Riders on the US GP

[Newsbot]

Heading into the US MotoGP it's no surprise to hear some fighting talk from the American riders. Colin Edwards says that if it comes down to another scrap between himself and Nicky Hayden then he knows he 'can come out on top this time'. Valentino Rossi has said 'I learnt a lot' last year - not what the locals will want to hear.

Nicky Hayden

“It’s a pretty good feeling to be leading the world going into my home race. Even though there’s a lot racing still to go and I really want to be leading the championship at the end of the season, I’m proud to go home to my fans out in front. Plus it’s a while since an American has been on top so I’m excited. But more importantly we’re going to go to Laguna and try to get 25 points.”

Valentino Rossi

"Even though I didn't know the track last year I was able to follow Nicky for many laps and then Colin too, so I learnt a lot from both of them," expl...

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[Dom]

Honda Quotes

Nicky said, “It’s a pretty good feeling to be leading the world going into my home race. Even though there’s a lot racing still to go and I really want to be leading the championship at the end of the season, I’m proud to go home to my fans out in front. Plus it’s a while since an American has been on top so I’m excited. But more importantly we’re going to go to Laguna and try to get 25 points.”

Dani said, “I’m not sure how I’m going to find things at Laguna because it’s a new track to me. It’s a long time since I’ve raced at a track I don’t already know and most of the others have seen it before, so it will be difficult for me and the other new MotoGP riders at first. My job will be to adapt to the track as quickly as possible, find a base setting for the RC211V and have another strong weekend. I was a little disappointed to finish fourth at the last race in Germany, but I believe in myself and I’m still pretty confident. We are having a great season so far and I’ve just got keep working on the areas where I can improve.”

Kenny said, “It’s going to be fun. We want to do as we’ve been doing. I’ve got a great family and friends type of thing going on here and as long as I have a safe race and I give it 100% and the team gives it 100%, I’m happy with that. That’s what I did last year and I rode around in 80th or whatever it was. This year we’re going to try to maybe have a shot at the podium or a victory. It doesn’t change the outlook or my preparations for it.”

Makoto Tamada said, “I’m still aching from last Sunday at Sachsenring. I feel confident I will recover fast and be ready to be on track again for Friday two free practice hours. I’m really sorry for the big occasion I lost in Germany; the rhythm I kept during the laps I covered was very high and I’m convinced I could remain there with the others up to the end. Last Sunday I had good feelings when riding my Honda RC211V and that’s what I want to feel again at Laguna Seca. I can’t wait to ride the track to show the competitive level we’ve reached.”

“I like the layout of Laguna Seca,” said Melandri. “It’s an impressive track where it's fun to race. Last year I made a mistake in the approach to a track that was new to me and this spoiled my race weekend. Fortunately during the warm up we found a good set-up and I started to understand the track. This year my approach will be completely different because I learned a lot from that experience.
My physical condition has improved a lot and after two incredible races in England and in Germany, I know that I have all what I need to battle every weekend for the front positions.”

Elias said, “Laguna Seca is a historic track, a legend. I remember watching races at Laguna when I was a kid, so it’s great to race there. I like the track because it’s so different from every other circuit. It’s difficult and demanding. From the TV you just don’t realize how wild the Corkscrew is. It’s an impressive curve, similar to a big wave.”

Stoner said, “It’s vital to get a good result here before the break and we owe it to ourselves to do well. We’ve just got to keep everything going in the right direction and see how we get on. The track’s new to me so we’ll have to get down to business straight away.”

[Dom]

Kawasaki Quotes

Shinya Nakano: #56

"Last year I managed to find the fast line through some of the turns here, but there was still something missing and that's what I need to focus on this time around. Maybe the best idea will be to follow one of the American riders around for a while during practice, as they have a good understanding of the secret to a fast lap time at this circuit. Having said that, based on our first race here 12 months ago, I think we have a good chance here, as Laguna is not really a power circuit, although it is important to carry speed through most of the corners. Overall I think the circuit will suit the characteristics of our Ninja ZX-RR, and I'm definitely looking for a good result this weekend to take me into the summer break."

Randy de Puniet: #17

"Obviously I haven't ridden the track yet, as the 250cc class don't race here at Laguna, but from running the circuit this afternoon, I think the layout will suit my riding style. In style the Laguna Seca track is not so different to the Lédenon circuit in the South of France, where I had some successful races when I was contesting the French National Championship some years ago, and I hope I can do the same this weekend. It's difficult to predict how the track will feel on our Ninja ZX-RR from just running the circuit, but we'll find out soon enough when practice starts on Friday. I am particularly looking forward to riding the Corkscrew here; it looks like a very strange corner even when you're running through it, so it will be interesting to see what it's like on the bike. We have four hours of track time for me to learn my way around the circuit, and I hope we can leave here on Sunday for the summer break with a good result behind us."

[Dom]

Suzuki Quote

Paul Denning – Team Manager

“The USGP is undoubtedly one of the high points on the calendar and one that we are hoping that we can produce a good result at. John is really revved up for this one and is determined to put on an excellent performance for all the American fans and family that will be cheering him on at trackside.

“Chris is also coming to Laguna with high hopes after winning back-to-back races there in World Superbike, so he too is looking for a good performance.

“This is the last race before the summer break and all the team are eager to go out on high and will be working at full throttle to achieve the best result for Rizla Suzuki, all our other sponsors and the fans alike!”

