Kawaski Racing Team - Brno

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2005
ROUND 11 - GAULOISES GRAND PRIX CESKE REPUBLIKY
23 AUGUST 2005 - EVENT PREVIEW


BACK TO WORK FOR KAWASAKI AT BRNO
The Kawasaki Racing Team returns to work after a four week summer holiday, with factory riders Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann fully refreshed for this weekend's Czech Republic Grand Prix.

The race, at the classic and fast 5.4 km Brno circuit, is the 11th round of the MotoGP World Championship. It is the first of a hectic schedule of races that will see seven events conducted in 11 weeks to close the season at Valencia on November 6.

Motivation is high in the Kawasaki squad, with Nakano eager to back-up his outstanding sixth place finish at last months German Grand Prix. For Hofmann, the restart of the season is an opportunity to show his full potential after a run of misfortune.

Both riders spent time with family and friends during the holiday break, a rare opportunity given the unrelenting travel demands of the MotoGP season.

Hofmann spilt his time between his home in Switzerland and chasing the summer sun by visiting his father who lives on the Costa Blanca in Spain.

And that meant an opportunity to keep up his fitness with regular outings on his high-performance Kawasaki jet ski - an 800c powered stand-up model.

Nakano was keen to maximise his three week holiday, and a welcome break away from racing, with time at home in Japan. He flew from Tokyo directly back into Prague enroute to Brno for this week's race.

Nakano is in a positive frame of mind, upbeat about continuing his string of impressive results - eight top ten positions out of ten races.

The 27-year-old Japanese rider believes that his recent sixth place at the Sachsenring, and the response of Bridgestone to his tyre requests, can be the platform for a strong second half of the season.

Nakano is targeting a visit to the podium before the final race at Valencia in November.

The Brno circuit, critical on front-end tyre and chassis performance with its fast chicanes and downhill curves, has a lap average speed of 163 kph (101 mph), making it a classic riders circuit.

Shinya Nakano: #56
"Brno is more a classic style of track, long and fast, not a computer model and I like it very much - it's very challenging for a rider. With the right set-up a rider can make a difference at Brno, I learnt this from my 250cc days, and the latest ZX-RR specification gives me a lot of confidence. Also Bridgestone made a strong step forward at the German GP especially with race distance tyre life. After the holidays it is like a new start and my aim is some more top five results, even the podium. Why not? I started the season with fifth at Jerez and I know the potential of the ZX-RR and the Bridgestone tyres are improving so that is my goal."

Alex Hofmann: #66
"I'm already in training for 2007 and the 800cc rules, that was my excuse for spending so much time on the jet ski! I also did a lot of mountain biking in Switzerland, so I'm ready to go for the final part of the season. My aims are simple; to show the full potential of myself and the ZX-RR and take it to the maximum. I had some strong expectations at the beginning of the season, but a lot of things happened that were out of my control. It's a fresh start now, I'm hungry for some better luck and strong results."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"Brno is the start of a very busy period for the Kawasaki Racing Team and we are ready for the challenge of maintaining our third place in the Constructors' Championship. After the race the team will test for two days with the latest development parts from Japan and with our tyre partners Bridgestone. So that's a heavy, five day work load for our riders and technicians. While Shinya continues to show he is one of the fastest riders in the championship I'm hoping that the bad luck for Alex is now over, and he can show what he is capable of."

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2005
ROUND 11 - GAULOISES GRAND PRIX CESKE REPUBLIKY
26 AUGUST 2005 - FREE PRACTICE


HOFMANN AND NAKANO BACK ON THE PACE AT BRNO
The MotoGP season resumed at Brno today, with a super-competitive opening day of practice ahead of Sunday's Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Kawasaki riders, Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano, were in the thick of the action and finished the day 12th and 14th respectively on the time sheets. Fourteen riders were within one second of the fastest lap set by Valentino Rossi.

It was a day of intense work for Nakano and Hofmann, combining the challenging task of finding speed for the front-end sensitive Brno circuit and tyre test duties for Bridgestone.

