Bridgestone Previews Czech MotoGP Grand Prix

From a press release issued by Bridgestone:

Bridgestone GP Briefing
Round 12: Czech Republic
Tuesday 14 August 2007

After almost one month since the previous race of the season at Laguna Seca, Bridgestone Motorsport aims to maintain its competitive streak returning this weekend to the scene of one of four victories on its tyres during the 2006 season, the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic.

Loris Capirossi and the Ducati team dominated proceedings on Bridgestone tyres in last year’s race winning from second on the grid to claim their second victory of the season. Ducati has scored four consecutive top five results around the undulating Brno track. Capirossi also scored a second place finish on Bridgestone tyres in 2005 before claiming his scintillating Czech victory twelve months ago.

Following on from the double-header at the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca, the two shortest tracks on the 2007 calendar, teams and riders this weekend face the second longest lap of the season at Brno, which, at 5.403km, is just marginally eclipsed by the 5.548km long Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Bridgestone-shod Ducati rider Casey Stoner leads the MotoGP championship heading into this weekend’s Czech Republic GP with a 44 point margin over second-placed Valentino Rossi.

Tyre Talk with Hiroshi Yamada
Bridgestone Motorsport
Manager, Motorcycle Sport Unit

Q: How do the technical characteristics of the track influence tyre performance at Brno?

“The Automotodrom in Brno is quite an abrasive track and a lit tle bit bumpy, but it does not pose as many technical demands on tyres as some other tracks on the calendar. There is quite an even dispersion of corners with six left and eight right-handers around the 5.4km layout. There are no long high speed corners and no slow speed hairpins which means that the edge of the tyres are not placed under as much pressure. However, the weather can be quite variable. Some years, we have quite hot track temperatures, like we did last year, but other years it can be quite cool, so we have to think about bringing tyres with a wider performance window.”

Q: How has Bridgestone used the short summer break to prepare for Brno and the remaining events of the season?

“Initially, we have worked on adjusting our range of compounds to best suit the Brno track both in terms of grip level and degradation over the 22 laps. With significant elevation changes and flowing corners, Brno is a track that requires careful attention to the set-up of the bike, so our teams will also have a lot of work during the important practice sessions. We have also developed a new range of constructions and compounds which we intend to evaluate in the official post-race test session next week, which will form the basis of our campaign for the rest of the season.”

Q: What are Bridgestone’s aims for this weekend?

“Loris Capirossi and the Ducati team had a very competitive weekend on our tyres last season and were able to win the race in convincing fashion. Brno is one of just four circuits on the calendar at which a rider on our tyres won last year. Seven of the eleven races so far this season have been won using our tyres, the most ever in a single season for Bridgestone, so we definitely hope to keep up momentum, but with competition as closely fought as it is this season, we cannot take anything for granted.”

Riding Perspective with Loris Capirossi (Ducati Corse):
“Brno is a great track, very fast but also quite complicated with a lot of elevation changes over the lap. It is important to have a well balanced bike because some corners you have positive camber, other corners you have negative camber and it is important to have confidence with the machine. Brno has usually been a good track for our Bridgestone tyres as well, as our victory last year proved, and I am sure this will also be the case again this year. A strong engine is very important because there are some big straights and some uphill parts which are key to a quick lap. I am looking forward to continuing the positive direction we have found in the last couple of races and to getting another good result in Brno this weekend.”

2006 Flashback

Race Winner and Top Rider on Bridgestone
Loris Capirossi Ducati 43m40.145s

Qualifying Pole Position
Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1m56.191s

Top Rider on Bridgestone
Loris Capirossi Ducati 1m56.441s (+0.250s)

MotoGP Back at Brno After Summer Break

MotoGP action is set to recommence after a short summer break, with the riders returning to the track for the Cardion ab Grand Prix Ceské republiky on August 19th.

For the MotoGP field, the return to the Automotodrom Brno is the completion of a full circle in the 800cc era, with two bikes having had their debut runouts as prototypes in last year’s post-race test. The first two out of the box included those used by MotoGP’s current top duo, World Championship leader Casey Stoner and five time former king Valentino Rossi.

Stoner’s Desmosedici GP7 has been first past the chequered flag on six occasions so far this season, and an astonishingly consistent record that sees his lowest finish being fifth place has given him a 44-point lead at the top of the standings. The Australian brought an end to the MotoGP pole position hoodoo of no rider winning from the head of the grid at the last race at Laguna Seca, and is in a commanding position heading to the track where Ducati took victory last year.

