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After a fantastic opening to the 2008 season
under the floodlights of Qatar, where the Losail circuit played host to another
masterclass from Casey Stoner, MotoGP returns to Europe this weekend for one of
its classic fixtures - the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez de la Frontera.
Despite setting the fastest lap in wet conditions during the Official
Test here in February, when he also found excellent race pace in the dry, the
reigning World Champion is also aware that the Andalusian track is one of only
four venues where he didn't manage a podium finish on his way to the title last
season.
However, Stoner is not the type to look at past results - be they
good or bad - and he is ready to work 100% with his team to achieve the highest
possible finish this time out.
Stoner's team-mate Marco Melandri heads to
Spain in the same spirit after finding a good feeling and rhythm with his GP8
during the second half of the race in Qatar. He can't wait for the next Grand
Prix as he targets continued improvements.
A fortnight ago, Casey Stoner
and Marco Melandri attended the international media launch of the new
Bridgestone Battlax BT-016 tyre at Jerez using a Ducati 848 equipped with the
new hypersport tyres (photos attached)
LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project Director
"Last
year Jerez was one of the most difficult races for Casey but during both tests
here in November and February he managed to improve his performance a lot and
ended up very fast in both sessions. He is in incredible form, as he showed in
the first GP in Qatar. His confidence in the bike and tyres is definitely even
higher than it was a year ago so I think that at Jerez he can also be amongst
the frontrunners. We're also expecting an improved performance from Marco, who
we think learnt a lot in the first race. There is no doubting his talent - it is
only three races since the penultimate round of 2007 at Sepang when he produced
an outstanding display to finish second behind Casey. Now, with the improved
feeling he found with the Desmosedici during the race in Qatar, I'm sure the
results will start to come for him too."
CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team
"You
could say that Jerez last year wasn't one of our best races, but winter testing
went well there and with the general improvements we've made since last year I
think we can be competitive next weekend. We worked well with the Bridgestone
technicians there and tested a lot of different types of tyre, so we should be
well prepared to pick the right one for the race. There are a lot of riders who
have started the season strongly, especially the rookies, amongst them riders
who will want more of the same and riders racing at home, so they'll be very
motivated. We just have to try and make sure we do our job well and then try to
achieve the best result possible."
MARCO
MELANDRI, Ducati Marlboro Team
"Jerez is one of the circuits where we
did a lot of testing in the winter and where we tried a lot of different set-up
solutions. It is quite a demanding circuit but for me the first race was very
important to understand certain things, more than we'd managed during the tests.
I definitely have to decide on a direction during practice and follow it without
making too many modifications so that we're ready when the moment arrives to put
in a qualifying tyre. Starting closer to the front gives you the chance to be
fast from the first laps, something we couldn't do in Qatar. The first race
certainly wasn't at the level we want to be at but there were positives to take
out of it, especially in the second half, so we have to keep working because we
can and must improve."
THE
TRACK
Built in 1986, Jerez hosted its first Grand Prix the following
year and has stayed on the World Championship calendar ever since. It is a race
that the majority of riders look forward too thanks to the special atmosphere
created by the Spanish fans and the characteristics of the circuit layout, which
reward good riding. Many of the 13 corners flow into each other, requiring a
precise and smooth racing line and a well-balanced machine set-up. The track
also demands good front grip, whilst a host of slower corners also oblige the
riders to control the rear wheel as it slides under acceleration on the exit.
The latest resurfacing took place six years ago and the circuit infrastructure
was also given a recent facelift.
Circuit
Record: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha - 2005) 1'40.596 - 158.284 km/h
Best Pole: Loris Capirossi (Ducati - 2006)
1'39.064 - 160.732 km/h
Circuit
Length: 4.423 km.
MotoGP Race
2008: 27 laps (119,421 km)
MotoGP
Schedule 2008: 14:00 CET
from Ducati Marlboro MotoGP press
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