AUSTRALIA, FIRST DATE IN THE ASIAN PART OF THE CALENDAR FOR THE REPSOL RIDERS This weekend the Australian Grand Prix is held, and next week the Malaysian GP The 2007 World Championship is drawing to an end with races in Australia and Malaysia on consecutive weekends. For the Repsol Honda Team riders there is an important visit to the circuit on Philip Island this weekend. Both Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden hope to make up for the disappointing weekend in Japan at a circuit where the two have been very competitive in the past. Dani Pedrosa, after his spectacular fall when he was fighting for the victory in the Japanese GP, has taken advantage of the two week break to recover from his injuries. Pedrosa, who clearly dominated all the dry practice sessions before the Japanese GP, was harmed by the rain that fell on the race Sunday and he now returns to the track where he seriously injured both his ankles in 2003, and that just after being proclaimed World 125cc Champion in Malaysia. One year later and racing in 250cc, Pedrosa was again World Champion, this time he was crowned at the Australian track. At this moment in time his main objective is to finish the season as runner-up, since the World Champion 2007 is the Australian Casey Stoner. Pedrosa occupies third position in the overall standings just 26 points behind the Italian Valentino Rossi, when there are 75 points left to fight for. His teammate Nicky Hayden has not won a race this year and will go to circuit where he has got the pole two times, and where he has been on the podium twice third in 2003 and second in 2005. With Stoner the brand new World Champion, the rider who still boasts the Number 1 on his fairing wants to end the season with a victory and Australia is his first chance to do so before the 2007season finishes. For the Repsol 125cc Bradley Smith and Esteve Rabat and 250cc riders Shuhei Aoyama and Julio Simón the race on Phillip Island is the perfect occasion to get the season back on track after the disappointment of Japan and to begin to prepare a satisfying end to the 2007 season. All four of them are eager to do well and ready to show all their talents, with their eyes fixed on being at the front in their respective categories. Quotes MotoGP Nicky Hayden “It seems like we wait all year to get our crack at Phillip Island and now finally the time is here and we get our chance. I love the place it’s old-school and I can’t wait to get on the track on Friday morning. In the past Phillip Island has been pretty kind to me. I’ve had two pole positions in a row and a few good results and it’s just a track I really enjoy riding. It’s very important to have good edge grip as you spend so much time on the side of the tires. You also need a bike that will steer well in the long corners and change direction quickly through the fast esses. At this time of year though the place could be called Phillip Iceland instead of Phillip Island, but some good weather would be nice because when it’s cold at this track it can be hard to get heat into the right side of the tyre. Anyway, we only have to wait a few more days and then we’ll be back racing and, as the locals say, let’s hope for a ‘bloody good weekend!'” Dani Pedrosa “I’ve had some really great moments at Phillip Island and also some very bad results. It’s funny because I never seem to have an intermediate result at this track. Last year was a disaster with the rain in the race, so this year I’m hoping balance that with a good result. We tested at Phillip Island before the start of the season when the RC212V was very new. That test went well and we achieved a pretty good set-up for the circuit. It was quite a while ago though and a lot has changed with the machine and the tyres since then so we’ll still have plenty to learn in practice. I’m feeling better now after the Japan crash. I still have some bruising and pain in my left foot but it should be ok for Phillip Island. There are lots of left-hand corners at this circuit which will put some pressure on the foot but I think it will be fine. Also the weather can be very variable at this time of year as we saw last season so a lot will depend on the forecast and the tyre choice on Thursday as always.” 250cc Julián Simón “I am very very motivated for the race on Phillip Island and for the end of the season, there are three races left and so three new opportunities to get a podium finish, which is the objective we start with. The Japanese GP was positive for us and we have to carry on along the same lines. These are still new circuits for me with the 250cc and we hope to put in a good performance. Referring to my arm we think that it will not affect my weekend. I am going to pay attention to the doctors who told me that I have to do a lot of stretching exercises. And I will have a pain-killing injection each time I get on the bike and we will see if I have to have an operation at the end of the season.” Shuhei Aoyama “Last year I had a good race on Phillip Island, and in the last few races I have had good sensations on the bike. The final result in Japan was not too good because I had problems in the race, but in the final practice I got the pole position, and I felt strong enough to get a podium finish. I am dying to have a good end to the season and I hope that I can be among the leaders in this race.” 125cc Bradley Smith “The race in Japan was disappointing since it ended up complicating the weekend. We now know that conditions are more diffícult in the rain, but it can rain anytime, it`s just something that happens. I have just spent two weeks at home and I now have a long trip with the race in Australia and then in