Repsol YPF
Ruta
Pedrosa returns to China, his lucky circuit
He was only 21 years of age and it was his fourth race in the top category of world motorcycling but in spite of his inexperience Pedrosa demonstrated back then his quality - winning the Chinese GP. That was just two years ago and since then he has had more victories and his record is up there with the best riders in history. This weekend the Repsol rider will go back to the circuit that saw his first ever MotoGP victory.
So Dani Pedrosa has good memories of China – he also holds the record for the fastest lap achieved in the same year 2006 with a time of 1m 59.318. Last year the Repsol team rider got a deserved fourth place finish in the Chinese GP.
The circuit of Shanghai has the longest straight in the whole MotoGP calendar (1 202m) where the riders and machines reach very high speeds but then they have to brake very hard to take a tight hairpin. Built more for Formula 1 races the track is notable for its two long straights where speeds of 320km/h can be reached as well as its two very slow tight curves taking the riders in a 360º circle, these oblige the riders to get the most out of their bikes.
The circuit in Shanghai is therefore a complicated date because in addition there is the changeable weather to take into account. This will be the last MotoGP race in China for some time because the organisers of the championship recently decided not to extend the contract with the circuit of Shanghai, a track that appeared in the calendar just four years ago.
Circuit facts:
international Circuit of China
Location: Shanghai
Year of construction: 2004
Latest reform: 2004
Length: 5 451 metres
Maximum width: 12 metres
Number of curves: 14
4/21/2008
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