FIRECRACKING JEREZ SIGNALS START OF RACING After one of the most intense pre-seasons ever, the MotoGP field now gets down to the even more serious business of racing at one of the best of 17 tracks in front of a crowd of 150,000 race fans from all over Europe and beyond. Jerez, the traditional curtain-raiser, is here again and promises fireworks on and off the track. Honda has a powerful rider line-up in the premier MotoGP class, a blend of youth and experience in the 250cc category and a roster of hard-charging hotshots in the 125cc class, the youngest of whom is 15-year-old British kid Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R). But the crowd’s focus this weekend will be on Spanish hero Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V). Dani is just 20-years-old and already a 125cc and twice 250cc World Champion. Five of the seven Honda riders contesting the MotoGp class are under 25-years-old part of Honda’s policy of backing youthful talent to the maximum in the cauldron of Grand Prix racing. Dani makes the step up to MotoGP this year and there is a huge anticipation of his debut in the class at a ‘home’ track. He has shown well in testing and his measured approach to this first race is a signal of his intent to upset the established order. He has the talent and the team support to succeed at this tricky track and beyond. The circuit presents a challenge on two fronts; rider rhythm is vital and front tyre grip at a premium. Laid out among natural contours, Jerez was built in 1986 and hosted its first Grand Prix the following year. It has never been off the Grand Prix calendar since a measure of the quality of racing it provides. Jerez makes demands in all areas of machine set-up with short, medium and long straights, uphill and downhill braking areas, and two second-gear hairpins. But the biggest test is whether a rider can make a series of consistent, flowing laps in race conditions when the ideal lines through turns on this 11m wide circuit may be occupied by rivals. Bikes have to be stable to cope with bumps on the entries to key turns. Under hard braking, the undulations into turn one at the end of the start/finish straight can pose problems and another tight right-hander at the end of the back straight is a challenge too especially as these are recognised ‘passing places’. The longest straight is only 600m long making a high top speed less of a requirement than at other tracks. Jerez also boasts one of the most spectacular run-ins to the finish line two 100mph right turns, with rear wheels spinning-up, and then desperate braking into the final tight left where many a race has been won and lost, often amid fierce controversy. Last year’s run-in between Rossi and Gibernau being a prime example. Although most eyes will be on Dani in the MotoGP race on Sunday, his team-mate Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) enjoyed a strong finish to his 2005 season and the popular American will be aiming to begin where he left off in 2006 with a win. He said, “I can’t wait for the season opener I’m really excited about the first race. As if the racing isn’t enough, the Jerez crowd gets into the whole thing and that place really goes off. I love racing in Spain, and Jerez is a good track. Everybody involved in the Repsol Honda Team has worked really hard and we’ve got a committed group of guys here. I hope to reward them for all their efforts over the winter. We are going to bring all we’ve got!” Dani Pedrosa’s pre-race utterings are perhaps less gung-ho, but laden with just as much intent. “I’m longing to begin the season and Jerez is the best place to do it,” said Dani. “The atmosphere is very special, particularly for Spanish riders. My first aim is to finish the race and then to finish as high as possible. Races are always different to testing and I’ve never competed with these guys yet.” Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC211V), who finished as World Championship runner-up last season, said, “I can’t wait to get out onto the track at Jerez, it’s technical and flowing and I like it a lot. There is so much expectation for the start of the Championship and it’s guaranteed to be a real spectacle. Jerez will be a very combative race with so many riders in the right shape to challenge for a win. And I’m ready for it. I can already feel the adrenaline.” His team-mate Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda RC211V), who celebrates his 23rd birthday on raceday, is ready to shine at last in the big class with a ride on the coveted RC211V. He said, “Finally the testing is over and the Championship is starting. Over the winter we worked a lot, keeping a philosophy of taking small steps forward. I tried to remain calm and focused to try and understand the bike and adapt it to my style without just going for a lap time at all costs. I’ve covered a lot of distance, I now feel more comfortable on the bike and my race rhythm has improved.” Kenny Roberts (Roberts KR211V), who rides a chassis of his team’s design powered by Honda is ready to restart his stalled