After a well-earned summer break the MotoGP World Championship circus gets back on the road this week to tackle a demanding finale to the season with renewed energy. The twelfth round of the series takes place on the 20th August at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic, after which the teams and riders head out for further events in Malaysia, Australia and Japan before returning to Europe for the final two rounds. Team Fortuna Honda head to Brno with their batteries fully recharged – Marco Melandri having spent a week relaxing on a Greek island whilst Toni Elias stayed closer to home with a trip to the Costa Brava. “I was ready for a bit of time off after competing in five races over the past six weeks” commented MARCO MELANDRI, who picked up two victories early in the season before signing off for the summer with three straight podiums. “I feel good – after months of training and concentration and that nasty incident at Barcelona I’ve finally been able to kick back and charge my batteries. Just like last year I’ve taken a week off and been out to Mykonos in Greece, a place I really enjoy and find relaxing. The people are really nice there, you can have fun and it’s a good place to hang out with friends.” Back in Italy Marco celebrated his 24th birthday on the 7th August with his fan club at the Mirabilandia beach. As usual Marco took the opportunity to take the reigns as DJ for the night, providing the soundtrack for an evening of fun with his friends and members of Team Gresini. “I feel better than ever and I can’t wait to go racing again at Brno, a track I really like and have a lot of good memories from – the best being in 2002 when I took my sixth straight win on the way to the 250 title”, comments the Ravenna youngster. “The track requires a good engine so the team will have to work hard on adapting the motor of my RC211V as best as possible. I feel calm and confident after leaving Laguna with a podium and I hope to get back underway at Brno with another good result. It was a tough weekend in America and that podium was a real achievement but I like the taste of victory and I want to savour it again as soon as possible.” The holidays also came at just the right time for Toni Elias, who has tackled the last two races with a shoulder injury sustained during practice at Assen. “I needed the three weeks off to have a complete rest and allow the shoulder injury to recover 100%. My body was really worn before the break and it needed some recovery time so the last thing I wanted to do was get on an aeroplane. I spent a few days at home before heading up to the beach on the Costa Brava. Now I’m pleased to be going to the Czech Republic and to a circuit I like a lot. We did a really good job with the team in America to improve my feeling with the front end – a problem which has really hindered me this season. I’m sure we can start to gather the fruit of that work at Brno and with me back to full fitness I’ll be ready to take on the challenge of such a demanding track.” Currently lying third in the World Championship standings on 150 points, with 10 and 44-point gaps to leading HRC pair Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden respectively, Marco Melandri is continuing to compete without being distracted by the title chase. “The important thing is to work well at every race,” he says. “With a 44-point gap to Nicky I can only focus on getting the best result every weekend. Myself and Dani both have nothing to lose so the racing should be spectacular and very close. Until the maths say otherwise the championship is wide open and I will keep giving my all every Sunday.” It has been a decidedly tougher start to the season for Toni Elias, who was forced out of two races with the injury to his shoulder. Twelfth in the standings on 59 points, the Fortuna Honda rider must improve his feeling with the bike still further before aiming for his first podium in the premier class. BRNO – A DATE NOT TO BE MISSED THE TRACK :Technical and fast, Brno maintains the charm and challenge of a true race circuit – a mixture of fast corners and quick changes in direction providing a true test of both bike and rider. The main characteristic of the Czech circuit is the constant changes in elevation. As it winds its way through thick forest, the track features several down and uphill corners – plenty of them off-camber – demanding a perfect machine set-up and no shortage of rider skill. Horsepower is also a determining factor, with the MotoGP machines really unleashed at this super-fast track. MARCO MELANDRI “Brno is a complete and technical circuit, with frequent elevation changes, fast corners and a slower section – in particular the mixed section from turn six to turn ten. It’s a demanding track that really puts the bike and the rider’s ability to the test. It is fundamental to have a good setting because the bike is under a lot of stress in terms of the chassis, engine and tyres. At this track you need a delicate, smooth and clean riding style to follow the tightest possible racing line because the track is so long.It is a track I like a lot – you can use the full power of a MotoGP bike here. Along with Sepang, Brno is the only circuit where we use sixth gear twice.” REPEAT TARGET: Marco Melandri has celebrated three victories and a second place at Brno, having won there in 1998 and 1999 in the 125 class, before going from second (2001) to first (2002) in 250 – the category in which he was crowned World Champion. TONI ELIAS: “Brno is one of my favourite circuits because it is technical and fast, where you can use all the power of the engine. It is characterised by frequent elevation changes, pronounced rises and descents, fun chicanes, fast sections and some slow ones. It is one of the most complete tracks around. The final section rises steeply uphill and has two chicanes – one slow and one slightly faster leading onto the start-finish straight. My favourite part is the stadium section, the double right-hander followed by the left. The track also has good grip. It is difficult to overtake at the end of the main straight because the corner is really slow but you can start to pass from the first chicane and even in the final bend before the rise.” TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Circuit name: Brno Constructed: 1987 Latest modification: 1996 Length: 5,403m Width: 15m Pole position: Left Right corners: 6 Left corners: 8 Longest straight: 636m