DUCATI TEAM READY FOR AMERICAN ROLLERCOASTER
The Ducati Team comes to the United States leading all three
MotoGP World Championships despite a race of contrasting fortunes
in Germany last weekend. Loris Capirossi scored a brilliant
second place while series leader Casey Stoner finished fifth
to retain his points lead, to keep the Italian squad ahead
in the constructors' championship and the team's championship.
Both Stoner and Capirossi are looking forward to Laguna Seca,
a real rodeo ride of a racetrack that crisscrosses the undulating
Californian countryside, providing a unique challenge for
men and machines. MotoGP takes a well-deserved break after
Laguna, the sport's sixth race in just eight weekends. The
next GP takes place in the Czech Republic on August 19th.
LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP project director
"It's good to go racing again so soon after Germany and
we are still leading all three championships, despite a bit
of a difficult race at the Sachsenring for Casey. Laguna Seca
was tough for us last year but everything is different this
year, including the track surface, so we will have to wait
and see what that's like. Casey and Loris both like the track
and it's got less long corners than the Sachsenring, so it's
not so hard on tyres."
CASEY STONER, World Championship leader on 196 points
"After last weekend we'll be working hard to come back
at Laguna. It's refreshing to go there because it's a really
different racetrack. Like they say, it hasn't been designed
by some guy with a computer, it flows with the land and it's
really tricky with ups and downs. The track can get a little
bit dusty, so the grip's not always the best but I quite enjoy
that sometimes. I like the whole atmosphere of the American
GP, I was very impressed with the American fans last year,
they were very supportive to everyone, they're there to have
a good time. I think there will be a lot of bikes that can
run quick at Laguna and I'm sure the Ducati will perform fine
because it's been able to do that at every track so far this
year. After Laguna we finally get to go back home to Australia,
which is great. Adriana and I were going to have a little
holiday in America but we figured we've been away from Australia
for a long time, so we are due a trip home. During the break
I'm going to start training to get myself ready for the last
seven races."
LORIS CAPIROSSI, 8th overall on 77 points
"I think we have found a good direction with my revised
engine spec and different weight distribution. This latest
spec engine gives me a really good feeling, it's nice and
progressive, which is good for my riding style. At Laguna
we plan to start with both bikes using the same set-up we
ran in Germany. Laguna was our worst track last year and the
year before, but the situation is very different now - the
bike is better and the tyres are much better, so I'm quite
confident. Laguna is an amazing track with one of the best
layouts. You need a well-balanced bike and a good front end
to go fast there, so the new base set-up we used in Germany,
with more weight on the front, should be good. After this
race I go home to Monaco and do nothing, really nothing, except
that Ingrid and I plan to have our son Riccardo (born on April
3) christened. He has changed our lives completely, for the
better, I love being a dad. We are very lucky, he is a great
kid and sleeps all night!"
THE TRACK
Laguna Seca is a spectacular circuit, twisting this way and
that across rolling Californian countryside. It is best known
for its infamous Corkscrew section, a tight left-right chicane
on a steep hillside. In fact the entire circuit is a bit of
a rollercoaster, starting with Turn One, an ultra-quick lefthander
over a brow that is one of MotoGP's greatest tests of bravery.
The infield section (completed in the late 1980s to bring
the track up to GP spec) is relatively straightforward, then
the fun starts again as riders tackle the high-speed run up
to the Corkscrew, then plunge downhill to the finish line.
Laguna's many downhill corners make front-tyre performance
particularly crucial, since riders need extra confidence to
attack off-camber turns. Machines need to be particularly
well balanced for this circuit.
Laguna hosted six GPs between 1988 and 1994, then slipped
off the calendar. The track underwent major safety revisions
before its next GP in 2005 and has recently been resurfaced.
LAGUNA SECA DATA
Lap record: Dani Pedrosa (Honda), 1m 23.333, 155.953km/h-96.906mph
(2006)
Pole position 2006: Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki), 1m 23.168s
DUCATI TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS
LORIS CAPIROSSI
Age: 34 (born 4 April 1973)
Lives: Monaco
Bike: Ducati Team Desmosedici GP7
GP starts: 258 (88xMotoGP, 59x500, 84x250, 27x125)
GP victories: 28 (6xMotoGP, 2x500, 12x250, 8x125)
First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125)
First GP: Japan, 1990 (125)
Pole positions: 41 (8xMotoGP, 5x500, 23x250, 5x125)
First pole: Australia, 1991 (125)
World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998)
Laguna Seca 2006 results: Grid: 13th. Race: 8th
CASEY STONER
Age: 21 (born 16 October 16 1985)
Lives: Monaco
Bike: Ducati Team Desmosedici GP7
GP starts: 87 (26xMotoGP, 31x250, 30x125)
GP victories: 12 (5xMotoGP, 5x250, 2x125)
First GP victory: Valencia, 2003 (125)
First GP: Britain, 2001 (125)
Pole positions: 7 (3xMotoGP, 2x250, 2x125)
First pole: Netherlands, 2003 (125)
Laguna Seca 2006 results: Grid: 7th. Race: DNF
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