From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

SETE GIBERNAU, CHASING FOR THE TITLE

With the Estoril race behind us the championship is now ready to move onto the next 4 overseas races: the circus will be doing quite a tour in the next five weeks. It’s stops will include Japan, Qatar, Malaysia, Australia and finally will return to Europe for the grand finale in Valencia, Spain on the 31st of October.


4 races in 5 weeks, between flights and jet lags riders, techs and mechanics stress tolerance will be put to the test. The goal is to not make mistakes because there is no chance to recuperate between these races. For those riders chasing the title each race needs to be taken on as if it were the final one, “every race will be important but not decisive” says the Spaniard. “I am staying focused on myself and am thinking about each race as an independent one. I cannot think about what track I like or which one is better for my RC211V because each race will be determined from the velocity with which we are able to get the bike set up correctly. It will be important to know how to cope with the pressure and Valentino is very good at this, until now he has been world champion, I have never before found myself in this situation and with each day I learn to be a better rider and with me my team betters itself also.”

5 races until the end mean 125 points to give; no one has ever been so close to catching Valentino Rossi as Sete Gibernau is. He holds a solid second place with 29 points separating him from the leader. The Spaniard, and the entire team with him, still believes in the title and will do everything possible to win, giving 100% in every race as they have been doing since race one.

SETE COMMENTS ABOUT THE MOTEGI TRACK
“The track of the Twin Ring doesn’t really have any peculiarities, and for this reason it can actually be complicated to find the correct bike set up. On this track it is very important to find a good compromise between braking and acceleration. Motegi is in fact a braking and accelerating circuit; it has 90 degree corners which need to be taken on quite aggressively. It is a circuit that adapts well to our Honda motorcycle characteristics and it is a track where I have done some nice races even if I have been a bit unlucky. In 2003 I rode with a fever and the race ended before I hoped as I touched with Tamada.”


COLIN EDWARDS, 4TH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

COLIN EDWARDS IS THE ONLY RIDER IN THE MOTOGP CLASS WHO HAS SCORED POINTS IN EVERY GP and thanks to his consistent riding he maintains the fourth position in the championship.
Consistency is a quality that the Texan has since he was riding in the SBK championship. Nevertheless, the results of this year do not satisfy the two times World SBK Champion, who hasn’t shown his real talent so far. He is still suffering from chattering that prevents him from fighting in front for the podium.

The Honda track of the Twin Ring Motegi can be a chance of redemption. During the last session at Estoril on Monday after the GP of Portugal, Colin Edwards concentrated on the setting and tyres. Thanks to the support given by Michelin, the rider of the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda has tested a new tyre with which he immediately had a good feeling as proven by his best lap time of 1’38″08.

Now the Texan arrives to Japan full of determination and ready to prove his potential, which shone through at Donington Park where, together with the team, he was able to solve his chattering problem and scored his first MotoGP podium.

COLIN EDWARDS AND THE MOTEGI TRACK

What are your memories about the track?
During my career I have only ridden once in Motegi. The atmosphere is good, this year it will be the only race in Japan so I think it will be very followed.

Which is the best part of the track?
My favourite part of the track is the tunnel exit: you come our of it and you meet a series of 4 corners: right, left, right, left… It’s fun! Each corner is a bit slower than the previous one.

The best point to overtake:
There isn’t a particular point where it is best to overtake, there are many, for example the final part where there is a violent braking followed by a chicane.

The slowest part?
The last part of the track, in particular the last three corners are very slow.

The secret to a perfect lap?
Here it is important to find a good feeling with the front fork. There are two points where the front braking is very violent.

Describe the atmosphere
It is a nice atmosphere. Many people don’t like to race in Japan, I have raced in Suzuka many times and I like coming to Japan.