Aussies

As the motorcycle grand prix world championship heads to Barcelona in Spain this weekend, Yamaha convert Valentino Rossi and his main Honda rival Sete Gibernau are locked at two wins apiece, but Australian Troy Bayliss is looking to get in on the act at the circuit where his Ducati team scored its maiden MotoGP win last year.

While it was Italian Loris Capirossi who claimed Ducati’s first victory in the premier class at the Catalunyan circuit in

just its sixth race last year, it is Bayliss who is only a step away from the podium this season. Bayliss finished fourth in last weekend’s dramatic Italian GP, just 1.7 seconds behind winner Rossi, and has out-performed Capirossi in the past two rounds. He rode a superb race at Mugello in Italy, climbing from 15th to sixth in the rain-shortened first race and briefly led the second, shorter race in treacherously changeable conditions.

Ducati is determined to return to the form which saw it score nine podiums and three pole positions last year and, in a bid to speed up the development of the 2004 Desmosedici machine, has done extra testing after the French and Italian rounds.
“We made some good progress with the bike and we are on the right track,” Bayliss said. “I always had faith in Ducati.
“I knew it was going to be tough for the first few races, since we basically started very late on the new bike and were hampered with bad weather for the last few pre-season tests.

“Our early results haven’t been for lacking of trying on anyone’s part.”

The Australian’s best finish this season before Mugello was eighth in the French GP. He is ninth in the championship on 23 points – almost half the tally he had at the same point last season.

Ducati managing director Claudio Domenicali said: “I believe that we are now making inroads into our difficulties. We are focussing on weight distribution and geometry, and we also have a new configuration engine to test in Barcelona next week (after the GP).”

One of the most popular venues of the season, the 4.727km Barcelona circuit is well-suited to Ducati’s power and speed. While its main straight is slightly shorter than at Mugello, where Brazilian Alex Barros clocked 343kmh on his Honda, top speeds are certain to be high.

While Rossi pulled off a daring victory at his home GP last weekend, it is Spaniard Gibernau’s turn to enjoy the crowd’s support as he attempts to increase his 10-point lead over the reigning champion with a third win this season.

Gibernau has finished in the top five four times in Barcelona, including podiums last year and in 1999, but he has also crashed three times in his home race.

Rossi’s teammate, Carlos Checa, and Ducati satellite rider Ruben Xaus – who briefly led the Italian GP – are also home-town heroes in Barcelona. Checa will be looking to score his second podium of the season at the circuit where he scored his first GP win in 1996, after crashing out early in Italy.

Italian Max Biaggi has been on the podium every race this year, but is yet to take victory and lies third in the championship.

Australian Andrew Pitt embarks on the second of his five MotoGP wildcards for Moriwaki in Barcelona after bringing the prototype machine home 17th in Italy.

Last year Pitt crashed out of the Catalunya GP on the first lap while riding an uncompetitive Kawasaki, and admits that this year could be “hard work” as his bike is 15-20km slower on the straight than other Honda-powered machines.

In the 250cc class, Australian Anthony West scored his first GP podium at Catalunya last year and became the first Australian to stand on a 250cc rostrum since Graeme McGregor over 20 years ago.

It was the start of three straight podiums for West, including his debut victory in the rain-lashed Dutch GP at Assen and another third place at Donington in Great Britain.

Riding for the same privateer Aprilia team this season, West is hoping for another competitive performance in Barcelona despite lacking the power of his factory-backed rivals.

The 250cc championship leader, Frenchman Randy de Puniet, is aiming for his first victory this season at the circuit where he scored his debut GP win in the 250cc race last year.

Spain’s reigning 125cc world champion Dani Pedrosa is just three points behind de Puniet and could take the 250cc championship lead if he scores a second straight Barcelona win.

The 125cc series has gone a record 27 races since a rider took back-to-back victories, and Australian Casey Stoner will be hoping to make it 28 by going one better than his excellent second place in Italy.

