BRITISH GRAND PRIX - PREVIEW
AN UPHILL CHALLENGE
 After
a difficult time at the historic circuit of Assen last weekend,
when Toni Elias was forced to return home early through injury
and Marco Melandri made an heroic charge to second place just
six days after being involved in a first corner pile-up at
Barcelona, the World Championship continues this Sunday in
Great Britain. It is a second home Grand Prix for Marco, who
lives just two miles from the Donington Park circuit in the
heart of old England and just a stone's throw from Sherwood
Forest. Having flown straight there from Amsterdam, Marco
has enjoyed a short but precious few days' rest at home.
MARCO MELANDRI: "I needed to put my
feet up for a couple of days because since the Barcelona crash
everything has happened really quickly: hospital, the trip
to Assen, the medical checks and then the race. Now I've been
able to relax a little and start to get back into my normal
routine. Hopefully I will have recovered a lot of strength
before Sunday's race because Donington Park is a place I love
and it is a real challenge for a rider. It is technical and
fast in the first two sections of the track, a little slower
towards the end. Its characteristics make it hard going on
your arms, there are so many direction changes and it will
really test my physical condition. At Assen I found it really
hard work in the direction changes and under braking."
A forced recovery continues for Toni Elias, who underwent
a medical examination on Monday at the Dexeus Institute in
Barcelona with Doctor Xavier Mir, who confirmed that the injury
is recovering well. The crack in his shoulder is recovering,
but if he returns to action too soon it could slow the recovery
process and cause further damage to the tendons and nerves.
The Spaniard is therefore out of action for a further three
weeks and hopes to return in time for the German Grand Prix
on the 16th July.
TONI ELÍAS: "The pain is still
really strong. I really hoped to have recovered already but
the tests on Monday showed that it was still too early to
get back on the bike. The fracture still needs time and that
is without considering the fact that Donington is really demanding
and tiring and you have to be at 100% fitness to deal with
that. I am really disappointed not to be there and I hope
to be back as soon as possible."
MARCO MELANDRI ON DONINGTON PARK: "The
track is characterised by a fast opening section, which is
really fun to ride, and a slower second section. It is important
to be smooth and have good corner speed, maybe even closing
the gas a little and just getting the right line through the
corner. A lap of Donington has to be done decisively and with
courage - especially when going through Craner Curves on qualifying
tyres. The track requires great flexibility because you have
to be prepared for the fast corners at the start and the slow
corners at the end - the last three in particular. So the
secret to a good lap is to have a good compromise between
hard braking skills and good corner speed."
DONINGTION PARK - THE TRACK
HISTORY: Constructed in 1931, the track
underwent major modifications after several years without
being used. The most significant change was in 1985, which
is when the current layout was completed: a 4,023 metre circuit
featuring eleven corners.
LOCATION: Donington is located around 60km
from Birmingham and 200km from London. The closest major cities
are Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.
Constructed: 1931
Latest modification 1985
Length: 4.023 m
Width: 10 m
Pole position: Left
Right corners: 7
Left corners: 4
Longest straight: 564 M
Circuit record: 2004 Edwards (Honda) 1'29"973
pole position: 2005 Rossi (Yamaha) 1'27"897
Race 2005: 1st V.Rossi (Yamaha) 2nd K.Roberts (Suzuki) 3rd
A.Barros (Honda)
FOCUS: THE CLINICA MOBILE, GUARDIAN ANGELS
Never before the past few races has the role of this crucial
part of the World Championship paddock come into sharper focus.
Founded by Doctor Claudio Costa, the Clinica Mobile was borne
by the passion of Checco Costa for motorcycle racing, which
was transmitted to his young son.
HISTORY: The Clinica first appeared in 1977
and the first operation took place at Salzburgring, when five
250 riders crashed in the same corner and all were seriously
injured. The Clinica staff saved the life of Franco Uncini.
In '81 the second clinica appeared and saved the life of Graziano
Rossi in 1982 at Imola. The third Clinica emerged in 1988
and was transported to all manner of competitions, including
European road racing, motocross and kart racing. The fourth,
inaugurated in 1997, now operates in the Superbike series
whilst the fifth was opened in spring 2002 and currently follows
the World Championship.
THE STAFF: 107 people work in the Clinica
Mobile including doctors, physiotherapists, technicians and
drivers.There are 16 to 18 members of staff at the MotoGP
races alone.
THE EQUIPMENT: The Clinica Mobile hosts
a reception area, therapy room, x-ray machine and storage
for x-ray plates and archives. All the equipment is designed
to provide rapid and urgent treatment.
A SECOND HOME: The Clinica Mobile is designed
to provide the riders with further treatment once they have
already been checked out at te circuit Medical Centre. However,
as well as receiving therapy the riders are also made to feel
that first and foremost they are among friends - almost like
a second family.
THE INJURIES: Every year sees around 700
crashes. The most injuries occur to the back, wrist, metacarpals,
metatarsals and fingers.
THE RECOVERY: The riders always show amazing
will to recover as soon as possible. Motivated by their great
passion for racing they often recover with simply incredible
speed.
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