Race Weekend - Brno

After some tough practices and qualification session the Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky didn’t bring points for the DeGraaf Grand Prix riders. Danny Webb and Randy Krummenacher were battling in the same group and end up at a 16^th and 17^th position. 

With a 15^th spot at the grid Danny Webb didn’t had a good start as usual. When the lights went out the British teenager lost three positions in the first turn and passed the first lap in 18^th position. Webb had difficulties to pass a slower rider in front of him and lost connection with the group. During the race it wasn’t possible to close the gap and Webb had to battle for a 16th position. In this group was also his team-mate Randy Krummenacher and they both had a big fight in the group. Webb ended the race at a 16^th position.

Danny Webb (16^th):

“Exactly it was fun to race in this group today. Especially when Randy joined to group and we were both the fastest riders of this group. The race-pace was good enough to go for a top 10 position but I lost it in the beginning of the race. Jasper Iwema had a good start and passed me before the first turn but was holding me up the first couple of laps and I lost the connection to the group in front of me. That was too bad. During the race I had a lot of chatter in the front but still I tried hard and was able to ride good lap times. Unfortunaly it wasn’t good enough today to grab some points.

Next race in Indianapolis we will get for sure pints and I’m aiming at least for a top 10 position.”

The Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky didn’t start well for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team. The British teenager Danny Webb had a short session. After a few laps the Aprilia of Webb had a mechanical problem and couldn’t continue the session. Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher had today problems to find his rhythm and finish at a 28th position.

The weather circumstances were good at the Brno track with temperatures of 22 degrees. For Danny Webb the session was too soon over. After running in his engine and two fast laps, Webb came into the garage. After several minutes Webb went out again but just could finish his first lap. Just before the last turn the bike had a mechanical problem. It wasn’t possible to fix this during the session and so the session was over for the British teenager.

Danny Webb (33rd, 2:14,559):

“This is the first time this season that my Aprilia broke down. I’m glad that it happened today in the free practice and not in the qualification session. I was breaking into the last turn and suddenly the power was gone. I looked back and saw a lot of smoke and knew that this will be the end of the session.

When I came back in the garage it was clear that we couldn’t fix the problem during this session. Tomorrow I have to focus on the set-up in the free practice. I feel good and despite this problem we still can do a good result!”

The Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky is till now a difficult mission. Danny Webb could improve his lap time of this morning with more than one second and qualified 15th at tomorrow’s grid. Randy Krummenacher improved his time of yesterday with more than one and half second but still had to be satisfied with a 23rd position at the sixth row at the grid. 

The second free practice of this morning was used by the two DeGraaf Grand Prix Team riders to find a good set-up of their suspension. Also both riders were using different type of tyres so they can make a good choice for the qualification and the race. The results were not good at the end with a 23rd position for Randy Krummenacher and a 25th position for Danny Webb.

It was a though qualification for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team this afternoon. The British rider Danny Webb had difficulties to ride a fast lap and was stucked in the 2;11 lap times. Because of this lap times Webb was constantly around P24 at the timetables. In the last ten minutes Webb manages to follow another rider and moved up to a 13^th position. At the end Webb qualified at the fourth row on a 15^th spot.

Danny Webb (15^th, 2:10,081):

“First of all I want to thank my mechanics for the hard work they did last night to fix my engine for today’s sessions. They didn’t had much sleep but they gave my a good bike today. Today I realised that I miss the session of yesterday.

I had to spent a lot of time to set-up my Aprilia in the morning session and still in the first part of the qualification. I noticed when I did my best lap that the suspension felt much better. I think we will have a good race tomorrow.

With a good start I think I’m able to score a top 10 position.”

It may have only been a two week break but it was welcomed by the four British MotoGP riders who race back in action on Sunday in the Cardion ab Grand Prix of the Czech Republic in Brno.

Two of the riders Scott Redding and James Toseland will arrive at the superb undulating 3.367 mile circuit with happy memories of the previous round, their home grand prix at Donington Park. The other two, Bradley Smith and Danny Webb have already put Donington firmly behind them after both crashing out in the rain.

