Las Aventuras de Trixi

Día de Campeones, CHESTE - VALENCIA -Jueves 3 noviembre 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:10:00 +0000

Motos Solidarias hace posible que más de 10 millones de personas reciban asistencia sanitaria
en África.

Motos Solidarias no cree que personas deberían morir de enfermedades fácilmente curables simplementeporque la asistencia sanitaria no les alcanza.

Gracias a vuestro apoyo año tras año en España, vamos a poder financiar un nuevo proyecto a partir de enero 2012. Será un proyecto que se puede llevar a cabo gracias a la generosidad de los moteros de toda España. El proyecto ayudará a movilizar a 60 ténicos sanitarios en las zonas mas rurales del Sur de Zambia. Por el momento tenemos posibilidad de financiar a 45 de estos técnicos durante un año con sus motos. Esperemos que después de Valencia podamos alcanzar a los 60.

Durante el año os iremos informando puntualmente del progreso de esta iniciativa asi como el
impacto que esta teniendo.

Entrada General
09:00: Aperturas de Taquillas (Puerta 1)
10:00 a 13:00: Stunt Show con Emilio Zamora
13:00: Acceso al circuito
13:00 a 15:30: Visita al pit-lane
15:00 a 17:00: Kiosco vendiendo bocadillos (salida del pit-lane, cerca subasta)
15:45 a 18:00: Subasta
Precio por persona: 20 Euros. (Esta entrada no se puede reservar con antelación).

Entrada Tandas + Paddock
11:00: Inscripción en el circuito
13:00 a 14:00: Briefing y tandas en la pista
14:00: Comida Restaurante Circuito
13:00 a 15:30: Visita al pit-lane
13:00 a 19:00: Visita al paddock
15:45 a 18:00: Subasta

Un privilegiado grupo de aficionados podrá cubrir tres vueltas al trazado valenciano con sus propias motos, acompañados de un pasajero y flanqueados por los vehículos oficiales del Mundial. El precio es de 130 Euros por persona y moto, y 85 para los pasajeros. Al margen de poder circular por la pista del Gran Premio, están incluidas la comida, una visita exclusiva al paddock y la entrada general al “Día de Campeones”. La moto ha de ser como mínimo una 125cc y asegurada. En caso de lluvia, por motivos de seguridad, no se podrá rodar en moto. Los conductores y pasajeros han de ser mayores de 18 años.

Las plazas para esta actividad son limitadas y las preinscripciones pueden realizarse por teléfono +34 93 470 28 78 o a través del correo electrónico samlyon43@hotmail.com

NOS VAMOS A USA!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 22:55:00 +0000

Bueno señores y señoras, renovamos web para poder ir narrando lo que esperamos sea otro sueño cumplido. Pero este promete ser mucho más que eso, porque? Pues porque en él confluirán muchos pequeños sueños que juntos harán de nuestro viaje una experiencia única e irrepetible.

Todo lo que nos espera:

. Conoceremos Chicago, una ciudad que promete ser asombrosa.

. Pisaremos por primera vez Owensboro (Kentucky), el pueblo del que, estoy convencida, me fuí hace muchas vidas y al que vuelvo ahora para sentirme como en casa. Por fin podré abrazar a mis amigos Debbie, Todd, Jason....y además ocurrirá un hecho, si cabe, aún más extraordinario, HEMOS QUEDADO CON NICKY!!! sí, ¡como lo leeis! pero esto lo explicaré en su momento...

. Conoceremos a Matt Hasselbeck!! No sé si existe el destino o no, o si tengo un angelito que me va asfaltando el camino a medida que decido poner un pie delante del otro pero el caso es que Matt, que jugaba de quarterback en los Seattle Seahawks, y al que no iba a poder conocer en mi vida, va y se cambia de equipo, se va a los Tennesse Titans y hacen una jornada de puertas abiertas para los fans. Cuando? Uno de los días que estamos en Owensboro. Donde? En Nashville, a dos horas en coche de Owensboro rumbo al Sur. Gracias angelito!!

. Asistiremos a las carreras de Indianapolis: Allí nos encontraremos de nuevo con todos nuestros pilotos, podremos verlos, hablar con ellos, y verlos correr que es lo que más nos emociona en el mundo, en uno de los entornos más idilicos para los amantes del motor como nosotros. Con carrera de Harley incluída!!! Y ese himno americano al principio de la carrera que me va a erizar hasta los pelos de la nariz!!

. Visitaremos Washington (el cementerio de Arlintong con la tumba de Kennedy, la estatua de Lincoln que sale en tantas peliculas, y por último la Casa Blanca donde está mi Obama)

. Luego, camino de Baltimore donde no fallaremos en nuestra visita al estado de los Ravens para que Rafa se pueda comprar tooooda una gama de souvenirs de su equipo favorito, pasaremos por Philadelphia.

. Y para terminar, como no, un broche de oro, New York. Tres días de compras y de visitas a todos esos lugares que hemos visto en las películas y que nos hace emocionar solo de pensarlo.

En fin, amigos, que si el avión no me fastidia el viaje, estas vacaciones prometen ser las mejores de mi vida, porque además me llevo conmigo a mi hija Gemma, a mi marido Rafa y a mi mejor amiga Jose. Que más se puede pedir???

Salimos el Jueves, día 18 bien tempranito, así que....portaros bien en nuestra ausencia!!!

OS MANTENDREMOS INFORMADOS!!!

MotoGP: Hayden: "Quiero quedarme muchos años en Ducati."

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Fri, 14 May 2010 10:34:00 +0000

http://motofinish.com/

Escrito por David
Viernes 14 de Mayo de 2010 08:58

El mundial de Superbike pasó por Monza el fin de semana y con las dos victorias de Max Biaggi, seguramente haya sido crucial para el devenir del campeonato. Muchos espectadores acudieron al circuito de Monza para disfrutar del espectáculo. Unas 115.000 personas estaban presentes y entre ellas Nicky Hayden. El piloto de Owensboro, quinto en el campeonato de MotoGP con el equipo Marlboro Ducati, hizo acto de presencia sobre el circuito italiano, dando imagen de marca de la fabrica Ducati, pero sobre todo para estar cerca de su hermano menor, Roger, que compite sobre la Kawasaki ZX-10R del equipo Pedercini.

Entrevistado por Jonathan Green para On The Throttle.tv, Nicky hayden ha dejado claro que esta temporada se lo esta pasando bien, pero antes quiso hablar de su hermano, el cual no le ocurre lo mismo, viéndose casi siempre en las últimas posiciones del campeonato Superbike.

Nicky Hayden: "En lo que va de temporada, Roger ha hecho el trabajo duro, pero sabía que iba a ser duro, aunque de momento los resultados le dan la espalda. No han hecho muchas pruebas y tienen un presupuesto que ni remotamente se acerca al nivel de los equipos oficiales, pero son un equipo lleno de pasión por las carreras. Está aprendiendo mucho y tiene el espíritu correcto, aunque esta claro que no es divertido estar en la parte de atrás, especialmente cuando estás acostumbrado a estar en posiciones de liderazgo."

Nicky es actualmente el quinto clasificado de MotoGP empatado con el cuarto y sobre todo por delante de su compañero de equipo Casey Stoner, algo impensable hace tan solo unos meses. Sobre el buen comienzo de temporada realizado, Kentucky Kid declara: "Finalmente me estoy divirtiendo, permaneciendo en la parte delantera, lo que hace la vida mejor, ya sea sobre la moto o fuera de ella. Tengo buenas sensaciones, el equipo está trabajando para mí, me dan todo el apoyo posible y me están ayudando a conseguir estos resultados. La moto es muy diferente a la anterior, sin duda hemos avanzado, las cosas están mucho mejor ahora."

Sobre un posible cambio de campeonato mundial y recalar en Superbike, Hayden admite que de momento está muy bien en MotoGP y que pretende seguir allí unos cuantos años más.

Nicky Hayden: "Aunque es bueno estar aquí como espectador y dar mi apoyo a Roger, es difícil que pueda venir a este campeonato. Lo hice como Wild Card en Laguna Seca en 2002, pero quiero quedarme en MotoGP, es mi casa. No es que esto sea malo, ni mucho menos, tengo mucho respeto por estos chicos, Quien sabe lo que puede suceder en el futuro, pero ahora lo que quiero hacer es permanecer en MotoGP unos cuantos años, preferentemente en este equipo y estar entre los primeros."

Personalmente me alegro de volver a ve a Nicky en los puestos delanteros. Este chico es un ejemplo de incansable trabajador, sin nunca alzar la voz. Otro que me gustaría volver a ver arriba y luchando con los mejores es Melandri, pero de momento sigue hundido en su pozo oscuro.

Confidence high for Stoner and Hayden

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:55:00 +0000

Friday, 30 April 2010

The Ducati Marlboro riders were both extremely pleased with how FP1 at the Gran Premio bwin de España went on Friday, as they set the first and third fastest times respectively of the session.

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden were satisfied men after the opening practice session at Jerez, as they praised the performances of their respective Desmosedici GP10 prototypes.

For Stoner the GP presents a first opportunity to get some Championship points after his crash in Qatar, and as he seeks a first win at the circuit the Australian is brimming with positivity after his time of 1’39.731 in FP1 topped the timesheet.

“I’m feeling a lot more confident than I ever have at this circuit. Immediately from the first lap on this bike I knew things were different to past years, and the bike felt so much more confident than it ever has,” he said. “I have a great feeling, the rear is a lot calmer, it’s not pumping all over the track, and things feel very good. Everybody else is going to be ready for a good fight this weekend and I think it’s going to be the first chance I’m going to have to fight for maybe a victory here.”

Not even a slide out with two minutes of the session remaining brought Stoner’s mood down, and he even took the positives from the minor fall.

“I’m not really too sure (what happened),” said Stoner when asked about the fall at Turn 9. “The lap before I went into that corner a little bit too fast, so I thought on the next lap I’d ease it off a little bit, and a similar thing happened to what did in Qatar. We just didn’t have enough weight on the front, so I think we might be getting a little bit of a wrong indication from the bike of what we need to do with it. I think this is actually a good thing to happen to us because now we’ve had the same thing happen twice and this is going to give us a lot better indication of how to improve the problem for tomorrow, and the rest of the season. So far we’re very happy with the situation we’re in.”

Hayden is looking to build on what was a superb display in Qatar where he took fourth place in the race, and the third quickest lap in the opening practice at Jerez left the American in similarly high spirits at just 0.417s off his team-mate.

“The session went well and I’m really happy right now because this is a big one for us,” he commented. “I was fast in Malaysia and Qatar but that was after a lot of testing at those tracks, experimenting with many different settings, but we’ve come here and been fast out of the gate, which was one of my goals for this season – to be on the pace on Fridays. We didn’t set the world on fire or break any track records so we’re not getting carried away but the bike is close and if we can get it a little better in the fast corners we should have a good package.”

Hayden added: “The team made one little change today that helped a lot and on my last exit I was able to stay in the 1’40s from the first lap to the last. It’s a good start and if we keep working in this way we can have a good weekend.”

Nicky Talks

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:34:00 +0000

www.cyclenews.com

The following is from Indianapolis Motor Speedway...

HOST: Welcome, everyone, to another Red Bull Indianapolis GP teleconference. Our guest today is 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden. First, a brief introduction. Nicky is 28 years old, he is from Owensboro, Ky. As I said, he is the 2006 MotoGP World Champion, and he is in his eighth season in the premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing and in his second with the Ducati Team. Nicky started this season with a strong fourth-place finish at the Grand Prix of Qatar on April 11 and was looking forward to the Grand Prix of Japan this Sunday at Motegi before a volcano in Iceland that has a name I'm not even going to try and pronounce erupted, wreaking havoc on travel in Europe and forcing the postponement of that race until Oct. 3. Nicky has enjoyed strong runs in the first two Red Bull Indianapolis GP's. He finished second in 2008 in the inaugural race and third last year. So there's only one spot on the podium left for him to fill at IMS, and that's the top one. So we sure hope he can do that at this year's Red Bull Indianapolis GP, Sunday, Aug. 29. Nick, thanks for joining us today. We appreciate it.

HAYDEN: All right. Thanks for having me on.

HOST: You've been quick most of this preseason on the Ducati and had a fine first race at Qatar. What has been the biggest reason for your improvement on the bike this year compared to last year?

NICKY HAYDEN: Well, I would say it kind of started toward the end of last year, the middle of last year. We started to get some momentum going. I was faster than it really looked. We had some bad luck, some incidents, you know, where we didn't finish some races that hurt us every time we tried to get momentum going. But, for sure, this winter the bike is a little bit different, and I just feel a lot more comfortable on it and also with the team. It's the second year with the team after a long time on Honda's. It was a big change last year. I certainly didn't adapt the way I wanted to. But this year things seem to be going a lot better. The communication with the team is a lot better than it was last year. I feel comfortable. I like the bike. We've been quick testing, but we still got some areas we need to improve on. So we've got a lot of work to do.

DEAN ADAMS: You've got a week off. What are you going to do? An unexpected week off from work.

HAYDEN: Yeah, it was strange, you know. I've missed races rain, sleet or snow. About the only thing I can compare it to was Willow back in the AMA days when the 9-1-1 caused that race to get canceled. It was quite strange. But basically, you prepare for the trip and the race, and pretty much everything calculated out, and then you wake up Sunday morning and find out no race. So just regroup and basically just do the same thing I did last week. Try to take advantage of a week at home, an extra week at home, and get ready for Jerez.

GIORGIO ZORBAS: Obviously, you're far more comfortable on the bike this year than you were last year. Can you possibly give us an idea of what it's about? The engine delivery, the way it's delivering the power to you, or maybe the rear swingarm, going back away from the carbon fiber, or what else would you say that is making you look so comfortable on the bike? Because you were looking awesome a couple of weeks ago?

HAYDEN: I would say the engine certainly is smoother. And on the bottom, it just gives you a bit better feel when you open the power and try to accelerate out of the corner. This engine, you got more connectability. You feel it better. But back to what I said a minute ago, I think a lot of it is just a second year on the bike and with the team. But the main thing for me, I need to go and be fast on a weekend that we show up on Friday and we don't have, like Qatar, two days of testing. And also like Malaysia, when I was quick. We had already been there once in testing, and it wasn't until the fourth day that I went quick. And that was one of my targets for this offseason was improve that. Really, I guess we'll find out at Jerez if that's the case.

ZORBAS: Do you think the differences in the bike will transfer across to the satellite Ducati teams, as well, and possibly see other guys, like Mika Kallio and the Pramac guys possibly getting better results, as well, this year?

HAYDEN: I think so. It's hard for me to speak for anybody else. But I think we have a strong package. The chassis' good. The engine's good. We'll wait to see, a little bit, what the engine rules, what happens three or four races down the road when engines start getting a lot of miles on them. That's going to be one question that hasn't been answered yet. But no, I think we've got a good bike and some good riders on the Ducati. I think Qatar, only two of us finished, I think. So I think the results will improve from that.

CHRIS JONNUM: This is a bit of a follow-up question from the previous one. But in Qatar, it looked like you were quite comfortable on the bike, and then we saw the unfamiliar spectacle of a Ducati being passed almost at will on the front straight by the Honda. Do you believe, A., that this may be partly due to the revised firing order that improved delivery, and if so, do you think Ducati can respond to that with more power while still surviving under the new engine restrictions, or regulations, with the limited number of engines?

