Australian Grand Prix
Phillip Island Circuit, Australia - GMT+10
THE TEAM PRAMAC D’ANTIN DISEMBARK IN THE ISLAND
OF PHILLIP ISLAND
 It’s
on the Australian circuit of Phillip Island that will take
place the second of the three extra-European races of these
three weeks of September. The German ALEX HOFMANN, in the
points again during the last competition in Malaysia, wants
constancy to end the season in the best manner. Himself and
the Spanish JOSE LUIS CARDOSO have done Winter Test on this
track and this will surely be very useful to make a good race
with the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP06 “Sat.” of the
TEAM PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP.
The first session of free practice will be on Friday 15 September
at 10.00 a.m. I n Australia, GMT+10.
LUIS D’ANTIN (Team Manager): “We
are at the second of three weeks of intensive work. In the
first race in Malaysia, we managed to be in the points with
ALEX HOFMANN, we will continue making our maximum to be constant
and to go on improving. Thanks to the Test that were done
here this winter on this circuit, we already have a lot of
information to start the free practice. I’m confident
and we’re all enthusiast to improve and make a good
race on Sunday”.
ALEX HOFMANN #66: “Phillip Island
is in the list of my favourite track, it’s one of the
most beautiful ones! Besides, in 2004, I made here my best
result, a good 8th position on the grid. I really like to
ride on this track, the temperature also is fresher than it
was in Malaysia and these conditions will surely allow us
to work better. I’m really motivated, to obtain a good
result here is very important for me and I hope everything
will work in the best way. During the Winter Test, things
already went quite good and I hope to go on with the improvements
to make a good race”.
JOSE LUIS CARDOSO #30: “This is already
the second race, this time in Australia! Let’s hope
that the lower temperature will help us! I really want to
make a good race, there are 4 left in the 2006 calendar and
I would like to conquest more points in the classification,
my Team deserves it, they’re working very hard to put
me in the best conditions every time. I will do my best to
obtain a good result”.
CIRCUIT DETAILS
Il circuito di Phillip Island ha ospitato il primo Grand Prix
dell’Australia in 1989. Dal 1991 al 1996, Il campionato
del Mondo si è trasferito ad Eastern Creek, prima di
tornare in maniera definitiva a Phillip Island.
The circuit of Phillip Island, Australia, is situated 70 miles
south of Melbourne, on an Island linked to the mainland by
a bridge. Its track is one of the fastest and most fluid of
the MotoGP World Championship, more than being one of the
most beautiful. With its view on the Ocean, it’s long
4448 metres and has got 13 corners (7 on the left and 5 on
the right). The only drawback can be the weather. Often the
rain and high winds can batter the Island in September-October
but it's a small price to pay for such a magnificent race
track. In the past, there had been racing on the roads of
the holiday Island for many years but it was only when it
was modified to its present day 4,448 km configuration in
1988 that it gained international recognition. The track and
facilities were completely revamped for grand prix motor cycle
racing and the result was a circuit that is the favourite
for the majority of the MotoGP stars. The track simply flows
through a series of undulating bends finishing in a long downhill
start and finish straight. The circuit staged the first Australian
Grand Prix in 1989 and to the delight of the whole nation
was won by Australian Wayne Gardner riding the Honda. Gardner
won the next year but then the Australian Grand Prix venue
was switched to Eastern Creek near Sydney. It returned to
its original home in 1997 and has remained ever since.
Longest Straight: 900m
Width: 13m
Pole Position: Left
Direction: Unclockwise
MotoGP - Lap Record: 1’30’’332 (Marco Melandri
- 2005)
MotoGP - Fastest Lap: 1’29’’337 (Nicky Hayden
- 2005)
2005 MotoGP Race: 1st Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2nd Nicky Hayden
(Honda) 3rd Carlos Checa (Ducati)
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