Jerez : Konica Minolta Honda - Preview
For the second consecutive year, Jerez de la Frontera hosts the opening GP of the MotoGP season.
It is the first of the seventeen races where riders and teams will compete on 11 European circuits in addition to those in Qatar, China, United States, Malaysia, Australia and Japan. The season will end in Spain again, in Valencia next October 29.

The Jerez de la Frontera circuit is considered “historical” for the MotoGP and it is one of the most famous track among those present in Spain. The geographical location and the mild weather characterizing this part of Andalusia make Jerez the perfect setting to start the World Championship. Every year, thousands of bike fans invade the circuit and the streets of the historic centre of this fantastic city placed in Southern Spain.

The Konica Minolta Honda Team and the rider Makoto Tamada, together with all the other MotoGp teams, where here working in Jerez during the IRTA tests just a few days ago. Therefore, tomorrow the technicians hope to find the same conditions to refine the Honda RC211V setting and to permit Makoto to be absolutely competitive since the beginning of the first session of free practice.

Gianluca Montiron – Konica Minolta Honda Managing Director : “We will arrive to Jerez extremely confident to terminate the work we have done on our RC211V during winter time in order to provide Makoto with the necessary technical condition to make a good impression in the first round of this season. This year, the Konica Minolta Honda Team can rely on an advanced and reinforced structure representing an additional guarantee to make a good start. I expect much from Makoto, we have been collaborating since four years and I think this season represents for him a sort of school- leaving examination as concerns his way in the World MotoGP Championship. I must thank all our partners for the constant support they assure us and for the professional growth that, through their collaboration, have permitted to our company JiR.”

Makoto Tamada – Konica Minolta Honda Rider : “I`m waiting for the first 2006 MotoGP race in trepidation. I like the Jerez circuit because it is technical and presents many points where I hope to be able to impose my driving characteristics; here is all necessary to have fun with the MotoGP. As per the IRTA test results, there are no remarkable gaps among the first riders, for this, I think that in case of dry race, we will be struggling up to the last lap.What I`m already satisfied of is that we made a long run constantly riding on a good race pace. Anyway we still have to find a solution for the chattering problem slowing my speed down in the two most important left corners of the track. Once solved this I`m sure I can keep a valuable pace for the race.”

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