News

Does laguna still need a bit of ironing out?

21/07/07

By David Miller

Laguna has been resurfaced again for this year’s MotoGP race and, as with all new surfaces, it is bound to have some problems. Reasons for it having new blacktop included the fact it was far too bumpy and was breaking up in last year’s intense temperatures.
Did the bumps give home/wildcard riders too much of an advantage or was it just another thing for people who have nothing better to do to have a whine about. Or were the criticisms valid?

Here’s what the men at the sharp end think:

Colin Edwards: “It's fun being back out on this track again and the 800 feels good around here. The track surface is fantastic compared to last year; there are still a few too many bumps around turn nine but otherwise it's pretty smooth."

Valentino Rossi: "My first impressions are quite good. The new surface is much, much better; quite smooth with only a few bumps and it seems almost like a different track! I'm very happy about this because last year it was really a nightmare and almost impossible to ride. Now we can have fun!”

Casey Stoner: "This morning we had a few difficulties getting used to the track. For sure, the conditions feel a lot worse than they did last year. The surface is maybe a little better but the bumps are worse, the track is really bumpy now.

Nicky Hayden: “The new surface is still bumpy in some places, though not nearly as bad as last year.”

John Hopkins: “The track owners and the asphalt layers have done a great job this year and the track is a lot better than it was the last time we were here. Some of the bumps have gone and the surface isn’t breaking up anywhere – so well done to them on that!

Loris Capirossi said: "Compared to last year the track is still full of bumps but the asphalt is a bit better, even if it's still quite dirty.”

Dani Pedrosa said it was a “bit slippery”.

Deduce from that what you will...