PREVIEW GP BRNO
The MotoGP World Championship circus returns from its summer
break this weekend with the teams and riders ready to tackle
what promises to be a demanding second half of the season
with renewed energy.
This Sunday marks the now traditional return to action at
the Czech Republic Grand Prix, the twelfth round of the season,
at the Brno circuit. Two weeks later the chase for honours
continues in Italy at the Misano circuit.
Team Honda Gresini's riders both have extra reason to look
forward to Brno with added motivation for this latest challenge.
For Toni Elias the race represents his first competitive
action in two months, since breaking his left femur at Assen.
As well as forcing him to miss the race in Holland, the injury
also ruled him out of the final two races before the summer
break in Germany and the USA.
Marco Melandri has also spent the summer in recuperation
following a practice crash at Laguna Seca, where he battled
through intense pain to finish on the podium in third place.
After the race, it was discovered that Marco had actually
fractured his left astragalo bone (ankle) in the accident
but after a three-week break he is now in better shape to
tackle Brno.
After getting the green light from doctors, on Monday the
Team Gresini pair made a 2 hours test on CBR 600 machines
at Misano in order to make a final check on their fitness
before returning to competitive action and also to assess
the most comfortable riding position. Melandri needed just
ten laps before returning with positive news: "The foot
is still painful but the situation is much better than Laguna."
Elias rode for longer with a special carbon fiber protector
for his leg: "I am happy with my feeling on the bike
and today I made the final checks with Dr. Costa."
MARCO MELANDRI:
"After the race in the US I stayed on for a holiday in
California with some friends. The ankle was still hurting
me so I went for further medical checks and they found a fracture
in my left astragalo. I returned to Italy and began my rehab
therapy. It is still not quite right but I'll go to Brno and
try for a top result. Because of the characteristics of the
Honda it could be that the Czech circuit is not as favourable
to us as Sachsenring and Laguna Seca but I am calm. To get
back on the podium at Laguna Seca after a difficult weekend
with the crash was really important to me - it was a third
place that felt like a win. Our bike is working well now,
I have a good feeling and I want to produce a really strong
finish to the season. I want to give some more good memories
to Fausto Gresini and the whole team. They have given me so
much and even during difficult times they always worked to
their maximum and stayed close to me. I'm going to Brno with
lots of motivation and will to work hard for a top result."
TONI ELIAS:
"When I crashed at Assen I set myself the target of returning
at Brno and I think I can do it. Of course I won't be 100%,
you could say I'll be more like 60%, but now is the time for
me to go back to work - to get out on the bike and ride again.
The corners at Brno could prove difficult for my leg but I
want to try. I've gone through so much rehab in Spain and
I think it has done the job. It has been a painful process
trying to get fit again but sometimes in this job you have
to deal with pain."
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