The only thing known about the track is its layout: 5,451 metres long, 14 metres wide, seven right corners and seven left, with a main straight of 1,175 metres. IRTA tried to organise a preseason testing session there but the bureaucratic complications of the country ruled it out. The teams and factories are travelling blind, without any real references on which to base their preparations for the race.

How do they prepare for a Grand Prix of this nature? How do the riders get ready? Each one has his own tactic but it is clear that anything they can pick up that will help them learn the circuit in just four sessions – three free practices and one qualifying, in the case of MotoGP – has to be good.

 Study the layout

Sete Gibernau and his Chief Mechanic Juan Martínez will spend Thursday morning examining the Shanghai track for sections that are similar to other circuits in the world. A lap on a scooter in the afternoon will also help. “It’s a case of checking the profile of the left and right corners, the length of the straight and that’s basically it. You get an idea of what you’re going to find out later on the motorcycle, but it’s only a very basic reference,” explains Sete.

“To get to know a track you always look for three basic parameters,” adds Juan Martínez. “Length, radius of the corners and changes in level or camber. This information can serve as a guide for the basic set-up of the bike and gives you a base to work from. Length helps you decide gearbox settings, radius and inclination of the corners is used for the suspension and geometry of the bike.”

The Grand Prix of China is sure to be a major challenge for everybody and Gibernau is looking forward to it. “Starting from scratch like this is a bonus – it’s exciting. I like to visit new countries, discover their customs and their people, a whole new culture.” So far, discovering new circuits has been a profitable experience for the Movistar rider. Sete took victory in the first Grand Prix ever to be held in Qatar last season. “I’ve always been quite lucky at new circuits so I hope that tradition continues.” At first glance, Sete says the most important parts of the Shangai circuit will be “its two long straights and the two virtually 360º corners. It will be important to learn the track as quickly as possible and get all the set-up work done before qualifying so that we can go out and get a good grid place.”

His Chief Mechanic adds: “At a new circuit you can come up against situations out of your control, that require you to react quickly, whereas at circuits you know you can arrive there prepared. But the way you work has to be exactly the same. Independently of where you are, the problems that come up are always the same, it’s just that some come up more than others at certain tracks, but I’m sure there won’t be too many surprises”.

Marco Melandri heads to China with his head in the clouds after a wonderful start to the season that sees him lying third in the championship. “I’m looking forward to China,” says Marco. “I saw the track for the first time a week ago and it was both strange and interesting at the same time. There are two long corners at the start which look difficult, but the good thing is that everybody is starting from scratch here and it will be a good chance to make the most of our advantage at this early stage of the season.”

Pedrosa: no Playstation

Dani Pedrosa is in no doubt: better the devil you know. The days of him learning as much as he can from hours stuck to the Playstation are resigned to history. The World Champion won’t be able to learn the peculiarities of the Shangai circuit from his video console, as he looks to defend his championship lead. “We’ll have to wait until the first session to get an idea of the track – I didn’t even watch the Formula 1 race there last year,” says Dani. “On a scooter you don’t get a real idea, although it can help to do a few laps on a Thursday afternoon. The gearbox ratio, track conditions, grip levels and other things like that… you can’t get a really idea until you ride the circuit on your race bike. I prefer to go to places I already know because the adaptation to the track is always easier. But we’ll try to make the most of the practice sessions because the situation is the same for everybody.”

His team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama is used to learning. Having only arrived in the 250cc World Championship last season, almost every single circuit was new to him. Hiro will try to make the most of the surprise factor to force his way to the front of the lead riders in the category. “Riding at a new circuit is nothing new to me, I spent all last season doing it,” he explains. “It’s a case of trying to memorise the sensations you get from the bike as best you can so that every time you come in to the pit box you can give the most precise feedback possible. I think I took a step forward in Portugal and I hope to continue my progression at a circuit where we all start with the same chances.”

RIDER QUOTES

Sete Gibernau:
“This weekend we find ourselves at the first of the new circuits on the calendar. It’s a case of checking the profile of the left and right corners, the length of the straight and that’s basically it. You get an idea of what you’re going to find out later on the motorcycle, but it’s only a very basic reference. Starting from scratch like this is a bonus – it’s exciting. I like to visit new countries, discover their customs and their people, a whole new culture I’ve always been quite lucky at new circuits so I hope that tradition continues. Looking at the circuit, I would say the most important parts are its two long straights and the two virtually 360º corners. It will be important to learn the track as quick as possible and get all the set-up work done before qualifying so that we can go out and get a good grid place.”

 Marco Melandri:
“I’m looking forward to getting to China. I saw the track for the first time a week ago and it was both strange and interesting at the same time. There are two long corners at the start which look difficult, but the good thing is that everybody is starting from scratch here and it will be a good chance to make the most of our advantage at this early stage of the season.”

Dani Pedrosa:
“We’ll have to wait until the first session to get an idea of the track. On a scooter you don’t get a real idea, although it can help to do a few laps on a Thursday afternoon. The gearbox ratio, track conditions, grip levels and other things like that… you can’t get a really idea until you ride the circuit on your race bike. I prefer to go to places I already know because the adaptation to the track is always easier. But we’ll try to make the most of the practice sessions because the situation is the same for everybody.”

Hiroshi Aoyama:
“Riding at a new circuit is nothing new to me, I spent all last season doing it. It’s a case of trying to memorise the sensations you get from the bike as best you can so that every time you come in to the pit box you can give the most precise feedback possible. I think I took a step forward in Portugal and I hope to continue my progression at a circuit where we all start with the same chances.”

THE VENUE

GP DE CHINA
Circuit: Shangai International Circuit
Grand Prix: Taobao.com Grand Prix of China
Inauguration: 2004
Latest modification: 2004
Length: 5,451 m.
Width: 14 m.
Right corners:7
Left corners: 7
Main straight: 1,175 m.

SUNDAY TIMETABLE
(Shangai time is GMT+8)

CET RACE TIMES
05.00h. 125cc race (19 laps - 100,339km)
06.15h. 250cc race (21 laps - 110,901kms)
08.00h. MotoGP race (22 laps - 116,182km)