PREVIEW ? UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX - LAGUNA SECA 23/07/2006

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PREVIEW ? UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX - LAGUNA SECA 23/07/2006
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TRANSATLANTIC CHALLENGE BECKONS FOR CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM

Just five days after their stunning showing at the Sachsenring circuit
in Germany the Camel Yamaha Team will be back on track on the other
side of the Atlantic as the MotoGP World Championship takes another
whirlwind trip across the globe from the east of Europe to the west
coast of the USA. Following an absence of almost a decade, the Laguna
Seca circuit near Monterey in California plays host to the world?s
premier motorcycle race series for the second consecutive season and
represents a crucial date with destiny for both Valentino Rossi and
Colin Edwards.

Last season both riders finished on the podium, an ideal way to
celebrate Yamaha?s 50th Anniversary and a fitting reward for the
factory?s role in bringing the sport back to the continent. This time,
however, nothing less than a victory will satisfy the Italian and the
American, who both have their own agendas as they tackle one of the
most important races of the season so far.

For Rossi the eleventh round of seventeen represents another key
opportunity to close the gap to series leader Nicky Hayden (Honda) and
provides a chance to strike a major psychological blow on the Kentucky
rider, who used his explicit local knowledge of the circuit to take
victory last season. However, crucial data gathered by Rossi and his
team in that race, as well as track modifications that have taken place
since then in the interest of safety, have levelled the playing field
and the reigning World Champion is confident the advantage can swing in
his favour.

The goal for Edwards is to take his first ever victory in MotoGP racing
after coming desperately close in the Dutch TT earlier this season. The
American has shown flashes of winning potential this season and he
would like nothing more than to finally savour the top step of the
podium at his home Grand Prix before heading to Japan with an identical
target at the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour race.

VALENTINO ROSSI: STRONG FROM THE START

Following on from his remarkable victory in Germany, Valentino Rossi is
looking forward to his second visit to California thanks to an
enjoyable and promising Laguna Seca debut one year ago. The reigning
MotoGP World Champion was the first non-American rider across the line
as he took third place in his first ever USGP but this year he doesn?t
plan to have anybody in front of him at all as he looks to sign off for
the summer with another maximum points haul.

?Even though I didn?t know the track last year I was able to follow
Nicky for many laps and then Colin too, so I learnt a lot from both of
them,? explains Rossi. ?By the end of the race I was getting stronger
and I actually set my best time on the last lap so I hope that this
year we can be strong from the start and this time beat the Americans!
We had some difficulties with the bike in Germany and we don't have
time to make many big changes before this weekend, but hopefully the
good setting we found for the race on Sunday and the data we have from
last year will be enough.

?The latest modifications to the track will make a difference and we
will see how they are when we get there. After last year we discussed
everything with the Safety Commission and we made some more suggestions
to improve the track, because really it was not at the level of the
rest of the championship. It?s okay for Superbikes but we are coming
into the corners 40km faster, so it was necessary to make some more
changes, especially at turn one. Now we have to wait to see if it is
better and safer this year.?

COLIN EDWARDS: VICTORY STILL THE TARGET

Colin Edwards is approaching the second home Grand Prix of his career
with his focus completely set on taking victory, despite his set-up
troubles with the YZR-M1 in Germany. After finishing second to Nicky
Hayden in Laguna last year and battling with the same rider for victory
at Assen in Holland earlier this season - only to lose out in the final
corner ? conceding ground to his compatriot is a scenario the Texan
does not plan on repeating as the pair tussle for home glory this time
around.

?Before Sachsenring I said that I am not hoping to win at Laguna Seca,
I am expecting to win, and that remains the case,? affirms Edwards, who
will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday to take part in a MotoGP bike parade
along Hollywood Boulevard before attending the screening of the new
MotoGP movie ?The Doctor, The Tornado and The Kentucky Kid?, in which
he stars.

?We had our problems in Germany but we also had problems at Catalunya
earlier in the season and seven days later I was fighting to win at
Assen. It seems the bike that we have works at some circuits and not so
well at others so, like Assen, Laguna will be a bit of a shot in the
dark. One thing for sure is that I?m going to fight and barge and do
whatever it takes to win. If it comes down to a scrap between the
Americans, Hayden and I, then I know I can come out on top this time.
Hopefully the bike will work as well as it did at Assen and if it does
than I definitely won?t make the same mistakes.?

VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION
Age: 27
Lives: London, UK
Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1
GP victories: 83 (56 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)
First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
GP starts: 166 (107 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 41
World Championships ? 7 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 4
x MotoGP)

COLIN EDWARDS: INFORMATION
Age: 32
Lives: Conroe, Texas
Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1
First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP)
GP starts: 59 x MotoGP
World Championships - 2 World Superbike


DAVIDE BRIVIO: DOUBLE TOP THE TARGET

Camel Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio is confident that both riders
can take the role of protagonists in what promises to be another
groundbreaking step for the sport?s popularity in America. Brivio
watched Edwards and Rossi finish on the podium in last year?s inaugural
event and he is hopeful of a repeat performance on Sunday ? this time
with one of the pair on the top step.

