Login | Password dimenticata? | Registrati

GP de France, Scot Racing preview

In MotoGP

13 maggio 2009

According to statistics, the Bugatti circuit, in Le Mans, suits well to Honda and Team Scot's riders.

Yuki Takahashi (Team Scot) got here his first victory, in the 250 class. It was the 2006 GP of France. That year was exceptional for Honda, on French soil: Takahashi first, Dovizioso second, Shuei Aoyama third. Three Hondas on the podium, and two of them coloured with the Team Scot livery (Yuki's and Andrea's ones). Hiroshi Aoyama, Shuhei's brother, was fourth placed. At that time Hiroshi was competing for Ktm; today, he's riding behind Team Scot's flag. The present and the future of the Italian squad was written in those four positions.

In 2007 Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot) - second placed - was the best Honda rider in the middle class. In 2008 the honour went to Takahashi (fourth, one second behind the third).

In Moto GP, in 2008 Dani Pedrosa was on pole, and fourth in the race. In 2007, the Spaniard was again fourth, but Melandri, a privateer, got the second spot. In 2006, Melandri won the race. Pedrosa classified third, Stoner fourth, Hayden fifth: four Hondas in the first five places. If you consider that Luthi (Honda) got the top prize the 125 race, that day can well be told as a great one for Honda.

Today, Team Scot arrive in Le Mans with Hiroshi Aoyama leading the Championshiop in the 250 class. Hiro will line up to get a great result, but also his fellow countryman, Takahashi (MotoGP) and Italian De Rosa (250 cc) are convinced they can do well.

Hiroshi Aoyama (250cc): "I like the layout of the circuit, which is similar to Motegi, but for some reason I never had a really good result, in Le Mans. And this I don't like. My best placement was fourth, in 2006. I'll land in France as leader of the classifying, which is very satisfying, but my idea, for the championship, is simply to do a good race of every race, And at the end, we will see".

Raffaele De Rosa (250cc): "To be sincere, Le Mans is not one of my favourite tracks. Nevertheless, it suits well Honda: perhaps I will appreciate it in 250 more than in 125. I like my Honda, and the feeling with the team is great. I must understand a few more things about the bike to ride it at its maximum. Our natural place in the top six".

Yuki Takahashi (MotoGP): "I love this track. It is not a coincidence that I got here my first 250 victory. However, there is something curious: in that class one of my best points was how to deal with the hairpins. In MotoGP, its an issue we have still to think about. But we are working hard on it".

Emanuele Ventura (Technical Director): "We want to improve the traction - that's our main target for Le Mans, a track with several slow corners. That will be the key element of our performance".