career this year and the 2000 World Champion is eager to prove himself at the highest level again. He said, “We’ve made good progress. I’m much more comfortable on the bike now and feel I have a better balance. Up until now have been making big changes to make improvements but now it’s just small things. Generally I’m happy with everything the team has done. We can see the future is bright, there’s lots more to come.” Casey Stoner (LCR Honda RC211V) is another rider who, like Dani, has graduated to the MotoGP class this year. The Aussie recently underwent micro-surgery on a shoulder injury and now has to prove he has the pace to figure in races. The young Aussie said, “Now I can start the season knowing my shoulder is fixed and just concentrate on riding. But I don’t have any big expectations for Jerez and the early races of the season. The Spanish GP will be really be like a test session for me to get the feel of the Honda V5 again, after missing much of the winter testing. I won’t be 100% race fit but it’s a long season, and a learning year for me, so I have time on my side.” Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) has it all to do after a disappointing 2005. Honda has kept faith with the determined Japanese rider and he will be going all-out to repay that loyalty with a series of strong showings from race one. “This is the year when all our hard work should pay off,” said Tamada. “We are all more motivated than ever to make sure we perform to the best of our abilities and achieve the results we know we are capable of.” The 250cc class looks wide open now that 2004 and 2005 World Champion Dani has vacated the grid for MotoGP. The smart money is on the super-experienced Sebastian Porto (Repsol Honda RS250RW) to take his first World title this year after 11 uninterrupted seasons and seven wins in the class. But that would be without factoring the new blood into the equation. Former 125cc World Champion Andrea Dovizioso (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) impressed in his debut 250 season last year and after a third overall cannot be ruled out of the running for the title. He has yet to win a race but his consistency has been superb. His team-mate Yuki Takahashi (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) is now a known, and rapid, quantity after his debut in 2005. Similarly, Porto’s team-mate Shuhei Aoyama (Repsol Honda RS250RW), the reigning All-Japan 250cc Champion will not be short of speed and hungry for a win in a debut season. Porto said, “Our pre-season has not been that good, but I fully trust in the Honda technicians and I’m sure that we’re going to change the situation soon. I haven’t got the least doubt that we’ll find the way to be back on the top. I’m used to these situations because there are always problems to overcome. I’m optimistic and hope to have a good start to the 2006 season this weekend.” His team-mate Aoyama, 2005 recipient of the prestigious Honda Racing Scholarship, said, “I’m looking forward to the races, but I know that this is going to be a difficult year for me, because I hardly know any of the circuits. Jerez, for example, is a very nice circuit but also complicated and difficult. The three tests days two weeks ago were quite good but I would have liked to be more competitive. I hope to make a step forward this weekend and respond with a good result for the team and all those who support me.” Dovizioso said, “I’m really confident and motivated about the coming season. We’ve worked hard during the winter tests focusing on finding the best set-up of the bike. We had some unexpected problems on the set-up of the bike that I’m sure we are going to solve this week.” Reigning World 125cc Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) remains in the class to defend his hard-won title against his chief rival and runner-up from last season Mika Kallio (KTM). But as ever there will be a horde of riders equally determined to deny Luthi a second consecutive title. Among them will be three times winner in 2005 Gabor Talmacsi (Humangest Honda RS125R) who was KTM-mounted last year, and Fabrizio Lai (Seedorf Racing Honda RS125R) who finished sixth overall. Luthi, who broke a collar-bone in the pre-season, said, “I’m OK, no problem with my collar bone. I will go to the Clinica Mobile on Thursday, just for a check up. It was not a big problem for me to miss the IRTA test at Jerez because we had a private test at the track at the end of January. I was in contact with the team during the Jerez test and Sandro, my team-mate, was fast so I’m happy.” Many eyes will be on 15-year-old Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R) in his rookie year. Smith said, “It’s all happened so fast but I’ll take it in my stride and not get carried away. This will be a massive learning year for me and it will be almost be like going back to step one. It’s been quite nice going back to school and some normality after winter testing. My school has told me they’re happy for me to go and do it, although I don’t think they fully understand Grand Prix racing.”