Rossi Heads for Donington Park - World Champ
Wants More "Home" Glory
Cinzano British Motorcycle Grand Prix,
Donington Park, 13 July 2003
04
July 2003
Valentino Rossi reckons Donington Park hosts his second
'home' Grand Prix of the year and the 24 year old London based Italian
is determined to turn on the speed and the style to maintain his remarkable
pedigree at the Leicestershire circuit as he rides in the eighth round
of the World MotoGP Championship on Sunday 13 July.
The reigning world champion goes into the 30 lap race
at his most determined as he battles to shake off the fast emerging
challenge from Sete Gibernau, who, with his third victory of the season
two weeks ago at Assen moved to within 38 points of Rossi.
There is the promise of a real showdown between them
at the parkland circuit as Rossi, also the winner of three races so
far in his efforts to keep the sport's elite crown for a third consecutive
year, goes all out to underline his superiority.
The firm favourite with the crowds, Rossi, the exciting,
ebullient character who is the master of the unexpected with his fun
loving approach, has a brilliant record at Donington, having won no
less than five times in previous years.
Rossi win the 125cc British Grand Prix in 1997 en route
to winning that World corwn, two years later he won the 250cc race,
again going on to win the title, while he enjoyed maiden 500cc race
glory in 2000. He repeated that victory the following year, to become
the final winner of the World 500cc Championship, and then last season,
as he became the first holder of the World MotoGP title he won that
race, after an initial scrap with Carlos Checa.
It is a terrific record, and Rossi is in no mood to let
it slip, though he aknowledges, the action is getting tougher, race
by race, with both Gibernau and arch-rival Max Biaggi, the former four-times
World 250cc Champion, both riding similar V5 Hondas to that of the series
leader.
He is also mindful of the fast developing challenge of
the Ducatis. Already Loris Capirossi has backed up two pole starts with
a race victory for the Italian marque who are enjoying life in the fast
lane of the top flight. Capirossi will pose real problems, and his team-mate,
the former World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss, who knows the circuit
well, could also be in the frame.
Colin Edwards, the reigning World Superbike Champion,
who graduated into the elite class riding now for Aprilia, is another
rider who knows Donington well, and his team-mate Noriyuki Haga has
fond memories of racing the circuit, having taken an unexpected winning
double in the Superbike class several years earlier.
Checa, who had looked set for victory last year is keen
to show what might have been, as he continues with Yamaha, whole Alex
Barros, also riding Yamaha could also pose a significant threat.
Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams hopes for an upturn in fortune
after a tough opening to the campaign aboard the ProtonKR as he flies
the lone British flag in the race.
Adding to the action on Grand Prix day are races counting
to both the 125cc and 250cc World Championships, together with support
races for the domestic Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup and the FIM World
Classic series.
Practice and qualifying is through both 11 and 12 July
from 9am with two races on Saturday evening counting to the Yamaha R6
Cup and World Classic Series. On Sunday 13 July, after morning practice
from 9am, the Grand Prix action begins at 11.15 with the 25 lap Cinzano
British 125cc Grand Prix, followed by the 27 lap 250cc race. The feature
race of the event, the 30 lap Cinzano British MotoGP starts at 14.00,
with support races from 15.30.
Adult admission is Friday £8, Saturday £15
and Sunday £39.
See series calendar for MotoGP
World Championship 2003
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