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Le Mans, a date with history
Le Mans is one of those places that fills motor-racing fans with nostalgia. The track was constructed in 1965, and so the French track is one of the oldest in the MotoGP calendar. It is located 200km from Paris and the circuit has seen some great moments in the history of motorcycling. Technically it is a track that is characterised by its low average speed and its straight corners, making good acceleration and braking into something very basic for a good weekend.
The circuit of Le Mans was constructed in 1965 on the track that already existed for the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. The serious accident involving the rider Alberto Puig in 1995 meant that this venue disappeared from the calendar for five years, during this period safety improvements were made to the track. This French circuit is notable for its narrow track and its accentuated curves.
The World Championship leader, Dani Pedrosa, says that an aggressive ride and last second braking are the keys to putting in a good performance at this circuit. “The best part of Le Mans comes after the fiirst chicane, when the downward slope begins and the long right-hander starts” he explains. The most complicated, on the other hand, “is the final section”. Moreover, Pedrosa says on his blog that tyre selection can be decisive at this circuit. In this sense, Michelin has the advanatgae of racing on home soil, the truth is that this is the company`s ‘base’ as the firm`s headquarters are very close to the track.
Nicky Hayden has the same opinion as his teammate and coincides with Pedrosa`s view that “the climb after the first chicane along with the steep slope that ends in the long right-hander” is what he most likes about the circuit. The American rider emphasises the importance of tyre selection for training in the run up to the race itself.
Circuit details:
Autódromo de Bugatti
Location: 5km. From Le Mans
Year of construction: 1965
Latest modifications: 2002
Length: 4 180 metres
Maximum width: 13 metres
Number of curves: 13
5/15/2008
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