[Dom]

Ducati Quotes

Loris Capirossi, 5th overall, 118

"In Germany last week I was maybe 85 per cent fit and I will be even stronger for this race. I am very happy to be returning to Laguna Seca. The track is so good, so technical and now that they have made some more changes to improve safety it will be even better.
From what I have heard they have given us more run-off and smoothed out the brow at Turn One. And they have also taken away the hump on the hill before the Corkscrew. They have also resurfaced the whole track which is good news because the old surface was quite old and slippery. I love most of the circuit but especially from the Corkscrew to the end of the lap. You need a very reactive chassis to be fast at Laguna, because there are a lot of places where you need to change direction quickly. You also need really good engine control because parts of the track are so tight, too tight for MotoGP really."

Sete Gibernau, 13th overall, 52

"I first went to Laguna in 1993, just to watch that year's GP. It's one of those tracks that everyone knows about even if they haven't raced there, because of the Corkscrew and layout, which is so different to what we're used to.

"I raced there for the first time last year and really enjoyed myself. I enjoyed the atmosphere, I enjoyed the crowd and I enjoyed being in the US. In fact everything was really good except that I had two difficult days of practice, so it seemed like a difficult track for me but I think this visit will be very different. The team is working so well with me that I believe we will be able to have some fun but much will depend on the condition of my shoulder. It wasn't good in Germany but I've been back to my surgeon in Barcelona, and I hope that it will be a bit stronger for Laguna because it is a tough track, tight and bumpy."

Livio Suppo, Ducati MotoGP project manager

"We are really looking forward to Laguna. Last year's US GP was a fantastic event and, of course, the USA is an important market for us and there are a lot of Ducati fans in the country. Loris and Sete should be in better physical shape for this race after some difficult races following the Catalan GP accident that hurt both of them. Laguna will be interesting because it has been resurfaced and changed somewhat, so we hope it works well with our package."

[Dom]

Yamaha Quotes

Valentino Rossi: Strong from the start

"Even though I didn't know the track last year I was able to follow Nicky for many laps and then Colin too, so I learnt a lot from both of them," explains Rossi. "By the end of the race I was getting stronger and I actually set my best time on the last lap so I hope that this year we can be strong from the start and this time beat the Americans! We had some difficulties with the bike in Germany and we don't have time to make many big changes before this weekend, but hopefully the good setting we found for the race on Sunday and the data we have from last year will be enough.

"The latest modifications to the track will make a difference and we will see how they are when we get there. After last year we discussed everything with the Safety Commission and we made some more suggestions to improve the track, because really it was not at the level of the rest of the championship. It's okay for Superbikes but we are coming into the corners 40km faster, so it was necessary to make some more changes, especially at turn one. Now we have to wait to see if it is better and safer this year."

Colin Edwards: Victory still the target

"Before Sachsenring I said that I am not hoping to win at Laguna Seca, I am expecting to win, and that remains the case," affirms Edwards, who will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday to take part in a MotoGP bike parade along Hollywood Boulevard before attending the screening of the new MotoGP movie 'The Doctor, The Tornado and The Kentucky Kid', in which he stars.

"We had our problems in Germany but we also had problems at Catalunya earlier in the season and seven days later I was fighting to win at Assen. It seems the bike that we have works at some circuits and not so well at others so, like Assen, Laguna will be a bit of a shot in the dark. One thing for sure is that I'm going to fight and barge and do whatever it takes to win. If it comes down to a scrap between the Americans, Hayden and I, then I know I can come out on top this time. Hopefully the bike will work as well as it did at Assen and if it does than I definitely won't make the same mistakes."

Davide Brivio: Double top the target

"Last year both our riders were on the podium and the target is the same this time, but in better positions," says Brivio. "The competition in MotoGP is getting tougher and tougher as the season goes on but we need to keep working as we are now because there is a long way to go. With six rounds left after the summer it would be nice to go on holiday with the psychological boost of victory at Laguna Seca.

"We know that Nicky Hayden is fast at this circuit but this is the challenge. We are all in racing because we enjoy the battle and on the evidence of what we saw last year I think both our riders can be up there giving Nicky a hard time this Sunday. We're going there with great confidence after Valentino's win in Germany and I think Laguna comes at the perfect time for Colin, who needs to get back on the podium. It is only a few days but for him and for us the race can't come soon enough."

Technically speaking: Laguna according to Daniele Romagnoli Famed, feared and revered for the world-famous 'Corkscrew' corner, the Laguna Seca circuit near Monterey in California lived up to its billing as one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar when MotoGP visited for the first time ever last season. With only a few short straights, a series of fast and sweeping corners and elevation changes that leave front wheels frequently spinning through thin air, the 3.602km circuit provides the ideal viewing spectacle for fans but is surprisingly straightforward when it comes to machine set-up.

"Actually Laguna was not as technical as we thought it might be when we visited for the first time last year," explains Daniele Romagnoli, Chief Engineer for Colin Edwards. "It is a special circuit because there are almost no straights so there is no need to use the full gear range or the maximum power of the bike. Power delivery is much more important than top-end power and it must be smooth and easy for the rider to manage. At the same time the circuit is very 'up and down' so the chassis is important because the bike needs to keep turning in several different conditions. You need good traction when the bike is leaned over - especially at the end of the main straight when the bike is at an angle at high speed and in the Corkscrew. The Corkscrew also requires stable suspension and good performance under braking because, as we saw with Colin last year, it is a place he likes to overtake.

"Honestly it was quite easy to find a good set-up for Colin last year. His experience at the circuit meant that we already had some good information for the gear and suspension settings before we arrived. This time things are a little different because, even though we can dial in the same settings on the bike, the tyres have changed a lot from last year so we will need to work on something new to adapt the chassis and the suspension. We had a difficult weekend finding the right setting in Germany but Colin will not let this affect him and we will come out fighting like we did at Assen."