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MICHELIN FACE MISANO MotoGP CHALLENGE

Misano hosted its first MotoGP World Championship event last summer, after 14 years off the GP calendar. The last time the track hosted a GP was in 1993, when the 500 World Championship was ruled by 500 cc two-stroke machines. Much changed during that period, during which the Adriatic seaside venue hosted World Superbike events. Misano underwent a major overhaul before last summer, with the circuit reversed in direction, from anti-clockwise to clockwise.

The track is tight and twisting, with many medium to low speed corners. Previously its most fascinating feature had been a run of successively faster left-handers that led riders onto the back straight, the last corner taken at ultra-high speed. These fast lefts were beloved of the dominant American and Australian 500 cc riders who had learned how to race on left-handed dirt ovals in their home countries. Now this section is a succession of right-handers, with riders braking into successively slower corners, testing their deft control of the front brake and tire.

Misano is the 13th of 18 races and thus commences the final third of the season. The second MotoGP round to be staged in Italy, following June's Italian GP, it is followed by four flyaway races at Indianapolis (USA), Twin Ring Motegi (Japan), Phillip Island (Australia) and Sepang (Malaysia).

MICHELIN & THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGE OF MISANO

"Misano isn't massively demanding on tires," says Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's chief of motorcycle racing. "It has similar demands to Catalunya. It is more asymmetric than Brno, but not as asymmetric as other MotoGP tracks like Valencia and Phillip Island.

"Last year the asphalt was new but it wasn't as aggressive as many other new surfaces we have experienced in MotoGP, though it was quite bumpy. Misano gets quite a lot of use, so the surface will probably be less aggressive than last year. Much also depends on what kind of events have been staged at the track recently.

"The most asymmetric section is from turn ten to turn 14 - five consecutive right-handers - with the riders staying on the right side of the tires and braking into four successively slower right-handers, from turn 11 to turn 14. This section places a lot of stress on the front tire, with a lot of braking on the side of the tires, so you can't use soft front tires. We use medium to medium-hard fronts, similar to what we use at Catalunya. Our challenge is to improve our front tire, even though Misano is nothing like Brno.

"While managing stress and grip on the right side of both the front and the rear tires, we need to deliver grip and good warm-up on the left side, especially for turn 15 and turn 16, which follow that run of right-handers.

"There are a lot of slower-speed corner exits at Misano, so you need good rear traction. The track isn't too demanding on the rear tire, so the range of rears is again similar to that which we use at Catalunya, medium to medium-hard, with different compounds on each side according to Misano's asymmetric layout."

Misano Data

Track length: 4.180km/2.597 miles

Lap record: Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici), 1:34.649
158.987km/h-98.790mph (2007)
Pole position 2007: Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici), 1:33.918

Recent winners of the San Marino GP
2007 Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici), 44:34.720

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JiR Team Scot looking forward to a race full of expectation at Misano

The forthcoming Grand Prix of San Marino, which precedes four ?flyway' outside Europe, will be an emotional one for the riders of JiR Team Scot. Andrea Dovizioso - a native of Forli around thirty kilometers from the circuit - ran the first race of his career on the near-by track of Romagna, and he has a strong following from the Iocal fans who warmly welcome him for one of his ?home' grand prixs. Meanwhile, Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi lived for four years in Cattolica, a few kilometres from the circuit. For JiR Team Scot this will be an important opportunity to host their supporters and partners on a race weekend that will be full of expectation for team and riders. Both riders have something to aim for, with Andrea chasing fourth place in the championship standings and Yuki continuing to recover points in the 250cc series. The Misano circuit has received a major revision around the exit of pit-lane which is now more than 250 metres long, increasing the overall circuit length from 4180 metres to 4226 metres, so the current lap records will no longer be relevant.

Gianluca Montiron - Director JiR Team Scot
"The championship is now entering into its final stages, one in which the championship is in the balance and each race will affect the final outcome at the end of the season. For our part, we expect Michelin to react to this weekend's race determinedly to enable us to achieve the competitiveness needed to make the difference in our favour. Our confidence in our technical partner is unchanged, and we will arrive at Misano motivated to gather the best possible result."

