The Fiat Yamaha Team returns from a whirlwind trip to the Orient next week to continue their MotoGP World Championship challenge on more familiar territory in Europe. Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards enjoyed contrasting fortunes at the last race in China, with the Italian taking second spot after a spirited ride and the American struggling to tenth with tyre problems, but they both travel to the Le Mans circuit in good spirits for a fifth round that promises to provide an improvement in results and a solid points platform for the rest of the season.
The Grand Prix of France is a home race for the team’s tyre suppliers Michelin, who have taken victory in every premier-class race to have been held at Le Mans since 1991. On two occasions their success has been at the hands of Rossi, including his 2005 success with Yamaha, when team-mate Edwards also tasted the French podium champagne after clinching third place - his first rostrum for the factory. In total Rossi has had five MotoGP podiums at Le Mans, contributing to a career total of 94 - a tally bettered only by Mick Doohan. However, that record could be equalled if Rossi can register number 95 next weekend.
The legendary Bugatti circuit, which has intermittently played home to the MotoGP World Championship since 1969, has been a fixture on the calendar for the last seven seasons. From a technical point of view it is considered one of the most unremarkable; an archetypal stop-go track with the main complication being the first corner - one of the fastest on the calendar - followed by a tight chicane, which requires hard braking at high lean angle. There are several short straights, interspersed by hairpins and chicanes, calling not just for balance and control under hard and repeated braking but a neat and swift transfer from full braking to full acceleration on the exit of the corners. With nine right-handers and only four lefts, the track is also particularly hard on one side of the tyres.
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