MotoGP 2009 - Round 11 - Brno

MotoGP 2009 - Round 11 - Brno - Preview

The 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship recommences at Brno in the Czech Republic this coming weekend, following a short summer break and a historic last ever visit to Donington Park which saw title holder Valentino Rossi increase his lead at the head of the standings, in somewhat fortunate circumstances.

Although Rossi suffered his second worst result of the season so far at Donington, crossing the finishing line in fifth place having crashed out of the race lead, the misfortunes of his main rivals played into his hands as the Italian opened up a 25 point advantage in the title race.

En route to his sixth premier class crown last year Rossi was victorious at Brno - in addition to the venues for the two races which follow round eleven, Indianapolis and Misano - and he will look to turn the screw on his opponents as the MotoGP season intensifies. Brno was also the venue for Rossi’s first ever GP win back in 1996 in the 125cc category and he boasts four premier class Czech victories in total dating back to 2001.

Behind Rossi in the MotoGP classification is his talented young Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo who went into the summer break bruised and deflated after picking up injuries at Laguna Seca early in July and then suffered his second DNF of the year in Great Britain. The Spaniard was 10th in his first Czech MotoGP appearance in a difficult race for the riders on Michelin tyres in 2008, but has a strong Brno record having won there in both the 250cc and 125cc championships.

Unfortunately for Ducati the conclusion of the summer break has coincided with the news that 2007 World Champion Casey Stoner will miss the next three races due to ongoing health problems. From the race at Barcelona in June onwards Stoner has been battling against a virus which brought on gastritis and anaemia symptoms and doctors in Australia have advised him to remain there and rest for the coming weeks.

Already trailing leader Rossi by 37 points in third place - Donington was a disaster for Stoner and his team-mate Nicky Hayden (13th in the standings) as they gambled on wet tyres on the wet-drying track and both finished outside the top ten - the news of Stoner’s absence at the forthcoming three rounds effectively ends his 2009 title challenge.

Elsewhere, following his superb win at Laguna and a podium finish at Sachsenring Dani Pedrosa’s inconsistency was apparent again at Donington as the Repsol Honda rider struggled in the tricky conditions and could only manage ninth - from second on the grid - dashing his hopes of a dramatic title comeback. The Spaniard sits fourth in the standings at present, two places ahead of Italian colleague Andrea Dovizioso who will be highly enthusiastic about returning to race action, on the back of his brilliant maiden MotoGP win at Donington.

The same can be said of fifth placed Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Colin Edwards who equaled his best ever World Championship result in second in England, ahead of Randy de Puniet on the Donington rostrum.

De Puniet sits eighth overall in the general standings - just behind Hayate Racing’s Marco Melandri - but the LCR Honda man’s good 2009 results could be affected by a motocross training accident on the weekend after the British Grand Prix, which resulted in a broken left ankle. The Frenchman is expected to ride at Brno but is unlikely to be at 100%.

MotoGP’s current top ten is completed by Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi who are under pressure to deliver good results in the Czech Republic having finished 13th and 11th in the UK at round ten. A repeat of Capirossi’s 2008 Brno podium would be a great boost for him and the team.

After nine races in the 2009 250cc championship Scot Racing’s Hiroshi Aoyama has emerged as the title favourite and the series leader, courtesy of his three wins, two additional podiums and his consistent overall form.

The Japanese rider currently enjoys a 15 point lead over second placed Álvaro Bautista and a repeat of his 2006 Brno 250cc podium would therefore keep him at the head of the standings, even if the Spaniard were to be victorious this weekend.

Following his costly late crash in a duel with Aoyama at Assen Bautista has bounced back with two consecutive podiums and the Mapfre Aspar rider was a winner in the Czech Republic in 2006 during his 125cc title-winning campaign. As the title race intensifies Bautista will look to go one better than his second place at Donington and prevent another 2009 Aoyama victory.

Indeed, Bautista was second in last year’s 250cc Brno contest just ahead of reigning World Champion Marco Simoncelli who finished third. The Italian Metis Gilera man is also third in the current classification and will be looking for better form in the second half of the year after a rollercoaster season so far, as he prepares for his move up to MotoGP with San Carlo Honda Gresini.

