Portuguese GP - Preview
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM READY FOR ANOTHER HUGE CHALLENGE
Following on from a fruitful day of testing after the second
round of the season at Jerez, which allowed the Ducati Marlboro
Team to resolve some of the problems experienced during the
weekend in Spain, the riders and staff are now ready to tackle
the third instalment of 2008 at the Estoril circuit in Portugal.
The Autodromo Fernando Pires de Silva is notorious for its
lack of grip and it promises to be another tough challenge
for the team. However, the technicians and riders are as prepared
as always to give 100% at a circuit where Casey Stoner overcame
a problematic race to seal a crucial podium last year, when
Marco Melandri crossed the line in fifth place.
LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project Director
"Estoril is always a difficult circuit to visit because
the weather can change very quickly and the wind is an almost
constant nuisance for the riders. I think the weather could
prove to be the most important variable this weekend but it
will be the same for everybody! The test on Monday after the
GP at Jerez was positive for both Casey and Marco. Working
together with Bridgestone they came up with some new solutions
that Casey liked and we think they'll be a good step forward
from what we already have. Marco's finger injury shouldn't
create too many problems so he should continue to improve
his feeling with the bike."
CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team
"Estoril is a bit of a strange track, with a nice flowing
section and some twisty and slow parts. One of my favourite
sections is turn two, which is downhill and off-camber - it's
difficult but really nice. In general the track has a lot
of places where you can overtake so the race should be fun
to watch. Last year we did well in practice, we were very
close to pole position and then had a slight technical problem
in the race but finished on the podium. In theory if we can
work well from the start and there are no nasty surprises
then we should be in the fight for the win."
MARCO MELANDRI, Ducati Marlboro Team
"Estoril is probably another track that we won't be best
friends with but it's pointless trying to predict - we'll
have to wait and see how we get on when we arrive. It's a
strange track with some slow corners and a really long and
fast main straight but you couldn't say it's complete because
there aren't really any technical sections. It will be important
to be good on the brakes and find a compromise in the setting.
I hope we can start out better in practice and then improve
throughout - something I've not managed to do yet. The finger
I hurt in Jerez is practically recovered - I don't think I'll
even need a bandage."
THE TRACK
Estoril is a circuit of huge contrasts. The main straight
is one of the longest in MotoGP, allowing for speeds in excess
of 310km/h, whilst the chicane is one of the slowest. The
average speed of the circuit is the lowest of the entire MotoGP
calendar and the contrast between the fast and slow sections
requires a tricky compromise in the set-up of the chassis.
The same can be said for the engine, which needs to provide
good top speed as well as sweet performance in low revs. However,
perhaps the most important variable for the riders is the
circuit's close proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which can
create strong winds that unbalance the riders and leave dirt
on the track surface, reducing grip levels, The circuit plays
host to the Grand Prix of Portugal for the ninth time this
year, with the race having previously been held in 1987 and
1988 in Spain, before Estoril met with the safety requirements.
Circuit Record: Nicky Hayden (Honda - 2007) 1'37.493- 154.423
km/h
Best Pole: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha- 2006) 1'36.200 - 156.498
km/h
Length: 4.182 km.
MotoGP Race 2008: 28 laps (117.096 km)
MotoGP Schedule 2008: 13:00 local time, 14:00 CET
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM - RIDER INFOR
CASEY STONER
Age: 22 (born 16th October 1985)
Residence: Montecarlo
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP8
GP appearances: 97 (36xMotoGP, 31x250, 30x125)
GP victories: 18 (11xMotoGP, 5x250, 2x125)
First GP victory: Valencia, 2003 (125)
First GP: Great Britain, 2001 (125)
Pole positions: 10 (6xMotoGP, 2x250, 2x125)
First pole position: Italy, 2003 (125)
World titles: 1 (MotoGP, 2007)
MotoGP track record at Estoril:
2007: Grid: 2nd. Race: 3rd
2006: Grid: 5t. Race: DNF
Age: 25 (born 7th August 1982 in Ravenna, Italy)
Residence: Derby, UK
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP8
GP appearances: 157 (81xMotoGP, 47x250, 29 x 125)
GP victories: 22 (5xMotoGP, 10x250, 7x125)
First GP victory: Holland, 1998 (125)
First GP: Czech Republic, 1997 (125)
Pole positions: 9 (6x250, 3x125)
First pole position: Germany, 1998 (125)
World titles: 1 (250, 2002)
MotoGP track record at Estoril:
2007: Grid: 7th. Race: 5th
2006: Grid: 15°. Race: 8°
2005: Grid: 5th. Race: 4th
2004: Grid: 4th. Race: DNF
2003: Grid: 11th Race: 7th
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