Honda Sneaks at the Italian Grand Champ at Mugello

Honda is now very pressured about the four races which will come in five weeks from now. In the press release, the team said that if it was not tough before, now it is. They consider the races as on their maximum intense level that they have no time to be happy-go-lucky since it will begin early July with just one week off between the events in the Netherlands and in Germany.

This makes the situation difficult for both riders and teams. The drivers’ race fitness is now becoming a big issue just like machine development. The up coming events give Honda team no ample time to fine tune bikes between races for the specific demands of each Grand event. The team considers Mugello as a demanding track like any other.

A high-speed carousel of a track is found just 30km north east of Florence Mugello. It has rolling, really bendy turns and a 215mph 1141m main straight. It measures 5.245km classifying it with the longer tracks. Contending here has the high possibility of nerve wrecking actions with nine right and six left turns.

Honda team said the key to a fast lap in this race is rhythm. Race rhythm over the 23-laps of the MotoGP contest will be critical. The 800cc bicycles with the best drive out of the turns and the highest top speeds will run well here.

For 2007, the track has been modified. It added 20,000 capacities with new naturally craved grandstands at the turns in Scarperia and Correntado. A 280m of run-off at Arrabbiata One and Two is also added.

Nicky Hayden, last year, ranked third after winner Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) and second-placer Loris Capirossi (Ducati). And this year, Casey Stoner (Ducati) is leading the MotoGP World Championship with 102 points while Rossi currently has 81. So fans will definitely cheer as loud as they could.

Nonetheless, Honda is optimistic that its Italian Marco Melandri (Gresini Honda
RC212V) will find form on his 800cc machine. Currently, Melandri is overall fourth and just one point behind third placer Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V).

Melandri said it is nice to be heading to his home race. According to him this was the result of their entire team’s hard work. He added that one’s home grand championship is always both exciting and demanding. He admits that Mugello is one of the most technical circuits on the series of events. But the mere fact that he will be racing in front of his fellowmen makes him proud.

Pedrosa, a second timer in the MotoGP, commented that Mugello is has always been a challenging track and it will be exciting to find out how the technical circuit feels on the new 800s. He added that maximum speed will be a key factor again. Based on the tests of the other teams, racers on the straight road here need to be fast.

Teammate Hayden said that one cannot really imagine the intensity at Mugello until you experience it and he is hoping to get back. One exciting feature of the track he pointed out is the many fast changes of direction which are crucial to a good lap. He added that the ground is starting to get a bit worn and dumpy so they would have their bikes set up.

Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda RC212V) recalled his 2004 crash in Mugello. According to him, it happened down the very fast start and finish straight. He felt scared upon recalling it but he added that the he fears wears off as he returns to the track with every thing new - team, bike, and tires.

Their team knows their flaw this year. He cannot carry his desired corner speed but Nakano believes they can do better this time.

Carlos Checa (LCR Honda RC212V) is also confident on this race. He believes that their team is now very competitive but still has no enough power. But he added that Michelin is giving them a very good support and they tested different rear tires in France. After this race comes another one in Catalunya and he is excited regarding that matter on his home race.

Meanwhile, Andrea Dovizioso (Scot Honda RS250RW) in the 250cc is hoping that the support of his home crowd can affect his chasing Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia), the series point leader. Divizioso is currently at 88 while Lorenzo has 120 points. Divizioso said he likes Mugello because the amazing race here is so fast. Though he has not yet won here, he is hoping to win this time. He said he will fight at the highest level possible.

Injured Yuki Takahashi (Scot Honda RS250RW) is currently mending and said he immediately started rehab. His wrist still hurts but the operation was successful. The team will decide whether or not he will be in the race.

Lukas Pesek (Derbi) and Gabor Talmacsi (Aprilia) currently preserves their posts in the 125cc. These experienced racers are expected to be defeated by Honda’s youngster Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R) after a third place in France.

About Honda

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