PODIUM HUNT HEADS TO DONINGTON
BRITISH GP - PREVIEW round 8
After taking a week to recover from back-to-back races the
MotoGP World Championship returns next weekend for the eighth
round of the season. The British Grand Prix takes place on
Sunday at Donington Park, located in the heart of England's
East Midlands, just a stone's throw from the legendary Sherwood
Forest.
For different reasons both Team Honda Gresini riders are
both keen to get back on track and put the Barcelona race
behind them. Marco Melandri and Toni Elias were suitably disappointed
with their results in Spain but are looking ahead to the next
round with motivation and the hunger to bounce back. As always,
the big question mark ahead of the race in England is the
weather, with the area notorious for frequent changes between
wet and dry conditions.
Marco Melandri: "We always knew that
Barcelona would be one of the hardest circuits for us. Now
we head to Donington, which in theory should be much more
favourable because it is more suited to the characteristics
of our bike. The corners are not that fast and the straight
shouldn't be too much of a problem, since it only measures
564 metres. The unknown factor at Donington is the weather
because the temperatures can vary drastically. If it rains
I think us Bridgestone riders will have a good chance. I got
on the podium last year, which was a massive achievement because
physically I still wasn't in great shape - just two weeks
had passed since that big crash in Barcelona. I am hoping
for a good race at what is a special circuit for me because
I live only a few kilometres from the circuit."
Toni Elias: "This is a track I like
a lot. I missed the race here last year because of the injury
I picked up at Assen, where I fractured my shoulder, but I've
always had good results previously at Donington. Hopefully
we can do a good job here all weekend because the top speed
factor isn't as important at this circuit - it's more important
to have good handling on the bike. I'm looking for a good
result to get over the disappointment of my home race at Barcelona,
when I was forced to retire before the end. The asphalt at
Donington can be very slippery - especially if the temperatures
are low - so it will be important to make a good tyre choice."
A TECHNICAL TRACK: Donington is an historic
circuit, perhaps even antiquated when it comes to the facilities
and infrastructure, but remains one of the best tracks on
the entire MotoGP calendar - both in terms of its attractiveness
to the riders and to the spectators. The circuit layout is
quite technical - fast in the first half and slower in the
second. Hard braking areas in the tight final three corners
make it easy to run wide and many races are won and lost in
this difficult section. One of the most distinctive sections
on the track is without doubt Craner Curves, a fast fifth-gear
sweeper which needs to be tackled with bravery and caution,
since it is downhill. It is fundamental to get the right line
through this section. Because of the dramatic difference between
the fast opening section and the slower final turns, it is
crucial to find a good balance in the bike setting. You need
a good compromise between agility, to deal with the flowing
corners, and the stability required under heavy braking and
hard acceleration.
THE DONINGTON GRAND PRIX COLLECTION Unveiled
as a motorcycle racing circuit back in 1931, Donington has
also become a popular venue for car racing. The track layout
has undergone several modifications, particularly after a
long period of inactivity during the war. The most recent
changes were made in 1985, when the current layout was established:
a 4,023 metre track with 11 corners. Since 1987 it has been
the home of the British Grand Prix, taking over from Silverstone.
As a mark of homage to Britain's prestigious motorsport heritage,
Donington also houses a fantastic museum on the outskirts
of the circuit, which is home to the biggest Grand Prix collection
in the world. Over 130 cars are parked in five large exhibitions
halls, covering some of the most important eras in the history
of racing. There is a complete gallery of the now defunct
Vanwalls models, a stunning collection of Williams and McLaren
cars and special exhibitions dedicated to the legendary Juan
Manuel Fangio and Ayrton Senna. Not to be missed.
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