Just one point behind Simoncelli at present is another Spanish rival Héctor Barberá who saw a run of four consecutive top five results come to an end in eighth place at Donington. Last year’s Czech 250cc winner Alex Debon, meanwhile, lies sixth overall in the standings, just behind Mattia Pasini.

In the 125cc class the Bancaja Aspar team have a strong grasp on the championship courtesy of their three riders Julián Simón, Sergio Gadea and Bradley Smith, who hold the top three positions in the points table.

Simón has a huge 50 point lead at the head of the standings and has performed well all year having dropped back down into the 125cc category for a title assault. The Spaniard rode intelligently again at Donington to grab victory in the rain-interrupted race - adding to his win the previous weekend in Germany - and he will go into the Czech round full of confidence.

For his team-mates Gadea and Smith the visit to Brno is a chance to re-find their form after a torrid time at Donington. Gadea crashed out having finished first and second at the previous two Grands Prix, whilst there was heartbreak for Briton Smith at his home event as he hit the deck in the second part of the race when leading the way and ultimately finished 20th, having also crashed out at Sachsenring.

Behind the Aspar contingent in the standings sits Nico Terol, the Spanish Jack & Jones Team rider, who has overcome his early season problems to put together a string of solid top five results in the last five rounds.

Although Andrea Iannone has won three races this year his form has been highly unpredictable and no points at Donington in the difficult conditions saw him slip back to fifth overall, behind Terol. Last year’s 125cc race-winner at Brno Stefan Bradl is having a tough time in 2009 and after failing to finish the last two races he is down in 12th place in the championship.

The first free practice sessions at the Cardion ab Czech Republic Grand Prix take place on the afternoon of Friday 14th August.

-- Ducati Preview

Casey Stoner will not take part in the next three Grands Prix, and will next return to action at the beginning of October for the Grand Prix of Portugal. The Australian has suffered physical problems since the Catalunya GP, which have caused him severe fatigue during the last five races. Stoner took this difficult decision after having consulted with sports doctors who have looked after him for many years back home in Australia. At this challenging time, he has the support of the team and the whole of Ducati who together with Stoner have enjoyed racing at the top of the sport for the last three seasons.

Mika Kallio will join Nicky Hayden in the Ducati Marlboro Team for the next three races, thanks to the great spirit of collaboration between Ducati and the satellite team owned by Paolo Campinoti. Kallio is in his debut season in MotoGP and has already proved to be very competitive on the GP9. For the Brno race, his place in the Pramac Team will be taken by Michel Fabrizio.

CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team (3rd in the championship on 150 points)
“After five extremely difficult races due to my health, I returned to Australia to visit the sports doctors who have looked after me for many years. We have taken the difficult decision not to contest the next three rounds of the championship, to allow my body time to recover from the recent stress. The doctors believe that during the Barcelona race I was suffering from a virus, and, that I subsequently pushed my body too hard, leading to problems that have caused my fatigue since then. The doctors are continuing with many tests to try to understand these problems and make sure it does not happen again. I have spoken with Ducati and thank them for their understanding at this time. I feel very sorry for the factory, my team, my sponsors and the fans and I am also disappointed because the bike in the last races has been very competitive. I will be doing everything possible to come back at full strength for Portugal.

NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati Marlboro Team (13th in the championship on 47 points)
“Last season I was unable to race at Brno because I was injured, but it’s a great track which was completely resurfaced last year so I expect it will be much better in terms of the lumps and bumps. At least this year I will find out, having spent the break at home in Kentucky preparing myself for the second half of the year, and not taking part in things like the “X Games”! I can’t wait to get back on track and score some results which will make my team happy. I hope Casey can get better over the next few weeks because we all know how quick he is when he is fit. In the meantime I need to try to make progress with the team and try to make sure that they don’t miss him too much.”

MIKA KALLIO, (15th in the championship on 34 points)
“When I took the call I could hardly believe it, but then I talked to my manager and I realised it was true. I am proud to be racing the next three events with the Ducati Marlboro Team. Obviously I’m not expecting to suddenly be a second quicker, because our bikes are very similar to the official machines, but I hope to be able to pick up some good results for the team. I would particularly like to thank Paolo Campinoti, who has allowed me to enjoy this incredible opportunity. It will be a real honour for me. Nonetheless I would like to send my best wishes to Casey, and I hope to see him back out on track as soon as possible.”

LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project Director
“It’s obviously difficult for us to contemplate the next three races without Casey, but it’s clear that the most important thing at this time is his health. Since his debut with us in Qatar in 2007, Casey has won 18 times as well as taking countless podium finishes, becoming one of the top riders in the World Championship in the process. We have already overcome tough times together, like when he had to undergo surgery on his scaphoid towards the end of last season. We are united whether in times of success or in times of difficulty. We are confident that the doctors will help solve the issues that have affected him since early June and that Casey will be able to take part in the last races of the year in peak fitness. Then we can prepare for 2010 in the best way possible. A big thank you to Paolo Campinoti who as always has proved to be a great supporter and an ideal partner for Ducati, allowing Mika to ride with the Ducati Marlboro Team for the next three races. Mika is having a really positive debut year in MotoGP and we are delighted that he will be alongside Nicky in the official works team. In his place at Brno in the Pramac Team will be Michel Fabrizio, who I am certain will know how to give the right kind of performance on one of his preferred tracks.”

THE TRACK
The Brno circuit snakes its way around the hills that border the Czech Republic’s second city and is one of the jewels in the crown of motorcycle racing. Built in 1987 to replace the old and dangerous road circuit that had previously hosted Grand Prix racing, the ‘new’ track retains some of the original characteristics and for this reason it is much to the liking of the riders. With track width reaching 15m in some places, its fast and mixed layout features fast direction changes, chicanes and elevation changes. The extra width rewards a precise racing line and those continual elevations changes, with several downhill braking areas, require a perfect bike set-up, a talented rider and good tyre life. Engine performance is also an important factor, with the long straights giving the MotoGP machines chance to really stretch their legs.

-- HRC Preview

Honda’s Grand Prix riders return to action this weekend following a brief midseason break, hoping to build on recent successes. Honda RC212V riders have won two of the last three MotoGP races and they dominated the recent British GP, taking three of the top four placings. Honda also leads the 250 World Championship after two wins from the last three races.

The shorter-than-usual summer break did at least allow Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) to focus on training and returning to full fitness. The determined Spaniard, who won July’s US GP and currently lies fourth overall, struggled with injuries during the first half of the season and believes that he has now put those problems behind him, so he can concentrate on riding, rather than dealing with the pain. Pedrosa is looking forward to riding fully fit and to riding at Brno where he has an excellent record, with a podium finish in MotoGP and victories in the 250 and 125 classes.

At Donington Park three weeks ago Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) scored his maiden MotoGP victory, a success that was long overdue for the likeable Italian. Dovi showed his remarkable talent in treacherous conditions, taking the lead after Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) crashed just in front of him. History has shown that a rider’s first win in the premier-class is a landmark occasion – once you have won once you have no doubt you can win again – and Dovizioso will be aiming to back up his debut win with further successes in the near future.

Although Sunday’s race – the 11th of this year’s 17 MotoGP rounds – is important, the day after will also be crucial for Pedrosa, Dovizioso and their fellow RC212V riders. A full day’s testing is scheduled for Monday, the first MotoGP test since mid-June. Testing has been drastically reduced this year to cut costs, which makes each and every test even more important than in the past.

Another cost-reducing measure comes into effect at Brno, with MotoGP teams restricted to the number of engines they can use for the first time in the sport’s six decade history. Each rider must use no more than five engines during the final seven races of the year. Next year the restrictions are even tighter, with riders allowed six engines for the entire 18-race series. The rules should allow substantial cost savings for the teams and the factories. Engines will be sealed by the MotoGP technical director, so they cannot be rebuilt, modified or used for testing or on the dynamometer within the specified time frame.

Honda’s best-placed satellite RC212V rider Randy de Puniet faces a tough weekend at Brno, after fracturing a bone in his left ankle during training. The Frenchman fell while riding motocross with his trainer Yves Demaria and underwent surgery to have the damaged bone fixed. The injury is a real blow for de Puniet who has been on tremendous form in recent weeks; at Donington he scored his first MotoGP podium with Honda.

Team-mates Alex De Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and Toni Elias (San Carlo Honda Gresini) go into the Czech GP full of optimism after they both showed impressive speed at Donington. De Angelis equalled his best-ever MotoGP result by finishing fourth, while Elias led the race and was running with the leading pack when he slid off. Both men are big fans of the majestic Brno circuit. Last year Elias finished second at Brno and he’ll be aiming for the podium once again this Sunday.

