MotoGP Preview: Grand Prix Of Portugal

MotoGP superstars Dani Pedrosa, left, Valentino Rossi, center, and Nicky Hayden will aim for victory at the Grand Prix of Portugal. Pedrosa leads the point standings, while Rossi and Hayden won the race and pole, respectively, at this event last year.
By Paul Kelly
redbullindianapolisgp.com
Thursday, April 10, 2008

EVENT: Grand Prix of Portugal

WHERE: Estoril Circuit, Estoril, Portugal. Circuit is 2.599 miles (4.182 km), with 13 turns. Race is 28 laps.

WHEN: Sunday, April 13. It is the third of 18 events this season.

2007 RACE WINNER: Valentino Rossi, by .175 of a second over Dani Pedrosa

2007 POLE WINNER: Nicky Hayden, 1 minute, 36.301 seconds

U.S. TV: 3-4 p.m. (ET), Sunday, April 13, Speed

THE AMERICANS: U.S. riders Nicky Hayden (Owensboro, Ky., Repsol Honda Team), John Hopkins (Ramona, Calif., Kawasaki Racing Team) and Colin Edwards (Houston, Yamaha Tech 3) will compete in this race. Hayden is tied for seventh, Hopkins ninth and Edwards 11th in the MotoGP standings after two races this season.

•Nicky Hayden: "Hopefully we've got things rolling now. Jerez wasn't bad, good enough to make me look forward to Estoril, where we'll be working to keep going forward. It's is an old-school track. It's a strange little place, not very wide and kind of odd. It can be a lot of fun, or it can be miserable. It's got that little bus-stop chicane, which is probably the slowest corner in MotoGP, but I really like the right-hand kink onto the back straightaway; that's pretty fast and cool. And I love the last corner coming onto the front straightaway - when the bike works good and steers through there it can be pretty fun. Obviously, you want something with some horsepower because the front straightaway goes on for days. And you need something to get through the tight, twisty bits. One other thing, there's definitely a lot more right-handers, so you need softer compounds on the left side of the tires."

•John Hopkins: "I'm feeling really positive for the weekend. I like Estoril. The tight corners require a lot of heavy braking, which should really suit my riding style as well as suiting the Kawasaki machine. It's good because nobody's had much testing time there, so it's kind of an even field, and I enjoy the atmosphere there, too. I felt a lot better after Jerez than I did after Qatar. We got a positive result and made some good improvements to the bike, so hopefully we can utilize those in Portugal."

•Colin Edwards: "It's kind of a really strange track. In 2006, I should have won there. In 2004, I had a good shot. The track is somewhere I have pretty good memories about. I have a good feeling for the track. We've got the new engine coming, which I'm really excited about."

THEY SAID IT: "I feel such a strong adrenalin rush. I am really happy I was present at the birth of my second baby girl. I really wanted to be there. But now I have to concentrate on Sunday's race." - Alice Team rider Sylvain Guintoli, about the recent birth of his daughter Layla

FAST FACTS: Five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has finished on the podium in each of his eight starts at Estoril, including five victories (2001-04, 2005, 2007) … Estoril is one of only four circuits on which rookie MotoGP phenom Jorge Lorenzo did not win during his 125cc or 250cc career … Estoril is not a good circuit for reigning MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner. He has just two finishes in six career starts there in MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc races since 2002 … Alex Barros is the only rider to achieve a MotoGP clean sweep of pole, fastest race lap and victory at Estoril, in 2005 … Yamaha Tech 3 riders Colin Edwards and James Toseland should receive a performance boost at this event, as Yamaha has confirmed the duo will use the latest pneumatic-valve engines. The engines provide a significant increase in top speed over conventional valve-spring powerplants … Winds often can create tricky conditions for riders at Estoril, located close to the Atlantic Ocean … Honda riders have won five of the eight MotoGP events staged at Estoril since 2001 … The 125cc and 250cc classes also compete this weekend. American Stevie Bonsey, from Salinas, Calif., is riding an Aprilia for the DeGraaf Grand Prix team in 125cc.

***

Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: Tickets are on sale for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14, 2008.

Tickets can be purchased either online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com at any time; on the phone by calling (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; or visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office on the first floor of the IMS Administration Building at 4790 W. 16th St. in Indianapolis from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All tickets for this event are three-day tickets, with both reserved and general admission seating available.


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