The 2008 MotoGP season returns to action this weekend at the Cardion AB Grand Prix Czech Republic held at the historic Brno circuit. Much has happened in the weeks since Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi's masterful race win at July's Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. Some riders like Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo and Kawasaki's John Hopkins have spent their time recuperating while others, unfortunately, have banged themselves up during the short summer break.Repsol Honda's Nick Hayden has withdrawn from this weekend's race. The American rider injured himself while practicing for the X Games 14 Moto X Supermoto race. Hayden was riding a Troy Lee Designs-prepped Honda CRF450R and although he didn't crash the Kentucky Kid did injure his foot while landing off a jump in the Supercross section of the course.
"The injury is to a weight-bearing part of the foot and the doctors say that using too much pressure on the 'pegs could very easily give me some big problems," says Hayden. "I went to Dr. Ting and got the opinion of other specialists. I've done a lot with Ting, he knows the sport very well and he feels it would be quite risky to ride. He and the other specialists say that if I rode this week I might have to fight the injury for the rest of the year. As hard a decision as it is and as bad as I feel about it, I think I'm better off staying home doing rehab and physio, then come back fit at Misano and try to finish the season strong. There's been a lot of guys this year trying to ride less than a hundred per cent and actually making their problems worse. I certainly feel bad about it," continued Hayden. "I had the permission of HRC to do the Supermoto thing. I just wanted to do some riding during the break, have some fun and I thought that maybe it'd give me a little spark for the rest of the season, but it backfired on me."
Let's hope Nick heals up fast and is able to compete at Round 13 at Misano in two weeks time.
Returning to action this weekend is American John Hopkins. Hopkins has missed the last three races due to a broken leg. The 25-year-old feels confident that he'll be back on form this weekend.
"I'm feeling pretty good now, and I'm anxious to get back on track," Hopkins said. "I've now got full movement back in the injured knee and it's been fine during my training regime up to now. I don't think it's going to cause me any problems on the bike, but it's been almost seven weeks since I've thrown a leg over the Ninja ZX-RR, so I won't know for sure until we start free practice on Friday."
JiR Scot Honda's Andrea Dovizioso was the top Honda finisher at Laguna this year which moved him fifth in points ahead of Tech 3 Yamaha's Colin Edwards and Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen. It will be interesting to see if Vermeulen, who has finished on the podium at the last two rounds will be able to do it again this weekend.
"I have had a good break and am now ready to get back into the saddle and start riding again," said Vermuelen. " We finished the first-half of the season with good rewards from our efforts and I am sure we can continue that momentum at Brno."
After yet another vicious highside during the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo is ready for this weekend's race despite still using crutches to get around. Lorenzo, who sits fourth in the championship points knows the 3.6-mile circuit well having won there previously in both 125 and 250cc.
"Brno is a circuit that I like a lot, it's one of my favorites," said Lorenzo. I've won there three times in 125cc and 250cc. It's a good place for my riding style and the weather is normally perfect. Physically I feel very good after the crash and the injuries, I definitely feel as good as could be expected. It's the first time this season that I've really had proper time to recover, thanks to the holidays, so I think I am in good shape."
Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa is also getting back on his RC212V MotoGP bike after opting out of the Laguna Seca race with a hand injury. Still, Pedrosa remains third in the points, just behind Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner and will be looking to crawl back in the points standings.
"When I returned from Laguna Seca my doctor told me I needed a week and a half of complete rest," explained Pedrosa. "I couldn't train so I spent an enjoyable few days in Mallorca, disconnecting from everything and resting both my hand and foot. I started training last week, mostly on my bicycle. I hope I can have a good race at Brno to start the second part of the championship in the best possible way." Casey Stoner will be anxious to take some points away from current points leader, Valentino Rossi. Stoner won last year's MotoGP race at Brno and will surely be a favorite come Sunday's race.
"We've still got quite a few points to make up in the championship, which won't be easy, but the whole team are working so hard and we'll give it our best shot. After that, whatever will be, will be. After the race at Laguna Seca I went back to Australia and spent a bit of time with my wife and family away from the track. I got some rest in but I also trained hard and now I can't wait to get back on the bike."
The target everyone is aiming for this weekend will be Valentino Rossi. Despite finishing poorly last season in the Czech Republic, Rossi has shown brilliance there in the past and is hoping that he can find the right setup with his YZR-M1 and Bridgestone tires.
"Last year we had a bad time at Brno; I could only finish seventh and it was quite disheartening," said Rossi. "This year, however, we're going there in a very different frame of mind: leading the championship, following a great win and with our bike and tyres working very well. I've had a good summer break, just relaxing with my friends and family, but now I am really looking forward to going racing again. I know that Brno is going to be hard and that Casey will be a formidable competitor once again, and we're going to have to work at the maximum from the first practice in order not to lose any time in finding out the right set-up for our bike. We have seven races left and I am dreaming of them all being as fun as Laguna Seca!"
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