This will be a big weekend for Gabor Talmacsi (Scot Honda), the former 125 World Champion who graduated to MotoGP just two months ago. The Hungarian’s fans gather every year in their thousands at Brno to cheer on their hero, who will be aiming to score MotoGP points for the third consecutive race. Talmacsi finished 12th in the damp British GP.

Hiroshi Aoyama (Scot Honda) goes to Brno fully aware that this will be a crucial race in his bid for the 250 World Championship. The Japanese star is currently on brilliant form, leading the points chase following victories in the Spanish, Dutch and British 250 rounds. Brno is a high-speed circuit where top speed really matters, so Aoyama’s Scot Honda crew have been working hard during the summer break to make sure he has as much speed as possible. Aoyama likes the Czech venue where he has produced podium form.

Team-mate Raffaele De Rosa (Scot Honda) is turning out to be the find of the 250 season. The 22-year-old from Naples is one of only three riders to have scored points in all nine rounds so far – an especially impressive achievement for a youngster learning a new class. De Rosa will be aiming to score yet another top ten finish at Brno – he has finished inside the top ten at eight of the nine rounds so far.

Hector Faubel (Valencia CF-Honda SAG) and Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda PTT-SAG) have also put in strong results this year, Faubel already having scored a top-three result and Wilairot looking capable of battling for a podium finish when things go his way. Faubel is currently on target for a top-ten championship finish and he will be going all out to keep that aim in sight at Brno.

Team-mates Shoya Tomizawa (Team CIP Honda) and Valentin Debise (Team CIP Honda) and Bastien Chesaux (Racing Team Germany Honda) continue their rookie GP seasons at Brno, aiming to put the lessons learned in the first half of the season to good use. Tomizawa has impressed with his speed so far, but has had a few too many DNFs. At Donington the Japanese youngster rode within his limits for his fifth points score and he’ll be aiming to keep scoring at Brno. Debise has added points in the French and Dutch rounds, while Chesaux has only one score so far, in Germany.

Brno is one of MotoGP’s faster circuits where horsepower can really count, so the Repsol Honda team will be looking to take advantage of the impressive straight-line speed shown by the factory RC212V at recent races. The Czech circuit has been part of the World Championship calendar since the mid 1960s, when the nation’s grand prix was staged around a 10.92km/6.785 mile street circuit on the outskirts of the city. Mike Hailwood won the 1966 and 1967 500 GPs there on his Honda RC181 four, but eventually the circuit was deemed too dangerous and hosted its last premier-class GP in 1977. It took a decade before the current Brno circuit was completed. Honda has enjoyed great success at this fast, undulating circuit which features many tricky downhill corners that require a perfect chassis set-up.

Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Tadayuki Okada, Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau have all won premier-class races with Honda at the modern Brno venue.

HONDA MotoGP RIDER QUOTES
Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) says: “It was a short summer break, but it was long enough for me to get back into training properly and build my fitness to close to 100 per cent. So I’m feeling ready for the second half of the season and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the bike and fighting at the front again. It’s going be very important that I can now concentrate totally on riding the bike without any pain, and these last two weekends off have helped me in that sense. Brno is a circuit that I like very much: it’s technical and demanding. Plus the weather is usually good which would make a nice change. We have the final day’s testing for the season on Monday and it’ll be important for us to do some more evaluation work on the new engine and modified chassis which we’ve been running at the last few races. I’m feeling fit and ready for this race and me and the team are ready to get out there and put in a good result.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) says: “I’m sure that me and the team arrive in Brno in a very positive mood thanks to the victory in the last race at Donington Park. I’m very motivated and I’m really looking forward to the race, and also to the test session on Monday because that should be valuable for us. I spent the two weeks of the summer break at the seaside not far from where I live and I had the possibility to relax, spend some time with my friends and also do some training ready for this weekend because Brno is a difficult and physical track. It’s a very fast circuit and I’m confident that our package can work well – in particular that we can make good use of the power of our engine. There are also many long turns that are quite demanding and you definitely need to quickly adjust your riding style to the characteristics of the track. I like the nature of this circuit, and the atmosphere created by the crowds of spectators on the hillsides is very special.”

Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) says: “Immediately after the surgery I was discouraged and thought I wouldn’t be able to race in Brno. But thanks to the rehabilitation programme my ankle is improving day by day. I can easily move it and I will be fit for the race. Brno is one of my favourite tracks and the good results we gained in the first part of the season give us the confidence and the incentive to keep running at the front.”

Alex De Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) says: “After my fourth place at Donington it was wonderful to go home and celebrate with my family and friends. Then I drove a Renault Clio S 1600 as the pace car in the San Marino Rose’n Bowl Rally, which was fantastic – rallying is my big passion. That was my only time off during the break – I have spent the rest of the time in training for Brno. I really like the circuit and in terms of its technical characteristics it is very similar to Sachsenring, with a nice flow to it but with some hard braking and acceleration zones. It may be impossible to repeat my result from Donington but in any case I’ll try my best to bring home another good result that keeps the season moving in a positive direction.”

Toni Elias (San Carlo Honda Gresini) says: “I love the Brno circuit because of the way it flows and the elevation changes. The other thing l like about it is the three or four braking zones at the end of long straights, where you have to brake really hard because the corners are quite tight. Obviously I have great memories of Brno from last year, when I finished on the podium after a truly disastrous start to the season, so I have high hopes for this weekend. The crash at Donington was disappointing but I have been trying to look back on the positive side of the weekend in England, which is that I was fast and strong and on the pace with the lead guys, and there’s no reason to think I can’t repeat that level of performance at Brno. A repeat of last year’s podium would be difficult but I firmly believe the whole team is working well and anything is possible. During the two-week break I’ve been training in my gym at home and running a lot – the area where I live is ideal for it. I’ll take a beach holiday on an island somewhere in September."

Gabor Talmacsi (Scot Honda) says: “Every year, my fans gather in the C sector of the Brno track, so I can look for them easily, even during the race! It is fabulous seeing our national flag and the banners flying in the air. This is always a special weekend for me – special pressure, but also special joy. The Brno layout suits my riding style: I love this wide track where you can choose between several different lines. It is flowing, and not stop-and-go. I love it, in spite of the fact that it has never been too good to me in the last laps. More than once I lost a great result just in the final kilometres. This year, on a MotoGP bike, a totally different approach will be needed. I would love to finish inside the top ten. This would mean seven rivals behind me, which would be great.”

HONDA 250cc RIDER QUOTES
Hiroshi Aoyama (Scot Honda) says: “I did not go to Japan for the summer break. I preferred to stay in Barcelona where I could train for the Czech Republic GP. I love the Brno track. It is not easy, with its long straights, its ups-and-downs and the high top speeds reached.
Perhaps it is not the most suitable track for my Honda, but we can do well in the technical sections and in some of the turns. And, moreover, nobody expected us to do as well as we did at recent races, so why shouldn’t we do well here?”

Raffaele De Rosa (Scot Honda) says: “I like Brno. It’s a great track - flowing, high speed, Mugello-style. I know that the team are working to improve the performance, and I’m very confident: our crew has been able since the beginning of the season to prepare an excellent bike for both riders. Rain or sun? Honestly, I don’t care. It’s the same, for me".

Hector Faubel (Valencia CF-Honda SAG): says: “I used my holidays to do everything I can’t do when I’m racing: meet with my friends, be with my family and try to disconnect, but for sure I was training on my mountain bike and in the gym to be ready for the next half of the season. Now I’m impatient to ride the bike again. We need to feel the speed and I the last race in Donington already feels so long ago. My adaptation to the Honda is coming good, though it’s been difficult because I was riding Aprilia for so many years. I can say that the Honda is easy to ride and each race we find something new to improve. For the moment this is my best year in the 250 class and I’m happy for it but I want more and I will try to show it at Brno.”

Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda PTT-SAG) says: “I didn’t waste my holidays, I enjoyed time with friends and family and I was also training to maintain my peak physical condition. I miss riding and now I’m ready to score a good result, so I will push hard in Brno. I know that the first half of the season was a little bit irregular but I hope to change that.”

Shoya Tomizawa (Team CIP Honda) says: “It has been good to have a short break, but I am really looking forward to racing again this weekend. Every track is a new discovery for me this year, which is very interesting, but also quite tough. I will do my best at Brno – I know the most important thing is to finish the race and gain more experience.”