HAYDEN: Well, the big thing is that we didn't gain anything on top. It's just a fact when you do that, you get more torque and more in the bottom. You have to lose a little somewhere. But the Honda is quick. All winter, everybody: "Ah, the Honda, what's wrong, what's wrong?" But it was certainly quick in a straight line. Compared to the Yamaha, I had more legs than him, but Dovi was strong. As far as development goes, the engines are pretty well sealed. Now it's not like we're going to be able to change a lot with the engines. But we're always working on things with electronics, aerodynamics. There's ways to try to get down the straightaway quicker. But to be fair, the last corner in Qatar, I wasn't getting off the corner great. And I knew all weekend I kind of struggled there with the balance of the electronics, with the traction control, and wasn't getting the power down. And I knew it was a problem. We'd seen it on the video, seen it on the data. But I didn't realize it was such a problem until in the race. If I could go back and do something different, I certainly would change my transmission to try to get off that corner a lot better because that really killed me. If I could have did some stuff better there, I certainly would have been able to put up a better fight. But we try to learn from it.

JONNUM: Do you feel like it's also partly down to different tracks and that the characteristics of your motor might be better suited to something more technical?

HAYDEN: Yeah. I think that was one race, at night, where the air is so different, where the climate is so different, being so dry. So I think we hold off on making any conclusions and get to some different tracks with different climate and see if it's the case. But I know Ducati can see the problem. Even last year, I didn't have great top speed. But I was normally too far back for anybody to see it. It was just me telling them. Now I think they see. And they have worked a lot with me this winter to try to improve my aerodynamics and with the bike, and to get some better top speed. And it has helped. But we still got some more work to go. But our engine, I think, should be very suited to a lot of tracks. I'm happy with the engine.

HOST: I've got a question for you about Indy. You've finished on the podium twice on different motorcycles, the Honda and the Ducati at IMS. What about the track or about the event suits you and suits your style so well?

HAYDEN: I do really like the track. It's quite technical. Even though the guys have been there, being inside the oval is a little something that I grew up on as far as racing Daytona, Loudon, Colorado. Maybe that gives me a little bit of edge. I'm not sure. The first year was in the rain. Last year was in the dry; a couple people tipped over. That helped me a bit. I like the long left-handers. It's very technical. One thing that we talked about is it's kind of got different pavement. The new part is quite different than in the back, so it's really a challenge for the riders and teams to make a compromise on something that works on all different parts of the track because it's got everything. Hard braking, some tight, twisty bits, some pretty fast, flowing stuff, a little bit different pavement.

ZORBAS: How do you feel about Livio Suppo having left the team and you've got Vito as your new boss?

HAYDEN: Yeah, you know, Livio leaving was a big change and a big change for all of us. Sure, there's things that he brought to the team that we miss, but Vito stepped in and did a great job so far. I've really been impressed with some of the things he did. I've been a supporter of his from the beginning. A lot of people thought it was going to be too much for the guy with no real experience in that position. No, I think we've got a good setup. We've got Alessandro taking care of all the media, and all the press and stuff, which especially in Italy, every day is a fight with those guys. Where Vito, he don't have to worry about sponsors, marketing, nothing else. He can focus entirely on getting that team right and getting everybody in the right place. So far we're off to a good start, and I think he's a big asset to our team.

ZORBAS: How much data do you actually share with Casey? People obviously here that the Yamaha guys don't share much data between the two of them, between Jorge and Vale. But between yourself and Casey, do you share much data or is it pretty much each man to himself?

HAYDEN: We share data and anything we want. To their credit, it's open book around there. Even between Kallio's crew chief to Barbera's, they all work out of the same truck, and everybody's playing for the same team around there, to try to beat the other manufacturers. There's secrets, nothing like that ... it's all (lost Hayden's line, Hayden returned)

HOST: Giorgio, you all set?

ZORBAS: Yeah, yeah. Nicky, you were just telling us about the sharing of data between yourself and Casey. That leads me up to my next question, which would be the way that Casey sets up the bike, do you find it helpful to yourself, or do you prefer to have your own settings?

HAYDEN: A little bit of both. Some things that works for him won't work for me. But there's other times where he'll come across something that works, and it'll work for me. You've got to row your own boat, to a degree. But with the limited amount of track time we have this year and last year, even, you use every bit of information you can get.

JONNUM: I know since you've been in the championship in 2003, there's always been at least one other American, I believe. But it seems like in the past, the American riders have been at kind of different levels for different reasons. Whereas this year, you and Ben and Colin all seem to be at the same, very close on levels. I'm wondering how big of a deal it is to be top American that races in the championship. I know you got the best of those guys at Qatar.

HAYDEN: Ah, you know, a bit. But not really. But there's a lot more going on than worrying about being the top American. Fortunately, this year top American, you're not doing too bad. Everybody is going fast. But yeah, any rider who don't admit to it is lying. Sure, on race day, you want to be top American, top Ducati, top everything. So, sure, I'm not wanting to get worked by any Americans or get worked by anybody else, for that matter.

DAVID EMMETT: Nicky, this whole situation with the Japanese Grand Prix being canceled due to the unpronounceable volcano continuing to spew ashes on and off, has that made you think of being located in the U.S. and living in the U.S.? Have you thought about coming over to stay in Europe for the period the circus is in Europe?

HAYDEN: Yeah. Once the season really gets rolling and we start having back-to-backs, sure, I'll be staying in Europe like pretty much every other year. But after Qatar, it was just as easy to come back home. But yeah, once we get going and once Ducati starts and Marlboro sending me on PR trips and have to do some real work, then, sure, I won't be coming home. But I'm not going to plan my life around a volcano, and that sort of thing.

EMMETT: Another question about the engines. You've got six engines to last you the year. I presume so far you've really only rolled out two in Qatar, one in eachof your bikes.

HAYDEN: Yeah, correct. One has one lap on it. The other one is ... I don't know. I haven't worked the numbers, but it's still got a long way to go before we get to put in a fresh one.

EMMETT: So you're really going to work through your engines sort of sequentially, one at a time, rather than switching them in and out?

HAYDEN: No, not necessarily. The team has a plan for that. On some weekends, I'll ride both bikes. But it so happened in Qatar, we had tested there; we pretty well had a pretty decent setup. And actually just had one bike working good, and I didn't really ever roll the other one out except Sunday morning. I say Sunday morning - Sunday at about 8 o'clock at night - just to do a lap to make sure it ran good in case I needed to jump on it for anything. But no, we'll be using, most tracks, be using both bikes a lot more frequent.

EMMETT: Because of this, will you actually be, or did you ride fewer laps that you would normally? Are you more careful about planning the number of laps that you're riding, or are you going out, doing the work you need to do and get back again?

HAYDEN: For the opener, sure, it didn't even cross my mind. I was only think about doing the maximum. But sure, as the season goes on, it might be something to look at. I normally always do a couple of extra laps, well, not to most guys, but I'm always on the high end. But sure, it will be something to look at, especially if weather is dodgy. Track is damp, patchy, whatever, where you're not learning anything. Probably set that out. Won't be doing any carrying on on no cool-down laps, clowning around. But for now, we're just focusing on trying to get results.

EMMETT: Do you have any idea when you'll be expecting engine upgrades? Will it mostly be just software and chassis bits that you'll be getting?

HAYDEN: We haven't talked about it. I know the test team is constantly working and going. But once the season starts, it's not like a lot of stuff changes. Them bikes, they've got the parts made. Everything is there. It's not like they can just start hacking out new parts here, especially for the engines. They can't just fire in a new engine. It takes a long time to test reliability, to test it on dyno. A lot of their test work is already thinking about next year. But sure, they're not sleeping over there.

ADAMS: Hey, Nick, let's say they have to bail the entire MotoGP season because of the mad volcano in the unspeakable place. So what are your options then? Let's say if you wanted to go racing, would it be going dirt-track racing here in the U.S., or would it be going dirt-track racing here in the U.S. And yes, this is an inside joke between Nick and I.

HAYDEN: Can I choose both?

ADAMS: Beautiful. But you were at Indy last year and saw the impact Roberts had there. What are your thoughts on will you ever go back and race dirt track?

HAYDEN: Indy, to be truthful, I skipped out before I got to see Kenny. I was looking at the watch, and I didn't make it. But I've seen it on YouTube, and I've actually seen him ride that bike before, about 10 years ago at Del Mar. I got to see him do a couple of hot laps. But yeah, but it's still on the radar. I don't have a date picked or a race picked. When I go to dirt tracks, I still joke with some of the guys, you know, "Make sure I still got my number plates, save me a bike, this and that." But it's getting harder every year that I'm away. You don't just show up and win a mile. It don't work like that, as much as I hate to admit it. But it still eats at me, no doubt.

ADAMS: And all you need is a mile win to be in the Grand Slam club here in the U.S., right?

HAYDEN: Yeah, yeah. I have a couple of short tracks and TT's, half-mile, I think plenty of Superbike races. But mile, I never got it, man. I led into (Turn) 3 at Del Mar and I led Springfield with a couple laps to go, but never did the deal.

ADAMS: Somewhat following up on that, the Marlboro ski event in northern Italy last winter, a lot of people expected guys like Casey Stoner or Felipe Massa or Alonso to win that shifter kart go-kart race held on the lake, on the ice. And it was the kid from Owensboro that won it, and won it by a big margin. Can you talk about that a little bit?

HAYDEN: You know, I expected them to win, too. Casey, he's got karts in his garage, and the other guys train on it. But the track was slippery, on ice. And the year before, I only beat a couple of test drivers, so I wasn't expecting to kill it like that. But I don't know, I got a pretty good start, and I had to be so smooth working the throttle, smooth, smooth. Maybe they overdrove a bit and made some mistakes. I was pretty happy. It was a pretty cool event. This year was the 20th for Philip Morris and the whole Vroom deal, so they didn't do no penny-pinching. They pretty well threw down and made for an awesome event. To win and beat those guys ... Yeah, we were all just playing, but we're all competitors. It don't matter if we're in horseshoes or something. We still want to win.

ADAMS: And after the win, you broke the hearts of those media car nerd guys by saying you had absolutely no interest in going car racing once your motorcycle career was over.

HAYDEN: I wouldn't say no interest. I've unfortunately realized that I'm probably not going to be able to race motorcycles my whole life, and I'm going to want to do something. But at the moment, man, I'm committed to two wheels. But I wouldn't say never on four wheels. Yeah, who knows? But in the meantime, I'm two wheels.

ADAMS: Have you ever raced a car, outside of the odd, informal rental car race?

HAYDEN: Oh, you're going to love this story. The dirt track here in my town, every Halloween ... that makes me sound like a complete hillbilly, but I guess I am one. They used to have what they call a Halloween 100, where you knock the windows out of junk cars, and they mud the track down, and it's a 100-lap race. And I did that two years in a row. And believe it or not, my buddy actually even rode with me. You think he's not crazy? So that was about the extent of my car-driving days.

HENNY RAY ABRAMS: We saw that Rossi ran out of gas on the cool-down lap, and he did that even though he had the slowest top speed. Did you finish with much gas in the tank?

HAYDEN: I finished with the right calculation. I probably couldn't have did another half-lap, but they have it down to a complete science. The fuel consumption changes as the race goes on to make sure you get across the line. If it knows you're not going to finish, it leans out. If it knows you're ahead of schedule, it richens the bike and gives you power because they can't ever control wheelspin, draft, things like that. So it calculates itself as the race goes on.

ABRAMS: Did you notice much difference as the race goes on? Was the bike getting any slower?

HAYDEN: No, no. The percent my bike changed was nothing, even. We were pretty good.

ABRAMS: I noticed Bridgestone has a different way of handing out tires this year. How's that been?

HAYDEN: Well, it's only been one race. The rears, we have two less rears. So the fronts is not a problem. But the rears, we're right on the limit. If there ever was a red flag or something ... Before you used to always keep one good backup tire, that sort of thing. So we're on the limit on rears pretty good. I would definitely say at some tracks you use the tires a lot. And the fronts is better. Now you can choose after the first session if you want hard or soft, which makes it a lot easier to manage the rest of the weekend. Because last year sometimes your bike only worked with the soft tire or hard tires, and you wanted to save those for qualifying and the race. You're out there setting up your bike on a different tire than you're going to race. So I think now you have ‘til 6 o'clock on Friday decide if you want, which front compounds you want to go. This is something we wanted, so that's an improvement.

JONNUM: I wanted to ask you about these 2012 regulations. They seem to be a moving target at the moment. I think the latest iteration, it seems like they want to do most of the factory bikes on 800's and still allow in the 1000, production-based engines. Do you think it's OK to have kind of a mix like that? And if not, what would be your ideal platform?

HAYDEN: I haven't gotten caught up in all of that because until the rules come out black and white, I really haven't paid a lot of attention because right now I'm riding an 800 Ducati, and I don't make the rules. So unless they're going to call and let me weigh in and write up the rules, no need to waste a lot of time or energy on something I can't control. I don't know, man: Everybody riding two different bikes, man, that all sounds a little bit crazy. The FIM, I think do a good job, other than the switch to 800s. For the most part, they've got some sharp people in there and will make something to go racing. It's unfortunate now that the economy and the manufacturers are hurting, and they can't just fire in a new rule and teams can spend all the money to develop parts. Really, I haven't followed it that close. The idea of going back to 1000s, I love that. Because the bore and stroke, the difference between the 800, 1000, really, I'm a rider, not an engineer. I really don't understand some of it, so I don't even know.

HOST: As you know, Indiana is a basketball-crazy state, and everybody knows you're a big fan of the UK (Kentucky) Wildcats, so two-part question here for you. One, have you gotten over the fact that the Wildcats didn't make the Final Four, and two, with them losing nearly their whole starting lineup to the NBA, do you think they can get there next year?

HAYDEN: I've gotten over it. I don't bleed blue like some people around here, my little sister being one. Sure, I like the Wildcats, but I don't paint my face, or anything, on all the home games. But I hated to see them lose. They had such a good squad this year. Next year, all of them leaving, it hurts. But Coach Cal, he knows how to recruit and bring in them McDonald's All-Americans. I know they've already signed No.2 in the nation. My buddy follows all that stuff. It's going to be tough, starting all over again with a bunch of freshmen, to hang any banners. But I think they'll be able to make another run.

ABRAMS: What story did you get from your dad on saving Tommy's pickup truck?

HAYDEN: I've only heard Tom's side of the story. So I'm still waiting out to hear what happened, get both sides of that story. I just heard his truck was on the hook, headed out of there, something. Squirrel had parked it in the wrong spot, and I don't want to incriminate anybody until I have both sides of the story. So I'll just leave it at that.

HOST: With that, we'll let the wheels of American justice and we'll thank Nicky very much for joining us today on the call. Nick, we wish you the best of luck today, and enjoy the extra time off.

HAYDEN: All right, sounds good. Look forward to seeing everybody at Indy. I know with three Americans up front doing pretty good, the buzz is higher than ever. It's cool. We're going to need the support from the American crowd, so hopefully everybody come out. I know last year everybody had a ball. They do a good job. IMS knows how to put on events. Not just a race. They know how to do the whole event - the downtown, the dirt track, stunt shows, whatever. They do it right. So we're looking forward to it.

UN VIDEO PARA VER CON TRANQUILIDAD...

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:02:00 +0000

Watch the new BBC documentary about Riders here

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:31:00 +0000

http://www.riders.org/

12 February 2010

Riders is the subject of a brand new film presented by the financial expert, Alvin Hall. The new series, Alvin’s Guide to Good Business, looks at how social enterprise organizations, like Riders, are helping create sustainable development in Africa.

You can now watch the new film online here:

The Riders film is the first in the series and looks at the launch of our brand new program in Zambia. The film was originally shown on BBC World News, but you can see it again here. Or by visiting www.rockhopper.com.

The half hour documentary will also be broadcast on BBC World News at 0230 and 0830 GMT on Saturday 13th February, and at 14.30 and 21.30 on Sunday 14th February. You can check your local listings on the BBC World News website.

You can find out more about Violet, by clicking here.

Or you can learn more about how social enterprise organizations are developing real world solutions that transform unequal and unjust social, environmental and economic systems by clicking here.

