James Toseland and Scott Redding continue their MotoGP educations when they take to the Shanghai track for the very first time on Friday morning in the first practice sessions for the Pramac Grand Prix of China.
It’s not a new experience for the MotoGP and 125 cc stars with both of them performing with great credit when they raced at Estoril in Portugal for the very first time at the previous round three weeks ago.
‘Old campaigners’ 17 year olds Bradley Smith and Danny Webb plus Ulsterman Eugene Laverty have competed at the 3.281 mile circuit that includes the fastest straight and the longest corner in the MotoGP calendar.
Twenty seven year old Yorkshireman Toseland has made a superb start to his MotoGP career riding the Tech 3 Yamaha. After three grands prix he lies fifth in the Championship just 11 points behind World Champion Casey Stoner. There are six races in the next two months and Toseland has not ridden at three of the venues but he has already shown he’s very capable of learning quickly.
Fifteen year old Gloucestershire-based Redding faces a similar problem in the 125 cc World Championship but like Toseland has learnt quickly and made a brilliant start, riding the Blusens Aprilia. Despite problems in Portugal he is ninth in the Championship just one point behind 17 year Kent-base Webb who arrives in Shanghai brimming with confidence.
His fifth place in Estoril after starting from the front row of the grid riding the DeGraff Aprilia was his best ever grand prix finish in his second year of World Championship racing.
Bradley Smith is 11th after a season of great contrasts. He started the first two grands prix from pole position and was third at the second race at Jerez in Spain. He crashed out of third place in Estoril and knows he must start scoring consistent podium finishes in the next six races to have any chance of keeping the Championship leaders in sight.
Eugene Laverty opened his 250 cc World Championship points scoring account in Estoril with a hard fought 15th place on the Blusens Aprilia.
James Toseland “It’s going to be a tough time because I’ve never been to Shanghai, Mugello and Catalunya before but I’m really looking forward to it. We had the new engine from Yamaha in Estoril. Together with the Michelin tyres it made us a much stronger package. I can make time up in a straight line and that’s the easy part of my job.”
Danny Webb“ My confidence is sky high at the moment and I’ve just got to make sure I carry it on and get some consistancy.The season so far has been way beyond my expectations . I’d only hoped to be in the points before the start of the season and here I am in the top five.”
Scott Redding“The only real thing I know about Shanghai is that it’s a long way to go and the track is long. I’m pretty good at learning circuits and would rather learn it by riding round rather than using a Play Station before I get there. I enjoyed the majority of my first season and the busy time is about to start.”
Bradley Smith” I’m fully recovered after my crash in Estoril and I love the Shanghai circuit. I finished eighth last year after qualifying in fifth. We will be looking for some better rear end grip but one thing not to worry about on that long straight will be the top speed of the Aprilia.”
Eugene Laverty “ I’ve had a nightmare getting my Visa and I finally got it in Dublin on Monday, the day before I fly which was a big relief. I just hope it’s all worth it and I can carry on where we left off in Estoril. I didn’t get on particularly well with the Shanghai circuit last year but hopefully like Qatar that will change this year.”
Stoner Returns for Shanghai Showdown World Champions Casey Stoner and Marlboro Ducati return to Shanghai determined to repeat their success of last year which provided a clear indication to their rivals just what lay ahead for the remainder of the season.
The ability of Stoner plus the sheer speed of the Desmosedici Ducati down the long back straight and the grip of the Bridgestone tyres simply blew away the opposition headed by seven times World Champion Valentino Rossi. This year it’s been a very different story and the 22 lap race on Sunday will give a clue if it’s just a temporary blip.
Twenty-two year old Stoner currently lies fourth in the Championship despite victory in the opening round in Qatar. He has a good record in Shanghai winning the 250 cc race three years ago and the MotoGP race last year. He trails joint Championship leaders Spanish riders Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa by 21 points with Rossi in third place, seven points in front of the Australian.
Bitter rivals Lorenzo and Pedrosa have both tasted success in Shanghai and arrive for another classic encounter full of confidence. Mallorca - based Lorenzo has been nothing short of sensational in his first three MotoGP races riding the Fiat Yamaha. He has started all three from pole and scored his first MotoGP win at the last round in Estoril. The double 250cc World Champion, who is recovering from an operation to prevent his arm pumping up while racing, also won the 250 cc race last year. He celebrates his 21 st birthday on Sunday, it could be some party.
Twenty-two year old Pedrosa has an equally impressive record in Shanghai and shares the lead with Lorenzo after winning at Jerez in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider won his first MotoGP race in China two years ago and is in tremendous form this year despite missing most of pre-season testing with a hand injury.
The old master Rossi is enjoying life again and can never be discounted on the Bridgestone –shod Fiat Yamaha. He finished second in Spain and third in Portugal but really needs a repeat of last season’s pole and 2005 win to prevent the two Spaniard’s getting away at the front.
American John Hopkins finished third last year and rode well to finish fifth in Estoril on the Kawasaki. He is overcoming a groin injury and getting to grips with his new bike. Another American, Colin Edwards is enjoying a re-vitalised season with Tech 3 Yamaha. He was fourth in Estoril and finished third in China two years ago.
Despite crashing out in Estoril, Italian Andre Dovizioso had made a big impression in his MotoGP debut season on the Jir Scot Honda. Former World Champion Nicky Hayden has had a tough year but finished second at Shanghai two years ago.
The Rizla Suzuki pair of Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermuelen have also had a tough start and will be looking forward to the hectic programme ahead to start some serious points scoring.
Finnish KTM star Mika Kallio grabbed the lead in the 250 cc World Championship for the first time after finishing third in Estoril He won the 125 cc race in Shanghai two years ago and will be pushed hard in the 21 lap race by Estoril winner Alvaro Bautista, Qatar winner Mattia Pasini and Hector Barbara who secured his one and only 250cc victory in China two years ago.
Italian Simone Corsi has made a tremendous start in the 125 cc World Championship. He’s won two of the opening three rounds and leads team-mate Nicolas Terol by 17 points with Spaniard Joan Olive in third place.
Event Time Schedule: Friday 2nd May 09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 1
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Practice
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 1
Saturday 3rd May09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 2
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Qualifying
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 2
Sunday 4th May09.40 – 10.00 125cc Warm Up
10.10 – 10.30 250cc Warm Up
10.40 – 11.05 MotoGP Warm Up
12.00 125cc RACE (19 laps)
13.15 250cc RACE (21 laps)
15.00 MotoGP RACE (22 laps)
Time schedule in local time (CET+6)
TV Times: Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:
BBCSunday 4th May:04.45 – 07.15 125 and 250cc races live BBCi and BBC Sport website
07.45 – 09.00 MotoGP race live BBC One and BBC Sport website
12.30 – 15.00 Re-run BBCi and BBC Sport website
British EurosportFriday 2nd May:06.00 - 08.00 Live MotoGP
17.00 – 18.30 MotoGP
Saturday 3rd May:06.00 – 08.00 Live MotoGP
20.00 – 21.30 MotoGP
Sunday 4th May:04.45 125cc Race Live
06.00 250cc Race Live
07.15 MotoGP Race Live
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP
