Without pause, the Motorcycle World Championships leave Europe to hold the United States Grand Prix this weekend, in Laguna Seca where, as usual, only the premier-class riders will compete. Dani Pedrosa touches down at the venue where last year he took the win and he arrives in enviable form having won last weekend in a masterly fashion at the Sachsenring, adding to the good results clocked up over the past weeks. For Dovizioso, the American meeting will be an opportunity to return to the leading positions.
Since returning to the Continental Circus calendar in 2005, the Laguna Seca Circuit has become a very special event for the Repsol riders, at which they have achieved 3 wins (2005, 2006, 2009), there have also, however, been difficult times, such as in 2007 and 2008. With morale high after the win for Dani Pedrosa in Germany, the Repsol rider comes to the uncharacteristic North American circuit as one of the main contenders for victory. In unbeatable form, the Repsol rider has achieved, through tenacity and hard work, alongside the rest of the Repsol Honda Team, the consistency which was missing at the start of the season.
A consistency which brought Andrea Dovizioso close to the top positions and which, in the last two events, has failed him. The Italian rider was fighting for the win in Catalunya until ten laps from the end, when a fall deprived him even of a much-deserved podium place. After his fifth place at the Sachsenring, Dovizioso arrives at the Californian circuit focused on the objective of regaining his best performance and with the conviction of doing battle with the front runners.
Dani Pedrosa
“To take the win in Germany was fantastic and it means we’re going into this weekend at Laguna Seca in great shape. I think the race will be very similar to the last one, with laptimes very close, and I hope we have a repeat of the way we worked in Germany. The key point in Sachsenring was that we were competitive and fast from the first practice on Friday. When everything is in place like this we have the level to compete with any of our rivals and to beat them – and that’s what I want to achieve again. We had a great race in Laguna Seca last year and we were able to win, so I would love to go on holiday after this weekend with another victory under our belts. I know we have to work very hard to make it happen because Lorenzo is not making many mistakes, Stoner is back to his best level, and Rossi has returned very strong – and I’m sure that in the States he will be even better than in Germany. But we can be up there again if we push hard. We started the season not being able to fight with the riders in front, but now we have got to the required level to do this. Of course, we must keep our feet on the ground and not relax at all”.
Andrea Dovizioso
“Now we go straight to Laguna Seca after Germany and I’m really looking forward to racing there – because it’s a unique track – and also because I want to improve on my result from the last race in Germany. We are completely focused on getting a strong finish this weekend before we head into the MotoGP summer break. Last year I was fast at Laguna and I was having a great race until unfortunately I clipped the plastic poles at the exit of pitlane at high speed and it damaged my clutch lever, which later contributed to my crash. Until that point I was fighting with Valentino and it could have been a good race. But still, this means I’m confident going into the weekend and I know we can be strong at this Grand Prix. Dani won the race here last year – and also the last race in Germany on Sunday – and this gives us extra motivation too. The Laguna track is special – very different from the standard of tracks we are used to in Europe, and for this reason it is interesting to race here. I really like the atmosphere, the people and the fans and it’s always a pleasure to come to California”.
