MotoGP heads west to Laguna Seca
Monday, 29 June 2009 motogp.com
The riders in the premier class this week make a dash across the Atlantic to the West Coast of the US, to the superb Californian track of Laguna Seca.
This weekend’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca is the first of two World Championship visits to America this year and is the second of four GPs in a five week period as the 2009 season really begins to gather pace.
With Indianapolis to come in August the MotoGP riders will this weekend enjoy their first Stateside trip of the campaign as they head to California, with visits to Sachsenring and Donington Park still to come on the busy schedule before the summer break.
After seven rounds so far this year things are tight at the top, with three main protagonists emerging as the title candidates. Heading to Assen in the Netherlands last weekend, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner were all square on points at the head of the standings and even though Rossi has pushed ahead with the superb 100th GP victory of his career at the Dutch track his young rivals are still snapping at his heels.
Last year at Laguna Rossi took a hugely important win over Stoner, passing him brilliantly on infamous Corkscrew corner and scoring a significant psychological blow against the Australian. This year, however, he has two key rivals to contend with.
World Champion Rossi goes into round eight in great from, with a five point lead over Lorenzo in the general classification, having relegated his Fiat Yamaha team-mate to second place in the last two races at Catalunya and Assen. The Italian looks as strong as ever, with his Yamaha M1 machine working brilliantly as he looks to turn up the heat on his rivals.
Lorenzo, meanwhile, has never completed a race at Laguna having crashed out on the first lap on his debut at the Californian track last year. He insists however that this year he is finding things more comfortable at tracks which did not favour him in the past and can be expected to be pushing Rossi hard at the front again this weekend.
Fitness doubts for Stoner could be the major factor hindering the Ducati star following another grueling race in The Netherlands, where for the second round in succession he finished third, but was totally exhausted on the podium. If he can recover full strength he will be confident of another good performance on Sunday, at a track where he won in 2007 and finished second in 2008.
Behind the leading three in the championship, the Repsol Honda duo of Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa will be desperate to bounce straight back from their Assen disappointments having both crashed out of the Dutch contest, in separate incidents at the same corner, when well positioned to earn some decent points. Dovizioso is currently fourth in the standings, some distance behind the top three, but with just a two point advantage over Pedrosa and Colin Edwards.
Texan rider Edwards arrives for his home race in good form following his fourth place at Assen and is hoping for another good result as he seeks to extend his MotoGP career. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider was on the podium at Laguna Seca in 2005 but since then has struggled for good results there and will aim to correct that pattern on Sunday.
His compatriot Nicky Hayden, the only other American rider in the premier class at present, boasts two of his three MotoGP career wins at Laguna and would love nothing more than to get his first top five result of 2009 on his Stateside debut for Ducati this weekend.
The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix promises to be a memorable event, coinciding with the American 4th July celebrations and commencing this Friday, 3rd July, with Free Practice 1 at 1.55pm local time, (9.55pm GMT, 10.55pm CET). The 250cc and 125cc classes do not compete at Laguna and will be back in action at Sachsenring on the 17th-19th July weekend.
World Championship - riders standing
Pos. Rider Nation Team Points
1 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 131
"Back to normal!"
"The wonderful memory of the 100th win is still fresh, but now we have just a few days to recover before the next race, which is hard for everyone. We have to try to relax as much as possible and recharge the batteries a little, because Laguna is always a tough weekend and often very hot. Last year I had a great battle with Stoner and for me it was for sure one of the turning points of the championship and a very important win; I have some good memories. I think this year it will be hard again because Lorenzo is in brilliant form and I am sure Stoner will also be back to his best. Laguna is a great place to race and an exciting track, I also have a little trip to Los Angeles and Yamaha US first which I am looking forward to. The championship is very open at this point so we need to keep focus, get back to normal after Assen and try to get another good result this weekend." yamaha-racing.com
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 126
"Looking forward to the challenge"
"Last year Laguna wasn't good for me but I don't think about this. It's the only time I've been there but I don't see that as a problem - until 2008 I'd never won in Portugal before and I won my first race there in MotoGP, and then again this year I won in Motegi where I'd never won before, so I don't consider any track 'bad' for me - the past doesn't matter. We are feeling very strong after the last races and everyone is very motivated to continue in the same way so I am looking forward to the challenge and learning more about the track. I will do my best and hopefully that will mean we can run at the front again." yamaha-racing.com
3 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 122
“We have had some setbacks over the past couple of races that have prevented us from showing our full potential. We have done a lot of work on the bike and found a great set-up for the race on both occasions but I have not been in good shape when it was the moment to take advantage of that work”, he said. “We have come straight to America from Assen and there hasn't been much time to recover, although I do feel better already. What we learned from last weekend is not to underestimate the symptoms. I have always liked Laguna, with its natural elevation changes, I love racing in America and the Ducati has always gone well here. We have the potential to challenge for a good result again but we'll wait until we get out on track and see how things shape up.” moto-live.com
4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team 69
“I really look forward to the race in Laguna Seca,” said the Italian. “The track itself and the whole atmosphere makes coming to Laguna a fascinating experience. Last year was the first time that I had raced in the United States and I was impressed by this track.
