Melandri: Donington is something special.
Movistar Honda rider Marco Melandri heads for his second home GP of the season, the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, eager to erase the disappointment of his first DNF of 2005 sustained last time out at Laguna Seca.
As a result of that first lap accident, caused when he clipped Alex Barros, Melandri is now just 7-points clear of countryman Max Biaggi in the increasingly heated battle for second in the series - which also sees Yamaha's Colin Edwards and his own team-mate Sete Gibernau within 14-points of Marco.
Movistar Honda rider Marco Melandri heads for his second home GP of the season, the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, eager to erase the disappointment of his first DNF of 2005 sustained last time out at Laguna Seca.
As a result of that first lap accident, caused when he clipped Alex Barros, Melandri is now just 7-points clear of countryman Max Biaggi in the increasingly heated battle for second in the series - which also sees Yamaha's Colin Edwards and his own team-mate Sete Gibernau within 14-points of Marco.
"Donington is something special, characterised by an exciting fast section and a second, slower section. Thanks to the new asphalt laid last year the track has improved enormously and now gives outstanding grip," said Marco of the challenge he his fellow MotoGP riders will face from Friday to Sunday.
"It's the section where the first two intermediate times are taken that I like best: the downhill part and the sweeping uphill bend on the left: it's pure exhilaration - and requires every last drop of skill. The best spots for overtaking are the three slow bends towards the end of the track.
"The secret behind a good lap time at Donington Park? First and foremost, decisiveness and determination - especially as you speed into the Craner Curves on qualifying tyres!
"You also need to be flexible enough to adapt to the characteristics of the track, being ready to switch from the fast bends at the start to the much slower ones that follow. The secret, then, lies in finding the right compromise between hard braking and smooth handling.
"In a way the Donington GP is my second 'home' race as I live less than two miles from the circuit. Yet it's a whole different atmosphere compared to Mugello. It's good to see the number of spectators continuing to rise year after year, clear evidence of growing British interest in MotoGP, yet we're a long way off from the passion of an Italian crowd!
"My best memory of this track is undoubtedly my 250cc victory back in 2002. And the worst memory is still fresh in my mind: the fall in the 2004 GP in which I broke my right thumb: it had to be operated on, and ended up affecting the rest of the season," he concluded.
