Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Afternoon’s MotoGP Qualifying Results:

1. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:23.247
2. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:23.453
3. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:23.539
4. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:23.625
5. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:23.684
6. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, 1:23.692
7. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:23.753
8. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:23.831
9. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:23.884
10. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:24.061
11. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:24.096
12. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:24.122
13. Norick ABE, Yamaha, 1:24.151
14. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Aprilia, 1:24.322
15. Colin EDWARDS, Honda, 1:24.416
16. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:24.778
17. Ruben XAUS, Ducati, 1:24.808
18. Neil HODGSON, Ducati, 1:25.099
19. Kurtis ROBERTS, Proton, 1:25.863
20. Shane BYRNE, Aprilia, 1:25.867
21. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, 1:25.930
22. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, 1:26.004
23. Michel FABRIZIO, Harris WCM, 1:26.377
24. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, 1:27.747


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN FULL OF PROMISE

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss believe that their tenth- and 12th – place performances in this afternoon’s opening German GP qualifying session don’t reflect their potential for Sunday’s race. The pair ran a quick pace on race tyres but lost time in their final runs on soft qualifying tyres.

“What we saw in the first half of the session is very promising, both for Sunday’s race and for the rest of the season,” said Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali. “Loris and Troy are very happy with their machines on race tyres but they both made minor mistakes when they were going for their best laps on qualifying tyres, so their positions on the provisional grid aren’t a true reflection of their potential. On race tyres they were fourth and sixth, which makes us quite confident. Troy did a 12-lap stint on race tyres this afternoon, during which his last lap was only two tenths slower than his best time in that outing, which proves once again that the Twin Pulse motor is more friendly with the tyres. This is the first time we have had both riders using two Twin Pulse bikes each, so they are still learning how to take full advantage of this new package.”

Provisional pole position was taken by title hopeful Sete Gibernau. The top 14 riders were split by just 1.075 seconds.

CAPIROSSI’S RACE PACE IS PROMISING

Loris Capirossi and his crew made crucial changes to his Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP4 between the morning and afternoon sessions, allowing the Italian to run inside the top six on race tyres, only losing out when he went for an ultra-quick lap on qualifying rubber.

“I’m very happy, not with tenth place but with the way we’ve worked on the bike today,” said Capirossi. “This morning I was pretty slow through the track’s tight first section, but the changes we made to chassis set-up gave me a perfect feeling for both the front and rear ends this afternoon. My pace on race tyres was really good. We tried a few different race tyres, then when we fitted my qualifying tyre I made a small mistake near the end of my best lap. You always try everything during your best lap but maybe I gave more than my maximum, which is why I made that mistake. But overall I think we have again confirmed that we are really growing at the moment.”

BAYLISS INSIDE TOP FOUR ON RACE TYRES

Troy Bayliss ran inside the top four during this afternoon’s first qualifier, riding a fast and consistent outing on race tyres which suggests he is in good shape for Sunday’s race. But like his team-mate Capirossi, the Aussie made a minor error on what should have been his quickest lap, leaving him down in 12th spot.

“I was good on race tyres and I was good on qualifying tyres, until I made a little mistake at the top of the hill (turns six and seven),” explained the Ducati Marlboro Team rider who has two Twin Pulse bikes for the first time. “Twelfth doesn’t look that good but that mistake must’ve cost me half a second. The bike is working good – we’ve got good corner speed but we’re just missing a bit on the exits. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, I just hope it doesn’t rain.”


More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

NO JOY AT HOME FOR FUCHS KAWASAKI TEAM

The Bavarian based Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team completed a frustrating opening day of qualifying at their home Grand Prix this afternoon, with riders Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann hampered in the their efforts to post fast qualifying times around the historic Sachsenring circuit.

Neither rider was happy with today’s outcome, as Nakano finished in 16th place on the provisional grid for Sunday’s race, and local favourite Hofmann back in 21st.

For most of today’s practice and qualifying sessions Nakano was troubled by front end chatter, and then missed his final qualifying run when his Ninja ZX-RR was slowed with a mechanical problem.

Hofmann’s day at his home race was even less satisfying. His Ninja ZX-RR was fitted with the same Rio engine set-up that had performed faultlessly in Brazil, but engine performance was off the pace in the morning session. Afternoon qualifying came to an early end for the popular 24-year-old German rider, when the motor in his bike suffered a session-ending mechanical problem.

