Rio GP. Track analysis and Repsol drivers records

The Nelson Piquet circuit according to Sebastián Porto
‘I personally enjoy a lot racing here and I’ve always had good results on the Nelson Piquet track. Last year was with no doubt the best of all’.
The Argentinean rider Sebastián Porto was last year’s winner of the 250cc class race held at the Brazilian Nelson Piquet circuit. The race was held under the rain, right after a race full of accidents in Portugal, but in Brazil young Porto clinched his first victory in the Championship showing that he is a reliable rider under any kind of conditions. With regard to the Brazilian track Sebastián Porto says, ‘it’s a circuit I keep very good memories of, because I took my first victory here last year and it was very special for me. Apart from that, it’s a very nice circuit to ride on. Technically it has a bit of everything, just as almost every other circuit. There are many fast sections and a very long straight in the back, that ends-up in a very fast corner.Most of the corners are medium speed corners, combined with some slower ones. I personally enjoy a lot racing here and I’ve always had good results on the Nelson Piquet track. Last year was with no doubt the best of all. It is difficult to compare the atmosphere here with the atmosphere in a race in Europe, where the motorcycle fans live the races with much more intensity. But in my case, racing in Rio is good, because it’s quite close to my home country and it’s a bit like my ‘home Grand Prix’. There is no Grand Prix in Argentina and therefore I consider the one in Brazil as my home race. Besides, a lot of people come over from my country to see me, what makes the race even more special to me. The weather here is usually nice, most of the time it’s warm and that helps to race more comfortably.’The Rio GP venue, in detailThe Nelson Piquet circuit was built in 1975 close to Rio de Janeiro, in a spectacular location gained from the wetlands, between high granite mountaintops. In the summer of 1982 it held its first international event and between 1978 and 1989, the Nelson Piquet track was the venue of important sports events. But the high temperatures and the high humidity of the area lead to a gradual and premature degradation of the facilities. Rebuilt in seven months in 1995, the Brazilian track was again able to stage the Rio Motorcycle Grand Prix. Its 4933 metres include one of the longest straights of the Championship (1100 metres), and both the track as well as the services have been improved in the last years, although riders still often complain of severe bumpy areas, making the suspensions a key factor. With its wide and fast corners (8 left and 4 right-hand) the Nelson Piquet circuit is much more technically demanding as one may think looking at its simple design. The new pit garages, its enormous grandstands and the media centre have helped Rio to consolidate as a firm fixture on the MotoGP agenda.Repsol riders in Rio GP 2002MotoGP: Valentino Rossi. Practice: (2nd) 1´50.827. / Race: (1st) 49´09.516. / Fastest lap: 2´01.581.250: Fonsi Nieto. Practice: (5th) 1´54.002. / Race: retired. / Fastest lap: 2´06.077. Toni Elias. Practice: (3rd) 1´53.961. / Race: (5th) 47´30.840. / Fastest lap: 2´05.017.125: Dani Pedrosa: Practice: (8th) 1´58.858. / Race: retired. / Fastest lap:2´17.545.2003 season, all results Repsol driversAll season results and overall standings. Click on ‘Download document’ option on top right side of this page (Pdf format)