CZECH REPUBLIC GP - Preview
BACK ON THE ROAD TO BRNO
After a well-earned summer break the MotoGP World Championship
circus gets back on the road this week to tackle a demanding
finale to the season with renewed energy. The twelfth round
of the series takes place on the 20th August at the Brno circuit
in the Czech Republic, after which the teams and riders head
out for further events in Malaysia, Australia and Japan before
returning to Europe for the final two rounds.Team Fortuna
Honda head to Brno with their batteries fully recharged -
Marco Melandri having spent a week relaxing on a Greek island
whilst Toni Elias stayed closer to home with a trip to the
Costa Brava.
"I was ready for a bit of time off after competing in
five races over the past six weeks" commented MARCO MELANDRI,
who picked up two victories early in the season before signing
off for the summer with three straight podiums. "I feel
good - after months of training and concentration and that
nasty incident at Barcelona I've finally been able to kick
back and charge my batteries. Just like last year I've taken
a week off and been out to Mykonos in Greece, a place I really
enjoy and find relaxing. The people are really nice there,
you can have fun and it's a good place to hang out with friends."
Back in Italy Marco celebrated his 24th birthday on the 7th
August with his fan club at the Mirabilandia beach. As usual
Marco took the opportunity to take the reigns as DJ for the
night, providing the soundtrack for an evening of fun with
his friends and members of Team Gresini.
"I feel better than ever and I can't wait to go racing
again at Brno, a track I really like and have a lot of good
memories from - the best being in 2002 when I took my sixth
straight win on the way to the 250 title", comments the
Ravenna youngster. "The track requires a good engine
so the team will have to work hard on adapting the motor of
my RC211V as best as possible. I feel calm and confident after
leaving Laguna with a podium and I hope to get back underway
at Brno with another good result. It was a tough weekend in
America and that podium was a real achievement but I like
the taste of victory and I want to savour it again as soon
as possible."
The holidays also came at just the right time for Toni Elias,
who has tackled the last two races with a shoulder injury
sustained during practice at Assen. "I needed the three
weeks off to have a complete rest and allow the shoulder injury
to recover 100%. My body was really worn before the break
and it needed some recovery time so the last thing I wanted
to do was get on an aeroplane. I spent a few days at home
before heading up to the beach on the Costa Brava. Now I'm
pleased to be going to the Czech Republic and to a circuit
I like a lot. We did a really good job with the team in America
to improve my feeling with the front end - a problem which
has really hindered me this season. I'm sure we can start
to gather the fruit of that work at Brno and with me back
to full fitness I'll be ready to take on the challenge of
such a demanding track."
Currently lying third in the World Championship standings
on 150 points, with 10 and 44-point gaps to leading HRC pair
Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden respectively, Marco Melandri
is continuing to compete without being distracted by the title
chase. "The important thing is to work well at every
race," he says. "With a 44-point gap to Nicky I
can only focus on getting the best result every weekend. Myself
and Dani both have nothing to lose so the racing should be
spectacular and very close. Until the maths say otherwise
the championship is wide open and I will keep giving my all
every Sunday."
It has been a decidedly tougher start to the season for Toni
Elias, who was forced out of two races with the injury to
his shoulder. Twelfth in the standings on 59 points, the Fortuna
Honda rider must improve his feeling with the bike still further
before aiming for his first podium in the premier class.
BRNO - A DATE NOT TO BE MISSED
THE TRACK :Technical and fast, Brno maintains the charm and
challenge of a true race circuit - a mixture of fast corners
and quick changes in direction providing a true test of both
bike and rider. The main characteristic of the Czech circuit
is the constant changes in elevation. As it winds its way
through thick forest, the track features several down and
uphill corners - plenty of them off-camber - demanding a perfect
machine set-up and no shortage of rider skill. Horsepower
is also a determining factor, with the MotoGP machines really
unleashed at this super-fast track.
MARCO MELANDRI "Brno is a complete
and technical circuit, with frequent elevation changes, fast
corners and a slower section - in particular the mixed section
from turn six to turn ten. It's a demanding track that really
puts the bike and the rider's ability to the test. It is fundamental
to have a good setting because the bike is under a lot of
stress in terms of the chassis, engine and tyres. At this
track you need a delicate, smooth and clean riding style to
follow the tightest possible racing line because the track
is so long.It is a track I like a lot - you can use the full
power of a MotoGP bike here. Along with Sepang, Brno is the
only circuit where we use sixth gear twice."
REPEAT TARGET: Marco Melandri has celebrated
three victories and a second place at Brno, having won there
in 1998 and 1999 in the 125 class, before going from second
(2001) to first (2002) in 250 - the category in which he was
crowned World Champion.
TONI ELIAS: "Brno is one of my favourite
circuits because it is technical and fast, where you can use
all the power of the engine. It is characterised by frequent
elevation changes, pronounced rises and descents, fun chicanes,
fast sections and some slow ones. It is one of the most complete
tracks around. The final section rises steeply uphill and
has two chicanes - one slow and one slightly faster leading
onto the start-finish straight. My favourite part is the stadium
section, the double right-hander followed by the left. The
track also has good grip. It is difficult to overtake at the
end of the main straight because the corner is really slow
but you can start to pass from the first chicane and even
in the final bend before the rise."
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Circuit name: Brno
Constructed: 1987
Latest modification: 1996
Length: 5,403m
Width: 15m
Pole position: Left
Right corners: 6
Left corners: 8
Longest straight: 636m
|
