Rossi faces Spanish contingent in Jerez press conference

The MotoGP World Championship’s return to Europe saw the riders in high spirits on Thursday afternoon. Back in more familiar surroundings and accompanied by Spanish sunshine, a relaxed and jovial atmosphere was present at the Circuito de Jerez, the scene for this weekend’s Gran Premio bwin.com de España.

在星期四下午，車手帶著高昂的鬥志回到MotoGP的歐洲戰場。在熟悉的環境裡伴隨著西班牙的陽光，放鬆和愉快的氣氛是現在Jerez賽道的氛圍，Jerze也是這個週末西班牙站的舞台。

In the middle of the table for the pre-event press conference, current World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo gave his thoughts on the current state of play in the premier class to the gathered press. The Fiat Yamaha man was one of four Spaniards attending the grilling, accompanied by Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Toni Elias and home returnee Sete Gibernau (Grupo Francisco Hernando). The sole non-local was Lorenzo’s teammate, reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi.

在賽前記者會上，桌子中央的是目前的積分領先者Jorge Lorenzo，他向底下的記者表示他之前在這裡比賽的狀態，這位Fiat Yamaha 車手是出席記者會的四位西班牙車手其中之一，其他有Repsol Honda 的Dani Pedrosa、San Carlo Honda Gresini 的 Toni Elias 和 Sete Gibernau (Grupo Francisco Hernando)。唯一的非地主車手是Lorenzo的隊友，現任的世界冠軍 Valentino Rossi 。

“I’m happy to be here, in the press conference, because normally I don’t get invited!” joked the winner of the last round at Motegi, Lorenzo, setting the tone for a lighthearted occasion. “It’s nice to be at my own GP, and it is always special for Spanish riders, more so now that we have a chance for the podium and are working for an even higher performance with Bridgestone tyres.”

"我很高興可以出席記者會，因為正常來說我不會受到邀請"，上一站冠軍Lorenzo 開個玩笑，以輕鬆愉快的語調開場。"能在自己的主場比賽很棒，對西班牙車手來說總是很特別，更因為我們有機會上頒獎台，而且和普利司通輪胎配合得到更多的競爭力"。

Rossi added that the race also had the potential to be special in terms of the weather, with a dry weekend predicted for the coming three days.

Rossi 補充說，就天氣而言這場比賽是有機會跟之前不一樣的，在接下來的三天是乾燥的周末天氣預報。

“The last two races we have been fighting rain; this time it’s looking more normal. Things were always difficult in Qatar and Motegi as we got used to rain and less time on track,” noted the six-time premier class champ.

"上兩場比賽，我們一直在雨天比賽；這一次天氣看起來就正常多了。在Qatar 和Motegi 我們都遇到下雨，在場上的測試時間就減少，事情就變的很麻煩，"，六屆世界冠軍補充說。

With Gibernau, Rossi and the paddock press all in one room at the Circuito de Jerez, talk inevitably strayed from the meteorological conditions to their famous 2005 battle for victory at the track. Asked if he would pull the same move that he did on the final corner of that race for the ages, were he to encounter teammate Lorenzo under the same circumstances on Sunday, Rossi was initially recalcitrant. He began to explain the series of manoeuvres exchanged between himself and Gibernau four years ago, but eventually settled for one reply: “Yes”. Lorenzo suggested modifying his Yamaha M1 to a scythed chariot, whilst Gibernau had some simple advice for his countryman: “Pray.”

有Gibernau、Rossi 和圍場記者在一起又在Jerez賽道，話題不可避免的會從氣象轉移到他們2005年在Jerez有名的打架事件。問到如果在比賽的最後一彎Rossi做出相同的動作，Rossi 是否會一樣的在週日上頒獎台時敵視隊友Lorenzo，Rossi 一開始不想承認。他開始解釋四年前他和Gibernau一連串的恩怨，最後以"當然"作為結束...，之後Lorenzo 建議將他的Yamaha M1 改為割草機，Gibernau 對他的同胞則有一個簡單的忠告"祈禱吧"。"。

Practice for the Gran Premio bwin.com de España begins for the MotoGP stars on Friday afternoon at 2.05pm local time.

西班牙站的練習時間將在當地時間禮拜五下午2:05分開始。