Cirano Mularoni - Team Manager JiR Team Scot
"For the team, the Grand Prix of San Marino is one of the two races on Italian circuits: these races are the most anticipated for us and packed with fascination for the final result and tension as we try to get the best result we can. With our sponsors and friends present, we want to make it a special weekend and make a big impression in the race. In MotoGP, after the last result, we expect to find improved technical conditions, which would allow Andrea to express his skill more and to better exploit his Honda, while Yuki in the 250cc class, should continue his positive trend and have a very good race."

Andrea Dovizioso - Pilot JiR Team Scot MotoGP - HONDA RC212V
"This for me is my home Grand Prix, so I am excited to run in front of my fans and the many friends who wish me support on the many internet forums. The track itself is pretty slow, because there are many curves and the straights are short, but this could help during the race. Everyone is motivated to get a good result for both the Italian public and for my championship position. The circuit I like very much: last year I went well in practice and qualifying but then in the race I was victim of a mechanical problem so I have unfinished business here."

Yuki Takahashi - Pilot JiR Team Scot 250GP - HONDA RS250RW
"For me the Grand Prix of San Marino is my second race at home, as I lived for some years in Cattolica, a few kilometres from the circuit and I feel the thrill of racing in Italy. The track is not fast, and I think that this could be favourable to my Honda. With the changes made to the circuit I will see how things have altered and whether this is will influence things. Either way, I want to make a good race for my team and to improve the outcome of last year as I was not satisfied with the result."

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FIAT YAMAHA TEAM TAKE TITLE CHALLENGE HOME TO MISANO

The Fiat Yamaha Team contest their second ?home' race of the season this weekend, with the San Marino Grand Prix taking place on Italian soil at the Misano circuit on the Adriatic coast. The trip is a short one for the team, whose base is just 300km away in Milan, but even shorter for Valentino Rossi, with his hometown of Tavullia located a mere 15km down the road.

The multi-World Champion heads to the thirteenth round of the current MotoGP series with his sights firmly set on a sixth premier-class title after extending his advantage over Casey Stoner to 50 points in the last round at Brno. Having missed out on the title for the past two seasons following a five-year winning streak, Rossi's improvement is outlined by the fact that a fifth-place finish this Sunday will see him outscore his tally for either of those campaigns.

The 29-year-old's army of local supporters are sure to be in party mood at the lively seaside resort as he looks to make up for the disappointment of a mechanical breakdown in this race last year and score three consecutive wins for the second time this season. Also within Rossi's range is the all-time record for premier-class victories, set at 68 by Giacomo Agostini back in 1976.

Jorge Lorenzo continues his Grand Prix education at full fitness after a troublesome period of injury and tyre woes. The rookie from Mallorca won the 250cc race at Misano last year after having qualified on pole and he will be looking to support Rossi in the quest to improve on Yamaha's total of 283 points in last year's Constructors' World Championship, which will be secured if any of the factory's riders finish in the top two.



Valentino Rossi
"OUT TO MAKE UP FOR LAST YEAR"

"I'm really excited to be going to Misano in such good shape and leading the championship. Last year the race was a huge disappointment for us, a very low point of the season and especially sad because it happened in front of my home fans. But this time things are very different; we've had two fantastic races in a row and we are feeling very strong and very confident. We are out to make up for 2007! Misano is so close to my home town of Tavullia that I know there will be an army of Italian fans there, and I hope it's going to be a great party for all of them. Last year there was some terrible weather before the race as well so I really hope that this year we have sunshine and we can enjoy a fantastic race by the sea!"



Jorge Lorenzo

"GOOD MEMORIES!"

"After the disaster of Brno I'm going to Misano with the belief and the will that everything goes much better and that we're able to score a positive result in my team's second home Grand Prix. I'm riding well at the moment and in the post-race test in the Czech Republic we were able to shave off a few tenths that will be vital for the next GP. Misano is a small track for MotoGP but it is safe. Last year I won in 250cc so my only memories of it are good ones!"

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DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM BACK ON HOME SOIL

The Ducati Marlboro Team will race on home soil and in front of their fans for the second time this season when the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini gets underway this weekend at Misano. Thousands of Ducatisti will once again make their presence felt on Sunday as they take over the grandstand in turn one, the "Variante Parco", providing crucial backing to the Italian factory.

