WELCOME BACK TONI
Cautious return for Toni Elias at Sachsenring after
three weeks out with a fracture to his left shoulder.
After his brilliant podium at Donington Park on July 2, Marco
Melandri arrives in Germany in good spirits and improving
physical shape.
A week-long break following three straight races has given
him crucial time to rest and recover strength but also to
undergo further tests on the injuries he sustained in that
horrific crash at Barcelona. In particular, Marco underwent
important examination at the clinic run by Dottor Porcellini,
the orthopaedic shoulder specialist that operated on his collarbone
and shoulder in 2003. The results have shown up a compound
fracture to the right collarbone next to the sternoclavicular
joint. Three weeks on from the incident Marco is recovering
and is over the most critical phase but the pain continues
and the Italian must try top move his right arm as little
as possible, avoiding closing it across his front.
His team-mate Toni Elias will have a more cautious approach,
meanwhile, as he returns to the track after himself being
injured in a practice crash at Assen, which left him with
a fractured left shoulder. After being forced to miss out
on the Dutch and British rounds, the Spaniard is still suffering
but will try to return to action on the RC211V.
MARCO MELANDRI: "It was nice to be
back on the podium just two weeks after the accident. Donington
was a real achievement for me and I pleased because Barcelona
hasn't affected me - I still have the desire to fight and
my racing spirit is still intact. Now we have to race at two
very interesting tracks. The Germany-United States double
will be tough but I hope to be able to tackle it at my best.
Sachsenring is a peculiar circuit but i like it because it
is technical. The setting of the bike has to be perfect at
this track and as far as riding technique is concerned you
have to be very careful to control the throttle without being
too aggressive. The week break has given me chance to recover
but also to find out more about why I'm in so much pain with
my right shoulder. The examination I underwent (X-ray, CAT
and magnetic resonance) have shown up a fracture to the right
collarbone next to the sternoclavicular joint. That explains
the intense pain I was in at Assen and Donington. I've already
spoken with both Doctor Porcellini, the specialist who operated
on my collarbone in 2003, and Doctor Costa about continuing
the physiotherapy. The worst is over but I still have to try
to move my right arm as little as possible."
TONI ELIAS: "I'm happy to come back
after a forced three-week break at home. It's been a tough
period because the shoulder has been really painful. It hurts
every time I move my arm and I can't even rest properly because
it is even painful when I lay down. I've tried to recover
as quickly as possible by having two sessions with the physiotherapist
each day. I want to race even though I am aware it will be
very difficult and painful. I don't know how the shoulder
will react to the demands of the bike at a circuit like Sachsenring,
which has a lot of left corners - the injured side. I feel
motivated - crashes and the recovery period always make you
stronger and that is the way I feel."
THE TRACK
Located around 100km south of Dresden, in the former East
Germany, Sachsenring has hosted racing on the surrounding
street circuits since the 1920s. The final 500cc Grand Prix
on the long 8.6km track took place in 1972 and was won by
Giacomo Agostini.
In 1996 a new track was built near the town of Chemnitz and
it has been modified slightly over the years in an attempt
to make it a little faster. The latest changes were made in
2003 but the German circuit remains one of the slowest on
the calendar.
Throttle control is crucial at Sachsenring given that the
MotoGP bikes can only use full power for 10-15% of the lap.
The bike has to be agile in order to cope with the demands
of the first half of the track, which is slow and tortuous.
MARCO MELANDRI: "The secret is to control
the gas without being too aggressive."
TONI ELIAS: "Sachsenring is a slow
and tortuous track. I'm still suffering from the effects of
the fracture on my shoulder. For sure the amount of left corners
- ten to be precise - will put my condition to the test."
Sachsenring
Constructed:1996
Latest modification:2003
Length:3.671 m
Width: 10 m
Pole: Left
Right corners: 4
Left corners: 10
Longest straight: 780 m
MotoGP race: 30 laps - 110.130 km
RECORD:
Circuit record: 2005 Gibernau (Honda) 1'23"705
Pole position: 2005 Hayden (Honda) 1'22"785
Race 2005: 1st Rossi (Yamaha) 2nd Gibernau (Honda) 3rd Hayden
(Honda)
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