Simoncelli to make up lost ground at Mugello

Marco Simoncelli left Holland on Saturday with a bitter taste in his mouth and the knowledge that a mistake had cost him dearly. It was possibly his first real error of the season and it involuntarily involved Jorge Lorenzo. The correct strategy would have been to wait, and not doing so led to another potentially exciting race going up in tyre smoke. Another forgettable race, which started with confusion on the grid over which setting to opt for – wet or dry – unsettled Marco. The team also accepts its own responsibility and the experience will be a valuable one for everybody involved. However, their home race at Mugello is immediately on the horizon and it promises to be another tense one as the team and “Super Sic” look to make up ground in the championship. The key will be to remain calm because the potential is there and now is the time to back it up with a result. Mugello provides a stunning amphitheater and only the most determined performers will come out with a result. Hiroshi Aoyama returns to the fold this week after a positive experience at Assen on the factory RC212V with the Repsol Honda Team.

Marco Simoncelli:

“My first reaction when I came into the box after the race, as well as bitterness and disappointment, was that I had been a fool because I could have waited. I made a mistake and it cost me dearly as well as involuntarily taking Lorenzo down too. I was sorry for him but more than that I am was for myself because I had thrown away a big opportunity. It was probably my biggest mistake of the season, I have reflected a lot on it and it will help me to grow. Now I just want to look ahead to Mugello with calmness and motivation. Everybody is expecting big things from me and I have to repay that faith with a positive result that will put recent history firmly behind us. I am fast, I have found a perfect feeling with the bike and I am extremely determined to prove it in a race. There will be a lot of fans packed around the hills of Mugello and I don't want to, and cannot afford to, disappoint them. I love the track, it is one of my favourites and I won my first race here in 2008 in 250 before finishing second to Pasini in a great battle in 2009. I can't wait to get back on track!”

Hiroshi Aoyama:

“I tried to enjoy the opportunity to ride the Repsol Honda factory RC212V as best I could but unfortunately with the mixed weather conditions Assen wasn't the ideal place to be riding such a demanding bike. I am happy to have had the chance though and now I look forward to returning to my team and picking up from where we left off before this brief but constructive interruption.”

Spies eager to hit Mugello track

The back to back races offer an opportunity for the riders to pick up quickly where they left off in The Netherlands where they celebrated the first of the year’s 50th Anniversary of Grand Prix racing events. The Tuscan circuit is just two hours drive from the team’s headquarters near Milan and is an honorary home race for the team.

Lorenzo has a strong record at Mugello, winning in the 250cc class and claiming two premier class second place finishes in 2009 and 2010 with the Yamaha Factory Team. Spies performed well on his first visit to the Italian track last year, taking seventh after an intense battle which saw him ride as high as fourth at times.

Mugello can lay claim to being one of the fastest circuits in the world. The main straight is over a kilometre long and witnesses speeds of over 320km/hr by the GP riders before dropping into the downhill right hand corner at the end. Combine this with varied camber and gradient changes, high speed chicanes and an extra wide track and the thousands of passionate fans who flock to the surrounding hillsides are guaranteed some intense racing action.

Ben Spies: “These few days off seem to have taken forever, when you finish a race like Assen you just want to get straight back in and try to do it again. My first GP victory still hasn’t sunk in properly; it was pretty special for me to be able to do it at such a legendary circuit and at this unique time in Yamaha’s history. The red and white livery definitely bought me luck! I’m looking forward to Mugello, the track has apparently got a new surface with lots of grip so it should be pretty good for the bike and pretty exciting for the fans.”

Jorge Lorenzo: “We are going to Mugello with no time to rest and think about what happened last Saturday. The team did a great job and I believe now the bike can be better, we can make a step forward. We have to be positive after all! Mugello is a track I like so much, maybe one of the most beautiful in the world, and is my favourite along with Phillip Island. This track is full of chicanes and this year there is new asphalt! I've never won in MotoGP, but we will try this year and give a show to all our fans. Also I hope the weather changes after the previous races - summer has arrived."

Repsol Honda Team heads full force to Mugello

With his second position at Assen, Casey Stoner has extended his lead in the Championship to 28 points over Jorge Lorenzo, while Andrea Dovizioso, third in Holland, confirms his third position in the overall standings and has reduced his gap to Lorenzo to only 9 points.