Malaysia. I do not have a bad memory of Australia because in last year`s race I had a good position until I collided with another bike, but overall it was a positive weekend. I am dying to go there and start a good run in to the end of the season.” Esteve Rabat “The next race is in Australia and this is a circuit that last year I quite liked. What is more I am very motivated because after the race in Japan, I want to get a good result. The omens are quite good too and I am mentally prepared to give my all at all times so that I can carry on learning and be among the leaders and as close to the front as possible. There are only three races left and I want to finish the season on a high note, so let`s see how I get on in the first.” More, from a press release issued by Honda: DANI GOING FOR RUNNER-UP SLOT AS SEASON CLOSES The MotoGP title may have gone to Casey Stoner (Ducati) after the Japanese Grand Prix but there is still the matter of the coveted runner-up position to be settled with three rounds of this World Championship series to run. And Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) is determined to grab it. The Spanish Honda man, who has recently signed a deal to stay with Repsol Honda until the end of 2009, currently has 188 points to the 214 of current second-place man Valentino Rossi (Yamaha). With a possible 75 points up for grabs from those three races, Dani can bridge that 26-point gap. It won’t be easy though. Rossi is a tough proposition here at Phillip Island and Dani has an injured foot after a big spill at Motegi three weekends ago. But Pedrosa is a doughty competitor and as and as long as that coveted second place remains a possibility he will ride all out to get it. Dani’s team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) has seen his way through a tough title defence season with unflagging enthusiasm and sheer grit. His tenacity has been rewarded with a series of recent podium finishes when his early season results were simply woeful for a World Champion. Now that his RC212V is working more to his liking he’s a man hungry for a win after a barren year. Marco Melandri (Gresini Honda RC212V) won here last year and the Italian ace is desperate for a win this year after a season’s best result so far of a second place in France way back in May. He currently lies sixth overall in the points standings and is eager to improve on that before the season ends. Marco has 148 points to the 152 and 156 of Suzuki riders Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins who lie fifth and fourth in the standings going into this race. Aussie Vermeulen placed second here last season and is likely to be a hard man to beat around here this season too. Toni Elias (Gresini Honda RC212V) is making great strides in his recovery from a broken leg sustained at Assen in late June and after his sterling podium finish at Motegi, the jovial Spaniard will be seeking another big finish here in Australia as another frustrating season closes for him. This rollercoaster of a circuit is situated 130km south east of Melbourne and tends to be one of the showcase races of the year, this time event number 16 of a gruelling 18-race season. Real talent is needed here, perhaps more than at any other circuit. Tyres will be an issue here. The two long left-hand turns onto the main straight are particularly hard on rubber, so machine set-up will be partly aimed at conserving tyre life on this 4.448km long circuit. It has just one short 900m straight, but five right-hand turns and seven lefts including that daunting high-speed series of lefts onto the start/finish straight. Much of the track requires rapid changes of direction at high speed, and sustained periods of high lean-angle test riders to the maximum. Competitors need to be comfortable on worn tyres towards the end of the race, while wind and trouble with wandering wildlife can also be determining factors. Dani said: “We tested at Phillip Island before the start of the season when the RC212V was very new. That test went well and we achieved a pretty good set-up for the circuit. It was quite a while ago though and a lot has changed with the machine and the tyres since then, so we’ll still have plenty to learn in practice. I’m feeling better now after the Japan crash. I still have some bruising and pain in my left foot but it should be OK. There are lots of left-hand corners here, which will put some pressure on the foot, but I think it will be fine. The weather can be very variable at this time of year as we saw last season so a lot will depend on the forecast and the tyre choice we make on Thursday.” Nicky said: “I love the place it’s old school and I can’t wait to get on track Friday morning. In the past Phillip Island has been pretty kind to me. I’ve had two pole positions in a row and a few good results and it’s just a track I really enjoy riding. It’s very important to have good edge grip as you spend so much time on the side of the tyres. You also need a bike that will steer well in the long corners and change direction quickly through the fast Esses. At this time of year though the place could be called Phillip Iceland instead of Phillip Island, but some good weather would be nice because when it’s cold at this track it can be hard to get heat into the right side of the tyre. As the locals say, let’s hope for a ‘bloody good weekend!'” Melandri said: “Phillip Island is one of my favourite circuits. Last year I took victory in one of the most spectacular and difficult races of the season. It was the first time the flag-to-flag rule had been properly employed. I think that this year we have the potential to fight for the podium. In the wet