PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP
PREVIEW - Grand Prix of Qatar (GMT+3)
PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP IN QATAR FOR THE SECOND
RACE OF THE SEASON
The Team PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP is ready to face the
second race of the season that will take place in Qatar. This
Grand Prix is the hottest one of the year, the Circuit of
Losail is actually located in the middle of the desert where,
for the first time, the race will be in April instead of October.
This will allow the Teams, riders, and motorcycles to work
with more reasonable temperatures.
Last year, the German ALEX HOFMANN didn’t take part
to the race in Qatar, because of a crash in Japan where he
hurt his foot and had to miss four races, including this one.
The Spanish JOSE LUIS CARDOSO raced in Qatar last year but
on a Superbike, and it will be his first time there on a DUCATI
(DUNLOP tyres).
On the occasion of this trip in the Arabic World, one of the
two PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP riders, ALEX HOFMANN, has
been invited, with other two riders, to a pre-event that will
get them the chance to experiment the emotion to drive quads
along the sand dunes in the desert, on Wednesday morning.
Let’s remember that the race will be on Saturday; the
free practice will therefore begin from Thursday.
LUIS D’ANTIN (Team Manager): “The
second race of the season is in Qatar, a track that our Team
knows very well. We actually have some riders in the “Losail
National Cup”, a 5 races-cup that is ending this weekend
with the MotoGP World Championship event. Last season, the
Circuit of Losail has been one of the most adapted to our
motorcycle and tyres. Moreover, both our riders really like
this track, so we will work very hard to obtain the best result
as possible”.
 ALEX
HOFMANN #66: “I’m happy to finally come
back and race in Qatar. Last year I had no possibility to
take part to this race as I injured myself in Japan and had
to miss four races. In 2004, I classified myself in 9th position
here. I really like the track, the section coming off turn
ten is perfect for a MotoGP bike, as it accelerates sideways
from second up to fifth gear: simply fantastic! It will be
fundamental to have a fast bike in the changes of direction.
We will also need to be careful with the sand that gets on
the track because of the wind. I will do the maximum to obtain
a good result, I’m really enthusiast and I hope to improve
the result I got in Jerez!”
 JOSE
LUIS CARDOSO #30: “We’re already at he
second race. After the deception of Jerez, I hope to be able
to make a good result; it would be a good satisfaction to
come back home with some points in the MotoGP classification.
I really like the track of Losail: I’ve got good memories
from the race in Superbike I did here last year, I was second
in the qualifying practice and sixth in the Superpole! I will
do my best to make a good result, we wil work very hard to
find an optimal set-up for our DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Satellite”
and make a good race. It’ s important to have a motorcycle
with a good balance”.
CIRCUIT DETAILS
The “Losail International Circuit” is situated
near Doha, the capital of Qatar, and was inaugurated in October
2004. It’s the third time that a Grand Prix is hosted
on this circuit. The track is 5380 meters long, it has 16
corners (10 to the right and 6 to the left), and it is surrounded
by artificial grass designed to prevent sand from the neighbouring
desert from blowing onto the circuit. The straight line is
long more than a km and there is a mix of medium and high-speed
corners. This track is fast and hasn’t many straights;
actually the most corners are connected directly between themselves.
Because of the sand that comes from the desert surrounding
the track, it is particularly slippery, even if the adherence
of the asphalt has improved in the last times. The warmth
is torrid there and consequently needs many efforts from everybody
and everything, especially the riders and the tyres.
Longest straight: 1068m
Widht: 12m
Pole Position: Left
Direction: Clockwise
MotoGP – Circuit Record: 1’57’’903
(Nicky Hayden – 2005)
MotoGP – Fastest Lap: 1’56’’917 (Loris
Capirossi – 2005)
MotoGP 2005 Race: 1° Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2° Marco
Melandri (Honda) 3° Nicky Hayden (Honda)
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