After two surgeries to fix the broken right collarbone suffered in the Grand Prix of France and having missed three consecutive races, Dani Pedrosa returns very motivated at the Mugello circuit, the scene where he celebrated his first of four victories last season. Dani will be hoping to return to his fine form he was in before the injury, with three podiums and one win in the first three races. His team mates have remained in a very good shape during his absence, with 3 consecutive wins and a second place for Stoner, and 3 podiums for Dovizioso.

Located in the beautiful region of Tuscany, the Mugello circuit is a favourite among all the riders and a must see event for all fans. It's one of the fastest tracks in the world, with 15 corners and a top speed of 350km/h achievable down the long start/finish straight. This year with new asphalt, the action on track will extend to Monday for another day of testing for all the MotoGP Teams. The Repsol Honda Team will continue development of its 800cc machine.

Casey Stoner:
"I'm really looking forward to Mugello especially after a difficult weekend in Assen where I was extremely happy to have finished second in a very difficult race. Last year we didn't get the best result but I've always enjoyed this circuit and I think this year we can expect to be quite competitive. From what I've heard, the new surface is a lot smoother and a lot faster which will make Mugello an even better circuit from what it already was! I've been excited about coming here to try it out! I'm hoping to have a good race and score important points for the Championship, but we need to keep our heads down and continue working hard."

Andrea Dovizioso:
"I'm very curious to go to Mugello and ride there with the new asphalt. Those who tested there said that it's unbelievably smooth. Mugello is one of the most technical, demanding and beautiful tracks in the MotoGP calendar, so I'm sure that without the bumps it will become one of the best circuits in the world. I'm happy to race in the Italian GP at this particular moment of the season: we are third in the Championship and we arrive after two successive podium finishes. We are competitive and determined to get another good result at my home GP. We have been consistent in dry and wet conditions and the team is working really well so I'm confident. Last year i was on the podium and the feeling up there is amazing, not comparable with another podium finish so I really want to repeat it. I hope there will be many spectators and that we can put on a good show! Mugello is always a special event, I enjoy every minute of it, starting with the journey to reach the Tuscan track via il Muraglione pass, a historical route for bikers!"

Dani Pedrosa:
"After missing three races, I'm happy to be back in Mugello. During this period I've been very focused on my recovery and after the second operation I have improved a lot. I'm really looking forward to riding the bike, getting into the groove again and to be as competitive as I was before the injury. It's been difficult being out of competition, but that was the situation and I couldn't do more. I have been in contact with my team during this time and I know they also look forward to getting back to normal. Together we will work to regain the highest level and fight to win races again. Mugello is a difficult circuit, very technical and demanding, and I know it will not be easy for us, but last year we scored our first win of the season there and we would like to get a good result."

Vidoe: Dani Pedrosa Interview Pre Silverstone

Dani Pedrosa interview Pre-Silverstone race
Free download from fileserve

Free Download Highlight MotoGP Catalunya

Free download Highlight MotoGP Catalunya
Files include:

• FP1 Highlight
• FP2 Highlight
• FP3 Highlight
• QP Highlight
• Race Highlight

Download via fileserve

Colin Edwards Ready To Race On Silverstone

Colin Edwards will ride in Sunday's British MotoGP at Silverstone despite breaking his collarbone in a crash in Catalunya last weekend. The 37-year-old American suffered the injury in practice for the Catalan race after falling off his Tech 3 Yamaha.

He was keen to start the race but was not allowed to take the grid after medical advice and missed a race for the first time since his debut in 2003. However, the Texan is now set to return and race this weekend.

He said: "I was a little bit disappointed with the decision not to let me ride because while it's not a lifelong ambition never to miss a MotoGP race, it was a run I was pretty proud of. "I understand the decision but my shoulder feels great. "I'm too big and too old to get upset and I'm going to rest up now and concentrate on getting ready for Silverstone. "I know I can race next weekend and I'm already looking forward to it. I can't remember the last time I missed a race and I definitely don't like watching on TV, so I'm desperate to get back working." 

Casey Stoner's win on Sunday closed the gap on championship leader Jorge Lorenzo to seven points after five rounds of the season.