At this race Kawasaki have new fuel injection components and engine mapping, both of which had produced positive results at last weeks’ test session following the Rio GP in Brazil. However, dialling-in the optimum settings for the slower, cooler and twisting Sachsenring circuit proved time consuming and elusive, with the ideal settings still to be found.

Kawasaki technicians will make a detailed check of engine data in search of the solutions overnight.

A closely fought qualifying session, with 14 riders within one second of provisional pole, was run in heavily overcast but dry conditions, with a track temperature of 27 degrees.

Shinya Nakano: 16th (1:24.778)
“It’s been a difficult day for me and the team at the team’s home Grand Prix. My main problem has been front end settings; I have a lot of chatter and with many downhill corners here this makes it difficult to have a good feeling. In the afternoon I was hoping for a much faster time on my qualifying tyre at the end of the session, but then the engine stopped. I need to sit down with the team and look through the data to find some answers for tomorrow.”

Alex Hofmann: 21st (1:25.930)
“I don’t think it is too hard to imagine how down I feel after such a difficult day at my home race. I didn’t do more than three flying laps and, finally, my engine broke in qualifying and that was it. There is nothing much to say, other than I have to look for a much better day tomorrow.”

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
“We came here with new fuel injection parts and engine mapping, which were successfully tested in Rio. However, this morning we struggled to maximise the settings for this track, so we need to study the data to find some solutions. I’m confident our Kawasaki technicians will solve the problem. Alex had a mechanical failure this afternoon, which spoilt his qualifying session. I share the disappointment he obviously feels at our home race.”


More, from a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

ROSSI AND CHECA CLOSE TO THE PACE AT SACHSENRING

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa made an early positive mark on the Sachsenring Grand Prix by securing third and eighth best times respectively in this afternoon’s first qualifying session, with Rossi already under the previous track best. A close one-hour competition against the stopwatch saw 13 riders within one second of the provisional pole time and six riders quicker than the previous track best time.

Rossi’s best first day lap of 1:23.539 was only 0.292 second from fastest man Sete Gibernau (Honda) and a mere 0.086 second slower than second place rider, Nicky Hayden (Honda). Checa, still working through settings to handle the combination of slow and dazzlingly fast corners, was well in touch with the fastest lappers, only 0.584 second from provisional pole.

After the extra sticky qualifying tyres were broken out to the top riders, with just less than ten minutes left to run, Checa posted the second quickest time, but an immediate response from Sete Gibernau put his Honda on provisional pole. As the final minutes began to tick past Marco Melandri pushed Rossi to third and Checa to fourth, packing the sharp end of the grid with Yamahas for a period.

Rossi hit back, with his best time coming on his penultimate lap, but Nicky Haden went faster again and eased Rossi out to third. Checa could not halt the progress of some other riders in measurable lap time, but approaches day two with confidence of a better result. With the weather forecast for tomorrow showing improved temperatures the final hour of qualifying may yet prove to be the decisive one.

VALENTINO ROSSI (3rd, 1:23.539)

“We worked with qualifiers this afternoon but only for a short time. I’m feeling a lot better here, all the riders are very close and pretty fast. Sete set a good time but we are not far behind. We made some small changes and I think tomorrow I can do even better on the qualifiers. The bike told me she likes this track! We’re on course, especially considering the last race. I need to make up time on the last and second to last corners and this is one of the more difficult circuits to pass at, so it will be very important to get a good qualifying position tomorrow.”

CARLOS CHECA (8th, 1:23.831)

“I feel quite comfortable on the bike but on old tyres I am struggling a little, not quite able to keep the pace. That will be our work tomorrow, having got some confidence. There are some areas to improve. The slow part of this track is maybe too slow but the rest is better for our bikes. When the set-up is okay then the feeling even in the slow area is not too bad. For the slower part maybe we need either a 125cc bike or 100bhp less! It is nice when you have a mix of slower and faster tracks and it is good fun to ride here anyway.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO – TEAM DIRECTOR

“For a first day package we are in a good situation, better than the last race. Valentino has a nice pace around here and he is in good shape. Carlos is a little bit slower but still at a reasonable pace on race tyres. We have a strong base setting now but we need to work more on the details, suspension settings for the most part. Valentino stayed out for many laps at one point to evaluate the performance of a possible race tyre. Carlos was very fast on T1 and T2 on qualifying tyres but lost a bit of time in the second part of the track. This bike seems to suit this track well and it is difficult to make an evaluation of this session based on the results because at the end, when people started to use soft tyres, the situation changed completely.”


