Italian Alice Grand Prix, Mugello, Preview
DUCATI MARLBORO MEN 'A TUTTO GAS'.
The Ducati Marlboro Team comes home to Italy for some full-throttle
action around majestic Mugello, arguably MotoGP's greatest
racetrack. Urged on by Italian oxygen and the cheers of the
Ducatisti, the Bologna-based squad is ready to achieve the
results that recent events have promised but not delivered.
Riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa have both shown impressive
speed at various stages during the first four GPs, they just
need a little luck to bring them back to the front of the
pack.
"Both guys are very motivated and confident for the
Italian GP," says Ducati MotoGP project leader Livio
Suppo. "We had a good test session at Le Mans after the
French GP. We tried tyres that worked really well, with good
durability. The weather so far this year has been dreadful
- four GPs and three affected by rain - so we are really hoping
for four hours of dry practice and then a dry race at Mugello.
It would be fantastic to give the 3000 fans in the Ducati
Grandstand a great performance!".
Mugello should be a great track for the team's awesomely
quick Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP5. The circuit is
fast and flowing, the kind of layout that really suits the
GP5's character.
"I think the bike is well suited to Mugello," affirms
Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli.
"The track's dominant features are its fast straight
and high-speed chicanes. But it's a very complete circuit,
with uphill and downhill sections, so you need a well-balanced
bike. For sure it will be a crazy weekend with all the fans
around, but we are looking forward to it."
Of course, the Ducati Marlboro Team can count on the support
of thousands of Ducatisti who will throng the hillsides around
the high-speed track. There's even a special Ducati grandstand
for 3000 Ducatisti at Correntaio, the 180-degree right-hander
that sees riders begin the run back to the final corner.
CAPIROSSI - 'ARRABBIATA IS A REAL THRILL!'
An Italian rider on an Italian bike at an Italian racetrack
- all eyes will be on Loris Capirossi at Mugello. But the
32-year-old Ducati Marlboro Team man is used to the pressures
of racing in front of his countrymen, this is his 16th Italian
Grand Prix.
"Mugello is a great track and I still have great memories
of 2003, when we finished second on the first Desmosedici,"
smiles Capirossi. "I love the track, so does the bike
and I'm confident that the Bridgestones will be really good
there. Mugello is always a major challenge for riders and
engineers, because there is so much to understand. You need
a very well-balanced bike, so you have confidence to attack
the fast, downhill corners with negative camber and bumps.
My favourite part of the circuit is Arrabbiata, especially
the final part, because it's really fast, bumpy and difficult,
plus the exit over the brow of the hill is totally blind.
When you get it right it's a real thrill!"
Capirossi won the premier-class Italian GP in 2000 and finished
second in 2001 and 2003.
CHECA - FEELING FAST AND COMFORTABLE
Carlos Checa comes to Mugello determined to put a recent run
of bad luck behind him. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider has
run an impressive pace at the last three GPs but hasn't been
able to show what he can do when it really counts - in the
race.
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