the bike works really well and in fact at Motegi I was really close to finishing on the podium. In the dry we’ve improved but we still have to work. I’m feeling confident and motivated for this weekend. I’m desperate for a top result before the end of the season, to dedicate to Fausto Gresini and the team because they have always supported me.” Elias said: “It was nice to experience the podium again at Motegi, particularly after the trouble I’ve had since the crash at Assen. I’ve followed a very intense programme of physiotherapy since then to get back on track as soon as possible and to be back on the rostrum in Japan was the fruit of a lot of hard work. I like Phillip Island a lot the design is beautiful and the track is one of the fastest and most spectacular in the world. The track is demanding and technical. It might be quite cold so tyre choice will be very important.” Carlos Checa (LCR Honda RC212V) said: “At Phillip Island the racing is always close, and very fast, which is nice for both riders and spectators. This track is a special challenge, not designed on a computer, and it allows many opportunities for overtaking. And not just on the brakes for the two hairpins. There are really just four right turns and many fast lefts, placing unique demands on tyres. But Michelin have a lot of experience at winning at the Island and hopefully their latest developments will again be very competitive here. It’s a long trip, but always an enjoyable race.” Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda RC212V) said: “I very much enjoy Phillip Island, even if it was where I lost the 250cc title to my team-mate Olivier Jacque in 2000 by just a few metres at the finish line. It’s fast and flowing, but then there are always a few hard braking areas too it really has everything. The only thing that can spoil the race sometimes is the very changeable weather. I’m hoping for good weather this weekend as I know we have to get our best results of the year in these last three races.” Kurtis Roberts (Roberts KR212V) said: “Here we are and we’ll see what we can do. We never stop trying to get the maximum from what we’ve got and if the weather plays up a bit here you just never know what can happen. It’d be great for the team to get a finish nearer the front than the back of the field.” In the 250cc class Andrea Dovizioso (Scot Honda RS250RW) is still hounding series points leader Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia). Lorenzo has 262 points to Dovi’s 226 and although that 36 point cushion might look comfortable enough for now, recent results suggest that it might be barely enough. Lorenzo could do no better than 11th at Motegi while Dovi took a second place. Last season Lorenzo looked almost home and dry before Dovi chased him all the way to the final round in a brave bid to steal the title from under him and this year shows all the signs of being a repeat performance of a compelling close to the season in this class. Dovi said: “I will never stop trying until there are no more races left in the season. The points gap is more than I’d like, but after what happened at Motegi, we all know that one more good result for us can change things. There are three races left and enough points available to keep the World Championship alive.” Julian Simon (Repsol Honda RS250RW) said: “I’m very motivated for this race at Phillip Island and for the end of the season. There are three races left and that means three new opportunities to get a podium finish, which is the aim we always start with. The Japanese Grand Prix was positive for us and we have to carry on along the same lines because these are still new circuits for me on a 250cc machine.” Shuhei Aoyama (Repsol Honda RS250RW) said: “Last year I had a good Grand Prix here at Phillip Island, and in the last few races I’ve had a good feeling with the bike. The final result in Japan wasn’t too good because although in the final practice I got pole position, and I felt strong enough to get a podium finish, I had problems in the race. I’m desperate to have a good end to the season and just hope I can be up among the leaders in this race.” In the 125cc class the title race looks like a straight shoot-out between Aprilia jockeys Gabor Talmacsi and Hector Faubel. Talmacsi has a nine-point lead over the Spanish contender and there will be no shortage of other combatants keen to steal the points from under them and perhaps change the balance of this two-way struggle. The racing will be as frantic as ever and current form rider Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) is likely to be in the mix at the front. Were it not for an unenviable record of six DNFs this year, he would undoubtedly be a contender for the title. Top Honda points scorer this year Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R) said: “The race in Japan was disappointing. We now know that wet conditions are more difficult, but it can rain anytime, so it’s simply something we always have to be prepared for. I’ve just spent two weeks at home before this long trip to Australia and then on to Malaysia. In last year’s race I was in a good position until I collided with another rider overall it was a positive weekend. I’m just itching to produce a good run in to the end of the season.” His team-mate Esteve Rabat (Repsol Honda RS125R) said: “I liked it here last year. I’m very motivated now because after the race in Japan, I want to get a good result. The omens are quite good too and I’m mentally prepared to give my all so I can carry on learning and get among the leaders. There are only three races left and I want to finish the season on a high note, so let’s see how I get on.”