[Ducati] Motegi GP

[Peter Bonner]

Interesting race coming up. At Motogi in Japan, Stoner could see his
team-mate Stoner become the second youngest premier class champion in
history on Sunday, and Ducati are well placed to take their first title in
the category at a venue where they have previously enjoyed great success.

Ducati leads the constructors' championship by a healthy margin and the
Ducati Marlboro team head the teams' prize thanks to Stoner's dream season,
but the Aussie will be well aware of the contribution Capirossi made to the
team in order to fortify their MotoGP status before the current season- with
his 2005 and 2006 Motogi wins being milestones in that development.

Two years ago, Capirossi became the first rider to win a premier class GP in
Japan on a non a non Japanese motorcycle.

It was Ducati's first victory of that season, and the first ever victory for
Bridstone since winning the previous year with Makoto Tamada.

In 2006, Capirossi repeated his triumph, en route to his 3rd victory of the
season.

Those wins were crucial to the development of the Ducati MotoGP project, and
indeed Bridgestone's steady progression to their current position of
dominance this season. (funny tho, the "dominance" only extends to Ducati
bikes in the top three riders).

Capirossi comments that "My 2005 and 2006 wins at Motegi will always be
special to me. For Ducati to win a MotoGP race in Japan was great, but to
win two in a row was incredible. (lets hope Stoner doesn't spoil the majic).

The 34 old continued, The Ducati and the Bridgestones should work well at
Motegi. It's the kind of track that work very well for our package, though
the 800's are different from the 990s of course. Acceleration and braking
are the most important factors of performance at this tract, and we have a
fast engine and a very good engine-braking system. The Bridgestones also
work really well at Motegi. And I lie the layour, even though its just full
throttle, brakes, full throttle, brake - so I'm looking forward to the
weekend.

These comments are from the motogp official site.

If Stoner is to really show his ability, this should be a walk away win for
him. Clearly the bike is better suited for the track than any other brand.

Go Ducati GO!

Peter