Cobas insight: Brno.

Antonio Cobas, technical director of the Camel Pramac Pons team, describes the challenges that will face the MotoGP teams at this weekend's Czech Republic Grand Prix...

"Brno is a legendary circuit which has hardly changed since we first raced there in 1987. Its unique characteristics mean we have to achieve a bike set-up different to any other circuit in the MotoGP World Championships.

"The 15m width of the track makes it ideal for smooth riding 250cc-like techniques and you only have to look at Max (Biaggi's) successes at the track to confirm that point. To illustrate the significance of that width on the riding technique and skills, you just have to look at the first corner. It's a right hander after the start and finish straight which is nearly at a 180? degree angle and not such a big radius but is still taken at around 135 km/h by the top riders.

"Another peculiarity about Brno is the steep slopes, both up and down. The track is 450 metres above sea level and has a variation of 74 meters from the highest to the lowest point. The steepest downhill section has a gradient of five per cent whereas the steepest uphill climb has a gradient of 7.52 per cent over 950 meters.

"We must provide the riders with a very agile machine, so that the changes of direction in the five wide chicane-type bends can be negotiated as fast as possible because in three of them they lead into the long climb right up to the start and finish line.

"It's also vital we set-up the engine so that the riders have the opportunity of taking all the corners as smooth as possible. Due to the considerable width of the track, the riders can accelerate very early on through the corners if the engine is set-up adequately.

"Another characteristic of the track relating to the set-up of the bike is that the gear ratios used are the closest in the whole World Championship season. A good example of this is that the sixth gear, which is not particularly high, is used at approximately 295 km/h whereas second gear is used at approximately 190 km/h. For this reason, the ratio of the gears is the closest of the year.

"Although we have not raced the four-strokes at Brno, we had a very good test with Max there just a couple of weeks ago. He set the fastest times over the two days and has a great record at the circuit which really suits his smooth riding style. He won the MotoGP race there last year, the 500 in 2000 and won the 250 in four consecutive years. Tohru (Ukawa) will be coming back from the Suzuka 8 hours and also has a good record at Brno, finishing third last year.

"Brno provides us with some unique challenges and that's why we enjoy going there so much."