MotoGP Update

Yamaha Factory Racing and Saucony Have Reached an Agreement for the Supply of Shoes

2012-02-12T20:00:00.000+01:00

Yamaha Factory Racing and Saucony have reached an agreement for the supply of shoes at the official team, which this year will field the 2010 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and American Ben Spies . Saucony is an American manufacturer of high-end athletic shoes and sportswear. The company specializes in shoes for running, trail running and race walking.

"We are very pleased to have with us for the 2012 Saucony - said Team Director Massimo Meregalli - It 's great to have a top brand whose excellent reputation in their field mirrors that of the Yamaha. We are always on the move during the season, so good footwear is essential for the team, we could not ask for better! "

"We are proud and honored to collaborate with a group dynamic, successful and technologically innovative, such as Yamaha - has added Morgan Guizzo, Sales and Marketing Manager Sportlab Srl - Both groups share the same focus on excellent products and winning performance. We are confident that this partnership will bring great results. "

source: motorionline.com

Dovizioso: Honda, Yamaha Polar Opposites

2012-02-12T18:00:00.000+01:00

Jumping from three seasons aboard a Honda to Yamaha has been a major eye-opener for Andrea Dovizioso, who moved from Repsol Honda to Tech 3 Yamaha this season.

Both bikes are produced by Japanese manufacturers, use Bridgestone tires and aluminum frames, but the similarities almost end there, Dovizioso said last week during preseason testing at Sepang.

"We came from Valencia with a few problems, but I knew I have to adapt my style to Yamaha because it's really different," Dovizioso said. "I can say opposite. Because the philosophy of Yamaha and Honda from history is always opposite: Honda tried to have the best acceleration and Yamaha the best handling. I have to change everything.

"I'm working a lot to adapt and I've made a big improvement from Valencia, but there is more to do. We also tried to adapt the electronic system for my style and Yamaha style, because I arrive with the mentality of Honda and I tried to ride in the same way, but it didn't work."

In the July 2011 Indy teleconference, then Tech Three Yamaha rider Colin Edwards said that in 2010 he used a chassis that was at least two years old, giving an idea the update status of Tech Three.

source: superbikeplanet.com

Suppo: CRT was the only choice

2012-02-12T15:00:00.000+01:00

Undoubtably the hot topic of the 2011/2012 off-season has been the inclusion of "CRT" or Claiming Rule Teams to the MotoGP class. Production-based 1000cc engines stuffed into aftermarket chassis are what rights holder Dorna feels will sustain MotoGP in the future.

How does Honda Motor and HRC feel about CRT bikes and the concept? To get an answer to the question we asked Repsol Honda MotoGP Marketing Director Livio Suppo for his opinions on that subject. Suppo, who helped bring Casey Stoner back to Honda and win the 2011 MotoGP title, stated several times that the opinions expressed below are his and his only.

Q Many people are wondering about Honda, HRC and CRT. Generally, what is your sense of the reaction of Honda and HRC to the CRT concept?

A Well, I think we have to face the reality, and the reality of the moment is that it is quite difficult to find resources to put 20 full prototypes on the grid. So this the reality. You can like it or not, but that's the reality, and the economic situation is going ... what a few years ago seems impossible, is becoming more serious. Instead of solving the problem, it looks like we are increasing the problem, at least in Europe. Hopefully in the US it's getting a little bit better, as far as I understand, but in Europe, still quite difficult, in Italy now, and since couple of month we are kind of under attack of the big investors. Is not an easy situation, so for sure, being MotoGP [is] basically a European-based sport, of course this has a big influence on the situation. So like it or not, the sport needed something to increase the number of bikes. The CRT is an option. Of course this season will be the first year, and I guess it won't be at its maximum. But I think the concept is there. Is reasonable to think that a kind of super-Superbike, let's say, could be reasonably competitive with the full prototype.

Q Do you really think that's going to be the case, Livio, that the bikes will be eventually competitive with a true MotoGP prototype bike?

A You know, Dean, it depends on what we mean when we speak about competitiveness. Recently, a good example of riders that, even if they were riding a full prototype, they were far away from the top guys, correct? And it has been always like this, because like it or not, in our sport, the riders make the biggest difference. So probably there will be always somebody that doesn't deserve a full prototype. With all respect, you know. Some riders, even if he has a full prototype, a full factory machine, cannot win races. So, at the end of the day, we need - in the past, we used to have the two-cylinder. You remember the Honda two-cylinder? It was a cheap bike. Of course, you cannot win races, but with good riders like I remember the first season of that team with Barros, they finish on the podium in Donington. It means also, even if you have a bike that on paper cannot win races, if you have a good team and a good rider, in some circumstances you can do a good job. And like it or not, is impossible to have 20 riders and bikes that fight for the victory. This is impossible, historically. Not [only] now, it has been always like that. But before, it was a little bit easier to find resources to go racing, even if you were not a top gun. Now, is more and more difficult. Not only for the top guys, but also for—especially for the others.

Q Do you think this is possibly the end of prototypes in MotoGP?

A I don't think so, because like it or not, for manufacturers ... I mean, manufacturers need MotoGP to promote their technology, and MotoGP need manufacturers to have more credibility, let's say. So is a world where both actors need each other, and I don't think it will be the end of full prototypes. The problem is that we need to find a way to have a little bit cheaper prototypes, and anyway, something to fill the grid in a reasonable way.

Q I think generally people have been waiting for the other shoe to drop, to use an American phrase, in that they're waiting for Honda to say, "Forget it. We are not in favor of this, and we're not going to move forward," and possibly pull out of the MotoGP series over this. You're telling me that's probably not realistic, that Honda's a lot more agreeable to CRT than maybe people perceive.

A Well, we have nothing against it. Of course there is not a great deal of interest of Honda in the CRT. That's not a rule for the manufacturers, so we are not directly involved, but we totally understand the situation. We understand that, as I said before, we need to fill the grid a little bit more. So that was a way to do it, and let's wait and see if it works. And again, I guess a rider like Colin or de Puniet, on a good CRT, they will be reasonably competitive since the first season. That's my feeling. I don't think that they will be slower than was, for example, Toni Elias last year. I think they will be faster than him.

Q Was there a big dilemma within Honda, do you think, regarding the Gresini CRT entry? That caught a lot of people by surprise?

A I don't know. As far as it was on a Honda engine, we were happy. It should have been a little bit strange, due to the relationship we have with Gresini, due to the fact that he usually has a kind of factory machine in his team, to have him with a Honda full prototype and a CRT with a different engine, that, I think, in terms of image as well, would have been a little bit strange. He has a strong relationship with Honda Italy. In my opinion, it should have been a little bit strange. Now he has a Honda engine and there's no problem at all.

Q The Aprilia CRT bikes are a huge issue for some people. How does Honda view it?

A Again, if you look at the CRT rule, at the end of the day, as I said before, is a kind of super-Superbike, at the end of the day. It's something that you have the same engine as a base, and then you can develop it and tune it more than a Superbike, but basically you start from a production engine. So what's the difference? You are more free to develop a prototype. But this has been always like this in MotoGP, eh? Not in MotoGP, in the top class. In the history of motorcycle racing. Agostini time, Giacomo had a full prototype MV Agusta, and the privateer was racing with a single cylinder engine Norton Manx or stuff like that. So it has been always that factory were with factory machine, with full prototypes, and the privateer were with different kind of bikes. That's been the history of this world. I don't see any big drama. I can understand maybe somebody maybe is worried to see CRT Aprilia too fast. But again, because the riders are so important, it will be a lot up [to] the guys that ride it.

Q Your old friend Claudio Domenicali seems to have an issue with this, in that Ducati and Honda have made enormous investments in MotoGP to have factory prototypes there, and I sense he sees this as Aprilia sliding in on the CRT rules and re-joining as a quasi-factory effort.

