After Brooklands in England and Indianapolis in America, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is the third oldest permanent circuit in the world. It was built in 1922 by the Automobile Club of Milan to satisfy the demands of the Italian automobile industry involved in motor sport and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Club’s foundation. Construction began on 15th May 1922 and the work was completed in a record 110 days. The last modification of the track dates back to last year, when the first and the Roggia chicanes were redesigned to increase safety. The first ‘variante’ was transformed in a double right-left curve, much narrower and slower. The track now measures 5.793 kms.

Castrol Honda's defending World Superbike champion Colin Edwards arrives at Monza hoping he can repeat one of the most memorable weekends of his career.

Edwards won both races of the Monza World Superbike round in 1998 to record his first victories in the series - now he knows he must repeat that for different reasons in Sunday's fifth round of the series at the historic Italian venue.

Edwards - winner of three of the last six races at Monza - says: "Our display in the last round in Japan was nothing short of pathetic. I was gutted. But we've put that behind us now and with the Monza and Donington Park rounds coming up I know I've an excellent chance of winning some races and catching Troy Corser at the head of the championship."

The 27-year-old, now in his fourth year with the Castrol Honda team, adds: "I like the Monza circuit, it's good, high speed racing and the VTR worked well there last year. I'm sure Michelin will have the tyre deal sorted for us too."

Troy Corser leads the championship by 22 points and feels confident going into Monza - "Last year we knew that we'd be struggling at the super-fast tracks like Monza and Hockenheim because the bike was down on power. This year the bike is better in every department and I am in the right condition to go for a win in every race. Thanks to my new training regime, I feel strong and can do two races without any problems. So far, every time I've finished the second race, I feel I could've done another. Monza is one of the fastest tracks on the calendar and slipstreaming is very important - especially in the last lap or two. The first chicane has been greatly changed, so we'll all be learning something new. Apparently you just can't drive through it now as the first part is a right-hander that comes right back on itself.
Before, the first part was a left! So, that's going to make a difference to the lap times and maybe destroy the flow of the track - we'll have to see. Whatever it is, I'm still going out to win both races - as usual - and keeping my championship lead."

Troy Bayliss lost the lead in the championship at Sugo and returns to the Italian track one year after making his name here with a series of fantastic ‘late braking’ moves that had the Monza crowd on its feet. The 32 year-old Australian, lying second in the standings behind compatriot Corser, will be aiming to wipe out the memories of two lowly finishing positions in Japan and improve on last year’s performance when he came away with two fourths on what was his first visit to the circuit.

Tady Okada makes his debut at Monza and the talented Japanese rider believes he can make a winning start at the 3.5-mile circuit. "I'm told it will be easy enough to learn Monza," says Okada. "But I know there's a difference between learning a circuit and going fast there. I'm really looking forward to this European part of the championship and I realise I need to start putting in some podium finishes on a consistent basis.  The last round at Sugo wasn't easy for Colin or myself but that's the way it is sometimes in racing - maybe we will have the advantage this weekend at Monza?"

Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M), currently lying fourth in the championship with 74 points, celebrated his 27th birthday this week and the Californian has declared that an ideal present will be nothing less than a top podium finish at the 5.793 km Monza track this weekend. A win at Kyalami and a fourth place behind the Japanese riders in the last round at Sugo proved that Bostrom is rapidly becoming a contender for the championship title.

Pierfrancesco Chili won a leg at Monza last year and is keen to repeat that performance this weekend - "It's always a pleasure to race in front of my home fans and Monza has always been good to me. It's always been a track I've like ­ a real rider's track ­ and it is one that suits my style a bit more then some of the other circuits we go to. However, this year it will be a bit new for me because they have built a new chicane. I will have to learn it ­ just like all the other riders ­ but from the photos I've seen, it is very, very tight. Before it's been quite a good place for passing on the brakes, but because of its layout that will not be possible this year. You know my feelings about slow chicanes, so I am going to approach it with some misgivings. But Monza is Monza and I'm looking forward to it and improving on my recent results."

His team-mate in the Alstare Suzuki camp is optimistic - "My learning of the Suzuki Superbike continues and I'd be lying if I said that it hasn't been easy. The last race in Japan was particularly hard because of the strength of the local 'wild card' riders. But, we're back in Europe now and I'm looking forward to tracks I like and carrying on scoring points. Last year I was riding the GSXR600 Suzuki, so I'll have to see how the Superbike feels round Monza ­ especially on day one of qualifying. But, whatever happens, I'll be aiming for two top ten finishes at Monza and I'll be disappointed if I don't get them."

GSE Racing’s Neil Hodgson and James Toseland arrive back in Europe with a fresh air of confidence after achieving their best results of the season in Japan. Reigning British Superbike Champion, Hodgson moved from tenth to eighth in the points, after finishing seventh and fifth in the two legs at Sugo. Toseland finished among the factory riders with an 11th and then just outside the points in 16th, after a race-long dice with fellow Ducati rider, Troy Bayliss.

“I can’t wait to get to Monza. It’s one of my favourite circuits,” said 27-year-old Hodgson. “It’s not only a good circuit, but it’s a great place. It’s so full of history and it just seems to create the most amazing atmosphere on race weekend.  They’ve changed the first two chicanes since I was last there in 1998 and some of the riders have told me that they prefer the old style corners. I don’t think that this will phase me too much. Monza has long straights, which means it’s all about top speed and this year’s bike certainly has more power in the higher gears.  My confidence is better now than it was at the start of the year and I’m feeling a lot more relaxed about my racing. While I’ll be going all out for a win at Monza, I’m a realist and I’ll be happy with a couple of podium positions if I can get the bike set-up to my liking.”

Twenty-year-old Toseland is well on the way to getting a firm grasp of the riding style required for racing the GSE Racing Ducati. “We took a huge step in the right direction at Sugo,” said the World Superbike rookie. “I’m relying a lot on Neil’s set-up because it’s all new to me and we use similar settings. In Japan, I felt that I was more in control of the bike, rather than the bike was controlling me. It was great! I will be trying to get as much track time as possible before race day, so I can get a good feel for the circuit. I’m aiming for two good points scoring finishes and I wouldn’t mind dicing with some of the top guys again.”

Honda holds a slender one-point lead in the manufacturers championship from Ducati with Aprilia one point behind their Italian rival.  

Archives - Monza 2000 - Race 1 - Race 2 

• 2000 qualifying, fastest: Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) 1m 46.004s

• 2000 Superpole: Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) 1m 46.227s

• 2000 winners: Pier-Francesco Chili (Suzuki) and Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda)

• Lap record: Pier-Francesco Chili (Suzuki) 1m 45.470s (1999)