More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Gibernau leads Honda resistance in Germany

Sete Gibernau responded from his disappointment at Rio two weeks ago to set provisional pole position for the Veltins Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland this afternoon. The Spanish rider lost the opportunity to move clear at the top of the MotoGP World Championship standings with his crash in Brazil but memories of his last-corner victory over Valentino Rossi at this circuit one year ago inspired him to a new pole record of 1’23.247, the fastest ever lap of the Sachsenring circuit by a motorcycle.

“After the small but expensive mistake we made in Brazil, the team have once again proved that we are at an extremely high level,” commented Gibernau, who is currently tied on points at the top of the standings with Rossi. “Mentally it was important to have a good session today and it gives us a definite chance of fighting at the top again tomorrow. We have a good base to work from in terms of race rhythm and that is vital at such a small circuit, where there are a lot of riders within just a couple of tenths.”

Gibernau’s Honda colleague Nicky Hayden posted the second fastest time in an exciting climax to the session, missing out on pole by 0.206 seconds but sealing a potentially crucial front row slot should rain forecasts be confirmed in tomorrow’s final qualifying practice. The final front row position went to Rossi, who had been the quickest rider in the morning session on his Yamaha but succumbed to the Honda resistance fronted by Gibernau and Hayden in the afternoon.

Alex Barros made it three Hondas in the top four, sealing the front spot on the provisional second row using a new exhaust system on the factory RC211V for the first time. Kenny Roberts, who took pole position in the last round at Rio, continued his good qualifying form on the Suzuki with the fifth fastest time whilst his team-mate John Hopkins also showed signs of improvement in seventh, one place behind fellow youngster Marco Melandri on the Yamaha.

Carlos Checa spent much of the morning and afternoon sessions contesting top spot with team-mate Rossi but eventually slid down to eighth place, with Max Biaggi also losing ground in the late push for times and completing the provisional third row in ninth. Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss had a satisfactory first day at the office, lapping tenth and twelfth fastest respectively as they begin their challenge of both finishing in the top four as they did here last season. Makoto Tamada, the surprise winner of the race in Rio, was eleventh fastest on the Honda.

Sebastián Porto set a best lap of 1’25.078 to seal front spot on the provisional 250cc grid and smashed his own pole position record here by six tenths of a second. The Argentinean rider, who started from pole in Brazil before suffering mechanical problems during the race, dominated this afternoon’s session, with a late lap from Roberto Rolfo cutting down his advantage at the top but remaining 0.308 seconds adrift of a pole challenge.

Alex De Angelis set the third fastest time of the session at a circuit where he scored a podium in the 125cc race last year, with Randy De Puniet completing the provisional front row in fourth. Reigning World Champion and winner of the last round in Brazil, Manuel Poggiali, was fifth quickest and heads up the provisional second row from series leader Dani Pedrosa, Toni Elias and Fonsi Nieto.

Hector Barbera continued with his current run of form with provisional pole for the 125cc race. The Aprilia rider stopped the clock at 1’27.870 to confirm his place at the top of the time sheets after a dominant session in which he was rarely threatened. Marco Simoncelli came closest with a quick lap at the end of the session but was still 0.283 seconds short of the Spaniard whilst Pablo Nieto and Youichi Ui took the final two slots on the provisional front row. Mirko Giansanti was also on the pace throughout the session, eventually setting the fifth fastest time ahead of Casey Stoner, whilst Jorge Lorenzo’s hand injury has reacted well to treatment and he was able to qualify on the second row in seventh, just ahead of current series leader Andrea Dovizioso.


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

First practices at Sachsenring, Max and Makoto set 9th and 11th fastest times

Today was the first official practice for the German GP, round 8 of the World Championship, and the halfway point of the 2004 season. It was a warm day and a dry track for the riders throughout the day, although there are menacing clouds around. The two Camel Honda team flagbearers, Max Biaggi and Makoto Tamada, today finished with the 9th and 11th fastest times, but the gap to the front riders is tight and there is a lot of room for improvement. Of course if the rain doesn’t come tomorrow.


Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)

“We’ve not found a perfect set-up yet on the bike and tomorrow will be crucial to get that right, depending on weather conditions of course and hoping that it won’t rain. There’s one particular sector on the track in which we have to improve if we want to challenge at the front and we’re working hard to be ready for the race. I hope for a dry day tomorrow so we can complete the outstanding work we still have to do.”


Max Biaggi – Camel Honda (Michelin Tyres) – 9th – 1:23.884

“Despite the disappointing grid position, today didn’t go too badly. We realised during the session that we needed to change our direction of work a little, and we’ll carry that out tomorrow. So we have an idea where we can improve, and we hope that the weather holds up and stays good for the race. Regarding race pace we’re already in a good situation, but we need to work a little more on overall settings, and especially on getting a better grid position which will be vital on this track. I’m confident for tomorrow and we should be able to lower our times without any problems.”


Gianluca Montiron – Camel Honda – (Makoto Tamada Team Manager)

“Makoto worked mainly on the race set-up of the bike, without concentrating too much on the lap times for qualifying. Many different solutions were tried today and tomorrow we will be able to improve the lap time some more. I’m confident in Makoto, and that he’ll be ready for Sunday’s race.”


Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda (Bridgestone Tyres) – 11th – 1:24.096

“I didn’t set a brilliant lap time, but I tried a lot of things and we collected some good data that will help us improve tomorrow. We’re close to finding the best bike/tyre combination for Sunday’s race. In terms of tyres, we’ve singled out a particularly good rear, while I still have things to test on the front. The feeling is good here at this track, and I think I can do better tomorrow.”


More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

SETE STRIKES FIRST AT SACHSENRING

Another Grand Prix, same result. Sete Gibernau has collected yet another provisional pole position in the first qualifying session for the German Grand Prix, following the team’s plans as they carefully prepare for Sunday’s race: finding a rhythm at a circuit where every tenth is worth its weight in gold and making sure of a good grid position. Eight minutes from the end of the session, Sete fitted a qualifying tyre and became the first man to dip under 1:23, improving Max Biaggi’s pole record from last year by a second. Colin Edwards is still not comfortable at a circuit where the times are always tight and was unable to qualify any higher than 15th.


Sete Gibernau (1st, 1:23.247): “After the small but expensive mistake we made in Brazil, the team have once again proved that we are at an extremely high level. Mentally it was important to have a good session today which gives us a definite chance of fighting at the top again tomorrow. We have a good base to work from in terms of race rhythm and that is vital at such a small circuit, where there are a lot of riders within just a couple of tenths. The result will depend on the tyres and the rhythm we have in the race. It will be a tough race, as it was last year, and we have to be ready.”


Colin Edwards (15th, 1:24.416): “I am not happy at all and right now I’m feeling a little disappointed. In the morning I felt quite good and in the afternoon I went backwards. The bike was the same, so I don’t know why I didn’t feel good in the afternoon.”


Fausto Gresini (team manager): “Sete has had another good session. He has got a good rhythm for the race, although there is room for improvement, and he has set a good time. We decided to put the qualification tyre on quite early and get back to working for the race. Colin is still having problems and it’s difficult to pinpoint where they are coming from. He has to analyse it himself first so that we can find the best solution within the team”.


More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

PROTON KR PAIR MAKE PROGRESS AT RIO

Round 8: German GP, Sachsenring
First Qualifying: Friday, July 16, 2004

Kurtis Roberts: 19th: 1:25.863
Nobuatsu Aoki: 22nd, 1:26.004

Proton Team KR rider’s Kurtis Roberts and Nobuatsu Aoki both enjoyed the Sachsenring effect at the shortest track of the season, with the track’s continual twists and turns minimising the disadvantage of their lower top speed and maximising the benefits of the Proton KR’s state-of-the-art chassis design.

But only Kurtis was able to take full benefit, taking his best provisional qualifying position of his rookie season in spits of never having seen the track before. Nobu had his last attempt on qualifying tyres spoiled by a quirky excess engine braking entering the corners, and with no time left to address the problem he missed his chance of improving his overall position.