A Okay, but still, I don't think they'll be able to be competitive for the wins. So I don't see why we should be worried about it.

Q With Carmelo, it's sort of a rolling rulebook in regard to the CRTs. It seems like they're going to do anything they can to make these things as competitive as possible.

A That's totally understandable, because they need cheaper bike to fill the grid. As organizer, he has been investing a lot of money to try to fill the grid in the last few years. With economic consideration around, is impossible to go around like that. This is understandable. Is not only the team that are suffering the lack of sponsorship and money, sure also the organizer. And so, it's understandable that everybody has to do his own business. I can understand why Carmelo wants to push the CRT. Because if we remain with the 800, he was kind of a slave of the manufacturers, no? Because only manufacturers were able to produce - were producing an 800cc full prototypes. So if all the - there are not so many motorcycle company, that racing in the 800 were only four. So if three or two said "Ciao," like Suzuki this year, how do you go ahead? And MotoGP is a business itself. There's investors behind it. There's a lot of money involved. There's a lot of people working on it. So I can understand that if you are the owner of this business, you try to build up something that allow you to go ahead, even if the company, for the economic situation, must stop. I don't think this is the case in this moment, in the short term, but who knows what happen in the next years.

Q I've known you a long time, and I think this is a different statement coming from you. Previously, when suggestions were made about cost control in MotoGP, you were of the opinion that more needed to be done to increase the pie, increase the sponsorship budgets. I suppose it's the reality of the world we live in right now that is forcing this.

A I still believe this could be, this is something we have to work on. But if you face the reality, the economic situation, I'm honestly speaking, Dean, four years ago, nobody of us could have thought that should have been so long to get out of this. So we must try to increase the sponsorship, to do that, as we always said, there's a lot of things to do, there's a lot of things related to the nationality of the riders, because we have mainly Italian and Spanish riders. Difficult to grow up as an international sport. So is a very complicated issue, but still, in the short term, we had to do something. So I think at the end of the day, the CRT rule is something to move on. And don't forget, the first season when Moto2 arrived, everybody was criticizing Moto2, do you remember? Because, ah, the old, good 250, much better, blah, blah, blah. At the end of the day, after two season - this has been the second season of Moto2, if I'm not wrong - I personally think is a big success. Usually the races are very exciting. The world champion this year is a German guy that maybe with a 250 class would [not] have been able to win the title, because at that time, you need to have a lot of money to buy, or to lease, a competitive machine. At the moment, the price is more affordable, and especially the bikes are more similar, because the engine is always the same. With the 250, if you don't have a good Aprilia engine, you had no chance to win. At least now the engine is all the same, and the chassis, I don't think there is a huge difference between one chassis and the other. So in terms of giving opportunity to different riders to show their potential, Moto2 is a big, big help for us, and for the championship, I guess. So just to say that even Moto2, at the beginning everybody was criticizing it. CRT, at the moment, I am seeing more criticize than people happy to see it. But I would suggest to wait and see what happen.

Q You and I both came from World Superbike. How CRT will impact World Superbike. Any opinion?

A I don't think this will impact. I think, again, also Superbike has to do something to decrease the cost, because as well as in MotoGP also in Superbike, the money are not there any more like it was before. So I think both championship need to reduce the technical cost, and probably, in my opinion, Superbikes should go a little bit backward, to something more close to production.

Q Next on the list of rational or irrational fears is the possibility of a unified series, in which World Superbike and MotoGP are merged.

A Honestly, this is not a question for me. Should be a question for Carmelo. But I think there's space for both championships, as far as they are more, how can I say ... The risk is if we have two championships that are more or less from a technical point of view the same, there is no meaning to do two championships. This is in my opinion let's make that clear. And so to justify, and to have a business in both of them, you need, in my opinion, you need to have more clear separation of the two things. So something that is more related to the production, and something that is more related to the prototypes, or anyway to something that is not - something different.

At the end of the day, my mom, if she watch a MotoGP race or Superbike race, she doesn't understand the difference. If she see a picture of a Superbike or a prototype, she doesn't understand the difference. And this is not correct. A Formula 1 is a Formula 1. Of course in motorcycle is more difficult to do it.

Q Moving on. It's going to be a little bit like old home week for you in MotoGP, now that Corrado Cecchinelli, who was the ex-technical director of MotoGP when you were both there, now he is the technical director for Dorna.

A I'm very happy. I'm sure he can give a big help to Dorna to deal with this kind of technical issue.

Q There's a phrase that we use in America: it's "knowing where all the bodies are buried." This applies to our friend Corrado. He knows how these MotoGP projects work, so it's going to be interesting to have that kind of source of information on the side of the sanctioning body.

A Absolutely. I think ... I'm very, very happy for him, and honestly he can be a big plus for all of us, because sometimes is so difficult to - the MSMA is basically managed, usually, for at least for technical things, by engineers, with a very technical approach. I think is a good link. We missed somebody like Corrado that worked for the organizer, but that can speak the same language of the engineers of the manufacturers. Otherwise, it's easier to create a wall between the two approach. Of course the technical approach is usually different from the business approach, and I guess Corrado could be a good compromise in the middle, because he knows very well the needs of the manufacturers, and now also working with Dorna, will learn also what the needs of Dorna will be. Are. So he is a very clever guy, I'm sure he will be a plus for all of us, not only for Dorna.

Q I think also MotoGP commercial chief Carmelo Ezpeleta has in his sights factory lease bikes, in that he wants to see the end of factory prototype lease bikes. How is this going to work?

A This is really more difficult, in my opinion, at least with the full prototypes. It's impossible to do what it was possible to do in the past with the 500, I mean, as kind of the small series of prototypes, like it was, for example, the Honda twin cylinder, or before when Yamaha were selling engines and ROC or Harris were doing the frames. Basically because the technology of a four-stroke bike is higher, on top of this, especially because the number cannot justify a small series, because at that time, there was the national championship 500. So if you start doing a bike or a frame, you can think to sell a reasonable number. Now, is impossible. So if we have to build up something special and the numbers are not there, it could be even more expensive than to lease a full prototype. So I think if we think about bikes to sell, we must think about CRT, not full prototype. That's my feeling. But the problem is not, in my opinion of course, is sell or leasing, but basically the price. In my opinion. Because if the leasing of a full prototype was Euro 300,000, there's no issue, I guess. But the problem is that the leasing of a full prototype, you must add one zero at the end. That's the real problem.

Q The conventional wisdom out there seems to be that the CRT concept and project is not going to go over well with Honda at all, but you're suggesting to me that people are afraid they will not see a Honda MotoGP prototype on the grid some time in the future, that they will all be CRT bikes.

