From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

Camel Honda team tightens around Makoto

Ten days after the spectacular Camel Honda one-two in Rio de Janeiro, which saw Makoto Tamada taking his first Grand Prix victory and Max Biaggi back on the podium for 20 points on his birthday, the team is now more than ready for any challenge thrown up by the twisty Sachsenring circuit in Germany. Most importantly the team is sharing the burden of the sad loss of Mrs. Sakae Tamada, Makoto’s mother, after she passed away on the Tuesday after the Brazilian GP. Luca Montiron, Tamada’s team manager, flew to Japan last weekend to attend the funeral, and team-mate Max Biaggi as well as the entire Camel Honda team, led by Sito Pons, sympathise with the Japanese rider. Due to these circumstances, it was decided not to contact Tamada in Japan for his statement regarding the German GP. Makoto will of course be at the media’s disposal, as always, on the Thursday before the race.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)
“After the great joy of the Brazilian GP, where our team achieved its main goals with Tamada’s fantastic victory and an extremely important second place for Biaggi, we go to Germany a little saddened by Makoto’s loss. We are all so sorry that after such a brilliant victory, Makoto has had to undergo this kind of grief. The team will do everything to help to him at this difficult time. The next race is going to be a massive challenge for us, but we are hopeful that our riders can express themselves in the same way as in Brazil. Last year Max was quickest both in practice and in the race, where he paid the price trying to recover from a bad start with a crash. He has the official lap record however, which just shows he will be competitive there. Makoto will have to find the strength within himself to endure this difficult time, and as I have already said, we will do all we can to get him in the right shape for the race.”

Luca Montiron – Camel Honda (Makoto Tamada Team Manager)
“Last Thursday I left for Japan because I wanted to be with Makoto in what is a truly distressing time for him, and he was as humble as ever, as is his nature, although he remained upbeat and positive. We hardly had time to savour the joy of his marvellous triumph in Rio, because that very evening Makoto flew to Japan, where he had time to embrace his mother. There’s not much we can say other than we will try to do everything we can for Makoto during the upcoming German Grand Prix, because we know that for him to get a good result and do his best in his work as a rider is the perfect way to honour his mother, who has always been there to support him throughout his career.”

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin Tyres)
“The Rio race was really important, but it’s just as important now to back up the positive comeback we made in Brazil. Sachsenring is a very unique track, which requires a bike to be very agile in the steering department, so that will be our aim to achieve by the end of Friday’s practices. Last year we managed to do it, even though in the race I made a mistake whilst I was pushing hard to catch up to the front runners. It would be ideal to be set up by Saturday afternoon because the battle for the front row will be hard-fought, given that starting from the front here is more important than normal. The track is winding, there’s no real straight and above all in the first part it’s difficult to overtake because the track is also quite narrow. In the last section, it gets a bit wider so there’s space to overtake, but it’s always best to be in a position whereby you don’t have to make up positions. I’m convinced that we can do well, because in the Rio race my bike was going particularly well.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone Tyres)
Makoto Tamada returned to Japan, where last Saturday at ten o´clock in Matuyama-Shi, in the Osaka region, he attended the funeral of his mother, Sakae Tamada. Tamada lost his father several years ago.

Sachsenring Circuit


2003 Podium

1. S. Gibernau (Honda)
2. V. Rossi (Honda)
3. T. Bayliss (Ducati)


Pole Position
M. Biaggi (Honda – 2003)
1’23.734

Ofiicial Lap Record
M. Biaggi (Honda – 2003)
1’24.630

Nº of Laps
30 (110.13km)

MotoGP timetable:
14.00 (GMT +2)
*One hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time


Characteristics
Length: 3,671 m
Width: 10m
Right Corners: 4
Left Corners: 10
Constructed in: 1996
Last modified: 2003