Buzzin MotoGP

Leguna Seca

After a four-week break, the team and riders headed to the Czech Republic for this weekend’s round in Brno where Casey Stoner has apparently apologised to Valentino Rossi for the remarks he made after the last round of the Championship at Leguna Seca.

Rossi now has a 25-point lead on Stoner, despite Stoner winning the previous three races, but this morning during the pre-event press conference, the pair shook hands.

Stoner blasted the riding of Rossi at the US round leading too much criticism for the Ducati rider, however, Stoner admitted that on reflection he had overreacted.

The two riders will no doubt go head to head again at Brno for round 12 although it has not always been the best race for Rossi.

Rossi said,

“I had a bad race here last year but some good results here in the past.  It is a track that I like and where I won my first Grand Prix in 1996.  I am very curious to try it out on Bridgestone tyres and to understand the grip and the potential of the new surface.”

The surface at the Brno circuit has recently been resurfaced so it will be a contest between Bridgestone and Michelin to see who has produced the best compound.

In the past two years, it has been Bridgestone-shod riders that have been at the front, setting the fastest laps, pole-positions and victories, however, with a new surface to contend with it means that both tyre manufacturers have had only the two days of testing back in June to make their decisions.

Bridgestone said that although the test riders struggled for grip, the new smooth surface meant that they could still ride at the same speeds,

Michelin are expecting the new surface to be hard on their front tyre but less so on their rear with the times being even quicker.

It should be an interesting race, with Rossi and Stoner both striving for those important points in a Championship which still has seven races to go.  Tyre decision is going to be a major factor for the teams and riders at this weekends race.