A Honestly, I don't think so. I believe, as manufacturers, we - not only as Honda, working for Ducati for a long time, and I also know that for Ducati, MotoGP has been very important to grow up and to learn technical issues, technical stuff. So the fact of MotoGP, full prototypes, can be a kind of an exclusive R&D field. I think this is very important. This will remain for a long time. Then the issue now is how to build up a championship where clearly we need to have full prototypes and this so-called CRT. In my personal opinion - this is my personal opinion - there is two ways to do it. You must try to close the gap, technical gap, between a CRT and a full prototype. Or you can try to have a clearly different machine that races in the same race, but with two different categories, like it happens in, for example, in the British Superbike, or the 24 Hours of LeMans, for example. If you want to race with a full prototype like Peugeot does, or Audi, you can do it; but if you want to race with a production designed car, you can do it with, for example, with a Porsche 911. At the end of the day, the Porsche 911 team can sell they go to the big show, they sell to their sponsor they are racing in the 24 Hours of LeMans, that is the big show, and they can win their class. So I think this is an easier way to have two different bikes racing together, because in my opinion - but in again, this is just my personal opinion, because as you know I am not a technician - to have a full prototype and CRT with a small - as close as possible - is almost impossible. Basically because the riders make the real difference, so how will we know if a CRT bike is one second or two seconds slower than a full prototype, as far as you don't put Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, on a CRT bike, you don't know. On top of this, a full prototype is made by a company, so with all the expertise and technology of the company behind it. A CRT at the moment is made by a smaller company. So to see the real technical gap between a full prototype and a CRT, we should have Honda, Yamaha or Ducati do a full prototype and, with the same effort, a CRT. Then let these two bikes be driven by the same rider. Then we can see the difference. But this is impossible, of course. That's why I'm a little bit worried about trying to close the technical gap between full prototypes and CRT. Because if you are manufacturers, you will be always worried to see a CRT too much competitive. Our friend Claudio already is. And if you are a CRT company, or a CRT team, you will be always worried to have not enough to be close to the prototypes. On top of this, you have the riders, most probably so. In my opinion, if we do two different classes racing together, with two different podiums and two different championships, could be easier. And then you can try to keep the CRT as cheap as possible, with single ECU and whatever you want, because you don't need to have these bikes competitive with the full prototypes. And if the bad days goes ahead and the number of prototypes will reduce again, okay. For some in the bad season you will have more CRT than full prototypes, and in the good season, if the economy grow up again, you can have more prototypes and less CRT. But this could be flexible, you know? But this is my personal opinion, and I know it's something that - it's a little bit different from what people are used to seeing. That's why probably, as always in this world, the new things are a little bit like, "Ah." People don't like. The more I think, the more I believe this could be the best compromise. Honestly speaking, I don't see any big alternatives. I think if you try to close too much the technical gap between CRT and full prototypes, it's very difficult and it's very risky, because probably some manufacturer could be not interested any more.

Q The Italian press has focused on the safety aspects of CRT.

A Again, honestly I don't think ... on the bike, I think we need to be sure that the level of the team that would join the championship will be good enough to guarantee the reliability of the engine, because could be dangerous to have some broken engine during the practice or the race. And this is from a technical point of view, because I don't think that the two or three seconds a lap slower machine could be dangerous. The second issue is the riders. The riders must be with experience enough. That's a very important issue. I think we have to keep an eye on it, because if we see some rider is reasonably having too much slower than the top guys, or with no experience enough so when you are on - if a super fast guy is trying to overtake you, you must know what to do. So this is another issue, but hopefully will be under control. Is difficult to say now.

Q Casey Stoner has said he has no interest in CRT, doesn't see the point, and would quit racing if he were ever forced to ride one. Do you see that as just his initial response, and that it will change over time?

A What is clear is that Casey is Casey. He is the fastest man on earth, and he deserves to ride the fastest bike on earth. So that I don't think is an issue, for him to be involved in a CRT bike at the moment. So is not a problem, I don't think is an issue. I think if there's a rider who deserves to ride the full prototype, it's Casey.

source: superbikeplanet,com

video: Jorge Lorenzo at El Hormiguero

2012-02-12T11:00:00.000+01:00

video of Jorge Lorenzo at El Hormiguero.

source: @JLFanGroupID

Valentino Rossi linked video on You Tube

2012-02-11T17:00:00.000+01:00

From his twitter account @valeyellow46 , Valentino Rossi tweet a link from you tube. A video of him with dirt bike. Check this out

source: twitter

Rossi: Stoner, Lorenzo ahead but podium possible

2012-02-11T14:00:00.000+01:00

If Valentino Rossi was to race the new Ducati GP12 now, he'd be in with a chance of finishing on the MotoGP podium.

That was the nine-time world champion's opinion after the opening test of 2012 at Sepang, where he set the fifth fastest lap time with the 'all-new' GP12, featuring the factory's first aluminium twin-spar frame.

The Italian, who took just one podium during his debut Ducati season, finished the test 1.2sec behind Casey Stoner, but only half-a-second from third place Dani Pedrosa.

Between the Honda riders was Jorge Lorenzo, whose Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies claimed fourth.

“I agree [third is up for grabs]. For me, now, Lorenzo and Stoner ride also better than me, but maybe with Pedrosa and Spies it is not impossible you know?” said Rossi. “To already fight for the podium would be great for us and a good base to start this season from.”

Rossi finished seventh in the first race of 2011, at Qatar.

The second Sepang test starts on February 28, after which there will be one more official outing, at Jerez, prior to the Qatar night race on April 8.

source: crash.net

Barberá raises expectations for 2012

2012-02-11T11:00:00.000+01:00

The Valencian rider expects his third season in the premier class—in which he will ride for the Pramac Racing Team—to be a substantial step in his career. Barberá reveals his ambitions and says the improved Desmosedici 1000cc GP12 will help him achieve his goals.

After two seasons in MotoGP ™ with the Aspar Team, Héctor Barberá stars down a new path with Pramac Racing. The rider from Dos Aguas, Spain, joins the team as the sole rider and will be responsible for developing the satellite team’s 1000cc GP12. He had an encouraging start at the Sepang Test, chalking up the sixth fastest time, and has high expectations for the year ahead.

Héctor, you left the Sepang Test on a positive note, even better than at your debut with Pramac Racing in the post Valencia Grand Prix test last November.

"Yeah, the test went really well. Not like the Valencia test, where I had to take a lot of breaks because my shoulder was not quite 100% after injuring it. In Sepang, I felt pretty good from the first lap, I was physically recovered and was happy because the bike had also improved. Everything has been positive between last year and now."

What did you think after the second day, when you finished between the frontrunners and Valentino Rossi on the factory Ducati?

"It’s true, I was fourth place the second day and my Ducati was the fastest, although that bike isn’t done being developed, so you can assumed that they (the official team) are going to get a bit better. But I adjusted really well with the new team it was easier to make fast lap times and, more importantly, I made them more consistently."

From a technical point of view, what differences did you find between Pramac Racing’s Ducati at the Test and the one you tried at the end of the year?

"The bike has gone through a lot of changes. Especially with the setup and geometry; it’s very different from what I tried in November. It’s the same bike as the one in Valencia but they changed the base settings and it works better. It's a little more docile and the electronics have also improved. The 1000s require a little more arm strength and your back tires more, and what we have done is make the set-up to where it is more ridable and can be managed better with the electronics."

When will you get the final version of the GP12 and what differences will there be between it and the factory Ducati?

"I want to have the 2012 bike as soon as possible. I heard that we’ll have it after the first two or three races, but we could have it by Jerez. It seems the Ducati they tested in Malaysia is still going to have more changes and until then it isn’t considered the final version. It’s clear that the new GP12 appears to be better and it has some changes that could help us, so now I really want to try it, because it will be the final bike for the season. The question is to when exactly we will have it."

Will your bike be very different from the factory Ducati this year?

"In principle, we will have a bike on equal ground with the official bike. The team isn’t official, but the bike is, so we should start with a very similar bike."

In Sepang, we saw that Ducati was closer to the Hondas and Yamahas. Do you think it’s going to be on the same level this season?

"At Ducati they have done an incredible amount of work, and something that usually takes a year to do, they did in two months. They’ve done a fantastic job, but then again, two months is a short time, and I think the bike will be a base from which to evolve. There are still some remaining details and until they are improved it’s not considered the final motorcycle. We’ll have to wait and adapt to the situation as best as possible. Our aim in the next tests is to perform at our best, give more than 100% and try to be the best Ducati despite not having the best bike."

What will you focus on at the second Test of the season (at end of the month in Malaysia)?

"I think they are bringing new parts to try, we won’t be working on the chassis because like I said, it’s not the final bike, but we can work on the electronics and further develop them. At the end of the first test I was seven tenths off Lorenzo, who was second fastest, so we are not as far from the front as we have been before. I think a third or fourth place finish is not unrealistic; it would be great to do that with this bike."

