Buzzin MotoGP

Valentino Rossi

This weekend the MotoGP riders return to work in Brno for the Cardion AB Czech Republic Grand Prix after their mid-summer break for the remaining seven rounds of the MotoGP Championship.  On Monday the teams and riders also have a day of testing taking place.

The Brno press conference took place yesterday with Valentino Rossi, Mika Kallio, Andrea Dovizioso, Loris Capirossi and Gabor Talmacsi in attendance.

From this round of the championship, the new engine rule comes into play, giving the riders only five engines to compete the remaining rounds of the season.  Rossi said;

“It changes the way we will work on the bike a little bit. Now you have to plan more which bike you use during the practice and you have to take care of the engine, even after the race. It should save money so it is important. In Monday’s test we have some small details to check and we will try to take another step forward with the bike.”

Dovizioso confirmed that the Repsol Honda team will be testing a new swingarm throughout the weekend and onto the Monday test, if conditions allow.

Loris Capirossi announced that the team will be using a new engine on the Rizla Suzuki at this round and will be testing further new parts on Monday as well as a possible new chassis.

Mika Kallio, is the replacement rider for the Marlboro Ducati rider Casey Stoner, after it was announced that he would be out for the next three rounds while he recovered from his mystery illness.

Gabor Talmacsi will be in front of many of his home fans for the first time as a MotoGP rider and is hoping to give them a good result.

Randy de Puniet will on the LCR Honda, despite fracturing his ankle in a motorcross training programme the week after the UK round of the championship.