The World Championship visits China the first time in its history.
The Shanghai International Circuit, a spectacular venue for the 2005 Motorcycle Grand Prix of China.
After visiting Spain and Portugal, the 2005 World Championship has left Europe heading for Asia, to stage this weekend the Grand Prix of China, the first in the history of the Motorcycle World Championship and the first to be held in this country. The Chinese circuit, located outside Shanghai city, was built in 2004 and the only international race staged there so far has been a Formula 1 race last year on September 26. With a capacity for 200,000 spectators, the track of the Shanghai International Circuit is 5,451 metres in length with 7 left-hand side and 7 right-hand side corners making up a total of 14 turns. Its longest straight is 1,175 metres long, between turn 13 and 14, and it is precisely on this straight were the MotoGP bikes are expected to reach their highest speed.
The Chinese track combines a large variety of fast and slow corners, although it is, in general, a rather fast track. All riders are going to start under equal conditions on the Chinese track, as already happened last year in Qatar. In the MotoGP class, Max Biaggi, after his third place in Portugal, will arrive in Shanghai much more motivated and ready for the Asian round. In Estoril, Max and his team were able to prove that they managed to adapt the bikes settings to the riders needs.
And while Biaggi stepped on the podium in Portugal, his teammate Nicky Hayden crossed the finish line in seventh place. After his crash in Jerez while riding on a solitary third place, everybody expected a better result from the North American rider of the Repsol Honda Team in Portugal. In China, making good use of the riders equal conditions due to the new track, Hayden will try to get back to the shape of the start of the season with the podium finish that has been resisting so far.
In the 250cc, the victory of the Portugal race was for the Australian rider Stoner, but one of the Repsol riders of the class, Randy De Puniet, had chances to win until the last lap. The Frenchman, the current world champion Dani Pedrosa and the current runner-up of the class Sebastián Porto, all of them Repsol riders, are the most firm candidates for the 250cc world title. In Portugal, the vision and tyre problems of Pedrosa and the rear tyre of Porto, hindered them from fighting for a place on the podium. In China, they will both have the chance to take revenge. In the minor class, the Repsol rider in best shape is with no doubt Héctor Faubel, who after the first two rounds has a seventh and a second place in his records. Thanks to these results, Faubel is third in the overall standings and considers the fight for the title as his main objective.
On the Chinese track in Shanghai, Faubel will have the chance to be fighting again for the podium and to go for his first victory in the Motorcycle World Championship.
Max Biaggi analisis
I like the idea of racing in China very much, both because of the country, I think its fascinating, and because of the technical significance of racing on an unknown track. New circuits have always encouraged me a lot; its fantastic to understand and interpret a track nobody has raced before. Its a challenge for all, riders and teams.
Repsol rider´s comments:
MotoGP. Max Biaggi:
‘We are going to China with immense curiosity to discover an amazing country, to unveil a new circuit and to check our chance to win. The track drawing seems very good, with different characteristics, fast and technical. We need to feel the ground surface and the climatic temperatures to find soon the right tires and the best set up. Estoril’s podium gave us good energy to look forward. But still that’s not satisfying for me. I hope that my team understood what to do to come back competitive for . That would be the best gift for my 200th GP.’
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden:
‘I’m looking forward to China. It’ll be a new country, a new track for us all and I’m sure it’ll be a real interesting experience. A bit like Qatar last year really. Everyone starts from zero but at this level it doesn’t take long before everyone’s going pretty quick. After the last GP, which wasn’t the best, I just want to get back mixing with the boys up front. I know what it feels like when things are going well like it was in Jerez but it never really happened in Estoril. I just want to get back out there and come out of the box fast for the first free practice on Friday and get ready for a good race on Sunday.’
250. Sebastián Porto:
Im looking forward to arriving in China to see the new circuit. From what Ive seen on the paper, it may be a favourable circuit for the Aprilia because it has two long straights. Its a mixed circuit with slow sections combined with very fast ones. The set-up will be complicated, but well try to be in the front from the start. Lets see if we finally have the luck we missed in the two first races and manage to get on the highest step of the podium.
250. Randy de Puniet:
Im feeling more and more comfortable with the team and the bike. We got a good result in Portugal, although it was a shame to loose the victory in the last section of the circuit. Now were going to China, a new circuit for all of the riders. We dont have any technical references, but I trust in my team to find the right set-up to be in the front from the start. The Shanghai circuit seems to be quite amusing and the layout is really long and with several strategic points for overtaking manoeuvres.
125. Héctor Faubel:
Im in high spirits after my first podium finish in the World Championship. Im also in good shape and very focussed for this race. Im really looking forward to the new circuit and, from what Ive been able to see, it looks impressive. Lets see if we manage to get on the podium again.
