The MotoGP World Championship hits the shores of the US before taking a well-deserved mid-season break. The eleventh round of the season will take place at the legendary Laguna Seca circuit with the MotoGP category the guest of honour as the 125 and 250cc classes sit it out for the weekend. However, the MotoGP riders will have some company as, for the very first time, they share track duties this weekend with the American AMA Superbike championship riders. After an absence of ten years, MotoGP returned to Laguna Seca last season and the hugely testing circuit ensured one of the most exciting and fascinating races of the season. “The corkscrew” – a turn that requires both great skill and great courage – has since undergone a major transformation costing some $9 million in a bid to try and improve safety at the circuit, although officials are confident that none of the excitement it brought will be lost. “We are very happy as we did not expect such a rapid response for the Safety Commission,” stated Franco Uncini – head of riders’ safety. “The track has been completely resurfaced and corners one and seven have been levelled out, while the circuit’s drainage system has also been redesigned. The run-off areas have also been increased at the most important points, but the mythical character of the track has not been altered. Laguna Seca is not a circuit that has been designed with any modern software, but it is still a very exciting and enjoyable circuit.” MARCO MELANDRI: “Laguna Seca is a circuit that I like a lot; it has a unique design that is a lot of fun. Last year we had a few problems with the set-up of the bike and it wasn’t until the ‘warm-up’ for the race that we found a suitable solution. We are in a good moment of form right now and I must make the most of the situation and continue to concentrate and perform despite still not being 100 percent physically. In the last two races I have had some great battles and I hope to repeat that here. I hope to be practically fully fit when I start the race, but competitiveness forms part of my personality and I love a real battle.” TONI ELIAS: “Laguna Seca is a mythical circuit. When I was young I remember the races at this circuit perfectly and used to love watching them. I really like the circuit and although it is difficult it is a lot of fun and completely different to the European ones we are used to. The ‘Corkscrew’ turn is really impressive, you don’t appreciate just how amazing it is on television. I was still suffering physically at the German GP and my fracture still isn’t completely healed, but I will give my all.” LAGUNA SECA – THE CIRCUITS TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS Built: 1957 Latest modification:2006 Length: 3.610 m Width: 15 m Pole position: from the right Right corners: 4 Left corners: 7 Longest straight: 966 m RECORD: Record: 2005 C.Edwards (Yamaha) 1’23″915 Pole: N. Hayden (Honda) 1’22″670 Race ’05: 1st N.Hayden (Honda), 2nd C.Edwards (Yamaha), 3rd V.Rossi (Yamaha) THE GRAND PRIX FROM INSIDE THE FORTUNA HONDA BOX The box of a MotoGP team is an operations room where technology and hard work combine against just one factor: time. The few hours of qualifying and the fierce battle between rider and his eternal rival – time, would not be possible without the priceless help of the group around him – the team. The lay-out of the box is designed to guarantee the most efficient work environment possible in the small space permitted. The design, the result of many years of hard work and experience, is improved upon almost daily and in the case of Team Gresini, is marked by the combination of elegance and functionality. One of the team’s partners, BETA TOOLS, bring all their know-how to the team’s equipment with the aim of ensuring that the team spend their time in the best and most efficient way possible, with each member comfortable with his tools. Over the course of a weekend a simple nut can be put on and taken off up to 500 hundred times. Under the watchful eye of the chief mechanic, the work that goes on in the box is carried out with two main objectives; speed and efficiency. The work of each and everyone of the group goes on to define just how effective the team will perform as a unit over the course of a weekend. In the case of the tyres, the different members of the team will work together with the objective of getting the rider back out on the circuit as quickly as possible so he has every chance to win his the most important battle of all – ‘the battle against time’. JOB TIMES: 30 seconds needed to change the rear tyre 2.5 minutes needed to change the front tyre 4 minutes needed to change the rear suspension fork 3 minutes needed to change the front suspension fork 25 minutes needed to dismantle and change the gear-box 3.5 minutes needed to change the chassis and engine of the bike 6 – 7 hours needed to dismantle and then put back together the entire bike