2005 MotoGP: LAGUNA SECA USA

2005 MotoGP : MotoGP R8 of 17, LAGUNA SECA, USA

CIRCUIT:

• LAGUNA SECA
• location: Monterey, south of San Francisco
• circuit also used for World and AMA Superbikes as well as Champcar racing
• track length: 3.6km
• opened: 1957
• PREVIOUS RACE:
• 1993 500cc GP: 1 John Kocinski 2 Alex Barros

RACE RESULT

• 1 Nicky Hayden Honda USA, 36 laps *** his maiden MotoGP win ***
  "My team and my bike, just everything felt good today and it just clicked ... I just got out front and just kept going as hard as I could. Sometimes I would see the gap get small and I just rode my heart out and kept pushing. Today was my day thanks to my team. I mean these guys pushed me hard ... every dog has his day."
• 2 Colin Edwards Yamaha ITA
• 3 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA
  "I'm happy because we have always been on the podium this year"
• 4 Biaggi
• 5 Gibernau
• 6 Bayliss
• 7 Tamada
• 8 Hopkins
• 9 Nakano
• 10 Capirossi
• 11 Xaus 12 Hofmann 13 Elias 14 Roberts 15 Byrne 16 Ellison 17 Battaini

HONDA RACE REPORT

Hayden delights fans with debut MotoGP win

• Repsol Honda’s Nicky Hayden sent 60,000 fans crazy today by taking his first MotoGP win under clear blue skies at Laguna Seca, California. His team–mate Max Biaggi came home fourth in a hard-fought 32-lap race.
• Hayden controlled the weekend like no other in his short MotoGP career. The hugely popular 23-year-old finished the first practice session on Friday second fastest and from there dominated every session by heading the pack in practice, qualifying and the warm-up this morning.
• Starting from the first pole position on his 38th MotoGP start, the American took the holeshot and never looked back. The ‘Kentucky Kid’ literally left the best of the world in his wake. By lap seven he had an advantage of 2.8s that shrunk by a second as compatriot Colin Edwards closed the gap.
• Hayden responded like a veteran on his RC211V and put his head down to leave Edwards unable to mount an attack. In the end he crossed the finish line 1.9s clear to claim 25 precious championship points and his first, memorable MotoGP win.
• His efforts today list him alongside American greats who have won premier class races at Laguna Seca. Out of the seven Laguna Seca races Americans have now won six; Eddie Lawson (1988) and Wayne Rainey (1989’ 90’ 91’) John Kocinski (1993) and now Hayden. Hayden’s win is also the first premier class GP victory for Honda at the famous Californian racetrack.
• Biaggi’s smooth style masked the incredible effort the Italian was making round the 3.6km roller-coaster of a track 120 miles south of San Francisco. Although he had his difficulties in the practice and qualifying sessions his ranking of third fastest in the crucial morning warm up was promising for the 32-lap race that lay ahead.
• The 34-year-old made a fantastic start from the third row of the grid and was placed third at the end of the first lap. On lap four he was challenging Troy Bayliss for third when, as the pack approached the infamous corkscrew, he was pushed wide and lost three places. The Italian recovered strongly and passed Sete Gibernau on the way to a solid fourth which consolidates his championship third place as Marco Melandri failed to score after crashing out without injury early in the race.
• Makoto Tanaka, Repsol Honda Team Manager: “A very special day and one we will all remember for ever. Nicky has been the man to beat all weekend and in the end no one could touch him. His team did a great job and got the bike set-up well right from the start. They hardly changed a thing. We at Honda have always had faith in Nicky and today it all paid off.
• “Mr Takeo Fukui, the President and CEO of Honda Motor Company was here to witness the first Honda win in the top class of GP racing at Laguna Seca ever. I am positive that now Nicky has tasted success we will be seeing more. Max had a quiet race in compassion but with Melandri crashing out, managed to close the gap to second place to only seven points.”
• Max Biaggi – fourth : “It was a good race. Surely, we could have stepped on the podium this time, but it took me too long to pass Bayliss, who was slowing me down. So I lost the touch with the head of the race. I’m sorry, because I did a good start, from seventh to fourth place. I also liked the duel with Gibernau, tough but always fair. Well, I had fun. Today I really want to congratulate with my team-mate Nicky and with his guys. He was simply perfect all over the weekend. Bravo Nicky!
• Nicky Hayden – first : “This is like a fairy tale. To come to your home GP and be fastest in nearly all the sessions and get pole and then win is just a dream come true. It s been a while since I won anything – except the dating game TV thing – and this feels amazing. For the race I put my head down and just rode my heart out the whole race. In the middle of the race I saw the time gap come down and I thought ‘oh no’, but I kept focussed. Getting Earl on the back at the end is a real dirt track thing. I owe my family everything. My Mum and Dad have given up so much for us all as a family. I remember the roof leaking as a kid when it rained as all the money we had went into racing. This win is for everyone in my team – for Honda in believing in me and for all the great fans around this track today who helped me so much . Every dog has its day and today it all just came together. I’m going to enjoy this moment for sure."

