As is usual come August the Czech Republic GP is held, a race that has become iconic and at one of the best loved circuits in the calendar. Technical, fast and demanding, the circuit of Brno is a favourite of many riders, and both Pedrosa and Dovizioso, as well as the rest of the Repsol riders, cannot wait to get back on their bikes.
The rider from Castellar del Vallès will go to a race in tip-top form for the first time in almost a year; after a string of injuries the start of his season was limited by an incomplete physical preparation conditioned by recovery programmes that came one after the other. Therefore Pedrosa was able to relax a little over the last two weeks, but above all he was able to do a little training which means he can go to Brno 100% fit.
Without a doubt it is his teammate, Andrea Dovizioso, who is on the crest of a wave; he got his first ever victory in the top category in the last race, showing the consistency that he is famous for. The Repsol rider has had a few days on the Italian coast, but without forgetting to train for the second half of the season, something which promises to be just as hard-fought as the first. Dovizioso has now demonstrated that he is at the same level as the best in his class and in Brno, riding the Repsol Honda RC212V, he has another chance to show all his potential.
In the exciting 125cc category the return to work is just as welcome for the young riders on the way up. In the official KTM team, Marc Márquez hopes to continue making improvements to his bike, which is evolving thanks to some good work at the Austrian factory. The Repsol rider showed that he can stay up with the fastest, and after the short break is facing a second half of the season with the hope of increasing his consistency and staying among the top five in this championship.
His teammate, Cameron Beaubier, will be very motivated in Brno. In spite of his latest result, he had to retire with mechanical problems, Beaubier showed a great improvement which allowed him to ride at a faster pace and take a big step forward in his first year in the World Championship.
The Team BQR riders, Scott Redding & Esteve Rabat are also optimistic about this race. The Briton, who got his first podium finish of the season in the last race, will be out to maintain the consistency that he has lacked so far this year after demonstrating many times that he is one of the fastest on the grid. For Rabat, who has taken giant strides in the last few races, seen in the good practice sessions at Donington Park, but who had to retire in the last race because of a breakdown – will race at one of his favourite circuits, and is hoping to be in the fight to get in the leading group.
Dani Pedrosa
“It was a short summer break, but it was long enough for me to get back into training properly and build my fitness to close to 100 per cent. So I’m feeling ready for the second half of the season and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the bike and fighting at the front again. It’s going be very important that I can now concentrate totally on riding the bike without any pain, and these last two weekends off have helped me in that sense. Brno is a circuit that I like very much: it’s technical and demanding. Plus the weather is usually good which would make a nice change. We have the final day’s testing for the season on Monday and it’ll be important for us to do some more evaluation work on the new engine and modified chassis which we’ve been running at the last few races. I’m feeling fit and ready for this race and me and the t eam are ready to get out there and put in a good result.”
Andrea Dovizioso
“I’m sure that me and the team arrive in Brno in a very positive mood thanks to the victory in the last race at Donington Park. I’m very motivated and I’m really looking forward to the race, and also to the test session on Monday because that should be valuable for us. I spent the two weeks of the summer break at the seaside not far from where I live and I had the possibility to relax, spend some time with my friends and also do some training ready for this weekend because Brno is a difficult and physical track. It’s a very fast circuit and I’m confident that our package can work well – in particular that we can make good use of the power of our engine. There are also many long turns that are quite demanding and you definitely need to quickly adjust your riding style to the characteristics of the track. I like the nature of this circuit, and the atmosphere created by the crowds of spectators on the hillsides is very special.”
Marc Márquez
“The circuit of Brno is perhaps my faourite of all. It has slopes, a bit like Mugello, and a lot of changes in direction. It is very fast too and you need a lot of engine. I am sure that KTM will bring me improvements, and at this circuit these will be important. After this short break, when I trained, I can`t wait to get back on the bike. I did a bit of bicycle, gymnasium, supermotard, enduro, motocross; a bit of everything. The thing is not to stop doing things, and if it is on a motorbike even better, because that is what I like. I hope all goes well, and above all we will try to finish the race, because in the last two we haven`t been able to.”
Esteve Rabat
“I had a short holiday because I needed to disconnect a little, but I did not stop training, supermotard and bicycle. I worked on my recovery and to improve my physical tone so that I can be 100% in Brno. In the last few races the bike`s evolution has been good, and I hope to be up with the leaders because I am convinced that, with the bike`s potential, as well as the work done by the team and by myself, we can do it. This is a circuit that I really like because it is very fast and great fun, the track is very wide and you can overtake a lot. You need to have a good bike and we have one, so we will work from the first day to get a good result.”
Scott Redding
“I spent my time training hard but also having a good time. It was a great sensation finishing on the podium in the last race, not only for me for the team too, which has been working very hard this season. We have had some problems, but from now till the end we will be out to get a good result in every race. Brno is one of the best in the championship, with a wide track that is very technical, and where we got a good result last year so we will work hard to get a good level for Sunday.”
Cameron Beaubier
“I feel I can do well at Brno, because at Donington Park I was fast on the Sunday, and although I did not finish we took a big step forward. I know this circuit, riding here last year with the MotoGP Academy, and two years ago in the Rookies Cup. This is a fast circuit and quite difficult for me becuase it has a wide track and you cannot always find the right line. Whatever, I can`t wait to start work and try to learn all I can so that I can finish the race and get among the points.”