The 2012 grid will have 21 riders. Do you think it will be more difficult this year to be in the top 10? What goals do have for your third year in the premier class?

"Better than top ten, I think I can be in the top six, I think this year I have a better chance to be there. We’ve made big changes and we’ll have the new bike and also Ducati is a little closer to the front so that will also help. I think all the changes that have occurred in the category will push me to aim for the podium. We know it's complicated, there are a lot of really good bikes and good riders and teams, but I don’t think it’s too ambitious to want to be there. I think I have the ability, so does the team, and the bike is good ... If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t be racing. I’m ambitious; I want to give my best and I know I’m where I belong."

So Héctor Barberá will be fighting with the riders at the front in 2012...

"I hope so; I hope this is the turning point. I'm better prepared, physically and mentally. The last few years have been pretty tough but the bike wasn’t great, and although the Aspar team always did their very best for me, it cost us. This year Ducati made a big change and I think we're going see the difference."

source: MotoGP Official

Moto3™ Test concludes with Cortese quickest

2012-02-11T01:29:00.000+01:00

The three day pre-season Moto3™ test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit concluded on Friday, and warmer weather meant lower lap times and more laps to get acquainted with the new breed of motorcycles.

After two days of cold and wind at the Valencia circuit, the weather finally eased up and the Moto3 riders welcomed the opportunity to put in as many laps as possible on their new machinery ahead of the season start. The entire field were able to better their times from yesterday with the exception of a few riders who either crashed or otherwise encountered mechanical issues.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Sandro Cortese reported the fastest time of the 33 participants for the third day in a row, his lap of 1’40.9 an improvement of four tenths over his top ranking time of Thursday. Offering a lap time for the first time in three days was Avintia Racing rider Maverick Viñales who lapped his FTR Suter just a tenth behind Cortese, while Alberto Moncayo, Danny Kent and Luis Salom all reported a time of 1’41.2, two tenths off the 2011 125cc Rookie of the Year to complete the top five times.

The next Moto3 ™ testing will begin next week in Jerez, where the Andalusian track will host three test days (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).

Unofficial Moto3 lap times Friday(recorded by teams):

1. SANDRO CORTESE, RED BULL KTM AJO, 1’40.9 (41 laps)

2. MAVERICK VINALES, AVINTIA RACING Moto3, 1’41.0 (66 laps)

3. ALBERTO MONCAYO, ASPAR TEAM Moto3, 1’41.2 (56 laps)

4. DANNY KENT, RED BULL KTM AJO, 1’41.2 (56 laps)

5. LUIS SALOM, RW RACING GP, 1’41.2 (28 laps)

6. NIKLAS AJO, TT MOTION EVENTS RACING, 1’41.4 (32 laps)

7. HECTOR FAUBEL, ASPAR TEAM Moto3, 1’41.6 (54 laps)

8. MIGUEL OLIVEIRA, MONLAU COMPETICION, 1’41.8 (60 laps)

9. ZULFAHMI KHAIRUDDIN, AIRASIA - SIC - AJO, 1’42.0 (44 laps)

10. BRAD BINDER, RW RACING GP, 1’42.0 (50 laps)

11. EFREN VAZQUEZ, TEAM LAGLISSE, 1’42.2 (35 laps)

12. LOUIS ROSSI, RACING TEAM GERMANY, 1’42.9 (40 laps)

13. ARTHUR SISSIS, RED BULL KTM AJO, 1’43.1 (50 laps)

14. ADRIAN MARTIN, TEAM LAGLISSE, 1’43.1 (40 laps)

15. DANNY WEBB, MAHINDRA RACING, 1’43.2 (32 laps)

16. NICCOLO ANTONELLI, SAN CARLO GRESINI Moto3, 1’43.2 (68 laps)

17. ALEX MARQUEZ, MONLAU COMPETICION, 1’43.7 (60 laps)

18. TONI FINSTERBUSCH, RACING TEAM GERMANY, 1’44.1 (44 laps)

19. ALEXIS MASBOU, CARRETTA TECHNOLOGY, 1’44.3 (73 laps)

20. KENTA FUJII, TECHNOMAG-CIP-TSR, 1’44.3 (82 laps)

21. JONAS FOLGER, MZ RACING TEAM, 1’44.5 (38 laps)

22. JACK MILLER, CARRETTA TECHNOLOGY, 1’44.7 (60 laps)

23. ALAN TECHER, TECHNOMAG-CIP-TSR, 1’44.8 (47 laps)

24. ROMANO FENATI, TEAM ITALIA FMI, 1’46.1 (35 laps)

25. MARCEL SCHROTTER, MAHINDRA RACING, 1’46.2 (37 laps)

26. IVAN MORENO, TEAM MACHADO, 1’46.2 (25 laps)

27. LUIGI MORCIANO, IODA TEAM ITALIA, 1’49.3 (10 laps)

28. GIULIAN PEDONE, AMBROGIO NEXT RACING, 1’50.0 (16 laps)

29. RICCARDO MORETTI, MAHINDRA RACING, No time provided

30. JASPER IWEMA, MOTO FGR, No time provided

31. ISAAC VINALES, ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA, No time provided

32. JAKUB KORNFEIL, REDOX-ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA, No time provided

33. ALESSANDRO TONUCCI, TEAM ITALIA FMI, No time provided

source: MotoGP Official

Espargaro tops Moto2™ Test at Valencia

2012-02-11T01:27:00.002+01:00

Pol Espargaró reported the fastest time on Friday at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, where the first 2012 preseason Moto2™ Test concluded after three days of action at the track in Valencia.

Warmer weather and an absence of wind saw the Moto2™ field quicken the pace substantially, demonstrating the although the 2012 season is just beginning, the Moto2 squads have their heads down and the competition has already started.

Pons Racing finally reported lap time for their riders on the third and final day of the test, and it was their new rider Pol Espargaró who set the unofficial fastest lap of the three days. The Spaniard made 61 laps on his Kalex on, reporting a time 1’35.4, three tenths quicker than Scott Redding who had dominated the two previous days. "In these tests, you don't get points or win races, but it takes enormous confidence to keep working hard and building confidence for the start of the World Championship," said Espargaró.

Another regular among the front runners was Speed Master’s Andrea Iannone, who recorded the same time as the Briton Redding, Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) and Claudio Corti (Italtrans Racing) both were within a tenth of the time set by Redding and Iannone to complete the top five in the field.

Although conditions were better, there were still several crashes (though none with serious consequences) including Max Neukirchner, Ratthapark Wilairot, Alex de Angelis, Gino Rea, Niklas Ajo, Esteve Rabat, Mike Di Meglio (two times), Damian Cudlin and new comer Roberto Rolfo.

The Moto2 riders now have five days before returning to the track again for the next three day test in Jerez.