QUALIFYING

GRID

• 1 Nicky Hayden Honda USA 1m 22.670 *** his maiden MotoGP pole ***
  “It’s a great feeling after all these years to be first when it counts. The weekend just keeps getting better and better – I just hope it keeps going in that direction because tomorrow is when it really counts. It’s great to give all my people something to cheer about. The whole team has done a great job – the bike feels so good. We used some great Michelins and I’m just so happy. I’m not really worried about the race tomorrow – I just want to enjoy it.”
  2 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 1m 23.024 +0.354s
  "It was very important to make a good lap time today and to be on the front row and second place is very good. The team have worked so hard and there was a big difference in the bike between yesterday and today. This track is very particular compared to any other circuit in the world so the settings have to be very particular too. Now I have started to understand the track and I was able to do a fast lap, but I think I will discover some more secrets in the warm-up. It's always difficult to win races in MotoGP but this time it's even worse because there are more riders than usual with a chance of victory - Hayden is very fast, also Bayliss and Colin. The Americans have an extra motivation but we all want to win and that is what I am here for. We have a good position on the grid, now we need to improve the setting some more and choose the tyres. We'll see what happens at the end of the race."
  3 Alex Barros Honda BRA +0.64s
  “Things went well today, the grip was much better, and we were able to put in a very good work on the set-up. It’s just a shame that in the of the qualifying session I found some traffic on the track when I was going for my fastest laps. During my last lap I found Melandri, Hopkins and Roberts, three slower riders in front of me. I do not say I could do the pole, Hayden made a brilliant job today and he is the man to beat for the tomorrow race, but I would like to make a 1’22 something. Anyway, I’m very happy also to see Troy just so close, it’s good for the whole team”.
  4 T. Bayliss Honda AUS +0.68
  “So far it has been a good week-end, we’ve always been close to the top during the whole week-end. We just had a little problem something went wrong with the rear brake this afternoon, maybe due to the this morning crash I do not know, anyway nothing to do with the manufacturer, just a normal little problem that can happens. It caused a little bit of stress but after we going well again. When I made a flat 1’24 with my first soft tyre I said to myself “Well Troy you have to do better with the next one” . So I did, I pushed very hard and 1’23.3 is not so bad. Alex is just in front of me and this is good for the team, but I’m just there and that’s make me feeling good for the tomorrow race”.
  5 C. Edwards Yamaha USA +0.79
  6 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA +0.82
  7 M. Biaggi Honda ITA +0.92
  8 C. Checa Ducati ESP
  9 M. Tamada Honda JPN
  10 S. Nakano Kawasaki JPN
  11 M. Melandri Honda ITA
  12 K. Roberts Suzuki USA
  13 S. Gibernau Honda ESP
  14 L. Capirossi Ducati ITA
  15 A. Hofman Kawasaki GER
  16 R. Xaus Yamaha ESP
  17 T. Elias Yamaha ESP

