From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Sete Gibernau defends MotoGP Championship lead on home ground

Spanish MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau goes into the Montmelo circuit for Grand Prix of Catalunya holding a 10 point lead in the MotoGP World Championship. Gibernau tops the point’s chart by virtue of two victories and two other podium finishes from the four races run this season riding for the Telefonica MoviStar Honda Team.

Now 31 years old Gibernau, from near by Barcelona, has a motorcycling pedigree second to none. Sete grew up surrounded by motorcycle engineers, riders and aficionados, he is steeped in the history of the Spanish two-wheel industry and racing. When he arrives at the Montmelo circuit gate to begin GP practice the first thing he see’s is the statue of his grandfather, the late Francisco Bulto, ‘Don ‘Paco,’ founder of the Bultaco marque.

Sete’s father Manuel is himself a former racer who also managed the Bultaco Competition Department for several years. But despite a race career of his own Father Manuel is too nervous to watch his son race but his Mother, Cristina is an avid fan and race watcher who follows every MotoGP race either live or on television.

Everyone in the family rides motorcycles, virtually on a daily basis. Manuel now rides a Honda Forsight 250 in heavy trafficof Barcelona, Mother Cristina prefers a Scoopy 125 for all her chores. Sete’s younger sister, and press officer, Cristina is more adventurous and rides regularly she has just taken delivery of a CBR600RR Honda. The family often took rides together but Sete’s intense racing and testing schedule, plus the ever increasing associated promotional work have restricted the family’s opportunites to share fun rides together.

“My family have played a very important role in my career they have all given me their full support, my parents, sisters, and my grand parents.” Said the series leader. “We are a close family, in fact it was my uncle who gave me my nickname ‘Sete.’ My Grandfather, Don Paco, was a great person he created an industry, developed many exciting motorcycle he helped many riders over the years, great riders from all over the world. He was a huge influence on my career but he never pushed me. He was, above all else, my friend and a real human being.”

Gibernau’s path to the top of his profession has not been meteoric. He made a relatively late entry into road race competition, at 19 years of age following several years competing in Trials events. He began his tarmac career in Spanish 125cc sports production racing earning himself a unique place in the history of the Montmelo circuit – Sete won the first ever motorcycle race held at the circuit, a 125cc Cagiva Cup race.

From there he moved into the 250 class in the Ducados Series making his GP debut as a wild card for the Wayne Rainey Yamaha squad in1992. However he made a full entry into world championship racing in 1996 finishing 22nd in the 250series.

He moved to 500s in ’97 to begin his positive march towards joining the elite of his chosen profession. Sete raced for the Rainey Yamaha squad in ’97 before moving to Honda in 1998 as replacement rider for the injured Takuma Aoki, on a 500cc V-twin. The following year he moved on to the NSR500 V-four vacated by the injured, five times world champion, Michael Doohan and finished the season in fifth place.

After an unroductive 1999 season sete moved on to Suzuki for two years, in 2001 – ’02 where, in his first year with the team, he won the GP of Valencia on a 500cc 2-stroke. He returned to Honda and the fabulous RC211V for the 2003 season and promptly won four races to end the year as Vice World Champion.

A calm intelligent and fun loving man with a passion for everything he does in life, Gibernau has his feet firmly planted on the ground, a man with a clear vision of life and what he hopes to achieve.

“I’m not obsessed with racing, I have a life outside the sport and it makes me realise the importance of down time away from the track, you cannot let it control your life completely.” Sete explained. “When you go out and see others less fortunate than us, even in these times some people just don’t have a life through particular circumstances, that makes you realise how important it is to live a rich and varied life. Don’t get me wrong, I love racing and want to win as much as the next man, I’m dedicated but not obsessed.”


The two-week break between Le Mans allowed Gibernau to indulge his other sporting passions, cycling, jogging, gym work and Super Motard, which he rides for both exercise and fun but he arrived at Mugello ready to race. He said. “I enjoyed the break was but once the show gets going I want to get on with it. Sure I like a break but I’m in good form physically and mentally, the team is working really well and the bike improves with each race. I’m relaxed and not about to get too excited about the situation we are in by leading the championship, we have a lot to learn and there is a long way to go to the end of the season.”


Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda Gresini and the RC211V have proven an ideal combination and Sete is quick to praise the team for the superb machinery and technical back up they provide him with.

