MotoGP: Yamaha and Rossi sign for 2006

Alex Barros, Camel Honda: 5th: “I’m a little bit disappointed with fifth place, obviously, but I feel I did everything I could, getting a pretty good start amongst the front group and pushing without a moment’s respite to try and get in front. What I am unhappy with is that eight laps from the end I began to lose rear grip and whatever I tried, including changing the power delivery to save on the tyres, not only was I unable to get amongst the battle for the podium, but I lost the duel with Max as I tried to control the bike which was sliding so much out of the bends. I didn’t’ give up though, and I tried to hang in there, but I couldn’t do anything. Anyway, I’m fifteen points off second position in the championship now and there are still seven races remaining after the summer break.”

Shinya Nakano, Team Kawasaki, 6th place: "That was an exciting race for me, it makes such a big difference when you see the top group and can race close to them. In the second race I was able to do fast and consistent times and overtake Capirossi and chase the front group. The tyre performance from Bridgestone was very good today in these conditions and I was very comfortable at this pace. Towards the end I had a couple of front end slides so I just made sure I finished. Kawasaki and Bridgestone are back challenging the front group, which is exactly where we should be."

Ichiro Yoda, Team Kawasaki, Technical Manager: "A very good race by Shinya. From today we saw that the current tyre direction from Bridgestone is very good for the Ninja ZX-RR. Bridgestone brought special tyres here for the ZX-RR to match a request from Shinya and he delivered a great result. It is a great pity that Alex and OJ crashed, both could have finished in good positions this weekend."

Harald Eckl, Team Kawasaki, Team Manager: "I'm smiling and crying at the same time. Shinya rode a fantastic race, he was fast and consistent, so thanks to the excellent effort from Bridgestone this weekend. I can understand that the situation with Alex and OJ crashing at the first corner is a huge disappointment for Alex with many home fans at this race. Alex was matching Shinya's pace in practice and had the same tyres and set-up for the race, I'm confident he could have finished in the top ten also."

Marco Melandri,Movistar Honda Team MotoGP: 7th: “We found a good set-up in the warm up and that gave me a real boost ahead of ! the race. I was relaxed at the start and held on to fifth place but I just didn’t feel as comfortable in the second race – I didn’t have the same level of traction. I didn’t want to force the pace because my objective was to finish the race as high as possible. Now it’s time for the holidays, which are always nice, and then we’ll get ready to get back on the podium at Brno.”

Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 8th: “We worked as hard as we could this weekend, but looking back over some of the decisions we’ve made, it seems like we should have tried something different. We just never made that big jump in performance that Valentino made, after we both had problems on Friday. For once my start – in fact both starts – were okay, but unfortunately the first one was the better of the two, which was the wrong way round! I really struggled in the race and I just couldn’t hold on to the leading group. Sections one, two and four were okay but I was losing three tenths of a second in section three, it’s only about 19 seconds through there but I really couldn’t afford to be losing that much time on nearly every lap. The good thing going away from here is that Sete, Max, Marco and I are still all within four points in the championship standings. I’ll come back after the break and do better in Brno.”

Loris Capirossi, Ducati MotoGP, ninth place: "In the second part I did not start so well. I worked hard to go faster so I passed Nakano and Melandri and I stayed with them. Then the front pushed hard a couple of times, the first time at the bottom of the fast downhill curve. Towards the end the bike began moving at the back so my pace went down. Here you stay longer on the left hand side of the tyre than that caused problems at the end of the race. We have made a step forward with Bridgestone and we are almost satisfied. We must keep on working. Today I could have done better but I could also just as easily have lost everything. In Brno the second half of the season will begin and it will be the moment to make the real advance."

Livio Suppo, Ducati MotoGP Project Manager: "It's a disappointing result after our warm up performances this morning, when we were second and third. It was particularly disappointing as Carlos had such a good rhythm and pace, so it was a pity to lose him at the beginning of the race. Loris, who was able to set a very fast lap, was not able to maintain the rhythm in the race that he showed in the warm up and that is really a pity. Bridgestone proved to have done a very good job in practice this weekend, so we can enter the summer break hoping for a better result when we get to Brno."

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