For Rossi, making up the gap will be a tough task, but not impossible based on last year’s comeback. The Italian clawed back a larger margin last season to lead the classification at the start of the final round at Valencia, but will need to return to the podium for the first time in three races to hit the ground running after the early-August downtime. Rossi has won three times at Brno in MotoGP, and both he and tyre manufacturer Michelin have a point to prove after Bridgestone took the triumph in 2006 courtesy of Loris Capirossi.

Trailing Rossi by 22 points, 66 behind former 250cc rival Stoner, Dani Pedrosa has won twice in the Czech Republic in the 125cc and 250cc categories. Victorious in Germany, the Spaniard was unable to follow up on his return to winning ways at the U.S. visit, with the 2007 title looking ever more elusive. Pedrosa was on the podium last year at Brno with a third place finish.

Two rostrum finishers at the last round at Laguna Seca had an eventful time post-race. Level on 113 points so far this year, Chris Vermeulen and Marco Melandri both made announcements about their 2008 rides immediately after stepping onto the podium, with Vermeulen staying with Suzuki and Marco Melandri making a long-rumoured link to Ducati. The Italian’s performance stateside was made all the more impressive by the revelation that he had been riding with an undiscovered ankle fracture, one that had made his participation in the Czech Republic uncertain. However he will ride and his Gresini Honda team-mate Toni Elias will also make a surprisingly early return after just two races away recovering from a fractured femur.

John Hopkins completes the top six in the standings, the only other rider to have reached the 100 points mark. He had a disappointing home race in America, colliding with World Champion Nicky Hayden on the opening lap, and will want to rectify the situation and push his way up the table. A group of four riders rounds off the top ten, consisting of Colin Edwards, Loris Capirossi, Alex Barros and Hayden.

Another rider spending August resting up has been Alex Hofmann, recovering from a broken hand suffered in practice for the previous race. One metal plate and fifteen screws were used to fix the German rider’s injury in a three hour operation, and the recovery process means that he will sit out the latest date to be replaced by Spain’s Ivan Silva.

The Cardion ab Grand Prix Ceské republiky takes place on Sunday August 19th, with practice beginning on the preceding Friday.

250cc
His ascendance to MotoGP having been confirmed by Yamaha a fortnight ago, Jorge Lorenzo’s quest to bow out of the 250cc class in style continues on track. 22 points ahead of nearest rival Alex de Angelis, a repeat of his 2006 triumph would push him ever closer to retaining the quarter litre crown. Set to become a permanent fixture on the grid next season, Alex Debon makes another wild card appearance for Aprilia at Brno to act as a spoiler for team-mate Lorenzo.

The consistent De Angelis, who has not finished outside the top four this year, is still chasing his first win of the season, and holds a slim advantage over Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso. Both are some way ahead of the rest of the field, with the remainder of the top six consisting of Alvaro Bautista, Hector Barbera and the level on points KTM duo of Hiroshi Aoyama and Mika Kallio.

125cc
Gabor Talmacsi leads the way in 125cc, just two points separating himself and team-mate Hector Faubel at the top of the tree. Only half of last year’s top six finishers at Brno remain in the class, with Talmacsi the highest placing of the trio. Faubel failed to reach the chequered flag in 2006, as did home rider Lukas Pesek, whilst the duo are split by a resurgent Tomoyoshi Koyama in the overall standings.

Sergio Gadea and Simone Corsi complete a top six comprised entirely of 2007 race winners, in an unpredictable and competitive category.

Circuit Info

The world’s most famous riders have taken part in GP events in Brno since 1930, where up until 1982 they would race through the villages and western parts of the city on a road track named after the first Czechoslovak President - T.G. Masaryk. A new circuit was built during the 1980s with the aim of attracting top level motorsport to Czechoslovakia, and in 1987 it played host to the FIM Czech Grand Prix.

Popular with both fans and riders, the ‘new’ circuit is built in a natural bowl which is banked in places to offer spectators an excellent view. Brno constantly changes in elevation as it sweeps across forested hillsides and its fast undulating corners test rider talent and engineering to the limit.