?Last year both our riders were on the podium and the target is the
same this time, but in better positions,? says Brivio. ?The competition
in MotoGP is getting tougher and tougher as the season goes on but we
need to keep working as we are now because there is a long way to go.
With six rounds left after the summer it would be nice to go on holiday
with the psychological boost of victory at Laguna Seca.

?We know that Nicky Hayden is fast at this circuit but this is the
challenge. We are all in racing because we enjoy the battle and on the
evidence of what we saw last year I think both our riders can be up
there giving Nicky a hard time this Sunday. We?re going there with
great confidence after Valentino?s win in Germany and I think Laguna
comes at the perfect time for Colin, who needs to get back on the
podium. It is only a few days but for him and for us the race can?t
come soon enough.?

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: LAGUNA ACCORDING TO DANIELE ROMAGNOLI

Famed, feared and revered for the world-famous ?Corkscrew? corner, the
Laguna Seca circuit near Monterey in California lived up to its billing
as one of the most exciting circuits on the calendar when MotoGP
visited for the first time ever last season. With only a few short
straights, a series of fast and sweeping corners and elevation changes
that leave front wheels frequently spinning through thin air, the
3.602km circuit provides the ideal viewing spectacle for fans but is
surprisingly straightforward when it comes to machine set-up.

?Actually Laguna was not as technical as we thought it might be when we
visited for the first time last year,? explains Daniele Romagnoli,
Chief Engineer for Colin Edwards. ?It is a special circuit because
there are almost no straights so there is no need to use the full gear
range or the maximum power of the bike. Power delivery is much more
important than top-end power and it must be smooth and easy for the
rider to manage. At the same time the circuit is very ?up and down? so
the chassis is important because the bike needs to keep turning in
several different conditions. You need good traction when the bike is
leaned over ? especially at the end of the main straight when the bike
is at an angle at high speed and in the Corkscrew. The Corkscrew also
requires stable suspension and good performance under braking because,
as we saw with Colin last year, it is a place he likes to overtake.

?Honestly it was quite easy to find a good set-up for Colin last year.
His experience at the circuit meant that we already had some good
information for the gear and suspension settings before we arrived.
This time things are a little different because, even though we can
dial in the same settings on the bike, the tyres have changed a lot
from last year so we will need to work on something new to adapt the
chassis and the suspension. We had a difficult weekend finding the
right setting in Germany but Colin will not let this affect him and we
will come out fighting like we did at Assen.?

CIRCUIT INFORMATION

Pole position right
Lenght: 3610 m
Width: 15 m
Right corners: 4
Left corners: 7
Constructed in: 1957
Last modified: 2006

Laguna Seca Lap Record: Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 2005, 1?23.915
Laguna Seca Best Lap: Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2005, 1?22.670

2005 United States Grand Prix Results

1. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda, 45?15.374
2. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Yamaha, +1.941
3. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Yamaha, +2.312

 

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MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
20 JULY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN ADVENTURE AHEAD FOR KAWASAKI

After ripping up Hollywood Boulevard on a Ninja ZX-10R during a Dorna Pre-Event promotional appearance on Tuesday, Shinya Nakano, together with Kawasaki teammate Randy de Puniet, heads for Laguna Seca and this weekend's round eleven of the MotoGP World Championship.

For Nakano this will be the second time he's raced at the Laguna Seca circuit, having taken a hard fought ninth place in US Grand Prix last season, but for de Puniet this will be his first time on the track, and his first encounter with the infamous Laguna Seca Corkscrew.

The 25-year-old Frenchman took the opportunity to run the Laguna Seca track on Wednesday afternoon, declaring it not dissimilar in layout to the L?denon circuit in Southern France, where he has been fast in the past.

Although certain the track will look very different from the saddle of his Ninja ZX-RR when opening practice gets underway on Friday, already de Puniet is confident that the mainly fast and flowing Laguna Seca circuit will suit his aggressive riding style.

While his Kawasaki teammate is busy learning his way around the Laguna Seca circuit during practice and qualifying, Shinya Nakano will focus on improving his lines through the sections of track where he lost time during last year's race.

The 28-year-old Japanese rider knows that there are places on the track where the American riders - through familiarity with the circuit - are faster, and Nakano is determined to find these elusive 'fast lines' ahead of Sunday's 32-lap MotoGP race.

While the Laguna Seca circuit has been resurfaced over the winter, and the approach to the Corkscrew has been modified, the track still demands that a bike be set-up to steer quickly, but to remain stable under heavy braking for the two slowest corners on the track; the 60 km/h last turn and the infamous Corkscrew.