Roberts ran a 250 GP season seven years ago, but the Sachsenring circuit had not yet been built, and his job of continuing machine and tyre development at the same time as qualifying for the race was made more complicated by having also to learn the difficult and technically demanding circuit, where one corner follows another with giddying intensity.

Both riders were again using the latest longer-stroke version of the England-made V5 engine, which has been undergoing development throughout the season.

Today’s first practice and qualifying sessions took place in warm but cloudy conditions, with similar weather forecast for tomorrow. There is one more day of practising and qualifying before Sunday’s race. Today’s provisional pole time was again set by Sete Gibernau (Honda).


KURTIS ROBERTS
This was an all-new track for me this morning. I’ve never been here before, and still this afternoon I was learning where it goes. I wasn’t right on all the turns, and I didn’t hit every line right. Even on my fast lap I left a lot out. Tomorrow we need to get me and the bike turning better in mid-corner, and there should be a better lap time to come. My bikes worked throughout qualifying, and the longer-stroke motor seems to help on the slow stuff and on the hills. We need to keep it going like this.


NOBUATSU AOKI
It seems so far that we have found a good race setting, but I lost my chance of a good qualifying time. My number two bike handles better, but the engine is due to be changed and it seems that the management system was not working right. It was running okay, but it had more back torque (engine braking) than usual. If it had been a two-stroke, I would say it was seizing. Anyway when I put qualifying tyres on that bike I got a big slide on the way into Turn One, and went off the track onto the gravel. There were only three minutes remaining, so I had to keep going. Then I got another big sideways slide in the second-last corner, and my chance was gone. But the overall situation was not so bad. I have a fresh engine for tomorrow, so things should be better.


CHUCK AKSLAND – Team Manager
Kurtis did pretty good, at a track he’s never seen before. Times are normally tight here, but we’re a lot closer to the front than usual. Our good handling plays a big part in getting the lap times here. Dunlop have brought some new tyres here and are trying new combinations, with some improvement. Both riders will have new engines for tomorrow, which should help. Things are working better than usual here, so far.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKIS ON THE PACE IN GERMANY
Team Suzuki Press Office, Sachsenring, Germany – July 16, 2004.

Team Suzuki MotoGP riders Kenny Roberts Jr and John Hopkins were in the thick of the hectic action at the non-stop twisty Sachsenring circuit and with the first 13 riders within a second of pole at the shortest track of the year, Roberts and Hopkins placed fifth and seventh in the first timed qualifying session for Sunday’s race – provisionally on the second and third rows of the starting grid.

The strong performance, watched by trackside observer Kevin Schwantz, Suzuki’s World Champion in 1993, followed up an impressive morning free training session in which 2000 World Champion Roberts was second fastest.

At the last round, the Rio GP two weeks ago, Roberts qualified on pole position, his first since 2000 demonstrating that Suzuki’s fast-forward development programme is bearing fruit. New-this-year tyre partners Bridgestone are also finding continual improvements, another key element in the better recent qualifying and race results.

Roberts had been languishing out of the top ten during the session as he worked through the various combinations of tyres and settings, seeking a race set-up for Sunday. At the end, when all riders fitted soft-compound qualifying tyres, Roberts did the same to reel off a couple of fast laps. The first went well enough, but he was thwarted on the second by an uneasy feeling from the tyres and prudently backed off, satisfied with what he had already achieved.

Hopkins had been one place behind him, but also saved his best until the end when he set fastest section time early in the lap and jumped up to seventh, less than a tenth slower than his team-mate and barely half-a-second slower than provisional pole time.

Both riders are using the revised-firing-interval engine – only the second time for Hopkins, though Roberts has used it for the last three races.

Today’s practice was held in warm but overcast conditions with more of the same forecast for tomorrow and Sunday. There is a fair chance of rain tomorrow, in which case today’s dry times will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s race.

KENNY ROBERTS Jr. – Fifth position, 1:23.684:

“The overall character of this circuit is chatter and we picked up some compared with this morning when the temperature went up and I was fighting that all afternoon. We have to get that out because it’s not possible to keep pressure on the tyres with that and it’s easy to have the thing skate out from under you. Our goal tonight is to improve that. The guys are going to take both bikes and put two different settings into each of them to see if we can find a good direction in that way. Otherwise it was a pretty standard day. I was quicker on my last lap, but a couple of things happened to give me a sense that the tyre was done and I thought I better save a bit for tomorrow, so I rolled off. We’ll see what the guys come up with tonight … I have a lot of confidence that they will find something special for tomorrow or at least more of a compromise for what we need here. It’s a unique track.”

