From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

RIVALS LOCKED ON POINTS AS TITLE RACE HITS RIO

With Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) and Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) both sharing 126 points at the top of the table after six races, the MotoGP circus now heads to Brazil for an intriguing contest over the 4.933km of the Circuit Nelson Piquet, 20km south of central Rio de Janeiro.

Coming just after the pulsating Dutch TT where Rossi beat Gibernau and posted his third straight win over the Spaniard, Sete is determined to halt the Italian’s progress here in Brazil – neither rider will be lapping up the party atmosphere of this race until the flag on Sunday.

Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) also needs a result here – but for different reasons. The Italian is 33 points adrift of the leading pair and has yet to achieve a win this season. He’s scored points at every race (as have Rossi and Gibernau), but two second places and two thirds are not enough to keep him in the hunt while the main men share wins. He needs a victory in Brazil.

But Rossi has ruled Rio. He has won the last four races here and will be out to make a fifth win this weekend a signal to Gibernau that his rival’s title challenge has stalled. Gibernau will want to use this race to demonstrate to Rossi that the ten races remaining will not follow the same pattern as the last three where Rossi has shadowed him for most of the race and then pounced in the closing stages to snatch a win.

Gibernau has scored points at 19 consecutive races now, but consistency is of little value in this intense title struggle if it doesn’t feature a consistent visit to the top step of the podium. Both riders rarely drop points and yet neither can afford to wait for one another to make a mistake – this year the psychological impact of beating the other into second would seem to be the most important tool available.

This is why the re-emergence of Biaggi is such a factor. He is a proven race winner and after a run of mediocre results, the 12 times winner in the premier class is overdue a return to winning ways. The canny Italian knows he can’t leave it much later than now to put the squeeze on the two men in front of him.

The track features the third fastest straight in the MotoGP calendar and the 1000m chute with its wide entry and exit is where much of the overtaking is done here. But the track, built on reclaimed land, is bumpy. Subsidence, despite massive rebuilding efforts in 1995, is still a problem. The surface is not very grippy and is rippled in many key areas.

Corner speeds are high here and stability under braking at the end of the straight is a key area engineers will look at when setting-up these 220bhp machines. Top-end power is also critical and any changes to engine-mapping will factor-in the need to have plenty of power available in the higher registers of engine rpm.

The track, like Welkom in South Africa, is never used for testing, so riders tend to come to it ‘raw’ and speed from riders and crews in assessing the exact machine requirements is essential if teams are to get to grips with conditions early on. As we have seen this season, the pressure is such that even the first free training session on Friday morning will be an intense affair.

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) who will start his 201st Grand Prix on Sunday has never won here. The Brazilian was on better form in Holland last weekend than he has been in for a while and if he can build on that here, the veteran cannot be ruled out for a win. But he remains a long shot while Rossi and Gibernau carve up the wins between them.

“I’m ready for a new battle with Valentino,” said Gibernau. “I’m going to fight for the win again here and I’m sure it will be a great show. I like the track and I love the atmosphere but it will be strictly business here.”

His team-mate Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) who has been consistent if not spectacular so far this year is close to recapturing the form that made him such hot property and the Texan will be keen to taste a rostrum after so many races without real success. “I’m confident,” he said. “Last year the Hondas were good here. Sure, the Yamaha has improved a lot but I’m ready. I need to qualify well and get onto the first two rows of the grid. If I can do that then I know I can stay with the front runners. I’ve just been too far down the grids in these first races this season.”

Barros is feeling the pressure – but liking it. “I actually enjoy it,” he said. “The fans are really passionate and I know I’ll get huge support. The last few results have been disappointing for me, but I’ve been encouraged by the balance my crew has now found with the bike. The team has worked hard to get me to the front of the field – and now I need a result. After my crash at Assen I’m fit to ride although my shoulder is maybe not quite 100% yet.”

His team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is ready for action too. “It should suit the Honda,” he said. “It’s bumpy but not too bad and not too technical either. I’m glad this race is coming up now because I need to string a few results together after my recent disappointments and need to be mixing it with the guys up front. I’m also going to visit a Honda factory in the jungle – it’s all pretty mad at the moment.”

Max Biaggi is ready to go and starts his 101st premier class Grand Prix here. “Honda gave us massive support in Assen, doing some great work after the qualifying, giving me confidence for the race and demonstrating that with collaboration, even the most difficult situations can be resolved. This is what gives me a big lift to be able to take on the Rio race in confident mood.”

Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres said, “In Rio last year I ended up on the podium for the first time. So naturally, I’ve got some good memories of this Grand Prix. But it’s not just for that reason that I’m happy to go there. I like the track layout, it’s very dynamic and has a long straight like the one in Mugello. I want to be at the front and fight for the top positions and I think that in Brazil we have the chance to meet our objectives.”

In the 250cc class things are just as tight as in the MotoGP category with two riders separated at the top by just one point but with two lurking below ready to jump into contention with one good result or a slip by the front runners. Frenchman Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) on 111 points leads Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW by just one point with Sebastian Porto, who won in Holland last weekend, in the frame with 88. Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) is in contention with 70.

Elias is yet to score a win while Porto has two so far, Pedrosa two and de Puniet one. Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) scored a win at Jerez in Spain, but the Italian needs to find form quickly is he is to become a factor in the title race – he currently lies seventh with 48 points.

Pedrosa, fresh from his superb race at Assen where he charged from16th place on lap one to finish second, said of Rio. “I like Rio but the track is getting very bumpy and it’s my first time there with the 250 so maybe it will be difficult to set up the bike on the first day. The weather can also be changeable at Rio, I don’t know what to expect with the race so early in the season. First practice on Friday will be hard work. The race will be tough but the bike is working really well, its fast and I will need the speed on the long straight. One thing for sure, I will need a better start than the one I made at Assen!”

Tony Elias said, “I’m looking forward to Rio. I’m now feeling about 90% right with the bike. At Assen I was only five seconds behind the winner, not 10 or12 like earlier races. Rio doesn’t really have good memories for me because last year a difficult overtaking move went wrong and I (maybe) lost my chance of the title. But I do like the track and now the bike is near where I need it to be I’m sure to have a good race.”

Roberto Rolfo’s results in recent races have been below his usual excellent best, two dnf’s and a ninth place at Assen have left him trailing the points leaders. “I have done well at Rio in the last two years so I obviously like the track but the bumpy sections might give us set up problems. We shall have to wait for the first practice session to know where we stand. The engine is now very good, we just have to get the front end to turn into the corners better.” Explained Rolfo.

Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) heads the 125cc points table with 109 to Roberto Locatelli’s 93 with Hector Barbera (both Aprilia) and Casey Stoner (KTM) tied in third with 84 points apiece.

Dovizioso said, “Rio is OK for me, I finished 6th last year and I know I can do better this time. The team has worked hard to get the bike where it is. I need a little more top speed because KTM have found something extra these last couple of races. The others are more or less the same as the Honda.”