TITLE CHASE CONTINUES FOR CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM IN AUSTRALIA
 The
Camel Yamaha Team take their global points quest to the southern
hemisphere this week as the MotoGP World Championship makes
the transcontinental trip from Malaysia to Australia. Round
fourteen of seventeen takes place at the Phillip Island circuit
near Melbourne almost a month earlier than usual, promising
brisk spring temperatures and another unpredictable weekend
of top class motorcycling action. Valentino Rossi arrives
Down Under on top form, having clinched his fifth victory
of the season just last Sunday in Malaysia. That morale-boosting
win over fellow title contender Loris Capirossi (Ducati) has
left him just 26 points shy of series leader Nicky Hayden
(Honda) with four rounds to go and his most successful premier-class
circuit on the horizon. The 27 year old has taken MotoGP victory
at Phillip Island for the past five straight seasons, adding
to two previous successes there in the 250cc class.
The target for Colin Edwards is a return to the early season
form that culminated in a victory challenge at Assen in round
seven. Like the Dutch TT circuit, Phillip Island is a place
the Texan enjoyed huge success at during his World Superbike
career and it provides the ideal scenario for him to work
around the set-up problems he has encountered with the YZR-M1
machine in recent races.
VALENTINO ROSSI: A SPECIAL PLACE
Valentino Rossi can’t wait to get back on track after
one of the most exhilarating races of his career at Sepang
on Sunday. The Italian is relishing every opportunity he gets
to close in on series leader Hayden and can’t wait for
his next bite of the cherry at one of his favourite venues.
“Honestly I always look forward to this race a lot,
and especially now, when my M1 is working so well,”
says Rossi. “Phillip Island and Australia in general
is a special place, very beautiful. This race is very important
for my team, because many of them are Australian and it’s
their home race, like Mugello for me. I want to thank them
for all their hard work by doing well!”
Phillip Island is a magic track for me. I’ve won a
lot of races there and some championships too, I love it!
It’s one of my favourite tracks, an ‘old style’
track. We didn’t test there this year but anyway the
M1 always works well there and I love riding there. It’s
very cold this year, so it’s going to be difficult with
the tyres, but I am really looking forward to it. “After
Laguna I didn’t completely believe in my chances for
the championship anymore, but then after Brno I said to myself
‘okay we still have a chance, we can try.’ Now
my objective is to win as many races as possible, then we
see in Valencia.”
COLIN EDWARDS: THE NEXT CHALLENGE
Colin Edwards also has a special affinity with Phillip Island
having built a strong record at the track during his World
Superbike career, finishing on the podium on no fewer than
eight occasions, including a win in 2001. The Texan also benefits
from the backing of strong local support, with friends and
family always amongst the crowd. “My Dad is actually
Australian so Phillip Island is always a bit of a home race
for me,” explains Edwards. “The Australian fans
are amazing and I always have a lot of mates there which makes
it fun. I am looking forward to it; I just need to put Malaysia
behind me and focus on the next challenge.
Colin Edwards also has a special affinity with Phillip Island
having built a strong record at the track during his World
Superbike career, finishing on the podium on no fewer than
eight occasions, including a win in 2001. The Texan also benefits
from the backing of strong local support, with friends and
family always amongst the crowd. “My Dad is actually
Australian so Phillip Island is always a bit of a home race
for me,” explains Edwards. “The Australian fans
are amazing and I always have a lot of mates there which makes
it fun. I am looking forward to it; I just need to put Malaysia
behind me and focus on the next challenge.
VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION
Age: 27 - Lives: London, UK
Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1
GP victories: 84 (58 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)
First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
GP starts: 170 (110 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole position: 43
World Championships – 7 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc,
1 x 500cc, 4 x MotoGP)
COLIN EDWARDS: INFORMATION
Age: 32 - Lives: Conroe, Texas
Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1
First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP)
GP starts: 62 x MotoGP
World Championships - 2 World Superbike
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