Shinya Nakano: #56
"Last year I managed to find the fast line through some of the turns here, but there was still something missing and that's what I need to focus on this time around. Maybe the best idea will be to follow one of the American riders around for a while during practice, as they have a good understanding of the secret to a fast lap time at this circuit. Having said that, based on our first race here 12 months ago, I think we have a good chance here, as Laguna is not really a power circuit, although it is important to carry speed through most of the corners. Overall I think the circuit will suit the characteristics of our Ninja ZX-RR, and I'm definitely looking for a good result this weekend to take me into the summer break."

Randy de Puniet: #17
"Obviously I haven't ridden the track yet, as the 250cc class don't race here at Laguna, but from running the circuit this afternoon, I think the layout will suit my riding style. In style the Laguna Seca track is not so different to the L?denon circuit in the South of France, where I had some successful races when I was contesting the French National Championship some years ago, and I hope I can do the same this weekend. It's difficult to predict how the track will feel on our Ninja ZX-RR from just running the circuit, but we'll find out soon enough when practice starts on Friday. I am particularly looking forward to riding the Corkscrew here; it looks like a very strange corner even when you're running through it, so it will be interesting to see what it's like on the bike. We have four hours of track time for me to learn my way around the circuit, and I hope we can leave here on Sunday for the summer break with a good result behind us."

 

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Hopkins hits Hollywood for USGP

Rizla Suzuki racer John Hopkins prepared for this weekend?s Red Bull USGP by joining fellow MotoGP stars on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles to give fans a taster of what?s to come at Laguna Seca this week.
Hopkins rode a Rizla liveried Suzuki GSX-R in the event and treated spectators outside the famous Chinese Theatre to a series of ride pasts. Hopkins is a local favourite and is looking forward to racing at home this week - he was born in California and still has a house there.
This weekend?s race is round 11 of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship and signals the only time that the MotoGP circus travels to the Americas. The 3,610km long Laguna Seca circuit is one of the most complex and physically demanding tracks of the year, with its narrow design, elevation changes and blind crests plus the ?Corkscrew?, a downhill turn that is more akin to a rollercoaster than a racetrack.
Chris Vermeulen will be racing at Laguna Seca this weekend buoyed by his solid seventh place last time out in Germany, plus the added benefit of not having to learn the Californian circuit. Vermeulen competed at Laguna during his World Superbike days ? and scored a double victory.
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will begin practice on Friday, with further free practice on Saturday morning. The all important qualifying session will take place on Saturday afternoon to determine grid positions for Sunday?s 32-lap race which gets underway at 14.00hrs local time (21.00hrs GMT).


Paul Denning ? Team Manager:
?The USGP is undoubtedly one of the high points on the calendar and one that we are hoping that we can produce a good result at. John is really revved up for this one and is determined to put on an excellent performance for all the American fans and family that will be cheering him on at trackside.
?Chris is also coming to Laguna with high hopes after winning back-to-back races there in World Superbike, so he too is looking for a good performance.
?This is the last race before the summer break and all the team are eager to go out on high and will be working at full throttle to achieve the best result for Rizla Suzuki, all our other sponsors and the fans alike!?

 

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US GRAND PRIX

Free practice / FORTUNA HONDA RIDERS ADAPT TO TRICKY AMERICAN TRACK

FORTUNA HONDA riders Marco Melandri and Toni El?as completed the first free practice session for the USGP at the Laguna Seca circuit this morning in perfect weather, using it to simply adapt to the modified track. Marco, who finished second in the last round at Sachsenring, has arrived in confident mood and spent the session finding a good feeling for the track whilst his team-mate Toni Elias took things steadily as he continues his recovery from injury. Alongside his new crew chief Fabrizio Cechinni for only the second Grand Prix the Spaniard worked out the points he needs to spend time on with the Honda RC211V machine in the afternoon.


MARCO MELANDRI (6th, 1?24?698, 29 laps):
?I am satisfied with the first session. I got a good feeling and I?m optimistic about the weekend ahead because I think we have started off on the right foot. I like this track a lot and I think they?ve done a great job with respect to improving the security.?

TONI ELIAS (15th, 1?26?699, 26 laps):
?I like Laguna Seca a lot ? it?s a legendary place. My physical condition hasn?t improved a lot and this circuit layout is hard on my left shoulder. The session was just a first point of contact with the track alter only previously riding here last season and I used it to find my reference points.?

 

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Promising first day for Rizla Suzuki at Laguna

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racers Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins both produced promising performances on the first day of practice for the Red Bull US Grand Prix at a warm and sunny Laguna Seca today.

Vermeulen put his previous knowledge of the Laguna track to good use to record the fifth fastest time on the newly surfaced Californian circuit. He used the 59 laps that he completed to their full extent to try many different set-ups and Bridgestone tyres in readiness for Sunday?s race. His time of 1?24.253 was only 0.394 seconds off the day?s fastest time set by Kenny Roberts Jr.