MotoGP echa a andar con el test de Sepang

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:05:00 +0000

El primer test oficial de MotoGP del año arranca el miércoles 3 de febrero
Los 17 pilotos de la categoría reina probarán sus nuevas monturas

Los pilotos de MotoGp volverán a probar sus nuevas monturas en Sepang.

RTVE.es / MOTOGP.COM 01.02.2010

El esperado arranque de la acción en 2010 llega finalmente la próxima semana, con la cita de los pilotos de MotoGP en el Circuito Internacional de Sepang. Programado los días 3, 4 y 5 de febrero, el test reunirá a los 17 corredores que este año participan en la categoría reina del Campeonato del Mundo, informa motogp.com.

La primera jornada (miércoles) estará reservada a los pilotos probadores de las escuderías, por lo que será en las sesiones de jueves y viernes cuando los pilotos regulares puedan empezar a confrontar en pista la evolución de los diferentes prototipos que estarán en liza este curso.

El Campeón del Mundo de 2009 Valentino Rossi y el subcampeón Jorge Lorenzo, compañeros de equipo en el Fiat Yamaha, seguirán trabajando en la nueva versión de las M1 que probaron por primera vez en el test post-temporada de Valencia, celebrado el pasado noviembre. Rossi ya avanzó entonces sus impresiones positivas sobre la aceleración y la velocidad del prototipo 2010, y Lorenzo también se mostró esperanzado con su evolución.

Los dos pilotos oficiales de Repsol Honda, Dani Pedrosa y Andrea Dovizioso, también estarán ansiosos por ver la respuesta en pista sus nuevas motos. El objetivo de Pedrosa es mejorar la estabilidad de la RC212V de 2010 y Dovizioso está a la espera de ver cómo se concreta la evolución realizada en electrónica y chasis. Por su parte, Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) ha comentado esta misma semana su entusiasmo con las perspectivas que le ofrece la nueva máquina. El piloto galo espera que las prestaciones de su moto estén más cerca de las del prototipo de fábrica.

Ducati presentó su Desmosedici GP10 a principios de enero y los pilotos oficiales, Casey Stoner y Nicky Hayden, dispondrán de un motor rediseñado. También empezarán a rodar las Ducati de la pareja del Pramac Racing, Aleix Espargaró y Mika Kallio, y la de Héctor Barberá (Team Aspar) quien se estrenará en la pista de Sepang sobre una montura de 800cc.

La escudería Rizla Suzuki pondrá en pista la GSV-R con la que la fábrica japonesa ha estado trabajando intensamente durante el invierno. El piloto más veterano de MotoGP, Loris Capirossi, y el debutante Álvaro Bautista empezarán a verificar en el trazado asiático si este trabajo la ha convertido en una máquina más competitiva que la temporada pasada.

Otra combinación de corredor experimentado y compañero novato se verá en el garaje del San Carlo Honda Gresini, donde ahora unen esfuerzos Marco Melandri y Marco Simoncelli. También debutante en las filas de Honda, el vigente Campeón del Mundo de 250cc Hiroshi Aoyama es el encargado de afinar la RC212V del equipo Honda Interwetten MotoGP y de defender sus colores en 2010. Junto a ellos rodará la pareja de tejanos del equipo Monster Yamaha Tech 3, Ben Spies y Colin Edwards, que comenzarán a trabajar en la puesta a punto de sus respectivas motos satélite.

The bet pictures of Dakar 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:16:00 +0000

Dakar Rally 2010

http://www.boston.com

The 31st running of the Dakar Rally is being held in South America for the second year, instead of the traditional African route, due to ongoing security concerns. This year's race began and will end in Buenos Aires, covering a looping 9,000 kilometers between Argentina and Chile over 14 stages. 362 Teams began the race with 176 motorcycles and quad bikes, 134 cars, and 52 trucks. The race is just over halfway completed now, the winners expected to cross the finish line on January 16th. Collected here are several photographs from the first 8 stages of this year's rally. (37 photos total)

Spain's Gerard Farres Guell kicks up sand with his Aprilia during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile on January 5, 2010. Spain's Marc Coma won the stage, France's David Casteu took the second place and France's Cyril Despres the third. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Aerial view of the Parc ferme of the Dakar 2010 in Buenos Aires on December 31, 2009. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

The Volkswagen Touareg of South African driver Giniel De Villers and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany attends the symbolic start of the Dakar 2010 in Buenos Aires on January 1, 2010. (ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Spanish KTM rider Jordi Viladoms greets onlookers during the opening presentation of the Dakar 2010 on January 1, 2010 in Buenos Aires. (Maxi Failla/AFP/Getty Images) #

Poland's Krzysztof Holowczyc in his Nissan passes race fans on a hillside during the Dakar 2010 between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina, on January 2, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo guides his Aprilia through water during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2010 between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina, on January 2, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

People watch Nissan's Jean-Pierre Strugo and co-driver Yves Ferri, of France, splash their car through a river crossing during stage one of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 in Rio Cuarto, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

France's Jean Claude Mazet falls from his KTM during the 2nd stage of the Dakar 2010 between Cordoba and La Rioja, Argentina, on January 3, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Manuel Jamett of Chile climbs a rocky road on his Yamaha motorcycle during the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally 2010 from Antofagasta to Iquique January 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) #

Spectators lie on the ground, hurt after the Desert Warrior of Germany-Swiss drivers Mirco Schultis and Ulrich Leardi careered off the road into a crowd, in Alpa Corral, Cordoba on January 2, 2010. One spectator was killed and four other fans were also hurt in the incident. (HO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Aprilia rider Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo, of Chile, looks at his GPS at a check point during stage seven of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

BMW's driver France's Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret cross a valley during the seventh stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Russia's Leonid Novitskiy crosses dunes in his BMW during the 7th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 8, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Volkswagen's Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz, of Spain, compete during stage six of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Italy's Luca Manca throws water over his head during the 3rd stage of the Dakar 2010 between La Rioja and Fiambala, Argentina, on January 4, 2010. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

Yamaha's rider France's David Fretigne crosses a dune during the eighth stage of the 2010 Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

A KTM mechanic works on Spain's Manuel Garcia's motorcycle during the resting day of the Dakar 2010, in Antofagasta, Chile, on January 9, 2010. (MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Carlos Sainz of Spain in his Volkswagen is followed by a helicopter during the seventh stage from Iquique to Antofasgasta in the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010, January 8, 2010. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) #

Frans Verhoeven of the Netherlands approaches the photographer across rocky terrain on his BMW during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

France's Stephane Peterhansel in his BMW glides past a road sign during the 7th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 8, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

A rider climbs a riffled sand dune during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Russian BMW driver Leonid Novitskiy and German co-driver Andreas Schulz try to escape after becoming stuck in the sand during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (NATACHA PISARENKO/AFP/Getty Images) #

A mechanic wakes up in the early morning of the rest day of the 2nd South American edition of the Dakar Rally 2010 in Antofasgasta January 9, 2010. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) #

A mechanic works on a truck in the Dakar encampment on the only rest day of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally in Antofagasta, Chile, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Helder Rodriguez of Portugal rides his Yamaha motorcycle during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally from Antofasgasta to Copiapo, January 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer/Pool) #

An aerial view shows the site where a Robinson 44 helicopter crashed in Fiambala, Catamarca province, January 4, 2010. The pilot, co-pilot and two reporters who were following the Dakar Rally sustained injuries when their helicopter crashed, local media reported. (REUTERS/Gendarmeria/Handout) #

A racer crosses desert terrain in stage six of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

China's Wenmin Su rides his Jincheng past cheering onlookers during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile on January 5, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

The Dakar encampment is seen during stage five of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 in Antofagasta, Chile, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Frederic Le Floc'h) #

Spain's Juan Pedrero prepares to go to the start line with his Aprilia during the seventh stage of the Dakar 2010, between Iquique and Antofagasta , Chile, on January 08, 2010. (MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Foggy clouds cover part of the area where the 5th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile, is taking place on January 6, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Aprilia rider Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo prepares his tent after the 5th stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta in Chile, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

Yamaha's rider Argentina's Alejandro Patronelli climbs a dune on his quad bike during the seventh stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) #

South African Giniel De Villiers drives his Volkswagen during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (NATACHA PISARENKO/AFP/Getty Images) #

Italy's Silvia Giannetti falls from her KTM during the 5th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 6, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

France's Cyril Despres crosses a wide plain his KTM during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Nicky Hayden: "No tengo ninguna duda sobre mi moto, mi equipo y mi potencial"

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:09:00 +0000

Nicky Hayden: "No tengo ninguna duda sobre mi moto, mi equipo y mi potencial"

MotoGP. Entrevista a Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro Team)

www.motociclismo.es

El último campeón de las MotoGP 990 parece decidido a sacar el máximo partido de la Ducati en 2010. Su rendimiento con las 800 cc no ha hecho justicia a su talento, pero eso podría cambiar la próxima temporada.

MotoGP. Entrevista a Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro Team)

Si la electrónica ha deslucido el espectáculo de MotoGP en los últimos años con la llegada de las sofisticadas 800 cc, lo cierto es que la tecnología también podría haber arruinado la carrera deportiva de pilotos dotados con una capacidad sobradamente demostrada. Quizá sea el caso de Hayden, un piloto de la vieja escuela con el talento y sensibilidad suficientes para controlar una cascada de potencia en la rueda trasera y derrapar exageradamente para encontrar su mejor rendimiento sobre el asfalto. Pero en la era de la electrónica las pérdidas de tracción son limitadas y la velocidad de paso por curva ha cobrado un protagonismo que antes no tenía.

En Honda no creyeron demasiado en sus posibilidades y cuando parecía que en Ducati le esperaba lo necesario para encontrarse a sí mismo como el campeón que fue, los resultados de su primera temporada no han acompañado a las expectativas iniciales. Hablamos de todo eso con Hayden en Madonna de Campiglio al mismo tiempo que lo hicimos con Stoner –cuya entrevista ya publicamos la semana pasada–, y aquí están las reflexiones, expectativas, sueños, miedos, dudas y esperanzas de uno de los pilotos de MotoGP con mayor talento y capacidad de sacrificio.

El año pasado, en la presentación oficial del equipo Ducati, la pregunta obvia fue qué esperabas de la temporada 2009. Quizá ahora deberíamos echar la vista atrás y preguntar qué dio de sí tu primer año con la marca italiana.

“Las expectativas el pasado año eran muy altas y después la temporada terminó siendo mucho más dura. La vida es así a veces y a principios de año sufrí un par de fuertes caídas y después no terminamos de encontrar nuestro sitio, pero prefiero ser positivo acerca de las cosas que conseguimos con mucho trabajo por parte de todos. Ducati se concentró en escucharme, me dieron la ayuda suficiente para poder progresar y estar más adelante durante el año, lo que culminó en el podio de Indianápolis y los dos quintos puestos en las últimas carreras. Dimos muchos pasos adelante en diferentes áreas con la moto, el equipo y la puesta a punto. Ahora esperamos empezar la temporada retomando el mismo ritmo de progresión e intentar acortar nuestra desventaja frente a los pilotos más rápidos”.

Y ahora, ¿cuáles son tus expectativas para la nueva temporada?

“La próxima temporada será muy excitante. Probamos la nueva moto en Valencia y me gustó. Creo que la pretemporada con el equipo será muy positiva. Hicimos algunos cambios internos y creo que eso mejorará la comunicación, así que espero que todo me ayude. Nos hemos empleado en ello y Ducati está comprometida a ayudarme en todo lo posible. Espero que todo ello se traduzca en buenos resultados cuando se apague el semáforo”.

¿Es cierto que te gustó tanto la nueva moto que subiste una foto de ella a tu página web antes de que Ducati hiciera públicas sus propias fotos? ¿Qué es lo que gustó tanto de la nueva moto?
“Bueno, la historia es que hace algo más de un mes estuve en la fábrica viendo la nueva moto y estaba tan contento como un niño con su juguete nuevo. Hice una foto con el teléfono y subí la imagen a mi página web para compartirla con mis amigos y los fans. No tiene demasiado secreto la historia. Simplemente subí la foto porque estaba encantado, aunque fue algo no muy apropiado, ya que no tenía tampoco la decoración definitiva. Bueno, lección aprendida y ya está. En cuanto a la moto en sí misma, las limitaciones en las sesiones de entrenamientos no te permiten salir y hacer un montón de cambios radicales, así que partimos de la base que teníamos, que era obviamente lo que había mejorado Stoner durante la temporada, e intentamos adaptarla y hacer mejoras. Había cambios en el motor y sé que eso nos ayudará durante la próxima temporada a hacer la moto más consistente y conducible. También se habían mejorado otros apartados menos públicos y estoy seguro de que la moto es buena. Tenemos un gran conjunto para 2010, algunos cambios en el equipo y eso es muy excitante para mí y todo mi entorno. Son grandes cambios, pero en el cambio también está la oportunidad. El entusiasmo y la energía renovada están ahí y veremos hasta dónde llegamos”.

Has mencionado muchos cambios en el equipo, ¿puedes ser más concreto al respecto?
“Bueno creo que el mayor cambio está en la marcha a Honda de Livio Suppo, que hasta ahora era el máximo responsable del equipo. Él había estado trabajando con Ducati desde hacía mucho tiempo y ahora le han sustituido Vitto Guareschi y Alessandro Cicognani, lo que va a reducir la carga de trabajo. Alessandro se encargará de la parte más comercial, relacionada con el patrocinio y Vitto estará más presente en el box. Antes Livio tenía que hacer todo y eso era pedir demasiado trabajo a una sola persona. Quizá esto ayude y yo apreciaré el conocimiento y la experiencia de Guareschi. Tiene un gran don de gentes y no hay que olvidar que es un piloto rápido que ha subido al podio en el Mundial de Superbike. También tiene mucha responsabilidad en el desarrollo de nuestra moto, ha hecho todas las pruebas y tenerle en el box será una ayuda para transmitir información a Filippo Preziosi y a la fábrica. Creo que ése es el mayor cambio. También hemos hecho otros cambios en el equipo en cuanto a mecánicos, pero quizá esos cambios suelen ser más habituales. Tenemos algunas caras nuevas y mucha energía. Sin duda tienen un gran hueco que llenar, ya que Livio era una gran parte de este equipo, pero estoy seguro de que todos han aprendido lo suficiente de él para que funcione”.

Si tenemos en cuenta que los resultados en 2009 no fueron los esperados, ¿a qué se puede achacar la situación? ¿Quizá fue la adaptación a una nueva moto tan particular? ¿Cómo crees que cambiará el panorama en esta nueva temporada?
“Más bien se trata de una combinación. Moto, equipo, puesta a punto, es todo un conjunto. Debo reconocer que yo no pude sacar todo el partido a la moto, pero ahora tengo mejores sensaciones. Al principio era difícil, creo que no la entendía plenamente y no sabía dónde estaba el límite. Quizá no me adapté tan bien a la moto o quizá no pudimos poner a punto la moto exactamente de la forma que yo necesitaba”.

¿Cómo has trabajado y cómo ha sido tu relación con Guareschi en el pasado? ¿Cómo esperas que sea su nuevo papel como mánager del equipo?
“He trabajado estrechamente con Vitto. En algunas las sesiones de pruebas él estaba ahí y también en las carreras, incluso con la Ducati biplaza. Siempre ha tenido un momento para saber lo que estaba haciendo y cuáles eran mis sensaciones sobre la moto. Él conoce muy bien esta moto y no hay nada que me ocurra que el no haya experimentado con anterioridad. Tener a alguien así es una gran ayuda porque sabe perfectamente cómo te sientes y cómo cualquier cosa tienen sentido para él por pequeñas o extrañas que puedan parecer. También ha mejorado su inglés y su nueva función será un gran desafío para él. Creo que hará un gran trabajo y si igual al principio puede parecer más relajante tomar las decisiones seguro que vendrán momentos difíciles en los que tendrá que tomar algunas muy importantes, pero todos tenemos mucha confianza en que hará un buen trabajo. Desde el punto de vista de las pruebas, él tendrá menos tiempo para subirse a la moto, aunque también lo seguirá haciendo”.

