be a good opportunity to test Bridgestone tyres with Ito at this new circuit. Carlos comes to Istanbul full of enthusiasm after his podium finish in Australia, so we will be working as hard as usual to help him to get back on the podium this Sunday.”
Istanbul will be a great challenge for the Ducati Marlboro Team and its rivals, because none of the teams have tested at the brand-new track.
“To me, it looks like another modern circuit, with a layout like Shanghai or Sepang perhaps,” says Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “Without any knowledge of the track there’s very little we can do in preparation, except work out a ‘draft’ gearbox by estimating corner speeds on the computer. This is better than nothing, at least. Otherwise we’ll start off with our base set-up, nothing changed from Phillip Island.”
CHECA: AIMING TO IMPROVE ON THIRD Carlos Checa has scored two third-place finishes in the last three races, so the Ducati Marlboro Team rider wants to do better than that in Turkey. The Spaniard had a thrilling ride at Phillip Island last Sunday, using the awesome power of his Desmosedici to snatch third place at the finish line. “This weekend we simply need to continue the progress we’ve been making in recent months,” says Checa. “We know our bike and tyres work well, but this will be a different and interesting weekend because both Bridgestone and Michelin start from zero at this track. The circuit is totally new to me because I didn’t even watch the Turkish F1 race. From what little I’ve seen the track looks interesting, very up and down, which makes riding much more interesting because you have camber changes, plus it’s just more fun to ride. But like any other racetrack, Istanbul is just straights and corners. As it’s a new circuit, which none of the teams know, much will depend on who gets used to it quickest. We only have five hours of practice, so if you start out in a good way, you’ll probably carry that advantage into the race. “As always, it’s nice to visit a country I’ve never been to before, though sadly we won’t have much time to look around because we’re travelling directly from Australia and then we have to prepare for the final race of the year at Valencia.”
ITO REPLACES CAPIROSSI Bridgestone test rider Shinichi Ito joins the Ducati Marlboro Team as replacement for Loris Capirossi, who crashed during practice for the Australian GP, suffering chest injuries which have ruled him out of taking part in the Turkish GP. “It is a great honour to take my place in the Ducati Marlboro Team for the Turkish GP,” says Ito. “I know it won’t be an easy weekend but I’m looking forward to racing alongside all the full-time MotoGP riders and I will do my best. I have good experience of the Desmosedici, having done many tests with the bike.”
Ito, a former 500 GP racer, now has two roles in his riding career -Japanese Superbike racer and Bridgestone tyre tester. This year he has completed numerous tyre tests with the Bridgestone MotoGP Test Team on a Desmosedici GP5 and last weekend he secured the Japanese Superbike title, riding a Bridgestone-equipped Honda. Ito also won the 1998 Japanese Superbike crown and the 1990 Japanese 500 championship. From 1993 to 1996 he was a full-time 500 GP rider, securing six podium finishes (including second-place finishes at the 1994 Czech GP and 1995 European GP). His best championship result was fifth overall in 1995. He also finished fourth in the first-ever MotoGP race at Suzuka in 2002.
THE TRACK The brand-new Istanbul Park Circuit only staged its first race a few months ago, but that F1 car event drew much praise from drivers and spectators alike. The drivers liked the new track because it is undulating and challenging with a great variety of corners. The 5.340km/3.31 mile circuit is one of five anti-clockwise venues in the 17-event MotoGP World Championship, with eight of its 14 turns going left. It was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke who was also responsible for the Shanghai and Sepang racetracks. The track was constructed approximately 50km to the south east of the country’s capital of Istanbul, close to the town of Pendik and Istanbul’s second airport, Sabiha Gokcen. Grandstand seating is provided for up to 75,000 people.
Lap record: new circuit
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDERS DATA LOGS CARLOS CHECA Age: 33 (born October 15, 1972) Lives: London, England Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 GP victories: 2 (500) First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500) First GP: Europe, 1993 (125) GP starts: 183 (63xMotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125) Pole positions: 3 (2xMotoGP, 1×500) First pole: Spain, 1998 (500)
SHINICHI ITO Age: 38 (born December 7 1966) Lives: Miyagi, Japan Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5 First GP: Japan, 1988 (500) Pole positions: 1 (500, Germany, 1993)