There is hardly time for the British riders to catch their breath as they race from Italy to Spain to compete in the Cinzano Grand Prix of Catalunya in Barcelona on Sunday.
For James Toseland it’s a new experience as he prepares to pit his considerable skill against the demands of the superb 2.937 miles Circuit De Catalunya for the very first time. For the British 125 cc youngsters it’s a familiar path because Bradley Smith, Danny Webb and Scott Redding have all honed their World Championship skills in the Barcelona based MotoGP academy and in the Spanish 125 cc Championship.
Ulsterman Eugene Laverty also faces the 250 cc race after equalling his best ever grand prix finish at Mugello on Sunday.
Twenty seven year old Toseland has clearly demonstrated just how quickly he learns new circuits in his MotoGP debut season. The World Superbike Champion has finished sixth in three of the six rounds riding the Tech 3 Yamaha. He’s eighth in the World Championship just one point behind another MotoGP debutant former 125 cc World Champion Andre Dovizioso.
For the three British 125 cc teenagers this is their ‘home’ race. They have raced in Barcelona more than in Britain. Smith, riding the Polaris World Aprilia led the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday going into the last lap, only to be mugged at the first corner and eventually finishing fifth.
Fifteen year old Redding picked up some welcome World Championship points in 14th place on his Mugello debut but Webb crashed on the last lap after initially thinking the race was over.
Laverty had a great scrap in the 250 cc race to eventually finish a hard fought 13th riding the Blusens Aprilia.
James Toseland“Barcelona is the fifth track in succession I’ve not raced on before and it’s a tough period. I knew this be the hardest part of the season but there is some light at the end of the tunnel with Donington and Assen the next two races after Sunday. I’m going into Barcelona with considerable momentum taking with me what we learnt at Mugello.”
Bradley Smith“Barcelona is like my home race and it’s where my 125 cc racing career started with the MotoGP Academy back in 2005. We made some big steps in Mugello and I think it was our best race of the season so far.”
Scot Redding"I raced in Barcelona just a couple of weeks ago in the Spanish Championship and so I certainly know the circuit although it poured with rain. It will be good to ride at a track I know before we start.”
Danny Webb“I made a mistake in Mugello when I thought the race was over going into the last lap. Then I crashed and so let’s hope for a change of luck in Barcelona which is of course a track I know so well.”
Eugene Laverty"I’ve already outdone my World Championship points scoring from the whole of last season. I pleased with what we have achieved on one of the two non–factory Aprilia bikes out there and I’m determined it will continue in Barcelona.”
Rossi On A Roll Valentino Rossi is on a roll and chases his fourth consecutive grand prix victory at the Cinzano Grand Prix of Catalunya in Barcelona on Sunday. The 29 year old Italian arrives in Dani Pedrosa's back yard with a 12 point lead over the Repsol Honda rider as they prepare for battle around the superb 2.937 miles circuit.
Last year Rossi was involved in the duel of the season with World Champion elect Casey Stoner in Barcelona with Pedrosa a high speed spectator in third place. Australian Stoner and his Marlboro Ducati return to Spain in good spirits after a well earned second place at the Italian Grand Prix last Sunday but there is no doubt that Rossi will be the man to beat.
His win at Mugello riding the Fiat Yamaha, was his seventh successive victory in front of his adoring home crowd and the first time he’s secured three successive wins in a season since 2005. It was his 91st grand prix victory and he also admits that the Circuit de Catalunya is his second favourite track in the 18 round World Championship. Mugello of course is his number one choice.
Pedrosa will have massive backing in Barcelona where he has had both 125 and 250 cc success. He may also have a new Honda machine to ride. Japanese rider Tadayuki Okada came of our racing retirement to test the new pneumatic valve Honda engine in Mugello. The 41 year old completed the race distance in 14th place and Honda will now decide if both Pedrosa and his team-mate Nicky Hayden will at least use the new engine during practice for this seventh round of the Championship.
Another Spanish rider desperate to do well is Jorge Lorenzo who held onto third place in the Championship despite crashing out in Mugello. The 21 year old Fiat Yamaha rider did not damage his fractured ankles in the crash and is keen to return to Barcelona where he won the 250 cc race last year.
Stoner was unstoppable in the race last year and desperately needs a repeat to close the 46 point gap that Rossi has opened up over him at the top of the Championship table. Fifth placed Colin Edwards is having a good season and is seven points ahead of veteran Loris Capirossi who has mixed memories of Barcelona. He brought Ducati their first premier class success there in 2003 but three years later was involved in an horrendous first bend accident while leading the World Championship.
Italian Andre Dovizioso and Frenchman Randy De Puniet are previous Barcelona winners in the 250 cc class too but are experiencing contrasting MotoGP fortunes this year. Former 125 cc Champion Dovizioso has made an impressive start and is seventh in the Championship riding the JiR Team Scot Honda. De Puniet is having a tough time with too many crashes from the LCR Honda keeping him down in 16th place.
Another rider looking for a change of fortune is John Hopkins with two non finishes on the Kawasaki in the last two races keeping him down in 12th place. While the tale of woe continues for Italian Marco Melandri who was brought down by De Puniet in Mugello to compound his dreadful debut season with Ducati.
After a dramatic 250 cc race in Mugello, Finnish KTM star Mika Kallio increased his Championship lead to 18 points after finishing in fourth place. The race was won by Italian Marco Simoncelli after a spectacular accident on the main straight sidelined likely winner Hector Barbara with just over a lap to go. Spaniard Barbara was unhurt in the crash and returns to the track where he won the 125 cc race four years ago. A year later Mattia Pasini won the 125 cc race and is the rider chasing Kallio in the 250 cc class this year.
Italian Simone Corsi and Frenchman Mike Di Meglio share the lead in the 125 cc Championship after the race of the season in Mugello. Seven riders could have won the race in Italy with Corsi eventually coming out in front. It should be the same on Sunday with Spanish teenager Pol Espargaro the one to watch after his third place in Italy.
Event Time Schedule: Friday 6th June 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 7th June09.00 – 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 8th June08.40 – 09.00: 125cc Warm Up
09.10 – 09.30: 250cc Warm Up
09.40 – 10.05; MotoGP Warm Up
11.00: 125cc RACE (22 laps)
12.15: 250cc RACE (23 laps)
14.00: MotoGP RACE (25 laps)
(GMT +2) Time schedule in local time
Television Times: Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:
Saturday June 7th BBCi and BBC Sport Website MotoGP qualifying 12.45 – 14.00
Sunday June 8th BBCi and BBC Sport Website 125/250 cc races 09.45 – 12.15
BBC Two and BBC Sport Website MotoGP race 12.30 -14.00
Eurosport Friday June 6th MotoGP 20.00
Saturday June 7th Qualifying 11.30 – 14.00
Sunday June 8th Warm-up and 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP races 08.45 – 14.00
