L. Capirossi very fast and ready for Brno….

CAPIROSSI VERY FAST AND READY FOR BRNO
Loris Capirossi arrives in Brno ready to improve on the fourth place obtained in
German GP last month. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider, who entered the
legend with the victory obtained at the Marlboro Grand Prix of Catalunya last year
June, in Germany he competed a few hours after being the victim of one
fall at high speed, following which his first motorbike was finished
partially destroyed by fire due to petrol leaking from the tank afterwards
a series of “spectacular vaults”. Loris, a little bruised
after the crash at 200 km/h, he needed the summer break more than ever!

“In Germany I ran at no more than 80% fitness,
but for Brno I should be fine,” says Loris. “I think we will
a great race. Tests last month went very well. We do not have
tried new parts, but focused on the new Michelin tires and
on the set-up of the Desmosedici on this track. It's not easy at all
find the right settings on this circuit: you need to have a manageable vehicle
to be able to maintain speed.”

Capirossi has been racing at Brno since his debut in the World Championship in 1990,
but he has never won on this track. He came second in 1991 in the
125 class and in 1998 in the 250 class, but his best result in the maximum
GP category in the Czech Republic was third place in 2001
riding a 500. “Will I be able to win this time?” you ask
the former 125 and 250 World Champion, who in the first nine races
in 2003 he started on the front row seven times. “It's hard to say.
Overall, the bike is good on different types of tracks and I think so on this one
can best be expressed. Sometimes we have to work hard to find
the right structure, and this gives us new ideas for the future: we have
already a lot of information that will allow us to improve the Desmosedici
for next year.”

LORIS CAPIROSSI
Age: 30
Domicile: Monaco
Motorcycle: Desmosedici Ducati Marlboro Team
GP victories: 23 (1xMotoGP, 2x500, 12x250, 8x125)
First GP win: Great Britain, 1990 (125)
First GP: Japan, 1990 (125)
GP starts: 193 (23xMotoGP, 59x500, 84x250, 27x125)
Pole positions: 35 (2xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125)
First pole: Australia, 1991 (125)
World titles: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998)
Brno 2002 results: Grid 5th. Race 6