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The MotoGP World Championship returns to Europe
for the Grand Prix of France as the season enters its busiest phase, with five
races coming up over the next seven weekends.
Despite finishing on the
podium in the last round at Shanghai, reigning World Champion Casey Stoner was
disappointed that he hadn't been able to repeat his pace from practice in the
race and his target for this weekend is to return to his usual
highly-competitive self. Marco Melandri achieved his objective in China by
improving his feeling with the bike and fighting for a top position, so his
clear objective for France is to continue with that level of
progression.
Stoner has a decent record at Le Mans, having finished on
the podium last year and only just missing out with fourth place as a rookie in
2006. Melandri actually won that race two years ago and he finished an
impressive second last season.
LIVIO
SUPPO, MotoGP PROJECT DIRECTOR
"On paper
Le Mans isn't particularly suited to our bike but last year Casey was on the
pace in every dry practice session and managed a podium in a race that was badly
affected by the weather. So we go to France feeling confident that we can do
well with both Casey and Marco, who began to show in China that the great job
done by the team is bearing fruit."
CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team
"I
haven't had outstanding results at Le Mans in the past but they have been good
and I remember last year being really fast in practice and feeling confident for
the race. Then on Sunday it rained but I still came away with a podium. The
track itself is not the most exciting - it's more like a go-kart track, where
the bike has to be really efficient on the brakes but agile at the same time and
quick on the exit of the corners. At the end of the day though, whether you like
a track or not, the objective is still the same - you have to work hard all
weekend and prepare a competitive package for the race, something we generally
always manage to achieve and have the knowledge to do again."
MARCO MELANDRI, Ducati
Marlboro Team
"Le Mans is a track with a lot of heavy braking and
it cannot be underestimated because it is quite technical, with slow turns
followed by some really fast ones. Even so I think I can do well there because I
won in 2006 with the 990cc bike and last year I made the podium with the 800.
Personally I have always liked the track so hopefully I can get another good
result. We have shown that we're able to come through a difficult situation and
we've made real progress so I just can't wait to get back on track now. I feel
optimistic and I hope we can confirm our progress on a very different kind of
circuit to Shanghai."
THE
TRACK
Located in the region of Sarthe, a couple of hours' drive from
the capital city of Paris, Le Mans is renowned for the 24 Hour automobile race.
The Bugatti circuit, which is very different to the actual 24 Hour circuit,
plays host to the MotoGP race, having returned to the calendar back in 1999.
Considered a "stop and go" circuit, Le Mans is riddled with slow corners but
also features one of the fastest on the calendar, which comes at the end of the
start-finish straight. A host of hairpins and chicanes call for balance and
control under repeated heavy braking as well as corner speed and good
acceleration on exit. With nine right-hand corners and only four left-handers
the track is also a major test for tyres. The layout was modified two years ago
with slight alterations to the first corner in the interest of safety.
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