Round 7 – Grand Prix of Catalunya
PRAMAC D’ANTIN FLIES TO SPAIN ON BACK OF MUGELLO
PODIUM
 After
the spectacular race in Mugello that resulted in Alex Barros
on the podium for the first time this season, the Pramac d’Antin
team flies immediately to Spain to take part in the seventh
round of the 2007 championship.
Historically, Ducati has not been one of the favourites at
the Circuit de Catalunya, but considering all the progress
that has been made this season, the next race could be the
one for “the red machine from Borgo Panigale”
and an opportune time to confirm the bike’s excellent
characteristics in a wide range of circuits.
For Alex Barros, who lived in Barcelona for a long time,
the race will be something of a home GP which will give him
renewed determination for another good race run to follow
his third in Mugello and fourth place in Turkey earlier in
the season.
His team-mate Alex Hofmann will be looking for a better weekend
in Catalunya to make up for a disappointing weekend in Mugello.
Preparations for the race weekend will start on Friday 8th
June with the usual free practice sessions and will conclude
on Sunday 10th with the 25 lap race starting at 2pm local
time.
Alex Barros (9° in championship): “I
know the Barcelona track very well and I have raced here many
times. I like very much the track and I have often been fast
around there. In 2005, the last time that I raced there with
MotoGP, I finished in fourth position, but this time I hope
to be even faster. The track has a very long straight, which
could be a good opportunity for us, so we have to take full
advantage from this, to exploit the Ducati’s engine
potential as much as possible. I’m confident for this
race, and after the podium I got on Sunday it would be great
to confirm this result. I know that it is difficult because
this year all the young riders are very fast, but I will do
all I can to focus on success. The most important thing will
be to get ready during the two days of practice before the
race, but I’m very confident because my team is doing
an outstanding job.”
Alex Hofmann (12° in classification):
“I’m ready for this next race in Spain and, like
in Mugello last weekend, there will be exciting atmosphere
from the passionate fans who support us and I would like get
a good result for them. After the last race, I was not completely
satisfied and I would like to enjoy a better weekend in Catalunya.
In the Spanish track there is a long straight and it will
be a good opportunity for us and our Ducati Desmosesidici.
I hope to be able to resolve the issues that I faced in Mugello,
especially with my feeling at the rear and to enjoy a great
race in Barcelona.”
Luis d’Antin – General Manager:
“Like the race in Mugello, this coming weekend is a
very important event for us. Since we are an Italian-Spanish
Team, we will have a lot of fans and sponsor to support us
once again. After the podium we got in Mugello, it would be
perfect to secure an excellent result in Spain. This year,
as the result in Mugello highlighted, we have a real chance
to be competitive. The Montmelò track hasn’t
been particularly good for either Bridgestone or Ducati in
the past, but this year they have both proven to be very competitive
with continuous improvements. The next race in Spain could
be the perfect occasion to confirm the big progress they have
made.”
THE CIRCUIT
This circuit was inaugurated in 1991 and is consider one
of the best designed on the calendar. It became part of the
premier class scenery and received the trophy for best Grand
Prix in 2001
Opened: 1991
Modified: 1995
Length: 4727m;
Width:12m
Longest Straight: 1047m
Right turns: 8
Left turns: 5
Pole position: left
Final Results –MotoGP Class
1° Valentino Rossi (ITA); Yamaha; Time: 41’31.237;
2° Nicky Hayden (USA); Honda; Time: 41’35.746;
3° Kenny Roberts (USA); Kr211v;Time: 41’40.411;
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