Both Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri are in the mood to put on a show for them, especially after the results of a recent test session at Brno, where the Australian found a setting that allowed him to go even faster than he had done in last Sunday's race whilst the Italian also made some encouraging progress.

In 2007 the pair both performed well at Misano, with Stoner taking a stunning victory from pole position and Melandri coming through from twelfth on the grid to take fourth place at the flag.

LIVIO SUPPO, MotoGP Project Director

"Over the past five rounds Casey has shown incredible speed from the opening practice session at a variety of circuits and even though he hasn't got the points to show for it, he's in outstanding form and we're sure he'll also be on the pace at Misano. The team and the engineers back at the factory are working non-stop on continuing development of the GP8 and offering all our riders a highly-competitive package, as shown by an excellent podium for Toni Elias at Brno. Marco also had a good second-half of the race at Brno and we're confident that he has the ability to do well at Misano, where he will be racing in front of his fans in what will be a special race for him."

CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) 2nd in the championship on 187 points (-50)

"We had a great result at Misano last year and that, added to the fact that we're in good shape with the set-up and the tyres, means we can be reasonably confident of another good result here. After the last few races and in the recent test at Brno we've managed to improve the set-up even more so we're confident of putting on a good show for the home fans at Misano. It is quite a tight and twisty track and the surface is quite bumpy but there are some really fun sections. We'll see what happens but we're in good shape - the gap in the championship is big but we'll keep fighting until it's over."

MARCO MELANDRI (Ducati Marlboro Team) 15th in the championship on 41 points (-196)

"I was born a few kilometres from Misano and I really feel at home at this circuit. It is still quite a new circuit for us and this year they've altered turn one again. There are a lot of slow corners and it's not easy to overtake so qualifying well and getting a good start are even more important than usual. In the Brno test we found a few set-up modifications that I liked and we hope they also work at this track. Obviously it would give me great satisfaction to have a good race here - more than anything for the team."

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Rizla Suzuki heads to Misano looking for more of the same

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will be in Italy next weekend for the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix hoping to continue with both its recent good run of results and to follow on from the impressive performance there last year.

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen have recorded consecutive podiums between them from the last three Grands Prix, and both riders will be looking to continue with that good run of form on a circuit that the Suzuki GSV-R scored a double podium in 2007.

Capirossi will be going all out to make the weekend a double celebration as he breaks the record for most Grand prix appearances when he takes to the track for Sunday's race. Team-mate Vermeulen - second at the Misano circuit last year - will certainly be wanting to push for another podium to close the gap on the top five in the championship. Both racers are in good spirits and head to Italy with high hopes following a successful two-day test after the last race at Brno, where they made good progress with a fully comprehensive assessment of many new parts for the ever-improving Suzuki GSV-R.

The 4,226m Misano circuit is situated just outside the city of Rimini - probably the most well-known seaside resort on Italy's famous Adriatic Riviera. It is approximately 130km/s from Capirossi's home town of Bologna, so the popular Italian will certainly enjoy plenty of local support at his second home GP of the season.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP takes to the track on Friday 29th August for two free-practice sessions, followed by a further free session on Saturday morning and an hour of qualifying in the afternoon. Sunday's 28-lap race gets underway at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).

Loris Capirossi:

"We had a good test at Brno and now I go to my second home race after a podium, and after finding some really positive things in the test that will help us for the rest of the season and in the future. It was great for me to get a podium, but I know we can start pushing for more and that must be the next step! Everybody is working hard and now that I am back to full fitness I can push as hard as possible to try to make it happen. I am really looking forward to racing for Suzuki so close to my home town, and I know we will see many people in the Rizla Suzuki blue around the circuit cheering the team on!"

Chris Vermeulen:

"I really like the Misano circuit and know that I can go well there - as I showed last year with a second place. We found quite a few things at Brno both during the race weekend and certainly during the test. We were really pleased with the results from the test and now we must translate them to a race. I still need to keep pushing as I know I can be competitive and my crew and Suzuki are doing everything they can to make sure we are challenging the front guys from the start of every weekend."

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