There are a range of evolution rear tyres at Brno, combining revised compounds and constructions, with the aim of improved edge grip and race consistency.

Nakano and Hofmann were enthused to be back on their Ninja ZX-RR machines after the holiday break and made dramatic improvements to their lap times between the morning and afternoon sessions.

Both riders suffered from a lack of front end feel and tyre response especially through the fast chicanes and turn one.

Revisions to front spring balance and chassis geometry proved to be the right direction, and further changes are expected to provide a more precise set-up for Sunday's 22-lap race.

Nakano improved his time by 1.3s between morning and afternoon sessions, while Hofmann went 0.7s faster.

The notorious Brno bumps are also proving to be a set-up challenge, especially in the fast corners.

Alex Hofmann: #66 - Twelfth - 2'00.146
"It's great to be back riding and I found some good speed this afternoon, although I'm struggling through the first section of the lap, especially turn one. The front set-up is not perfect and I'm not completely confident of the front feeling, especially as you come off the brakes and turn-in. The track is getting old, like everyone I guess, and there seem to be more patches and bumps than last year. Even so I enjoy Brno and I think we can find an even better balance tomorrow."

Shinya Nakano: #56 - Fourteenth - 2'00.227
"I was happy to be back on the bike, but not very comfortable in the morning session - I couldn't feel the grip level at the front end. But I had better front contact response in the afternoon, although we are still not at 100% with the bike. I need better settings for the high-speed changes of direction and perhaps the bumps, worse than last year, are also making the bike unsettled. Even so, the times are close and I think that by Sunday I will have a chance for a good result."

Ichiro Yoda: Technical Manager
"Both riders had a problem with front feeling and grip today, more a set-up problem than tyres. This track requires very agile handling for the fast changes of direction and that perhaps is a weak point for us at the moment. But, we have some set-up ideas for tomorrow, both for the chassis and mid-range engine response, and will continue to improve. We also have a lot of work to do to fully evaluate the new Bridgestone tyres."

FREE PRACTICE 2
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Yamaha Team 1'59.278; 2. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.088; 3. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Movistar Honda MotoGP +0.176; 4. Marco Melandri (ITA) Movistar Honda MotoGP +0.191; 5. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP +0.477; 6. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.529; 7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda +0.555; 8. Colin Edwards (USA) Gauloises Yamaha Team +0.665; 9. Alex Barros (BRA) Camel Honda +0.713; 10. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP +0.765; 12. Alex Hofmann (GER) Kawasaki Racing Team +0.868; 14. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +0.949

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2005
ROUND 11 - GAULOISES GRAND PRIX CESKE REPUBLIKY
27 AUGUST 2005 - QUALIFYING PRACTICE


BRNO PROVES CHALLENGING FOR KAWASAKI PAIRING
Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, have qualified eleventh and fourteenth respectively for tomorrow's Czech Republic Grand at Brno.

Both made excellent use of the latest Bridgestone qualifying tyres, with Nakano's best lap putting the Japanese rider within one second of pole position. Meanwhile Hofmann was just 0.4s off a top ten place on the grid.

During today's two hours of practice and qualifying both riders continued evaluation of the latest Bridgestone race tyres featuring new compounds and constructions, and confirmed their race day selections.

But neither rider is underestimating the task facing the Ninja ZX-RR on the fast, bumpy and hugely challenging 5.4 km Brno circuit.

Following a lack of front-end feel and chassis balance yesterday, both riders reported more competitive set-ups today after further adjustments to chassis and engine management settings.

But after assessing the data collected, and a study of lap times, Kawasaki Technical Manager, Ichiro Yoda, says that Kawasaki have learnt a great deal about the future direction required for their MotoGP programme.

Qualifying was conducted in warm and sunny conditions, with the track surface temperature rising to 40 degrees.

