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MotoGP Mugello, Honda preview

In MotoGP

27 maggio 2009

The MotoGP paddock looks forward to arguably its greatest event of the year in Italy this weekend. Magnificent Mugello has it all – an undulating ribbon of a racetrack that wends its way up and down a picturesque Tuscan valley, presenting a unique challenge to both riders and engineers who must use all their talent and know-how to unlock the track’s secrets. With good reason Mugello attracts one of the best crowds of the year, the venue a natural amphitheatre filled by a noisy army of fans who bring something of a football-style atmosphere with them.

This year’s event also has a special historic significance because it marks Honda’s 50th anniversary in World Championship competition. Exactly half a century ago Honda’s pioneer Grand Prix riders Naomi Taniguchi, Junzo Suzuki, Giichi Suzuki, Teisuke Tanaka and Bill Hunt were on the Isle of Man, readying themselves for Honda’s first Grand Prix event, the 1959 Ultra-Lightweight TT, the opening round of that year’s 125 World Championship. Although Honda were absolute newcomers and not expected to feature strongly in the race (staged on June 3), Taniguchi won the final World Championship point and the Honda squad won the coveted team’s prize, proving that Honda machinery was already fast and reliable.

The 2009 Italian GP is the fifth race of a season that’s already shaping to be a classic with four riders currently separated by just nine points at the top of the MotoGP points table. Going into Mugello, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) is fourth on points, having made an astonishing start to 2009, bravely shrugging off the effects of preseason injury to score podium finishes in three of the first four races. A second-place finish at Jerez and third-place results at Motegi and Le Mans have thrust the Spaniard into the championship battle. Pedrosa can’t wait to get to Mugello where he has winning form; he won the 2005 250 GP at the track and has finished on the podium during his last two visits on MotoGP machinery.

This is a big weekend for Italian star Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) who is looking forward to his first home GP as a factory Honda rider. After finishing a strong fourth at Le Mans two weeks ago, Dovizioso couldn’t think of a better place than Mugello to score his first podium of 2009. The former 125 World Champion has only once made the top three at his home race, finishing third in the 2006 250 GP, riding his Scot Honda RS250RW.

Frenchman Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) had a difficult home race at Le Mans and is determined to the brilliant form he showed at Jerez, where he finished a strong fourth. Like most riders, Mugello is one of de Puniet’s favourite racetracks.

September’s San Marino GP may be the official home GP of San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Alex De Angelis, but this weekend’s event is nonetheless a home race for the up-and-coming star who enjoyed a brilliant MotoGP race at Mugello last summer, charging through the pack to claim a superb fourth-place finish aboard his RC212V. San Carlo Honda Gresini team-mate Toni Elias is another fan of Mugello and will be hoping that his right arm will be nearing full strength following intense physiotherapy treatment. Elias underwent an operation following the Spanish GP to fix arm-pump problems in his right arm.

Yuki Takahashi (Scot Honda) continues to improve during his rookie MotoGP season and is keen to tackle his team’s home race with the new base set-up which his crew developed at the recent French GP.