JOHN HOPKINS – Seventh position, 1:23.753:

“I came into this weekend with high hopes because of the way the bike has been reacting in a lot of areas that are key to this circuit. We have better edge grip, with Bridgestone playing a big part in that, and the new motor is better in acceleration and in feel for the rider, on and off the throttle. It’s smoother, and easier to get it driving forwards out of the turns. The turning has improved significantly from last year when we struggled here. This afternoon we had some small problems and a lot of tyre vibration, but it’s just fine tuning and we have a lot of ideas how to improve it tomorrow. I’m really excited and looking forward to starting again tomorrow morning.”


More, from a press release issued by MS Aprilia:

McWilliams fast but frustrated in Germany

MS Aprilia Racing rider Jeremy McWilliams showed his liking for the Sachsenring circuit when he ended today’s first qualifying session in 14th position.

The British rider has enjoyed great success at the 3.671km venue, scoring his first ever GP podium in the 250 race in 1998. He qualified on the front row for the MotoGP race twelve months ago, and riding the improving Cube three-cylinder, McWilliams catapulted himself into the top six with two-thirds of the session completed. He held a top ten placing until he slipped slightly down the standings in the closing minutes, having not been able to take advantage of the extra grip provided by Michelin’s qualifying tyre.

McWilliams’ best time of 1:24.322 was 0.4 second inside the best qualifying time set by Colin Edwards a year ago and was just a fraction outside of world champion Valentino Rossi’s lap record. But he was still slightly disappointed with his position on the provisional fifth row. “I’m frustrated because my pace on race tyres is fast and importantly consistent, but I missed out with the qualifying tyre. I was only two-tenths faster than I was on a race tyre. I was holding that top ten quite comfortably and really happy with the set-up. The new front fork that we tried at a test after Rio is working well, but I’m not happy with 14th. I love this track. It is a great leveller and really favours the brave riders who are prepared stick the bike in and keep it and its side for a long time. I just hope it stays dry tomorrow because I know I can be further up the grid, “said McWilliams.

Team-mate Shane Byrne ended the session in 20th position on his first visit to the Sachsenring circuit. He set a best time of 1:25.867, despite struggling to find a front suspension set-up he was happy with. “The front of the bike just feels nervous and that is making the bike hard to ride. It feels like I need more weight on the front, which we’ve tried and it hasn’t made it much better. The problem happens when I just need to roll on the throttle going into a corner. If we can sort out the front I know I can be much faster. I like the circuit, particularly the fast and blind downhill right-hander. I struggled a bit with the first part of the track this morning, but I spoke to Jeremy and he gave me a few pointers, which really helped because he goes so well here, “said Shakey.


More, from a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

Discovering the Sachsenring

It was a day of familiarisation for the d´Antin MotoGP riders at the peculiar German track today, as had been expected prior to the event. Neither Rubén Xaus nor Neil Hodgson have ridden previously at the Sachsenring, so without any data to work from, they were both relatively satisfied after their first day of practice.

Rubén is in a provisional seventeenth place on the grid, closely followed by Neil, but both are optimistic about the chances of improvement as they become more accustomed to the track.

RUBÉN XAUS : “It’s a new track for me, and it’s just the first day. It seems a small track for the MotoGP bikes, but all in all things haven’t gone too badly. The slightest error makes a big difference here, a tenth of a second can mean several grid places. I didn’t have anything to go by before coming here, and it’s hard to get a comfortable setting around the number of tight bends. We just began our work today, but this afternoon we improved our time from the morning session, and we’ll continue like that in every session, getting better bit by bit.”

NEIL HODGSON: “I have to say that I really like the track. It’s a little strange, but it’s exciting to ride here and I feel very good. This makes me optimistic because taking into account the fact that I hadn’t ridden here before, I think that the lap time I’ve set isn’t so bad, especially if you compare it to last year’s times. This year times are much quicker and the riders ahead are setting a really incredible pace, and that’s from the first day at e