The Czech Republic Grand Prix brings the MotoGP family back together this weekend at the eleventh round of the World Championship. Brno promises to be the launch pad to an exciting finale to the season, which includes five of the remaining seven Grands Prix in just six weeks on a hectic trek across the globe.

It was vital to recharge the batteries and that is exactly what the Telefónica Movistar riders have done during their summer holidays. The three-week break was reduced to just seven days of complete relaxation but everybody has enjoyed themselves. Turkey was Sete Gibernau’s destination of choice whilst Marco Melandri found his paradise on the Greek island of Mykonos, Dani Pedrosa escaped to the Costa Brava in Spain and Hiroshi Aoyama got some rest at home in Japan. All four return to the track this weekend looking forward to giving their best once again.

Sete Gibernau promised in Germany that he would be back to win races and his first attempt will be at Brno, a circuit where he has taken two podium finishes from his last two visits, with second place in 2003 and victory last season in one of his most enjoyable races. With four rostrums to show for his efforts in the first part of 2005, the Spaniard is keen to return to his best form in the final stages of the season. Melandri, Sete, Edwards and Biaggi are separated by just one point each in the provisional standings and the runner-up spot will not come cheaply this year. 

Melandri wants to continue to be the revelation of the season as he searches for a maiden victory that has been on the cards ever since his first of four podiums in the opening round of the season at Jerez. Sete, Edwards and Biaggi will all be looking to make life hard for the youngster as he aims to hang on to the runner-up spot he has held for the majority of the championship so far.  Marco says he is as fresh as he was at the start of the season and Brno is one of the circuits he feels at his best. It was there that he claimed a sixth straight victory in 2002 on the way to the 250cc World Championship title.  

Dani Pedrosa has a points advantage worth two victories over his title rivals as he prepares for the end of a 250cc World Championship he has so far dominated with a glove of steel. Five victories and one second place have opened out a 50-point cushion that he will have to control over the final seven races as he aims to claim his third world title before making the giant step up to MotoGP. Dani has stepped on the to the podium at Brno on three occasions – twice in 125cc, including victory in 2003, and last season in 250cc. 

The podium is also the target for Hiroshi Aoyama in the final sprint after gathering confidence and experience during his second full season in the World Championship. After taking third place finishes at Shanghai and Sachsenring, as well as coming within touching distance of victory at Donington when he led the race until crashing out on the twelfth lap, Hiro feels ready to compete regularly with the best riders in the class 

RIDER QUOTES

Sete Gibernau:
“The holidays have been short but intense. I spent the first week travelling in Turkey and after that I returned home to Switzerland to continue my physical training programme. I managed to disconnect and get back to work with plenty of energy. I’m looking forward to having fun on the bike again, having good races and Brno is always a circuit I look forward to going to. Last year we won in the Czech Republic and I remember it as one of the most enjoyable races of the season. That victory and the good sensations I left with from the last race in Germany mean that I’m returning to the championship feeling mentally strong. You shouldn’t wait until it comes to a circuit you like before you believe you can win but I think that this a good time for me to go to Brno and now we just have to work hard so that the result confirms it.”

Marco Melandri:
“We all needed a bit of a rest to recharge the batteries, although the truth is that I only took a week of complete holidays. I went to Mykonos, a beautiful island that really helps me to relax. The break was really good for me; I feel in top shape, like at the start of the season, and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the bike, especially at Brno because it is a circuit I love and I have had some great races there. My best memory is from 2002 because I scored my sixth straight win and it helped me to win the 250cc title.”

Dani Pedrosa:
“We already had a few days off when we didn’t go to Laguna Seca but these were real holidays. I was able to rest and disconnect for a few days and even though I only took a week off it is always good to come back to the battle at full strength. I’m satisfied with what we have done during the first half of the championship but I hope to finish it even better. I have to be back to full concentration at Brno and make sure I do a good job. Everything will go very quickly after this one and we have to be prepared for a very tough end to the season, that’s for sure. But everything comes in its own time. For now the only thing to think about is this weekend, which will be tough because we’re staying to test on Monday. I’m looking forward to riding the bike again.”

Hiroshi Aoyama:
“I’ve already been in Barcelona for the past ten days preparing for the season to start again and I’ve almost forgotten about my holidays in Japan. I spent a week there with my family and friends and it was really good. They were all looking forward to seeing me after my podium in Germany, they were very happy. I would have liked to be there for a bit longer but I know that the best thing was to come back to Barcelona and concentrate on the job at hand. Things are improving every week and I feel more sure of myself, the relationship with the team is really good and my confidence just keeps growing; I know I can be with the lead group at every race if I prepare well. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that but my objective is to fight for the podium from now on. Brno will also be very important to be able to head on to Japan in high spirits.”

