MotoGP: Czech Republic Grand Prix Preview -ozzy go- motorcycle-usa.com

MotoGP gets back on track at the Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic, after
the series' three-week summer break. The hiatus between races was anything but
a break for the riders, teams, and warring trans-continental tire manufacturers
looking to edge each other out at the flowing 3.4 mile, 14-turn track.

The abrasively-paved track, the second longest circuit on this year's calendar,
features an elevated mix of fast uphill, downhill, and off-camber corners that will
test every team's ability to achieve a balanced setup.

Current MotoGP points leader Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner, fresh off an
assertive win at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, comes into round twelve of eighteen
with a 44-point lead over Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi. Stoner, who has won more
than half of this year's races, is riding a wave of success that will no doubt be to his
advantage this weekend. Stoner spent some time at home in Australia during the
break but is excited to get back to his winning ways on the V-4 powered Ducati
rocket ship.

"It's good to be going racing again after getting back to Australia for a bit during
the summer break. I want to keep pushing and win more races, that's my plan,"
commented Stoner. "I like the circuit a lot. It's another of those fast, flowing
circuits, a little bit like Mugello and Phillip Island, so it's always been one of my
favorites."

Valentino Rossi looked like he was going to be the man to beat at last year's race
at Brno. The gregarious Italian was near the top of the practice sheets and ran
away with pole position on his Michelin-shod Yamaha M1. Unfortunately for him,
come race time fellow Italian Loris Capirossi got the holeshot and never looked
back, eventually taking the checkered flag on his Bridgestone-shod Ducati almost
five seconds ahead of second-place finisher Rossi.

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