Kawasaki Press Release Brno

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
GAULOISES CZECH REPUBLIC GRAND PRIX - AUTODROM BRNO
19TH AUGUST 2004 - EVENT PREVIEW

FUCHS KAWASAKI TEAM READY TO RACE AT BRNO

Refreshed and motivated after a three week summer holiday, Fuchs
Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, are eagerly awaiting a
return to track action in the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno this
weekend.

The race is the tenth round of the MotoGP World Championship, and the
first of seven GPs to complete the second half of a season that will
conclude at Valencia in October.

Nakano took time off to go home to Japan to visit family and friends,
while team-mate Hofmann relaxed mainly at his home in Switzerland. Both
riders kept up their fitness programs with motocross riding, although
Hofmann also spent a lot of time cycling in the mountains near his home.

But while Nakano and Hofmann were on vacation, there was no rest for
Kawasaki engineers and Japanese test rider Akira Yanagawa.

The latest development parts for the in-line four cylinder Ninja ZX-RR
engine came on stream in August, with Yanagawa completing a series of
important test sessions in Japan.

Positive results from an engine specification featuring revised
crankshaft mass and cylinder heads has the Kawasaki squad facing the second
half of the season with renewed confidence. With the Kawasaki MotoGP
project still in an evolution stage, the primary focus is on improved
rideability and mid-range acceleration, although the latest engine
specification has also meant a small increase in RPM and top end power.

While the ZX-RR went through its paces in Japan, Kawasaki's tyre
partner Bridgestone was also hard at work. Hot weather Bridgestone test
sessions at Brno, in conjunction with the Suzuki test team, have produced
valuable data in advance of the Czech GP, which is a notoriously hot and
fast mid-summer race. Both Kawasaki and Suzuki share a technical
partnership with Bridgestone and testing by both factories returns mutual
benefits.

Brno is a legendary stop on the World Championship calendar, with the
city successfully making the transition from hosting races on a famous
public road course to a modern and extremely challenging 5.4 km
permanent circuit.

Going into the Czech GP, Nakano is 13th on the championship table with
37 points, and still aiming for his pre-season goal of a top ten finish
in his first season with Kawasaki. German young gun Hofmann is on 24
points in 17th place.

Shinya Nakano: #56
"I had a very good holiday in Japan, but I'm ready to go back racing
after three weeks away from the track. During the break I just relaxed
with my family and did some motocross riding and training to keep up my
fitness. I want better results over the second part of the season and,
hopefully, the work done by the Kawasaki engineers will enable us to
capitalise on the potential of the ZX-RR. I know Yanagawa-san did a lot of
testing, so I'm looking forward to riding the bike at Brno where you
need a strong motor. I'm just happy to be getting back on the bike."

Alex Hofmann: #66
"I did a lot of training in the holidays, mainly cycling in the
mountains, as the second part of the season is very busy - with four races
outside Europe - which cuts into training time. This will be my first time
at Brno on the latest ZX-RR and I think it will suit the fast flowing
sections of this track, although the uphill part and the long straight
are always a test of engine performance. It's one of my favourite
circuits, with a really great atmosphere and usually a lot of fans from
Germany. I had some bad luck in the first part of the season, but that is
behind me now. My aim is to be in the points at every GP and finish the
season strongly."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"There is no time to rest in MotoGP, as our hard working Kawasaki
engineers in Japan demonstrated during the short break between Donington
Park and Brno. But I'm sure all our rival factory teams were doing the
same, so I expect this first race back will be just as tough as all the
others. The next stage of our engine development program has produced a
little more top end power, with more RPM, but it has also focussed on
improving mid-range engine response. Akira Yanagawa tested motors with
revised crankshaft mass and cylinder heads and Brno now provides the
opportunity to measure the performance in race conditions. Alex and Shinya
are rested, motivated and ready to race; and I'm confident that the
work done by Bridgestone at Brno will also prove to be a step forward."

[icebreaker]

Cool. Well fingers crossed it's a big step forward.

[redzedx7r]

said it before and I'll say it again - Nakano and Hoffman are DUDs! At 25th and 26th on the gird they aren't even in the bar-b-que race!

[mfzx6r]

Hahahaha

Nakano's OK but that Hoffman is a dud



mario

[ty]

I'm not sure about Nakano anymore either - he's not consistent enough
ty

[icebreaker]

hey... hey was consistently out of the 10 there for a while... so you could say he's found some form, by breaking into the top 10... hhehehe

I just bought a Nakano hat, so I have to think positive..
And Rob bought a Slowman hat (Hoffman) so that just makes him a dreamer... But you can't get much more consistent than 13-16th round after round.. hehehe



*prays latest mod's show signs of improvement*

[mrmina]

i'm just glad we have more racing now.