Last year Stoner set a lap record at Barcelona in a storming ride from 10th on the grid to take the lead, before crashing mid-race in a tangle with this year’s 125cc championship leader, Italian Andrea Dovizioso.

The 18-year-old Stoner is third in the 125cc title chase behind Dovizioso and another Italian, Roberto Locatelli, having scored points at every round this season, including two podiums.

HRC

Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) races at Montmelo near Barcelona where his 'home' crowd will be willing him to victory in what is shaping up to be a momentous season. The Spaniard leads the World Championship points standings with Valentino Rossi lying second and Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) third.

With the 16-race season now a quarter of the way through with four races run, Gibernau has posted two wins and Rossi has matched him with two victories. The Catalan race now becomes pivotal as both men seek to gain an advantage both in terms of points and perhaps almost as important at this stage - psychologically.

Rossi won here in 2001 and 2002, while Gibernau has yet to record a victory here, but history will count for little as both riders seek to gain the upper hand in what is turning out to be a compelling fight for World Championship honours. Gibernau has 86 points to Rossi's 76, while Biaggi is still right in the reckoning with 72.

The Montmelo track lies 20km north of Barcelona and has two significant straights where the 990cc MotoGP bikes will attain speeds well in excess of 325km/h (200mph). But there is more to the demanding 4.727km track than mere top speed.

Two of the 13 turns have negative camber which means the track drops away towards the outside of the corner making lean angle increase for a decrease in grip. The rest of the corners are largely constant radius turns where the tyres are worked hard, especially on the right hand side.

Machine set-up calls for a well-balanced chassis, steady on the brakes going into the turns, neutral when leant hard over and then able to translate horsepower into traction when the riders twist hard on the throttle on the exits. A relaxed, flowing style is required to link the turns seamlessly into a fast lap. And with lap records tumbling again this year, Rossi's fastest race lap of 1m 45.472s is unlikely to last the weekend. Nor is his pole time of 1m 43.927s likely to survive.

Gibernau is ready for action. "It feels like home here," he said. "And I really want to give the fans something to cheer about, their support always gives me a huge boost. There's a long way to go in the title race still, but this is a key stage of the season and I'm ready to give it my best shot."

Biaggi said, "Barcelona is the home track of our team and for certain they'll be wanting to do well and will do everything they can to get a good result. I also can't wait for next Friday to come because the third place in Mugello, which was a good result after the weekend we had had, didn't satisfy me at all. I want to win, and I hope that this Catalunya circuit will be the one for me. During the March tests we had some difficulties, but since then with the team and with Honda's support we have worked a lot, and Mugello apart, the bike has always worked well. In Italy the bike was so quick down the straight and this will be useful for us on a fast circuit like Barcelona. We just have to find the right track to get the set-up on Friday."

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) lies fourth overall with 48 points and is confident he can get on terms here. "The good point from last weekend is we have found a good base set-up," said the Brazilian. "The machine now feels very balanced and I we can be competitive in Barcelona. We did some good tests here at the start of the year and we have improved a s team since then."

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) needs to get his season back on the rails after failing to score at Mugello last weekend. "I just want to get back on the bike," said the American. "Last weekend the bike was feeling strong but I didn't give the team anything to smile about in the race. I'm really hoping to get a result here and the race can't come quick enough for me."

Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres, who was forced to abandon his race in Mugello said, "In Barcelona I want to do a race just like I did in Mugello, even if it means retiring from the race again. Obviously I would prefer a different ending but what I'm trying to say is that I love riding like that, fighting with the front group for the lead. I don't have the best memories of the Catalunya circuit, but I like the track, it's fast and appealing. I like nearly all the European tracks because they allow for very dynamic riding. The bike is very competitive and continues to improve."

"This is where I've got to get my season together," said Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V). "I've modified my training methods a bit and hopefully I can get myself dialled in early here."

In the 250cc category super-consistent Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) leads home hope Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) by just three points. De Puniet has scored in all four rounds so far and has 73 points to Pedrosa's 70. But Pedrosa will be going all out to wrestle the title advantage from the Frenchman at his home race.

