MotoGP Returns to Spain for the Catalunya GP

[Newsbot]

After a 2 week break between races the MotoGP circus is back on Spanish soil, for the seventh round of the 2006 championship. The scene is set for a great race: The top four riders in the championship are split by just 13 points, Valentino Rossi still desperately needs a good result to recover from his poor start to the season and one Dani Pedrosa will be racing in front of his home crowd once again, this time as a race winner.

Valentino Rossi

After his fantastic home win two weeks ago in Italy Valentino Rossi became the second highest points scorer of all time, behind only Mick Doohan. However whilst Rossi's overall career stats continue to become more impressive by the race, the #46 rider is still in fifth after the first 6 races of this year's championship and he will not want anything less than a win on Sunday.

"Barcelona is always a great race for me and I've won there the last two years with Yamaha, so hopefully we can do it again. Last year Giber...

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[Dom]

Yamaha Quotes

VALENTINO ROSSI

“Barcelona is always a great race for me and I've won there the last two years with Yamaha, so hopefully we can do it again,” says Rossi. “Last year Gibernau set a fast pace and I tried 100% to follow him. Then I set the fastest lap three laps from the end, which at a track like Catalunya is amazing. Hopefully we can get this level of performance out of the bike and tyres again. Also I get a really good reception in Spain and it is always a pleasure to ride there.

"I am looking forward to this weekend because now I think we have finally arrived where we should be with the bike. It worked really well at the Mugello test and now I think we've really shown that we can fight at the front again and win. From a technical point of view, since the new chassis has been available we’ve been able to ride like in the past. Now we’re very fast but it’s still hard to win races! This championship is very balanced between Ducati and Honda and Yamaha and the other riders are at a great level so it was very important for us to win at Mugello. Now we have an eleven race championship and we have to be on the podium at every round."

COLIN EDWARDS

“I’ve been run into the gravel for the last two rounds but we’ve come out of them both in the points so I have to use that as springboard to better things over the next few races,” admits Edwards. “There is no use lamenting about what could have been – I have never done that and I won’t start now. The positive thing to come out of Mugello was the performance of the new chassis and I’m really looking forward to adapting the setting even more at Barcelona. It’s another fast circuit so hopefully the bike adapts quickly and we can be on the pace from the start.”

Like Rossi, Edwards has positive memories of the Catalunya circuit thanks to his performance there in the official pre-season tests, when he drove home in a new car as a prize for setting the fastest time. “That seems a long time ago now but it’s true that we went well there with an early version of this year’s bike. We’ve made progress since then but the conditions will be very different so we’ll have to wait and see.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO

“Before Mugello I said that our mission for the next few races was to recover points for Valentino and we had the perfect start to that with the victory,” says Brivio. “Now we have an extremely important run at Barcelona, Assen and Donington where we must continue with this job and try to win every race. Valentino likes all three tracks and this is another reason why he was still so upbeat and optimistic after the disappointments in China and Le Mans.

“For Colin this is also an important weekend because he found a good way with the new chassis at Mugello and we have high hopes that he can make a lot of progress with it in Barcelona. Both riders will be on the same specification bikes, with two units of the new chassis each, so we are starting from a good point. Continuing evolution with the bike, recovering more points for Valentino and getting Colin back on the podium; these are our three targets for Catalunya.”

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: CATALUNYA ACCORDING TO NICOLAS GOUBERT

“Catalunya can be very demanding on the front because there are a lot of downhill corner entries,” explains Nicolas Goubert, Michelin’s chief of motorcycle competition. “For the rain we’ve got only one specification, one profile with different programs depending on the conditions we have. For the slicks it is much more interesting because we have two different profiles. One has a smaller width, which means that the tyre is lighter and it’s easier to tilt the bike from one side to the other. We have also started to work with a bigger size but the Yamaha riders prefer the small one. The reason is because they want to keep the character of having durability for the bike. For them it is an advantage and it is suited to their needs on their bike.”

“We are quite confident with both types of tyre from last year because we had very good results at Catalunya. It was the first time ever that the surface was new, the lap time was really good and Valentino set a new lap record at the very end of the race with a time that would have put him tenth on the grid. It was the first time ever that this happened so we are very happy with that and we just hope that our Yamaha riders will be as fast or faster this year.”

[Dom]

Honda Quotes

Nicky said, “I quite like the Catalunya circuit. It’s quite fast, it’s got some quick corners and I’ve gone OK there in the past so I’m looking forward to it. This weekend starts off three back-to-back races so we’re going to have to get it on because there’s a lot at stake. We know how important it is to start these three weeks off strongly. I’ve tested at Catalunya and raced there so I know the track well, and the Spanish crowds always get really into it too.”