Hopkins (P10, 1?24.608, 57 laps) made many changes to his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R to help combat the extra reverberations in the chassis due to the bumpy nature of the newly laid surface. He found a set-up to combat the shakes and is looking to make more changes and improvements tomorrow.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will have one more practice session tomorrow morning before the all important hour long qualifying session in the afternoon. The Red Bull US Grand Prix is round 11 of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship and the flag drops to start the 32 lap race at 14.00 hrs local time (21.00 hrs GMT) on Sunday 23rd July.


Chris Vermeulen:


?We?ve had quite an eventful day. I knew the Laguna Seca circuit but it is quite a bit different to when I rode here a couple of years ago. It has been resurfaced which is new for everyone and it seems quite a bit bumpier that I remember. It?s made it quite difficult to find the best set-up but my crew have worked hard on getting it right. It is quite aggressive on the front end and we learned a lot today about how to cope with that. Everything seemed to work better and better as the day wore on and hopefully we can continue in that direction tomorrow.?


John Hopkins:


?Today we were a bit like track sweepers early on as it was so dusty out there! It?s great to be in front of family and the American fans and getting all their support. We still have a few changes to do to the bike because it is a really bumpy circuit. It will be crucial to get a good set-up for the race, we have some base settings but there are a lot of things we need to work on tomorrow. We will work hard tonight with the data we have got and find some better settings tomorrow and then be ready to go on Sunday?


Paul Denning ? Team Manager:


?We hoped that Laguna might suit the GSV-R reasonably well and we have been pleased with the competitiveness that it has shown so far. The circuit is incredibly bumpy which is amazing considering it has only just been resurfaced. It is testing the rider?s abilities and the chassis settings to the limit. Chris in particular has found a good rhythm and has done a lot of miles on the same Bridgestone rear tyre and seems to be able to do good times at the end of a long run ? which is encouraging for the race.


?John is struggling for a bit of feeling from the front of the bike and that is making it difficult for him to get into and out of the turns like he needs to. I am sure his guys will be looking for solutions tonight and John will have a range of options to try tomorrow morning. As it is he?s not far away so things are looking positive. A lot of riders are covered by a small amount of time and it will be the fine details that will determine a good result from a great one!?


Red Bull US Grand Prix Free Practice Classification:


1. Kenny Roberts Jr (KR211V) 1?23.859: 2. Nicky Hayden (Honda) +0.266: 3. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +0.335: 5. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +0.394: 10. JOHN HOPKINS (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +0.749

 

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MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
21 JULY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KAWASAKI SEARCH FOR A SET-UP AT LAGUNA SECA

Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano was left both disappointed and frustrated with his 16th place finish in today's second free practice session at Laguna Seca, after struggling to find a set-up on his Ninja ZX-RR to suit the characteristics of the technically demanding 3.61 km circuit.

The 28-year-old Japanese rider complained throughout both sessions that his Ninja ZX-RR was difficult to turn into the corners, particularly at the infamous Laguna Seca Corkscrew, and at the critical final turn that leads onto Laguna's only straight.

This tendency for his Ninja ZX-RR to understeer through the turns, coupled with stability problems under braking, left Nakano lacking the confidence in the front end of his Ninja ZX-RR that the Laguna Seca track demands.

Nakano's crew, together with Kawasaki's technical support staff, will improve the balance of Nakano's Ninja ZX-RR through changes to both chassis geometry and suspension settings overnight, and the Kawasaki rider is confident that this approach will allow him to improve his pace considerably ahead of tomorrow afternoon's all-important qualifying session.

Making his debut at the Laguna Seca circuit today, Randy de Puniet focussed on learning his way around the seven left and four right hand corners that make up the 3.61 km Laguna Seca track aboard his Ninja ZX-RR.

The 25-year-old Frenchman saw an improvement of more than one second in his lap time between today's free practice sessions, eventually finishing just one place behind his more experienced teammate in 17th position.

After declaring Laguna Seca a fun track to race at, de Puniet is confident of further improvement tomorrow, as more track time gives him the opportunity to discover more of the secrets to a fast lap around the sweeping turns and undulations of the Californian track.

Shinya Nakano: 16th - 1'25.598
"Today has been a difficult day, and I am disappointed to have finished so far down the timesheet on a track that we initially thought would suit the characteristics of our Ninja ZX-RR. I understand the quickest line around most of the circuit now, but still I have some problems with the section from the top of the corkscrew to the finish line, and it is this sector I must concentrate on tomorrow. But the biggest problem we had today was getting the bike to turn; it just didn't want to. This meant that I was losing time through every turn, but especially through the slow corners, like the Corkscrew and turn nine. This is what we need to focus on tonight; changing the chassis and suspension settings to improve balance and turn-in. As I said, today was disappointing, but I'm confident that the team will come up with a solution to our set-up problems ahead of tomorrow's qualifying session."