Todo el mundo dice que la Ducati está hecha para el estilo de Stoner. ¿Qué opinas sobre ello?
“Creo que me han hecho esa pregunta alguna que otra vez… todo el mundo piensa así, pero la verdad es que Casey ha sabido sacar el máximo partido de esta moto, explotando los puntos fuertes, siendo muy rápido y adaptándose así a la moto. Casey tiene un talento especial, no ceo que sea una cuestión de moto. Creo que más bien se trata de un conjunto. Estoy seguro de que sería igual de rápido sobre cualquier otra moto. No puedo negar que se trata de una moto un poco especial, a veces cuesta encontrar su límite, pero es como una frontera. Una vez te encuentras en ese punto su potencial es muy alto. Otros pilotos también han demostrado que pueden ser rápidos con ella, pero ser capaces de adaptarse plenamente es lo que ha marcado las diferencias”.

¿Qué opinas sobre el nuevo reglamento? ¿Cómo crees que será la nueva norma de los seis motores en la temporada? Para Casey es más fácil ser rápido al inicio de la sesión, aunque parece que tú sueles necesitar más tiempo. ¿Cómo crees que afectará eso al desarrollo de tus entrenamientos?
“Los entrenamientos están abiertos y puedes rodar más o menos, pero creo que el verdadero desafío será para fabricantes, ingenieros y equipos. Seis motores no son muchos para 18 carreras cuando tienes que rodar desde el viernes. Los jefes de equipo tendrán que manejar la situación y tomar decisiones, y si tienes una caída o una rotura puede ser un gran desastre. Parece obvio que se empleen los motores más usados para la lluvia y las sesiones de entrenamiento libre y se reserven los motores más frescos y potentes para los cronometrados y la carrera. Gran parte del trabajo de pretemporada ha consistido en lograr un nuevo nivel de fiabilidad en los motores. Espero que se consiga reducir los costes, pero realmente no sé cuánto se podrá ahorrar en unos motores que requieren un desarrollo adicional para durar tanto. Una buena parte del presupuesto se ha ido en este apartado. Probablemente, no sabremos dónde estamos en este sentido hasta la tercera o cuarta carrera. Ducati cree que tiene la situación bajo control, pero no sabemos qué tendrán los demás y cómo afectará este apartado a cada uno. Es cierto que normalmente paso más tiempo sobre la moto en entrenamientos que otros pilotos, pero las cosas en este sentido cambiarán el año próximo y habrá que lograr antes el ritmo óptimo en menos tiempo durante el fin de semana”.

Siendo entonces uno de tus objetivos conseguir un ritmo más rápido empleando menos tiempo, ¿tienes planificado un método distinto o se trata más bien de una cuestión mental?
“Mucho de ello es mío. El año pasado cambiábamos muchas cosas desde el viernes estando aún lejos del ritmo más rápido, lo que nos dejaba sobre el puesto 12 ó 13 y en realidad habríamos necesitado correr el martes porque no era hasta el domingo cuando comenzaba a tener una óptima puesta a punto. Ésa es la razón de la importancia de las pruebas en pretemporada, porque necesitas encontrar una buena base en la que luego debas cambiar muy pocas cosas los viernes durante la temporada. Nuestro plan no es fácil, pero espero definir la base necesaria durante el invierno para ser rápidos desde el viernes, cuando la pista todavía está sucia, en diferentes circuitos y condiciones”.

Como campeón del mundo de MotoGP, suponemos que debe ser bastante frustrante para ti no estar al nivel que los pilotos más rápidos. ¿Crees que tendrás la moto adecuada para conseguirlo?
“La verdad es que resulta bastante frustrante haber sido campeón y estar viviendo esta situación ahora. Siempre he esperado mucho de mí y todo esto no es nada divertido, pero no tengo ninguna duda sobre mi moto, mi equipo o mi propio potencial. Creo que tenemos todos los ingredientes necesarios y sólo es cuestión de saber combinarlos y conseguir los objetivos. Para mí resulta bastante simple”.

Hemos sabido que después de lograr el podio en Indianápolis Stoner fue uno de los primeros en enviarte un SMS de enhorabuena. ¿Cómo es tu relación con Casey? ¿Intercambiáis información para el desarrollo de la moto?
“Creo que tenemos una gran relación. Nos llevamos bien y podemos estar de acuerdo o tener cada uno sus propias ideas sobre cuestiones relacionadas con la moto, pero estamos abiertos y podemos hablar. Nunca hemos tenido grandes diferencias. Obviamente, él ha conseguido resultados mucho mejores y no es lo mismo que si estás en pista luchando a brazo partido uno contra el otro. Me gusta verle fuera de los circuitos, no es que nos estemos enviando SMS todo el día, pero es un buen chaval y yo respeto mucho su talento”.

Según tenemos entendido, debido a tu complexión física uno de tus problemas hasta ahora estaba en el túnel de viento.
“El túnel de viento es sólo una parte de todo. El pasado año hicimos pruebas y volvimos este año para probar nuevas soluciones. Mi velocidad máxima el año pasado sobre la Ducati siempre era inferior a la de otros pilotos y estoy seguro de que teníamos los mismos motores y los mismos recursos a nuestro alcance. Yo soy un piloto que abulta algo más y se trata de lograr una buena combinación entre el carenado, el asiento, la posición de conducción. Este año era una sensación extraña no lograr la misma velocidad que otros pilotos con la misma moto y también estamos intentando encontrar soluciones en este apartado”.

Tu hermano Roger Lee vendrá este año a correr el Mundial de Superbike. ¿Tendrás tiempo de encontrarte con él en algún circuito e incluso tener su punto de vista sobre las “cuatro tiempos” de 1.000 cc, ahora que los futuros reglamentos parece tan cercanos entre sí?
“Deberé comprobar las fechas y ver cuándo nos podemos ver. Esperaba que hubiera conseguido una plaza en Moto2. Tenía un par de opciones y habría sido fantástico poder compartir el fin de semana de carreras con él, tal como hacíamos en los viejos tiempos. Para que me entiendas, hemos compartido dormitorio hasta que nos graduamos en el instituto, pero su oportunidad ha llegado en el Mundial de Superbike en un momento muy difícil para las carreras en América debido a la situación económica. El campeonato norteamericano no es tan competitivo en este momento como en el pasado. Ahora debe hacer una buena pretemporada con la moto y espero que pueda conseguir buenos resultados”.

El número de posibles ganadores durante la pasada temporada estaba bastante definido, ¿crees que este año habrá más pilotos capaces de ganar carreras? ¿Qué opinas de las posibilidades de Ben Spies en 2010?
“Espero que haya más pilotos ganadores. En este momento hay cuatro que están un paso claramente por delante del resto y el trabajo de éstos es reducir esa desventaja. Estoy seguro de que Spies hará una buena temporada. Ha demostrado que siendo un “rookie” puede ganar el Mundial de SBK y ahora tiene un buen conjunto en MotoGP. Incluso siendo un principiante ya tiene cierta experiencia por las carreras que ha hecho en MotoGP y entiende bien lo que tiene entre manos, así que tampoco se trata de un estricto principiante. Es bueno que haya más pilotos rápidos y también más pilotos norteamericanos competitivos en el campeonato.

Muchos pilotos de motos han terminando compitiendo también sobre cuatro ruedas. ¿Piensas en hacer lo mismo algún día?
“Se me ha pasado por la cabeza, pero de momento mi compromiso está en las dos ruedas –N. de R.: En Madonna de Campiglio Hayden venció en una carrera de karting sobre hielo a Stoner y a los pilotos del equipo Ferrari de Fórmula Uno–. Amo las motos y soy un piloto competitivo. Correr en coche quizá me parezca menos excitante, ya que en una moto te sientes más parte del conjunto. Es una opción para el futuro, pero en este momento tengo bien claras mis prioridades”.

¿Crees que la vuelta a los 1.000 cc beneficiará tu estilo de pilotaje?
“Realmente creo que sí. La última vez que corrimos con las 990 cc gané el título. Aún queda mucho por definir acerca del nuevo reglamento. Quedan dos años y sólo pienso en el 2010. Espero que para entonces mi nivel esté más alto y me encuentre en una buena posición para conseguir una moto de fábrica. Ya veremos”.

John Wall de los Kentucky Wildcats se presentará al Draft!!

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:59:00 +0000

El escolta de Kentucky es el jugador más prometedor del basket
universitario

Redacción http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gen/20100125/53877117005/noticia/john-wall-se-presentara-al-draft.html

- 25/01/2010 03:00

El escolta de primer año de la universidad de Kentucky John Wall, considerado por muchos como el jugador más prometedor del basket estadounidense, declaró el sábado que no tiene "otra opción" que declararse elegible para el Draft de la NBA del próximo mes de junio. La decisión del jugador fue confirmada por su entrenador actual, John Callipari, que ya lo da por perdido.

"He bromeado con él sobre la posibilidad de seguir pero me ha dicho que ni hablar", declaró Wall tras participar de la abrumadora victoria de su equipo sobre Arkansas por 101-70. Wall finalizó con 16 puntos, siete asistencias y tres recuperaciones. Cuando un periodista le recordó que lo más importante es obedecer al entrenador Wall respondió que "no tiene otra opción".

Dotado de una gran habilidad para penetrar a canasta, de gran visión de juego y de una rapidez endiablada, Wall ya lleva varios meses siendo considerado como principal favorito al puesto número uno del Draft 2010. Cuando se comprometió por Kentucky el pasado verano ya dijo que lo hacía, ante todo, por la presencia de Callipari, un entrenador que ha impulsado las carreras profesionales de bases como Derrick Rose o Tyreke Evans.

Nacido en Raleigh, North Carolina, Wall es un jugador de 1.92 de estatura y 18 años. En su primera temporada en el basket universitario, está promediando 17 puntos, 6.9 asistencias y más de dos recuperaciones por encuentro. Ha contribuido decisivamente a las 19 victorias de los Wildcats, que están invictos esta campaña.

Al ser menor de 22 años, Wall deberá declarar su elegibilidad por escrito en los plazos fijados para que los equipos NBA le tengan en cuenta

Hayden Beats Alonso, Massa, Stoner

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:49:00 +0000

http://cyclenews.com

Nicky Hayden wins go-kart race at Wrooom 2010

By: Henny Ray Abrams

Photography By: Henny Ray Abrams

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, ITALY, JAN.15: It may have been 18 degrees, but Nicky Hayden's million watt smile warmed the night after he scored a surprise win by lapping some of the best drivers in the world to win the go-kart race on ice on the final day of Wrooom 2010, the combined Ducati/Ferrari Marlboro teams launch in the Italian ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio.

"That was really awesome; I mean I know it was just for fun and not everybody taking it serious, but still to win is cool," a chilled but smiling Hayden said after beating Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's Felipe Massa and teammate Casey Stoner. "I mean, I'm a competitive person, so the first win of the year. Hopefully, I'll get a couple more."

The Ducati Marlboro rider set the table for the go-kart race by coming second to Massa and beating Stoner, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, and two others in the Fiat Panda race, held just prior to the karts. On a TT track-complete with jump-laid out on a frozen rink in the middle of town, Hayden channeled his inner dirt tracker, taking the jump perfectly, using the banked corners, and turning right as well as left. Undaunted by his vaunted competition, Hayden didn't make a mistake in chasing the Brazilian Formula One ace to the runner-up position. The 2006 MotoGP World Champion even survived being broadsided by teammate Casey Stoner.

After a brief interval, the go-karts were fired up and so was Hayden. While others were making mistakes, on the now mostly oval track, with banked corners and no jump, Hayden zipped into the lead and sped quickly away, lapping the entire field. It was a bravura performance for Hayden, who had a less than successful run here last year.

"I really didn't expect to win; last year they beat up on me," Hayden said. "I had a lot of fun. That was awesome. My kart felt pretty good and was just driving. I mean, I know they probably weren't taking it all that serious, but I was. When I was leading I wasn't wanting to get passed. But I think we're all pretty competitive. That was pretty cool. I ain't gonna lie. I'm happy to win."

Interview: Ducati MotoGP Rider Nick Hayden

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:12:00 +0000

by gaber kerzisnik

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Jan/100113-69.htm

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I was able to interview Ducati MotoGP rider Nicky Hayden today here at the Wroom event in Madonna di Campiglio. I have not seen Hayden out on the slopes so I started the interview with that question.

Q. Nick I have not see you out skiing.

A. Because I don't ski. I do not want to look like a clown out there, and am afraid of being hurt. I do not really want to get hurt doing something on a snowboard. I am much more of a fan of warm weather. You know, sun and the beach ...

Q. Nicky, who is your toughest competitor ever?

A. I have had a lot them, especially during my younger dirt track days. But if you think of my GP career, then that answer is Valentino Rossi. No doubt. He is winner of so many races, he has won nine championships, and he is so strong. Much stronger than anybody else...

Q. What in your career is more personally frustrating, being passed for the win by Scott Parker at Del Mar Mile race or being knocked down by Dani Pedrosa in Portugal 2006?

A. That Pedrosa thing ... I am never gonna forget that and how I felt. But also the Scott Parker win... that still hurts me. I still feel the pain about that in my chest. Damn, I really needed that win on a Mile track for the Grand Slam.

Q. I need quick answer with my next question. Straight thinking and no diplomacy. Do you think that Mat Mladin is one of the top five riders in the world?

A. No.

Q. Okay... let's play the game some more. Let's say you were watching TV and Megan Fox is on one channel and an early 1990s 500 GP race is on the other. Which one would you choose to watch?

A. Maaaan ... this is not fair. This is too tough.. Ohhh man, I do not know. Definitely I would not miss the race, especially with Schwantz, Rainey and all the old guys... but Megan Fox....

Okay, I have the solution. I would bring up my computer, watch the race on TV and Megan Fox on my computer. Even if it was just a picture of her..

Q. Are you still living in the apartment above your parent's garage? Do you ever intend to move from your apartment?

A. Yes, actually I have just bought myself a house. Not long ago... and it is not far away from there.

Q. What is your opinion about Daytona 200 race, which is 600 now instead Superbikes?

A. That is sad, man ... really sad. It is the greatest race in USA, and they are running it on some 600s. You know, I really have strong feeling about Daytona. I have won many races in my life so far, I was MotoGP world champion, but winning the Daytona 200 is a special feeling. That race and win still has a special place in my heart. Winning there was something special, especially because it was the track of Mr. Daytona, Scott Russel. He was my childhood hero ...

Q. Okay, lets get back to these days. What are your goals for 2010 season? Do you hope for more luck, especially now since Alex De Angelis is gone to Moto 2?

A. Heh, heh ... yes. I hope for more luck and more consistency. I would like to show what I am capable of and I am really looking for some good results this year.

ENDS

Hayden: Enthusiasm landed me 'in the dog house'

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:32:00 +0000

http://www.crash.net/

Former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden insists that he is much better-prepared for his second season with Ducati Corse than he was for his first - even if he is in the team's 'dog house' at the moment...

Nicky Hayden has admitted that a touch of over-enthusiasm when he first clapped eyes on his new bike for 2010 landed him in hot water with his employers – but he reveals that 'some big changes' and 'some fresh energy' have left him buoyed about his prospects for the season ahead.

The new Ducati Corse GP10 is due to be officially unveiled today (Wednesday) at Madonna di Campiglio, the ski resort in the Italian Dolomites that traditionally plays host to a joint Ducati/Ferrari pre-season media party, but Hayden was given a sneak preview of his new mount at the team's Bologna factory last month and – unaware that the design was to be kept a closely-guarded secret until the launch – unwittingly went and ruined the surprise by posting a photograph of it on his personal website.