Unofficial Moto2 lap times Friday (recorded by teams):

1. POL ESPARGARO, PONS RACING, KALEX, 1’35.4 (61 laps)

2. SCOTT REDDING, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’35.8 (63 laps)

3. ANDREA IANNONE, SPEED MASTER, SPEED UP, 1’35.8 (37 laps)

4. SIMONE CORSI, IODARACING PROJECT, FTR, 1’35.9 (45 laps)

5. CLAUDIO CORTI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’35.9 (38 laps)

6. JULIAN SIMON, AVINTIA RACING Moto2, FTR, 1’36.0 (55 laps)

7. THOMAS LUTHI, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK, SUTER, 1’36.0 (53 laps)

8. ESTEVE RABAT, PONS RACING, KALEX, 1’36.3 (42 laps)

9. GINO REA, GRESINI RACING Moto2, MORIWAKI, 1’36.4 (48 laps)

10. MIKA KALLIO, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’36.5 (57 laps)

11. ALEX DE ANGELIS, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, SUTER, 1’36.5 (47 laps)

12. ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, SAG TEAM, FTR, 1’36.5 (47 laps)

13. BRADLEY SMITH, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3, 1’36.5 (50 laps)

14. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’36.7 (67 laps)

15. MAX NEUKIRCHNER, KIEFER RACING, KALEX, 1’36.7 (79 laps)

16. TONI ELIAS, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, SUTER, 1’36,8 (50 laps)

17. NICOLAS TEROL, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, SUTER, 1’36.8 (50 laps)

18. YUKI TAKAHASHI, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, SUTER, 1’36.9 (55 laps)

19. AXEL PONS, PONS RACING, KALEX, 1’37.3 (53 laps)

20. XAVIER SIMEON, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3, 1’37.4 (78 laps)

21. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND, KALEX, 1’37.6 (53 laps)

22. JOHANN ZARCO, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI, 1’37.6 (60 laps)

23. MIKE DI MEGLIO, SPEED UP, SPEED UP, 1’37.7 (27 laps)

24. DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER, 1’37.8 (79 laps)

25. RATTHAPARK WILAIROT, THAI HONDA GRESINI Moto2, MORIWAKI, 1’37.8 (54 laps)

26. ROBERTO ROLFO, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER, 1’39.0 (55 laps)

27. ELENA ROSELL, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI, 1’39.3 (53 laps)

28. ERIC GRANADO, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI, 1’39.6 (69 laps)

29. ALEXANDER LUNDH, MZ RACING TEAM, MZ-RE HONDA, No times provided

30. DAMIAN CUDLIN, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI, No times provided

31. MARCO COLANDREA, SAG TEAM, FTR, No times provided

source: motogp official

Nicky Hayden has returned home after the operation

2012-02-10T19:00:00.000+01:00

Nicky Hayden , worked Monday arthroscopic right shoulder injured in training last December, has returned home. During the operation, carried out in Fremont, California and lasted about 40 minutes, Dr. Ting has found damage to the lip and sutured to the cartilage of the shoulder. Yesterday the post-operative check-up confirmed the success of the intervention and the Ducati Team has returned home.

If the recovery will proceed as scheduled Hayden will be at the start of the second test session in Sepang, Malaysia, from February 28 to March 1. "The operation was a setback but, all things considered, how satisfied are things have gone " - said Hayden - It was good that we could do it all in arthroscopy and even pain, now, is not excessive. "

source: motoblog.it

Preziosi explains satellite GP12 strategy

2012-02-10T17:00:00.000+01:00

Ducati Corse general manager Filippo Preziosi has explained the technical status of the satellite Ducati riders for the start of the 2012 MotoGP season.

In addition to the factory GP12s of Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, two satellite Desmosedicis will also be on the grid this year - one for Hector Barbera (Pramac) and the other for Karel Abraham (Cardion AB).

Satellite Ducati riders have had a tough time in recent seasons, but Barbera left last week's opening test of 2012, at Sepang, in an impressive sixth place. The Spaniard was also the top satellite rider and only 0.1sec slower than Rossi.

But Barbera and Abraham (twelfth fastest, 1.3sec behind Barbera) do not presently have the same version of GP12 as the factory team.

Instead they are using the previous 'Valencia' bike - so-called because it was debuted by Rossi at November's post-race test. This has been developed in parallel to the 'all-new' GP12, which made its debut at Sepang. Both types of bike have a full aluminium twin-spar frame.

“We have developed the Valencia bike for the satellite teams, based on the same analysis and results from that test. So we have brought some special parts [to Sepang] for the satellite bikes,” said Preziosi. “Hector is very happy about his new bike and is the top satellite rider.

“The electronics are already the same [as the factory bikes],” Preziosi added. “All the engineers can make different electronic choices. Which they think is better for their rider. But the system is the same.”

Looking ahead to the start of the racing season, Preziosi explained that proven mechanical parts will be made available from the factory team, should Pramac and Cardion AB want them.

“Our strategy is to develop new things for the factory team and when it is proven that the reliability is good and development is quite stable then we will offer them to the satellite teams,” he said.

“It depends on time, money and performance if they decide [they want them]. But I think that Hector is quite happy with his bike and there is further potential with that bike, before thinking about changing it.”

Ducati supported four satellite MotoGP riders in 2011, the best of whom was Barbera, who finished eleventh in the championship for the Aspar Team. Aspar has switched to Aprilia CRT bikes for 2012.

by Peter McLaren from crash.net

Lorenzo: "We're still developing the bike"

2012-02-10T15:00:00.000+01:00

Jorge Lorenzo is confident his new 1000ccc machine will undergo significant progress before the first GP of the year. After the first Test of 2012 at Sepang, the Spaniard said that "if we can improve, even 2%, we will do very well this year."

The MotoGP ™ season has begun on a positive note for Jorge Lorenzo, who was at the top of the timesheets in the Official Test in Malaysia and, perhaps more importantly, left Sepang encouraged about the potential of the new YZR-M1 1000cc, the weapon that the Japanese factory has developed in an attempt to counter Honda’s dominance of the last year.

In a conversation with motogp.com, the Yamaha Factory Racing rider shared his assessment of the recent work accomplished in the opening Test of the preseason.

"We're still developing the bike, because things have changed a lot, the bike capacity is 200cc more, there is more power, it’s heavier and you have to brake harder and open the throttle more gently, and use more strength to stand the bike up after a corner ... but I think we're a little closer to our competitors," explained the 2010 MotoGP World Champion. "The bike has a lot of potential. We have to work on several things but if we can improve it, even by 2%, we can do very well this year."

Lorenzo is confident that during the final preseason test in Jerez or by the first Grand Prix on the calendar, Qatar, he will have a better adjusted bike: "It’s difficult to improve the bike much in just a couple of weeks. I think now we’ll work on improving some aspects of the electronics ahead of Jerez, and by Qatar we can make a pretty big step forward," Lorenzo predicts.

The Spanish rider also argues that Honda, Yamaha and Ducati seem to be on more equal ground this season. And on the subject of the Rossi-Ducati progress and a hypothetical return of the Italian fighting at the front of the field, Lorenzo commented:

"This year I see a little more equality between all three factories, I think it’s possible for all of the manufacturers to have wins this season, which was impossible for Ducati last year. We had three or four, but this year I think Ducati will have opportunities to win, though I don’t know yet whether they will be able to fight for the title, but I see them stronger, more competitive, faster, and I think that Valentino will fight for a victory this year."

One item of concern for Lorenzo in the new 1000cc era is the higher top speeds the powerful prototypes are able to reach. He believes there should be a line drawn at the maximum attainable speed in competition:

"It's unlikely that a crash will occur at 340 or 350kph in a straight line, but if it did, it would be almost impossible not to have serious consequences, so for me there’s no need to go 350kph in a straight line. I think 310, 320kph is more than enough speed to race at; Speed doesn’t make the race, what we wanted the last few years was more of a show for the fans, but I think there is a limit. We’ve reached 350kph. I think it’s too much," concluded Lorenzo.

source: MotoGP Official

Bridgestone: No special CRT MotoGP tyres

2012-02-10T13:00:00.000+01:00

Bridgestone has confirmed that it will not be developing special tyres for the new class of privateer Claiming Rule Teams (CRTs) that will debut in MotoGP this season.

“We considered the introduction of CRT machines when developing the 2012 specification tyres and so these tyres offer the same level of performance to all the bikes on the grid,” said Tohru Ubukata, general manager of Bridgestone's Motorsport Tyre Development Department.

“Our main technical objectives of improved warm-up performance and a wider operating temperature range not only enhance rider confidence, they also ensure that the performance potential of the 2012 specification tyres is more accessible to the CRT machines.

“The CRT results at the first tests were quite promising and indicate that the 2012 specification tyres are well suited to CRT bikes.”

