Round 2 - Jerez GP - Preview
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RETURN TO EUROPE FOR SPANISH
CLASSIC
After a fantastic opening to the 2008 season under the floodlights
of Qatar, where the Losail circuit played host to another
masterclass from Casey Stoner, MotoGP returns to Europe this
weekend for one of its classic fixtures - the Spanish Grand
Prix at Jerez de la Frontera.
Despite setting the fastest lap in wet conditions during
the Official Test here in February, when he also found excellent
race pace in the dry, the reigning World Champion is also
aware that the Andalusian track is one of only four venues
where he didn't manage a podium finish on his way to the title
last season.
However, Stoner is not the type to look at past results -
be they good or bad - and he is ready to work 100% with his
team to achieve the highest possible finish this time out.
Stoner's team-mate Marco Melandri heads to Spain in the same
spirit after finding a good feeling and rhythm with his GP8
during the second half of the race in Qatar. He can't wait
for the next Grand Prix as he targets continued improvements.
A fortnight ago, Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri attended
the international media launch of the new Bridgestone Battlax
BT-016 tyre at Jerez using a Ducati 848 equipped with the
new hypersport tyres (photos attached)
LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project Director
"Last year Jerez was one of the most difficult races
for Casey but during both tests here in November and February
he managed to improve his performance a lot and ended up very
fast in both sessions. He is in incredible form, as he showed
in the first GP in Qatar. His confidence in the bike and tyres
is definitely even higher than it was a year ago so I think
that at Jerez he can also be amongst the frontrunners. We're
also expecting an improved performance from Marco, who we
think learnt a lot in the first race. There is no doubting
his talent - it is only three races since the penultimate
round of 2007 at Sepang when he produced an outstanding display
to finish second behind Casey. Now, with the improved feeling
he found with the Desmosedici during the race in Qatar, I'm
sure the results will start to come for him too."
CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team
"You could say that Jerez last year wasn't one of our
best races, but winter testing went well there and with the
general improvements we've made since last year I think we
can be competitive next weekend. We worked well with the Bridgestone
technicians there and tested a lot of different types of tyre,
so we should be well prepared to pick the right one for the
race. There are a lot of riders who have started the season
strongly, especially the rookies, amongst them riders who
will want more of the same and riders racing at home, so they'll
be very motivated. We just have to try and make sure we do
our job well and then try to achieve the best result possible."
MARCO MELANDRI, Ducati Marlboro Team
"Jerez is one of the circuits where we did a lot of testing
in the winter and where we tried a lot of different set-up
solutions. It is quite a demanding circuit but for me the
first race was very important to understand certain things,
more than we'd managed during the tests. I definitely have
to decide on a direction during practice and follow it without
making too many modifications so that we're ready when the
moment arrives to put in a qualifying tyre. Starting closer
to the front gives you the chance to be fast from the first
laps, something we couldn't do in Qatar. The first race certainly
wasn't at the level we want to be at but there were positives
to take out of it, especially in the second half, so we have
to keep working because we can and must improve."
THE TRACK
Built in 1986, Jerez hosted its first Grand Prix the following
year and has stayed on the World Championship calendar ever
since. It is a race that the majority of riders look forward
too thanks to the special atmosphere created by the Spanish
fans and the characteristics of the circuit layout, which
reward good riding. Many of the 13 corners flow into each
other, requiring a precise and smooth racing line and a well-balanced
machine set-up. The track also demands good front grip, whilst
a host of slower corners also oblige the riders to control
the rear wheel as it slides under acceleration on the exit.
The latest resurfacing took place six years ago and the circuit
infrastructure was also given a recent facelift.
Circuit Record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha - 2005) 1'40.596
- 158.284 km/h
Best Pole: Loris Capirossi (Ducati - 2006) 1'39.064 - 160.732
km/h
Circuit Length: 4.423 km.
MotoGP Race 2008: 27 laps (119,421 km)
MotoGP Schedule 2008: 14:00 CET
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM - RIDER INFO
CASEY STONER
Age: 22 (born 16th October 1985)
Residence: Montecarlo
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP8
GP appearances: 96 (35xMotoGP, 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 Jerez:
2007: Grid - 5th; Race - 5th
2006: Grid - 15th; Race - 6th
MARCO MELANDRI
Age: 25 (born 7th August 1982 in Ravenna, Italy)
Residence: Derby, UK
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP8
GP appearances: 156 (80xMotoGP, 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 Jerez:
2007: Grid - 9th; Race - 8th
2006: Grid - 7th; Race - 5th
2005: Grid - 3rd; Race - 3rd
2004: Grid - 11th; Race - DNF
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