Randy de Puniet: 17th - 1'25.651
"I really like this track! This morning it was a bit difficult, because this is my first time racing here at Laguna Seca and the circuit is very technical, but this afternoon was a lot better. I was over a second faster during today's second free practice session, and a couple of longer runs this afternoon gave me a better understanding of the technical nature of this circuit. I hope tomorrow that we can make a further improvement to both the set-up of the bike and my lap time, as I really want to finish tomorrow a lot further up the timesheet than I have today. This is a funny circuit. It doesn't really compare to anything we have in Europe, but it is definitely good fun to race on and I'm hopeful we can put in a strong performance here."

Naoya Kaneko: Technical Manager
"At the moment we have some problems with getting Shinya's bike to turn, which takes away his confidence in the front end, and confidence is important here at Laguna, where you need to carry speed through some of the faster turns. This is what we will focus on tonight; making changes to the overall balance of the bike by altering both chassis geometry and settings, in a bid to improve turn-in performance for tomorrow, and to increase Shinya's confidence in the front end of the bike."

FREE PRACTICE
1. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Roberts 1'23.859; 2. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.266; 3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +0.335; 4. Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Honda +0.364; 5. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Team Suzuki MotoGP +0.394; 6. Colin Edwards (USA) Camel Yamaha Team +0.461; 7. Makoto Tamada (JPN) JIR Konica Minolta Honda +0.480; 8. Toni Elias (SPA) Fortuna Honda +0.635; 9. Casey Stoner (AUS) LCR Honda +0.664; 10. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP +0.804; 11. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Camel Yamaha Team +0.963; 16. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.739; 17. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.792;

 

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US GRAND PRIX

Free practice / FORTUNA HONDA GET OFF ON RIGHT FOOT

FORTUNA HONDA riders Marco Melandri and Toni El?as concluded their first day of practice at Laguna Seca in fourth and eighth place respectively today. Marco arrived in the United States in confident mood and after a very positive first contact he lapped just 0.364 off the best time of the day, set by Kenny Roberts Jr. Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa were the next two names on the provisional time sheets. Toni Elias, who is still recovering from his injuries and has little experience of this track, ended up in a creditable eighth place, just 0.635 off the pace set by Roberts.


MARCO MELANDRI (4th, 1?24?223, 31 laps):
?We?ve done a good job with the whole team. The bike is working really well and I?ve got a good feeling with it. We?ve changed a few small things and I have completed some tyre testing today. We still have to improve my pace but in general I?m quite happy. I like the track so much I?ve even redesigned my helmet for the occasion!?

TONI ELIAS (8th, 1?26?497, 26 laps):

?I?m quite satisfied. The bike has adapted perfectly and I was able to drop my lap time from the morning by two tenths. If you take into account my physical condition I think this is a good result. The team has done a good job and we are on the right lines. My feeling with the rear has improved about 50% and we still have room to improve.?

 

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FREE PRACTICE ? UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX - LAGUNA SECA 22/07/2006
---------------------------------------------

ROSSI AND EDWARDS GET TO GRIPS WITH LAGUNA SECA

The blazing Californian sunshine and a bumpy new track surface made
life even more turbulent than usual at Laguna Seca today as
preparations for the US Grand Prix got underway for the Camel Yamaha
Team and their MotoGP World Championship rivals. Valentino Rossi and
Colin Edwards made a bright start to the day, lapping fifth and
second fastest in the morning free practice, but both struggled in
the afternoon session and were unable to improve their times as they
focused on adapting the set-up of their YZR-M1 machines to the unique
demands of the wild western circuit. Rossi himself indulged in a
moment of rodeo riding as he ran across the gravel traps after
misjudging a braking marker going into the Corkscrew corner.

To make matters worse for Edwards he also began to struggle from the
effects of flu symptoms and an upset stomach, which were not helped
by afternoon temperatures exceeding of 30şC. His morning benchmark
was bettered by only five other riders, however, the fastest of those
being American compatriot Kenny Roberts Jr. (Team KR) with a lap of
1?23.859 - just inside Edwards? own official lap record of 1?23.915
set during the race last year. Tomorrow the pair will have one more
free session to adjust their machine set-up before tackling the all-
important qualifying practice.

COLIN EDWARDS (5th; 1?24.310, 44 laps)
?At the moment we?re just working to get the bike better, trying to
find the right setting for the track. The new surface is not great ?
I don?t think they could have made it any bumpier if they tried. It?s
been hard to ride today because I?ve also been suffering with flu
symptoms and an upset stomach. I?ll go to the Clinica Mobile for some
treatment tonight and hopefully get a good night?s sleep because I
really don?t want to feel like this again tomorrow, it was really
hard to ride this afternoon. The morning session was quite good and I
was feeling pretty confident, but I started to feel worse throughout
the day and things went downhill a bit this afternoon. We tried some
new things in the second session and didn?t find exactly the right
setting, but we have some more ideas for tomorrow and I?m confident
that if I?m feeling okay I can be back on the pace.?

