From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

GIBERNAU ON FORM AS CLOSING RACES DECIDE TITLE

Perhaps the biggest test for Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) is this next race in Portugal. For this is where the Spanish title contender needs to build on his win in The Czech Republic and seize the psychological advantage over his rivals. He lies second to Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) in the points table by a mere 17 points with 150 points up for grabs at the remaining six races.

But he now has the chance to work an advantage on Rossi by notching back-to-back wins when it really counts in the closing stages. He did it earlier in the season when he won at Jerez in Spain and then Le Mans in France, but Rossi put three crucial consecutive wins together mid-season at Mugello in Italy, Montmelo in Catalunya and Assen in The Netherlands to steal a march on Gibernau.

And while the focus might be on the Gibernau/Rossi struggle, Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) remains in contention in third only 26 points behind Rossi and just nine short of Gibernau’s tally. The Roman has huge experience of tight title deciders too. Two of his four 250cc World Championship titles were decided at the final round and twice Biaggi rode to title victory.

Estoril has only been on the calendar since 2000 and in those years since it’s arrival Rossi has finished third in 2000 and won there for the last three years in the premier class. Biaggi finished second last year, while Gibernau has never really shone there in a race. Now is his chance to rectify that at this fast but wind-lashed track.

Estoril lies 20 miles west of Lisbon and the track itself is close to the town of Sintra. The 4.182km track features a balance of turns with nine rights and four lefts. Built in 1972 the surface is now bumpy in parts and some riders are unsure over the asphalt’s ability to provide dependable grip over a race weekend.

Nevertheless the track offers a significant challenge regardless of grip issues. The slowest turn is a chicane that is the slowest in MotoGP racing requiring patience and a smooth style to avoid catastrophe. On the other hand a long, fast right onto the start/finish straight, the ‘Parabolica’ is one of the great corners in racing and loved by the best riders.

Turn one at the end of the 986m straight is a favourite overtaking spot and so is turn six, the ‘Parabolica interior’ behind the pits complex. The rest of the track is fairly unremarkable requiring no out-of-the-ordinary machine set-ups. But the wind blowing off the Atlantic Ocean is always a concern.

“I don’t like Estoril that much,” said Gibernau. “I always qualify well and race well there, but never seem to get the right results. For the last three years I’ve been in a podium or winning position but never got there in the end. But this year I’m ready to do better at every track I go to it’s not important whether I like it or not. My goal at the start of the season was to get better at every race.”

“I like Estoril,” said Biaggi. “Last year I got onto the podium and if we get the bike working well we can do even better this year. In Brno we did a lot of work in the two test days after the race and even if we haven’t got all the answers we were looking for, we will give everything to be competitive on this track from Friday onwards. The track is okay, it reminds me a little of Spain’s Jarama circuit; not fast, apart from the main straight, but quite technical. The only thing I really don’t like is the asphalt, because it’s very bumpy in places.”

Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) lies fourth overall, but 80 points behind Rossi. “I really like this track,” said the Texan. “Especially the first three turns. Set-up is important because you have a few bumps to deal with and you can be aggressive here, but never too aggressive because it’s a track that can bite you. The slow section is the uphill chicane which is first gear and you have to be careful.”

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) is ready to get his season going again. “I’ve not had much luck here in the last few races,” said the Brazilian. “So far this season has been pretty disappointing. The team has worked hard and there are times when the bike feels really good. I’m 100% fit and can run with the fast guys, I just need to keep the pressure up all race and get us what we deserve. There are six races left and we need to attack all of them really hard.”

His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is unsure whether he will ride after breaking a collarbone last weekend while training on a Supermoto machine. “I’m hoping to ride but will leave the decision to Doctor Costa’s team and my race team. I feel good but we’ll take a check on Thursday. I was just getting some good training in and the accident happened. I’m kicking myself.”

Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres said, “I quite like the Estoril track, or should I say there’s a part I really like, with the fast turn leading onto an even faster straight, and a slow part, which I don’t like so much. It doesn’t matter though, if the weather is good and we manage to get both the bike and the tyres in a good shape in practice, we can do an even better race than in Brno.”

In the 250 category, Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) leads with 196 points, with Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) second on
166 and Sebastian Porto (Aprilia) in third with 153 as the 11th round gets underway.

“I’ve never liked Estoril too much,” said Dani. “It has a long straight, it’s narrow and bumpy. As if that isn’t enough, it’s always really windy and that makes it difficult to ride. It was a problem with the 125 and it will be with the 250 as well. The good thing about Estoril is the fans it’s close for us and there are always a lot of Spanish fans there. That’s always an extra motivation.”

Dani’s rookie team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) is having a strong first season and said, “Everybody I ask about Estoril tells me about the wind. They don’t tell me if it’s difficult or easy, just that it’s windy. I don’t know much about the place, but it seems that is one thing I can be sure of. Hopefully at least we can get some normal practice sessions in. I feel better every time and everybody is reminding me that we are almost in Japan, but I would like to think that I can also do well at Estoril.”

Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) currently lies fourth overall and said, “During the two day team test at Brno we tested new parts for the chassis and learned a lot about the bike. We will take what we learned to Estoril where we will decide after first practice which is the best set-up to concentrate on for the race. I’m looking forward to Friday because I really like the track. So I should because last year things could not have worked out better for me, I took pole and won the race a great memory.”

Roberto Rolfo rides the second Fortuna Honda at Estoril. The Italian has yet to show his very best form this year but recent tests have resulted in a more positive feeling with the front end of his machine. Rolfo said. “We found a better front end setting for the Brno race then the team improved still during the two day test. I now have a better feeling running into the corners and that’s important at Estoril.”

The 125cc-title race currently belongs to Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) and the young Italian has won three races this season, and perhaps even more importantly, has finished in the points in all of them. He has 183 points to Aprilia rider Roberto Locatelli’s 147.

“The next two races, at Estoril and Motegi, are very important to us,” he said. “It’s very important we get the best possible we can from both races to set up a good finish to the Championship. Luckily I like both tracks a lot and enjoy racing at them. I’m in good shape, concentrating on the job, the bike is running really well and the team is giving me a lot of support. My fan club has also given me great support and last week they held a big club event for me at Cesena. The whole day boosted my confidence and I go to Portugal with a really good feeling.”