Nine CRT riders, using modified Superbike engines in a prototype chassis, will race alongside the twelve manufacturer MotoGP machines from Honda, Yamaha and Ducati this season.

While two Aprilia CRTs took part in a private test session at Valencia in late January, two other CRTs joined the manufacturer teams at Sepang for the first official test of 2012.

The best CRT at the Sepang test was Forward Racing's Colin Edwards. The Suter-BMW rider's best lap was 5.1sec from Honda's Casey Stoner, but 2.5sec from Ducati's Karel Abraham.

Bridgestone won the MotoGP title in 2007 (Casey Stoner, Ducati) and 2008 (Valentino Rossi, Yamaha), and has been MotoGP's exclusive tyre supplier since 2009.

source: crash.net

Capirossi on his new role and Bridgestones

2012-02-10T11:00:00.000+01:00

Bridgestone’s collaboration with Safety Advisor to Dorna, Loris Capirossi, resumed at last week’s Sepang test, with the three-time World Champion providing input into the ongoing evaluation of Bridgestone’s 2012 specification MotoGP™ tyres.

During his stay in Malaysia, Capirossi took time-out to talk to www.bridgestonemotorsport.com about his new role with Dorna, rider reactions to Bridgestone's 2012 tyres, and his hopes for MotoGP in the future.

Loris, how does it feel coming to the circuit but not being able to get out and cut some laps?

"Especially on the first day when I arrived here, it was tough seeing the riders out on the circuit and me just standing around watching them go, but this feeling passed very quickly."

"The good thing is that I decided by myself to retire, and for this I’m happy because during twenty-two seasons as a rider I always had what I wanted. One thing that is very different now that I’m Safety Advisor is that I think in these few days I’ve walked over one-hundred kilometres between the boxes to talk to the riders - this has been very strange!"

How did your appointment as Safety Advisor to Dorna come about?

"I had been talking a long time with Carmelo [Ezpeleta] and he always said he would like to have me work with Dorna when I stopped racing, but first it was just an idea. Then last year when I announced I was retiring, we decided I would work as Safety Advisor and I am really happy about this because I have been involved with the safety commission since 2003 and I never missed a meeting, and during this time I think we did an amazing job to improve rider safety."

"Now in my new role I can continue to help in this way and give everybody the opportunity to use my experience, because for sure I bring a lot with twenty-two years in GP’s."

What are the main objectives you hope to achieve this year in your new role?

"The first step for this year was to resume the collaboration with Bridgestone and to develop a working plan for the future. Bridgestone is very important to rider safety and so our relationship is also important, and I am happy to be involved with their work in MotoGP."

"Both our first meeting at Valencia last year and now here at Sepang have been constructive, and the feeling between Bridgestone, myself and the riders is very good."

In your discussions with the riders, what was the feedback on Bridgestone’s 2012 specification tyres?

"The general feeling is that the 2012 specification tyres are very good. The riders are happy with the warm-up performance and improved feeling and this is important for their confidence. Also, the experimental front tyre that was tested here in Sepang gave riders an understanding of the direction of Bridgestone’s development and for this, the feeling was also positive."

"Honestly, things have been really positive here and I am pleased I can help provide Bridgestone with some information from the riders."

So the riders are responding well to you in your new role?

"Definitely, yes. I have many responsibilities in my new role and helping with tyres is just one part of this, but in everything I do the most important thing is I know how to speak the riders’ language. I was in the same position as them until just a couple of months ago so maybe there are some things they can explain to me that they find it hard to explain to someone else. The riders respect me, so this puts me in a good position to offer advice on what the riders require."

In what direction do you see MotoGP heading in the future?

"This year it’s quite different with the introduction of CRT, but everyone knows the financial situation at the moment so we need to find a solution to see if we can bring the costs down. CRT is the first step, and we have to try and make this step so that in a couple of years, things can improve."

"Whether this means all bikes will be CRT in a few years is too early to say, but my personal opinion is that things need to continue to move in this direction. I hope that this year is the first step to a big change for MotoGP."

source: MotoGP Official

Moto3: Cortese and KTM in Valencia the lead in Day 2 of testing

2012-02-10T04:52:00.001+01:00

Within 10 days from a reference best lap in 1'43 "2 to a stunning 1'41" 3: real or alleged "miracles" of the new category. The Moto3 closes the second day of activities at the Autodromo Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia with a new record achieved by KTM Motorsport dell'Ajo M32 official assigned to the "veteran" Sandro Cortese, fell on the last lap by January 31 (private testing KTM Racing) to date of almost 2 seconds. Temperatures will be higher (although a few ° C) or the availability, at least for the top teams, the "package World 2012" (unit Dell'Orto and Dunlop tires developed specifically for the new category), this certainly makes a stir Climbing performance of Moto3 made in Matthigofen, so as to create some legitimate and understandable suspicion on the actual goodness of the Valencian tests.

With a ranking of "unofficial" drawn from the times reported by the teams, shows an apparent dominance of the KTM 4-stroke 250cc engines: Sandro Cortese commands in 1'41 "3 with the M32 officer entered the Red Bull KTM Factory Team Ajo, 1 / 10-KALEX KTM Aspar team led by former champion CEV 125 (Rookie of the Year in the World 2010) Alberto Moncayo, even in the fourth test with the staff always Moto3 Cheste. A complete poker "Orange" we think the former vice-Rookies Cup champion Danny Kent (reappointed for the second consecutive year in Ajo Motorsport, now from KTM Factory Rider) and the expert Hector Faubel (second-KALEX KTM dell'Aspar Team), avoids the "pokerissimo" KTM Miguel Oliveira with Honda's NSF250R Monlau Competicion, with this bike capable of beating the 125 GP 2 times in the last two rounds of the CEV 2011 between Valencia (pole in 1'41 "776) and Jerez de la Frontera.

The Portuguese driver, ex-Maverick Vinales great rival in the Spanish League, takes his Hondina sponsored by major sponsors (Repsol, CatalunyaCaixa, Estrella Galicia 0.0) under the wall dell'1'42 "leaving behind familiar faces and some surprise: the Malaysian Zulfahmi Khairuddin again confirmed in top positions with yet another KTM M32, through the Australian champion in office IDM 125 Jack Miller (Honda team Caretta Technology), Louis Rossi (Racing Team Germany today with a FTR- Honda). Rounding out the top-10 include the last pole man in the history of the 125 GP class with Danny Webb Mahindra MGP3O thrust from the propeller Oral OE-250M3R, followed closely by the South African House RW Racing GP Brad Binder, 10 ° of KALEX- KTM.

Speaking of our standard bearer, the Italian champion figure well in office 125 Niccolo Antonelli, 11 ° NSF250R with the Honda Gresini team, but were not communicated to the times of Richard Moretti (tester Mahindra Racing) and ensigns of the IMF on Ioda TR002 Luigi Morciano, Alessandro Tonucci and the reigning European champion Roman Fenati. Same goes for a "big" as Luis Salom (KALEX of KTM-RW Racing GP), but especially Maverick Vinales , with Avintia Racing (ex-Team BQR) has decided to avoid confrontation with the fastest time for the second competition day in a row.

Oral report by the development of the World Wide Racing M3 (now "Ambrose Next Racing") entrusted to the Swiss Giulian Pedone, 19 ° and preceded by MZ Honda driven by the engine by first time runner-up Toni Finsterbusch IDM 125 (deployed by the Racing Team Germany) and the winner of the Grand Prix at Silverstone 2011 Jonas Folger. At the edge of the top-10 but Alex Marquez , brother of Marc, author of the second slide in these tests to "substitute" by Alex Rins to Monlau Competicion, but still in the CEV Moto3 candidate for the title with the same Honda NSF250R managed by the formation of Emilio Alzamora.

