After an exciting weekend in Malaysia, the stars of MotoGP head “Down Under” for this weekend’s GMC Australian Grand Prix. The teams have already arrived at the Phillip Island Circuit for the second of three consecutive races, and today enjoyed a variety of pre-Grand Prix activities. First up on the schedule was a visit to the Twelve Apostles, one of the most famous local tourist attractions. A collection of natural limestone stacks standing just off shore in the Port Campbell National Park, on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, the site is one of the most breathtaking examples of Australian landscapes. Loris Capirossi and Kenny Roberts Jr were the two MotoGP riders taking in the awe-inspiring views. Experiencing aboriginal culture proved an interesting experience for a selection of riders, as they were given a demonstration of didgeridoo playing, boomerang throwing and traditional dances. MotoGP rider Toni Elias was joined by Hiroshi Aoyama, Gabor Talmacsi and Bradley Smith as they put their circular breathing to the test. Koalas, kangaroos and dingoes were paid a visit by Randy de Puniet, Alex de Angelis, Yuki Takahashi and Alvaro Bautista at the Maru Wildlife Park, as they experienced some of Australia’s most well-known animals ahead of tomorrow’s practice. There were three local riders present at the customary pre-event press conference, as Chris Vermeulen, Casey Stoner and Anthony West spoke about the track and their respective seasons so far. Championship leader Nicky Hayden and reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi, winner of the last five races at Phillip Island, also gave their thoughts on the head to head title battle in which they are involved. Practices begin tomorrow for the GMC Australian Grand Prix, which could be one of the most vital races of the 2006 season. MotoGP Nicky Hayden – Honda “Malaysia wasn’t so good for me, but looking back I was 23 seconds faster than last year so at least I can say I’ve improved at the track. I’m hoping to “stop the bleeding” here, as I love the track and the atmosphere. I’ve always had good races and results in Australia, it’s just a question of remembering where Valentino was faster than me last year at the track. He certainly rode smarter than me in 2005.” Valentino Rossi – Yamaha “I love the track and the place in general. The last five years I have been fortunate enough to win the MotoGP race here. I know that Nicky goes quick here, I believe he took his first podium at the track. However, the M1 always goes fast in Phillip Island and we just need to focus on that. Qualifying and practice will be the key to this weekend’s race.” Casey Stoner – Honda “It’s my favourite track, I’ve seen all my heroes race here and now I get the chance to do the same on a MotoGP bike. The track is a little too open for the 125cc bikes, where you get too much corner speed and it’s a little scary, but for the 990cc it is perfect.” Chris Vermeulen – Suzuki “Last year was my MotoGP debut here, and it was a great weekend. Watching Doohan and Gardner here back in the 80s and 90s and now getting to hopefully have a race like that this weekend is a dream come true. MotoGP is so different to any other class I’ve raced in here, and as it is earlier on in the year than usual I’m hoping that it will be a dry one.” Anthony West – Honda 250cc “I’m just waiting for the chance that these other Aussie riders have had to ride in the premier class. The team I’m with now have been under a bit of stress when the bike hasn’t been going well, although when it’s on form I’m a regular top ten rider when I shouldn’t be anywhere near that on the bike. I never give up and I never will, so I just work as hard as I can. I’m sure my opportunity will arrive, I thought I’d get a Honda ride this year but I’m beating the guy that they gave the bike too so I’m happy with that.” More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing: CONFIDENCE HIGH AS KAWASAKI HEAD DOWN UNDER From the sweltering heat and the torrential rain of Malaysia, the Kawasaki Racing Team have moved on to the cooler climes of Phillip Island, the location for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. The Phillip Island circuit hosted it’s first Motorcycle Grand Prix meeting in 1989, and the 4.445 km track still ranks as one of the most spectacular on the MotoGP calendar. Scary fast corners, together with slow technical turns, have been combined with frequent elevation changes to produce a circuit that guarantees close and exciting racing, all played out against the picturesque backdrop of the Bass Strait. Many of the MotoGP riders, including Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano and Randy