“Some parts are quite dangerous and very different from the European standard of racetracks we are used to, but the whole atmosphere is incredible and I like it a lot.
“I'm confident that we can have a good race here. Last year I had a good battle and finished fourth, which I was pleased with. I feel as though I've come fourth enough times this year though, so I hope to make the step up.
“At each race we're getting closer to the leading riders but we're still not close enough yet. So we need to work hard to get the speed and consistency we need." crash.net
5 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team 67
“I'm actually really looking forward to getting to Laguna and I'm feeling confident going into the weekend - as I was before Assen,” said Pedrosa, who crashed out of fourth place in the Dutch TT. “The result there wasn't great, but there's no reason why we can't have a strong race in the US.
“I felt much better on the bike in Assen than I did in Barcelona and, although my physical fitness is not at 100 per cent because I haven't been training as usual for quite a while, the injury is getting better and isn't giving me any problems on the machine.
“The Laguna track itself is unique and it can be a lot of fun to ride - as long as you're going quickly. When you're struggling it obviously isn't quite as much fun! As a team we've got to continue working hard and bring the whole machine package up to a level where we can compete for wins again.
“We're making progress and with luck Laguna will take us closer to that target,” he declared. crash.net
6 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 67
“I don't think there was a home-track advantage [for the American riders] after the first year,” said the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider.
“We did the first year, and everything was great, and then they hacked up the track, pulled some off of Turn 1, changed the entry to the Corkscrew and repaved it.
"All the home-court advantage is really knowing where all the bumps are. Once they repaved it, everybody pretty much had to start from scratch.” crash.net
7 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 56
"I wasn't at full strength at Laguna last year following my crash at Assen and all the changes in direction really made it a painful race for me. This year I am going there fully fit and the bike seems to be improving every time I ride it, so we are hoping to be right up amongst the front guys this weekend”, he said.
“The season still has a long way to go and I am now in-touch with the top-five in the championship and that certainly has to be our target - to break into that group and go from strength-to-strength at every race." moto-live.com8 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team 55 9 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 53
"I'm really looking forward to Laguna Seca, it's certainly one of my favourite circuits and I've been on the podium there for the last two years, as well as a pole position in 2006. I certainly want to try and repeat those performances and get the Suzuki on the podium for the first time in 2009”, he said. “I hope it is a good race for all the fans and that the weather is as nice as it usually is. I am sure we can be competitive from day one and put on a good show." moto-live.com 10 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 51
"Laguna is a very special racetrack - I love the challenges that it throws at you. We had quite a challenging time there last year, but came out of it all with a not so bad sixth-place finish. This year we have the potential to do better if Friday and Saturday go well for us. I feel really good on
this year's bike and tyres, so I'm really looking forward to the race." superbikeplanet.com
11 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 39
Designed to improve rear traction, Toseland told MCN: “I just had more grip on the rear and it was much more consistent and that allowed me to do some consistent times in Assen .
"It kept me in front of the group and without it I wouldn’t have been able to keep them at bay. I’m just pleased because there wasn’t a lot of pressure in Holland, but I didn’t realise Nakajima was going to be in my box for every second.
"And with that support it gave me some pressure and it’s just nice to repay his effort and help. When you get help from the boss you’ve got to deliver and hopefully that’s what I did.”
The 28-year-old added that he had never doubted that he would rediscover his best form after a hellish start to ’09.
Toseland suffered massive testing crashes in Sepang and Jerez and he added: “Those crashes could have finished my career let alone injured me and I didn’t like that for one bit.
"But Assen has given a platform to build on and I like Laguna Seca, so hopefully I’ll be battling for the top six again.
"I’ve always pushed every single corner of every single lap, but my performances haven’t been good enough. My effort has always been the same and it shows what can happen if you keep the belief and keep working hard no matter what, things will start to come right.
