MotoGP – Preview Brno – Melandri and Simoncelli ready to get back on track

In compliance with tradition, which has been renewed for several years now, the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic is held in the middle of summer. After the short break following the American Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, the MotoGP engines are restarting on the Brno circuit. Melandri hopes to have found his best physical condition during the "holidays" and to be able to compete in a race that lives up to his potential. During the break he dedicated a lot of time to recovering the mobility of his shoulder and the strength that will allow him to ride his Honda RC212V as best as possible. Brno will also be a further testing ground for Melandri and Simoncelli to find the right feeling with the new electronics delivered at Laguna Seca by HRC to Team San Carlo Honda Gresini. “Supe Sic” will also have to redeem himself from the three falls that unfortunately marked his trip to California. Despite the "digressions", Simoncelli has nevertheless demonstrated that he is in continuous and constant progression and on a "friendly" circuit, such as that of Brno, where he triumphed in the 250 class last year, he could take a further and decisive step forward. The spectacular Moravia facility has been on the world championship calendar continuously since 1993 and was inaugurated in 1987 on an area close to the old circuit which measured 14 km and which was the land of conquest by Giacomo Agostini on which, the champion, triumphed seven times in the premier class.

Marco Melandri “At Laguna Seca I thought I would do much better but instead, unfortunately, I had to realize that my physical condition was not yet at its best. During the race I didn't feel any pain in my shoulder but after ten laps I no longer had any strength and I was driving disheveled. I had no feeling going into the corner and I wasn't as fast as I expected. During the break I took a short holiday at the seaside, dedicating myself constantly to physiotherapy in the hope of being able to fully recover my strength for the Brno race. I like the circuit in the Czech Republic and if I have recovered, as I hope, my best condition which allows me to be consistent throughout the race, I will try to get closer to the best group. I'm not happy with the current situation, I don't like being just "a MotoGP number"!"

Marco Simoncelli “After the crash in the race in Laguna I was left with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Honestly, after practice and qualifying I thought I could do very well but instead in the race I struggled more than I expected and then the crash happened. It wasn't a good thing. When you fall, you always leave the Grand Prix with your ears a little low. During the break I took a short holiday in Sardinia and then I immediately dedicated myself to preparing for this Grand Prix which will be very important for me. Brno is a track that I really like and on which I have always had good races. In the last two years I came third in 2008 and last year I won. In the Czech Republic I have always been strong and therefore I hope to achieve a good result this year too. We will also have more confidence with the electronics that Honda gave us in America and therefore the bike should be significantly better performing. ”

Fausto Gresini “Brno has always been a “friendly” Grand Prix and I hope that the tradition will be renewed this year too. The circuit adapts well to the characteristics of our bike and with the additional experience compared to the United States, with the new electronics that were delivered to us by HRC in America, we will be able to take a decisive step forward. In Laguna we were in a bit of difficulty but in the Czech Republic also with the support of Honda we will be able to have a better feeling and make the most of the great potential of this fundamental technical part of the RC212V. In Brno we will also have to find a Melandri in better physical shape and able to fight for those ranking positions that are within his reach. Simoncelli will instead try to redeem himself after the disappointing race at Laguna Seca where, however, in qualifying, he confirmed that he was making constant progress. From Brno we enter the second part of the championship and I am confident that we will be able to collect the results that have eluded us to date. On paper, the prestigious results have always been within our reach and in part we have even come close to them and perhaps we would have even achieved them if luck had been more on our side."

Gresini Racing team