Pedrosa won here in 2003 on a 125 and few would bet against the diminutive local repeating that success on a 250 - but it won't be easy. : "I'm very happy with the results in Italy," he said. "Because Mugello was a very difficult track for us and a second place is very good. I'm in good shape and my feeling for Barcelona is the same. Catalunya is a fast track. So I want to work hard on Friday and Saturday and find the best setting for the race."

Pedrosa's team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) can't wait to race either. "I like the Catalunya track, but it's not so easy for me. I'd never been to Mugello and I improved every time, so I think that Barcelona should be a bit easier because I know the track. In Mugello Porto had an advantage of five seconds over me on Friday and I think in Barcelona I shouldn't be more than a couple of seconds slower on the first day. I can adapt to the track much quicker."

Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) is eager to atone for his lacklustre race last weekend. "I like the circuit very much I have always done well there whatever bike I have raced at the track," he said. "If we find the reason for my engine problem at Mugello we can do well. The settings we found in Italy were not so far off. The track at Barcelona is like Mugello- if you have no power you have no chance."

The 125cc riders will be likely to repeat the thrills of last weekend's race at Mugello in Italy. Montmelo's two straights will provide ample slipstreaming opportunities where the cut and thrust of close-quarter racing makes for spectacular viewing. Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) leads Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) by a mere three points.

"Catalunya is a circuit I like a lot," said Dovizioso. "In some ways it's like Mugello. In Catalunya, like some other tracks, there will be a big group racing for the lead, nobody will be able to get away. Some parts of the track are really good for me. I love the long right hand corner after the first turn and also the last two corners onto the front straight. It is very important to get those two corners right for the drive down the straight."

One man who could well feature in the race is Julian Simon (Angaia Honda RS125R). The young Spaniard races on home-ground has every intention of making Sunday a day to remember. He said. "Catalunya is a home grand prix for me and I really know the circuit well so I'm looking forward to the race a lot It will be good for me and the best way to forget my bad luck with the rear brake at Mugello."

Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) will not race at Catalunya. The young Swiss broke his right collarbone in a race crash at Mugello. Luthi will make his return at Assen in two-weeks time.

Raymond Schouten (Molenaar Honda RS125R) will race despite multiple bruises sustained in his spectacular crash at Mugello.

Dorna

After the drama and excitement of the fourth round of the season at Mugello on Sunday, the MotoGP World Championship road-show rolls on this weekend with the second of six spectacular races in eight weeks at the Gran Premi Gauloises de Catalunya. With the adrenaline of Sunday's two-part contest still pumping around their veins, the world's premier motorcycle racers arrive on Spanish shores for the second time this season with home favourite Sete Gibernau in control, after second place in Italy maintained a ten point cushion at the top of the rider standings.

Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi leapfrogged Max Biaggi as Gibernau's closest chaser with victory at his own home race, but the Spaniard will be hoping to distance himself from both this weekend as he enjoys the vociferous backing of a passionate local crowd who will be looking to outshine the crescendo of support that roared Rossi to victory at Mugello.

An expected weekend total of almost 150,000 screaming Spaniards certainly have enough interest in the MotoGP contest with Gibernau's fellow local heroes Carlos Checa and Ruben Xaus looking to improve on promising starts to the season. Whilst Checa blotted his copybook with a fourth lap crash in Italy, Xaus was one of the stars of the second part of the race, briefly leading before settling for a career-best fifth place.

The former World Superbike star arrives at his home race on the back of an extra day of testing at Mugello on Tuesday alongside factory Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss, as well as test rider Vittoriano Guareschi. The four riders worked closely with the Ducati Corse Development Team on the latest version of the Desmosedici GP4, with Capirossi and Bayliss concentrating on chassis development and Xaus running up the laps to provide as much set-up data as he could gather to the Italian factory engineers.

