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SETUP REPORT - 11/09/2006
Title chase continues for Camel Yamaha Team in Australia
Title chase continues for Camel Yamaha Team in Australia
The Camel Yamaha Team take their global points quest to the southern
hemisphere this week as the MotoGP World Championship makes the
transcontinental trip from Malaysia to Australia. Round fourteen of seventeen
takes place at the Phillip Island circuit near Melbourne almost a month
earlier than usual, promising brisk spring temperatures and another
unpredictable weekend of top class motorcycling action.
Valentino Rossi arrives Down Under on top form, having clinched his
fifth victory of the season just last Sunday in Malaysia. That
morale-boosting win over fellow title contender Loris Capirossi (Ducati) has left
him just 26 points shy of series leader Nicky Hayden (Honda) with four
rounds to go and his most successful premier-class circuit on the
horizon. The 27 year old has taken MotoGP victory at Phillip Island for the
past five straight seasons, adding to two previous successes there in
the 250cc class.
The target for Colin Edwards is a return to the early season form that
culminated in a victory challenge at Assen in round seven. Like the
Dutch TT circuit, Phillip Island is a place the Texan enjoyed huge success
at during his World Superbike career and it provides the ideal scenario
for him to work around the set-up problems he has encountered with the
YZR-M1 machine in recent races.
Valentino Rossi: A special place
Valentino Rossi can't wait to get back on track after one of the most
exhilarating races of his career at Sepang on Sunday. The Italian is
relishing every opportunity he gets to close in on series leader Hayden
and can't wait for his next bite of the cherry at one of his favourite
venues.
"Honestly I always look forward to this race a lot, and especially now,
when my M1 is working so well," says Rossi. "Phillip Island and
Australia in general is a special place, very beautiful. This race is very
important for my team, because many of them are Australian and it's their
home race, like Mugello for me. I want to thank them for all their hard
work by doing well!"
"Phillip Island is a magic track for me. I've won a lot of races there
and some championships too, I love it! It's one of my favourite tracks,
an 'old style' track.We didn't test there this year but anyway the M1
always works well there and I love riding there. It's very cold this
year, so it's going to be difficult with the tyres, but I am really
looking forward to it."
"After Laguna I didn't entirely believe in my chances for the
championship anymore, but then after Brno I said to myself 'okay we still have a
chance, we can try.'Now my objective is to win as many races as
possible, then we see in Valencia."
Colin Edwards: The next challenge
Colin Edwards also has a special affinity with Phillip Island having
built a strong record at the track during his World Superbike career,
finishing on the podium on no fewer than eight occasions, including a win
in 2001. The Texan also benefits from the backing of strong local
support, with friends and family always amongst the crowd.
"My Dad is actually Australian so Phillip Island is always a bit of a
home race for me," explains Edwards. "The Australian fans are amazing
and I always have a lot of mates there which makes it fun.I am looking
forward to it; I just need to put Malaysia behind me and focus on the
next challenge."
"Like Valentino I really love the track and I've had some brilliant
races there over my career, with the Superbikes as well. It seems to suit
our bike, although it's going to be pretty cold there at this time of
year so it's hard to predict the situation with the tyres. Obviously I
had a tough time in Malaysia, where I was expecting to go well, so we're
going to have to find something new this week. I really need a good
result here."
Davide Brivio - Camel Yamaha Team Director
Camel Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio could not wish for a better
venue to be heading to on the back of a successful weekend in Malaysia,
with the riders sharing a fondness for the track layout and several of
the mechanics hailing from Australasian shores. The second of three
races in as many weeks, Phillip Island promises to be another stern
challenge of the team's organisation and mettle.
"It's great to be going to a place and a circuit that both our riders
love," says Brivio. "A lot of the team are Australian too and for them
to be heading home after such a long and demanding season can only help
them to recharge their batteries and stay fully focused for another
important weekend ahead. From Japan to Italy, all our staff have been
working extremely hard to keep the championship alive and that's the goal
again this Sunday."
"These three races in such a short space of time put a lot of demands
on the team but we are just keeping our heads down, keeping focused and
taking each race as it comes. The win in Malaysia was a fantastic
emotion for everybody and I'm sure the show will be just as spectacular on
Sunday. Hopefully Colin can be involved up at the front too and help
Valentino take another step closer to the top of the championship."
Technically speaking: Phillip Island according to Pierre Alves
Phillip Island demands far more than just a fast bike to make for quick
and consistent lap times. The sweeping and flowing circuit is possibly
one of the ultimate tests of machine control and throttle accuracy, not
to mention the sheer bravery and forcefulness required of the rider.
Its exposed location on the cliffs facing the Bass Strait means that
weather is a constant talking point, especially this year, when tyre choice
will be a crucial consideration.
"It's going to be a big change from what we're used to at Phillip
Island because we've never been there at this time of year and we're
expecting it to be very cold!" explains Pierre Alves, Michelin Tyre Technician
for the Camel Yamaha Team. "Generally for Phillip Island you need a
tyre that's quite hard on the left side and much softer, but not too soft,
on the right side.Because of the temperature it's going to be much
harder than usual to find the right combination and balance for the track,
as tyre efficiency will be reduced with such a low track temperature."
"Usually we have quite a good base to work from at Phillip Island,
because we test there, but this year we didn't so we don't know so much
about how the new M1 will go there.However the biggest factor, as far as
tyres go, is the weather; it's quite difficult because we've really
never faced a situation like this! It's certainly going to be one of the
most challenging, and interesting, races of the year for us!"
Valentino Rossi: Information
Age: 27
Lives: London, UK
Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1
GP victories: 84 (57 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)
First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)
First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)
GP starts: 169 (110 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 43
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: 61 x MotoGP
World Championships - 2 World Superbike
Phillip Island Lap Record: Marco Melandri (Honda) 2005, 1'30.332
Phillip Island Best Lap: Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2005, 1'29.337
2005 Australian Grand Prix Results: 1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha,
41'08.542
2. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda, +1.007
3. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati, +4.215
6. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha, +33.200