de Puniet, rate this circuit as one of their favourites, and the warm welcome extended by Phillip Island residents to the MotoGP paddock each year guarantees that the Australian Grand Prix also remains a popular event for all the participating teams. Shinya Nakano arrives in Phillip Island determined to make amends for his disappointing showing in last weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. The 28-year-old Japanese rider crashed out of the race on the opening lap, after colliding with his Kawasaki teammate, de Puniet, at turn nine. Seventh in last year’s Australian Grand Prix, Nakano is confident that, if he can find a working set-up this weekend, then the combination of the 2006 Ninja ZX-RR and the engine upgrade he received in Malaysia, will allow him to aim for a higher finishing position this time around, with top five a realistic possibility. After a confidence-inspiring ride in Malaysia, where he missed out on a top ten finish only because of his off-track excursion on the opening lap, Randy de Puniet arrives in Phillip Island determined to record his best result so far in this, his rookie MotoGP season. The 25-year-old Frenchman enjoys racing at Phillip Island, and cites turn one – with it’s 320 km/h entry off the front straight – as one of the most exciting corners on any MotoGP circuit. While the first corner obviously holds no fears for de Puniet, the Kawasaki pilot has identified the back part of the circuit as the place where he needs to find some time this weekend, and it is on this section of the track that he will concentrate during practice and qualifying. Shinya Nakano: #56 “Malaysia didn’t quite go according to plan, with me crashing out of the race on the first lap, but I’ve now put that behind me and I’m completely focussed on making amends this weekend in Australia. At Phillip Island it’s critical that you find a set-up that gives good feedback from the front tyre. If you manage this during practice and qualifying, then racing at Phillip Island is really enjoyable. If you don’t find the right set-up then this track can be a little bit scary, especially the ultra-fast turn one! We had a good winter test here, so we will start this weekend with a good base setting on the bike, and this should make finding a good race set-up a little easier. If this proves to be the case, then I’d hope to finish top five in Sunday’s race.” Randy de Puniet: #17 “While it was disappointing to finish only 13th in Malaysia, I think I rode a good race, and my confidence on the bike has increased considerably. I like the Phillip Island track, especially turn one, but always I had some problems around the back part of the track on the 250cc machine, and I hope that I can improve in this area on the MotoGP bike. I had a good winter test here, but this is a difficult track to master, and I need to spend some time this weekend working on my lines through some of the more difficult corners during practice and qualifying. I’m looking forward to Sunday’s race, and I think it’s possible for us to come away from here with a good result this weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Pramac D’Antin: ALEX HOFMANN AND JOSE LUIS CARDOSO MEET THE MELBOURNE STORM TEAM ALEX HOFMANN and JOSE LUIS CARDOSO (PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP) got a feel for Melbourne before the weekend’s GP races at Phillip Island. They also didn’t miss the opportunity to meet with MATT KING and MATT GEYER, two of the best players of the MELBOURNE STORM, the top Australian football team in the NLR (National Rugby League). In the impressive Olympic Park, home stadium of the Australian team, both PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP riders spent an unusual day meeting the players of the Australian Rugby League under ideal weather conditions. The players taught the riders the basic rules of this spectacular sport, which is different from European Rugby, and practiced a simulated attack while passing the ball. ALEX HOFMANN : “I love it here. It was an exciting day! I used to watch Australian Rugby on television, but I had never seen it live. It was fantastic meeting those players who taught us the basics. This sport is so spectacular and so different from rugby in Europe. I also threw the ball for goal! It wasn’t easy, and I have to say it was a new and good sensation. For me, Australia is right up there. I love the atmosphere at Phillip Island, the people, and the whole scenery”. JOSE LUIS CARDOSO : “I enjoyed a lot. KING and GEYER were very nice. I talked a lot with them. We simulated an attack in the middle of the stadium’s playing field, and I felt the special atmosphere of a championship level