His team-mate Dani said, “I don’t really have more pressure being at home – I always want to get the best result I can – but it’s not a secret that a lot of people will come to the circuit for us and I would like to thank them for their support with a great race. I think we’re doing a good job with the team and Honda and we need to keep our concentration to continue this way.”

“I can’t wait to get back on track after the excellent results we had at the Mugello test,” said Marco Melandri. “Over the race weekend we worked hard to find better traction and on Monday we concentrated on speed through the corners and the results were positive. I’m feeling very confident about going to Barcelona – the track is similar to Mugello and with the good base setting we found there I should be able to do well also in Spain.”

Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda RC211V) said, “Racing in front of your home crowd is an incredible feeling and this time even more so because it can help you get over your difficulties. We had hoped to be arriving at this event with better results behind us but unfortunately we are still suffering from problems that have dogged us for the last three races. The days of tests at Mugello were useful and we studied a few alternative set-up solutions which I am sure will have good results in Barcelona.”

Kenny Roberts (Roberts KR211V) said, “We had a very good test at Mugello on Monday after the race. We have nothing new for Catalunya because we have found a good base set-up to work from. We will now try to get the second bike working as well as my number one machine. Generally we are in a good place going into practice and I like Catalunya more than Mugello.”

“I’m looking forward to this race,” said Casey Stoner (LCR Honda RC211V).
“I’ve got to make up for my crash at Mugello and this is as good a place as any to do it. The bike’s going well and I got a second here last year on the 250, so we’ll see what happens.”

Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) said, “I love the Catalunya circuit, it’s cool and fast. Michelin has made a big step in helping me find the feeling I need with my bike, and I feel confident to be able to fight with the leading group in Catalunya.”

[Dom]

Kawasaki Quotes

Shinya Nakano

"Like Mugello, the Circuit de Catalunya is a fast circuit, but unlike Mugello there is no secret to going fast here. We need to find a good set-up during practice and qualifying, and we also need to test the new exhaust system that Kawasaki engineers have brought to this race in a bid to improve the driveability of the bike out of the turns. Theoretically the increased rev limit should also make passing out of the slipstream on the main straight easier, but we will only see how much easier once practice gets underway on Friday. I think if everything comes together as we expect during practice and qualifying then we can be competitive here in Sunday's race."

Randy de Puniet

"We had a good test here at Catalunya during the build up to the start of the season, so I know how to ride the Ninja ZX-RR at this circuit. I have won here on the 250cc machine twice, and I like this track a lot, so I think this could be a good weekend for us. I arrive for this race fully fit, and I think I'm now starting to realise the full potential of the Ninja ZX-RR on track, so hopefully I'll be able to put in a strong performance in the race on Sunday and leave Spain with my best result of the season so far in the MotoGP class. Anyway, that's my aim for the weekend ahead."

[Dom]

Suzuki

Paul Denning – Team Manager

“We are heading to Barcelona in a positive mood following recent good performances from both riders and after the promising results from the Mugello test.

“This is the first circuit in four races where Chris has been before and he doesn’t have the added responsibility of having to learn his way round, so he should be on the pace right from the start and be looking to get up amongst the action. John had a good test here earlier in the year and enjoys this circuit - he is very hungry and looking for a good result.

“The factory and the team are working as hard as they possibly can to turn the promising performances into strong results and all sponsors and fans can be assured that we will continue to make steps and aim to perform to the maximum of our potential!”

[Dom]

Ducati Quotes

LORIS CAPIROSSI, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 1st overall

"We are all looking forward to this race because we are in great shape, really competitive at pretty much every track. The year started so well and it is continuing to go well, thanks to all the work done by Ducati and Bridgestone. Catalunya is another fast track with a big straight but while our bike is fast, these days we focus on rideability, which is more important than top speed. I love Catalunya and I love racing in Spain because the fans are great. The circuit is very technical and you can have a lot of fun sliding the bike through turns three and four."

SETE GIBERNAU, Ducati Marlboro Team rider, 9th overall

"Catalunya can be strange because the grip changes a lot according to conditions. The new surface was better last year, though F1 racing always leaves a lot of rubber which may still affect grip. But I enjoy it, I always have done, it's a complete racetrack with a little bit of everything. And, of course, for me the atmosphere is quite big! The important thing is to get the bike to give good traction through turns three and four. If you can do that you have good traction around the whole track. I had a good race in Italy, up front again and really enjoying myself because I'm starting to understand how to get the best out of the Ducati. With this team I feel better than ever and happier than ever."

LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP project manager

"It's great to go to Catalunya leading the World Championship and with the team in top form, Loris leading the title chase and Sete proving that he can fight to win races with his Desmosedici. I think we should be able to maintain the high level of the last few races, even though we had a tough time at Catalunya last year. Bridgestone have done unbelievable work since then, their tyres working well during the IRTA tests at Catalunya in March and also at Qatar, a hot, low-grip circuit. This gives us real confidence."