Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is eager to get back in to action this coming weekend as the MotoGP season re-commences at Brno in the Czech Republic after its mid-season break.
Álvaro Bautista and Loris Capirossi are both looking forward to getting to grips with the 5,403m Czech circuit, as it is a track that the pair have both enjoyed success at in recent seasons. Bautista won at Brno in the 125cc class in 2006 and finished second and third in 2008 and 2009 respectively in the 250cc category. He will certainly be aiming to put the memories of the last two MotoGPs behind him, where he was eliminated in both races by other riders.
Capirossi has tasted success in the Czech Republic on the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R, as he raced the machine to third place in 2008. The experienced Italian also scored a second place at Brno in a MotoGP event in 2005 and topped the podium in 2006.
The Automotodrom Brno is situated in the area of Kyvalka, about 16kms from Brno city centre. The present Brno Grand Prix circuit was built in 1987 and is located in woodland near to the old street circuit which previously staged the event. It is one of the highest attended races of the year, with a crowd of over a quarter-of-a-million possible during the weekend.
Rizla Suzuki gets the weekend underway with the first free practice session on Friday afternoon. The final practice will be on Saturday morning, with qualifying held in the afternoon. The 22-lap race gets going at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT) on Sunday 15th August.
Álvaro Bautista:
“I am very fired up for Brno; I need to get back on the bike and racing again. I feel as fit as I have done all season and want to use this race as the ‘new start’ of the year. I don’t really like the Brno circuit, but it is a lot like Barcelona so I feel confident that I can go well there. I still have a lot to learn, but I hope this will be the start of a good run-in to the end of the season and we can get some good results and keep improving with every race. The whole Rizla Suzuki team has been fantastic since I joined and has made me very welcome and been very professional and patient with me even while I was injured, so it is now time for me to start giving them something back and Brno will be a good place to start.”
Loris Capirossi:
“Brno will be a very important race for us, we know the GSV-R can go well there and it is a track I know well and like to race at so we will be looking to be competitive right from the start of the weekend. We also have an important test planned for the Monday after the race, so going into that in a positive frame of mind will be very good for the whole team so we will be hoping that the results are positive and we’ll be giving everything to make sure they are.”
