The world championship is back in Europe after its quick visit to China.
Excellent chance for Repsol riders to improve their Shanghai results.
The Grand Prix of China is behind, and the Motorcycle World Championship has left Asia to settle again in Europe. The Grand Prix of France, fourth scoring round of the 2005 World Championship, will be staged this weekend in Le Mans. The Grand Prix of China was not very positive for the interests of the Repsol riders. In the premier class, Max Biaggis fifth place and Nicky Haydens ninth are not a true reflection of the potential of both Repsol Honda Team riders. They both know that this weekend, it will be important to start moving up in the scoring board, meaning better results in the race. Last season, Nicky Hayden finished the race in a back eleventh position, while his teammate Max Biaggi was third.
In the 250cc, Sebastián Porto is conscious about the fact that he has only been once on the podium after three races and that he hasnt taken any victory yet. Last year, the Grand Prix of France was a hard test for the Argentinean Repsol rider, with two crashes during the weekend, the second during the race. Despite what happened, the Argentinean rider faces this new challenge with confidence and hopes to be able to stand up on the French track to the Honda machines that are becoming more and more competitive. His biggest rival, Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, finished sixth in China, right behind Porto, who was fifth, and hopes to be back on the podium after not being able to do so in Shanghai.
His only victory in Jerez, followed by a fifth place in Portugal and a sixth in China, are not actually the results expected by Pedrosa for this season. After the strange start on the season, with Jerez opening the Championship and the following trip to Asia, France will bring back normality and the more comfortable travels throughout Europe. For Randy De Puniet, arriving in Le Mans means the chance to ride in front of his fans and to give the best on a circuit he knows very well.
Supported by his unconditional fans, the nice Frenchman will surely be focussing on victory this weekend. In the minor class, Héctor Faubel did not have a good weekend in China, but he hopes to be competitive again in France, just as he was in Portugal, where he took the second place. Héctor raced last year in the quarter-of-a-litre class, and therefore Jorge Martínez Aspars pupil will arrive at this circuit without any reference for his 125cc machine.
Repsol rider´s quotes:
MotoGP. Max Biaggi:
Le Mans is a nice round. I like the atmosphere a lot and the way French fans understand motorcycling. They have a romantic way of living motorcycling and I like to enjoy that every time I’m at home in Monte Carlo. I obviously like the circuit as well and the way the organisation works. I took the victory there in the 500cc class in 2001 and Ive also set several fastest lap records. Its a narrow, technical track and it doesnt allow for big differences between riders; there are always big challenges. Im going to Le Mans to finally make a good race. The season has, for sure, not started the way I would have liked, and therefore I hope that from the Grand Prix of France, both my team and I will be able to show our whole potential and to be back in the front.
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden:
I really hope to be able to rearrange the season in Le Mans. Were back in Europe and the year moves on quickly; therefore, its important to get a good result soon. I want to give my technicians a reason to smile again; they are working really hard and theres a big team spirit, but we haven’t had many reasons for a smile lately. The sensor breaking down in China was a shame, as was loosing positions towards the end of the race, but at least we found out what was the source of the problem. I havent made my best races in Le Mans in the past, but I hope to have better luck from the first free practice on Friday morning and make everything work for the race on Sunday.
250cc. Sebastián Porto:
I dont keep very good feelings of this circuits. Last year luck turned its back to us and I crashed twice: once during the practice, hindering me from fighting for the pole and then during the race, when I was lapping third, closing the gap to De Puniet. Nevertheless, such are races and theres nothing we can do. Fortunately, it wasnt serious but it was a weekend to forget. This season Ive only been able to get on the podium on one race out of three. Im not happy with the result, but Im calm because theres a long way to go and a lot of Championship left. Lets see if were luckier this year in Le Mans.
250cc. Randy De Puniet:
Its a circuit I really like, especially after coming back from China. Le Mans is fantastic and Im looking forward to getting there. Ive been on the podium in the last three years so I hope to win this weekend, or at least to get on the podium. The layout is technical and complicated due to the strong brakings and short corners. The best of all is that were going to be racing in front of French fans and that gives me feelings I dont get anywhere else. I hope that things will be changing for us and to be able to get the first victory to celebrate it with the whole team. We have to start closing gaps in the overall standings.
250cc. Dani Pedrosa:
Ive always achieved good results in Le Mans, and I think hat its a good circuit to get back where we belong. Its not about whether you like it or not, it’s about preparing the race well, and in France, we’ve always been well prepared. We got information from last year, which is a good base to star. As regards the setting, the most important is to adjust the gears well because its a circuit with strong accelerations, brakings and fast corners. I want to enjoy riding fast and I hope to have stable weather conditions to be able to work with ease.
125cc. Héctor Faubel:
‘I like the circuit of Le Mans a lot. If you have a good setting and the bike works, it is easy to be in the front. Things didnt work out at all in China, and the rain was a real inconvenience for us. Im going to be amongst the best here, we already showed that we could in Portugal. The 125cc class is always much contended and anybody can win, but Im giving it all for the victory we havent been able to get so far.’
