Tamada Will Try To Race At The French Grand Prix

Tamada Will Try To Race At The French Grand Prix

© 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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BACK TO EUROPE FOR FRENCH SHOWDOWN AT LE MANS After the surprises of Shanghai two weeks ago, MotoGP returns to more familiar territory this weekend. The historic Bugatti circuit at Le Mans is the venue for round four of the 2005 World Championship. This is where riders hoping to haul in reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) have to perform. Rossi already has a 25 point advantage over nearest challenger Marco Melandri (Team Movistar Honda RC211V). But with 14 races still to go, Le Mans represents a great opportunity for his rivals to turn the screw and claw back some ground. And for the in-form Melandri to maybe take his first win. Sete Gibernau (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) is the man most likely to make ground on Rossi after winning here for the last two years. The Spaniard was denied a podium by a lack of rear grip in the deluge in China and he comes to France determined to make up for his fourth place finish in the Far East. But his rejuvenated team-mate Melandri is more than likely to have some bearing on the result after his rampaging start to the 2005 season. The young Italian has scored two podiums from three races and feels he is soon due a maiden win in the MotoGP class. Then there’s the mercurial Alex Barros (Camel Honda RC211V) who won in Portugal and needs another strong result to establish himself among the title contenders for the remainder of the season. He could only manage 11th in Shanghai. Frenchman Olivier Jacque, standing in for injured Kawasaki rider Alex Hofmann, scored a second place in China – Kawasaki’s best result since their return to MotoGP – and with a home crowd to cheer him on, who knows what the former 250cc World Champion is capable of? But the 4.180km track is a demanding circuit and although few riders claim to enjoy riding here, they all have maximum respect for it. Le Mans requires courage in parts, a delicate throttle hand in others and absolute commitment in the many heavy braking areas. Located 150 miles south-west of Paris, the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans employs some elements from the longer public roads circuit but remains self-contained within its own confines. Turn one is a blisteringly fast uphill right with a following chicane that requires expert judgement to get right. Many rookie riders overshoot or brake too early allowing rivals past. Much of the rest of the track is a succession of hard braking and tight exits that put a premium on machine balance. It might not be that technical – but it is demanding. In all it comprises nine right hand turns and four lefts with two tight complexes before the flat out start/finish straight into turn one. Machine set-up requires stability on the brakes and chassis settings that allow quick turn-in but not at the expense of having to tame a wheelie-prone machine on the throttle out of the many slow turns. Many of the overtaking opportunities here are afforded under braking. The track was built in 1965, modified and shortened in 2003 and totally resurfaced last year to the delight of all riders. Max Biaggi (Repsol Honda RC211V) holds the lap record here and the Roman can’t wait to get riding on Friday morning. “The French Grand Prix is something to look forward to,” he said. “I like the atmosphere, although the track is narrow and always an exciting challenge. I go to Le Mans to finally run a good race. The season didn’t start the way I wanted, but I hope that from France onwards my team and I will be able to express our potential and get ahead again.” His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is equally keen to impress here. “I sure hope we can get the season back on track in Le Mans,” he said. “We’ll be back in Europe and the year is moving so fast it’s important we get a result soon. I want to give my boys something to smile about; they’re working real hard and there’s a great spirit in the team, but so far nothing really to cheer about.” Sete is even more determined than usual. “The Bugatti circuit is a very particular track,” he said. “It’s quite difficult, characterized by a very fast right-hand corner at the end of the start straight, followed by a chicane which demands a quick change in speed. An impressive piece of the track! A perfect set-up is needed and good feel from the front tyre is very important.” His team-mate Marco is enjoying his new lease of life with Honda and said, “I am very happy with this start to the season. I would never have imagined I’d be in second place in the Championship, but now I feel as though I have the potential to do even better. Now a victory is no longer a fantasy – I want to try to win this race.” Alex Barros said, “Le Mans is a track that has always been tough for me, but that’s not to say I won’t be aiming for a top result. The important thing is to prepare the bike well, not necessarily to get it one hundred percent perfect. I know things can’t always go as well as they did in Estoril for example. In China we didn’t have the set-up spot on, but on Sunday I was quick and I was able to pick up a few points, despite the penalty, so I hope I can go well in France too.” Troy Bayliss (Camel Honda RC211V) said, “I can’t wait to get to France because Le Mans is a track I love. Last year the race went quite well for me, but better still was the test day following it – I had a great day and rode really well. I think if we can get the bike set up well, I should be able to ride a good race.” Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) bounces back from injury and is ready to get his season underway with a vengeance. “I still feel pain but I hope that day after day the situation will get better and I’m hoping I’ll be able to fight for the positions that count,” he said. ” I feel like I haven’t paid back the team for what they have built for me in just a few months, therefore this will give me extra energy for the rest of the season. Now we have to move and do what we are here for.” In the 250cc class reigning World Champion Dani Pedrosa (Team Movistar Honda RS250RW) has not had things all his own way so far. The Spanish superstar currently lies third in the overall points standings and needs a strong result to get back at his rivals. But he is being pressed hard by reigning 125cc World Champion Andrea Dovizioso (Scot Racing Team Honda RS250RW) who won here last year. Dovi heads the pints standings going into this race and few would bet against the confident Italian at least scoring a podium here this year in his debut 250cc season. The next race is a track I like very much and I can ride very well. Aprilia has more engine power but is slower in the corners: there will be great fights! I’ve never thought we would get such a great start to the season!” Said the series points leader. “I’ve always had good results at Le Mans,” said Dani. “And I think it’s a good circuit to get us back where we belong. It’s not a case of whether or not I like it, but for preparing well for the race – and we’ve always been well prepared for France. We have information from last season that will be a good base for us to start from. The most important thing is to get the gearbox settings right because it is a track with a lot of accelerating and hard braking.” His team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama (Team Movistar Honda RS250RW) said, “We scored an important podium in China and I’m optimistic about this race. I know that this is a Grand Prix we can do well in. Last season, in my first year in the World Championship, I finished fourth in the race and I hope to improve on that result. I need to be a bit more consistent in the practice sessions and get a good position on the grid.” Hector Barbera (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) and his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) are two other riders who might well figure in the results. Both are capable of podium finishes and this could be the race where one, or indeed both, can make it happen. The top men in the 125cc class will be aiming to use this race to break clear of their pursuers, but they know that many of their rivals share the capacity to stage a comeback here. Among those riders hoping for a revival in fortunes is Alvaro Bautista (Seedorf Racing Honda RS125RW) “I was disappointed with my race at Shanghai,” he said. “So I hope Le Mans will be an improvement. In China we did good work on Friday and in the warm-up. I still don’t really understand what happened in the race. Anyway, let’s make sure that was an unexpected hiccup. If we can continue with the progress we made at Estoril I’ll be okay. I feel strong physically and mentally.” His team-mate Aleix Espargaro (Seedorf Racing Honda RS125R) is raring to go racing. “I don’t know how I am going to feel at Le Mans. But this doesn’t worry me. My philosophy doesn’t change: work hard, try to learn as much as possible, and also try to enjoy myself here. My aim is to be fighting among the points.” But Fabrizio Lai (Kopron Racing World Honda RS125RW) and Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) are the form riders at the moment. Lai’s consistency keeps him second in the standings by one point from series leader Mika Kallio (KTM), while Luthi lies sixth having scored one podium finish so far. Tomoyoshi Koyama (Ajo Motorsport Honda RS125R) is looking stronger with every race and could well spring a surprise at this track. His fifth place in China showed he can learn tracks quickly and Le Mans represents a great opportunity for the rising Japanese star.

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