DORNA SPORTS:

The Thursday press conference at the Cardion ab Grand Prix Ceske republiky saw Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Loris Capirossi, Mika Kallio and Gabor Talmacsi preview the weekend’s return to action after the summer break and Monday’s important Brno test.

Indeed, with new regulations restricting the MotoGP riders to five engines for the remaining seven rounds of the season coming into play as of this weekend, bike updates were a running theme in the official media briefing.

As he has been on numerous occasions previously MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was the first man to speak, in the first press conference since a short summer break. The Italian revealed that there will be new material available to him courtesy of Fiat Yamaha this weekend.

Also discussing the new engine rules, Rossi noted, “It changes the way we will work on the bike a little bit. Now you have to plan more which bike you use during the practice and you have to take care of the engine, even after the races. It should save money so it is important. In Monday’s test we have some small details to check and we will try to take another step forward with the bike.”

British Grand Prix racewinner Dovizioso, meanwhile, said of his maiden GP win just over two weeks ago, “It was the perfect way to allow us to relax fully at home during the break and we arrive here fully motivated.” Of his own updates from Repsol Honda for the weekend he added, “We have a new swingarm and we will test it throughout the Grand Prix, not just on Monday, if the conditions are right.”

Dovizioso and Rossi’s compatriot Loris Capirossi of the Rizla Suzuki team was on the podium at Brno last year and he too has some machine updates as he looks to rectify his 2009 form. The veteran Italian stated that he will have a new engine, a new chassis and several other new parts to test.

For Mika Kallio the Brno visit gives him the chance to try riding a factory bike in the Ducati Marlboro team as a temporary replacement for unwell Casey Stoner and the Finn commented simply, “I just want to say thanks to Ducati and to my regular team Pramac Racing, in particular Paolo Campinoti, for giving me this opportunity. I hope that Casey is better after these three races but obviously this is a great chance for me.”

Concluding the press conference Hungarian rider Gabor Talmacsi of the Scot Racing Team took to the microphone, acknowledging the amazing support he always receives at Brno and the special feeling he will have during his first Grand Prix at the circuit as a MotoGP rider. He revealed, “My country is so near and people love motorsport there so I expect 40,000 or 50,000 to come over, which is great for the championship. I am very proud when I see them all here so I have to say thanks already to all my fans!”

Earlier in the day Talmacsi was joined by Colin Edwards, Chris Vermeulen, Toni Elías and several young Czech riders to take part in a game of floorball, held in the iconic Náměstí svobody square in Brno city centre. The riders were trying out one of the most popular games in the Czech Republic, learning from professional players from the local Kometa Brno team, the NHL and the Slovak National team.