YAMAHA QUALIFYING REPORT

• Yamaha Factory Racing riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will start from the first and second rows respectively in the eighth round of the MotoGP World Championship, after finishing second and fifth fastest in today's sell-out qualifying session at Laguna Seca. After lapping fifth and sixth quickest in the morning free practice, both riders were consistently on the pace in the afternoon heat and are confident of their chances in tomorrow's Grand Prix, the first to be held on U.S. soil since 1994.
• Riding at the Californian circuit for the first time, Rossi produced a stunning lap to gatecrash the top three at the end of the session and out-qualify ten riders with previous race experience at this circuit. The only man capable of lapping faster than Rossi today was local rider Nicky Hayden (Honda), who took his first ever MotoGP pole position with a time of 1'22.670. Edwards rode equally hard for a top grid position in front of passionate home support and is now targeting a second consecutive podium finish following his third-place in Assen two weeks ago.
• Fortuna Yamaha riders Ruben Xaus and Toni Elias will both start from the sixth row in tomorrow's race. Rubens fastest lap was more than a second quicker than yesterday and placed him on the 16th spot of the grid. Toni Elias had a minor crash in the final minutes of the qualifying session which prevented him of putting in a good result.
• Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 2nd, 1'23.024
  "It was very important to make a good lap time today and to be on the front row and second place is very good. The team have worked so hard and there was a big difference in the bike between yesterday and today. This track is very particular compared to any other circuit in the world so the settings have to be very particular too. Now I have started to understand the track and I was able to do a fast lap, but I think I will discover some more secrets in the warm-up. It's always difficult to win races in MotoGP but this time it's even worse because there are more riders than usual with a chance of victory - Hayden is very fast, also Bayliss and Colin. The Americans have an extra motivation but we all want to win and that is what I am here for. We have a good position on the grid, now we need to improve the setting some more and choose the tyres. We'll see what happens at the end of the race."
• Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 5th, 1'23.469
  "It took a big effort to set that lap and I'm actually quite lucky to be on the second row because we made a small mistake with the front tyre choice at the end of the session. Anyway, the important thing is that we're on the second row and I've got a decent race pace. Nicky did a few laps in the 1'23 mark today, which looks to be the benchmark, and it will be tough to go with that but I'm confident we can do it. Laguna is a funny track and you never quite know what to expect on race day because a lot of things can happen, so we'll just concentrate on the job at hand and go for it. The support here has been amazing all weekend and I can't imagine what the atmosphere will be like tomorrow. Hopefully we can give them all something to shout about."
• Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director
  "Valentino did a very good lap at the end and he has an excellent position to start the race, which is important at this circuit. Colin is also in good shape because he managed to keep a good pace. At the end he qualified on the second row so I think both Colin and Vale have a chance to stay with the top group in the race, although they will be 32 hard laps. It will be a big emotion to see our riders in the yellow and black colours for Yamaha's 50th Anniversary and I'm sure our riders will try their best to help us celebrate."

FRI PRAC, JULY 8, 2005, Sunny, Temp: 20ºC

• 1 Nicky Hayden Honda USA 1' 24.228
  “It’s nice to be fastest here at home – a real good feeling. The weekend has started out great. The bike is working well and we have made a pretty good guess with the settings. Laguna is about how I remember it although I haven’t been here for three years. It does seem a little smaller on a MotoGP bike though; I seem to remember the straight being really long but it feels pretty short now! I’m really enjoying myself here with my brothers and my friends, so hopefully the weekend can continue like this.”
  2 Troy Bayliss Honda AUS 1' 24.451
  3 Max Biaggi Honda ITA 1' 24.542
  4 A. Barros Honda BRA 1' 24.564
  5 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA 1' 24.679
  6 C. Edwards Yamaha USA 1' 24.696
  7 S. Gibernau Honda ESP 1' 24.802
  8 M. Melandri Honda ITA 1' 24.938
  9 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA 1' 24.969
  10 Checa 11 K. Roberts 12 Nakano 13 Tamada
  14 Elias 15 Hofman 16 Capirossi 17 Xaus

