Press release:The MotoGP World Championship paddock jets back across the Atlantic this week in a 7,700km dash back to Europe for the San Marino Grand Prix, which gets underway on Friday at the Misano Adriatico circuit. Just five days after competing at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the USA, the San Carlo Honda Gresini Team go home to do battle just a few kilometres from their headquarters in San Clemente di Rimini.
It is also an event of special importance for Alex De Angelis, the only San Marino native on the MotoGP grid. After enjoying the best weekend of his professional career at Indy, where he qualified fourth and was fastest in the warm-up before taking an outstanding second place in the race, Alex is looking to continue his excellent form in front of his home fans. Toni Elias is also relishing the chance to get back on track so soon after his disappointment in America, where he was run off track on the opening lap and had to battle through the pack to finish ninth.
The history of World Championship racing at Misano is relatively short, with the first ever Grand Prix talking place here in 1980, when Kenny Roberts took victory in the 500cc event ahead of Italian pair Franco Uncini and Graziano Rossi, Valentino’s father. From 1982 to 1993 the Misano circuit hosted the series on a further nine occasions with the Grand Prix of Nations, Grand Prix of San Marino and the Grand Prix of Italy.
#15 ALEX DE ANGELIS:“It is wonderful to go home after such a fantastic result at Indianapolis – I can’t think of a better place to be going next than Misano! To be honest in terms of the layout it is not one of my favourite tracks but I can’t wait to ride in front of my fans and I’ll be giving it everything I have got! My fan club will be there in the colours of the San Marino flag and giving me an extra motivation to ride on the limit once again. I know I am riding for a job right now and I want to continue to show that I am worthy of a place in MotoGP. I think we have done that over the past few races and it is important we stay consistent and focused to the end of the season.”
#24 TONI ELIAS:“I was disappointed on Sunday night because I know we were capable of much more at Indy but I was also pleased with the way we worked over the weekend to solve our set-up issues with the bike. It is a good sign for Misano and to be honest I can’t wait to get back on track again. It is not easy making such a long trip and having to race again so soon but it’s the same situation for everybody and I’m just looking forward to it. This is the team’s home race so it is a special weekend and important that we are competitive again.”
FAUSTO GRESINI – Team Manager:
“The San Marino Grand Prix is very much a home race for us – our team base is just a few kilometres from the circuit and the majority of the staff come from this area of Romagna. I also have fantastic personal memories of Misano and my victory there in the 1985 GP, which sealed my first world title. Alex is San Marinese and will be racing in front of his fans with great confidence and motivation coming fresh on the back of his podium at Indianapolis and his best ever performance in MotoGP. I’m also expecting a good race from Toni, who was on the podium here last year, at what is definitely one of his better circuits. It is great to be going into our home race on the back of consecutive podium finishes – all our sponsors will be at Misano and we want to offer them maximum payback for their efforts and their belief in the team. At Misano we will also decorate the Team San Carlo Honda Gresini bikes with the logo of the Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation. It is just a small contribution on our part of raising awareness of the daily battle for life being faced by those less fortunate than ourselves. We will also dedicate profits to the Foundation from the Dedikato event, which we are proud to be the main supporters and organizers of for the third year running.”
