MotoGP
The inaugural Moto2 World Championship resumes at Brno after its four week summer recess. The intermediate category wasn’t included in the US GP programme, so its riders have been resting and readying themselves for this race since the German GP on July 18.
No doubt they will all be raring to go on Friday afternoon, and none more so than current leader Toni Elias (Gresini Racing Moto2, Moriwaki), who returned to his winning ways at the Sachsenring after a victory ‘drought’ that lasted almost two months.
Elias has led the series since he scored the second of his first two wins at May’s French GP, but he then went four races without another victory. The German GP success has got the Spaniard back in the groove and he will be looking for more success at Brno, where he scored MotoGP podiums in 2008 and 2009.
Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2, Moriwaki) still holds second place in the Moto2 championship despite falling during the last race in Germany.
Apart from that DNF, the Swiss rider has so far proved one of the most consistent performers in this topsy-turvy championship, with four podium finishes from the first eight races.
Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up, Speed Up) has been the biggest find of Moto2, the Italian often the fastest rider on the track. So far he is the only rider who has been able to run away at the front of the pace to win by a large margin.
He won like that at Mugello and Assen and seemed set for another runaway win at the Sachsenring, until Elias hunted his down and passed him.
Toni Elias (Gresini Racing Moto2) says: “The win at Sachsenring ended a pretty bad run for us and I have got my confidence back with the bike. The team have helped me a lot and I am more determined and motivated to do well now than ever. I allowed myself a little holiday during the break and then focused on my training to make sure I don’t lose focus at what is a very important moment in my career.”
“I have been on the podium at Brno for the last two years in MotoGP and it’s a track that seems to suit my riding style. I head to the Czech Republic with my focus on the job – I want to win and strengthen my position in the championship.”
Thomas Luthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2) says: “I come back from the summer break and my holidays with new and necessary energy. I am fully recovered from my injury and I am completely fit again. I am looking forward to Brno as it is a fluent track which I like. I think we should be able to fight at the top again and be part of the front group. A podium finish would be fantastic for Brno and this is also the target.”
Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up) says: “It was good to get a few weeks break, so we could recharge our batteries for the second half of the season. Our aim is to continue the way we were going in the first part of the season. We won at Assen and Mugello and we were leading at Catalunya when we got that ride-through penalty, so we just need to keep going as fast as we can, keep learning, maintain our consistency and increase our points score.”