Sixteen year old Redding followed up his 125 cc British Grand Prix victory last year was a brilliant third place. The Gloucestershire teenager has been on the pace all year but his Blusens team have had problems setting up the Aprilia. It all worked well at Donington and Redding looks set for a cracking second half of the season to improve on his tenth place in the Championship.

Eighteen year old Smith seeks a change of fortune in that second half of the 125 cc season after crashing out of the last two races in slippery conditions. The Oxfordshire teenager has slipped to third place in the Championship, 55.5 points behind his Aspar Aprilia team-mate and Championship leader Julian Simon.

Kent-based Danny Webb was an early faller at Donington and needs a set of solid finishes to secure his 125 cc World Championship future. He’s 16th in the Championship but only 20 points adrift of his great friend Redding in tenth.

Toseland needed his sixth place in the MotoGP race at Donington to set himself up for the second part of the season. It was a real confidence boost for the 28 year old Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider. The Yorkshireman is 12th in the Championship as he fights for his MotoGP future. He needs a repeat or even higher position at the next three grands prix in the space of four weeks, to secure a ride next year.

QUOTES

Bradley Smith:

“After taking part in the Triathlon and watching the BSB races at Brands this weekend it’s back to the real thing at Brno. I’ve got to forget the last two races where I failed to finish and concentrate on getting back to points scoring at a very technical track.”

Scott Redding:

“I’m ready for it especially after that third place at Donington. I really like Brno because it’s so up and down, there are many different bends and the surface gives plenty of grip. Set-up of the bike is crucial and after Donington we are getting things sorted.”

Danny Webb:

“I can’t wait to get back on the bike again after Donington. These things happen and I’m glad to see the back of it and concentrate on Brno. I went to the BSB with Scott over the weekend which set me up for Brno which I really like.”

James Toseland:

“Another sixth place at Donington and it definitely made amends for the big disappointment of last year. It was a tough race and the two week break was very welcome and we are all looking forward to Brno where the result at Donington has given us some real confidence.”

CAN ANYBODY HALT THE ROSSI ROLL?

World Champion Valentino Rossi arrives in Brno for round 11 of the MotoGP World Championship, The Cardion ab Grand Prix of the Czech Republic on Sunday, on a roll. The thirty year old Italian increased his lead in the Championship to 25 points despite crashing at the previous round in England and has an impressive record at the magnificent undulating 3.357 mile Brno circuit where he secured his first ever grand prix win 13 long and successful years ago.

Rossi’s win last year was his fourth in the premier class around the purpose built circuit that replaced the legendry but dangerous road circuit in 1977. Couple that with a 250 cc victory and that historic 125 cc win and Rossi will be a difficult man to beat in the 22 lap encounter which is expected to attract a crowd approaching 150,000 on Sunday.

It’s a massive race for Rossi’s rivals headed by his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. The Spaniard also crashed on the slippery Donington surface but unlike Rossi was unable to remount to start some damage limitation. Despite the crash Lorenzo is in great form and knows the next three grands prix in the space of four weeks will decide if he is a serious Championship contender. He has won three times in Brno in the 250 and 125 cc classes but needs his first premier class victory to put some pressure on the Championship leader.

Casey Stoner has been home in Australia since Donington hoping to finally cure the mystery virus that has really wrecked his Championship aspirations. The former World Champion trails Lorenzo by 12 points after a wrong tyre choice ruined his chances at Donington. The Marlboro Ducati team has a great record at Brno with Stoner and Loris Capirossi bringing them success two and three years ago respectively. There is no doubt a fully fit Stoner could be chasing his third grand prix victory of the season but only as the weekend unfolds will the hard riding Australian know if he’s on the mend.

While his Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso secured his first ever Premier class victory Spaniard Dani Pedrosa also had a torrid time in Donington. He finally limped home in ninth place and now trails Rossi by 72 points in the Championship. The three times World Champion has won 125 and 250 cc races at Brno and needs a repeat of his Laguna Seca victory to close the gap at the top and also fight off the challengers headed by American Colin Edwards on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha.

Following his second place at Donington the Texan is just 12 points behind Pedrosa and is fighting to retain his place in the team. He was involved in a tremendous battle with Randy De Puniet at the British Grand Prix but the French LCR rider is struggling to be fit for Brno. He broke his ankle in a Motocross training accident and had a pin fitted in an operation to mend the bone

Dovizioso arrives brimming with confidence following his superb victory in difficult conditions at Donington to chase his first ever win in Brno while fellow Italian Marco Melandri will be looking to consolidate his impressive season on the Hayate Kawasaki at circuit where he’s won three times in the 125 and 250 cc classes.

