MOTOGP HITS THE DESERT FOR COMMERCIALBANK GRAND PRIX OF QATAR
05 April 2006 - Moto GP

Pre-event - Wednesday 5th April 2006

After a thrilling season-opener in Jerez, the MotoGP teams arrived at the Losail Circuit today for this weekend''s Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, the second race of the MotoGP World Championship 2006.

With the race taking place on Saturday, the usual schedule for a race weekend has been moved forward by a day. This means that free practice sessions start as of tomorrow (Thursday), and that the customary pre-race events and press conference were brought forward to today.

Several riders took part in activities around the Losail Circuit today. Suzuki''s John Hopkins and Ducati d''Antin''s Alex Hofmann took to four wheels as they rode on quad bikes across the desert, with both riders enjoying the chance to show their skills.

Meanwhile, riders from 250 and 125 also got to experience some of the local culture first hand, heading to an event on the outskirts of the circuit. Japan''s Aoyama brothers Hiroshi and Shuhei were joined by 250cc championship leader Jorge Lorenzo and last year''s 125c race winner Gabor Talmacsi as they attended a display of local customs in which they received henna tattoos, rode camels and sampled local cuisine.

The press conference saw just four facing the media, with Australian rookie Casey Stoner still to arrive at the track after being delayed in Vienna. It is hoped the LCR Honda rider will finally turn up in Qatar in the early hours of tomorrow morning after his plane had suffered technical problems, but having had a shoulder operation just before Jerez, Stoner''s early season is being hampered by unforeseen problems.

Meanwhile in the conference Loris Capirossi, winner in Jerez, sat alongside Dani Pedrosa, Toni Elias and Kawasaki team boss Harald Eckl answering questions ahead of this week''s Grand Prix.

Capirossi, who yesterday celebrated his 33rd birthday, was in positive spirits. With both him and his Ducati team sitting pretty at the top of the classification for the first time, the Italian rider gave his thoughts on the coming race at a circuit where he didn''t test during the preseason. The sensation of the previous race, Spaniard Dani Pedrosa will be experiencing his first MotoGP race away from his home country, which will be a very different occasion for the young rookie, although how the comparative lack of pressure will affect his riding remains to be seen.

Another young Spaniard who impressed in Jerez, Toni Elias comes to Qatar on the back of a fourth place at the Andalusian track. A first corner collision with Valentino Rossi is something the Honda rider will want to erase from his mind as he looks to continue in the manner of his positive performance after the incident.

Practice begins at the Losail Circuit at 9am on Thursday.

www.motogp.com

More News
  For April 2006
  From Moto GP
  For Moto GP
  Biker247.com Home Page