Capirossi: It’s been too long
Added on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Capirossi: It’s been too long
Loris Capirossi has claimed that it has been “too long” since Suzuki was last on the podium and is determined to put that right at Brno.
This weekend’s Czech Grand Prix will signal 12 months since Suzuki’s last podium finish in MotoGP, when Capirossi finished third behind Valentino Rossi and Toni Elias in a race that was badly affected by tyre issues experienced by Michelin riders but the veteran rider believes that the efforts of the Rizla Suzuki team have not been reflected in their results since then.
Hopes were high in the Suzuki camp after an extensive winter development programme yielded some strong results in pre-season testing but those gains have failed to translate into podiums, with the team’s best finishes this season being fifth place finishes in Barcelona, Mugello and Assen.
And Capirossi believes that Brno is the time to address the issue and secure a much needed top-three finish.
“I just can’t wait to get back on the bike again,” said the Italian. “We have a lot of unfinished business and need to show that the results we’ve been getting are not a true reflection on how hard the team has been working recently.
“I got a third at Brno last year which was the last time I was on the podium and that is just too long, so I need to do something about it.
“We really want consistently good weather all weekend so we can get the set-up right for the GSV-R and if that happens I think we have a chance of a really good result.”
Teammate Chris Vermeulen, who has reportedly hinted at a move away from Suzuki next year, has also expressed his desire to improve the team’s fortunes, adding:
“We’ve had a bit of time for some rest and relaxation since the last race and that has given all my injuries a chance to heal and I’ll be 100% fit when we get to the Czech Republic.
“The break has given us an opportunity to look at the data from the last couple of events and see where we can make some changes for Brno. I have been speaking with Tom about the bike and we have a few ideas and we are both quite positive we can improve it straight away – which will be good. I’ve done pretty well at Brno in the past couple of years and I’m sure that this is a track where we can make the best of the GSV-R.”
