FIAT YAMAHA TEAM PICK UP TITLE GAUNTLET AT BRNO
The Fiat Yamaha Team resume their pursuit of the MotoGP World
Championship title this weekend after a four-week summer holiday,
with Valentino Rossi leading the series into what promises
to be a thrilling seven-race climax. The Czech Republic hosts
round twelve of eighteen, with the town of Brno staging a
Grand Prix for the 39th time since the original 14km road
circuit was first used back in 1965.
Rossi heads to the motorcycling heartlands of eastern Europe
with renewed energy and ready to resume battle at one of his
most successful circuits, following a stunning maiden win
at Laguna Seca before the break. The 29-year-old took his
first ever Grand Prix win at Brno in the 125cc class and has
since added to his tally there with a 250cc success and three
wins in MotoGP, as well as three second places in the top
class. His success in America, which came after a thrilling
tussle with Casey Stoner, means the Italian leads the Australian
by 25 points at the top of the standings.
Jorge Lorenzo was also in need of a rest after picking up
the latest in a string of injuries at Laguna, where a first
lap crash left him nursing three broken metatarsals in his
left foot. However, intense physiotherapy during the well-timed
summer break sees him nearing full fitness as he returns to
action at a circuit where he has taken 250cc victory from
pole position for the last two seasons, in addition to a 125cc
win back in 2004.
Whilst the riders have taken a well-earned rest, engineers
at Yamaha’s factory headquarters in Japan have been
working around the clock over the summer towards this weekend’s
race, as well as for the two-day test that will take place
afterwards. The well-balanced nature of the Brno circuit make
it an ideal testing venue, with its winding chicanes and dramatic
elevation changes retaining much of the character of the original
road circuit, which wanders its way through the surrounding
forests.
Valentino Rossi
“LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE RACING”
“Last year we had a bad time at Brno; I could only finish
seventh and it was quite disheartening. This year, however,
we’re going there in a very different frame of mind:
leading the championship, following a great win and with our
bike and tyres working very well. I’ve had a good summer
break, just relaxing with my friends and family, but now I
am really looking forward to going racing again. I know that
Brno is going to be hard and that Casey will be a formidable
competitor once again, and we’re going to have to work
at the maximum from the first practice in order not to lose
any time in finding out the right set-up for our bike. We
have seven races left and I am dreaming of them all being
as fun as Laguna Seca!”
Jorge Lorenzo
“HIGH HOPES”
"I am going to Brno with a high hopes and above all trying
not to think about the disappointment of Laguna Seca; it’s
behind me now. In the USA I was fast once again and I hope
that I can carry on like this in the Czech Republic. I know
that I can. Brno is a circuit that I like a lot, it’s
one of my favourites. I've won there three times in 125cc
and 250cc. It’s a good place for my riding style and
the weather is normally perfect. Physically I feel very good
after the crash and the injuries, I definitely feel as good
as could be expected. It’s the first time this season
that I’ve really had proper time to recover, thanks
to the holidays, so I think I am in good shape. At the moment
I am still using my crutches to walk but I have been able
to do some training and I know that I won’t have a problem
when I arrive in Brno on Thursday.”
Davide Brivio
“SEVEN KEY RACES”
"Brno will be the start of a very important run of seven
rounds to the end of the season. With 25 points on Stoner
and 41 on Pedrosa we are in a good position, but we have to
manage this advantage in the remaining races. It will be an
exciting end to the season, with Pedrosa back in the fight
and Lorenzo, I am sure, able to re-join the ‘podium
club’. Last year, at most of these final circuits, we
weren't able to fight at the top but we are working hard now
to be able to provide Valentino with the most competitive
package to allow him to race at the front, as he has for the
majority of this year’s races. Every race from now on
will be very important and Brno could be one of the most difficult
for us against our competitors. We have to use all of our
potential and work at 100% in all of the practices. Everybody
in Yamaha is extremely motivated and we can’t wait to
be back in the battle, especially after the exciting Laguna
Seca show!”
Daniele Romagnoli
“TIME FOR A GOOD RACE!”
“From talking to Jorge it seems that he is feeling much
better; he is back in training and we are expecting him to
be as fit as he could be in the circumstances. The crash was
a huge disappointment but at least he has had the maximum
time to get over it and we know that he will have made the
most of the break. In Brno, the first aim for Jorge is to
get back the feeling and confidence that he had at the start
of the season, so that he can enjoy the remaining races. We
need to rebuild his confidence in the bike. In practice at
Laguna he was looking good – he was fast and qualified
fourth. Then on the day we had some rear grip issues and the
crash was very unfortunate. Rear grip is now the biggest thing
we have to work on improving on the bike; we need to work
together with Michelin to improve this. The new surface also
adds an unknown quantity to this race and so tyre choice is
going to be especially important. The team is very motivated
and looking forward to getting back to work; we’re hoping
for a good race, Jorge certainly deserves one!"
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