Ducati, who are offering their fans the chance to watch Sunday's race action on a big screen alongside the factory engineers and staff at their Borgo Panigale headquarters near Bologna, Italy, are also planning to test at Catalunya on Monday with an updated version of the 'Twin Pulse' engine which was put through its paces by Guareschi on Tuesday.

Suzuki are also planning to unveil a new spec engine this weekend, with John Hopkins hoping to be back in the saddle after missing out at Mugello with a broken thumb. The modified GSV-R motor has a revised firing pattern which is reported to improve throttle response and mid-range performance and reduce engine braking, making for a more 'user-friendly' machine. Hopkins and team-mate Kenny Roberts will be joined this weekend by test rider Gregorio Lavilla, who rides as a wildcard just a week after scoring a podium finish in the British Superbike race at Thruxton.

The post-mortem on 250cc World Championship leader Randy De Puniet's Aprilia revealed a broken cylinder after the Frenchman dropped ten seconds in the final bend at Mugello and conceded victory to Sebastian Porto. De Puniet was lapping in second place when the incident happened and crossed the line in fourth after being passed by Dani Pedrosa and reigning World Champion Manuel Poggiali, but will be looking to make amends with his first victory of the season at the circuit where he scored his debut Grand Prix win one year ago.

De Puniet arrives in Catalunya with a three-point series lead over home rider Pedrosa, who lives just a few kilometres from the circuit where he scored 125cc victory last season, whilst Porto's victory moved him up to third in the championship.

Andrea Dovizioso also finished fourth at Mugello but hung on to his 125cc World Championship series lead by three points from race winner Roberto Locatelli. The Italian youngster crashed out of the Catalunya race last season and will be desperate to avoid another disappointment this weekend as Locatelli and third-placed Casey Stoner chip away at his championship advantage.

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha

After an outstanding display of riding prowess from 2004 signing Valentino Rossi at the previous MotoGP round in Mugello last weekend, the entire Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team approaches the next hurdle at Catalunya with the natural optimism that two victories and three podiums from four races brings. The combination of Yamaha’s YZR-M1 and Rossi has bagged two epic race wins in the series so far, the initial magical round one triumph in South Africa even eclipsed by the stunning success at Rossi’s local circuit of Mugello.

After an accomplished second place at the Le Mans event, Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team rider Carlos Checa’s good fortune deserted him in Italy, as he failed to finish the race after also experiencing some bad luck in final qualifying. In front of his own Catalan fans, however, Checa will have the perfect impetus to bounce back to his podium-stepping form, safe in the knowledge that he and Rossi now possess a package capable of going all the way to the top of the classification.

Rossi’s Welkom and Mugello wins, allied to his two fourth places at Jerez and Le Mans, put him second in the overall championship fight, only ten points shy of the other two-time winner in 2004, Sete Gibernau (Honda). For Checa his no-score in Italy did not damage his overall position and he remains fifth, on a total of 36 points.

The Catalunya race is expected to be every bit as tough as the previous four so far, as the MotoGP class in general reaches yet another high water mark in terms of competitiveness.

Like Rossi’s experience at the previous round in Italy, Checa’s forthcoming race weekend is of more personal significance than any other on the 16-race calendar. As a native of Barcelona, Checa is acutely aware of how seriously the whole business of MotoGP racing is taken in Catalunya.

Each rider has an enviable record at Catalunya, with Rossi the runner up last year and the winner for the previous two years, while Checa tasted the fruits of victory in 1996. Checa’s more recent form on home asphalt is still impressive, finishing fourth in 2003 and third in 2002.

Rossi’s recent near-immaculate showings at Catalunya give the native of Tavullia great confidence as he approaches a circuit he has already tested at in pre-season, posting the fastest time to boot.

“I had a pretty good race there last year because I made a good recovery after almost falling, and then managed to finish second. However it wasn’t my best race because it should have been possible to win and then I made a mistake, losing the opportunity, which was a real shame.

“I think it’s highly possible to perform well there this year because I already did well at the Barcelona IRTA tests. I was able to put in quite a lot of fast laps, including the one that won me the BMW! I really like the Barcelona track, it’s a bit too bumpy at the moment but it has longer corners which I like, and the last part of the track I especially enjoy.

