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7 raka vinster för Rossi på Mugello, han verkar gilla banan
Plus att Rossi även vunnit där när han körde 125GP och 250GP på den banan.
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Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda
“The race at Mugello is always a special one because the circuit is really challenging and the fans are so passionate about racing. I’m going there in a good frame of mind. We’re heading into the busy part of the season and our position in the championship standings, considering the problems I had over the winter, really isn’t too bad. Plus I was pleased with my pace in France, which proved to me that my physical condition is improving and I can go fast right to the end of the race. That’s an important point for Mugello because it’s a physically demanding track to ride, especially in the fast direction changes, and you want to be at full strength to be able to ride aggressively there – which you have to do in some parts of the track. I think it will be a tough race because it’s the home event for my team-mate and for many of our rivals – plus some teams have tested here quite a lot. But I’m looking forward to the challenge. We must continue to work on our machine package and get the maximum possible result.”
Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda
“I really look forward to the GP of Italy. Mugello is a unique place in terms of atmosphere and, although it’s part of the World Championship, for me it’s an event that stands alone. It’s like a kind of ritual with so many memories from previous years: Tuscany, the colours and smell, the people, the food and the passion of the fans. Mugello itself is a track that requires a lot of respect. It’s important to get into the right rhythm from the very beginning of the lap, but that’s not easy. You need to find the correct flow from chicane to chicane and then you’re faced with the most demanding part of the circuit: the three turns Casanova Savelli, Arrabbiata One and Two. Although I’m Italian I don’t actually ride much at this track because we don’t test here, so we come back after a full year away. We know the key places where we have to get the set-up right but it always takes a while to master the track again. There are a lot of fast changes of direction and that means riding here requires a lot of physical energy. It’s bumpy too which complicates things further. As an Italian rider, the support of the fans gives me an extra drive, and the hour before the race is really special. It’s important to use that boost to lift your performance and that’s what I’ll be aiming to do on Sunday.”
Randy de Puniet LCR Honda
“The Mugello racetrack is one of my favourites and I usually have fun riding there. There’s the longest straight of the season and you need to have a really good bike set-up to exit the last corner because otherwise during the race you can easily get passed by other riders. For us it will be really important to have a good engine management set-up and a good chassis set-up. There are many high-speed corners at Mugello that I like very much. Our engine is better than last year and I feel confident ahead of the Italian GP. After our bad weekend at Le Mans I must focus and go ahead trying to finish in the top ten.”
Toni Elias San Carlo Honda Gresini
“I’ll be in much better physical shape at Mugello. Since Le Mans I’ve been undergoing physiotherapy twice a day so the arm feels much better. Hopefully my strength is back too because I need to be riding this bike on the limit in order for us to make the necessary progress with the set-up. We have made gradual progress since the start of the season and have taken positive lessons out of every race, so I really hope this weekend we can make that definitive step in quality that will propel us into the battle at the front. This is the team’s home race so it is important we put on a good show in front of the Italian fans and it would be fitting if this was the turning point for our season.”
Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini
“Things haven’t gone our way recently but the Grand Prix of Italy is a special occasion for us and I am determined to turn things around. The new setting we gambled with in the second half of the race at Le Mans worked well, so hopefully we can take some positives to Mugello and start out with a good base setting on Friday afternoon, which is what we really need. I was on the podium at this circuit for three seasons in a row in the 250cc class before moving up to MotoGP and I had the best race of my rookie season last year, when I finished fourth. It would be great to put on a show like that again because even though my real ‘home race’ is in San Marino I have a lot of fans at Mugello too and I want to do well for them. I’m sure their presence will give me a little extra motivation to produce my absolute maximum.”
Yuki Takahashi Scot Honda
“I loved this circuit when I was a 250 rider. It has everything you want to enjoy when riding: uphill and downhill sections, fast corners and a flowing layout. Last season I crashed with four laps to go when I was in fourth position. I have never ridden Mugello on a MotoGP bike; nevertheless, I think it should suit our Honda better than Le Mans. I would really like to get a good result, next Sunday, as Mugello is our team's home race.”