match”. More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: SEVENTY-ONE DEGREES SOUTH Riders work their way into MotoGP in various ways, but few of them have earned a route into a prime berth like the Rizla Suzuki factory squad by such a well-travelled route as that taken by Chris Vermeulen, Mr 71. Most people, except Australians, think that Australia is far away from most places. For generations of Australian riders the draw of competition beyond their shores has been a simple necessity in order to advance their careers, and thus it will be no surprise to hear that Vermeulen chose to pound the well-worn path from Australia to the UK to gain experience. It may be more of a surprise to learn that Vermeulen, after an Aussie career of dirt tracking, followed by streetbike and two-stroke 250 racebike experience, also spent some of his young racing life lapping a 250GP machine in the Asian championship, in such places as Malaysia, Thailand, China and Indonesia. And he finished second, at only 17-years-of age. Chris is first to say he has been helped on his way by not just the astonishing levels of support he has enjoyed from his family (parents Peter and Julie, sisters Sheree, Jessica and Renita) based in the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, but also none-other than a double 500cc GP champion, the late great Barry Sheene. Vermeulen made his move to the UK in 2000, running in the Supersport and Superstock classes on the recommendation of Suzuki-legend Sheene. Not bad for a 17-year-old kid. After three seasons in the tough elbowing academy of World Supersport, full of brash hopefuls and wily old foxes on evenly matched bikes, all-comers were crushed by Chris in 2003, as he took the championship with gas to spare. Two subsequent seasons in World Superbike polished many of the skills he would bring to MotoGP, and with ten race wins in two years, he had become royalty in that class, before entering the rarefied MotoGP Empire this season. His first season of MotoGP life is well documented by now, with two poles to his credit already, as he approaches his home round at Phillip Island. It’s a special place with special memories for Chris, especially his first GP there in 2005, when riding as a wild card. He hopes it also carries the twinkling of some even better memories, and sooner rather than later. “Although I had ridden a World Superbike at Phillip Island before, and won World Supersport races in the past, last year was the most appreciated I had ever felt in PI as an Australian rider,” said Chris, still grinning at the memory of it all. “The support I got when I did the parade laps in the cars pre-race was incredible – as much as Valentino Rossi had – because I was the only Australian rider in the race. I knew I wasn’t going to win and I’m sure many other people down there knew I didn’t have the chance of even a podium, but the support they gave me was fantastic. This year, now I’m going back as a full-time rider on the Rizla Suzuki, we have already shown that we can be strong. So the chance to step on the podium would be great.” The track in Phillip Island is an acknowledged modern masterpiece, and with real history to its name to boot. Vermeulen, for as much as any rider always loves their home track, has a bone deep, visceral passion for the place. “I guess it’s to do with the trackside scenery, like when you really get your head down and top 300kmph staring right down the main straight… and all you can see is the ocean opposite. The whole circuit is pretty exciting to ride around and Australia itself is just an exciting country.” To Europeans more used to considering Australia as one homogenous land, Phillip Island is about as local for Sunshine Coast resident Vermeulen (long-time European season address Andorra) as Mugello is for residents of Edinburgh. “I guess PI is also a different experience for me because it’s in Melbourne and not in Queensland – the difference between London to Rome – but it’s still my home GP. I don’t think it would matter if I spent 15 years in Europe, I would still think of Phillip Island as my home GP, first and foremost. I still rate the British GP as my second home race, given the amount of time I spent there, and how many friends I have there still. But Australia is definitely my home GP.” And another GP he hopes to show the number 71 strongly at, this well-travelled MotoGP rookie of 24-years-of age, with a passion for young men’s things – mountain biking, motocross, heavy metal music, and souped-up classic hot rod cars. His other listed hobbies of cattle farming and tractor driving? I guess you can take the Aussie boy out of the country, but not the country out of the Aussie boy.