“I was just like a kid,” he confessed, quoted by Cycle News and the BBC. “Any time you get a new toy you want to show all your friends, so when I saw the bike I took a picture on my 'phone. The bike didn't have the graphics on it or anything, and I thought most people had pretty much seen it at Valencia – so I just put the picture on my website and shared it with my fans. I should have known better and that probably got me in the doghouse a little bit, but I was just excited. It happens, and lesson learned.”

Nonetheless, that the 2006 MotoGP World Champion is so effusive about what lies ahead speaks volumes off the back of a torrid 2009 campaign that initially just seemed to lurch from one crash to another and culminated in a desultory 13th place in the final riders' standings – his lowest-ever finish in the premier class – with but a solitary podium to his name along the way, albeit perhaps appropriately on home turf at Indianapolis.

Contrast that with team-mate and fellow former title-winner Casey Stoner, who despite missing three rounds due to illness, nonetheless succeeded in outscoring Hayden by a margin of more than two-to-one, notching up no fewer than four victories en route to fourth spot in the chase for the crown.

Early accidents and injuries failed to help the rider who just three years earlier had fought and defeated the legendary Valentino Rossi for the ultimate laurels, but the principal issue, the Kentucky native acknowledges, was his failure to gel with the GP09. Twelve months on and encouraged by a far stronger conclusion to the year than beginning, he insists he is older and wiser – and, most importantly of all, has a far better understanding of the machinery underneath him heading into his second season with Ducati Marlboro.

“I like the bike, while another off-season with the team will be a big help for me,” he underlined. “With the limited amount of off and in-season testing, it's not like you can go and make a bunch of radical new changes, but the bike is good and we have a strong package for 2010. Some stuff with the engine certainly will help us to make [the bike] more rideable and more consistent as the season goes on, and we've got a couple different little tweaks and stuff.

“There have been a few big changes in the team – and with changes you have big opportunities. There is a lot of excitement about the season for me and for everybody involved. We have brought in some new guys, the enthusiasm is there and [there is] some fresh energy, so we [will] see what it amounts to. [My only concern is that] six engines is not a lot for 18 races. I hope it saves some money, but I'm not sure how much it is going to save because it takes a lot of development to make them last.”

Key amongst the changes to which he refers, of course, has been the departure of long-time team principal Livio Suppo in favour of development rider and former World Superbike star Vito Guareschi, with Alessandro Cicognani now on the marketing side. Whilst not denying that Suppo's experience and expertise will inevitably be missed, Hayden is convinced that the new arrangement will work just as well if not even better.

“[Guareschi and Cicognani were not] pulled off the production line from putting kickstands on 848s,” he stressed. “These guys have been around and I think can be a big help to us. We'll have Alessandro now focus more on the sponsoring side and Vito in the garage. Before, Livio was doing it all and it was a big job for one guy, too much to ask.

“[Guareschi] is the one really responsible for this bike; he's the one who's done all the testing, and we think having him around will help have a closer link from the track to the factory. I think that's the biggest change. We've made a few little changes within the team, a few mechanics swapping around, which is a normal deal. I think everybody is excited about the opportunity, and we've definitely got some fresh faces and some new energy. Sure, they have big shoes to fill, because Livio, as we all know, did a lot and was a big part of our team – but these guys I think have been around him enough to learn from him, and now they've got a big opportunity so let's see what they can do.”

Guareschi and Cicognani, however, are far from the only ones under pressure to perform and produce results at Ducati this year, as Hayden well knows. Improvement is required in all areas if the 28-year-old is to reprise his front-running and even title-challenging form in 2010 – but he is confident that he will be able to do just that.

“It's been frustrating,” he mused of his lack of results in 2009. “To go from being the world champ to running around mid-pack is tough at times when I expect a lot from myself, and sure, it's not fun. [My expectations were] a little bit higher than how we went. It was tougher than we had hoped, but life is like this sometimes and things don't always go exactly how you draw them up and how you lay in bed and envision them. We started off the season and had a couple big crashes and got beat up, and just really couldn't get any momentum going.

“I think the thing that we've got to be positive about is the progress we made, thankfully with a lot of hard work from everybody at Ducati and at Philip Morris to really listen to me and give me the help I needed. We were able to slowly but surely start working our way toward the front and finish the season really positive. Was it enough? No, but I was able to get on the podium at Indy and then finish the season with two top fives in a row and make some big steps with myself, the bike, the team and the set-up in a lot of areas.

“I think it's a combination [of things]; it's bike, rider, team – it's all one package. You have to use the bike as a tool, and obviously I didn't get the most out of it, but I think now I have a better feel for it. In the beginning it was always really difficult; I could never get a good understanding from lap-to-lap and get the feedback and know where the limit was, so I don't think it's just one area. I think part of it is adjusting my style [and] my approach to the bike, but also adjusting the bike and the set-up to me.

“We're really excited for the new season. [We] need to pick up right where we left off and keep trying to close that gap to the front. I have no doubt about my bike, my team and even my potential. I know we have all the ingredients we need; it's just to put it all together and make it happen, so it's pretty simple. No need to sit here talking about it and blowing a lot of smoke and making a lot of predictions, though. [We] just need to get ready for when we get to Qatar and the lights go out, to be able to get up front.”

Incoming! Chopper Drops Hayden, Stoner In Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:59:00 +0000

www.superbikeplanet.com

by staff

Monday, January 11, 2010

Ducati Corse sent us this film, shot at the Marlboro Ducati Team Introduction in the Italian alps. It contains, as near as we can tell, no footage of motorcycles. But it does have a helicopter

Exclusive Nicky Hayden Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:50:00 +0000

www.motorcycle-usa.com

Steve Atlas

Executive Editor

Professional-grade speed and an attitude to match, Executive Editor Steve Atlas is the leader of the new blood at MotoUSA. Atlas has AMA racing creds that are even more extensive than his driving record.

Monday, January 04, 2010

MotoUSA catches up with 2006 American MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden to get his take on the upcoming season.

Being a MotoGP racer isn’t all champagne, girls and glory. For every winner there are ten losers, and for every ten losers there are thousands that never even made it. Plus the sheer pressure of factories investing loads time and money into one person can be too much for some to handle. American Nicky Hayden knows what it’s like to be on top; a MotoGP crown from 2006 can attest to that. But he also knows what it’s like to struggle. And 2009 was an especially hard year for the Kentucky Kid.

After seven years on the factory Honda squad he was dropped in favor of young Italian Andrea Dovizioso. Hayden eventually found a new home with Italian marque Ducati alongside fellow world champion Casey Stoner, though on a bike which most believed only the superhuman Stoner was capable of riding. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Hayden went in guns blazing only to have some seriously bad luck and teething problems keep him at the back of the pack for the first half of the season. But a late-year push saw the hard-working Owensboro native on the podium at the Indianapolis GP, a finish that surely saved his job for 2010.

We caught up with Hayden to get his thoughts on life as a now second-year Ducati GP rider and what he thinks the future has in store…

Hayden had a rough start to the season, riddled with crashes and bike issues.

MCUSA: In your eyes how was 2009?

HAYDEN: Ya know, truthfully, I had higher expectations. It was a rough year. We struggled and it wasn’t what I was expecting. Especially the beginning was tough. The communication was an issue and we started with some bad luck, all the crashes and such, some really bad luck, and everything just went downhill. But the team did a really good job to stick by me through it all and after we made some changes and really worked at it, things got a lot better. It was a rough one though.

MCUSA: Was there a turning point in the season for you?

HAYDEN: At the third round when I got a new crew chief. Bringing him in allowed us to overcome some communication issues. The biggest thing with the previous one was understanding his English and him understanding what I was, saying and being able to talk about the bike and what it’s doing, ya know. They moved him in to an advisor role for the whole team and it worked out well. He’s a smart chap but it wasn’t the best fit with the two of us. Once we changed things is when it started to turn around.

MCUSA: Would you say this was the toughest season of your career?

HAYDEN: Man, yeah. It’d probably have to be the toughest. I mean, I’ve had some hard years where things were rough along the way but this is right up there. With all the injuries and getting taken out so many times and the struggles with the bike and the team. Yeah…it was probably the hardest.

Once Nick switched to a new crew chief at the third round of 2009, things to starting going in the right direction.

MCUSA: Your brother Tommy has always been a mentor of sorts to you. Was have him around an extra helpful in a tough year like this?

HAYDEN: Yeah. Of course. Tommy basically taught me how to race from the beginning and he has been a big part of my career my entire life. This year he came to Qatar and Valencia as well as the tests. It’s good to have him around. I talk to him almost every weekend. It’s good because I need someone who will tell me how I’m doing straight up. I’ve got plenty of people that will say good things but you need someone to shoot you straight and that’s what brothers are for. Tommy is there to always tell me how it is.

MCUSA: How much did injuries affect your season?

HAYDEN: For sure to start in Qatar, after having spent the whole previous night in the hospital, was hard. My body had taken a beating. I definitely needed (pain) injections to get through that one. Japan too, after Takahashi took me out and I hit my head, to go straight to Jerez the next week probably didn’t do anything for me. I didn’t really learn anything from riding there and that weekend was a struggle. I probably should have sat that one out.

MCUSA: It seemed like if you had any luck at all this season it was bad luck, especially in Misano where De Angelis took you and several others out?

De Angelis takes out Hayden and others at Misano.

HAYDEN: Man, yeah. Misano was a rough one. We had gone to the other Italian track, Mugello, and stunk up the place, but at Misano, there in Italy on an Italian bike, we were doing really well. I qualified higher up the order and we were on pace all weekend, maybe even looking at an outside shot at the podium because Pedrosa wasn’t on fire there, and then to have that happen, well… It was tough not to lay into De Angelis. I have a buddy’s dad that says ‘if you’re going to cock it, better throw it’ and I had it cocked there in the gravel trap and it was everything I had not to punch the kid. I wasn’t surprised it was him, though. He’s not the smartest guy. If you met him you would understand, trust me.

MCUSA: We would venture to guess Indy was the high point of the season for you?

HAYDEN: Definitely Indy. To come back home and put it on the podium and to basically save my job not a few hours from my hometown was pretty special, I’m not gonna lie. Pedrosa and Rossi may have fell but I felt like we worked really hard that weekend and we were in front of a lot of really talented guys for that podium spot and it basically saved my job.

The Casey Stoner illness. Still a mystery?

MCUSA: Any insight into the whole Casey Stoner sickness ordeal this year? Did it affect you at all?

HAYDEN: That was a strange one. It was hard on the team for sure. And a little shady. No one really knew exactly was what going on. I’m not sure he even did. Bottom line was he wasn’t healthy and couldn’t do his job, but to leave like that for three races was odd. Turns out it was the right thing to do, though. He came back and was on pace and winning races right away, looking healthy, so it worked.

MCUSA: How has the off-season been going?

HAYDEN: Good. The end of the year test at Valencia went well. We were top-five, which for a world champion isn’t something to brag about, but we’ve made good progress and it was encouraging. We tested a few bits there that seem to have improved things and now they are back getting more ready. We have a pretty long break, more than usual with the testing rules, so I’ve just been training and spending some time at home. I was in Europe and India for some sponsor stuff with Ducati which was fun but now I'm home for the holidays and that's nice. We did some wind tunnel testing in Italy to try and get more speed down the straights. I'm bigger than Casey (Stoner), but the mph difference has just been too big so we are working on that. Now I’m getting ready for a little New Year’s bash with some buddies. Should be a good one.

Hayden putting the 2010 Ducati GP bike through its paces at the end-of-the-season Valencia test.

MCUSA: What are your thoughts on the far more limited testing schedule this year?

HAYDEN: I’m a guy that gets a lot out of testing. I like to put the hours in to get everything I can from myself and the bike, so would I prefer more? Yeah. But the economy is rough and it’s understandable. It’s not like it was before with blank checks and loads of tests. People have budgets and the big buck sponsors are hard to come by. The teams don’t have the deep pockets they used to so it’s understandable.

MCUSA: Speaking of new rules, what do you think of 1000cc MotoGP bikes for 2012?

HAYDEN: I like it! We need to be back on 1000s. We need to have big horsepower and bikes that slide. That’s what MotoGP should be. I’ve always felt they should have stayed with 990s, but then again I’m kinda biased (laughs). First for me, though, is to make sure that I’m here in 2012 on a factory team so I can take advantage of those rules. That’s a long way away in the racing world, so I’m just focused and head down to make sure I’m around when that comes.

MCUSA: Looking at next season, what’s it going to take to run with those top four dominating guys (Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa)?

What does it take to beat those top four guys?

HAYDEN: Those guys right now are straight up better than the rest. For me it’s several things, not just one. I need to work on some stuff and the team has been making some changes with the bike. It’s a multitude of different things. Hopefully with it being the second year and knowing the electronics and the package we will use at each track, having a year under our belts, should make things a lot easier. Hopefully we can get a good base setup, which we never had this year, to give us the confidence week in and week out to be there. We’ve always had a hard time early in the weekend. Usually by the end of the race we are on pace but it takes all three days. We really need to work on coming out of the box faster with a good setup so we aren’t playing catch up anymore.

MCUSA: Stoner made a strange comment about his warm-up lap crash at Valencia, saying that it was something bike related which could have happened all year but finally bit him. Is there something different you have to do with the Ducati before the race?

HAYDEN: Kinda. On the parade lap we have a fuel conservation mode that keeps us from going too fast and turns off a lot of the deceleration electronics. It means that we save a couple cc of fuel, but every little bit helps with these engines. But it also means we don’t get a lot of heat in the tires that lap, so for the warm-up lap you really have to be careful. Stoner just got on it too hard too early that lap and didn’t get the tires up to temp.

Nicky leaked an image he took of the 2010 Ducati GP bike which got him in a bit of heat, though it's essentially the same bike seen here in post-season testing.

MCUSA: A photo of the 2010 Ducati MotoGP bike that you snapped on your phone and put on your website has been making the rounds and causing some turmoil. Did you get in trouble for posting that?

HAYDEN: (Laughs) Yeah. Yeah I did. I was just excited when I was over there doing some sponsor stuff and I figured everybody had basically seen the bike at the Valencia test already so I didn’t think it would be a big deal. I made a mistake and shouldn’t have put it up, but heck, it didn’t have any of the logos and everyone has seen it already. But, yeah, I got it a bit of trouble and I’m sorry about that one. Not too bad though. Ain’t like I’m putting engine blueprints online or something, ya know.

MCUSA: Going into your eighth season in MotoGP, do you still get fired up about Grand Prix racing the way you did your rookie year?

HAYDEN: Ya know what, I really do. Sometimes I wonder if I just tell myself that, but honestly I do. I was on a bike ride training the other day out in the cold and was thinking to myself ‘do I really still get as excited or am I just saying that to myself.’ Truth is I’m every bit as excited for this year as I was for my first year. I still have that same fire.

MCUSA: What are your goals are for 2010?

Hayden: Optimistic about 2010 as well as motivated for a second year on the Ducati.

HAYDEN: I’m not under some delusion that we’re going to go out there and just start winning races every weekend. It’s one seriously stacked field this year, but I need to be up in the top four and getting on the podium consistently. Anything less than that and I’ll be disappointed. We made good progress at the last test in Valencia and I think now in our second year as a team and second year on the bike, if we can find a good base setup, we can be up there. We need to be.

MCUSA: Thanks Nicky, anything else you want to add?

HAYDEN: I really want to say that I’m proud of my team, too, and thankful that they really stuck by me through all the hard times. It was hard but all things considered I really think we went from being nowhere to a contender and now we need to go one step further. Also, all the American fans out there, you guys have always stuck by and it’s been awesome to have you in my corner. I really am thankful for that.

For more Nicky Hayden be sure to check out: www.NickyHayden.com

Nicky Hayden Opens The Second Ducati Showroom in India

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:20:00 +0000

18 December 2009 - Ducati

Having signed a distribution agreement with Precision Motor India Private Limited and Radiant Motorcycles, and following on from the opening of the first Ducati Store in Mumbai, Ducati continues to impact on the Indian market.