Hiroshi Aoyama Scot Honda
“Mugello is one of the most difficult tracks scheduled for the championship. Anyway I like it, and every time I race there I do better and better. About the season as a whole, not much has changed – I led the championship after Jerez and now I’m just one point behind the leader. The game is wide open, but I will continue to focus on each race, not thinking too much to the championship. Having said that, it is clear that when I can be one point ahead of Bautista instead of one point behind, I would prefer it that way!”
Raffaele De Rosa Scot Honda
“Mugello, at last... it is my favourite track. And I'm not the only one to love it. At the same time, it is very demanding, because it isn’t easy to set up your bike properly for this track. I got pole position at Mugello last season when I was racing 125s. Now I'm really looking forward to racing there on a 250. I'm going to drive my camper van from Naples to Mugello, and a few friends of mine will come and enjoy the race.”
Hector Faubel Valencia CF-Honda SAG
“I like so much the circuit of Mugello because I’ve scored a lot of podiums there in 125s. I know that this circuit is Aprilia’s home track, however, I know that I will get a very good result. There is a lot of things that I like about Mugello but my favourite section is the two Arrabbiata curves because they are fast and technical.”
Ratthapark Wilairot Thai Honda PTT-SAG
“After my fifth position at Le Mans I had to leave very quickly for the airport because the next morning I had to fly home to Thailand to do my tests for military service! While at home I also had some time to relax with my family and friends. I should be 100 per cent fit for Mugello because my ankle is fine after the Jerez crash and have had the stitches removed from my right hand. I have a very good feeling about Mugello and I want to see some big results for the team in Italy.”
Shoya Tomizawa Team CIP Honda
“It was disappointing not to score points at Le Mans, having scored points at all the first three races. But I am fully fit for Mugello and very much looking forward to this racetrack, which I know so well from the TV. My team have told me many great things about the circuit and I cannot wait to try it out for myself.”
Bastien Chesaux Racing Team Germany Honda
“Every race we keep learning more and that’s the most important thing at this stage. We got the bike working really well at Le Mans, which means that I can travel to Mugello in a positive frame of mind. I can’t wait for the weekend – Mugello is one of the legendary GP tracks.”
Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki
"Mugello is always a special place for me and I was not happy with last year's result so I am planning to put things right this time around. I managed a seventh after starting on the front row and I struggled a bit in the race. This year's GSV-R is certainly better than the 2008 bike and I really believe if we can get the set-up right and have a couple of good day's testing we can be pushing at the front. We need to work out why we don't seem able to get the most from the tyres at the moment; our competitors certainly seem to be getting a lot more out of their rubber, so it is something we really have to focus on and keep pushing to the maximum."
Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki
"The result at Le Mans last time out was a bit better, but it is still not what we are looking for. We need to keep working hard and try to get the full potential from the GSV-R. I really enjoy racing in Mugello - it is such a unique atmosphere and the track is amazing It's always a tough race in Mugello but we will be doing all we can to keep improving and we'll certainly be aiming for our best result of the season so far!"
Jorge Lorenzo FIAT Yamaha
“Mugello is, along with Phillip Island, the most beautiful circuit that we race at; I love it! Plus I am feeling very confident after our good race in Le Mans. We have had some very strange races with the weather conditions and I would never have expected to recover 24 points in one go. Now we arrive in Italy (where the weather I hope will be better) as leaders, but the most important thing is that I am confident and feeling fit. Last year was not easy for me; I already had problems with my ankles and then I crashed when trying to pass Andrea Dovizioso. Mugello and Montmeló were horrible for me and finished that period of the season having taken no points. This year, just to take some points at this track and at Catalunya will be an improvement and that’s my aim! On Wednesday I will be in Rome, watching Champions League Final with my team, Barcelona, against Manchester United. I hope the weekend begins perfectly for me with that title!”
Valentino Rossi FIAT Yamaha
"Racing at Mugello is something incredible for me, but every year it gets more difficult to keep my record going and seven wins in a row is already a lot! I do feel pressure going there, but at the same time it is always amazing and the fans give me an extra motivation that helps me to perform in a different way there. I hope it’s the same again this year, because after Le Mans I really need a good result! It was disappointing but everyone has the occasional bad day and that was ours. Everything possible went wrong but hopefully that is all our bad luck for now and this time, at our home race, we will be back to our best. I always look forward to this race; it’s very busy for me but I have so many amazing memories. Let’s hope to create some more this weekend.”
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