Shinya Nakano: #56 - Eleventh - 1'58.490
"Today was much better than yesterday, I had better rear traction and front-end feel and I could enjoy riding the bike, although we are still too far from the times at the front of the grid. We have made a lot of adjustments to chassis and engine settings, and there are more to try in the warm-up tomorrow. I have made my race tyre choice from the new Bridgestone selection and race consistency looks good. Today the latest Bridgestone qualifying tyre also worked very well."

Alex Hofmann: #66 - Fourteenth - 1'58.793
"I would love to be somewhere in the top ten, but it was just not possible today - another 0.4s and I would be there. Only right at the end did I get a decent lap with a chance to get a tow to find some more speed on the straights. Overall the bike was more comfortable today, but my problem is still T1 - a straight, turn one and then another straight. The new Bridgestone tyres look consistent, so it will just be a matter of grinding out the laps, hopefully having some guys to race and get as many points as possible. And have some fun too of course."

Ichiro Yoda: Technical Manager
"Our race pace is in the low two minute bracket, perhaps some 1'59s but this is not enough for this style of fast track. Firstly, we need more top end power, but what a track like Brno also shows us is that Kawasaki's priority for next year must be a completely revised bike package - engine, power delivery, chassis and electronics."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"We are facing a difficult time in tomorrow's race. Fortunately with Shinya and Alex, I know we have two riders who will do their maximum to deliver as many points as possible. But it will not be easy with our current Ninja ZX-RR package."

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2005
ROUND 11 - GAULOISES GRAND PRIX CESKE REPUBLIKY
28 AUGUST 2005 - MOTOGP RACE RESULT


NAKANO AND HOFMANN BOTH FINISH IN THE POINTS AT BRNO
A maximum racing effort by Kawasaki riders Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann delivered World Championship points, but little in the way of satisfaction, in today's Czech Grand Prix at Brno.

Nakano finished in twelfth place with a strong surge at the finish, making up three positions over the final three laps.

Hofmann finished fifteenth and was exhausted after a stirring performance in the 22-lap race, watched by 78,000 spectators in warm, humid and overcast conditions.

This race was never going to be an easy assignment for the Kawasaki riders, with the Brno circuit traditionally not friendly territory for the Ninja ZX-RR.

After making a stunning start from fourteenth on the grid, Hofmann carved his way to tenth place on lap one, passing the Hondas of Max Biaggi and Troy Bayliss in the process.

After holding Biaggi at bay for three laps Hofmann could only watch as the Italian pulled away to eventually finish third and on the podium.

The German young gun was consigned to a race long battle against the Suzukis of John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts, Bayliss and Nakano. After holding 12th place for 12 superb laps, Hofmann eventually finished in a brave fifteenth place.

Nakano finished the race strongly after a poor start and being trapped in early traffic. He conceded six seconds in the opening two laps and dropped to sixteenth before a determined charge over the final laps.

The Kawasaki team will stay on at Brno on Monday and Tuesday to test new engine parts in advance of the next race, the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.

Shinya Nakano: #56 - Twelfth
"My start was not good and I got trapped with some of the Honda riders, there was no room to overtake or push any faster; I lost a lot of time. After five laps I found a very good pace, some 1'59s laps, and I was able to pass Bayliss and battle in the group with the Suzukis and Alex. I tried to push and escape from this group but it was not possible, although I really wanted to finish ahead of Kenny Roberts. But I struggled with rear drive traction off the turns; this was a very hard race, it seems our bike does like Brno very much."

Alex Hofmann: #66 - Fifteenth
"That was my best ever first lap and I was right in amongst all the action and I was even able to stay ahead of Biaggi. Then for a long time I was behind the Suzukis and I really thought I had a chance of beating them and keeping Bayliss behind me. But over the final laps I struggled with rear grip and there was nothing I could do, not even go one tenth faster, when the others attacked, especially on the straights. Perhaps the other riders in the group did not go 100% at the beginning of the race."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"This was the result I expected today. We could see from Loris Capirossi's second place the Bridgestone tyres were competitive at Brno. The main thing now is that we are looking forward to the test here tomorrow, when we will have a new engine specification to evaluate. The opening three laps by Alex were brilliant, he took every opportunity to overtake other riders. Unfortunately Shinya's start was not good, and when you lose time it is difficult to make up."

