MotoGP World Championship. Holland GP. Preview
HOLLAND HOSTS THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH DANI PEDROSA
IN THE FIGHT FOR THE LEAD
The Repsol Honda Team rider is second in the overall classification
11 points behind the current leader. Marc Márquez is
back in action this weekend after his historic podum finish
in Britain
Another sprint around the continent in this intense 2008 season.
This time hardly anybody has had time to catch their breath
or to regain their strength before returning to the action.
After the action-packed races seen at Donington last Sunday
the teams` trucks left the paddock with a roar that very afternoon,
bound for Holland.
Just six days later, next Saturday the race day in Holland
for as long as anybody can remember, the 2008 World Championship
reaches the halfway mark in Assen. This will be the ninth
date of the 18 that make up the calendar this year.
This weekend`s race is a very important one for the Repsol
Honda Team riders. It is important for Dani Pedrosa, because
the end of the intensive run of races can be glimpsed in Holland;
a run that began with the race in Italy and which ends in
Laguna Seca, USA. Starting the summer vacations being up with
the classification leaders is the objective, because that
will let him face the second and definitive half of the championship
with a real chance of fighting for the title. And that is
obviously Dani Pedrosa´s main and the Repsol Honda Team`s
objective. For his teammate Nicky Hayden, Assen will mean
his second ride on the Honda RC212V with the new engine that
uses pneumatic valves. After the positive weekend in Britain,
the American and his team are dying to take advantage of all
the information collected last weekend, and so take another
step forward in Holland next Saturday
After the good sensations experienced in Britain, in spite
of not being able to confirm them with a good result in the
race, Julian Simón faces the Dutch GP knowing that
it is the moment to take a step forward in this category.
The Repsol rider was consistently among the fastest during
practice at Donington Park, and considering the characteristics
of the Assen circuit, he is confident that he can catch the
leading riders in this category.
In 125cc, Marc Márquez, with the sweet memory of the
podium he won at Donington Park still in his mind, is aware
that in Holland he will be called on to concentrate and go
back to learning step by step again, completing the same routines
that he has for each new race. The Repsol rider, thanks to
his excellent race in Britain, has gone down in the annals
of Spanish motorcycling history as the youngest rider to finish
on the podium in the World Championship, a little over 15
years old. From now on he will be fighting to find a niche
among the best riders in the category and to continue learning
at each circuit. His teammate Esteve Rabat, in spite of taking
another step forward as far as riding and times set, did not
finish with the result that he hoped for. Nevertheless, he
is optimistic and aware that his work little by little is
bringing better results, and with a little more effort he
will be fighting to get used to the Dutch circuit as rapidly
as possible, and then in the fight to be with the leaders
in this category.
Quotes
MotoGP
Dani Pedrosa >>
“We got some useful points at Donington last week but
at Assen we want a better result. First of all, I hope the
weather stays dry because that way everyone can prepare better
for the race. It will be a tough event because the level in
MotoGP at the moment is just incredibly high.
Assen used to be a beautiful circuit but the big changes they
made two years ago have spoiled some of its character. The
track surface is quite smooth, which is good, but it’s
not as grippy as some other tracks. My favourite section is
the final chicane, which is a legendary corner, the site of
many great battles. Getting the set-up right at Assen is difficult,
even though the new track layout doesn’t require such
special settings as the old circuit. You need to prepare the
bike so that it is agile and provides good grip. Assen requires
medium-hard tyres. As far as riding style goes you need to
be a bit aggressive because you have to use a lot of strength
when changing direction at high-speed. The atmosphere at Assen
is very much a motorcycling atmosphere, with a lot of life
in the town, in the restaurants, everywhere. The atmosphere
is the most classic left in the World Championship.”
Nicky Hayden >>
“I’m feeling pretty positive going into Assen.
We learned a lot about the new engine last weekend –
fuel consumption, tyre life and so on – that we hope
we will be able to put to good use at Assen. I love the track.
Sure it’s changed a bit over the years but it’s
still pretty good.
I really like the last section, the fast bit coming back towards
the pits, the fifth-gear change of direction at Hogeheide.
That’s one of my best corners, you’ve definitely
got to be physical with the bike through there. Changing direction
fast at any speed is hard but in fifth gear it’s even
harder. Assen has caught some flack for changing the first
part of the track but the place is still plenty safe with
good runoff. I’ve had some good results there in the
past. It’s certainly been one of my better tracks and
it’s always been a good Michelin track. You need a little
bit of everything from the bike there, but the one thing that
stands out is all the banked corners.”
250cc
Julián Simón >>
“Assen is a quite a good track for us. It is a short
circuit, with points where you can accelerate, and I thlnk
that this suits my motorbike.
The weather is also going to be an important factor here,
since normally it rains a lot. We will see what happens, but
we are dying to race. We learned a lot in the race in Britain
last weekend; let`s see if we can apply ihe information we
got in Assen and so be able to get a good result.”
125cc
Esteve Rabat >>
“I like the circuit of Assen. It is a twisty track and
one that I think suits my motorbike. I am dying to race and
very motivated, wanting to take another step forward, to try
to get a little more confidence.
We will see how things go, but the objective will be to follow
the same plan as at Donington. We will try to set a good time
on the first day, and from there try to improve gradually.
Moreover, I also want to go fast without looking to follow
another rider`s wheel.”
Marc Márquez >>
“I will go to Assen very motivated after finishing on
the podium at Donington, but aware that it is a new circuit
for me and so I will have to take things calmly, since still
I do not know how I can.
The question is that I will give my all once again and I will
try to continue progressing and learning everything I can.
The plan will be as it always is, to start calmly, taking
things step by step. Getting to know the circuit first and
then afterwards to try and find the limits and set the motorbike
up.”
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