THE VENUE

CZECH REPUBLIC GP  
Circuit: Brno
Grand Prix: Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske republik
Inauguration: 1987
Latest modification: 1996
Length: 5.403 m.
Width: 15 m.
Right corners: 6
Left corners: 8
Main straight: 636m

MOVISTAR RIDER RESULTS AT BRNO 

	Rider	Cylinder	Classification
1996	Sete Gibernau	250cc.	14th
1997	Sete Gibernau	500cc.	-
1998	Sete Gibernau	500cc.	6th
	Marco Melandri	125cc.	1st
1999	Sete Gibernau	500cc.	10th
	Marco Melandri	125cc.	1st
2000	Sete Gibernau	500cc.	6th
	Marco Melandri	250cc.	4th
2001	Sete Gibernau	500cc.	8th
	Marco Melandri	250cc.	2nd
	Dani Pedrosa	125cc.	8th
2002	Sete Gibernau	MotoGP	4th
	Marco Melandri	250cc.	1st
	Dani Pedrosa	125cc.	2nd
2003	Sete Gibernau	MotoGP	2nd
	Marco Melandri	MotoGP	10th
	Dani Pedrosa	125cc.	1st
2004	Sete Gibernau	MotoGP	1st
	Marco Melandri	MotoGP	9th
	Dani Pedrosa	250cc.	3rd
	Hiroshi Aoyama	250cc.	7th

THE CIRCUIT ACCORDING TO:

SETE GIBERNAU 
A bit of everything
This is one of the circuits I like the most, because of the track layout and my results here. It has a bit of everything: uphill, downhill, fast and slow sections… It’s one of the more complete circuits and has a unique final section, with a really steep climb and two chicanes, one slow and one fast, before the final straight.

MARCO MELANDRI
Wide with long corners
It’s a really nice circuit and perfect for MotoGP. It’s wide with long corners, where you can make use of all the power and every gear, going into fifth three times and sixth twice. It’s the only circuit other than Sepang where you use sixth gear more than once. My favourite section is the final chicane. It’s very important to keep your line at Brno and ride smoothly. 

DANI PEDROSA
Riding is rewarded
I think this is one of the most difficult circuits in the world, where good riding is rewarded. It has a lot of corners linked together and if you don’t get the right line you lose precious time from your lap; in fact, I would say there is only one good line. It’s a very long circuit and it’s easy to pick up a slipstream on the straights.

HIROSHI AOYAMA 
Good fun
I think the characteristics of this circuit suit Japanese riders. In my opinion the layout is not too different to Motegi, with long straights and flowing corners. There are also several level changes, which make it fun. The only problem is that the weather can be quite changeable and has a big effect on the conditions. 

THE 2005 SEASON SO FAR FOR THE MOVISTAR RIDERS 

	SETE GIBERNAU	MARCO MELANDRI	DANI PEDROSA	HIROSHI AOYAMA
JEREZ	Race: 2nd Standings: 2nd	Race: 3rd Standings: 3rd	Race: 1st Standings: 1st	Race: crashed Standings: -
ESTORIL	Race: crashed Standings: 5th	Race: 4 Standings: 3rd	Race: 4th Standings: 1st	Race: 6th Standings: 10th
SHANGHAI	Race: 4th Standings: 5th	Race: 3rd Standings: 2nd	Race: 6th Standings: 3rd	Race: 3rd Standings: 6th
LE MANS	Race: 2nd Standings: 3rd	Race:4º Standings: 2nd	Race: 1st Standings: 1st	Race: 6th Standings: 7th
MUGELLO	Race: crash Standings: 4th	Race: 4th Standings: 2nd	Race: 1st Standings: 1st	Race: 7th Standings: 7th
CATALUNYA	Race: 2nd Standings: 4th	Race: 3rd Standings: 2nd	Race: 1st Standings: 1st	Race: 4th Standings: 4th
ASSEN	Race: 5th Standings: 4th	Race: 2nd Standings: 2nd	Race: 2nd Standings: 1st	Race: 4th Standings: 5th
LAGUNA SECA	Race: 5th Standings: 4th	Race: crashed Standings: 2nd	N/A	N/A
DONINGTON	Race: crashed Standings: 5th	Race: crashed Standings: 2nd	Race: 4th Standings: 1st	Race: crashed Standings: 7th
SACHSENRING	Race: 2nd Standings: 3rd	Race: 7th Standings: 2nd	Race: 1st Standings: 1st	Race: 3rd Standings: 7th

LAP RECORDS: 

MOTOGP
Circuit record: 1’59”966 Valentino Rossi (2003)
Pole 2004: 2’09“782 Sete Gibernau (Honda)
Podium 2004:  1. Sete Gibernau (Honda), 2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), 3. Max Biaggi (Honda) 

250 CC.
Circuit record: 2’03”836 Marco Melandri (2001)
Pole 2004: 2’14”261 Sebastián Porto (Aprilia)
Podium 2004: 1. Sebastián Porto (Aprilia), 2. Randy De Puniet (Aprilia), 3. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 

125 CC.
Circuit record: 2’07”836 Lucio Cecchinello (2003)
Pole 2004: 2’24”458 Marco Simoncelli (Aprilia)
Podium 2004: 1. Jorge Lorenzo (Derbi), 2. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda), 3. Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia)

SUNDAY TIMETABLE
11.00h. 125cc race (19 laps, 102.657km)
12.15h. 250cc race (20 laps, 108.06km)
14.00h. MotoGP race (22 laps, 118.866km)