On Friday 18th December, and in the presence of a very special guest, India’s second Ducati show room was officially opened for business.

Nicky Hayden, Ducati’s factory rider in the MotoGP Championship, was invited to inaugurate the Ducati Store in Gurgaon, one of the most dynamic and modern districts of the Indian capital. There to welcome Nicky was Ashish Chordia, CEO of Precision Motor India Private Limited, a big Ducati fan who was therefore very happy to have the 2006 MotoGP World Champion present for the event.

Mr Chordia, alongside Mirko Bordiga, CEO of Ducati Asia Pacific, presented Hayden to a large crowd of national journalists and the American rider spoke to them about the experience of being a Ducati rider, his first season with the factory MotoGP team, and his goals for 2010, when he will line up alongside Casey Stoner once again in the fight for the title.

“This event has made me understand the great strategic importance of a market such as India”, Nicky Hayden commented. “his great potential and above all, how well Ducati and MotoGP is known, appreciated and how the company is capable of attracting passionate fans, both from a commercial and sporting point of view. I am happy that there is such great interest in us and such anticipation ahead of next season. Last year, after a difficult start, we made continuous improvement towards the end and after the Valencia tests I am very excited for next year and can’t wait to get back on my Ducati.”

“The Ducati brand symbolizes racing success and passion”,Mr. Ashish Cordia said, “and we couldn’t have a better testimonial than Nicky’s to reinforce this perception. With the opening of Gurgaon showroom Ducati is now able to reach its customers in both the key markets – Delhi and Mumbai – where we will provide the best level of Sales and After Sales Service available in the market”

Hayden visits Ducati Corse

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:17:00 +0000

Former MotoGP champ sizes up new racer for 2010

Posted: 17 December 2009
by Visordown News

FORMER MOTOGP World Champion Nicky Hayden visited the Ducati factory on Wednesday this week, to check up on the developments of his 2010 Desmosedici GP10 racer.

The American met Ducati Corse staff and cracked open a few bottles of bubbly, presumably after the Kentucky rider had discussed the finer points of his 2010 steed.

This, from Hayden's website:

Here are a few photos from my visit to Ducati. I came by yesterday to check in with the fellas and to see my new weapon for the 2010 racing season. There are a lot of changes that have gone on at Ducati in the last bit, but the one thing that never changes is the passion.

We also had a lil toast for Christmas with all the Ducati Corse guys, everybody was dressed in red but I didn’t see Santa! But I guess I could say Santa came early for me this year, because when I got to see my new bike it was kinda like Christmas morning, but looks like I will have to wait to till February before I get to take my new toy out and play with it. Well, anyway, I better go, we are off to the wind tunnel later today to find some top speed and then to India for the opening of a new Ducati store, but it’s all good because then I get to go home and spend Christmas with my family…

Nicky Hayden visita la fábrica de Ducati
El 'Chico de Kentucky' se acercó a Borgo Panigale para ver de cerca su nueva máquina para 2010.

La fábrica de Ducati ha recibido esta semana una visita muy especial, uno de sus pilotos oficiales en el Mundial de MotoGP, el norteamericano Nicky Hayden. El de Kentucky se acercó hasta Borgo Panigale para ver, como el mismo califica: mi nueva arma para 2010. Nicky comenta en su página web que "en Ducati han habido bastantes cambios de última hora, pero algo que nunca cambia es la pasión."

El equipo de Ducati Corse celebró la cercanía de la Navidad con el norteamericano y aunque "todo el mundo vestía de rojo, ¡no he visto ningún Papá Noel!" De todas formas Nicky comenta que este año "Santa Claus ha llegado antes para mi porque cuando vi mi nueva moto fue como si fuera la mañana de Navidad. Tendré que esperar hasta febrero antes de poder coger mi nuevo juguete y jugar con él. De todas formas, mejor me voy. Hoy hemos estado en el túnel de viento intentando conseguir más velocidad y después iré a India para abrir una nueva Ducati Store."

Tras esta actividad promocional, Nicky pondrá rumbo a EE.UU. para celebrar la Navidad con su familia.

SuperBikePlanet.com Interview: Ducati MotoGP Rider Nick Hayden

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:05:00 +0000

by dean adams & susan haas

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

American Nick Hayden discusses his 2009 season with Ducati in this Soup Interview.

What a year it was. For Nick Hayden, his first season with Ducati read like a Shakespearean play. One thing is for sure, Hayden's emotions were given a full workout by both the highs, lows, the trials and the tribulations that he experienced in 2009. From the high of climbing the podium at Indianapolis to the lows of being unceremoniously punted into oblivion by overzealous competitors, Hayden had a season for the ages.

Soup recently spoke with him about the year that was, MotoGP's 1000cc future, Moto2 and and here's what he had to say.

Q Summarize your first season with Ducati.

A It was certainly not what I hoped, going in. I hoped to have a much better season than I had. To end the season 13th is almost embarrassing. I don't know if I've ever finished a championship so low. I feel like we had really a better season than that. The thing is that at the beginning of the year, we really struggled, and just started the year in such a hole with some bad results, some bad crashes, and being a little bit hurt, with no momentum, just was pretty much a disaster, the first five races or so.

Luckily, we turned it around, and was able to salvage something - was able to get a couple of good results, save my job. And in the end, it's funny, we (Hayden and team) talked about it when we left Valencia. In some ways, the team was proud of the season we had. To start ... to be so far away, to think we were ever going to get on the podium and be somewhat competitive, I'm actually proud of the way the guys all responded and went to work. In the end, was it good enough? No. But I think we got a really good platform to start for next year, and I'm really excited.

Q I still say the major factor of the season is the limit on testing in MotoGP. You didn't have a lot of time on the bike before the first race.

A Yeah, it's true. It's a big part of it. Especially last year. We had a lot of rain in pre-season testing, from the first test in Valencia to the last one at Jerez, was affected a lot by weather, and hurt it. But more so, the tests during the season. Some of those tests, I think, are more important.

Pre-season testing, I think, can be a bit overrated. But it's those tests once the season starts, once you line up, that you really see where you're at, and can make progress.

The two biggest steps I made was after the Barcelona test and after the Brno test. Those was really when we started getting some decent results. Each one of those tests, or each one of those days, we took a step, at each test.

Q How is it, from your perspective, different working for Ducati than it was working for Honda?

A It's a lot different. Both have things they do good and things they do bad. I would say one of the big differences is that Ducati, everything happens right there in Bologna. That's where the trucks stay, it's where the bikes are built, all the parts, the team's based.

Where Honda was always, you have the Japanese side of things, where the parts and the bikes are built, and then the European side, where-- in Belgium--where their bikes are. So it was kind of strange that half the team would go to Japan and the other half of the team would go to Europe when you'd leave out of there, where this one, everybody goes back to Italy. So that's one of the things. But there's a lot of little differences. Sure, there's good sides on both sides. Honda won a lot of races in their day, and Ducati's got some things that they do really good.

Hayden says that his podium finish at the Indy USGP remains the bright point in a tough season.

I didn't realize it until I went to the factory how small Ducati is. They really are an underdog, and they've achieved a lot being a small company. One thing they need the sponsors to go racing, because it's not a big company that can just start signing checks. I think what makes the difference there is, it's really ... I know it sounds like a cliche, but there's really a lot of people there with a strong passion and a strong desire, and it's not just paychecks for those guys. They all truly bleed Ducati red.

Q Were you riding the bike any different at the beginning of the year versus at the end?

A Sure, a little bit approach to some things, as far as you find out what works on the bike. But more just the settings, and just getting a setup that I felt comfortable on and can push. Probably the thing that made the biggest difference of all is just the team. The way we structured things and got the communication a lot better, and everybody got on the same page more. They started to understand me better. But sure, we made a big change in Barcelona that allowed me to finally start feeling a little bit more comfortable on the bike and start getting to be able to ride it to, closer to get some feel in it. That was the thing in the beginning, I was just not - it was very unpredictable, the bike. It was always hard to really find the limit, because things were changing a lot, with some different electronics and different geometry, there's where I started to feel comfortable, and actually started kind of enjoying to ride the bike. There for a while, it was just not fun. If it's not fun, you're not going to go fast. So that's that.

Q Have you learned any Italian?

A I'm not speaking it fluently but I've certainly picked up some words and start to understand what people's talking about. You don't really have a choice around there. I've tried. I've got some stuff on my iPod I listen to, and a couple of little books, because I'm around it all day every day. Especially last winter when I was spending a bit more time in Italy. I've learned some stuff. Don't quiz me, but I got a couple of 'em down.

Q Were there certain tracks that the Ducati seemed to favor this year, and if so, which ones were they?

A Germany was really good for us as far as the way the bike - if I could go back and race one race again, I would choose Germany. I ended up not getting a good result there, but from straightaway, that was one of the best. On Friday I led the session for a while there, and I forget where I ended up, but it was one of the first sessions I was fastest. One of the things I struggled a lot this year, and the big goal for next year, is to make - I've got to be closer on Friday. This year, I'd normally start out Friday so far behind, and start chipping away at it, and then come Sunday afternoon, by the end of the race sometimes, was doing my best laps of the weekend. We joked sometimes we need to race on about Tuesday. Needed a couple more days.

Will the return of 1000cc to MotoGP also herald the return of nasty slides and bikes that wheelie? Only if they curtail the electronics, says Hayden. 'Good luck policing that,' he said.

I know it sounds a little bit strange, but this bike, for me, truly needed a different setup at every race. We, at times, were changing different seats. We changed the seat position quite a lot as the season went on, to get the butt weight in different areas. At Laguna, we tried a completely different seat height and stuff than I'd ever used, and handlebar position to match that, which midway through a season, you're normally not wanting to try to change seating positions. And even the last race in Valencia, that was something - the bike I rode on Friday, that I raced on Sunday, was so different. Different shocks, swingarm pivot, transmission - this year, that's one of my goals, is to find a setup that hopefully we can roll out and be competitive and be pretty close and just be tweaking on it as the weekend goes.

Q Have you become a pasta snob?

A Oh, yeah. You can find something to eat around there. You're definitely not going hungry. That's not a problem. I didn't have any problem with the food.

Q What do you consider the highlight of your season? Was it Indy?

A I would say Indy, for sure. I know there I caught a couple breaks, and a couple guys stepped off, but regardless, we still was able to get on the podium at my home GP, and basically save my job, so that was pretty special to me, to do it at home. Any time you get on the podium is a good feeling. But I think the highlight is just knowing that the guys we got around there, nobody gave up, and was able to come back from such a disaster. I mean, to be 15th and stuff at the beginning of the season, and having the bad luck, the first turn incidents. We kept pushing, and the team is really motivated, and that was something I was proud of. But sure, getting on the - Indy was a good day for me. I certainly needed it.

Q Would you say the low light of the season was being knocked down?

A There was quite a few moments this year that was pretty tough, that you just thought, "Wow, man."

I remember being in Filippo's office about, after about the third or fourth race, thinking, "Wow, what are we going to do? We just can't run around in the back all year." I remember him looking at me and saying, "We're going to work. That's the only thing we can do to start eliminating problems." I don't want to sound too negative, because there's a lot of guys out there racing MotoGP that's never ... I guess it can't be so bad. It was a bad year, but it's still a good life. I don't want to sound like a complete crybaby. But some of them races and meetings early in the year weren't a lot of fun.

Q Preziosi is a very special guy.

Ducati Technical Director Filippo Preziosi (right) amazed Hayden with his dedication and perseverance. The team dug themselves from a deep hole by the end of the season.
image by grandpa joad, who refused to leave the farm
A I mean, "special" doesn't even do him justice. His knowledge is (on) everything. Not just... mechanical, from communication, to everything. The guy is really smart. I have a great relationship with him. Communication, even on a personal level. And admire what he does. He's certainly smart, and ... that's his bike. It's amazing. That's another thing, compared, maybe different than Honda. Honda, you'd have one guy who basically ... this guy is almost like a swingarm guy. One guy, this part of the electronics. One guy for that. Where a lot of that stuff falls under Filippo's umbrella. Yeah. He is pretty special.

Q One part of his arsenal is maybe you'd call it dedication from the people that work with him at Ducati, but it's really almost devotion.

A I was in his office before Valencia. We was over there, and we were joking around, saying something about staying there at the office, and he pointed over next door, and the guy's got a bed in his office. I was joking when I said something about "If you start sleeping in here," then whatever, I don't know, I was just talking some smack to him, and he pointed next door, and the guy really had a bed in his office. That really tells you what you need to know about the guy, and that's what it takes. I think that's why he's done what he has.

Q What was the difference in what you saw in the data between yourself and Casey Stoner. Did you ever see his data, and did it look different?

A Sure. Everything is an open book around there. I think that's one of Ducati's strengths. From the satellite riders to the factory riders, you go up into the truck, it's all— the team managers from all four—chief mechanics from all four riders, now five riders, working from the same truck, sharing all the same information. I think that's a strength for them.

His data was ...it wasn't so much he only relied on the electronics to do all the work. He really has great throttle control. He gets off the corners better. That's one of the things that surprised me. He really gets off the corners good. But for the most part, he's still about a second a lap quicker than me most places. He's faster everywhere, but one of the things early in the year that was encouraging.

I say "everywhere" but there would be parts on the track where I would always be just as fast as him, but there was a couple places on the track where I would lose a lot of time. So that kind of gave me some good confidence, knowing that if I could always fix those one areas, I would be getting closer. So I've still got to get a lot closer, but we're confident that we can close that gap. One of the things is his top speed is always quite a bit better than mine. So we're going to go back to the wind tunnel in a couple of weeks and try to improve that. Because I got no doubt we have all the same parts, same engines and stuff.

He does get off the corner better than me. But we're missing something, aerodynamics or somewhere. Because there's too big a difference.

Q You've talked about the passion at Ducati. Is it a special feeling when you pull on those red leathers and get on the red bike, knowing you've got the passion of an entire country behind you?

A Yeah, it's pretty cool. When I first signed with Ducati, when everybody knew last year, I was coming home from Misano, and I was at the airport in a wheelchair, and, I mean, they treated me like a king. I really only needed one guy to push me, but I had a bunch more than that; it really is the whole country behind you. They take it pretty serious, their racing. That's another thing. This year, I think we were in Mugello or whatever ... we were in the hospitality, and when the World Superbike race came on, we were actually in a meeting, talking with the crew chiefs, Filippo was there and different guys. And I mean, when the World Superbike race came on, it was "Meeting over." Everybody turned to the TV, and the whole team was watching it live. They're into the racing.

Q How did you sleep this year? Did you sleep well, or were there issues?

A Well, on race weekends, I never seem to sleep like a baby. But I wouldn't say there were just a lot of perfect nights in there, but you've got to just keep believing. I would say a few nights were hard to sleep, but that's to be expected with how things went.

Q So you're not the kind of guy who can just drop and sleep? A lot of riders can just get on a plane, or they're in a car, and they put their head against the window and are out. I'm sure you remember Miguel Duhamel sleeping in the pit lane during practice. Were you ever able to do that?

A Nah. I would say just average. Barros, one time, was telling me about Eddie Lawson. They were teammates one year, and every time he looked over, Eddie was asleep.

Q Getting hit from behind is something that can get into a rider's brain, especially when it happens in MotoGP. It's so violent on the opening laps anyway. How did you deal with it; were you able to let go of it and keep going?

A You've got to get over it, in this sport. You've got to learn to move on. Onward and upward. When things are good or bad. When things are going good, get too cocky. You've got to move on regardless. There's a lot of highs and lows in MotoGP. In any sport. In life. You've got to just learn to ride them out.