[corbywan]

Hey lighten up on Nakano
Yeah he may be an "also ran"
but the bike maybe not so good!

Last years bike had a fundumental flaw last year which made it a pig to ride and get the power down,
Who's to say that the Engineers who designed this years bike did really get it right 'again??

As for Hoffman, Bag away! hehehe

[omen_child]

Nakano is a great rider. On a more competitive bike, he'd probably be battling for podiums instead of top 10's. The points he's scored for Kawasaki this year are testament to his ability.

[corbywan]

Thank you Omen

[redzedx7r]

suppose i'll have to eat my words in hindsight both Nakano and Hoffman rode a reasonable race on a P.O.S. finishing 12th and 13th repectively. However Eckl, Nakano, Hoffman and Kawasaki should not be congratulating themselves there's no trophy for the Bar-B-Que race.

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
GAULOISES CZECH REPUBLIC GRAND PRIX - AUTODROM BRNO
20TH AUGUST 2004 - QUALIFYING PRACTICE 1

NAKANO AND HOFMANN STRUGGLE FOR GRIP AT WET BRNO

A cold and wet Brno circuit provided little joy for Fuchs Kawasaki
riders Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann in today's opening qualifying session
for Sunday's Czech Republic Grand Prix.

With track temperatures of just 20 degrees, both riders struggled with
grip levels in a qualifying session run in heavily overcast and mostly
wet conditions. A dry line appeared late in the session, but the still
damp track meant that neither Nakano nor Hofmann got the chance to use
slick tyres on their Ninja ZX-RR machines.

On the provisional grid Nakano is 23rd with Hofmann 26th, an outcome
neither rider anticipated on their first day back after the three week
MotoGP summer holiday.

In the earlier, and much drier, free practice session, Nakano was
seventh fastest and reported more precise handling and improved engine
response from the latest evolution ZX-RR motor.

Both riders tried the new crankshaft specification for the first time
today, but a lack of high-speed, dry track time restricted the
opportunity to fully evaluate the benefits of the new components.

Despite a flurry of suspension changes by Kawasaki technicians, in an
attempt to improve chassis balance and grip, the qualifying session
ended with both riders in unfamiliar positions at the back of the grid.

After today's disappointing performance, both Nakano and Hofmann are
hoping for the rain conditions to pass and for a dry track for both final
qualifying tomorrow and Sunday's race.

Shinya Nakano: 23rd (2'16.723)
"This was a difficult session and I think that if it rains again
tomorrow then we will need some different settings to try and improve tyre
grip levels on the wet track. The bike felt much better in the morning
session, and the new engine specification makes the ZX-RR easier to steer
and with improved acceleration. But we definitely need more time to
work on the set-up with this motor, which is difficult in the rain with
lack of grip, but I feel good after the holidays and I'm positive we can
be much faster in the dry. Tomorrow I will do back-to-back runs with
the new motor and the standard engine to evaluate which will be better
for the race."

Alex Hofmann: 26th (2'19.531)
"This is not the way I wanted to start the first day of the second part
of the season, as everyone in the team came here very motivated after
the holidays. I just struggled with rear tyre grip in qualifying; I had
no feel at all entering the corner and onto full lean angle, with the
result that I lacked the confidence to push hard. We tried some big
suspension changes to try and improve the grip, but nothing really worked.
If the weather stays like this then I'm afraid we have a lot of work to
do. In these conditions I didn't really get a good feel for the new
engine specification, so I am hoping for a dry track tomorrow."

QUALIFYING PRACTICE 1 - FINAL TIMES
1. Carlos Checa (SPA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha 2'11.188; 2. Troy
Bayliss (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +0.781; 3. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Telefonica
Movistar Honda +1.073; 4. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team
+1.597; 5. Alex Barros (BRA) Repsol Honda +2.098; 6. Kurtis Roberts (USA)
Proton Team KR +2.157; 7. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Fortuna
Yamaha +2.566; 8. Kenny Roberts (USA) Suzuki Grand Prix Team +2.629; 9.
Ruben Xaus (SPA) dAntin Ducati Team +2.652; 10. Neil Hodgson (GBR) dAntin
Ducati Team +2.682; 11. Colin Edwards (USA) Telefonica Movistar Honda
+2.761; 23. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +5.535; 26. Alex
Hofmann (GER) Kawasaki Racing Team +8.343

[MadKaw]

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
GAULOISES CZECH REPUBLIC GRAND PRIX - AUTODROM BRNO
21ST AUGUST 2004 - QUALIFYING PRACTICE 2

FUCHS KAWASAKI PAIR PRAY FOR SUN AT BRNO

A continuation of the wet and cold conditions at Brno proved to be
something of a major setback for the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team, with both
Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann qualifying on the back row of the grid
for tomorrow's 22-lap Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Nakano will start from 25th position on the grid, one place in front of
his team-mate, Hofmann. Just four tenths of a second separates the
Fuchs Kawasaki pair, both of whom were left feeling frustrated by their
performances in today's final qualifying session.