YAMAYA FRI PRACTICE REPORT

MotoGP : Edwards and Rossi get to grips with Laguna Seca

• Yamaha Factory Racing riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards began their preparations for the eighth round of the MotoGP World Championship in front of a bumper crowd today as the series returned to Laguna Seca after an exile of more than a decade. It was a day of contrasting experiences for the Yamaha pair, with the reigning World Champion paying his first visit to the legendary Californian circuit whilst his American team-mate made an exciting homecoming to a track he grew up on in the national AMA series.
• Whilst Rossi tentatively found his bearings at the rollercoaster track, Edwards benefited from his previous knowledge of its intricate layout to immediately begin set-up work in this morning's first free practice, which was split into two extended sessions of 55 minutes. The Texan lapped consistently amongst the fastest riders as he ran through a series of suspension and tyre tests, clocking the sixth quickest time of the day in the afternoon's hour-long second free practice. Rossi, one of ten riders in the MotoGP class to have no previous race experience at Laguna Seca, set his best time in the morning and lies ninth fastest on the combined time sheets. Nicky Hayden (Honda) clocked the fastest time of the day with a lap of 1'24.228 after overturning Troy Bayliss (Honda) in the afternoon session.
• Toni Elias was happy to be riding on the YZR-M1 again for the first time after his injury that almost took two months. In the afternoon session the young Spaniard improved over 1.5 second giving him the fourteenth position in today's results. Fortuna Yamaha rider Ruben Xaus rode his fastest lap (1'26.392) in the morning session and ended today as seventeenth.
• Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 6th, 1'24.696
  "It's great to be back here at Laguna Seca and the support I've had even today has been awesome. With this being my home Grand Prix and having Valentino as my team-mate, the backing for the whole team has been incredible. As far as the bike is concerned, we've already got the rear end working probably better than anything I've ever ridden around this circuit and generally it feels great. The only thing I'm having a little trouble with is keeping the front on the ground and turning into the corners, so we have a few areas that we need to strengthen. I'm really happy with my pace and my lap time because I know there is a lot more to come from us tomorrow."
• Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 9th, 1'24.969
  "This is an 'old style' track and to be honest I think maybe our bike is a little too fast for it, so today I haven't been able to push to the limit. It is hard to find the right set-up in these circumstances and at the moment we still have a lot work to do. We need more time on the track and more kilometres with the bike to find out where we can push harder, make up some time and be stronger. I am a little concerned about the safety of the track and today we will have a meeting with the other riders to discuss it. Anyway, I have enjoyed riding at Laguna Seca, especially the Corkscrew, because in the past I have only seen it on the television. The big crowds here show that MotoGP should be in America, but we also need to make sure it is safe."
• Daniele Romagnoli, Colin Edwards' Crew Chief
  "It has been quite a challenge for us to find a set-up for the bike at this track but thankfully we have the perfect rider to give us the feedback we need because there are not many people who know this circuit like Colin does. The first step for us this morning was to find the gearbox setting, which we were able to do quite quickly, and then start to work on the front and rear suspension. We have got the rear working quite well but we have some more work to do adjusting the front spring settings which should give Colin more confidence in the bike and push for a much better time tomorrow."
• Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 14th, 1'25.574
  "I'm satisfied. The track is technical and complicated and my wrist still doesn't feel one hundred percent yet. This track has many left turns so it's not hard to imagine how difficult it is for me. Today we've done a good job, working calmly and progressively. Although I've been out of the competition for about two months I didn't stop my physical training. Nevertheless I still feel the pain in my wrist, especially at the breaking points where it hurts a lot.
• I'm happy to be riding here because the circuit is very mythical to me. When I was a young boy I've watched my heroes riding here and since then it has been a dream riding here myself. We already were a lot quicker in the second session but for tomorrow we have to make some adjustments to improve even more."

RACE PREVIEW

YAMAHA REPORT

MotoGP Set-up Report - Laguna Seca, USA

• After more than ten years absence from the MotoGP World Championship it was announced late in 2004 that the Laguna Seca circuit would once again features on the 2005 race calendar. The US event was excluded back in 1994 due to track safety concerns and limited crowd attendance figures, despite continued success with the World Superbike Championship. However since signing the agreement with MotoGP, which cemented the return of the US GP, a significant investment has been made to improve track safety and the circuit facilities. Combined with increased interest in the championship buy the US public Laguna Seca is now promising to be a spectacular affair. However, unlike any other race in the championship, the 2005 US GP will only feature the MotoGP class from the regular schedule, with the GP250 and 125 classes being replaced by local AMA events including the AMA Superbikes.
• Most circuits have at least one distinguishing feature that ensures it stands out from the crowd, but none more so than the Laguna Seca Corkscrew. The rather short, by MotoGP standards, 3610m circuit still has some of the highest variation in elevation changes compared to any track on the MotoGP calendar, all culminating around a short chicane which not only boasts a tight left right sequence but also a elevation change just as dramatic. Riders will climb up one of the fastest section of the circuit only to be met by a blind left hand turn that drops away down into what is literally the type of corkscrew you'd expect to find on a big American rollercoaster.
• In addition the Laguna Seca layout includes a high speed kink (main straight), a series of long radius slow turns (turn one) and a hard braking 90-degree left hander (the last turn). With so much to consider the word in everyone's minds involved with the set-up of the YZR-M1 will be "balance" - balanced chassis geometry, balanced suspension movement and balanced power delivery. The aim is to offer the rider confidence, because at Laguna Seca a confident rider is a fast rider. A bike pumping out 240 horsepower on this circuit will tend to become very lively very easily, so stability will take priority over agility despite the twists and turns of the infamous Corkscrew.
• With both Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards very happy with the base set-up of the YZR-M1 little will be changed with the overall geometry. Sure minor suspension adjustments will be made to support stability, and possibly a slightly longer swingarm could be considered at some stage during the weekend to improve this further, but it's the way the M1's power is delivered that the engineers will concentrate their efforts. A linear delivery, even at the slight expense of outright power, should help stability and prove easier to put in fast consistent laps.
• For the tyre manufacturers it's going to be a very difficult race, despite their best calculated estimations. With no MotoGP experience at the US circuit exactly how the combination of the track surface, track temperature and the 240 plus horsepower will affect the compounds and constructions will be difficult to predict and could have a very significant influence on the outcome of the race. However despite all the efforts of the engineers, chief mechanics and tyre technicians track knowledge will play a bigger part in the result of the US GP. In addition the rider's ability to compensate for the neutral balance of the bike by adjusting their body weight to maximize traction will also be a key.

