CAPIROSSI READY, HOFMANN TO REPLACE RECUPERATING GIBERNAU
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi is looking forward
to returning to action during tomorrow's first practice sessions
for Saturday's Dutch TT. The Italian has been undergoing physio
from Clinica Mobile staff following the battering and bruising
he sustained in last Sunday's turn-one accident at Catalunya.
Meanwhile team-mate Sete Gibernau is recuperating from the
operation he underwent yesterday in Barcelona to plate the
left collarbone he fractured in the multiple pile-up. It is
expected he will have to wait between three and five weeks
before he can ride again.
The Ducati Marlboro Team has chosen D'Antin Ducati's Alex
Hofmann as his substitute for the Dutch TT.
LORIS CAPIROSSI, 2nd overall, 99 points
"It was a bad accident at Catalunya but that kind of
thing can happen in racing. I'm not feeling too bad, though
the left part of my chest is still very sore, so it's difficult
to breathe normally. Anyway, I am happy to be at Assen and
I'm looking forward to getting on the bike tomorrow. I definitely
want to race here because this championship is so important
to me. Ducati consulted me when they were considering substitutes
for Sete, I told them I am happy to have Alex riding alongside
me. It's strange, because when I got injured in 2002 while
riding for Honda, Alex was my substitute."
SETE GIBERNAU, 11th overall, 44 points
"I've not see the accident and I don't want to see it.
People have told me it was a really bad one, so I think I
am very lucky. I'd like to say a big thank you to Arai and
Spidi because they gave me perfect protection. I'd also like
to thank the media and my fans because I am receiving so many
messages of encouragement. This will be the first time in
ten years that I have missed a race, so knowing that I will
miss Assen and Donington is a very strange feeling. The accident
happened at a bad time, with so many races over a few weekends,
but there's never a good time to have an accident. Now all
I am thinking about is getting fit again so that I can return
to racing in the strongest way possible."
ALEX HOFMANN, 17th overall, 12 points
"I am very proud to have been chosen to be Sete's substitute
and very happy to be able to race the factory Ducati. Without
doubt this is the best bike/tyre package I have ever had for
a race and I will do my best to help Loris, especially on
tyre choice. I am really looking forward the weekend and I'm
not feeling any pressure. All I want to do is do my best for
the team. My thanks to everyone: Ducati, Pramac, Luis d'Antin
and Paolo Campinoti for the trust they've shown in me. I hope
to repay them by giving them by best. And special wishes to
Sete for a speedy recovery."
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS
LORIS CAPIROSSI
Age: 33 (born April 4, 1973)
Lives: Monaco
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6
GP starts: 238 (68xMotoGP, 59x500, 84x250, 27x125)
GP victories: 26 (4xMotoGP, 2x500, 12x250, 8x125)
First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125)
First GP: Japan, 1990 (125)
Pole positions: 40 (7xMotoGP, 5x500, 23x250, 5x125)
First pole: Australia, 1991 (125)
World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998)
Assen 2005 results: Grid: 7th. Race: 10th
ALEX HOFMANN
Age: 26 (born May 25, 1980)
Lives: Richterswill - Switzerland
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP6
GP starts: 85 (38xMotoGP, 4x500, 41x250, 1x125))
GP victories: -
First GP: Germany, 1997 (125)
Pole positions: -
Assen 2005 results: Grid: 10th . Race: DNF
|