12 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 31
"I am extremely motivated going into this race because we're finally finding the right way with the bike and working through our problems”, commented De Angelis. “We know that sometimes when you solve one problem you can create another and finding the ideal package isn't easy, but the point is that we are solving our biggest issue, which is rear traction, and that is important. I don't think anything more problematic than that is going to crop up! I love Laguna Seca, I went fast from the first day on my debut there last year and we know the tyres work well there too, so I am excited. The target is to get involved with that second group again but this time be fighting with them all the way to the final corner." moto-live.com
13 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team 27
“We still have a lot of work to do but it has been nice to see a little progress over the last few weeks and at Laguna I really need to take another big step. I don't have any big plan or anything – it's not that easy! All I know to do is keep trying and working at it and hope it will come”, he said. “Laguna is a great track and very challenging. There are a few points that stick out but in general it is different to most tracks, which usually have a few different sections, whereas Laguna is basically just one section and you have to put it all together to make a good lap. This year we're racing in America on the 4th of July weekend and it's perfect - I can't think of a better way to celebrate the holiday than at the US Grand Prix! Also the fact my brothers will be racing on the same weekend in the AMA championship helps make it special for me. This will be the first time my American fans get to see me on a Ducati so that will be cool because there are a lot of strong Ducati fans in the states. No predictions or anything but we'll go full gas and see what happens. ” moto-live.com
14 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 27
“I left the last race at Assen feeling frustrated with the result, having been relegated to twelfth by Race Direction for an aggressive move in the final corner, but even the eighth place I managed before the penalty was below our expectations”, said Elias. “Having said that I was encouraged by the performance and to have passed so many riders in the race gives me motivation and determination to continue where I left off at Laguna Seca. I'll receive another frame like the one that I like and that should allow us to work a bit more calmly and make quicker progress in adjusting the set-up. Our recent pace suggests that we're not far from making another step forward – not into the top four just yet but at least a little closer to them.” moto-live.com
15 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing 26
"Mika's condition is better than what we thought straight after the race, but still we preferred to give him a weekend off to recover, " said team technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini.
"This would have been the first time at Laguna Seca for him and with his precarious physical condition we preferred not to take any more risks and we hope he will be at his best in three weeks time at Sachsenring.
"Mika will not undergo surgery before the German GP, but will continue to take medication and have the injured finger cleaned daily to avoid infection and further complications." http://news.bbc.co.uk
16 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing 12
"I am really sorry Mika will not be here with us this weekend and it will be strange. I hope he will be able to get back on track really soon. He is a really nice guy and a great rider and I hope to see him again in our box for the German race. It will not be easy for us this weekend as it's my first time in my career here. For what I have seen on the television in the past years it isn't a really fast track but with many insidious turns. I think that my heart rate will be really fast at my first time at the corkscrew. On paper this is a really fascinating track and I hope to be able to be fast from the first few laps. On Indianapolis track, when I have ridden on it for the first time last year, I registered very interesting lap times straight away: who knows that maybe the same will happen here." londonbikers.com
17 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando 12
"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." roadracingworld.com
18 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 9
19 Gabor Talmacsi (Scot Honda)
says: "I never have been there. I'm really curious. I asked for information from my more experienced companions and everybody told me that Laguna is different and difficult. Well, the great majority of things are new for me in the MotoGP class. So, I'm getting used to facing new challenges. I will try
to understand by myself as many things as I can about Laguna Seca, then I will knock on Nicky
Hayden's motor home and ask for his advice; he declared himself glad to teach me the secrets of
his home circuit. We reached a point at which I feel necessary to work a little bit more on the
set-up, to improve my performances. In the first races, the target was simply - not to do silly
things and learn as much as I could. Now I want to make a step ahead and leave the last position to some other guy." superbikeplanet.com
Gabor Talmacsi sole rider for the Scot Racing Team from Laguna Seca onwards
Thursday, 02 July 2009 motogp.com
Official press release announces new plans for MotoGP project and departure of Yuki Takahashi.
From the US Grand Prix onwards, the Scot Racing Team will continue in the MotoGP class with the Hungarian rider Gabor Talmacsi. With great regret the Team announces that - due to unavoidable circumstances - Yuki Takahashi will not continue.
The decision was reached after exhaustive attempts to find a way to continue with two riders, but the economic realities facing the Team due to the increased cost involved in running two riders, combined with a health problem of Yuki, has led to this regrettable decision.
Cirano Mularoni Scot Racing Team Manager, said: "The Team would face a lot of new costs to line up two riders and without the possibility to improve its results with Yuki because he has suffered a slipped disc in his back, most likely caused by recent falls. So our team has decided to stop racing with Yuki and to wait for his recovery before taking any decisions on his future".
Shuhei Nakamoto, vice president of HRC said: "For Honda as well as the Scot Racing Team, this is a sad announcement and one we wanted to avoid if at all possible. But we understand the Team's problems with regard to the increased costs of running two riders. Takahashi was the only Japanese rider in the MotoGP championship and of course Honda wanted to see him continue. But in the end the Team made it clear that this outcome was impossible and we respect their decision. Honda will continue to support the Scot Racing Team in MotoGP with Gabor Talmacsi riding".
Press release courtesy of Scot Racing.
Fausto Gresini says his rider Toni Elias's crash in yesterday's Catalunya Grand Prix happened because the Spaniard was having to put everything on the line just to stay in touch with the top ten.
