Germany receives the 2004 World Championship at the halfway point.
Repsol riders will look for new podium finishes on the twisty Sachsenring circuit.
This weekend, the German Sachsenring will be the venue of the eighth round of the 2004 Motorcycling World Championship, reaching its halfway point. After Germany, teams and riders will be moving to England the following weekend to race the British Grand Prix in a final effort before the summer break.
In the MotoGP class, the Repsol Honda Team arrives at the Sachsenring with optimism after the brilliant third place of their North American rider, Nicky Hayden, at the recent Rio Grand Prix in Brazil. Alex Barros, local hero of the Brazilian track, could not step on the podium despite trying it as hard as he could, finishing fifth. His recent shoulder injury suffered after a heavy crash during the race in Holland and the problems he had with the front end of his bike, hindered him from shining on the Brazilian rostrum. Bad day in Rio as well for Repsol rider Rubén Xaus, rookie of the class, who finished twelfth proving that he did not feel comfortable on the Brazilian track throughout the weekend. This weekend will mean another step forward on his learning process, having no reference at all about the Sachsenring.
In the 250 class, Sebastián Porto has a clear aim, eager to fight in order to close the gap with the leading riders in the overall standings, Spaniard Dani Pedrosa and Frenchman Randy De Puniet. Porto, who had to retire from the race in Brazil while being third, four laps before the end, due to a mechanical failure of his Aprilia, set last year’s pole at the Sachsenring and finished fourth. His teammate Fonsi Nieto, who finished second last year on the German track, fighting for the victory until the last corner against the Italian Rolfo, hopes to be fighting for the victory again this weekend and move up positions in the overall standings.
In the 125, Pablo Nieto started last year from the thirteenth place of the starting grid and finished fifth. This year, Aspar’s pupil will be looking for a better starting position to get at least another place on the podium. Victory is still a pending issue for Pablo this season. His teammate Sergio Gadea has also a pending issue and that is scoring his first World Championship points. It won’t be easy in Germany, because it is not only a completely new circuit for him; it is also the twistiest layout of the calendar.
