MOTOGP TAKES ON A NEW CHALLENGE IN CHINA
GP OF CHINA – PREVIEW
The Championship debuts on the very modern, science fictional
track of Shanghai, built just one year ago to hold the Formula
1 GP. This track can boast a record cost; the Chinese authorities
in fact spent over 250 million dollars to build the track
and its infrastructures. It is a spectacular sight that left
our F1 colleagues speechless cause of the amazing architectural
work undergone such as the two wings that cover the starting
straight.
 From
a technical point of view the track – designed with
the greatest technological expressions - is complete and presents
a various mix of situations by alternating slow and quick
stints where the power and velocity of these bikes can be
used to their potential.
The peculiarity of this track is the two long straights.
The starting straight measures 1202 meters in length, the
longest of the entire championship, even longer than that
of the Mugello track which is 1141 meters long and Barcelona’s
which is 1047 met! ers.
The track is also characterized by two nearly 360º corners
which will put the tyres to the test.
Like the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, the Shanghai circuit
is very large, designed for Formula 1, and presents many places
where overtaking is possible.
The IRTA, the association of teams and riders, tried to organize
a winter testing session on this circuit, but failed to do
so because of the difficult bureaucratic situation in this
country. The track is new for everyone; there are no previous
references for the bikes.
The Motorcycle world arrives in China with a lot of curiosity
and high expectations, as this is a country that allows for
important commercial and economical opportunities for the
various motorcycle manufacturers who are present in the championship.
CURIOSITIES OF THE SHANGHAI TRACK:
Time difference: + 7 compared to Italy
Location: the track is situated 20 miles
of Shanghai! , north east of Anting Town next to the Shanghai
International Automobile City. You need to allow for at least
an hour and a half from the centre of town to the track.
Remember: In China you cannot rent cars,
the team will need to use a shuttle service provided by the
hotels.
Spectators: Last year 150.000 spectators
gathered to watch the F1 GP.
Tickets: You can buy tickets directly on
line.
Web Site: For all information you may log
onto www.icsh.sh.ch, the official web site of the Shanghai
circuit.
SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT - TECHNICAL DATA
Opened : 2004
Modified 2004
Length: 5281 m
Width: 14 m
Pole position: left
Right Corners: 7
Left corners: 7
Longest Straight: 1202 m
MotoGP Race: 22 laps, 116,182 kms
Track Record: new track
Pole position: new track
#15 SETE GIBERNAU: A NEW TRACK FOR ALL
! Sete arrives in China, third GP of the season, with the
desire to get back on track and compete.
Absolute protagonist of winter testing where Sete –
busy developing the bike – dominated for consistency,
rhythm and speed. The Spanish rider demonstrated to have all
the right cards to fight for the Championship title.
“I’ve never been so strong” comments Sete
Gibernau “thanks to the work done with the Team, HRC,
Honda and Michelin, compared to last year I have grown and
matured another year of experience. We all worked in the same
direction during the winter tests. To strengthen the relationship
between HRC, Honda and Michelin was one of my objectives,
and I think I have succeeded.
During the first two GP’s I have proved to be a stronger
rider. Together with the team we did an incredible job and
it is a real shame to not have been able to gain those precious
points we hoped for. I think we did the most for what we could
control. Even dur! ing the Portuguese GP we worked at the
top level, proof being the large advantage I acquired compared
to the rest of the group. I was conducing the race with a
1.2 second advantage on Alex Barros, and 11 seconds on Valentino
Rossi. I couldn’t have done more and I paid because
I was leading the race. Being the race leader I had no point
of reference when it started to rain, the racing conditions
were really difficult. In the end we’ve paid for it
because the other riders saw the crash and dropped their pace
by three seconds.”
After the GP of Portugal, Sete spent a few days resting in
Switzerland to undergo an accurate rehabilitation therapy
to his left shoulder, which was hurt during the contact with
Rossi on the last lap of the Spanish GP, and aggravated with
his fall during the Portuguese GP.
With Estoril behind him, Sete Gibernau looks with optimism
to the Chinese race, a new track for all.
“The only aspect we know of this track is th! e design
of it. It is in fact new for all of us. The distinctive characteristics
of this track seem to be the two long straights, and the two
360º corners, but the track still remains a big incognito.
We will only be fully aware of our situation when we begin
the first practice session. Not being able to undergo winter
testing here, this Shanghai track will be a real challenge
for both the teams and the riders. We all begin from scratch;
there are no reference points for the bikes. It will be important
to try and understand the track as quickly as possible in
order to find the correct setting. We only have 4 practice
sessions, that is 3 hours of free practice sessions, and a
one-hour qualifying session. These hours will be decisive
for the starting grid, learning to interpret the track, finding
the right setup and being as competitive as possible. I am
curious to race in China, an interesting country with a lot
of tradition.”
