MotoGP prepares for Sachsenring

The weekend is almost upon us and as such it is almost time for the MotoGP calendar to start at the Sachsenring. Runners will be looking to make the proper setups for the weekend, as the weather will be nice through Sunday.

There is no doubt that Jorge Lorenzo will want to make the best possible start at Sachsenring after his victory at Mugello a fortnight ago after taking over from Dovizioso and Stoner. He will be looking to trim Stoner’s 2011 MotoGP championship lead at the moment. The battle this weekend will be between these two. I think Simoncelli will continue his form and crash after getting it right last time. Or has he finally got rid of his demons? Will he finish the race and maybe get the podium he deserves?

The Yamas have gotten strong in the last two races with Spies winning at Assen and Lorenzo at Mugello. They have brought a little extra technology to help them in the battle with Repsol Honda. The Ducati have not been in the rhythm even though Rossi has been racing the GP11.1 bike (next year the chassis with an 800cc engine). Hayden has not been able to do this because he had already used too many of his engines during the season. Racers are capped at six engines for the season, averaging three races each. Rossi is on his fifth engine of the season.

Another team that is doing well in the face of adversity is the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team. Both riders had broken collarbones but got back on track in the next race. Crutchlow will want to resolve the tire pressure issues for Sunday’s race. Edwards will be looking to score a few more points with his collarbone, hopefully now fully healed.

Repsol Honda riders from Stoner and Dovizioso will be looking to be close to the front of the pack on Sunday, as they are on most weekends. Pedrosa will be looking to climb higher than Mugello now that he has returned from his double broken collarbone.

Simoncelli and Aoyama will compete strongly for the Gresini Honda team, as Simoncelli will seek his first podium in the 2011 MotoGP season. Aoyama will be looking to improve as he finished in order last time at Mugello after starting well.

Álvaro Bautista’s Rizla Suzuki will seek to maintain the pace with which it started at Mugello, although it will later lose as the race progresses due to problems with its tires. Toni Elias has been given a few Motogp races to show his LCR Honda team that he’s not just there to sit at the back of the field and take a beating from everyone. You have to improve or you will be left out of the team and look for a new job.