“I always think two of the most important races of the year are Mugello and Barcelona; we’ve obviously got Mugello under our belt now, and hopefully Barcelona will be one we can do well at as well.”

Eager to continue his resurgence to the top flight, Checa arrives back on home ground with a renewed vigor, looking for his second podium finish of the year.

"Things this year are so different from this time last year, and four races into the championship I already have one podium result, and as a team we have three podium results, which shows what level we're at.”

The additional spur of his recent experience in Italy is another element pushing Checa’s determination this weekend. “My Mugello fall was a big disappointment but I'm sure I can regain the confidence to do well at Barcelona. It's a track that requires overall stability and consistency. Last year I had a good race there, not making the podium because there were a few areas of the track I wasn't fast in, but I did finish fourth.

"I like the circuit and when you know your home crowd are supporting you it gives you even greater motivation. I think the championship is so close now that there will be a great battle this year between the usual front-runners. For the Montmelo circuit you particularly need a good combination of the right suspension and the right tyres. The last two turns are especially important, as it's easy to lose time there. The pressure will be on me but I'm looking forward to it!"

DAVIDE BRIVIO EXPLAINS HOW TO CONQUER CATALUNYA - "We are coming to Catalunya after a very good weekend in Italy with Valentino and now we have to continue at this level and try to get as many championship points as possible. That way we can close the gap on Sete; he is very strong at the moment.

"Carlos was very unlucky in Mugello as the weekend had started well for him. I hope Barcelona can be good for him. It's his home circuit and this will help him and motivate him. Hopefully he can have a fantastic result there.

We are feeling confident because we have seen our bike go well with both riders this season. We know they can both keep a good pace and they both have the potential to fight for the race win in Barcelona.”

With an average lap speed of almost 160kmph, Catalunya is another of the faster tracks on the calendar, with a 1.047km long main straight and a fulsome 4.727km overall length. The fast exit onto Catalunya’s steel and glass lined straight leads to some blisteringly fast top speeds being recorded, with 330kmph easily exceeded by the YZR-M1 in pre-season IRTA tests. With a fast right hand corner immediately after the main straight, the advantage gained by a high speed run down Catalunya’s flying kilometre can be negated by a committed rider on a sweet handling package through the next section.

A proliferation of high and medium speed corners are integral to the Catalunya layout, counter pointed by two slow left hand hairpins. Bumps abound, adding to the complexities of suspension set up. To further complicate the chassis set-up equations, there are also changes in camber, as the track weaves its way between the spectators’ vantage points on the hillsides, following the natural topography.

A true test of a complete set-up, the Catalunya track is the site of one of the main pre-season IRTA tests, with the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team having gained valuable information from these tests in March. With so many long corners Catalunya places great importance on side grip from the tyres with particular emphasis on the feel and feedback available to the rider on the entry of turns.

Similarities to the previous venue of Mugello abound and thus less radical set-up changes should be required in the crucial early sessions. The basic balance of the machine should be maintained on the settings from Mugello with suspension adjustment, rather than major alterations, expected to be the order of the day.

Dorna

The remaining caravans of a convoy of MotoGP colour crawled into the Circuit de Catalunya today after a three day voyage from Italy to Spain in preparation for the second Grand Prix in as many weeks and the fourth of a 16-round season. Several riders took the option to cross the Mediterranean by boat to Barcelona, whilst some took the scenic route around the edge of the coast, regrouping at one of the most popular venues on the World Championship calendar under bright sunshine and temperatures reaching 28ºC.

No rider was happier to arrive than local favourite Sete Gibernau, who is preparing for his home race as series leader for the first time in his career. "It's a special feeling to come to my home Grand Prix on top of the championship - it's a nice situation and I'm happy to be in it," commented the Spaniard, who finished second to Valentino Rossi in Sunday's race at Mugello. "It was hard work in Italy, with all the fans supporting their home riders, but here everybody will be on our side and it should be fun."