A lack of rear tyre grip in the wet is the primary concern, and it's no
surprise that both Nakano and Hofmann are praying for a sunny and dry
day for tomorrow's feature race.

Despite slicing 2.4s from his Friday qualifying time, Hofmann could not
move forward from the last qualifying position, which only added to his
disappointment. With almost constant drizzle throughout final
qualifying, Nakano failed to improve on his Friday time.

Apart from grip levels the engine power delivery of the 990cc Ninja
ZX-RR motor, still in a phase of constant development, is proving to be
rider unfriendly in the wet conditions at Brno. In the dry it is a
different story. In the morning free practice session Hofmann and Nakano were
less than one second outside the lap record.

The free practice times placed Hofmann 13th and Nakano 14th and
demonstrated the step forward in both engine response and handling, as a
result of the lighter crankshaft specification motor introduced for this
race.

German young gun Hofmann had a solution for their plight at this race -
a reverse grid start on a dry track! A request that will,
unsurprisingly, find no favour with the rest of the MotoGP grid!

Shinya Nakano: 25th (2'16.723)
"I pushed hard all through today's final qualifying session, but I just
couldn't get any grip from the rear. In the dry in the morning session
the new crankshaft was much better for throttle response, but we still
have some work to do on the motor characteristics and, for the moment,
this is working against us in the wet conditions. There's not much else
to say really, other than I'm obviously hoping for a dry race
tomorrow."

Alex Hofmann: 26th (2'17.157)
"To say that this afternoon was difficult would definitely be something
of an understatement. I found it impossible to get any feeling for what
the rear of the bike was doing, and that doesn't help build the
confidence that's so important in these conditions. I was pushing as hard as I
dared, but it was so frustrating when other riders seemed to be able to
ride around the outside of me in the turns without any of the problems
I was having. In the wet our engine power delivery is not particularly
rider friendly, although in the dry the new specification motor for
this race feels like a definite step forward. We certainty need a set-up
for better tyre performance in wet conditions. Obviously, I'm praying
for sun tomorrow."

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
"As our qualifying positions show all too clearly, we currently have
some problems when the conditions are wet, as they were yesterday and
today. Rear traction has been a real issue for both riders today and,
while we know we need to work together with Bridgestone to improve the
performance of their wet weather tyres, we also need to look very closely
at modifying the power characteristics of our engine. At the moment the
power comes in too aggressively, and this obviously has a negative
effect on rear grip in the wet. Hopefully tomorrow's race will be dry, but
whatever the weather, it's going to be hard for Alex and Shinya to
fight their way into the points from the back of the grid."

QUALIFYING PRACTICE 2 - COMBINED TIMES
1. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Telefonica Movistar Honda 2'09.782; 2. Alex
Barros (BRA) Repsol Honda +0.308; 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises
Fortuna Yamaha +0.688; 4. Troy Bayliss (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +1.141; 5.
Colin Edwards (USA) Telefonica Movistar Honda +1.314; 6. Carlos Checa
(SPA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha +1.406; 7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol
Honda +1.880; 8. Max Biaggi (ITA) Camel Honda Team +1.955; 9. Loris
Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team +2.039; 10. Ruben Xaus (SPA) dAntin
Ducati Team +2.291; 11. Marco Melandri (ITA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
+2.903; 25. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +6.941; 26. Alex Hofmann
(GER) Kawasaki Racing Team +7.375

[mfzx6r]

The comment was passed during the 250GP that Kawasaki offered
Ant West the test riders job which he knocked back because he wants to
race....


mario
would have been better than Hoffman

[redzedx7r]

The comment was passed during the 250GP that Kawasaki offered
Ant West the test riders job which he knocked back because he wants to
race....
mario
would have been better than Hoffman

.......on some thing that will be competitive. Don't blame him i think the lad has done enough brilliant riding on shit bikes....piss off some of these useless spaniards and put him on a competitive bike then we won't have to watch the same three or four riders every other week-end. I can see MotoGP going the way of Formula 1 dominated by one very talented rider (Rossi) and the rest of the talentless bar-b-que racers getting rides with spanish and french money.