  Yamaha 50th Anniversary celebration Laguna Seca

• Message on the occasion of the American MotoGP race by Takashi Kajikawa - President, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
• "On July 1, 2005, Yamaha Motor Company celebrated the 50th Anniversary of our company's founding. We have been able to reach this major milestone thanks to a proud tradition of the Yamaha "Spirit of Challenge" that began with our founding president, Genichi Kawakami in 1955, and has been handed down through the generations of Yamaha employees, and also thanks to the great efforts of our importers and dealers around the world, and finally thanks to the support we have always received from our customers. On behalf of Yamaha Motor, I wish to express our deep gratitude to all these people.
• Throughout our company's 50-year history, racing has always been an arena for us to nurture the spirit of challenge and refine our technology. At the same time, it has been a very important way for us to realize our corporate mission of creating "Kando," which is the Japanese word for feelings of excitement and deep satisfaction. And today, we are more aware than ever of the importance of winning races, because of the tremendous inspiration and motivation it brings to our customers and our business partners around the world.
• Looking back, the first overseas race Yamaha Motor ever participated in was the Catalina Grand Prix in the U.S. of 1958. Later, Yamaha would bring AMA star Kenny Roberts to the GP500 class of the World Championships and create a sensation, when he went on to win three consecutive world titles. Now I am very happy to see the pinnacle competition of world motorcycle road racing return to the U.S. for the first time in 11 years.
• In this race, Yamaha will be represented by our Factory Team's Valentino Rossi, who is presently on a five race consecutive winning streak on the YZR-M1, America's own Colin Edwards as well as the Fortuna Yamaha Team riders Tony Elias and Ruben Xaus. For this race the machines of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will be sporting the nostalgic Yamaha U.S. racing colours from the 1970s. Also, we are happy to hold events that will welcome 19 great Yamaha road race and motocross riders of the past and present including Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson and Giacomo Agostini.
• At the American GP venue this time, we hope that all the members of the media and the fans will have an opportunity to experience first-hand the excitement of another Yamaha racing legend unfolding.
• Yamaha Motor Company is dedicated to the promotion of racing as a form of "Kando" that can be shared not only within the Yamaha family but also with our customers and fans everywhere. That is why we actively pursue race programmes at all levels, from MotoGP to local races in all parts of the world, and not only for motorcycles but in a wide range of categories, from snowmobiles and ATVs to racing karts. We ask for your continued support for us in these activities."