Moto3 World Championship 2012

Valencia IRTA Test, Day 2 Standings

01 - Sandro Cortese - Red Bull KTM Factory Team Ajo - KTM M32 - 1'41 .3 (52 laps)

02 - Alberto Moncayo - BANKIA Aspar Team - KALEX KTM - 1'41 .4 (42 laps)

03 - Danny Kent - Red Bull KTM Ajo Factory Team - KTM M32 - 1'41 .5 (56 laps)

04 - Hector Faubel - BANKIA Aspar Team - KALEX KTM - 1'41 .8 (34 laps)

05 - Miguel Oliveira - Monlau Competicion - NSF250R Honda - 1'41 .8 (61 laps)

06 - Zulfahmi Khairuddin - AirAsia SIC Ajo - KTM M32 - 1'42 .4 (33 RPM)

07 - Jack Miller - Caretta Technology - NSF250R Honda - 1'42 .9 (55 laps)

08 - Louis Rossi - Racing Team Germany - Honda FTR M312 - 1'43 .1 (34 laps)

09 - Danny Webb - Racing Mahindra - Mahindra MGP3O - 1'43 .2 (30 laps)

10 - Brad Binder - RW Racing GP - KALEX KTM - 1'43 .3 (41 laps)

11 - Niccolo Antonelli - San Carlo Gresini Moto3 - NSF250R Honda - 1'43 .5 (56 laps)

12 - Efren Vazquez - Team Laglisse - NSF250R Honda - 1'43 .8 (25 laps)

13 - Alex Marquez - Monlau Competicion - NSF250R Honda - 1'44 .5 (44 laps)

14 - Arthur SISSIS - Red Bull KTM Factory Team Ajo - KTM M32 - 1'44 .5 (55 laps)

15 - Toni Finsterbusch - Racing Team Germany - MZ Honda Moto3 - 1'44 .8 (33 laps)

16 - Adrian Martin - Team Laglisse - NSF250R Honda - 1'45 .2 (32 laps)

17 - Jonas Folfer - MZ Racing Team - MZ Honda Moto3 - 1'45 .3 (67 laps)

18 - Alexis Masbou - Caretta Technology - NSF250R Honda - 1'45 .4 (55 laps)

19 - Giulian Pedone - Next Racing Ambrose - Oral M3 - 1'45 .8 (15 laps)

20 - Jakub Kornfeil - Redox Ongetta Centre Silk - NSF250R Honda - 1'46 .3 (44 laps)

21 - Maverick Vinales - Avintia Racing - Honda FTR M312 - without time

22 - Luigi Morciano - Ioda Team Italy - Ioda TR002 - Timeless

23 - Marcel Schrotter - Racing Mahindra - Mahindra MGP3O - Timeless

24 - Riccardo Moretti - Racing Mahindra - Mahindra MG3O - Timeless

25 - Jasper Iwema - Moto FGR - Motorcycles FGR Honda - Timeless

26 - Luis Salom - RW Racing GP - KALEX KTM - Timeless

27 - Roman Fenati - Team Italy IMF - Ioda TR002 - Timeless

28 - Alessandro Tonucci - Team Italy IMF - Ioda TR002 - Timeless

29 - Ivan Moreno - Team Machado - Honda FTR M312 - Timeless

30 - Kenta Fuji - Technomag CIP TSR - TSR3 Honda - Timeless

31 - Alan Techer - Technomag CIP TSR - Honda NSF250R - Timeless

32 - Niklas Ajo - TT Motion Events Racing - KTM M32 - Timeless

source: bikeracing.it

Redding under lap record at Valencia

2012-02-10T02:27:00.001+01:00

In a repeat of yesterday morning, none of the participating teams attempted a run on the cold pavement before 11:00am due to the cold track temperatures, and again the Marc VDS Racing Team reported their star Scott Redding as posting the fastest lap time, a 1’35.6, nine tenths quicker than his reported time yesterday and half a second faster than the best recorded lap set by Toni Elias in 2010.

In a change from yesterday however, the top five were on a varied mix of bikes, with Andrea Iannone reporting the second fastest time, two tenths behind Redding aboard his Speed Up modified FTR. The Italian was able to put in around fifteen more laps than yesterday and making a two second improvement in the process.

Claudio Corti was again third with an improvement of 1.3s on his Italtrans Racing Kalex, followed by the Suter of Thomas Luthi and Simone Corsi on the FTR Ioda bike reporting the same time (1'36.3) to complete the top five unofficial times. 2010 Champion Toni Elias improved his pace seven tenths, landing him in twelfth position,

Team Gresini’s Gino Rea made up for lost time after an engine problem yesterday allowed the British rider to only complete ten laps, putting in 50 today and ranking 17th, and Yuki Takahashi also recovered lost time after troubles that saw the Japanese rider complete only 3 laps on Wednesday, putting in 57 laps to place 19th.

There were a handful of minor crashes, including both JiR team’s Johann Zarco and Brazilian rider Eric Granado, the latter of whom will debut in the Moto2 World Championship from the Silverstone race after he reaches the required age of 16, and all three members of the Pons Racing Team, Tito Rabat, Pol Espargaró and Axel Pons, none of whom provided any lap times for today, though Espargaró and Rabat reported the second and fifth fastest times yesterday.

Unofficial Moto2 lap times Thursday (recorded by teams):

1. SCOTT REDDING, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’35.6 (59 laps)

2. ANDREA IANNONE, SPEED MASTER, SPEED UP, 1’35.8 (40 laps)

3. CLAUDIO CORTI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’36.1 (48 laps)

4. THOMAS LUTHI, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK, SUTER, 1’36.3 (30 laps)

5. SIMONE CORSI, IODARACING PROJECT, FTR, 1’36.3 (30 laps)

6. BRADLEY SMITH, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3, 1’36.5 (52 laps)

7. MIKA KALLIO, MARC VDS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’36.6 (54 laps)

8. ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, SAG TEAM, FTR, 1’36.8 (42 laps)

9. MAX NEUKIRCHNER, KIEFER RACING, KALEX, 1’37.2 (67 laps)

10. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND, KALEX, 1’37.5 (55 laps)

11. ALEX DE ANGELIS, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, SUTER, 1’37.5 (51 laps)

12. TONI ELIAS, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, SUTER, 1’37.6 (59 laps)

13. MIKE DI MEGLIO, SPEED UP, SPEED UP, 1’37.6 (50 laps)

14. NICOLAS TEROL, ASPAR TEAM Moto2, SUTER, 1’37.7 (60 laps)

15. JOHANN ZARCO, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI, 1’37.7 (34 laps)

16. XAVIER SIMEON, TECH 3 RACING, TECH 3, 1’37.7 (62 laps)

17. GINO REA, GRESINI RACING Moto2, MORIWAKI, 1’37.8 (50 laps)

18. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM, KALEX, 1’37.8 (66 laps)

19. YUKI TAKAHASHI, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING, SUTER, 1’37.9 (57 laps)

20. ALEXANDER LUNDH, MZ RACING TEAM, MZ-RE HONDA, 1’38.4 (45 laps)

21. DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER, 1’38.4 (67 laps)

22. RATTHAPARK WILAIROT, THAI HONDA GRESINI Moto2, MORIWAKI, 1’38.6 (61 laps)

23. DAMIAN CUDLIN, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI, 1’39.4 (44 laps)

24. ROBERTO ROLFO, TECHNOMAG-CIP, SUTER, 1’39.7 (61 laps)

25. ELENA ROSELL, QMMF RACING TEAM, MORIWAKI, 1’40.1 (52 laps)

26. ERIC GRANADO, JIR Moto2, MOTOBI, 1’40.3 (20 laps)

27. MARCO COLANDREA, SAG TEAM, FTR, 1’42.3 (19 laps)

28. JULIAN SIMON, AVINTIA RACING Moto2, FTR, No times provided

29. POL ESPARGARO, PONS RACING, KALEX, No times provided

30. AXEL PONS, PONS RACING, KALEX, No times provided

31. ESTEVE RABAT, PONS RACING, KALEX, No times provided

source: MotoGP Official

Maverick Vinales sponsored by Repsol

2012-02-09T18:00:00.000+01:00

Maverick Viñales and join Repsol roads in 2012. The pilot of Roses (Girona), 17 years old, has joined the select group of riders spnnsored by Repsol in the World Championship.