Valentin Debise (Team CIP Honda) says: “We have already shown we can score points, so that is my target once again at Brno. The team is working hard to give me the best bike they can, so I am confident we can fight for more points this weekend.”

Bastien Chesaux (Racing Team Germany Honda) says: “I didn’t get any points at the last race, but Germany proved we can be in the top 15. I am still learning plenty, I know that is the most important thing for us this season, but at the same time I want some more good results.”

-- Yamaha Preview

Fresh from a two-week summer break, Fiat Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo head to Brno in the Czech Republic this weekend riding high at the top of the championship. Despite a disappointing last round in the UK the pair remain first and second in the standings with seven rounds remaining, setting up a thrilling final seven-race run to the end of the season.

Brno is a special track for Rossi as the Italian took the first of his 101 career victories there, in the 125cc class in 1996. Since then he has added a 250cc win and four MotoGP victories to his tally, including a commanding one last year on the way to his eighth World Championship title, and three second places. The 30-year-old slid out of the lead in Donington last time out but remounted to finish fifth, meaning he managed to extend his lead at the top of the championship to 25 points from his team-mate.

22-year-old Lorenzo also has an impressive record at Brno, having won there in 125cc and twice in 250cc, both times from pole position. He finished tenth at the Czech track last year, a creditable performance considering that he was nursing broken bones in his foot sustained at the previous round in America. This year he arrives more or less in full fitness, having had a chance to fully recover from another foot injury, lying second in the championship and determined to put in a good performance to try to close some of the 25-point deficit to Rossi.

This year marks the 40th time a Grand Prix has been held at Brno since the 14km road circuit was first used in 1965. Today the modern track retains much of the character of the original road circuit, with its winding chicanes and dramatic elevation changes. The well-balanced nature of the circuit make it an ideal testing venue and the team will remain there after the race for a key mid-season test. Brno sees an important new rule come into existence, with all riders now restricted to just five engines for the final seven races of the season with a 10-point deduction for any rider who goes over his quota.

Valentino Rossi - "Rested and relaxed"
"The summer 'holiday' wasn't as long as usual but anyway I've had the chance to recharge the batteries in the break and I'm feeling rested and relaxed. Last time out wasn't ideal but in the end it was a positive day for us and we now have a one-race buffer at the top of the championship. Despite this breathing space we can't afford to relax for a minute because our rivals are very strong and I expect everyone to be at their best in Brno. It's a great track for me and I took my first ever win there; I'm hoping for another good result this time."

Jorge Lorenzo - "Aiming to get back on the podium"
"I'm really excited about this race after what feels like a long time without one. It was good to have a bit of a break and I used the time to work on my fitness and to completely recover from the injuries I had after Laguna, in the gym and with my physiotherapist. The result is that I feel much better than I did in Germany and England and I'm excited to be getting back on the bike. I like Brno and I have had good results in the past there, including three wins. This time my aim is to fight hard and get back on the podium."

Davide Brivio - "A good circuit for Valentino and Yamaha"
"After a short break, Brno is the start of three close races before the real season finale of the remaining four events. Brno is a good circuit both for Valentino and for Yamaha in general and we have to take advantage of this to manage and hopefully extend the 25-point advantage we currently have in the championship. Valentino has always been at the top there and it's a track that's full of important memories for him and for us, including in 2008 when it marked the start of us 'completing' the job of recapturing the title. At the moment we're working very well and we are looking forward to maintaining the same high standard as much as possible. The competition amongst the top riders is very exciting and we hope we can offer everyone another great show."

Daniele Romagnoli - "Great motivation"
"A little break to recharge the batteries has been useful for us all before the last seven races. This has given Jorge the chance to improve his fitness after his Laguna Seca injuries and he will be in good shape for Brno. All the team and Jorge want to forget the 'zero point' of Donington and we have a great motivation to catch Valentino at the top of the championship! From this Grand Prix the new engine rule will be applied but Yamaha has worked hard on engine durability and maintaining performance so we're confident that it won't be an issue."

-- Suzuki Preview

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP returns from a short mid-season break to get back to business at the Czech Republic Grand Prix to be held at the Brno Automotodrom this Sunday.

