JiR Team Scot heads to the Sachsenring aiming for prestigious
results
After
a one week break following the British and Dutch GP ‘double
header’ last month, the 2008 MotoGP season resumes at
the Sachsenring. The German event will provide the stage for
the tenth round of the championship. The circuit winds its
way through the edge of a forest, where the riders face a
series of tight corners, with a series of seven left-handers,
before opening the throttle on the short straight. The JiR
Team Scot squad looks to gain significant results in both
categories. Andrea Dovizioso, riding the Honda RC212V, has
returned from three positive races in which he obtained fourth
and two fifth-place finishes and he wants to improve still
further. Meanwhile Yuki Takahashi has a good feeling with
the German track, as back in 2006 he took one of his two victories
of the season at the track and now he wants to repeat that
feat this weekend.
Gianluca Montiron - Director JiR Team Scot
“The particular layout of the German track tends to
reduce the gap between the performances of each motorcycle,
instead relying on the commitment of the rider in the corners.
Recent years have witnessed, in both categories, a close finish
to the race where four or five riders have been covered by
just a few seconds. This is the opportunity for our riders
to show their capabilities and achieve some excellent results.
The Honda has always had characteristics that suit this tortuous
circuit, particularly in MotoGP, while in 250, we know that
we can be competitive based on the results of recent seasons.”
Cirano Mularoni - Team Manager JiR Team Scot
“The German Grand Prix could be a good one for the team,
an occasion in which we do very well in both categories. In
MotoGP, we would like to obtain a result, which consolidates
what we have achieved in recent races, and rewards us for
the good work done at the beginning of the year. It’s
a track, which these bikes cannot be used to their maximum,
but perhaps Andrea will be able to harness our technical package
to reach the podium. In 250, Yuki has proved to be ready for
podiums, and on the track could replicate his German victory
of 2006. Both riders are ready to give their best both physically
and mentally.”
Andrea Dovizioso – Rider JiR Team Scot MotoGP
– HONDA RC212V
“My starting point for the Sachsenring is that I am
confident we can get another good result, although it has
never been a favourite circuit of mine. It is slow and twisty
and it’s almost like a minimoto track. I’ve felt
this already with 250cc bike, where you need to commit to
every corner, so with the heavier MotoGP machine, I think
this feeling will be even more pronounced. At the track I
have never got into the top positions, but in recent years
I have gone better at the circuit. Our recent races have also
shown that our performance is improving so that is a good
sign for this weekend’s race.”
Yuki Takahashi - Rider JiR Team Scot 250GP - HONDA
RS250RW
“I want to finish the race with a good result, as I
did in 2006, in which I won. Unfortunately last year was influenced
by the aftermath of my big accident. The track itself I like,
but it is very difficult, with a series of tight curves where
you need to make some very quick changes in direction, then
a faster final stretch with two straights, a downhill section
and an uphill section towards the start finish straight. Overall
the track should be well suited to our Honda.”
Sachsenring Circuit
Length of circuit: 3671 m (2.281 miles)
Main straight: 780 m (0.485 miles)
Width: 12 m
Pole Position: Left – Right hand corners: 4 –
Left hand corners: 10
MotoGP
Lap record: 1’23”082 D.Pedrosa 2007 (Honda)
Pole Position: 1’21”815 D.Pedrosa 2007 (Honda)
Grand Prix of Germany 2007 - Results:
1st Dani Pedrosa (Honda) – 2nd Loris Capirossi (Ducati)
– 3rd Nicky Hayden (Honda)
250GP
Lap Record: 1’25”118 M.Kallio 2007 (KTM)
Pole Position: 1’24”413 M.Kallio 2007 (KTM)
Grand Prix of Germany 2007 - Results:
1st Hiroshi Haoyama (KTM) – 2nd Mika Kallio (KTM) –
3rd Alex De Angelis (Aprilia)
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