German GP: Repsol Honda preview

The championship reaches the halfway mark at the Sachsenring

The world's top riders are in the middle of a hectic summer programme of racing that brings five races in just four weeks. After the excitement of Assen the teams move on to the circuit of the Sachsenring -- the German GP. Expect to see the recharged riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden going flat out to cut the gap that the leader Casey Stoner has over them.

The circuit of the Sachsenring is one of the newest in the World Championship, it was constructed in 1996 to replace the obsolete track that existed in exactly the same place and with the same name. One of its main characteristics is that the race is held in an anti-clockwise direction. It has a length of 3 671 metres and has two clearly difeerent sections, the first is very teccnical and slow and the second is faster.

The finishing line is at the start of the long straight on an upward slope and this is one of the shortest in the calendar. The Omega Curve is the most spectacular turn on the circuit since it takes the riders almost 300º and must be taken very slowly, it gives the sensation that it is never ending.

The German track is suited to the Repsol Honda riders since last season Hayden managed to finish third behind Rossi and Marco Melandri. Pedrosa was just behind these three in an exciting race where these four riders constantly overtook one another. The Spaniard started in pole position and set the fastest lap in the race itself.

Hayden will go to Germany on a high after finishing third at Assen, thanks to the modifications and improvements made to his Honda RC212 V, having recoverd his good vibrations. Meanwhile Pedrosa continues to improve, as he has been doing in the last few races, and this makes him optimistic going to Germany.

-credit: repsolypf