Italy will be the venue of the fifth round of the 2005 season.
The Italian Max Biaggi, leading the Repsol riders in Mugello, is ready to fight for the victory at home.
Max Biaggi will be contesting this weekend the fifth round of the 2005 season, the Grand Prix of Italy in his home-country. The impressive circuit of Mugello, venue on recent years of spectacular duels in the premier class between Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and Max Biaggi, will be hosting this weekend another episode of the fight for the 2005 World Championship title. Max Biaggi, who managed to get on the podium last season taking the third place, knows that this is the weekend where hell have the chance to make-up for his difficult start of the season in front of his people and the Italian fans. His teammate Nicky Hayden, who crashed last year in Mugello during the first of the two parts of the race, split due to the rain, will try to repeat his qualifying result – first row, second fastest time and finish on the podium, on a circuit the North American rider likes despite its high difficulty.
In the 250cc, three Repsol riders finished among the top four last year in Mugello. The victory went to Sebastián Porto, followed by Dani Pedrosa, and Frenchman Randy De Puniet, who was fourth. This season, in addition to these three riders, there will also be local rider Andrea Dovizioso and Australian Casey Stoner, two class rookies, who have shown themselves highly competitive since the beginning and who are right now, after the French Grand Prix, second and third in the overall standings, both behind the leader Dani Pedrosa. In the minor class, two Repsol riders have been able to get a place on the podium so far. Héctor Faubel second at the Portuguese Grand Prix and Sergio Gadea, second as well at the French Grand Prix, already know what it means to be on the rostrum and will surely do their best to repeat their success at the Italian Grand Prix. They both know the difficulties of getting good results on a territory where the Italians have always shown themselves very competitive. This can be however an excellent occasion to close the gap to the leader of the standings, the Finnish rider Mika Kallio.
MotoGP. Max Biaggi:
The Grand Prix of Italy is something special. Competition is in the air, you can feel people’s passion and the track is so technical and spectacular at the same time. There are few other places that reward riding so greatly. At Mugello I have always ridden great races and I really hope that next Sunday the positive result my team and I are looking for will come. We’ve been working hard and we deserve much more than what we have picked up until today. I’m also looking forward to seeing my fans as always at the Casanova Savelli’s hill. I would really like to give a smile to my team, my fans and, why not, to myself too.
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden:
‘I’m looking forward to getting back out there after this short spring break which actually has been pretty busy with a whole load of promotional pre-US GP work. Although the last race was not too good we had a good test right after and I’m hopeful we found some things that should work well in Mugello. The circuit was quite hard to learn but it’s surely one of the most incredible circuits I’ve ever seen with a fantastic atmosphere over the race weekend. It’s built on an impressive site, on top of a hill, and it needs a very good set-up for a good lap time. We qualified there okay last year but I crashed out in the race so we didn’t make the finish. The schedule is pretty mad in June with three races so it’ll be important to start the month well and get a good momentum.’
250cc. Randy de Puniet:
This race is very important, because it is from this Grand Prix more or less when the differences in the Championship are set. Mugello is a circuit where Ive always felt very comfortable, last year I finished fourth and Id like to improve the result this year. The place on the podium I got after the last race in Le Mans makes me have hope for the next races.
250cc. Sebas Porto:
After the race in France Ive been having some rest in Argentina making use of these two weeks, and now Im back with recharged batteries for what is left until the summer break. Last year I took my first victory of the season in Italy, so I have good memories of this track. Lets see if we manage to repeat the result.
250cc. Dani Pedrosa:
These two weeks without racing have been very good to work out and to get ones strength back. Well have a hard race in Italy, where not only Dovizioso will be motivated; Im sure that Porto, De Puniet and Stoner will also be in the front. Its difficult to mark differences in Mugello. It has a very long straight where the Aprilias might have a bit of an advantage, and also fast corners. I dont know why but Ive always had more problems than usual to adapt to this circuit. I think that the key for a win is to ride alone, because the finish is far from the exit of the last corner and you might be overtaken with the slipstream. Ive finished second in the last two years and Id like to round off with a victory. Its usually warm in Italy although this year I dont dare to make any weather forecast, because this has been a rainy year & Anyway, I hope itll be warm to be able to benefit from my physical condition.
125cc. Héctor Faubel:
Mugello is one of the most amusing circuits of the World Championship because it has a very long straight and several fast turns. Ive never been on a 125cc machine there yet, but thats something I have to get used to in every circuit we visit. The Italian riders will be very motivated because theyll be riding at home, but were going to give it all for the victory or at least for another place on the podium.
125cc. Sergio Gadea:
Im obviously very motivated for this fifth race of the World Championship, especially after achieving the best result of my sports career at the French Grand Prix. Mugello is one of the special circuits in the Championship. Its a very long and nice track, but it demands a lot as regards riding. Lets see if now that Im over the worst were able to get another good result.
