PREVIEW GP ITALY round 06 - 4th June
READY FOR THE HOME GP
We're back! The long-awaited home date has finally
arrived for Team Fortuna Honda, who are ready to tackle one
of the most beautiful circuits on the World Championship calendar,
Mugello. Spurred on by the unique atmosphere of this circuit
and the support of the Italian fans, Marco Melandri heads
into his home race lying second in the championship thanks
to victories in Turkey and France with the objective of repeating
his result at Le Mans two weeks ago. Mugello is also an important
date for his team-mate Toni Elias, who arrives in Italy looking
to finally pick up the result he has promised on so many occasions
this season but has yet to achieve.
Marco Melandri : "The victory at Le
Mans was a huge emotion, the best possible 'antipasto' before
my home race. To head back to Italy straight after a win is
fantastic even though Mugello will be a completely different
story. My home GP in front of so many supporters will be difficult
because there are so many potential winners but I am one of
them and I am ready to fight for the podium. The idea of racing
in front of so many Italian fans is nice but I have to be
careful not to get carried away. Mugello has come at an incredible
time because at Le Mans we almost had an entirely Italian
podium. I'm sure, like every year, it will be a great party!"
TONI ELIAS : "Mugello is a very technical
track that requires good physical preparation because of the
frequent changes in direction. In terms of riding it is one
of the most difficult tracks on the calendar. This year will
be my first time there with a MotoGP bike - last year I was
unable to take part because of the broken wrist I sustained
at Le Mans. I don't have any references so hopefully I can
find a good base setting quickly and adapt well to Mugello."
THE TRACK: Based in the hills of Mugello,
just a few kilometres away from the city of Florence, this
is one of the most beautiful race circuits in the world: spectacular
and extremely technical, where rider skill can make the biggest
difference. It is a difficult circuit, characterised by gradient
changes, fast "esses", changes in speed, off camber
corners and an extremely long straight.
INTERESTING FACT: MICHELIN, the leading
French tyre manufacturer and providers to the RC211V machines
of Marco and Toni, has won 14 of the 15 premier-class GPs
staged at the track since 1976, including a clean sweep of
all 11 races since Mugello became the Italian GP's full-time
home in 1994.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Inaugurated: 1974
Latest modification: 1999
Length: 5,245 m
Width: 14 m
Pole position: right
Right corners: 9
Left corners: 6
Longest straight: 1141 m
Race: 23 laps = 120.635 km
RECORD:
Circuit record: 2005 Biaggi (Honda) 1'50"117
Pole position: 2005 Rossi (Yamaha) 1'49"223
Race 2005 : 1st Rossi (Yamaha) 2nd Biaggi (Honda) 3rd Capirossi
(Ducati)
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