From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

RACE-BY-RACE PROTONS HOPE FOR SHORT-TRACK BENEFIT

Proton Team KR riders Nobuatsu Aoki and Kurtis Roberts resume their race-by-race progress in Germany this weekend, marking the halfway point in the 16-round GP calendar.

The 2.281-mile, 3/649-km Sachsenring is also the shortest circuit on the calendar, with a layout where one turn follows another with dizzying abruptness. A short start straight and a fairground-ride plunge off the hillside behind the paddock are the only interruptions.

The England-based team are hoping this will work in their favour. Compared with established MotoGP-class opposition, the Mk2 version of their radically designed and engineered 990cc V5 prototype is in its early stages of development – and this shows most clearly in a lack of outright top speed. In Germany, the faster bikes will get no chance to exploit that advantage, while the accurate handling of the Proton’s state of the art lightweight chassis will give the riders a more equal chance than usual.

The unique England-made engine was altered to suit the compact chassis, and this has been the most difficult area of development so far. The team has tackled teething problems and continued with modifications, to achieve ever-improving reliability and performance. Both bikes finished the last round at Rio, but both were out of the top-15 points at a track with a long back straight.

In line with the engine development, Dunlop’s tyre programme has also been moving forward, although a promising new line tested before Rio turned out not to have the same performance at the Brazilian circuit’s quirky surface. Work continues, with the team expecting yet more development in the one-weekend break since the last round.

“No drastic changes, but we have some new bits and pieces that should bring improvements for this race, and we’re hoping Dunlop will have some new stuff,” said team manager Chuck Aksland.

“This track has been good to us in the past, and we may have some surprises this weekend,” he continued.

Last year, the team raced their three-cylinder two-stroke machines to 11th and 12th places. This year, the booming new-firing-order four-stroke makes its debut at the historic motorcycle racing venue (the modern short circuit overlooks the old road track).

“The big difference this year is that we are right on the weight limit,” said Aksland. “We believe this track might suit our bike quite well.”

The German GP is the penultimate in a hard run of six races in eight weekends. One week later, the British GP starts the second half of the season, and also opens the summer break, with three weekends off before the Czech GP on August 22.

NOBUATSU AOKI – HARD TRACK, BETTER CHANCES
Actually I don’t like this track at all – but I’m looking forward to it, because I think we have a better chance to get in the points. It’s the shortest circuit in GPs, and if you are a bit underpowered it doesn’t make so much difference here. So even if I don’t like it, with a small chance of doing well I must push hard.

KURTIS ROBERTS – ANOTHER ONE TO LEARN
It’s been a pretty tough season, and here’s another new track for me to learn. I need for everything to keep going, to get as much saddle time as I can. Le Mans was quite a tight track, and I got a point there, so I’m hoping to do at least that much again.