FINAL STRETCH!
17 August 2006 - Moto GP

Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske republiky - Thursday 17th August 2006

After a three-week summer vacation period, the MotoGP paddock reconvened today at the Central European city of Brno in the Czech Republic, the first of six races remaining in the seventeen event MotoGP World Championship calendar. Despite cooler conditions earlier on this week, the sun was shining and temperatures were on the up as summer returned to the area for the eagerly awaited Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske republiky.

Leading the way as the series enters the home stretch is American rider Nicky Hayden, who arrives at the circuit with a 34-point cushion over team-mate Dani Pedrosa. Hayden is in fine form after he beat the young Spaniard into second place at the last round. After that successful home race at Laguna Seca, the Kentucky Kid knows that he will face a full-on attack from several quarters, with his closest challengers - Pedrosa, Marco Melandri and Valentino Rossi - all having won at the circuit in the past.

A selection of visiting and home riders paid a trip to a local brewery for a pre-event activity ahead of tomorrow''s practice sessions. MotoGP riders Shinya Nakano and James Ellison were accompanied by local stars Jakub Smrz and Lukas Pesek in learning about the different stages of the brewing process at the Starobrno factory, which has roots in a nearby 14th Century monastry and is just a small part of the nation''s proud brewing heritage.

The customary press conference was attended by the key players in the title race, with Hayden, Pedrosa, Rossi, Melandri and Loris Capirossi all giving their pre-race opinions to the gathered media.

In two notable developments of the day, it was announced that both Sete Gibernau and Yuki Takahashi would be absent from proceedings at Brno. Gibernau, still recovering from a second operation on his collarbone, will be replaced at Ducati by Alex Hofmann as happened earlier on in the season, with Hofmann''s place in the Pramac D''Antin team being occupied once again by Ivan Silva. Takahashi meanwhile has chosen against riding in Sunday''s 250cc race, instead deciding to await further recovery from his broken arm.

Nicky Hayden:

I''m just having fun now in the races, riding better than I ever have and remaining consistent. We''re coming up to some tracks which I really like and I have to stay focused, because I''ve been dreaming about the title since I was three years old and there is still a long way to go yet. It''s not one of my best tracks but I enjoy it, the elevation, the smoothness and the overtaking opportunities are my favourite aspects.

Dani Pedrosa:

Last year was a great race for me in 250cc, and I have to repeat that in MotoGP, which is always the case. Here will be different for me than last year, something that I''ve had to get used to. I am happy to be second in the championship at the moment, I can be proud of that.

Marco Melandri:

It was a nice holiday, but now it is good to get back on the bike and I can''t wait to ride again at 100%. I like the track but have never had a good race here. Now I just want to do my best and not think about the championship, in which there is quite a large gap.

Valentino Rossi:

The last few races have been difficult. The situation was better before Laguna, 51 points is a big step up, and my M1 has never been at 100%. Nothing is impossible, but to win six in a row seems too difficult for me. The important thing now is not to start from 10th and to finish on the podium at every race. I''ve won a lot of times here in Brno, but it''s not one of my favourite tracks.

Loris Capirossi:

The break was for the best, I''m back at 100% and there are some good tracks ahead for Ducati. I think the championship is a little bit too far away for me, but we can think about the future, and we are definitely performing better than last year.

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