  Yamaha celebrates 50th Anniversary with special Laguna MotoGP livery

• Yamaha's Factory MotoGP team goes to this weekend's United States Grand Prix in celebratory mood, wearing the famous Yamaha USA colours of yellow, white and black.
• This special livery marks Yamaha's 50th Anniversary and acknowledges the significant contribution made by American riders to the marque's racing history. The Yamaha Motor Company was founded on July 1st 1955, just two weeks before the factory's first bike, the YA1, won its first race, the Mount Fuji Ascent race. Since then three American riders have won nine premier-class World Championships with Yamaha - 'King' Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, each taking three crowns across three decades, the 70s, the 80s and the 90s.
• The livery that Yamaha Factory Racing YZR-M1 riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will wear at Laguna Seca was first used by Yamaha USA in the late 1960s and won global renown when Roberts scored his World Championship hat-trick.
• Masao Furusawa, Senior General Manager of Yamaha's Engineering Operations, finds that this is a perfect time for the company to celebrate its first half-century. "This is a moment of which we can be proud," he said. "We will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary at Laguna as the reigning World Champions, while our factory MotoGP team leads the riders', manufacturers' and teams' World Championships, so it's great that we can celebrate in style."
• Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, explains the thinking behind the yellow, white and black colour scheme of the YZR-M1 50th Anniversary US Edition. "We chose to race in Yamaha USA's historic colours as a tribute to the American riders who have played such an important part in Yamaha's history," he says. "It is also right that we should celebrate the return of Grand Prix racing to the USA, which is great for the American fans and also very important for the future of MotoGP.
• "Of course, this isn't the first time that our YZR-M1 has carried the yellow, white and black colours. Some of you may have noticed the seat graphics on Valentino's M1, which since last year have featured his dog Guido wearing an old-school Yamaha USA T-shirt! It will be fantastic to see Valentino racing in yellow, which is his favourite colour. And this is also a big weekend for Colin, his first US Grand Prix, plus he is the first American GP rider in 25 years to race in Yamaha USA's traditional colours. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our 2005 title sponsor Altadis for their cooperation in permitting Yamaha to race in Yamaha-only livery for this special event."
• Rossi's and Edwards' one-off livery is only one aspect of a busy weekend of 50th Anniversary celebrations during the US GP. The fun starts with a Friday night party for media and VIP guests at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

HONDA REPORT

• The first United States Grand Prix for 11 years gets underway here at Laguna Seca, south of San Francisco, on Friday. The heavily modified track will be an unknown quantity for many riders, but those who have ridden here before know what a challenge it presents.
• Alex Barros (Camel Honda RC211V) is the only rider to have ridden at Laguna on a Grand Prix machine (500cc). He finished second to John Kocinski in 1993 and knows first hand what a demanding track it is.
• But other MotoGP contenders have experienced Laguna’s roller-coaster contours too – although on different machinery. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda
  RC211V) finished second in an AMA Superbike race here in 2002 and the 23-year-old also attended as a 12-year-old spectator in 1994.
• Max Biaggi (Repsol Honda RC211V) was second to Doriano Romboni on a 250cc machine in 1994, while Troy Bayliss (Camel Honda RC211V) won one leg of a World Superbike round in 2002 and finished second in the other.
• These riders will start with something of an advantage over their rivals, although $2m of safety modifications will have changed the nature of this famous circuit to a degree. But without the changes, Laguna would have been unable to meet the safety requirements of Grand Prix racing in the new four-stroke era.
• The money has been spent on extending the run-off area into turn one, a left-hander at the end of a start/finish straight with a pronounced crest on it – a crest that allowed the previous generation of 500cc two-strokes to break traction in the higher gears. The faster four-strokes can be expected to aviate over this rise.
• The racing promises to be nothing less than spectacular, with the celebrated downhill ‘corkscrew’ sure to excite both riders and fans alike as these 250bhp rocket-ships negotiate the blind downhill left/right twist. The braking area run-off into the corkscrew has also been extended.
• Run-off at turn nine has been improved and the kerbs have been standardised to MotoGP requirements. The 3.6km track features four right-hand turns and seven left-handers, but the gradients are what make this desert speed-bowl such a challenge.
• With no 125 or 250 races, these slots will instead be filled with US national series races, the MotoGP race will be the focus for race fans who have long been deprived of racing’s premier series on US soil. Tickets for the event have sold out.
• Barros, currently fifth in the overall points table said, “I’m honestly delighted to be returning to Laguna Seca because I love it and because I’m eager to get a good race under my belt after Assen. It’s a track with a unique character with lots of hills – it almost reminds me of a Supercross track! I have ridden there four times and in ’93 stepped onto the podium. Luckily they have improved the run-off areas too, because in the nineties they were basically non-existent. I think that everyone will love its great layout which is a joy to ride.”
• His team-mate Troy Bayliss is equally enthusiastic, and said, “I think the current lap record will last about fifteen minutes of the first MotoGP practice session! I’m really curious to see what we can do with these bikes at Laguna, a real ‘riders’ track. It’s beautiful but also a little dangerous, at least in the past it was anyway. The first time I rode there I got pole and obviously I’d love to do as well with the Honda. One thing’s for sure, Sunday’s race will be one of the best events ever to have taken place at the track.”
• While Bayliss will be looking to shine at a happy hunting ground from his past, current World Championship contenders like Marco Melandri (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) will be looking for nothing less than a victory to stay in touch with series leader Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) who currently leads second-placed Marco by 63 points.
• “Laguna Seca is weird because there are lots of ups and downs,” said Marco. “In reality the track is different to how it looks on television. Everything revolves around the corkscrew. You get to it by coming down from a long left-hand corner, followed by a tight choke towards the bottom –very tight and in the opposite direction. You really need to be brave because it is a blind corner. I can’t wait to ride here, it’s one of the legendary tracks in motorcycle racing.”
• His team-mate Sete Gibernau (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) is ready for the challenge too. “I have never ridden at Laguna Seca but I have watched a race as a spectator in 1993,” he said. “I spent a couple of days on Kenny Roberts’ ranch in Modesto and I went with him to Laguna where he was racing as a wild card. I was very taken by the track, different from all the others and with its famous ‘corkscrew’ which makes it unique – I can’t wait to race here. Laguna is considered one of the classics to race on and I still haven’t. Considering its location and atmosphere, I am sure it will be an absolutely special Grand Prix.”
• Max knows it, and said, “I remember the track was pretty small, tight and thus very technical. The new bikes are more powerful than ever so it’s should be fun riding down there. I hope the safety conditions have improved much more, because this was the real weak point of this circuit. Anyhow, racing in California is always magic. I like racing in front of the American public and it would be the perfect scene to come back to a good result.”
• For his team-mate Nicky Hayden, this Sunday can’t come quick enough. “Ever since I was a kid I dreamt of riding in a Grand Prix at home,” he said. “In fact I remember the last Grand Prix here. Me and my brother did this road trip – guess I was about 12. We sneaked in – no passes or any of that stuff – and had a ball. I’m so pleased that it all came together to get the race here. I know a lot of people have worked real hard to make this happen. I just hope we can put on a good show.”
• Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V), who had an operation on his right forearm last week in Barcelona, said, “This will be the first time for me on this circuit. My physical condition is good despite last week’s operation. It will be hard but as soon as I step onto my RC211V the pain will go away. I absolutely must be back at last year’s level because my objective is to improve on last year’s final result.”

