GP OF FRANCE - PREVIEW
The MotoGP returns to Europe, to the historic track
of Le Mans
After going to China, the Championship returns to Europe,
more precisely to France. Hosting the fourth round of the
season is the historic circuit of Bugatti, made in 1965 around
the already existing 24-hour track of Le Mans.
The track hosted motorcycle GP’s from 1966 to 1995,
and then underwent a reconstruction to then come back and
host the 2000 French GP.
The history of Le Mans is strongly connected with the world
of racing cars, in fact, every year the Bugatti hosts the
famous 24-hour race of Le Mans.
MotoGP uses the permanent Bugatti circuit, which only shares
the section from the front straight round to la Chapelle (where
the cars go straight on out into the country) with the 24-hour
track. The rest of the circuit is quite twisty, but that first
corner is one of the fastest bend of the whole championship.
The most impressive part of the track in fact is represented
by the quick right hand corner at the end of the straight,
followed! by a chicane which imposes a strong direction change.
To take on this part of the track you need cold blood and
courage.
The track surface was completely resurfaced last year, bettering
the grip in an impressive manner. In the past, the grip used
to be one of the worse aspects of this track making it a challenge
for the Michelin Engineers. Michelin has triumphed in nine
of the last ten premier-class GPs held at Le Mans, a track
that can be defined the ‘home GP’ of the French
tyre manufacturer.
#15 SETE GIBERNAU - CALLED TO REPEAT HIMSELF
After two consecutive victories on the Bugatti track, respectively
in 2003 and 2004, the Vice World Champion, Sete Gibernau is
called to repeat himself to put an end to a particularly difficult
beginning of season which has not given Sete the satisfaction
he deserves for all the good work he and the team have done
both in practice sessions and races.
Champion of the winter, Sete Gibernau was the absolute protagonist
during the first three races of the championship even if he
didn’t receive the results he deserved seeing his excellent
performance during the race weekends.
With the Chinese GP behind him, Sete looks with high hopes
to the French GP. A strong rider, mature and determined, the
only one able to challenge the world champion for the past
two seasons, Sete Gibernau hopes to recuperate the position
which he deserves.
“The Bugatti is a very particular track, quite difficult,
characterized by a very fast right corner at the end of the
starting straight, followed by a chicane which demands for
a quick change in speed. An impressive piece of the track!!
To take on the Bugatti track in the best possible way, a perfect
set up is needed and a good feeling with the front tyre is
very important. In fact it is the front tyre which determines
the vivacity of the bike during direction changes in the chicanes
and it plays an important ro! le during the harsh braking
which are followed by quick corners” comments Sete Gibernau,
two times winner of the French GP in the past two editions.
#33 MARCO MELANDRI - CONSTANTLY GROWING
Marco Melandri is no longer a surprise, as he was defined
by the press at the beginning of the 2005 season. With two
podiums and a fourth place, Marco Melandri is in second place
in the riders’ championship. Constantly growing, Marco
enthusiastically looks towards the French GP, on a track which
this Ravenna born rider likes.
“I am very happy with this beginning of season. I would
have never thought to be in second place in the championship.
I feel as though I have the potential to do well, now a victory
is no longer a utopia, I want to try to win a race”
comments Marco at the end of the Chinese GP which saw him
step onto the third place of the podium. Marco is serene,
strong, has regained faith in himself and is completely comforta!
ble with the team which supports him in everything."
MARCO MELANDRI’S COMMENTS ON LE MANS“The
track of Le Mans is notoriously known as a track characterized
by hard braking. This remains the most distinctive trait of
the Bugatti track even if the track has become a bit slower
after the modifications to the second corner. Le Mans isn’t
amongst the most technical tracks of the Championship. Its
design is torturous but I enjoy this track as it is fun to
ride here.
The sector which I prefer is undoubtedly the two final variations.
The track offers a lot of overtaking points like the first
braking variation point. The Garage Vert corner is a slow
corner which needs a long braking and it gives you enough
time to overtake. The slower section is represented by the
Garage Vert and the final two corners, two corners which are
just a bit two slow for a MotoGP.
The secret to a good lap in Le Mans consists of favouring
your braking and opening of th! e throttle more than riding
your corner perfectly.
The best time I can remember on this track was in 2003 when,
for the first time in MotoGP, I began from the first row.
The worse memory I have is definitely when I fell in 2001.
After the fall in Suzuka, it was my second fall of the season.
Le Mans is a place for all Northern and Central European fans
to come to. It is a GP which is very followed but still the
atmosphere here isn’t as warm as it is in Spain or Italy.”
LE MANS – TECHNICAL DATA
Name of the circuit: Bugatti Circuit
Opened: 1974
modified: 2002
Lenght: 4.180 m
Width: 13 m
Pole position: left
Right corners: 9
Left corners : 4
Longest straight: 450 m
RECORD:
Track record: 2004 Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda) 1’34”088
pole position 2004: 2004 Sete Gibernau (Spa/Honda) 1’33”425
2004 Race: 1°Gibernau (Honda) 2° Checa (Yamaha) 3°
Biaggi (Honda)
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