Dani Pedrosa, third, 29 points behind his team mate, visits the demanding American track for the first time
Final sprint for the MotoGP riders before the well-deserved summer holidays. The riders of the 125cc and 250cc classes set the full stop before the summer break already at the German Grand Prix and wont be back until the Czech Grand Prix, but those of the premier class still have 25 points to fight for this weekend at the Californian circuit of Laguna Seca. These 25 points of the USA Grand Prix went last year to the account of Repsol Honda Team rider Nicky Hayden, who hopes to be able to take the victory at home this year again, after his first win of the season at the Dutch Grand Prix. The 26-point advantage he enjoys now over second classified Valentino Rossi from Italy and the 29 points over his team mate and third classified rider Dani Pedrosa, do not exactly invite to relax.
The Kentucky rider will try to extend this advantage in a circuit Hayden knows almost as good as the back of his hand. It wont be easy though because hell have to fight against the other local riders Roberts, Hopkins and Edwards-, and not to forget a highly competitive Rossi, who finished third last year behind Hayden and Edwards on his first visit in Laguna Seca. For Dani Pedrosa, this weekend will probably be one of the most complicated of the 2006 season. Laguna Seca is not an easy circuit, rather the contrary.
The Californian track is known for being a difficult, twisty and very demanding venue. Although safety has been improved a lot for this occasion, Laguna Seca is not an inviting track to take too many risks. In his first visit to the track, Pedrosa will have to take on the fact that he has got the disadvantage of not knowing a track on which American riders move very well and where the rest of the grid, except the other class rookies, have already had a first contact last year. This will be with no doubt an important challenge for Repsol rider Dani Pedrosa.
Rider´s comments:
Nicky Hayden:
Its a pretty good feeling to be leading the world going into my home race. Even though theres a lot racing still to go and I really want to be leading the championship at the end of the season, Im proud to go home to my fans out in front. Plus its a while since an American has been on top so Im excited. But more importantly were going to go to Laguna and try to get 25 points. The circuit has been completely repaved and theyve changed some parts of the track so its going to be different this year. Theyve changed Turn 1 and Turn 6, which affects the approach to the Corkscrew, so in some ways were starting from zero in terms of tyre choice, settings and gearbox a lot of things could be different. Nonetheless Im really looking forward to it and hopefully the American fans are ready to come out and show all their love and we can give them something to get wild about on Sunday.
Dani Pedrosa:
Im not sure how Im going to find things at Laguna because its a new track to me. Its a long time since Ive raced at a track I dont already know and most of the others have seen it before, so it will be difficult for me and the other new MotoGP riders at first. My job will be to adapt to the track as quickly as possible, find a base setting for the RC211V and have another strong weekend. I was a little disappointed to finish fourth at the last race in Germany, but I believe in myself and Im still pretty confident. We are having a great season so far and Ive just got keep working on the areas where I can improve.
The venue of the GP:
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (www.laguna-seca.com)
The Monterey Peninsula’s close relationship with racing on all levels traces its beginning to 1950 with the inaugural running of the Pebble Beach Road Races; sports car events run through the winding roads of the Del Monte Forest that became immensely popular, bringing crowds of fans and consequently money and prestige to the area. But as the cars got faster and the crowds grew larger, it was decided that the race was too big for the open road. It was in 1956 when a group of civic-minded business leaders decided to build a permanent racing facility and therefore created the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) on November 1 that same year.
The non-profit group’s mission, which remains unchanged today, is to benefit local charitable and non-profit organizations and to promote the economic vitality of Monterey through motorsports events. The group leased Fort Ord land from the Army, built the circuit and staged its first race on November 9, 1957. Since that day, events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca have generated more than $1 billion in revenue for area businesses, while providing over $10 million for more than 100 charitable and civic groups. Today, SCRAMP is the most important economic and charitable organization in Monterey County. Modification and maintenance works were carried out in 1996 on the circuit. The Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with a length of 3,602 metres, is made up by seven left-hand corners and five right-hand corners including its spectacular and famous Corkscrew, where riders literally fly over the tarmac.
