Round 10 -- Germany

Introduction

Round 10 of the 2006 FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship sees the vicious four-stroke prototype MotoGP machines and their pilots arrive in Germany to tackle the short yet challenging Sachsenring circuit. It's one of the slowest race tracks on the calendar, but presents the elite class with a rollercoaster ride of a layout to conquer before the series jets off across the Atlantic for the USGP at Laguna Seca.

The betandwin.com Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland is a key race for championship leader Nick Hayden after his worst finish of the season, a seventh place struggle at Donington Park almost two weeks ago. The Kentucky Kid has historically been competitive in Germany as the track is predominantly a left-handed affair, benefiting his slide and charge riding style. Hayden needs to keep his charging team-mate, Dani Pedrosa, and a resurgent Valentino Rossi at bay if he is to stay in command at the top of the standings following this meeting, and his home race, where the expectation is obviously high.

Hayden (153) has a 26-point advantage over Repsol Honda counterpart Pedrosa (127) with the Spaniard nothing short of dominant in the UK, after taking the 25-points from Pole. Valentino Rossi (118) is now almost fully recovered from the injuries he sustained at Assen, and showed his class by riding through the pain barrier to a fine second place at Donington after a monumental tussle with fellow countryman Marco Melandri during the closing stages of that race. Melandri (114) lies in fourth spot, with Loris Capirossi (107) in fifth, both riders benefiting from a weekend off as they recover from injury following the first corner crash in Barcelona.

Rossi hates the Sachsenring, and isn't too fond of Laguna either, so if the Doctor can further close the gap between himself and the HRC works pairing before the summer break, he will see that as a moral, and mental victory. For Pedrosa, it's a chance to further his reputation as a giant-killer, and become one of the most successful class rookies in recent times.

Those Black Rubber Things

The Sachsenring circuit provides the riders and engineers with a technical headache, as the set-up of the bike, although as important as ever, pales into relative insignificance compared to getting a race tire that can handle the stresses of the tight and twisty track. Outright top speed performance isn't top of the list of priorities at this venue as balance, effective mid-range power and manoeuvrability take precedence.

Both Michelin and Bridgestone are bringing new tires to Germany for their teams and the free practice sessions will be used not just to find a nimble set-up for the chassis and suspension, but for the evaluation of race rubber for Sundays race. The Sachsenring can throw you a curve-ball in regard to tires. 2004 saw Valentino Rossi, against the expectations of many of the press, struggle for grip with the Yamaha M1, the Honda riders finding better tire performance on the day. However, tire technology has come on in spades over the last two years, and last season we saw the fruits of labor from the tire experts pay dividends, with the multi-compound tires available looking far more effective in keeping the usual suspects in touch at the front.

Bridgestone have been planning for this race meeting for some time, as it's not been a favorite circuit for the Japanese marque. Shinya Nakano has been the most successful 'Stones pilot at 'The Ring', with a seventh place finish in '04 and sixth for the Japanese in '05. Bridgestone did manage to get Nakano home just 4.557 seconds back of race winner Rossi last season, although that was slightly clouded by the fact the race was restarted following a spectacular John Hopkins high-side after just five laps. Nakano finished the 2004 race over 18 seconds back of Biaggi.

Behind the sheen of the upbeat press releases from the Bridgestone teams, it looks, on paper anyway, that both Germany and the USA could be a struggle for them, their exceptional qualifying tire the only salvation, if history is to repeat itself. We shall see what Capirossi (Ducati) and Hopkins (Suzuki) can do, as they look to be the best bet for Bridgestone.

Michelin remember have an overnight build and deliver service, something that the series owners should look at as Bridgestone, sportingly, are at a disadvantage.

The Circuit

The history of the Sachsenring circuit stretches back to the 1920's and shows that the local people were undaunted by political red tape. They love their motorcycle racing in Germany and would not allow bureaucratic restraints to hold them back. The old road circuit, that was situated between the picturesque towns of Dresden and Leipzig, was home to the former East German Grand Prix, and that event saw massive crowds in attendance as they watched their heroes wind their way around the five mile road course, every vantage point crammed with eager, knowledgeable race fans.

The first meeting took place in 1961, and legends Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini dominated the event for more than a decade, winning ten of the twelve premier class races held there. The last grand prix staged on the old circuit was won by Agostini riding the MV Agusta in 1972 and the consensus from the German public, and even from the German racing organisations, was that the end of that particular era would see the demise of the event in that part of the country.

