Rossi and Gibernau promise another classic as MotoGP returns at Brno

The MotoGP World Championship paddock reconvened after a four-week break at the
Brno circuit in the Czech Republic this afternoon as the teams and riders
prepared for an intense finale to the 2005 season, with seven races scheduled
for the next eleven weekends. As tales of summer frolics quickly subsided,
attention turned to eleventh round of the MotoGP campaign, with the main
protagonists of two stunning races over the past two years at this circuit
promising more of the same on Sunday.

Valentino Rossi has returned refreshed from a brief holiday in his native Italy
with his sights firmly focused on rounding off an incredible second season as a
Yamaha rider with his fifth consecutive MotoGP title. After eight victories from
the opening ten rounds the 26-year-old leads the series by 120 points and needs
just two more wins to guarantee the title. If he needed any extra motivation for
this weekend's race he will take it from defeat here last season by 3.5 seconds
from Sete Gibernau.

"Last year we had a good race but I arrived second so this time we will try to
do better," said Rossi, who beat Gibernau to take victory by less than half a
second at the same event in 2003. "It has been nice to have a break and gather
more power for the end of the season, also Yamaha have worked hard to get some
new parts ready for the last few races so we are ready. This is the difficult
part of the season, with a lot of flights and a lot of races in a short space of
time but we have to keep working and hopefully our good form will continue."

Gibernau has only won once since last season's race here but, after losing out
to Rossi on the final lap of the last round at Sachsenring, he has promised his
fans a victory before the end of the season and sees no reason why it can't come
this Sunday. "I'm looking forward to having fun on the bike again, having good
races and Brno is always a circuit I look forward to," commented the Spaniard.
"Last year we won in the Czech Republic and I remember it as one of the most
enjoyable races of the season. That victory and the good sensations I left with
from the last race in Germany mean that I'm returning to the championship
feeling mentally strong. The holidays have been short but I managed to
disconnect and I'm coming back to work with plenty of energy."

John Hopkins was the most noteworthy visitor to the Clinica Mobile today as he
prepares to race just four weeks after breaking his foot and damaging ligaments
in a nasty crash at Sachsenring. The American has undergone an operation on the
injuries during the summer break but Suzuki Team Manager Paul Denning says he is
expecting gritty return from the youngster.

"John is now back to full fitness and I'm sure he will be going all out to get
the results that his performances this year have deserved," said Denning, who
will also count on the services of experienced Japanese wildcard rider Nobuatsu
Aoki this weekend. "We are looking forward to Suzuki running a three-man team
and I know that Nobu will work hard as always. Race weekend experience and
information is generally more relevant than pure testing and we hope that Nobu
can show a good pace." 250cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa is expecting another
tough weekend as he aims to extend his lead at the top of the standings over
Casey Stoner. The Spaniard currently leads the Australian by 50 points and is
looking forward to competing again after just two races in the last two months
for the quarter-litre category. "We already had a few days off before
Sachsenring because the 250s and 125s didn't go to Laguna Seca but these were
real holidays," said Pedrosa. "I was able to rest and disconnect for a few days
and even though I only took a week off it is always good to come back to the
battle at full strength. I'm satisfied with what we have done during the first
half of the championship but I hope to finish it even better."

125cc World Championship leader Thomas Luthi has never scored points at this
circuit but the Swiss youngster will be counting on local support as he looks to
defend a three-point lead over Mika Kallio this weekend. Luthi rides for a Czech
sponsored team and his logo is emblazoned on the grandstand hoardings that
overlook the starting grid at the legendary circuit. "I had a lot of supporters
at the last round in Germany so hopefully people will get behind me here too,"
said Luthi. "I have had bad luck at this circuit in the past so hopefully that
will change on Sunday because it will be another tough race."

INFO 2005/122. 25-08-2005
DORNA COMMUNICATIONS
www.motogp.com