With over 200,000 visitors expected over the weekend and good weather forecast for Sunday, there is every reason for Gibernau's hopes to be fulfilled. Circuit organisers will certainly be hoping that's the case after doing their part to ensure enjoyment and safety all round, responding emphatically to the demands of the new generation MotoGP prototypes with a string of modifications to the track designed at further guaranteeing the safety of the riders.

On the back of advice given by the Grand Prix Commission, made up of MotoGP officials as well as riders Valentino Rossi, Kenny Roberts Jr., Sete Gibernau and Nobuatsu Aoki, the circuit has undergone extensions to several main gravel run-off traps, as well as a section of new asphalt surface on the main straight.

Aside from Sunday's race, high on the agenda for many of the riders today was the upcoming Euro 2004 football championship, which gets underway in Portugal on Saturday. Several of the riders posed for photographs today in the shirts of their national teams, with Neil Hodgson, who is responding positively to treatment to his broken ribs, one of the most vociferous in his support for his home country of England.

"I am football mad and the first thing I'll be doing after the race on Sunday is tuning in to England against France," commented the World Superbike Champion. "I'm sure we can beat them and have a good tournament."

Randy De Puniet will certainly be hoping that is not the case. The Frenchman leads the 250cc World Championship by three points from Dani Pedrosa and would like nothing better than to kick-off a positive day of sporting action for his home country with a repeat of his victory here last year - the first of his Grand Prix career. "Like Neil, I'm looking forward to the football but my focus is definitely on the race," commented De Puniet. "It will be tough here with Dani supported by his home crowd but I am confident."

Andrea Dovizioso's Italy play their first fixture against Denmark on Monday but national pride will be on the line before that as he goes head to head with compatriot Roberto Locatelli for the 125cc World Championship lead. Dovizioso has led the standings since winning the first race of the season in South Africa with a last lap move on Locatelli, but the veteran closed to within just three points with his home victory at Mugello.

Kawasaki

Fuchs Kawasaki rider Shinya Nakano intends to ride in this weekend's Catalunya Grand Prix, less than a week after his massive 300 kph crash at Mugello.

As a follow-up to Nakano's Mugello crash, Kawasaki's MotoGP tyre partner, Bridgestone, has made a fast response to the tyre problems experienced in the Italian race. Working 24 hours a day, the Bridgestone factory in Japan has produced a revised specification tyre for Barcelona, with initial supplies already at the track and further tyres arriving by air-freight over the weekend.

Apart from a slightly bruised back Nakano is fit and eager to join teammate Alex Hofmann aboard their Ninja ZX-RR machines for the fifth round of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship.

The 26-year-old Japanese rider has quickly put aside the dramas of the high-speed crash that brought an early end to his Italian Grand Prix outing last Sunday. After being cleared by x-rays of any serious injuries, and following just a couple of days rest in Barcelona, Nakano was back into training mid-week.

For Nakano the Catalunya GP is like a second "home race" as he lives near the Olympic Port area of Barcelona during the European season.

Meanwhile Hofmann is also approaching this weekend in a positive mood, after picking up valuable points with a gritty ride in the rain interrupted Italian GP last Sunday.

Hofmann also loves racing in warm and sunny Spain. He made his premier class debut at this track in 2002, riding a factory Yamaha 500 as a replacement for the injured Garry McCoy.

After a day sightseeing in Florence after the Italian GP, Hofmann drove his motorhome to Spain stopping for a day at the beach on the Costa Brava just north of the circuit.

The 4.7km track is one of the fastest on the GP calendar. The main straight is just over one kilometre in length, with a fast flowing sequence of corners through the stadium section rewarding smooth riding. A 500 metre section of the straight, from the starting grid to the main scoreboard, has been resurfaced with new asphalt for this year.

The almost religious fervour of Spanish fans has led to predictions of a 100,000 plus attendance for the race on Sunday.

