Motorcycles and news

After having showed in the two days of practice that there was the potential to turn on the Californian circuit with a good rhythm, today Tamada could not race well because of the progressive pain increase to the left knee injured last week in Sachsenring.

The day was characterized by a slight, further temperature rise reaching 60°C in the second part of the race. The KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team rider, started from the fourteenth place in the starting grid, ended up the United States Grand Prix in eleventh position with a total time of 46′16.808″, remaining for the whole race with the Ducati’s group composed of Loris Capirossi, Sete Gibernau and Alex Hofmann. The Japanese rider, with today’s result, remains in eleventh position of the World Riders Classification with 64 points.

Gianluca Montiron ­ KONICA MINOLTA Honda General Director
“Unfortunately, our team lived a not exciting week end because of the physical conditions of Makoto who was still affected by the injury suffered last Sunday at Sachsenring. During the break between the two events, our rider recovered a sufficient physical condition but, the fatigue of the three days spent in practice sessions and race in sultry weather led to a progressive decrease of his physical tone. We hope Makoto will get well in time to ride at the top the “Suzuka 8 hours” scheduled for July, 30.”

Makoto Tamada ­ KONICA MINOLTA Honda Rider
Right from this morning, I realized that I’d have to ride my Honda RC211V without counting on the 100% of my left leg physical tone. Starting from the second half of the race, I nearly completely lost sensitivity causing a consequent rhythm decrease. The further asphalt temperature increase made me lost part of the rear tyre grip, in particular on left corners.”

Giulio Bernardelle ­KONICA MINOLTA Honda Technical Director
“We used our Honda RC211V setting defined in Sachsenring as a base for the whole week end. For what we could verify during these three days, considering the not good physical conditions of Makoto, we can say that, even here, the technical feedback seems positive. Therefore, we think this must be the base to be used, starting from Brno, for the setting of the last part of the season’s races.

MOTOGP RACE RESULT