It’s that time of year with riders fighting to stay in the Premier class as teams work on their line-ups for next year. The Rizla Suzuki pair of Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi, who was third last year, are fighting for their lives. Spaniard Toni Elias who crashed while challenging for the lead in Donington, would love a repeat of his second place last year while his San Carlo Honda Gresini team-mate Alex De Angelis was an impressive fourth in England.

One rider assured of the biggest following will be the former 125 cc World Champion Gabor Talmacsi. Around 25,000 Hungarian fans are expected to make the short trip across the border to support their hero who is beginning to get to grips with the MotoGP class riding the Scot Honda after starting the season in the 250 cc class.

Hiroshi Aoyama opened up a 15 point lead in the 250 cc World Championship following his third victory of the season riding the Scot Honda at Donington. Spaniard Alvaro Bautista wants to clinch the 250 cc World Championship before his expected switch to MotoGP next year but it’s going to be tough. The Mapfre Aspar Aprilia rider is second in the Championship but needs to get back to winning ways with his last victory in Assen. There is a tremendous battle for third place between current World Champion Marco Simoncelli and Hector Barbara and look out also for veteran Alex Debon who won the race last year.

While his rivals fell by the wayside Julian Simon kept calm at Donington to win the 125 cc race and build up an impressive 51 point lead in the Championship. He will take some catching but anything can happen in the 125 cc class although his team-mates Sergio Gadea and Bradley Smith will have to start winning again to exert any real pressure on the Champion elect.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE

Friday 14 August

12.40 – 13.40              125cc Free Practice 1
13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Free Practice 1
15.10 – 16.10              250cc Practice 1

Saturday 15 August

09.00 – 09.40              125cc Free Practice 2
09.55 – 10.55              MotoGP Free Practice 2
11.10 – 12.10              250cc Free Practice 2
13.00 – 13.40              125cc Qualifying
13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Qualifying
15.10 – 15.55              250cc Qualifying

Sunday 16 August

08.40 – 09.00              125cc Warm Up
09.10 – 09.30              250cc Warm Up
09.40 – 10.00              MotoGP Warm Up
11.00                           125cc RACE (19 laps)
12.15                           250cc RACE (20 laps)
14.00                           MotoGP RACE (22 laps)

A solid ride from England’s James Toseland saw him bring his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine home in ninth place in front of 140,000 fans at the Czech Grand Prix. It was a decent result for the Yorkshireman, from 14th on the grid, as he continues to battle to save his MotoGP future.

There was drama at the front of the race as Valentino Rossi got the best of his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo again with the young Spaniard crashing out with five laps to go, as the pair battled for the race lead, handing Rossi a 50-point title advantage with six races to go.

With Rossi eventually finishing more than 11 seconds ahead of second placed Dani Pedrosa, two more Honda riders, Toni Elías and Andrea Dovizioso, dueled for the final podium slot - Gresini rider Elías just outdoing Repsol Honda’s Dovizioso.

In fourth place in the 125cc race Oxfordshire’s Bradley Smith lost ground in the championship as runaway leader Julian Simon finished ahead of him in second place, whilst Simon’s Spanish compatriot Nico Terol took the race win.

Scott Redding battled well to win a point in 15th place despite an ankle injury sustained on Saturday, the Gloucestershire youngster crossing the line just ahead of his good friend Danny Webb who was 16th.

Race Results

1 Valentino ROSSI ITA YAMAHA 43'08.991
2  Dani PEDROSA SPA HONDA 43'20.757
3  Toni ELIAS SPA HONDA 43'29.747
4  Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA HONDA 43'30.409
5  Loris CAPIROSSI ITA SUZUKI 43'30.529
6  Nicky HAYDEN USA DUCATI 43'34.535

Championship positions

1 ROSSI Valentino 212 points
2 LORENZO Jorge 162
3 STONER Casey 150
4 PEDROSA Dani 135
5 EDWARDS Colin 112
6 DOVIZIOSO Andrea 107