VALENTINO ROSSI (11th; 1?24.674, 47 laps)
?I think that they?ve done a good job on the circuit and done nearly
everything we?ve asked for. The track is quite dirty at the moment
but the new asphalt has much better grip and by Sunday I think it
will be okay. Turn one is especially much safer and much less
dangerous. The problem that we have now is that it?s still very bumpy
in parts of the track, which is not good. In most places it?s better
but they?ve put the new asphalt down over the old bumps, so they?re
still there. This is unfortunate; the worst part is after the
corkscrew, turns 9 and 10. I was happy with how we started today - I
did some good laps towards the end this morning and was starting to
feel good with the bike and the track ? but this afternoon we had a
lot more problems. I didn?t have a good feeling in the corner and the
bike was quite hard to ride. The bumps are causing us some
difficulties and we need to understand how to make the M1 work at
this track. It is only Friday but we have a lot of work to do. We
need to make some tests with the qualifying tyre tomorrow morning and
hopefully we will have a better situation than in Germany. It is
going to be very important that we qualify well because it?s hard to
pass on this track.?

DAVIDE BRIVIO ? CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR
?We have some work to do, as always on a Friday! After the morning
session we expected to be a lot closer to the front in the afternoon
but the situation remained the same and we didn?t make any major
improvements. We have collected a lot of data that our engineers will
check overnight and we will see how we can move forward in the
morning. With the American riders all going fast here there is more
competition at the top so Valentino knows he has work to do. Colin
did a good job today considering his physical condition so we hope he
will be feeling better tomorrow and will be able to make some more
steps forward with the bike before qualifying.?

 

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MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
KAWASAKI RACING TEAM PRESS OFFICE
22 JULY 2006 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KAWASAKI FEEL THE HEAT AT LAGUNA SECA

Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano will start tomorrow's US Grand Prix from the third row of the grid, after qualifying his Ninja ZX-RR in eighth place during a qualifying session held in almost tropical conditions at Laguna Seca this afternoon.

A combination of the Californian sun and a cloudless sky meant that Nakano faced track temperatures as high as 65 degrees centigrade during this afternoon's hour-long timed session; a full ten degrees hotter than experienced during testing in Malaysia or this year's Grand Prix in Qatar.

But while the high temperatures made qualifying a test of physical endurance for the riders it also played into Nakano's hands, as none of the leading group were able to match their lap times on race tyres from this morning's, cooler, free practice session.

This allowed Nakano to close the gap on pole position man, Chris Vermeulen, to less than half-a-second, after changes to the chassis geometry, and a switch to a different profile rear tyre from Bridgestone, improved the overall handling of his Ninja ZX-RR.

Despite this improvement, the 28-year-old Japanese rider knows that tomorrow's race is likely to be an exercise in damage limitation, as he works to defend his eighth position in the current championship standings ahead of the three week summer break.

For Randy de Puniet, similar changes to the chassis and suspension settings on his Ninja ZX-RR led to a significant improvement in his lap time during the first part of this afternoon's timed session, but his unfamiliarity with the Laguna Seca circuit meant that the 25-year-old Frenchman was unable to qualify higher than 15th position, and will therefore start tomorrow's 32-lap US Grand Prix from the fifth row of the grid.

Making his debut at the Laguna Seca circuit this weekend, de Puniet has struggled to get to grips with the infamous Laguna Seca Corkscrew, and the downhill run to the final corner. The Kawasaki pilot intended to improve his line through this critical section by following more experienced riders during qualifying, but was unable to do so after finding himself alone on track for much of the hour-long session.

De Puniet will use tomorrow's 20-minute warm-up period to again focus on this section of the circuit, where he is hopeful of identifying a faster line ahead of tomorrow's race, in which he has his sights set firmly on a top twelve finish.

Shinya Nakano: 8th - 1'23.656
"This afternoon we switched to a different profile rear tyre from Bridgestone, and this definitely made an improvement in how the bike turns into the corners. This was a positive step, and the bike feels a lot better, but we still haven't found the perfect set-up for this track yet. Also, I think we were helped by the fact that, while we made an improvement, the leading riders were a little bit slower on race tyres this afternoon than they were this morning, probably because of the increase in track temperature. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with qualifying. I expected more, and Chris Vermeulen has certainly shown that the qualifying tyres from Bridgestone were up to the job, so it's a little disappointing to find myself only on the third row of the grid. For sure, tomorrow's race will be hard, especially in this heat, but I will be pushing hard to finish as high as possible, in order to safeguard my championship position ahead of the summer break."

