Hayden went much better at the post-Catalunya test

From Honda

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

British Grand Prix at Donington Park

22, 23 and 24 June 2007

DANI SHOOTING FOR REPEAT OF 2006 BRITISH VICTORY

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V), Honda's main man in MotoGP, has ridden to four podiums so far this season, but a victory has so far eluded the man who lies third overall in the World Championship points standings. Donington Park is where all that could change.

The 21-year-old Spanish phenomenon won here last year from Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) and after his gritty ride to third two weeks ago in Catalunya - only just out of touch of Casey Stoner (Ducati) and Rossi at the flag, he is showing all the signs of getting his title challenge back underway.

He has his work cut out to reel in series leader Stoner on 140 points and Rossi in second on 128, but Dani's 98 point tally so far is enough for him to mount a serious challenge with 11 races in this 18-round series still to unfold. Dani failed to score in Turkey - and by the law of averages, his rivals will also suffer too at some stage this season.

But the mercurial Spaniard will not be relying on his rivals faltering. He is, above all, a fierce racer with huge ambition - and Donington Park is a happy hunting ground for him. As well as last season's win, he has triumphed here too on a 250 in 2004 and the curves and dips of this much-loved track are his natural territory.

Donington Park usually provides an eventful race, whether in the dry, or in the 'British' weather conditions that rendered last year's contest a dripping-wet, yet enthralling race. The track was resurfaced in 2004 and the new pit complex now makes the facilities a match for this excellent racetrack.

Many riders have a great deal of affection for Donington Park. It's a track that rewards competitors who relish fast, open, sweeping turns. And even if the slightly stilted Melbourne Loop section of the track spoils the rhythm and flow, it still provides drama as riders endure three bouts of heavy braking towards the end of a lap.

The dramatic downhill fifth-gear Craner Curves are the high point of a Donington lap. This section of the track requires bravery and inch-perfect commitment to a line and if a rider struggles to come to terms with these turns, a fast lap is but a distant hope.

Donington demands two main machine characteristics that are hard to provide simultaneously. Stability on the brakes and quick turn-in are required for the Esses and Melbourne Loop sections while perfect high-speed manners are needed for the rest of this 4.023km track.

Some riders opt for stability in the knowledge that a fast lap time will be dictated by speed over the flowing first three-quarters of the track, others prefer to have a bike set up to perform well under braking where places can be won and lost in the final three turns. Good acceleration is also vital while top speed is slightly less of an issue than at other circuits.

Marco Melandri (Gresini Honda RC212V) currently lies fourth overall having put in some dogged rides to snatch points, but without so far capturing the race-winning form of 2006. The Italian finished third here last year and knows he has to begin to win again if he is to figure in the fight for the World Title.

There is pressure on both Pedrosa and Melandri, but not quite as much as on reigning World Champion Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) who has not hit top form so far this year. But Nicky is a fighter and his positive mood will not be dampened by either his form so far this season - or the weather, if Britain's unpredictable summer provides another biblical downpour here as it did in 2005.

Toni Elias (Gresini Honda RC212V) has enjoyed a second place finish in Turkey this year and the happy-go-lucky Spaniard will be aiming to hoist himself further up than his current berth of ninth overall in the rankings with a big ride here this weekend. He has failed to score at three races so far and he will hope for a more consistent pattern to his season from here on.

The evergreen Carlos Checa (LCR Honda RC212V) is
still capable of figuring in the results here if he can get through the set-up troubles that have plagued the first third of this season, while Shinya Nakano (Konica Minolta Honda RC212V) and Kurtis Roberts (Roberts KR212V) have much work to do to get on terms with the pace the new 800ccc machines are running at this year.

Dani said: "Last year I had a very good time at Donington Park so I'm really looking forward to coming back here and trying for a repeat performance. We had a positive test in Barcelona after the last race and found a few things that should help us, particularly some tyres that we tested for Michelin, so this gives us more confidence for the upcoming races. The crowd is unbelievable here - especially in the last few years - and it's always good to see so many people at the Riders for Health Day of Champions on Thursday."

Marco Melandri said: "We always knew Barcelona would be one of the hardest circuits for us. Now we are at Donington, which in theory should be much more favourable because it's more suited to the characteristics of our bike. The corners are not that fast and the straight shouldn't be too much of a problem, since it's only 564m long. The unknown factor at Donington is the weather because the temperatures can vary drastically. If it rains I think us Bridgestone riders will have a good chance."

Hayden said: "I can't wait to get on track on Friday morning to find out if I made as much progress as I think I did on the Monday and Tuesday test in Spain. Plus I'm fully over my injuries from the Le Mans crash so I feel ready to push really hard. Donington is a pretty good track. I really like the first part of the lap, but the last section has never come just silky smooth for me. There's a lot of hard braking, then accelerating where you're fighting to keep the front wheel down to the next corner. However, with losing 200cc this year, the wheelie problem should be reduced somewhat."

"This is a track I like a lot," said Elias. "I missed the race here last year because of the injury I picked up at Assen, where I fractured my shoulder, but I've always had good results previously at Donington. Top speed isn't that important at this circuit - it's better to have good handling. I'm looking for a good result to get over the disappointment of my home race at Barcelona, when I was forced to retire before the end. The asphalt at Donington can be very slippery - especially if the temperatures are low - so it will be important to make a good tyre choice."

Carlos Checa said: "It won't be easy but I'm confident my team together with Michelin and Honda will assist me in the best way. Now Honda is working hard with Pedrosa to find the best solutions for the future and this is good. Hayden is struggling a lot this season; Elias and Melandri are faster at some tracks only thanks to the tyres and Nakano is a good rider but is in trouble as well. I like Donington and I'll work a lot on tyre choice especially for wet conditions which are typical at this English track."

"I enjoy riding at Donington Park as it has some very demanding curves," said Shinya Nakano. "I've scored a third place there before in my days riding the 250cc machine and a sixth on the two-stroke 500cc bike a year later in 2001 so I know I can go well there. I'm hoping that we can build on the good day's testing from Catalunya last week and move forward again with the new 800cc RC212V."

Kenny Roberts will not ride at here this weekend. The American former World Champion was due to be replaced by Johnny Rea, but the Irishman's hectic involvement with Honda worldwide is such that he will concentrate on his primary commitments and not ride for the KR Team this weekend as mooted. He very recently won the Suzuka 300km race and posted a win in the British Superbike series last Sunday. The team will therefore run only Kurtis Roberts.

Kurtis said: "Without Kenny or Johnny things will be slightly tougher, but in some ways having two bikes available for myself might unlock that something we need to get ourselves on the pace. Kenny scored two podiums last year, and when we've got the chassis in the shape we want it, he'll be back to hopefully score some more when we get closer to the front."