REPSOL HONDA TEAM READY TO BOUNCE BACK AT PHILLIP ISLAND The Repsol Honda Team contests round 16 of the MotoGP World Championship this weekend as the Australian Grand Prix takes place at the Phillip Island circuit. Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa arrive fully motivated and both factory Honda riders are targeting the win at the fast and exposed track which lies 150km (93 miles) south of Melbourne. Pedrosa has unfinished business after the last race in Japan where the Spaniard was fastest in every dry practice session and took pole position, only to be hindered by the treacherous conditions on race day. Though still experiencing some discomfort in his left foot from the fall at Motegi, tests have shown that there is no broken bone as first feared and Pedrosa, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on September 29, is confident for the weekend. He still has the chance to take second position in the World Championship, lying 26-points behind Valentino Rossi with a maximum of 75 points available from the final three races of the season. Hayden comes to Phillip Island having been fastest in the two-day test following the Japanese Grand Prix. After claiming pole position in the previous two years at Phillip Island and setting the fastest time in the three-day pre-season test here, Hayden knows he has the pace to contest the win. With his world crown now passed on to Casey Stoner, Hayden also has the extra motivation of recording his first win of the season at a track he loves. The scenic Phillip Island circuit provides a popular contrast to some of the more anti-septic venues on the MotoGP world tour. Rising and falling over the grassy landscape of Phillip Island, the 4.448km (2.764 miles) of Australian asphalt is both picturesque and challenging to the MotoGP teams and riders. Fast corners, elevation changes and a variable climate all conspire to generate exciting racing and unpredictable results. In addition, strong sea winds often threaten to blow unwary riders off the track, and low-flying seagulls can also present a real danger to bodies and bodywork on the 205mph start-finish straight. First practice for the GMC Australian Grand Prix takes place on Friday morning, with qualifying on Saturday and the 27-lap race beginning at 3pm local time on Sunday (7am CET).. Dani Pedrosa World Championship Position: 3rd 188 points “I’ve had some really great moments at Phillip Island and also some very bad results. It’s funny because I never seem to have an intermediate result at this track. Last year was a disaster with the rain in the race, so this year I’m hoping balance that with a good result. We tested at Phillip Island before the start of the season when the RC212V was very new. That test went well and we achieved a pretty good set-up for the circuit. It was quite a while ago though and a lot has changed with the machine and the tyres since then so we’ll still have plenty to learn in practice. I’m feeling better now after the Japan crash. I still have some bruising and pain in my left foot but it should be ok for Phillip Island. There are lots of left-hand corners at this circuit which will put some pressure on the foot but I think it will be fine. Also the weather can be very variable at this time of year as we saw last season so a lot will depend on the forecast and the tyre choice on Thursday as always.” Nicky Hayden World Championship Position: 8th 112 points “It seems like we wait all year to get our crack at Phillip Island and now finally the time is here and we get our chance. I love the place it’s old-school and I can’t wait to get on the track on Friday morning. In the past Phillip Island has been pretty kind to me. I’ve had two pole positions in a row and a few good results and it’s just a track I really enjoy riding. It’s very important to have good edge grip as you spend so much time on the side of the tires. You also need a bike that will steer well in the long corners and change direction quickly through the fast esses. At this time of year though the place could be called Phillip Iceland instead of Phillip Island, but some good weather would be nice because when it’s cold at this track it can be hard to get heat into the right side of the tyre. Anyway, we only have to wait a few more days and then we’ll be back racing and, as the locals say, let’s hope for a ‘bloody good weekend!'”