Shinya Nakano: No.56 - "The Barcelona track is one of my favourites and I really enjoy racing here, especially as I can stay in my apartment at Diagonal Mar. I'm feeling fine and even though the Mugello crash was really fast I understand what happened there. Although it's not easy to put everything aside mentally I'm ready to concentrate on riding here; this is my job. I remember the crash, it was instant with no time to control it, and my main thought was to not hit the concrete wall at Mugello, and the relief that my body was okay."

Alex Hofmann: No.66 - "This is my style of track and I really enjoy it. The fast section from turn two and through turn three is a lot of fun; it's long and fast and you can really slide the bike as the corner opens up. The two fast corners before the main straight also suit my style. Since Formula One started using the track a lot it has become a little bumpy, but it's not that a big a problem, it's manageable. I got some points in Mugello and, hopefully, that will prove to be a turning point for me this season."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager - "Along with my technical staff and riders I met with Bridgestone today and we are all very impressed with the effort they have made in the four days since Mugello. I was surprised they could achieve so much in such a short time, but they have explained things in detail, and they feel they understand the problem and have found a safe solution. I'm confident that Bridgestone have done a good job. Most importantly, our riders Shinya and Alex can now concentrate on their riding this weekend."

Proton Team KR

Proton Team KR come to Catalunya several steps further than the last visit to the track outside Barcelona for pre-season tests – with machinery and tyres at a higher level, and both riders ready to build on the progress and add to their points tally.

Nobuatsu Aoki and Kurtis Roberts will be riding a machine that is now not only fully tested and race-seasoned compared with the early prototype ridden by Aoki in March. The radical England-built KR V5 now has a completely revised engine internals, a different exhaust note, and a fresh development impetus as a result.

Kurtis missed those tests, still recuperating after dislocating his shoulder in an early test crash, but the young American son of team principal Kenny Roberts at least has some familiarity with the 4.727 km circuit, having raced here on a 250 seven years ago.

The second Roberts son is in his rookie season in the top class, and the task of learning new circuits is just an additional complication to adapting from American AMA Superbike racing to the top 990cc prototype MotoGP class.

Aoki is an old hand at the circuit, comprising mainly fast and medium speed bends as it loops up and down a hillside that forms vast natural grandstands for the huge crowds expected at the race. Last year here, Aoki gave the then new four-stroke Proton’s its first finish, in only its second race.

The latest version of the racing prototype has an all-new chassis, with the engine revised outwardly to fit better within the ultra-compact integrated design, and modified inwardly in a number of respects.

The new firing order, with its deep bass five-into-five exhaust system, was introduced two races ago. The change in firing intervals reduced engine braking, and also improves throttle response, especially in the mid-range.

The next modification was a revision to the internal cylinder dimensions, with the bore reduced and the stroke lengthened. This also improves mid-range performance, at some cost to top end. Even so, at last weekend’s Italian GP at Mugello, the latest Proton KR became the first to top 200mph, when Aoki recorded 202.88 mph (326.5 km/h) during qualifying.

The Catalunyan circuit also has a long straight, and speeds over the weekend are expeted to rival those at Mugello. But the greatest challenge here is likely to be heat – with temperatures soaring across Europe, and Barcelona a regular hot spot.

The KR V5 has finished in the points in three out of the four GPs so far, with an improving reliability and performance record race by race.

NOBUATSU AOKI: "We didn’t learn much at the pre-season tests here – the bike was very new, and it rained a lot. So we have no data for the track, although we do know that the bigger rear Dunlop rear tyre works better than the other one. But we are at a much better level now. At Mugello we had good reliability and were able to concentrate on bike settings, and that gives us a better level to start with. We also managed a good top speed there. I’m only worried about the heat, and how to keep the engine power good in those conditions."

KURTIS ROBERTS: "It’s seven years since I raced here on a 250, so that will be a bit different. A lot depends on the tyres, but everything should be okay. I’m still a little sore after falling in qualifying at Mugello, but my shoulder is okay and generally I’m okay. Just go on, take the next step forward, and try to get some more points."