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The Ducati Marlboro Team is ready to start the
final sprint towards 2008 MotoGP World Championship glory, starting off with
this weekend's classic appointment at Brno, in the Czech Republic, before a run
of six crucial races across Europe, America, Asia and Australia.
Casey
Stoner, who found himself down in fourth place overall, 50 points behind series
leader Valentino Rossi after the Catalunya GP just over two months ago, has put
together an incredible run of form to haul himself back into contention. Three
wins and a second place from four races make him the form rider in the
championship, lifting him to second in the standings, 25 points adrift of the
Italian.
The World Champion returns from a three-week holiday in his
native Australia aiming to reproduce that kind of form at the Czech circuit,
which has been completely resurfaced for this year's race. Stoner took a clean
sweep of pole, fastest lap and victory at Brno in 2007, adding to a 250cc podium
there in 2005.
Marco Melandri is also hopeful of a good result after
spending the break with his family, who helped him to enjoy his 26th birthday
celebrations on 7th August. The Italian has celebrated victory at Brno on three
occasions in the smaller classes, including back-to-back 125cc wins in 1998 and
1999 followed by 250cc victory in 2002. Over the past two rounds the man from
Ravenna has shown good progress during practice, although bad luck has prevented
him from turning that into race results.
LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project
Director
"Brno has always been a track where our bike has been
very much at home. Over the past two seasons, thanks also to the optimum
performance of Bridgestone tyres, we have taken victory - in 2006 with Loris and
last year with Casey. The track has been resurfaced and that creates something
of an unknown for all of us. We just hope that grip is as good as it was last
year and that the weather is stable over the three days so that we can prepare
properly for the race. We head to Brno with confidence but also aware that the
level of the championship is ever higher and it will be another difficult
weekend."
CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro
Team) 2nd in the championship on 187 points (-25)
"Brno is a nice
track but it's demanding too - a bit like Mugello and Phillip Island, two of my
favourites. In 250 I was on the podium and last year we won, so with the bike
performing as it has been lately we should be able to fight for a good result
again. We've still got quite a few points to make up in the championship, which
won't be easy, but the whole team are working so hard and we'll give it our best
shot. After that, whatever will be, will be. After the race at Laguna Seca I
went back to Australia and spent a bit of time with my wife and family away from
the track. I got some rest in but I also trained hard and now I can't wait to
get back on the bike."
MARCO MELANDRI (Ducati Marlboro Team) 17th in the
championship on 32 points (-180)
"I like Brno and I've won there
in 125 and in 250. Whilst I've not managed a podium in MotoGP I have always gone
well in testing. This year they've re-laid the track so that will be a new
factor for everybody. We'll see. I hope we can continue to work as well as we
did in Germany and America, but this time finish it off with a result in the
race. The track is definitely suited to our bike so expectations are high. The
holiday went well - I spent a few days in Montecarlo and then went back to
Romagna because I hadn't seen my family for a long time. I spent my birthday
with them and it was a nice way to kick back and relax."
THE
TRACK
The Brno circuit snakes its way around the hills that border
the Czech Republic's second city and is one of the jewels in the crown of
motorcycle racing. Built in 1987 to replace the old and dangerous road circuit
that had previously hosted Grand Prix racing, the 'new' track retains some of
the original characteristics and for this reason it is much to the liking of the
riders. With track width reaching 15m in some places, its fast and mixed layout
features fast direction changes, chicanes and elevation changes. The extra width
rewards a precise racing line and those continual elevations changes, with
several downhill braking areas, require a perfect bike set-up, a talented rider
and good tyre life. Engine performance is also an important factor, with the
long straights giving the MotoGP machines chance to really stretch their legs.
The circuit has been resurfaced for this season.
LAP
RECORDS
Circuit Record: Loris Capirossi (Ducati - 2006),
1'58.157 - 164.618 km/h
Best Pole: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha - 2006),
1'56.191 - 167.403 km/h
Circuit length: 5.403km
MotoGP Race 2008: 22 laps
(118.866 km)
MotoGP Schedule 2008: 14:00 CET
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM'S
BEST RESULT AT BRNO
2003: 3rd (Bayliss)
2004: 5th
(Capirossi)
2005: 2nd (Capirossi)
2006: 1st (Capirossi)
2007: 1st
(Stoner)
DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM - RIDER
INFO
CASEY STONER
Age: 22 (born 16th October
1985)
Residence: Montecarlo
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici
GP8
GP appearances: 106 (45xMotoGP, 31x250, 30x125)
GP victories: 21
(14xMotoGP, 5x250, 2x125)
First GP victory: Valencia, 2003 (125)
First GP:
Great Britain, 2001 (125)
Pole positions: 15 (11xMotoGP, 2x250,
2x125)
First pole position: Italy, 2003 (125)
World titles: 1 (MotoGP,
2007)
MotoGP track record at
Brno:
2007: Grid: 1st; Race 1st
2006: Grid: 12th; Race:
6th
MARCO MELANDRI
Age: 26
(born 7th August 1982 in Ravenna, Italy)
Residence: Derby, UK
Bike: Ducati
Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP8
GP appearances: 166 (90xMotoGP, 47x250, 29 x
125)
GP victories: 22 (5xMotoGP, 10x250, 7x125)
First GP victory: Holland,
1998 (125)
First GP: Czech Republic, 1997 (125)
Pole positions: 9 (6x250,
3x125)
First pole position: Germany, 1998 (125)
World titles: 1 (250,
2002)
MotoGP track record at
Brno:
2007: Grid: -. Race: -
2006: Grid: 11th; Race: 5th
2005:
Grid: 5th; Race: 6th
2004: Grid: 11th; Race: 9th
2003: Grid: 18th; Race:
10th
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