Randy de Puniet: 15th - 1'24.592
"It was a hard day today, mainly because of the weather, which was very hot. We found some solutions to our problems with the bike this afternoon, but while it's a lot better than it was, it's still far from perfect, and that hasn't made my job any easier. Neither has the section of track between the Corkscrew and the finish line, where I'm losing a lot of time. I was hoping to follow one of the Americans through this section today, but every time I reached the Corkscrew I found myself on my own. I hope I will get the chance to follow someone through here tomorrow during warm-up, because I need some indication of where to find the fastest line if I am to improve upon my qualifying position in the race. If I can learn the secret to this part of the track, then I think it's still possible to finish inside the top twelve tomorrow."

QUALIFYING PRACTICE - FINAL TIMES
1. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Team Suzuki MotoGP 1'23.168; 2. Colin Edwards (USA) Camel Yamaha Team +0.153; 3. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Roberts +0.252; 4. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team +0.322; 5. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP +0.330; 6. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team +0.368; 7. Casey Stoner (AUS) LCR Honda +0.483; 8. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +0.488; 9. Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Honda +0.582; 10. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Camel Yamaha Team +0.879; 15. Randy de Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.424

 

[KUCIAR666]

23/07/06 01:42
Vermeulen flies to pole in Californian heat

Chris Vermeulen powered his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R to pole-position for tomorrow?s Red Bull US Grand Prix at a scorching Laguna Seca today.


Vermeulen (1?23.168) looked impressive throughout this afternoon?s qualifying. He went to the top of the leader board after only six minutes of the hour-long session, and although his time was bettered by other riders the rookie Australian went quickly back to the top and never gave up first place. This is Vermeulen?s second pole position of the season following his fantastic wet performance in Turkey.


John Hopkins will start tomorrow?s 32-lap race just behind his team-mate from the second row of the grid. Hopkins (P5 1?23.498) looked likely to join Vermeulen on the front row and missed out on that by only a tenth of a second. Hopkins worked hard to find the best set-up for race-day and is confident that he has what is needed.


Today?s qualifying was held in very hot conditions with air temperatures reaching 40?C and track temperatures an incredible 65?C. With similar conditions forecast for tomorrow?s race beginning at 14.00hrs local time (21.00hrs GMT), it is certain be a battle of attrition for riders, tyres and machines alike.


Chris Vermeulen:

?For a qualifying session it couldn?t have gone better. We?re in pole position! I did three fast laps at almost identical times and nobody else was close for a while. It got a bit nearer at the end and perhaps a bit too close for comfort. My whole team, Bridgestone, Ohlins and everybody else has been working really really hard. All credit to all my guys as I just had to ride the bike. The track conditions were difficult this afternoon because it was so hot and that made it slippery. The track was actually starting to tear up in places and you could see the bitumen coming away from the concrete underneath. Tomorrow will be hard with this heat over 32-laps, we have a good set-up and think we have the tyres for the job - we hope it is all going to work for us.?


John Hopkins:

?Basically we were just finding the best set-up that we could today. Everything has just got better and we have taken a big step forward today. We have qualified on the first two rows which is where you need to be here, I would have liked to have been on the front with Chris and congratulations to him for his pole. We will hope to get a good start and be right there because our race pace is looking good. We have a couple of things to try in warm-up and if they don?t work then we have a good set-up anyway. But whatever, come tomorrow afternoon we are going to be ready!?


Paul Denning ? Team Manager:

?This is Rizla Suzuki?s third pole of the year and Chris? second. This was backed up by a huge effort by John to secure a second row start in the dying seconds. A lot has been said about Suzuki?s progress this year and the fact we are discussing our third pole justifies that. Chris was simply awesome this afternoon! There was clearly a lot less grip on the track with unbelievably high temperatures, but both on race tyres and qualifiers he simply squeezed more out of it than everybody else out there. Tom and Chris? crew also did a fantastic job today and the work they put in helped Chris further.


?As far as the race is concerned, in these temperatures the biggest concern for us will be the same for us as all riders and that will be maintaining grip and keeping a level of consistency to the end of the race. I think we have tried everything we can this weekend, so has Bridgestone, and we are pretty much where we?re at and looking forward to getting the best possible result, whatever that might be!?


Red Bull US Grand Prix Qualifying Practice Classification:


1. CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) 1?23.168: 2. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) +0.153: 3. Kenny Roberts Jr +0.252: 5. JOHN HOPKINS (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +0.330:

 

[KUCIAR666]

QUALIFYING PRACTICE ? UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX - LAGUNA SECA
22/07/2006
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EDWARDS BOOKS FRONT-ROW START IN LAGUNA

Camel Yamaha rider Colin Edwards will start his home Grand Prix from
the front row of the grid tomorrow, just missing out on pole position
in a thrilling climax to this afternoon?s qualifying practice. Held in
sweltering conditions registering 38şC, the decisive grid session saw
Edwards put in his best lap in the final few seconds ? the Texan
dipping underneath the benchmark set moments earlier by eventual
pole-setter Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) in each of the first three
sections before conceding decisive tenths in the final series of turns
after the Corkscrew.

