PREVIEW GP OF CATALUNYA
LEAD ROLE THE TARGET FOR BARCELONA
The MotoGP World Championship continues unabated on the back
of the Grand Prix of Italy as the teams and riders prepare
themselves for another challenge at the Grand Prix of Catalunya
this weekend.
It's a race against time for the paddock staff to make it
to Montmelò for the seventh round of the season. The
circuit, on the outskirts of Barcelona, has become a firm
fixture on the MotoGP calendar and its layout remains unchanged
for motorcycle racing, despite the alterations made for Formula
1.
Following on from his incredible fightback at Mugello, Honda
Gresini rider Toni Elias is ready to tackle another demanding
weekend, this time at his home circuit. Toni's hometown of
Manresa is only 30 minutes from Montmelò - an extra
boost for the Spaniard, who is determined to get a top result
in front of his home supporters.
Marco Melandri is looking forward to getting back on track
in Catalunya and putting the events of Mugello firmly behind
him. The second of six races in just seven weeks leaves little
time for reflection or distraction.
TONI ELIAS: "A good result at a circuit
as technical as Mugello has given me a lot of confidence and
helped me fully get over the disappointment of my bad results
in France and China. Now it is the turn of the Spaniards to
race at home. Riding in front of so many fans in Barcelona
gives you an incredible feeling and that extra motivation
can help me get a top result this weekend. I feel confident
and highly motivated. I know it will be tough because Montmelò
is a demanding circuit, with a very long straight that will
make things even harder."
MARCO MELANDRI: "Barcelona is a circuit
I've always liked a lot. I scored my first MotoGP podium there
but I also have the bad memory of the big crash last year.
It's a nice circuit but the slow corners followed by hard
acceleration and a start-finish straight of over a kilometre
in length do not play in our favour. Luckily we'll be going
to a few more favourable tracks after Barcelona. In any case
I feel motivated and I'm looking forward to putting the Mugello
race behind me."
FOCUS: HONDA AND TEAM GRESINI PUT THEIR FAITH IN
YOUTH The "Honda Italian Racing Project"
was presented by Honda Italy and HRC at Mugello, a programme
designed at uncovering the next generation of riders in collaboration
with Team Honda Gresini. In partnership with the FMI, the
Italian Motorcycle Federation, the project will give 9-13
year olds the opportunity to enter a free trial in either
the north or south of the country and claim one of 21 places.
They will be taught about tactics and race strategy, as well
sports psychology, and will receive athletic training. They
will even gather experience in the world of MotoGP, with a
work experience placement up for grabs at the San Marino GP
with the Gresini Honda Team. The course will take place over
the summer and autumn of 2007 and will be repeated in 2008.
The youngsters will race on four-stroke Honda NSF100 machines
- the Tokyo factory's latest gem.
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