“I have the best team in the paddock, the best in racing. We have a very strong work ethic, everyone in the team gives 100% and we almost always improve. I’m happy with the situation. Honda has also helped us when it was possible, like the test after Jerez where we sorted out most of our chatter problems. They have been very fair with us. But we are a satellite team, that will not change and we have to get the best out of what we have. The team has done a brilliant job so far and everyone if fully focussed ”

“Montmelo is one of my favourite tracks, it’s very near the spot where I was born. It’s also has special memories because I won the first ever motorcycle race held at the track, a Spanish 125cc Cagiva Sports Production race in 1991 It’s a great track with a really good fast layout. I’ve had some good GP results at Montmelo, we did well last season with third place and we hope to better that next Sunday. Confidence plays a big part in achieving your goals and we are confident in what we are doing at this point in the championship, we have a strong mental attitude.”

He added. “We go to Montmelo and try to win of course. If we don’t we will sit down and analyse just why we didn’t and try to improve before the next race.”

The GP of Catalunya is one of three grands prix held in Spain, great for Spanish riders and race fans alike. Gibernau is happy to be part of it all. As a former race fan Sete understands the importance of spectators to the sport. “We receive great support from the Spanish fans and it’s good that we can repay them with good performances. I won the Jerez race this year and I’ve won at Valencia, it would be great to win at Montmelo, the fans would love that, me too. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could win all three Spanish races in one season!”

Having experience of the very best 500cc 2-stroke machines and the MotoGP 990cc 4-strokes, Gibernau is qualified to make comparisons.

“The 4-strokes are now getting just like the 500cc 2-strokes, lean and mean! They are quite different bikes, although at the end both are demanding and the amount of concentration to ride them has to be very high. The basic differences are the power delivery and the engine brake, much stronger on the RC211V.” Commented Gibernau.

He went on to say. “They are, in some ways, a little easier to ride than the 2-stroke but at the top end just as difficult to get everything out of them. They are very, very fast and have changed the nature of some tracks we race at, some corners for sure. Take the double right hand corners at Jerez – we used to go into the first one then a quick burst on a straight before throwing it into the second right. The 4-stroke changed that, its now one corner. Concentration is everything, you have to retain concentration for the whole race on the 4-stroke it’s very exciting but also very demanding mentally. I think the reason is that there are so many good riders in MotoGP and the differences between us are very small, one error can cost you a lot. Fast or slow corners you can never relax, if you do someone will catch you, or get passed you.” Commented Gibernau.


Rain or shine Gibernau and the Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V are capable of winning at Montmelo on Sunday. He will not lack support from his team or the 100,000 fans in attendance. The rest is in his own hands, few would doubt his skill and commitment for the task. He heads the championship and is highly unlikely to fail to take a place on the podium on Sunday, which step of the three is the only question still open.


Sete Gibernau – Spain

Race team: Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP. Racing number: 15
Race machine: Honda RC 211V

Date of birth: December 15, 1972
Place of birth: Barcelona, Spain
Residence: Barcelona
Marital status: single
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 70 kg

First GP : 1992 250cc Spanish Grand Prix – Jerez
First GP victory: 2001 – 500cc Grand Prix of the Community of Valencia
Victories: 7
Podiums: 20

Career highlights -Sete Gibernau

1984 : First racing experience in Trials.
1990 : Debut in the “Gilera Cup” Championship Gilera
1991 : Spanish Junior Champion Junior Champion
Catalan Junior Champion.
1992 : European Championship, 250cc class Yamaha.
1993 : 3rd 250cc Spanish Championship Yamaha
Wild card entry 250cc Spanish GP.
1994 : 5th 250cc Spanish Championship.
1995 : 3rd 250cc Spanish Championship Yamaha
1996 : 21st 250cc World Championship Yamaha.
1997 : 13th 500cc World Championship Yamaha.
1998 : 11th 500cc World Championship Honda.
1999 : 5th 500cc World Championship Honda HRC Team.
2000 : 15th500cc World Championship, 500cc Repsol Honda Team.
2001 : 9th 500cc World Championship Suzuki 1 win.
2002 : 16th MotoGP World Championship Suzuki
2003 : 2nd MotoGP World Championship Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda 4 wins.

2004 : Current leader MotoGP World Championship Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda 2 wins