With the Laguna Seca circuit clearly suffering from the extreme
conditions and offering less grip than it had done in the cooler
morning free practice, several riders struggled to improve their lap
times in the afternoon - even on a qualifying tyre. Camel Yamaha Team
rider Valentino Rossi was one of the unlucky few, the Italian?s best
effort briefly looking good enough for a spot on the second row of the
grid before a late flurry saw him shuffled back two rows to tenth place
? the same position from which he launched a successful charge to
victory in Germany seven days ago.

COLIN EDWARDS (2nd; 1?23.321, 28 laps)
?It was seriously hot out there! I?m really happy with my starting
position, it means a lot to me to be able to start from the front for
my home race. We might still try some changes in the morning warm-up,
just to refine the setting a bit. Our race pace is great until the
corkscrew, but after that things aren?t so good. The second half of the
lap really doesn?t feel great, although maybe it?s not as bad as it
feels. It?s just so bumpy and it?s hard to ride in a good rhythm.
Anyway, we?re starting at the front and I?m going to give it all I?ve
got. I?ve got a special livery tomorrow on my bike to celebrate being
back here in America and as a bit of a thank you to Yamaha US for all
the work they?ve done to help improve the safety of the track. It?s a
stars and stripes theme so let?s hope it?s lucky for me!?

VALENTINO ROSSI (10th; 1?24.047, 26 laps)
?This year the practices have been so hard from me and every time we
have to do a lot of work. This morning we tried some new things and the
bike was better, and faster. I am quite worried because it?s so hard to
overtake here, even harder than Sachsenring. There are only a few
places - after turn one in the first braking, turn 5, and the last
corner. Maybe the corkscrew, but I think this is an American secret -
Colin passed me here last year but it?s hard for me to understand how!
Anyway from the telemetry I can see we?re faster through this section
than last year so maybe it?s okay this time. I need to find the lines
with the fewest bumps in order to understand where I can pass people.
It?s very hard in this heat and 33 laps will be very difficult. We
need to find the best setting to allow me to be fast with the least
energy from me! I know Hayden is fast, of course I want to finish in
front of him, but as long as I am close to him with not too many points
between us, this is the most important thing. We have some new things
to try in the morning and we have to hope that we can make a big
improvement on Sunday to the setting, like in Sachsenring.?

DAVIDE BRIVIO ? CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR
?Colin did a great job today, we?re really happy for him. He?s got a
great motivation, being here in front of his home fans, and this has
given him the extra push to get on the front row. We still have some
problems to solve, especially with Valentino. He now has to do another
hard job, like last week, and it?s going to be a very difficult race
for him. Anyway, we still have the warm-up so let?s see what
improvements we can make there. When Colin starts from the front he
usually stays there, so let?s hope that he can do this tomorrow, and
that Valentino can fight his way forward like he usually does.?

 

[KUCIAR666]

US GRAND PRIX

Qualifying practice / FORTUNA HONDA RIDERS READY FOR AMERICAN CHALLENGE

FORTUNA HONDA riders Marco Melandri and Toni El?as completed their second day of practice for the USGP today in scorching conditions, the thermometers peaking at 37? C as the riders worked hard on the setting of their machines ahead of tomorrow?s race. Marco, who has lapped consistently throughout the weekend, focused mainly on the suspension of his Honda RC211V, trying out some different Michelin tyre compounds in the afternoon despite the soaring track temperatures of 47?C, which evidently complicated the task. Despite that the Italian clocked a lap of 1?23.750, good enough for ninth place on the grid. His team-mate Toni Elias, meanwhile, continued with his own programme and despite improving his time from yesterday by 0.2 seconds he will start tomorrow from twelfth place. The Spanish youngster is still suffering from pain in his left shoulder and will need an injection before taking part in what promises to be one of the season?s toughest races.


MARCO MELANDRI (9th, 1?23?750, 27 laps):

?I wasn?t expecting it to be so hot. The track conditions have changed a lot and if that continues tomorrow it will be a tough race. It?s been difficult to make a tyre choice ? we have focused on suspension and improved in the areas we wanted. During the afternoon session I had something stuck in my eye, so that made things even more difficult, but despite that I think we have found a good base to work from.?

TONI ELIAS (12th, 1?24?230, 25 laps):

?It was a tough day because the heat changed the conditions of the track. My feeling with the bike is improving even though I still have a lot of pain in my left shoulder. It will be a tough race tomorrow and I have no choice but to take an injection.?