Stoner Beats Hopkins, Hayden In Czech Republic Grand Prix

1. Casey Stoner AUS

Ducati

Marlboro Team (B) 43min 45.810 secs
2. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 43min 53.713 secs
3. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol

Honda

Team (M) 43min 58.910 secs
4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 44min 1.610 secs
5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 44min 3.113 secs
6. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 44min 5.173 secs
7. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 44min 8.295 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 44min 8.883 secs
9. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d’Antin MotoGP (B) 44min 18.102 secs
10. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 44min 20.963 secs
11. Toni Elias SPA Honda Gresini (B) 44min 23.558 secs
12. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 44min 24.060 secs
13. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 44min 29.504 secs
14. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 44min 42.879 secs
15. Kurtis Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 44min 55.413 secs
16. Ivan Silva SPA Pramac d’Antin MotoGP (B) 45min 7.220 secs
17. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 45min 11.614 secs

DNF:
Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M)5min 25.074 secs

Qualifying times - Brno

1. Casey Stoner AUS

Ducati

Marlboro Team (B) 1min 56.884 secs
2. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol

Honda

Team (M) 1min 57.164 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 57.179 secs
4. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 57.567 secs
5. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 57.599 secs
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 57.640 secs
7. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 57.665 secs
8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 57.699 secs
9. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 57.702 secs
10. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 57.732 secs
11. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1min 57.969 secs
12. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1min 58.143 secs
13. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d’Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 58.204 secs
14. Toni Elias SPA Honda Gresini (B) 1min 58.264 secs
15. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 58.399 secs
16. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 59.386 secs
17. Kurtis Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 59.446 secs
18. Ivan Silva SPA Pramac d’Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 59.721 secs

2007 Czech Republic Grand Prix:
Fastest practice time: Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro (B) 1min 58.002secs (FP3)

2006 Czech Republic Grand Prix:
Pole position: Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha (M) 1min 56.191secs
Fastest race lap: Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro (B) 1min 58.157secs

Stoner Still Fastest As Post-race MotoGP Testing Concludes At Brno

On the final day of post-race testing at Brno, Ducati Marlboro Team Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi worked on machine set-up and tested some new Bridgestone race tyres.

This morning the track was damp after yesterday’s downpour but it improved during the day, allowing both riders to successfully complete the work planned for the tests.

Stoner lapped consistently at a very good pace, then bettered his own fastest race lap and broke the lap record which had been unbeaten on Sunday. Capirossi, among other things, tested two new Bridgestone 16-inch rears that he found promising but in need of further development.

Casey Stoner, 27 laps, fastest lap: 1m 57.924s (race tyres)
“I’m pretty happy. Today we made a further step forward on bike set-up, similar to what we did in the post-race tests at Catalunya. I’m also happy with the new fairing because conditions were a bit windy this afternoon but I could still lap fast at a very good rhythm. I think these two days have been really positive for us”.

Loris Capirossi, 22 laps, fastest lap: 1m 59.616s (race tyres)
“Today we did a few laps, focusing on tyre tests and set-up tests. We also tried two Bridgestone 16 rears which aren’t bad but need more work in order to be well balanced with the front, in order to be as competitive as the 16.5-inch rear. It has nevertheless been a positive day and now I look forward to racing at Misano next week”.

Valentino Rossi

Rossi realistic, but no surrender.

The Fiat Yamaha star's chances of regaining the MotoGP crown were dealt a severe blow last time out at Laguna Seca, when Stoner's sixth victory of the season was combined with a subdued fourth for Rossi, as the Californian circuit brutally exposed the technical weaknesses of the Italian's Michelin shod M1.

"Laguna made many things quite clear about the situation that we're in this season and I know that many people at Yamaha and Michelin have been working very hard during this break in order to help us to be in better shape at the next race," said Rossi. "Now I'm really looking forward to getting back onto the bike and doing the best we can to get back into the fight.

"Of course we know that the championship is going to be difficult, but we were in a worse situation at this time last year, with less races remaining, and we still managed to come back to lead the fight."

Last year, Rossi left Laguna Seca 51 points behind Nicky Hayden - whom The Doctor went on to catch and pass heading into the Valencian season finale - but Rossi admits a repeat against Stoner is a much tougher prospect.

"This time it will be very, very hard because Stoner is very strong and is not making mistakes, but we won't give up," he declared. "I know my team, Yamaha and Michelin will continue to give 100% and we will fight at every one of the final seven races. Brno last year was the start of a turnaround in our fortunes so let's hope this is the case again this year!"

Unlike at Laguna, Rossi has a promising record at Brno - venue for this weekend's Czech Republic
Grand Prix - having taken his first ever grand prix victory at the venue as a 125cc rider. Rossi has also scored three wins and three second places in the premier class and only once finished outside the top two... but the bad news is that Ducati and Bridgestone won last year's event, with Loris Capirossi.