DIFFICULT WEEKEND FOR THE FORTUNA HONDA RIDERS
After the rain-affected qualifying sessions, the Grand Prix
of China took place under clear skies in excellent conditions
which allowed the riders the chance to enjoy themselves on
their bikes.
FORTUNA HONDA team-mates Marco Melandri and Toni Elias finished
seventh and eleventh respectively in this the fourth round
of the MotoGP World Championship.
The set-up problems which affected both riders and the changeable
weather conditions meant it proved a difficult weekend for
the FORTUNA HONDA boys.
Marco, who started in eighth, opted to ride a conservative
race and pick up points which could prove valuable at the
end of the season. For his part, Toni - who never felt at
ease on his bike - finished eleventh having started back in
15th.
Both riders will now be looking ahead to the next race in
Le Mans where they will be hoping for an improved showing.
MARCO MELANDRI (Race: 7th - 44'31.835, 4th in championship
- 54 points ): "It has been a difficult weekend
complicated by the changeable weather conditions. We struggled
a lot to find a good set up and we didn't succeed to find
a good solution. I took the start from the third row and I
tried to recover positions but I suffered with full tank.
I didn't feel so comfortable so I did my best to score as
much points as possible. I'm disappointed but I'm not demotivated
and I'm confident for next week race in Le Mans."
It was a weekend to forget to be honest. We had problems
from the first day, although we worked very hard to find a
solution. The rain made things more difficult as well. I gave
it everything today but could not push as I wanted to, so
I concentrated on making sure I scored some points which could
prove very important."
TONI ELIAS (Race: 11th - 44'43.050, 11th, 7th in
championship - 37 points): ""I'm not happy
because we struggled a lot during the whole weekend and despite
we worked hard, we couldn't find some good solutions in order
to improve my feeling with the bike. We suffered both on wet
and dry conditions. Despite the problems we had, I think it's
a positive moment because now we can analize the problems.
I know our potential and I look forward to go to Le Mans.I
am not happy. We could not find the right set-up to enable
me to enjoy myself on the bike and wasted a lot of time trying
to find solutions. In the end we did not get the result we
wanted. We had problems both in the wet and the dry. I'm confedent
for next race,:we will work hard to understand the problems
and and I just hope in Le Mans things go well from thefirst
day and I can focus on riding well. I am still very confident
and if we keep working hard things will work out for us."
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