GP OF SPAIN - PREVIEW
THE CHALLENGE BEGINS
The waiting is over. After an intense winter of preparation
that has seen the Team Fortuna Honda riders visit circuits
in Malaysia, Australia and Spain, the battle for the 2006
world title is finally underway.
The venue for the opening round of the MotoGP World Championship
takes place at Jerez de la Frontera, a circuit where both
Team Fortuna Honda riders hold fond memories. It was at this
track where Marco Melandri scored his first podium of the
2005 season on his debut with the Honda RC211V and the Team
Gresini, whilst Toni Elias took his MotoGP bow in the colours
of Fortuna.
The final test session at the Andalusian ten days ago confirmed
the good job done by the team during the preseason and now
Marco Melandri and Toni Elias are ready for the first race.
Fausto Gresini - Fortuna Honda
"This is an important moment because it is the start
of a new season, for which we have high hopes. It is the start
of a new project alongside Fortuna, with a young team and,
thanks to Marco Melandri and Toni Elias, with massive potential.
Marco is 23, he became the MotoGP World Championship runner-up
with this team last year and scored his first wins in the
premier-class. With two straight victories and five podiums
in all he was a real star in an incredible season and he's
now ready to challenge at the very highest level.
After a tough winter I am sure that Marco can fight for the
front positions from the first race.
Alongside him Toni Elías, also 23, a Spanish rider
who this year joins our team, where so many young talents
have come through over the years. In the preseason tests Toni
has proved that he is a talented and determined rider and
a quick learner. During the last test at Jerez he showed that
he has character and good potential. I'm sure that we can
now start to reap the fruit of his hard work during the winter."
Marco Melandri:
"I can't wait to get out onto the track at Jerez, a circuit
I like a lot because it is technical and complete. There is
so much expectation for the start of the championship and
it's guaranteed to be a real spectacle. Jerez will be a very
combative race with so many riders in the right shape to challenge
to win. I am also ready. I can already feel the adrenaline
and I am sure that will push me to take that extra step forward
and be competitive. I am quite satisfied; after a tough winter
we have managed to create a good base. We still have to improve
a little bit and then I can be fast, like I showed I can be
last season."
Toni Elias:
"Finally the testing is over and the championship is
starting. Over the winter we worked a lot, keeping a philosophy
of taking small steps forward. I tried to remain calm and
focused to try and understand the bike and adapt it to my
style without just going for a lap time at all cost. I've
covered a lot of kilometres, I now feel more comfortable on
the bike and my race rhythm has improved. I'm looking forward
to the start - I can already feel the tension of a race. I'm
happy to be starting out in Spain, in front of my fans. Jerez
is a nice Grand Prix, not just for the track but also for
the fans - the feeling when you enter the 'stadium' section
is unbelievable."
A RACE TO REMEMBER
"Jerez is a special occasion for every rider in the
championship and even more so for a Spaniard. It is a particular
GP because of the amount of passion transmitted by the fans,
so many of them and so close you can feel it in your helmet.
I've always had really strong emotions at this circuit. It
was here that I produced one of the best races of my life,
the Spanish GP in 2003 while I was racing in 250. I remember
starting from the third row after a difficult weekend caused
by a broken thumb injury I had picked up in the previous race.
I started to make up positions and only on the last lap I
managed to join the lead group. My thumb was hurting but the
desire to win in front of my home fans was bigger. One final
effort, the finish line and an a long shout inside the helmet.
I dedicated the victory to my family, my team and Daijiro
Kato. I had wanted to do it at Welkom, the first race after
his death, but the dream came true at Jerez, where I was able
to dedicate victory to a good friend and a great rider.
Jerez 2006: a new challenge, same emotions.
This will also be my first race on the Honda and my 23rd birthday.
I hope I can give myself a nice present!" Toni Elias
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