The Casey Stoner/Marlboro Ducati bandwagon rolls into Sepang on the crest of a wave for the penultimate round of the MotoGP World Championship. Not only did 22 year-old Stoner win his first Australian Grand Prix and his ninth grand prix on Sunday at Phillip Island but he arrives at the 3.447 miles Sepang circuit with two victories under his belt in both the 125 and 250cc classes. Ducati, who clinched both the Constructers and Team World Championships in Australia also have a good record at the circuit situated near KL International Airport with Loris Capirossi winning there last year and finishing second after a tremendous battle with Valentino Rossi the previous year.
Rossi returns on the Fiat Yamaha holding a 29-point advantage over Dani Pedrosa in their battle for second place in the Championship. Italian Rossi also has a good record at Sepang winning four times in the Premier class but already his thoughts are on 2008.
The closest battle in the Championship is between Rizla Suzuki team-mates John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen. They are separated by just five points in a race round a circuit they know well through their winter testing of their new 800cc machines.
Italians Marco Melandri and Capirossi are also locked in a battle for sixth place. They are separated by just four points and interest is heightened by the fact that Melandri replaces Capirossi at Ducati next year.
Twenty year-old Jorge Lorenzo looks certain to retain his 250cc title at the penultimate round of the Championship. He holds a 45-point advantage over the Honda of Andre Dovizioso following his ninth win of the season in Australia.
The 125cc Championship will not be decided on Sunday. Just one point separates Bancaja Aspar Aprilia team-mates Gabor Talmacsi and Hector Faubel. The Championship will be decided at Valencia in two weeks time but the penultimate round on Sunday will have a massive bearing on the outcome.
British Riders After the disappointments of Australia the four British riders on route to Malaysia will be looking for a change of fortune. Chaz Davies was encouraged by his second ride on the Pramac D’Antin Ducati before retiring with mechanical problems.
Bradley Smith is determined to put the Australian disappointments behind him while Danny Webb was encouraged by his ride at Phillip Island before the crash. Eugene Laverty makes his Malaysia debut after a good race in Australia on the 250 LCR Honda.
Chaz Davies:
“I really like Sepang and can’t wait to get there to ride a MotoGP machine. It was so disappointing to retire in Australia but I was pleased with the race up till then and look forward to a points scoring ride.”
Bradley Smith:“I missed Malaysia last year and so I start on a level playing field on Friday morning which will be just what we need after my disappointments in Australia.”
Danny Webb:“Despite crashing in Australia I was really happy with my performance up till then. I was having some great dices with good riders and I hope I can do the same in Malaysia.”
Eugene Laverty:“Things went so much better on race day in Australia I just hope we can continue in Malaysia. It’s another new track but I go there with a bit of confidence.”
Track Facts A modern complex situated near the Kuala Lumpur international airport which staged it’s first motorcycle grand prix in 1999 which was won by Kenny Roberts junior, riding the 500cc Suzuki.
The track was designed by Hermann Tile with Formula One in mind but has proved both an excellent grand prix and testing venue for motor cycles.
The 3.447 mile circuit has a tremendous variety of bends including the two tight corners that link the main straight. The main straight and the similar straight that runs parallel with it are flanked by enormous grandstands with their distinctive roofs.
The main problem can be the weather with torrential tropical rain last year causing the cancellation of Saturday qualifying. Also the heat and humidity makes the event a real test of the riders’ stamina.
Length: 3.447 miles
Pole Position: Left
Width: 25m
Right corners: Ten
Left corners: Five
Longest Straight: 0.572 miles
Constructed: 1998
Flashback
MotoGP:
2006 Winner: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 43m07s.
Lap record: Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2m2.127s
Pole lap: Rossi 2m.0605s
250cc:
2006 Winner: Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia)
Lap record: Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 2m08.015 s (2004)
Pole lap: Sebastian Porto (Aprilia) 2m06.940s
125cc:2006 Winner: Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) 26m52.154s
Lap record: Bautista 2m13.118s
Pole lap: Bautista 2m12.846s