#33 MARCO MELANDRI! :“A TRACK WHERE WE ALL
START FROM SCRATCH, A POSITIVE OPPORTUNITY TO USE TO THE BEST”
Marco Melandri takes on the third race of the season
with tranquillity and confidence which come from the great
job he did during winter testing with his new team and a start
to the season which has been better than he could ever have
hoped for. The podium in Jerez, the third of his career for
this young Italian rider in the MotoGP class, and fourth place
in Estoril has allowed Marco Melandri to be in third position
in the Championship ranking.
“I am very happy and satisfied with the results of
the first two races of the season. Just a short time ago I
thought third place in the championship would have been impossible.
The GP of Portugal was particularly difficult cause of the
climatic situation; the track was wet in some places, dry
in others. You couldn’t take advantage of the perfect
setup of the bike and the tyres, as the track was very slippery,
dirty ! and unreliable. It was easy to make a mistake, our
goal was to finish the race and I am happy to have brought
home a fourth place.”Now Marco looks positively to the
third race of the season on the track of Shanghai, China.
It is a new track where we are racing for the first time.
This makes an even bigger challenge for all the techs, mechanics
and riders as it means having to use to the maximum of their
capabilities the four hours of practice sessions they are
allowed hoping that rain doesn’t interfere with their
plans.
“I am very optimistic about the Chinese GP. I saw the
design of the track for the first time only a week ago. It
seems to be very interesting, strange, and innovative for
sure. There are two particularly long corners, which will
be hard on the front end of the bike, as it will be put under
a lot of strain. The Shanghai track is a new track for everyone,
we all start from scratch and this is a good occasion to use
to our advantage.
! I am curious to go to China and race with the RC211V on
this spectacular and modern track. I know a challenging weekend
awaits us because we will only have four hours to use to the
best of our abilities. Who adapts to the track quicker will
logically have the advantage on the rest.”
MICHELIN TAKES ON A NEW CHALLENGE IN CHINA
For the first ever time the Championship arrives in China,
to the Shanghai circuit, a racetrack yet to be explored. We
asked Nicolas Goubert, Michelin’s Chief of motorcycling
competitions, how the number one tyre manufacturer
will be taking on this new challenge.
It is the first time the Championship will be taking
place in China, what problems do you think you will encounter?
With which elements are you basing your choices on?
“When you run on a new circuit, like Shanghai, we begin
with a careful analysis of the track. The design itself gives
us important data. Shanghai in partic! ular has two very long
straights, the starting straight measuring 1202 meters, the
longest of the entire championship, it is even longer than
Mugello’s straight away which measure 1140 meters and
Barcelona’s which is 1047 meters long.
The track is characterized also by two nearly 360º turns,
these are particularly dangerous for the tyres as they will
get very hot in these points.
We also analyzed the possible climatic situation; the temperatures
shouldn’t be very high. Rain remains a fundamental risk
factor. For example, last year Qatar was a new track for us
and the stable climatic conditions allowed us to use the four
practice sessions in dry weather to the max, and luckily enough,
the race was dry too. In China, rain could ruin the work program,
leaving very little time to tyre testing.”
Being a new track will you bring a higher number
of different types of tyres?
“Every time we go to a new circuit we always bring!
a vast range of tyres compared to what we would bring to an
already known track where we have experience and reference
points to use.”
Have you sent a technician to study the track conditions?
“No, we based ourselves on the design analysis of the
track and on the experience of our Formula 1 colleagues.”
In what way have you used the Formula 1 experience
of this track?
"We did a comparative analysis of the data our F1 colleagues
gave us. The data they gave us was also useful to understand
the type of asphalt of this track and the level of abrasiveness
of it.”
Looking at the Championship which has just begun,
what progress has been made compared to last year and what
have you looked to implement?
"Compared to 2004, we have made a huge step forward,
especially regarding the rear tyre. We have improved the grip
on the maximum angle and the traction. Based on the indications!
of our riders, this is the direction we began looking at during
the pre season testing sessions. During the season we must
adapt the various compounds of the tyres to the characteristics
of the different tracks. Each time we must keep in mind three
fundamental factors: the track characteristics, the asphalt
conditions and the weather.”
How important are the riders of the Team Movistar
Honda MotoGP for the development of the tyres?
"Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri’s support gave
us important indications during our winter testing session.
We have worked a long time now with Sete, a rider of great
experience.
Marco was a very nice surprise. We worked a lot with Melandri
as well because he is a rider capable of answer quickly to
our requests; he gives precise indications and is capable
of rapidly analyzing the characteristics of a tyre. The result
of the first two races of this Championship season confirms
what a valid rider he is.”
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