But sure, this year - three races, on the first lap. Japan, though, truthfully, I'd have been lucky to be tenth. I think I qualified ninth. But if I'd have been in the top ten there, would've been about the best that I was going to do. But Phillip Island and Misano were both two places that I had, during practice and qualifying, had been two of my better weekends. It was pretty frustrating, for sure. But I think, for me, three times in one season, I've got to analyze that and see why. I look at it, and certainly was in the - put myself in bad positions. That's the problem when you qualify where I normally qualified, about sixth, seventh, eighth, right in there, where most of the action starts. Or, drama starts. So I need to qualify better and be closer to the front so I'm not in there with.. where there is so much drama.

Q How much input did you have on the 2010 bike, and generally, what did you ask them for?

A I'm not sure how much input I had. Only they really know. I just give them the information I give them. I mean, people were saying, "Oh, that's the reason the bike got better to ride, is because I helped make it." But I don't really feel like I was the one who made the bike - I'm not talking about for Casey, but why all the other Ducati riders started doing better at the end of the year. I think it was more just a team deal.

But the 2010 bike ... it's not radically different. As you say, there's so little test time, you can't go off and do a lot of different things. But one of the big things, we've got some new forks for next year, and got a little different engine, the way it's going to deliver the power, which should be smoother, should be better for us next year; a little bit less aggressive.

Next year, the big thing with the engines, more than really work on developing stuff, is to fit the new rules. Six engines for 18 races? That's a lot of work for engineers. As, Filippo said, not even in club racing, Red Bull Rookies, do they not have six engines for a whole season. They've been at the max, working on that.

Q It's crazy that some feel that this will save money when the engineering needed to make those engines last that long is very expensive.

A Yeah. I'm not sure on that. Hopefully, eventually, we get the economy back right, because you just keep adding rules, rules, rules. It kind of takes away from the racing.

Q I don't want to make the whole interview, or a big chunk of the interview, asking you Stoner questions, but I'd really like to know, how did Stoner's illness impact your season?

A You know, I can't really say it affected my season a whole lot. That's what happened. I had to remain, do my own job. Row your own boat. Sure, it was more drama for the team, with such ... the way it all played out, and the deal was a lot of speculation, so much stuff going on that it was pretty bizarre, really, just the way it came up. But I think, in the end, it looked like he made the right move, because it did make him get healthy and come back and be so competitive. But on my side, I can't say it really affected me a whole lot.

Q Did it distract the team?

A It was hard on the team. I'm not going to try to lie, say it wasn't. Your number one guy, who was still in the title hunt, becomes ill ... and before it happened, was already not feeling well, and then to stay home kind of affected the team, sure. Because Kallio comes in, and he brings a couple guys from his team with him, and a couple of our guys went to the satellite teams. So it was a big shakeup.

For (Ducati Team Manager) Livio Suppo, I'd say if you asked him, I'm pretty sure - he was putting out fires left, right and center to make it all work. How'd you like to have to call Marlboro and tell them that (Stoner) was staying home? I'm sure that was hard on him. But again, the team, the way they all pulled together when Casey came back to win, it's a special team, from the people at Marlboro, to Ducati, to everybody. I know it sounds like I'm just saying it, but it's true. No matter what gets thrown at them, they keep doing it.

Q You had a special relationship with Livio Suppo, Ducati team manager, and he made the surprise announcement to leave the team at the end of the year. What was that like from your perspective?

A It was surprising - quite shocked, really. I didn't see that coming, because Livio - I mean, you talk about Filippo's passion for the bike and the team, Livio right there with him, a guy who lived for that team. I did have a special relationship. He was one who really pushed to get me there, and helped fight to keep me there. Always got on well. Though, Livio is a team manager. Some of them knocks on the door after you been 15th in qualifying, or something, was...

Q You're not looking forward to it.

A Yeah. Those were a little bit tough. But it's just because he wanted the team to work. He is a strong guy, hard guy, and with the sponsors, is a genius. So sure, it's going to be a big change for our team. Livio ... he's the first guy in that paddock, one of the last guys out. Really works hard, and really, a lot of stuff in the team was under him. Really, I think too much ... two guys are replacing him because he was involved with stuff in the garage, with the marketing, with sponsors. It was just crazy. If he didn't have the commitment to really want to be there, I'm happy they'll bring somebody in and stay motivated. But sure, I'm going to miss Livio. We had a lot of fun together. He fought for me.

You had to pick your battles with him. If you could just convince him there was something you needed to get around the track better, then just sit back. He would make it happen for you. That's what a team manager's supposed to do - put you in a position to do your job.

Q You know the guy is a workaholic when they hire two people to replace him when he leaves.

A Yeah. He fits that mode. But he seems happy with moving on.

Q Can you talk about the championship, and where it is today? As a series, are you happy when you look at MotoGP? Are you happy with the direction it's going?

On non-race weekends Hayden likes to attend Star Trek conventions. Do you speak 'Wookie' while there? we asked. 'Damn, dude,' he said 'there aren't any Wookies in Star Trek.' Fine. He didn't/doesn't.
image by vicky vale, not nikki hale
A Sure, right now, racing anywhere, it doesn't matter ... it's feeling the pinch, the economy's put a hurt on everybody. We sure feel it in MotoGP, especially 125, 250s, there's just less money. There's some things in there that you'd like to see better. But truthfully, the TV numbers are good, the racing this year, I think, has been better than it's been in a lot of years. Midway through the season, Barcelona, there was a three-way tie for the championship. That's basically unheard of. So sure, there's things in the series, when good riders can't get rides and other guys are buying ... checkbooks, teams are sacking riders mid-season to hire somebody because he's got more money to bring. That's not a good sign. But if you look at other championships and things, I'm not going to complain too much.

I think the racing, there was a few sleepers, but for the most part, there was some good racing, and that's important. That's what the fans want. Next year, again, the lineup is ridiculous. You look at it on paper, maybe Espargaro, on paper, hasn't won championships, but everybody else on that grid, somewhere along the line have won a lot of motorcycle races, and most of them's won a pretty big championship somewhere. So I expect it to be a really exciting season.

Q Going from 250 to Moto 2. Are you okay with that?

A The 250s were cool, but 250 teams were really hurting on money. They were feeling it, 125s and 250s couldn't keep going. I'm not sure how this whole spec engine's going to play out. I really ... I don't know. The people who make the rules, I hope they know better than me. I hope it turns out better than the change from 1000 to 800, but I'm really not going to make a judgment. I know in some car racing and different forms, that that spec engine deal has went over well, but I really can't say until it plays out a bit. It'll be interesting.

Q MotoGP is going back to 1000cc. Do you smile when you hear that?

A Oh, yeah, that really breaks my heart. [Laughing] No, I'm joking. That's sarcasm there. Sure, the 800s I like, but I enjoyed the 1000ccs too. It was a different bike to ride altogether. I enjoyed it more. For me, they couldn't go back soon enough.

But I think more than anything, they say they want the bikes to be more epic-looking, harder to ride, and to get that they're going to have to change the electronics.

Now, you watch these bikes on TV, if you didn't know any better, MotoGP looks pretty easy. It looks like guys are just ... I mean, they're hardly moving around. No spinning, no sliding. They look like they're on rails. And knowing that's not the case, but I think it's just down to electronics, and until they can somehow find a way to police it or outlaw it, I don't think the racing would change that much by going just to 990s. ... Because the electronics is what's made the bigger deal, as far as - as much corner entry as corner exit, as far as why the bike looks so easy, and why on TV they come across so .. they're coming across a bit dull. But you know, good luck policing that.

Q What is the hardest part of the lap on the 800? Is it entry, mid-corner, exit, or something else?

A I would say the 800s more, it starts from the first corner. It's all so much connected. You can't mess up anywhere on the 800, from the entry, mid-corner, exit. That's the thing. The entirety of the lap is most important. To make the lap, you can't even make a 0.02-second mistake.

Q What are you going to do this off-season? Do you have any plans? Your brother shot a deer, but I didn't see you in any of the pictures.

A You heard about that, too? He's kind of been trying to keep that a secret. I don't think he wanted anybody to know.

No, I'm joking. I think he did everything but took out an ad in the local newspaper, a full-page ad, running a picture of him and his deer. He's pretty proud of it. But good for him. I guess since his Bears aren't doing much, he can gloat a bit about his deer. He got a nice one. He should be happy.

But no, you're not going to find me up there in no stand at daylight for three or four hours, just sitting there hoping I get to see a deer. That is not my idea of a way to spend a morning or an afternoon, even in the least bit.

I've been in Europe for a while after the season and got to come home for Thanksgiving, which was pretty cool. As I told you earlier, we're normally testing this week in Jerez and not home. Didn't really think this year was going to be any different, 'til they changed - they made a change for the testing. It was kind of nice to be home Thanksgiving. I was in one of my best friends' from high school's wedding. So that was cool. I'm home a couple weeks, and go back to Europe in about.

I go back in about a week. Going to India for a Ducati dealership opening, and getting to do some of the fun stuff. People think we just do our 18 races and spend the rest of the time having a beer and a barbecue and hanging out, but that's not really the case. Now is when they really make us earn our money and do some of the stuff that maybe aren't so fun.

But it's all good. Actually, I am going next week to the North Carolina-Kentucky basketball game. 'Cats are back now. We've got a new coach, and No. 4 in the land, so I'm jumping back on the bandwagon.

ENDS

Crash.net's Top 10 MotoGP Riders - Number 10

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:07:00 +0000

Nicky Hayden's first year with Ducati may not have been perfect, but his gradual improvements over the season are rewarded with a top ten place in your vote to find the top rider from the 2009 MotoGP season
After a career spent pedalling Hondas in various classes, most notably his MotoGP World Championship title win in 2006, Nicky Hayden embarked on a change of scenery for 2009 – with mixed results.

Taking on the bike that Marco Melandri couldn't wait to hand over after a dismal single season on the Desmosedici, Hayden had high hopes of replicating some of the form that took him to title victory, but the reality proved somewhat different.

Despite some promising noises in testing, Hayden endured a difficult start to the season, getting mired outside the top ten for the first few rounds.

In his defence, Melandri's stellar performances on the unfancied Hayate went some way to suggest Hayden's issues were down to a similar incompatibility with the Desmosedici. Nonetheless, with Casey Stoner up at the front, Hayden needed to at least get closer to his team-mate.

Hayden plundered on and the results slowly began to pick up as the year wore on, posting a top ten finish in Barcelona, before popping into the top five at his home round at Laguna Seca.

Inspiration on home soil was also the motivation behind his one and only podium of the season at Indianapolis as Hayden finished a fine third, the American also enjoying his status as lead rider following Stoner's absence through illness.

Top five results in the final two rounds lifted Hayden's spirits further, but it wasn't enough to see him end the season higher than 13th in the standings.

Nonetheless, by voting Hayden three positions higher in your end of season vote, you have recognised that he finished just 11 points off seventh overall, a position he would have likely achieved had he not been innocently involved in three first lap incidents.

It means Hayden, who has been re-signed by Ducati for another year, can go into the off-season with something to build on - even if he knows he will have no excuses in 2010 if he doesn't…

Statistics:

Team: Ducati Marlboro
Car: Ducati Desmosedici GP9

Championship position: 13th
Points: 104

Races: 17
Pole positions: 0
Victories: 0
Podiums: 1
Best results 3rd
Points finishes: 15

Juan Martínez: “La Ducati no es indomable”Ayudó a Hayden a recuperar la senda ganadora cuando el campeón iba perdido con la moto italiana

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:39:00 +0000

Juan Martínez es el ingeniero de pista de Nicky Hayden

¿Debe volver Schumacher?Lorenzo: "Rossi es sólo un empleado de Yamaha"Ignasi Sagnier Niega que la GP9 esté diseñada exclusivamente para un piloto como Casey Stoner. Juan Martínez asegura que eso de que el único que puede hacerla campeona es el australiano es una leyenda urbana que no se ciñe a la realidad. “La Ducati no es indomable. A principio de temporada podía parecer una moto más crítica a nivel de pilotaje, pero eso ha cambiado y lo han demostrado tanto Hayden como Aleix Espargaró. La GP9 es más gestionable que antes y si gana carreras no deber ser mala”, argumenta el técnico en suspensiones que fue llamado a media campaña para salvar la carrera deportiva de un campeón como Nicky Hayden que andaba perdido a lomos de la Ducati.

“Me encontré con un Hayden nervioso, desubicado y desconcertado por la falta de resultados en los primeros GP pero que no quería tirar la toalla bajo ningún concepto”, recuerda Juan. “Su desconcierto se trasladó al equipo y cuando llegué allí como ingeniero de pista de Nicky había un durísimo trabajo por delante al que yo llamo ‘pulir el desorden’”, relata este técnico de Martorelles que, como es lógico, elogia el papel que jugó su compañero de equipo para que las cosas saliesen hacia adelante. “La ayuda de Stoner fue muy importante. En nuestro equipo no hay muros como sucede en otros y los dos pilotos se involucraron mucho. “Nicky necesita rodar mucho más que otros para sacar lo mejor de sí mismo y estar en los tiempos y ya sabe que lo tiene que mejorar. Pero Stoner es el único que ha hecho campeona a esta marca y sabe leer muy bien las sensaciones que ofrece esta moto por lo que su ayuda nos fue muy provechosa para avanzar”, relata agradecido por el gesto que tuvo el dorsal ‘27’.

Juan Martínez, que ya trabajó con Ducati y con Sete Gibernau en 2006, conoce muy bien los entresijos de una marca tan popular como la italiana y está encantado de haber vuelto a trabajar con ellos. “Se puede decir que el trato con Ducati es más cercano, menos frío que con los japoneses. El idioma influye muchísimo pero cuando pides algo en Ducati se puede decir que te lo dan más rápido. También debe ser porque se trata de una fábrica pequeña y no de un monstruo como son Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki o Kawasaki”, asegura quien se considera “amigo” de Sete.
“No se hizo justicia al gran esfuerzo que realizó para volver a competir al máximo nivel y me fastidió ver que lo tenía que dejar a mitad de temporada y de aquella manera porque el equipo que se había montado pintaba muy bien”, se lamenta Martínez.

Como no, este sigue muy de cerca lo que hace un crack como Valentino Rossi con el que pudo trabajar mientras estuvo en Showa. La rumorología sigue colocando al de Tavullia en Ducati en 2011 aunque nadie sabe a ciencia cierta que pasará. “Valentino es un profesional que no deja nada al aire. Es bueno con cualquier moto, un camaleón y si ficha por Ducati será porque tiene claro que puede ganar, no irá a probar fortuna”, vaticina el catalán que niega que la actual MotoGP sea aburrida. “Este año han ganado pilotos con tres de las cinco marcas que competían en la categoría; más no de puede pedir”, dice en defensa del Mundial de MotoGP.

Acerca de la nueva Ducati GP9 asegura que tendrá pocos cambios en la parte ciclo aunque quizás más numerosos en el motor. Y sobre los recortes en los costes y el aumento de las MotoGP a 1.000 cc en 2012 Martínez tiene unos puntos de vista muy concretos. “La coyuntura económica obliga a que se impongan los recortes, cierto, pero lo que me preocupa es que al final se destruya la esencia de las carreras”, avisa.

De vuelta de Cheste...otro fin de semana increíble!!

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:44:00 +0000

Pues una vez más Cheste puso el punto final a una temporada llena de emociones. Alegrías, nervios, disgustos, enfados, encariñamientos varios...no escatimamos en sentimientos cuando se trata de motociclismo. Hasta he tenido un derrame en un ojo por culpa del estallido (nunca mejor dicho) de alegría cuando Nicky se subió al podium en Indianapolis. Este año han pasado muchas cosas...

