MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
GRAN PREMIO MARLBORO DE ESPANA - CIRCUITO DE JEREZ
29TH APRIL 2004 - EVENT PREVIEW
CONFIDENCE HIGH FOR EUROPEAN OPENER
The Jerez circuit in Southern Spain plays host on Sunday to the first European MotoGP race of the year and, after a promising start to the season for the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team in South Africa, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann have high hopes for the weekend ahead.
A successful IRTA test in difficult weather conditions at Jerez back in March could pay dividends for the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team, as the local weather forecast is predicting that rain showers may well be a factor that the MotoGP teams have to overcome this weekend.
But, while the weather may be the same as it was for the IRTA test, the circuit will look - and sound - a lot different to the riders this weekend. The Spaniards are some of the most passionate, knowledgeable and noisy race fans anywhere in the world, and when you pack upwards of 150,000 of them onto the natural grandstands that surround the 4.423km Jerez circuit an electric atmosphere is guaranteed. The fireworks that punctuate practice and qualifying here also make Jerez one of the few circuits where you have to strain to hear the sound of the unsilenced 990cc MotoGP machines over the noise of the crowd.
After finishing an impressive 12th on his race debut for Kawasaki in South Africa, Shinya Nakano heads for the second round of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship in determined mood. The 26-year-old Japanese rider likes the Andalusian circuit and, after testing successfully here preseason, is confident that his Ninja ZX-RR - updated with new components for this race - is capable of giving the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team their first top ten finish of the season.
Nakano's Fuchs Kawasaki teammate, Alex Hofmann, will be looking to put the disappointment of crashing out of the opening race of the season in South Africa behind him at Jerez this weekend. The 23-year-old German rider made his wild card debut for the Fuchs Kawasaki team in this race last season, finishing a creditable 16th aboard his Ninja ZX-RR. Hofmann improved considerably on this race time during the IRTA tests at Jerez in March and is confident that there are further improvements to be made, both to machine set up and lap times, during practice and qualifying for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Shinya Nakano: No.56
"Jerez for me always feels like the first race of the season, because it's the first time in the year we see the whole MotoGP paddock set up, with all the trucks and hospitality units. I like racing at Jerez; the circuit suits my style and the enthusiasm of the Spanish fans always makes for an exciting weekend. It's unusual to be able to hear the crowd when you're out on track, but with the sheer noise the fans produce here, not to mention the fireworks; they certainly let you know they're there! The opening race of the season didn't go quite according to plan, but we had a good qualifying run in South Africa and I'm hopeful that we can match that this weekend. We've got some new parts to test on the bike during practice and qualifying and, if all goes well, then I think that matching my eighth place in this race last year is a distinct possibility on Sunday."
Alex Hofmann: No.66
"I need to get a good result here after the disappointment of South Africa and, while anything can happen in racing, the fact that we had a good test here gives me the confidence that such a result is possible. We already have a good set up on the bike for this circuit, and we know which tyres work well around here, but I think there's a good chance we can make further improvements in these areas as the weekend progresses. I know it's possible for me to finish in the points on Sunday, but if all goes well in practice and qualifying then maybe the possibility of a top ten finish shouldn't be discounted. I like racing at Jerez; the atmosphere is incredible and the sheer enthusiasm of the Spanish fans always gives you an extra boost on race day."