MotoGP Brno: Rossi to continue test work on GP11.1

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By MotoGP desk
Image by Ducati Corse

Marlboro Ducati's Valentino Rossi will continue to try and fix the GP11.1 during the test day following this weekend's Brno MotoGP round when his rivals will be concentrating on their 1000cc bikes for the 2012 season.

Rossi is still only able to run mid-pack pace even after making a host of changes to the 800cc bike including tinkering with the ride height and making the rake and trail looks like something not too far removed from a Dennis Hopper film. Last time out at Laguna Seca, he finished a full 30 seconds behind winner Casey Stoner.

"After Laguna Seca the team had the chance to rest for a few days, even though the work at Ducati never stopped. The Test Team tried some electronics updates at Mugello, and we’ll use them in the post-race test at Brno to continue improving the setup and reduce the gap to the lead group. Filippo [Preziosi] will be on hand Monday, and we’ll continue the development work on the GP11.1 with both Valentino and Nicky," said team manager Vito Guareschi.

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Stoner out to increase lead in Brno

@JakartaForumJakartaForum Stoner out to increase lead in Brno

MotoGP championship leader Casey Stoner believes that he is in a strong position to extend his points advantage over rival and reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo, with the Honda expected to suit the swooping nature of the Brno layout this weekend.

Stoner heads into this weekend's Czech GP with a 20-point lead over Lorenzo following the Australian's victory over the Spaniard in the USGP last month, and said he went into the summer break boosted by his dominant performance at Laguna Seca.

"Now I feel relaxed and ready for the second half of the season," he said. "I'm looking forward to going to Brno, it's a circuit I've always enjoyed and I believe with the results we've had in the past years we can expect to have a good race there. I've seen that the Honda can be very competitive at all circuits this year so I'm sure we will also be strong in Brno."

Stoner hasn't written off the challenge from Lorenzo, who won the event last year which was dominated by Yamaha.

"The fact that it's very fast and flowing has helped the Yamahas in the past seasons and I think Jorge will be strong there, so I will be watching for him," said Stoner. "We'll be working on overcoming some of the issues we've had in the fast corners at circuits this year and we will certainly be looking for the win, or at the very least some more important championship points."

Teammate Andrea Dovizioso, who lies third in the championship, is also determined to set the record straight with a good result this weekend after a disappointingly distant fourth last time out at Laguna Seca.

"We arrive in Brno very motivated as we want to redeem the disappointing result of Laguna," he said. "Brno is a fast track, the curves have a long range so the speed in the mid corner is high. I'm confident that we can be competitive there, the Honda machine is working very well and the characteristics of the track suit my riding style, too.

"It's similar to Mugello and we look for a good result. Casey, Dani [Pedrosa] and Jorge will be strong rivals, but I'm confident that we will be able to fight with them. We are determined to return on the podium. This is our target."

This article originally appeared in Autosport.com

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Gresini: Interesting negotiations at Brno

@JakartaForumJakartaForum Gresini: Interesting negotiations at Brno

"The Czech Republic Grand Prix is bound to be an interesting one for the future of MotoGP with a lot of negotiations ongoing" - Fausto Gresini.

San Carlo Honda Gresini team principal, Fausto Gresini, is expecting a busy time on and off-track this weekend at Brno.

The first race after the summer break, the Czech Republic round marks the traditional start of the 'silly season' - and there are also the 2012 1000cc rules to refine.

"The Czech Republic Grand Prix is bound to be an interesting one for the future of MotoGP with a lot of negotiations ongoing, but our goal is to carry forward the Simoncelli project with the same professionalism as always," said Gresini.

Marco Simoncelli has proven to be a match for anyone over one lap this season, qualifying on the front row at six of the ten events (including two poles).

Although Simoncelli's race day performances have been marred by a series of mistakes, he remains in high demand for 2012 and recent rumours have linked him to a possible factory Ducati ride.

The Italian's first choice is sure to be retaining factory HRC status at Gresini, but with present Repsol rider Andrea Dovizioso likely to want a similar level of factory support next year much will depend on how many RC213Vs Honda is willing to run.

Either way, Simoncelli's bargaining power would be massively increased if he can finally claim a debut MotoGP podium.

"After a wonderful holiday in some fantastic American parks I go to Brno looking for the best possible result," said Marco. "We have to focus on the second half of the season and try to score some positive results.

"The circuit suits my riding style even though I didn't go so well there last year in MotoGP. I have won there before in the 250 class and I have also been on pole and on the podium in 125. Overall it is a track I like and I hope to do well. "

Team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama, also out of contract at the end of the year, will be making his first Brno MotoGP start after being injured last year.

"The result at Laguna Seca [tenth] wasn't particularly pleasing but I still wasn't in good physical shape so now after this break I hope I am in better shape and form at Brno," said Aoyama. "I need to rediscover my confidence in myself and in the bike.

"It will be my first MotoGP appearance at Brno because I was injured here last year so it will be a new experience but I like the track and I was on the podium here in the 250cc class in 2006, as well as finishing fourth in 2009. I have the motivation to do well this weekend."

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Ducati: No 1000cc test at Brno

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Ducati: No 1000cc test at Brno

Ducati's 2012 MotoGP prototype will avoid a head-to-head comparison with rival 1000cc machines from Honda and Yamaha, after the factory announced that this year's 800cc bike will be used at Monday's official post-race test at Brno.

Ducati has already used five of the eight days of 1000cc testing allowed with MotoGP riders this year - compared with two days for Honda and none for Yamaha.

All the previous factory 1000cc tests have been held in private, but that will change on Monday in the Czech Republic with Honda and Yamaha both confirming that their factory MotoGP riders will try 2012 bikes.

However Ducati has decided that both Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will 'dedicate that day to working on the 800'.

“The Test Team tried some electronics updates at Mugello, and we'll use them in the post-race test at Brno to continue improving the setup and reduce the gap to the lead group," said team manager Vittoriano Guareschi.

"Filippo [Preziosi] will be on hand Monday, and we'll continue the development work on the GP11.1 with both Valentino and Nicky.”

While Rossi will continue to ride the GP11.1 throughout the grand prix weekend, team-mate Hayden - who completed his first laps on the modified bike during Friday practice at the previous US GP - revealed that he is likely to use the original GP11.

"Obviously the test on Monday will be really important for us. I'll probably just ride the GP11 on the race weekend and then test the new bike on Monday," said the American.

Rossi and Hayden will start round eleven (of 18) holding fifth and seventh in the world championship, with one podium apiece so far this season.

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