But, as the years rolled by, and with the stranglehold of an oppressive home regime no longer a monkey on the back of the German people, and with the undaunted enthusiasm of the locals, the new Sachsenring facility, which lies five miles to the west of the bustling town of Chemnitz, was built in 1996.

Grand Prix motorcycle racing returned to the venue in 1998 and has been on the calendar every year since with the track being gradually extended and a new pit complex constructed in 2001. In 2003 the track underwent slight modifications to reduce the lap distance from its former overall length of 2.301-miles to 2.281-miles, a 33-metre section of tarmac removed, and now only just meets the minimum track distance allowed by the FIM for a Grand Prix meeting. Some hate it, some like it, but for sure the Sachsenring is a unique venue and far more interesting than the Formula One destroyed Hockenheimring, or the frankly boring Nurburgring.

The circuit, which is the third slowest on the calendar behind Estoril and Valencia, incorporates four right handed turns and ten left handers, and has a relatively short main straight at just under half a mile, but it has some stunning corners and the awesome sweep down the hill in the final section is a sight to behold.

The fans, who are positioned in such a way as to create an amphitheatre style atmosphere, are as passionate as they ever were on the old road based circuit, and last season the German Grand Prix saw a weekend attendance figure of just over 207,000!!

The Chasing Pack And The Walking Wounded

Sete Gibernau returns to action for the Ducati Marlboro squad this weekend after his collarbone operation, and the Ducatisti will want him to play shotgun for Capirossi as the diminutive Italian looks to get his title push back on track. Gibernau has proven to be a bit of a wizard with finding geometry settings that work at these more challenging European venues down the years, and Bridgestone will be relying on Sete to give them as much feedback as possible to aid in the development of their product. Sete is effectively now a tire and machine tester, with no hope of making an impact on the title chase.

Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda) is also back in the saddle after breaking his shoulder at Assen and will be determined to support Marco Melandri as Marco chases Hayden, Pedrosa and Rossi for the title, as well as showing the paddock hierachy he is worthy of a top ride in 2007. His injuries may however see him struggle to make the race itself.

Colin Edwards will be leading the Michelin tire evaluation with Rossi adapting the bike to the "twist and grip" layout, and their telemetry overlays will make for interesting reading as the pair work together to try and put the often problem child 2006 YZR-M1 on top of the box.

Edwards almost won the Dutch TT, and then could only manage sixth at Donington after expecting a whole lot more. With Laguna up next, Colin will want to find that Assen form again before taking on Hayden back 'at the ranch'.

The Kawasaki has a nimble chassis and effective electronics package with their "Bigger-Bang" version of the in-line four powerplant and with the team being based in Germany, Nakano and De Puniet will want to put a smile on the faces of their sponsors.

Suzuki need to turn their qualifying performances into podium finishes, and John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen are capable, but they need all the help Bridgestone can throw at them to achieve that in Germany. Hopkins is highly competitive right now, and is riding the bike beyond its threshold, so with outright power not being the Holy Grail at the Sachsenring, can Suzuki find usable linear power without slicing the tires to pieces after six laps?

For Team Roberts the only way is up. They have a newly revised chassis and are now working well on the Michelin tires, and with Kenny Junior running at the front for most of the British Grand Prix, it's a case of 'watch this space'. A podium in Barcelona and a fifth at both Assen and Donington is fine reward for King Kenny, but the team want more. Ironically, it must be furrowing a few brows at Honda headquarters to see one of their customer engines (in a self-built bike) in contention with their factory machines. Isn't motorsport great?

Keep your eye out for BMW shirted people too. The 800cc era is coming.

Pick A Winner

Pedrosa has fine 250cc form in Germany, Hayden goes well, Rossi is.......well Rossi, and Capirossi, Stoner, Melandri, Edwards and Kenny Junior are all capable of springing a surprise. MotoGP has been spectacular this season, we've had it all, so your guess is as good as ours. It should be a cracker, again.

So, with all that said, follow the 'Soup guidelines for enjoying the German Grand Prix on Sunday. Get the beer on ice, start divorce proceedings if you can't wind the volume up to the max, get the kids counting blades of grass in the garden, and join a huge global audience as the German Grand Prix roars into life.

The 30-lap race gets underway at 12.30pm, local time, on Sunday.

Gentlemen, put your Bratwurst down, and start your engines!!!