MOTOGP RACE RESULT
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Yamaha Team 43'56.539; 2. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team +1.837; 3. Max Biaggi (ITA) Repsol Honda +3.444; 4. Alex Barros (BRA) Camel Honda +4.148; 5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda +4.363; 6. Marco Melandri (ITA) Movistar Honda MotoGP +11.150; 7. Colin Edwards (USA) Gauloises Yamaha Team +13.532; 8. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team +19.331; 9. Troy Bayliss (AUS) Camel Honda +27.125; 10. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Konica Minolta Honda +27.248; 11. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP +27.684; 12. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +27.803; 15. Alex Hofmann (GER) Kawasaki Racing Team +29.768

[Nanna10r]

Thanks Dave, What happened to Kwika being the No.1 Bridgie team, got blitzed by both Fukati & Spewie
Not good.
Cheers Brett

[redzedx7r]

i heard last night on Fox that Hoffman is getting the chop from Kwaka at the end of the season, who would you bring in? Jacques? Or someone new from 250's or Superbikes?

[Blackzxr]

:? i heard last night on Fox that Hoffman is getting the chop from Kwaka at the end of the season, who would you bring in? Jacques? Or someone new from 250's or Superbikes?

Not unexpected. Wouldn't bring in Jacques, myself. I think the smartest thing to do is to give some young talent a shot. A bit of fire in the belly and that i'm invinsible mentality would go a long way. I know who i would like to see get a shot.

[icebreaker]

Are you thinking Stoner?

[mfzx6r]

Are you thinking Stoner?

Na he's thinking " I need to someone to run the rabbit I need another beer"

Stoner needs a couple more years in the 250's then move to the MotoGp's

Maybe someone from BSB there's some talent in there waiting to get a shot at MotoGp . It needs to be young blood


mario

[icebreaker]

remembering that Hoffman was Young blood from the 250 class...

quite possibly in developing the bike they need someone with more experience, rather than just another developing/rising star...

What do you do???

I think they could be better off as you suggested, with someone from BSB or the likes, only because they would be coming off a 4 stroke in the 1000cc class... So handling a bigger bike would be better suited, but then they won't know all the tracks.. It's taken Hoffman a while and he was in the 250's...

Either way they need someone who is desperate to prove something...
Hoffer's hasn't fallen off enough to prove he's really trying.. hehehe... And that demo at 40k's doesn't count..

[Blackzxr]

Yeah your bang on the money Dan. But i agree with Mario, he needs a couple of more years. Rossi, now theres another name. Only problem is Kwaka have deep pockets, but short arms.
Yes the bike still needs some developing and a more experienced rider will help with that. Nakas is still there and by having some young big balls rider, may actually help the cause? Is the plan still to run a third bike for certain rounds?

[Nanna10r]

Chris Vanmulan(Sp) would be my first pic but honda has him sown up.
Next pick even though I dont think hes young enough would be to drag Walker over from the World Supers. He's the only Bloke Capable of getting any Real Pace out of the 10R, And has raced most of the tracks that MotoGp use.
As for a hungry Young Talent I reckon they Could do a Bucketload worse then Jamie Stauffer. Given enough test time he's been top 3 finishers on the 6r last year and 10r this year. Pushes hard & doesnt crash much.
I even think Ant West could do the Job required. He's used to getting good finishes on a bike that doesnt cut the mustard.

Whoever they get it needs to be someone Hungry enough to PUSH Nackers (watch his lines he's leaving safety margins) & mature enough not to Crash every second race.
Cheers Brett

[Barrabob]

I still reckon they need a 250 team and recruit some young riders that way, any emerging talent that has a fair ride in 250 will be snapped up by the rhonda teams anyway and thats where i would go to if i was a young gun.

OJ and hoffman had a astack at the german race and thats the end of OJ I would say, didnt think much of their development work either when you compared the lap times they where cutting compared to everything else.