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen had an entertaining battle against each other at last year's Czech GP, with Capirossi finally coming out on top and going on to take his first podium in Rizla Suzuki colours. Both riders are hoping that the Suzuki GSV-R can perform just as well at the 5,403m Brno circuit this year and - with the support of the whole team - will be looking to put recent tough races firmly behind them.

The Brno race will also signal an alteration to the MotoGP regulations, as a major rule change will come into operation. For the remainder of the season Capirossi and Vermeulen - like every other rider on the MotoGP grid - will be restricted to a maximum of just five engines for the last seven races of the year, a rule that will cost the rider a 10-point penalty if he uses above his quota.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP takes to the track on Friday for the first free practice session, with the second on Saturday morning. Qualifying will take place on Saturday afternoon when all riders will battle for the best grid positions they can achieve. Sunday's 22-lap race starts at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).

Loris Capirossi: "I just can't wait to get back on the bike again; we have a lot of unfinished business and need to show that the results we've been getting are not a true reflection on how hard the team has been working recently. I got a third at Brno last year which was the last time I was on the podium and that is just too long, so I need to do something about it. We really want consistently good weather all weekend so we can get the set-up right for the GSV-R and if that happens I think we have a chance of a really good result."

Chris Vermeulen: "We've had a bit of time for some rest and relaxation since the last race and that has given all my injuries a chance to heal and I'll be 100% fit when we get to the Czech Republic. The break has given us an opportunity to look at the data from the last couple of events and see where we can make some changes for Brno. I have been speaking with Tom about the bike and we have a few ideas and we are both quite positive we can improve it straight away - which will be good. I've done pretty well at Brno in the past couple of years and I'm sure that this is a track where we can make the best of the GSV-R."

-- Bridgestone Preview

Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Hard, Extra Hard. Rear: Medium, Hard

The Czech Republic Grand Prix at the Automotodrom Brno is round 11 of the championship and starts the second half of the MotoGP season after the mid-year break. The grand prix is the 22nd to be held at the track, which has hosted every race since 1987, except in 1992. Replacing the original Brno road race, the circuit’s nature is undulating but fairly evenly balanced between right- and left-handed corners thanks to a number of flowing right-left kinks: there are eight right and six left hand corners.

It was resurfaced in 2008 and as a result is now more abrasive, necessitating hard and extra hard compound front Bridgestone slicks. By contrast, because of its flowing nature the medium and hard compound rear Bridgestone slicks have been selected. The circuit is the second longest of the season at 5.4 kilometres, but due to the balance between rights and lefts neither edge of the tyres is placed under any particular stress and temperature is maintained throughout the lap.

The track’s elevation changes and the mix of positive and negative camber throughout the lap are demanding of both bike setup and the riders.

Brno has been a very successful circuit for Bridgestone in recent years. A Bridgestone-shod rider has taken victory for the last three seasons, twice with the Ducati Team with Loris Capirossi in 2006 and Casey Stoner in 2007, and last season with Valentino Rossi and Fiat Yamaha. What’s more, the top eight riders last season were all on Bridgestone tyres.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport – Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit
“I think we are all looking forward to going racing again after the much deserved summer break, and Brno has traditionally been a good circuit for Bridgestone as we have been very successful there in recent years with three consecutive wins. Of course, as the series’ sole tyre supplier there is no question that we will win again this year, but for us the challenge is to ensure that we supply tyres and a tyre service to enable the riders to put on another great show.

“We have seen some fantastic races so far this season in the single tyre era, and the championship is still close at the front so I’m sure we’ll continue to see more nail-biting competition. The Czech Republic Grand Prix comes just after a MotoGP demonstration for the fans held in Vienna that I am pleased we were able to support.”

Tohru Ubukata – Bridgestone Motorsport – Manager Motorcycle Race Tyre Development
“Brno has a long lap but an even balance of left- and right-handed corners so we will bring symmetric compound tyres again. Since it was resurfaced in 2008 Brno has become a more abrasive circuit, so we will bring harder front tyres this season to cope with the loads generated through the fast and flowing corners.

“The circuit is characterised by its undulating nature and flowing corners that require a great deal of finesse from the riders. This also places a premium on bike setup so that each rider package can use our tyres to the optimum. This is especially crucial on the more abrasive surface where excess sliding can accelerate wear. The weather on race weekend is often unpredictable and can use all of our tyres’ wider operating ranges, but this is something we are used to from the last few races!”

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