Nicky sigue siendo Nicky, y mi cariño y admiración por él no varía ni un ápice y se mantiene inalterable con buenos o con malos resultados. Su esfuerzo, su afán de trabajo y de superación, su altisimo nivel de compromiso con sus fans, su equipo, y todo el que le rodea lo hacen un ser único. Nicky para mí es algo más que un piloto, es un símbolo de muchas cosas tanto de mi vida personal como de la suya así que ahí seguirá anclado en mi corazón por los siglos de los siglos.

Bradley este año me ha dado muchas alegrías y si a eso añades el acercamiento cada vez mayor en el que nos encontramos, que lo he visto casi crecer, que es un niño increíble, que está aprendiendo a dominar la moto como nadie, que no tiene miedo a nada, que compite hasta por respirar y que cada día está más guapetón, convierte mi admiración por él en algo de un tamaño que raya la locura (o eso dicen algunos). A ambos los quiero llevar siempre conmigo y por eso me los he tatuado en la espalda.

Luego ha habido dos pilotos que me han ido conquistando poquito a poquito y que a estas alturas ya puedo decir que tienen mi admiración definitiva:

Jorge Lorenzo empezó el año pasado a ganarse mi respeto tanto personalmente como profesionalmente, porque yo no concibo lo uno sin lo otro, y este año ha entrado en mi corazón como un elefante en una cacharrería con su pilotaje descarado, con sus declaraciones y gestos, con su arrojo, su valor, su forma de luchar y de no rendirse ni ante el miedo, ni ante nada, ni ante nadie. Es el único que le planta cara a "su excelentísimo" y lo hace con humildad, respeto y un arte que sí merece una medalla de oro al mérito en las Bellas Artes, que le darían seguro cuando los que entienden de Arte y Cultura decidieran que es más hermoso pilotar una moto que maltratar a un animal en público pero esto...ya es otra historia.

Marco Simoncelli podría decir que ha sido una cuestión más de mi mala costumbre de convertirme en abogado del diablo y de las causas justas (o injustas) que de otra cosa. Empecé por ver una y mil veces las escenas repetidas de esas acciones por las que todo el mundo lo odia, tomadas desde camaras diferentes, desde angulos diferentes... y finalmente, descubrí que no eran tan malvadas ni tan fuera de los limites como nos quieren pintar. Se trataba solo, una vez más, de una manipulación por parte de determinados medios de comunicación que solo ven como defectos las acciones de los pilotos que no les convienen (emprendiendo campañas terribles en su contra que la gente sin criterio propio asume como una religión que los convierte en fanáticos del odio) pero que halagan cuando las mismas acciones las hacen "los grandes" o algún piloto español. Pero todo esto, además de descubrirme lo debil y malvado que puede llegar a ser el ser humano, tuvo algo de bueno, vislumbré lo increíblemente buen piloto que es Marco, y si a eso le añadimos lo genial que me parece como persona, puedo afirmar con plena convicción que me ha conquistado de pleno!!!

Luego apareció Ben Spies, que ya venía vigilando con el rabillo del ojo desde que estaba en la AMA y que al estar este año en SBK me dió la oportunidad de ver de cerca y seguir con detenimiento. En fin, sobre Ben poco hay que decir, solo hay que verlo correr sobre una moto, y entonces aún se puede decir menos porque te quedas sin palabras. Lo de Ben no es correr, es magia pura y el año que viene lo tendremos en MotoGP, qué más se puede pedir....

Pues nada, hablaría de más pilotos pero no acabaría nunca, porque todos menos alguno tienen mi más profundo respeto y una pizca de admiración por tener los....estos bien puestos y subirse a ese animal desbocado que es la moto jugandose la vida para hacernos vibrar y emocionar como con ninguna otra cosa.

Os dejo el album de las fotos del fin de semana para ver si podéis captar al menos un poquito de la emoción que sentimos nosotros.

No quiero terminar sin dar las gracias a quien corresponde: como siempre a mi hija por consentir que sus padres se vayan cuatro días a hacer el loco en un circuito sin siquiera torcer un poquito el gesto; a mi suegra por cuidar de ella como si fuera suya; a mi marido porque es imposible encontrar mejor amigo, mejor padre, mejor esposo, mejor amante, mejor fotógrafo ;) y mejor persona con la que compartir la vida; a mi amiga Jose por ser un espejo de mi alma y acompañarme en esas locuras nuestras, reir cuando yo río, llorar cuando yo lloro y no mirarme con cara de "ésta está loca" como hace mucha gente; y a todos los que hacen posible que cada año pasemos varios meses con el corazón en un puño y las emociones a flor de piel viendo cómo desafían a las leyes de la naturaleza un puñado de inconscientes :P subidos en una moto....

Y esta vez de forma especial quiero dar las gracias a la persona que ha hecho de este fin de semana algo inolvidable, a la persona que nos facilitó el poder estar cerca de los pilotos, a la persona que nos hizo sentir como en casa y en la que descubrimos a alquien divertido y extraordinario. En nombre de los tres: GRACIAS JAVIER!!!!

Stoner y Hayden se preparan para Malasia

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

www.eurosport.com

mar 20 oct 17:23:40 2009

Después de la bella carrera australiana, dónde condujo de un modo espectacular su Desmosedici GP9 hasta el primer puesto del podio del GP de casa, Casey Stoner se prepara para afrontar probablemente la prueba más difícil de su estado de forma física: las condiciones prohibitivas que caracterizan el GP de Malasia. Si en Sepang la lluvia es una variable muy probable, el calor tórrido y la alta tasa de humedad son dos realidades, que suponen una dura prueba para la resistencia de los pilotos y de sus técnicos que trabajan en los boxes. El piloto australiano, que el domingo pasado rindió muy bien físicamente, en Sepang en el 2007 conquistó el triunfó y por lo tanto está listo para trabajar como siempre con su equipo para preparar de la mejor manera el fin de semana y la próxima temporada.

Nicky Hayden fue realmente desdichado en Australia, pero si hay alguien que no tira la toalla y que siempre mira hacia adelante ese es precisamente el piloto norteamericano. Por esta razón, desde el Gran Premio de Phillip Island, antes que pensar en el accidente de la primera vuelta en el que se vio inocentemente implicado, prefiere recordar el buen trabajo que hizo con su equipo durante el fin de semana, y se prepara para hacerlo igualmente en Malasia.

CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team (3° con 195 puntos)

"Antes siempre me gustaban las carreras con calor, pero al año pasado corrí en Malasia con la muñeca lesionada y este año he tenido problemas físicos y sabemos que probablemente ha habido una serie de factores que últimamente me han hecho sufrir con las altas temperaturas. Pero en Phillip Island me fue tan bien desde el punto de vista físico que me siento bastante confiado. Indudablemente será una carrera dura, en esas condiciones ser rápidos y consistentes es difícil, encontrar la puesta a punto adecuada es laborioso, pero siempre ha sido así y conforme van pasando los días yo voy retomando mi preparación física y hay perspectivas razonables de que podamos ser competitivos en las dos últimas citas de la temporada. El circuito en sí mismo se ha vuelto un poco...aburrido para mí. En el sentido de que hemos recorrido muchos kilómetros de pruebas en él, pero tantos que me siento empachado. Pero las carreras allí son bonitas, el sitio me gusta y tiene un ambiente vacacional que te pone de buen humor."

NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati Marlboro Team (14° con 82 puntos)

"No diría que Malasia sea una de mis pistas preferidas, es como si allí me hubiese abonado al cuarto puesto, porque es el resultado que he conseguido en cinco de las seis ocasiones en que he corrido. Dicho esto, probablemente si este año acabase cuarto estaría contento. Llegamos de un fin de semana infeliz por lo que podría haber sido y por como acabó en cambio, pero hay que mirar hacia adelante. Me espero el habitual enorme calor, si en Australia hemos sufrido el frío, allí claramente será lo opuesto, pero en cualquier caso va a ser interesante volver después de los test. Sepang es uno de los circuitos dónde pude probar más detenidamente la moto en enero, y desde entonces hemos hecho muchos progresos, hemos encontrado otros reglajes y afortunadamente soy más rápido que entonces y por tanto, será interesante ver en qué punto estamos ahora."

LIVIO SUPPO, Director del Proyecto MotoGP

"Venimos de un Gran Premio de veras positivo en el que hemos visto a Casey conseguir pilotar como sabe y le gusta hacer, y sobre todo divirtiéndose. Aunque nos faltó un poco de tracción, la moto fue muy competitiva y Casey logró sacarle el mejor partido y dar un gran espectáculo de pilotaje. Ahora en Malasia encontraremos temperaturas muy diferentes respecto a Phillip Island y será una verificación aún mayor de su recuperación física. ¡De momento prefiere condiciones más frescas pero en el pasado el calor no le dio problemas y en el 2007 ganó! En cuanto a Nicky, sabemos que a pesar de la desilusión por haber visto frustrados en un instante todos los progresos hechos durante el fin de semana, y no por su culpa, pero sabemos que gracias a su carácter positivo y determinado el viernes estará listo de nuevo para dar el máximo.”

Day of Champions Cheste 2009 - Enjoy a wonderfull day with the riders

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:40:00 +0000

Day of Champions, Thursday 5th November 2009

http://www.riders.org/

Riders gets health care to more than 10 million people

Riders for Health´s vision is that no one should die of easily preventable and curable
disease simply because health care does not reach them.

Thanks to everyone whose continued support has allowed Riders for Health/Motos Solidarias to raise almost €60,000 this season. In Kenya, you have enabled Riders to donate 60 motorcycles to community-based organisations, empowering them to reach five times more men, women and children with regular health care.

“When I first received my motorcycle, I visited a very sick man. He had nobody to care for him.
Thanks to the motorcycle I was able to visit him regularly and now he is well,” says Rosemary, a
carer from a grass-root organisation.

Riders are very grateful to you for your support and ensuring that motorcycles really are saving lives.

General Admission
09:00: Tickets on sale (Gate 1)
13:00: Gates open
13:00 to 15:30: Visit pit-lane
13:00 to 16:00: Interviews with team members on the stage area
14:00 to 15:15: Stunt Show with Emilio Zamora
15:00 to 17:00: Stand selling sándwiches and drinks (as exit pit-lane, near auction)
16:00 to 18:00: Auction
Price per person: 25 Euros.

Ride-in + Paddock Tickets
11:00: Signing in
13:00 to 14:00: Briefing and ride-in with Randy Mamola
14:00: Lunch at Circuit Restaurant
13:00 to 15:30: Visit pit-lane
13:00 to 19:00: Visit paddock
13:00 to 16:00: Interviews with team members on the stage area
14:00 to 15:15: Stunt Show with Emilio Zamora
16:00 to 18:00: Auction

Price per rider: 125 euros. Price per passenger or guest with no bike: 80 euros. Price includes all the above activities, as well as the general admission ticket activities. All people on motorcycles must be over 18 years of age. In the event of rain, the ride-in would be cancelled due to safety reasons.

Tickets are limited and must be reserved beforehand by e-mail to samlyon43@hotmail.com
(If you are attending without a bike, this option is still available and the price would be 85 euros per person).

________________________________________________________

Día de Campeones, Jueves 5 noviembre 2009

http://www.riders.org/

Motos Solidarias hace posible que más de 10 millones de personas reciban asistencia
sanitaria en África.

Motos Solidarias no cree que personas deberían morir de enfermedades fácilmente curables simplemente porque la asistencia sanitaria no les alcanza.

¡El año pasado logramos recaudar €60,000! Con este dinero pudimos donar 60 motos a comunidades en Kenya haciendo posible que cinco veces más de hombres, mujeres y niños recibieran asistencia sanitaria.

Rosemary de unas de las comunidades explicaba, “cuando recibí mi moto por primera vez fui a visitar un hombre muy enfermo. Gracias a la moto pude ir a visitarle a menudo y ahora se encuentra perfectamente.”

Motos Solidarias agradece muchísimo vuestro apoyo para demostrar que las motos SI salvan vidas.

Entrada General
09:00: Aperturas de Taquillas (Puerta 1)
13:00: Acceso al circuito
13:00 a 15:30: Visita al pit-lane
13:00 a 16:00: Entrevistas con integrantes de los equipos de MotoGP
14:00 a 15:15: Stunt Show con Emilio Zamora
15:00 a 17:00: Kiosco vendiendo bocadillos (salida del pit-lane, cerca subasta)
16:00 a 18:00: Subasta
Precio por persona: 25 Euros. (Esta entrada no se puede reservar con antelación).

Entrada Tandas + Paddock
11:00: Inscripción en el circuito
13:00 a 14:00: Briefing y tandas en la pista con Randy Mamola
14:00: Comida Restaurante Circuito
13:00 a 15:30: Visita al pit-lane
13:00 a 19:00: Visita al paddock
13:00 a 16:00: Entrevistas con integrantes de los equipos de MotoGP
14:00 a 15:15: Stunt Show con Emilio Zamora
16:00 a 18:00: Subasta

Un privilegiado grupo de aficionados podrá cubrir tres vueltas al trazado valenciano con sus propias motos, acompañados de un pasajero y flanqueados por los vehículos oficiales del Mundial.

El precio es de 125 Euros por persona y moto, y 80 para los pasajeros. Al margen de poder circular por la pista del Gran Premio, están incluidas la comida, una visita exclusiva al paddock y la entrada general al “Día de Campeones”. La moto ha de ser como mínimo una 125cc y asegurada. En caso de lluvia, por motivos de seguridad, no se podrá rodar en moto. Los conductores y pasajeros han de ser mayores de 18 años.

Las plazas para esta actividad son limitadas y las preinscripciones pueden realizarse a través del correo electrónico samlyon43@hotmail.com

Hayden se motiva para la prueba australiana

noreply@blogger.com (Trixi) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:19:00 +0000

www.motogp.com

Jueves, 15 Octubre 2009

El americano vuelve este fin de semana a una pista en la que acostumbra a lograr buenas actuaciones y donde redoblará esfuerzos para concluir en alza la campaña 2009.

Nicky Hayden prepara el Gran Premio Iveco de Australia con optimismo, en un escenario donde en el pasado ha cosechado tres podios, entre ellos el primero en MotoGP en el año 2003.

El norteamericano del equipo Ducati Malboro aspira a terminar la temporada de MotoGP 2009 entre los diez primeros y quiere continuar su progresión tras una complicada primera parte del Campeonato.

Kentucky Kidno oculta sus ambiciones en un circuito que le encanta, donde el año pasado conquistó la tercera plaza del podio y en el que además ostenta el récord oficial de la pista.

"Me gusta el sitio y me gusta el circuito. Phillip Island es divertido y rápido” explica Hayden, quien ha logrado en dos ocasiones la pole position en ese circuito. “Espero que el tiempo sea clemente porque cuando hace mucho frío eso se convierte en un desafío añadido, sobre todo porque no hay muchas curvas de derecha y nos cuesta un poco calentar bien ese lado de la goma. Me gustan estas carreras de ultramar a final de año, la atmósfera es algo diferente de lo habitual porque el equipo se desplaza unido hasta allí y estamos todos juntos en hotel. De este modo también se conocen otros aspectos de las personas”.

“Faltan tres carreras al final de la temporada y espero, más bien necesito, dar un paso más hacia adelante. Tengo que poner toda la carne en el asador y probar a ver qué pasa"

Livio Suppo, Director del Proyecto MotoGP, espera que Hayden y su compañero de equipo Casey Stoner – que se ha impuesto en este escenario en los dos últimos años- puedan repetir sus exitosas actuaciones. Ambos pilotos mantuvieron una intensa batalla por el liderazgo de la carrera durante varias vueltas, cuando Hayden aún corría sobre una Honda.

"Siempre es bonito ir a Philip Island. Es una pista mágica, rica en recuerdos fantásticos para nuestro Team. El año pasado Casey y Nicky protagonizaron un bonito duelo por la primera posición durante muchas vueltas ¡sería un sueño verlo de nuevo con ambos sobre una Ducati! Sería un modo perfecto para dejar atrás definitivamente las dificultades de esta temporada”.