SUZUKI REPORT

• This weekend will see the newly announced Red Bull Suzuki team racing in the first United States motorcycle Grand Prix to be held in the country for 10 years. The Red Bull US Grand Prix will be staged at the spectacular 3.6km Laguna Seca Raceway, situated near Monterey in California. The track has undergone major safety work to comply with MotoGP regulations, but it still features one of the most famous and challenging turns in racing - `The Corkscrew'.
• Only the MotoGP class will be racing in America. The 125's and 250's are not on the card but the premier event will be ably supported by the AMA Superbike Championship featuring Suzuki's Mat Mladin on his GSX-R1000. Mladin is the reigning Champion and current Championship leader.
• Kevin Schwantz will also be making his MotoGP comeback - although this time not on two wheels. Suzuki's 1993 World Champion will be competing in a kart race that will also feature many other ex-racers such as Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson
• This Grand Prix will be especially significant for Suzuki racers Kenny Roberts Jr and John Hopkins. Both riders are from California and live within close proximity to Laguna, so this weekend is a true homecoming for the two Suzuki stars. Team SUZUKI MotoGP has joined forces with leading energy drinks company Red Bull for a one-off partnership at the USGP. The Suzuki GSV-R will highlight a striking new paint-scheme featuring the distinctive sun and charging bull signature trademark of Red Bull. Both riders will also be sporting brand new Red Bull Suzuki leathers and all crew-members and the pit-box backdrops will have new livery.
• Team Manager Paul Denning is excited about the prospect of a new sponsor and both riders' return to America. He said: "This is a great opportunity for Suzuki. It has given the whole team a lift to have Red Bull's livery on the side of the GSV-R. Red Bull is not only the title sponsor of Team SUZUKI MotoGP but it is also the title sponsor of the event itself - it's going to be a big weekend for both Red Bull and Suzuki.
• "John and Kenny are really looking forward to the race. John has been doing practice laps of Laguna in his head ever since the date was announced and now can't wait to get out there for real. He has a big fan-base coming to cheer him on and will be looking to put on a good show for them. Kenny has been involved in the new safety features for the Laguna circuit and is convinced that the Californian track is one of the safest in MotoGP. He will be racing in the States for the first time since he became World Champion in 2000, look out for a special helmet design which will go down very well at home!"

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