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MotoGP 2004 - Round 1 -
Repsol Preview April 13th, 2004 |
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MotoGP 2004 - Round 1 -
Repsol Preview April 13th, 2004 |
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The first of 16 rounds of the 2004 Motorcycle World Championship
will take place next weekend at the South African circuit of
Welkom. As every season, the winter has been much too long and
all riders, teams and fans are looking forward to the first race
of the season. With the switch of the reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi to Yamaha, the Repsol Honda Team will make its debut with a new formation after the arrival of Alex Barros as new teammate to Nicky Hayden. Barros, who had a difficult season last year in Yamaha, a season full of injuries and crashes, gets back onto the bike with which he managed a superb end of the season in 2002. After a slow but positive recovery of the shoulder he got injured in 2003, the Brazilian rider gets back to Honda, this time within the Repsol Honda Team and with the firm objective of fighting for the 2004 title. His teammate Nicky Hayden will face his second season and, as his results during winter have shown, he will be aiming to everything this season, which is just about to start. Hayden, who this year won't have the burden to race on circuits he doesn't know, has had an impressive progression since he arrived at the World Championship last year. With two podiums and the final fifth overall position in the last Championship, the young North American rider from Kentucky has set the title as his aim for 2004. In the quarter litre class, Repsol will continue to be present with highest level riders in the Team Aspar. Fonsi Nieto will be keeping the Repsol colours he already defended last year, while Sebastián Porto, who wore the YPF colours in 2003, has become part of the Team Repsol Aspar and will be sharing colours and structure with Nieto. Both are fast riders and have already clinched some victories, and they both have qualities enough to be fighting for the title in the 250cc class. Sebastián Porto, who is back on an Aprilia after having ridden Yamaha and Honda in the last years, has had hardly any need to lap to adapt to his new machine, showing himself as one of the fastest riders of the class together with Frenchman De Puniet. His teammate Fonsi Nieto has also been improving bit by bit this preseason and has got the needed rhythm to reach the first race in South Africa will a total success guarantee. In the minor category, Pablo Nieto and Sergio Gadea will be the riders in charge of defending the Repsol colours. The first of them will make it after having clinched a victory, several podium finishes and the seventh overall position last year. His teammate Gadea, in his first season in the World Championship, has a hard learning year ahead, although he has enough quality and talent to give a surprise in the second half of the season. Nicky Hayden: “I'm so excited about this season and can't wait to go racing now. The winter testing has been good and I think we're in real good shape for the season. The 2004 RC211V is awesome, by far the trickest bike I've ever ridden. I feel now I'm riding much nearer the limit where as last season was really a learning year. Now I know the tracks; I feel very comfortable with the team and I know the competition. It's going to be super competitive this year as no one has really stood out in testing. That's what is so great about GP. The best riders in the world on the best bikes every other Sunday. Sure going to be a good show.” Alex Barros: “In all the years I've been racing I can really say that I have never felt as positive as do now at the start of this very exciting year. I have a strong team, a fantastic bike and a real opportunity this season. Back in February when I first ride the RC211V we make a plan to get to the first GP in good shape after the surgery I have to my shoulder over the winter. So in Sepang, Phillip Island and in Spain we learn a lot about the bike and my condition comes better and now we are ready to race. It will be a long season and very close. All points will be very important at the end. We are ready now!.” 250. Fonsi Nieto: "I'm really looking forward to the Championship to take on with the others. We've made loads of kilometres during the preseason and I want the action on the track to get started. We keep on working hard to set up the bike the way I like it and therefore the preseason hasn't been as good as expected. Welkom is a track I like a lot. Two years ago I even stepped on the podium so it brings back good memories. It's a very slippery track and different to other tracks of the championship. Last year I started with the leading pack but I lost several positions until finishing seventh because I lost the grip on the front tyre. This is a very important race and you have to make it well to get to Jerez in really high spirits." 250. Sebastián Porto: “I'm very happy with the preseason. The 2004 bike has responded very well, you can see it in the times set. Welkom is one of the twistiest tracks of the calendar. The tyre choice will be fundamental because the high temperatures and the tarmac, that doesn't offer much grip, make the tyre wear even heavier in the race. Last year I had engine and tyre problems during the race. It was difficult to get the pace at the beginning but I finally managed to finish fourth. Welkom is a circuit I'm quite well at, and if everything works out as it has until now, I think that we'll be getting a good result.” 125. Pablo Nieto: “I'm relatively happy with how the preseason has went for me, especially after the injury of my hand at the beginning of the year, forcing me to stop for one month. Fortunately I've recovered well thanks to Doctor Villamar's work. The tests done in Mugello last week were important because I was able to find the necessary rhythm. As all the other riders, I'm eager to start the Championship. Phakisa isn't one of my favourite circuits but I've always had quite good results. It's a small track; one of the shortest of the calendar, but quite technical. Last year it went good during the practices; I was third the first day and even set the second fastest time the second day. I thought I had set the pole when I entered the garage but Youichi took it in the last instants. During the race I fought for the lead but I finally finished fifth due to problems with the tyres.” 125. Sergio Gadea: “This is a totally new year for me because it will be my first season in the Championship. I've been working hard during the preseason and the times have been good. The only problem I had was during the IRTA tests in Barcelona, where I got a bit lost with the settings of the bike. However, the team is working really well and I feel very comfortable with them. I've spent the last days before leaving for South Africa in Sierra Nevada, getting physically in shape to face this season. This will be a year to learn and especially to gather experience and get to know all the tracks of the calendar. Phakisa will be a new circuit for me so I'll try to get the rhythm quickly and make it the best I can". Brought about through an initiative of the South African government in early 1998, the Phakisa Freeway in Welkom is one of the newest race circuits on the World Championship calendar. Phakisa means "hurry up" in Sotho, the local language, and that's the way it was built: in a hurry. The first National race event was held a mere 6 months after the work had started and the entire facility was completed in time for the 1999 Motorcycle Grand Prix, five months later. Designed in conjunction with officials of the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme), the Phakisa Freeway is considered as one of the safest circuits of the calendar.
With 5 left and 9 right-hand corners and relatively short
straights, the top speed on the 4242 m of this track, is usually
slower than on most of the tracks. This circumstance is
compensated by the altitude (1350 m above sea level), which
reduces around 20% of the engines' power turning the races into
a question of skill rather than horsepower. The layout includes
a classic racetrack and an oval for car racing. Being a fast
track with some of the most challenging corners of the calendar,
turn this race into one of the most exciting events of the year. |
Sunday - 125 Race Report - 250 Race Report - MotoGP Race - Team Reports
Saturday - Second Practice - MotoGP Grid - Saturday Team Reports
Friday - First Practice - First Qualifying - Team Reports
Previews - Fortuna Yamaha - Camel Honda - Proton - Dorna - Repsol - HRC - Suzuki - The Aussies
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