With the addition of pilot revelation last season, Repsol complete a dream team consisting of Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa (MotoGP), Marc Márquez (Moto2), Maverick Viñales, Miguel Oliveira and Alex Rins (Moto3), and consolidated its presence in all three World Championship categories.

The agreement between Avintia Competition and Repsol, which will be supported Viñales energy company, is extended until the end of 2012.

Despite his youth, Viñales has had time to prove his talent both domestically and internationally. In 2009 he began his career in Spain Speed Championship (CEV), a competition in which he finished second overall by just 4 points. In 2010, Viñales got win the 125cc title and CEV European Championship.

A year later, in his World Cup debut, shined in a season in which he finished third overall on the podium after winning 9 times, 4 of them in first place. Some records that led in 2011 to be elected by the rest of their status as co-rookie of the year.

In 2012, Maverick Viñales facing the premiere of the new category of Moto3, which also coincide with the Repsol riders Miguel Oliveira and Alex Rins. For this new challenge, Viñales continues with the preparation of the season, and today on the asphalt wheel Ricardo Tormo circuit in a few workouts that will conclude on Friday.

Repsol, which is present in high competition for over 40 years, is one of the sponsors of reference in the Motorcycle World Championship and faces the 2012 season with aspirations of winning in all categories.

Maverick Viñales: "I am thrilled to defend the colors of this season as a sponsor Repsol Repsol because it talk about a great story of triumph in the World Championship. Many pilots have been very good these colors and now I will pass to join this group. Currently, the top three riders sponsored by Repsol, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez, are World Champions, and that is certainly our goal now for the 2012.

I just hope others follow the path marked Repsol riders in the World Championship and achieved many successes. Focus now in these days of testing in Valencia. They have received many improvements to our bike that we must now be thoroughly tested. "

Source: Repsol

HRC: 1000cc only unleashed in 5th and 6th gears

2012-02-09T16:00:00.000+01:00

HRC executive vice president Shuhei Nakamoto believes the biggest difference with the new 1000cc MotoGP bikes will only be felt in fifth and sixth gears.

“Even with the 800cc we had to reduce the power up to fourth gear,” he said. “So compared with the 800, with the 1000cc we have more power in fifth and sixth gear.

“Straight-line speed is a bit faster, but time gained is only in fifth and sixth gear acceleration. And because top speed is higher you must brake sooner.

“Cornering performance depends on chassis and tyres, which are not so different to 800cc, although the weight has increased. Of course, I expect the lap time to be better than the 800, but not a big difference.”

During the opening test of 2012, at Sepang, Honda's reigning world champion Casey Stoner dipped slightly under his best 800cc lap time from last year's winter tests. Further lap time improvements are expected in the second test later this month.

No official top speeds were recorded at Sepang, but the Hondas were said to be fastest through unofficial speed traps set up by some teams.

Yamaha's 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo has expressed concerns about the increase in top speeds with 1000cc bikes, but seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi thinks the risk is minimal.

“At the fast tracks the top speed will be quite impressive, but I don't think it will be more dangerous,” said the Ducati rider.

The highest official MotoGP top speed is 349.3km/h (217.1mph) by Dani Pedrosa during practice for the 2009 Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. Pedrosa was riding an 800cc RC212V.

The highest top speed of the previous 990cc bikes was 343.3km/h (213.6mph) by Honda's Makoto Tamada, during qualifying at China's Shanghai circuit in 2006.

source: crash.net

Alvaro Bautista impressed with Honda electronics

2012-02-09T14:00:00.000+01:00

Alvaro Bautista reckons Honda’s electronics are so well advanced that when he made his RC213V 1000cc debut in Sepang last week he felt slower than Suzuki’s 800!

The Spaniard finished ninth with a best time 2.01.384 that left him less than half-a-second from the top six.

The Gresini Honda rider said: “The electronics are absolutely incredible. My feeling on the first two days was that this bike was less powerful than the Suzuki 800.

"But you were always fighting a lot to control the Suzuki, so that probably made it feel like you were going fast. With the Honda everything is easier and the lap time comes easier.”

The test also gave Bautista the chance to familiarise himself with Honda’s famed seamless shift gearbox.

He added: “The gearbox is really impressive. When you are in a long turn and you have to change gear, the bike doesn’t move one millimetre.”

Bautista’s RC213V will run Showa and not Ohlins suspension in 2012.

Showa is an affiliate of Honda, and MCN understands part of the suspension deal helped Gresini secure the seamless shift gearbox for much less than its budget blasting price of £500,000 that satellite teams must pay.

source: MCN

Team stability key for Ben Spies

2012-02-09T11:00:00.000+01:00

It's not what's changing, but what's staying the same that could play a pivotal role in the forthcoming MotoGP season for Ben Spies.

Ever since leaving America as a triple AMA Superbike champion in 2008, Spies has previously switched teams at the end of each season.

After winning the World Superbike title at his first attempt in 2009, Spies moved to MotoGP with Tech 3 Yamaha for 2010 - meaning three different championships in as many years.

A further team change occurred for 2011, when Spies graduated to the Factory Yamaha team, taking over the seat vacated by Valentino Rossi. Most of Rossi's mechanics also moved with him to Ducati.

Supported by the new crew, Spies took a first MotoGP win in runaway style at Assen and finished fifth in the championship, one place higher than 2010, with four podiums. But it was an up-and-down season, literally at times.

Staying alongside former champion Jorge Lorenzo at the Factory Yamaha squad for 2012, Spies is relishing some team stability as he seeks to put last year 'behind him' and fight consistently for wins with the new Superbike-sized 1000cc prototypes.

“Ever since I left America I've been on a completely different team every year,” Spies told Crash.net. “And even though we rode the Yamaha GP bike from Tech 3 to the Factory, it was a different bike and different team.

“So it's refreshing to see the same faces and know how the whole gig works this year. It's about getting into a comfort zone and that's why we had a lot of success in the AMA. I think it's going to be a lot better year this year.

“We showed some good potential last year, but we also had some moments where I kinda screwed up and then just some bad luck that was beyond our control. Those types of years happen to everyone.

“But this year we're in the same place, everything feels more natural and the bike seems like it's going to be a good package. I'm much happier going into this year and looking forward to putting last year behind us.”

Spies finished the first test of 2012, at Sepang, in fourth place. His best lap time was 0.888sec behind Honda's Casey Stoner, but only 0.297sec slower than second place Lorenzo.

by Peter McLaren from crash.net

Elias and Terol test Suter new chassis

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000+01:00

The Circuit of Valencia smells from today until next Friday to Worldwide. Practically the entire staff of pilots Moto2 and Moto3 met today at Valencia for the first official test of the year.

Brand new and fresh from the oven they expected, Toni Elias and Nico Terol, the new 2012 chassis manufacturer Suter Federer. The harsh temperatures have forced them to delay its start until well past noon. Today was a day of reunions, to recapture feelings, to adjust the position on the bike to remove the accumulated Tarquin after two months of inactivity, as far as racing bikes are concerned. The feeling was positive despite the cold, both Toni and Nico have agreed that the new chassis has enormous potential and therefore successfully concluded the day. Nico has completed a total of thirty laps, and preferred not to go out on track in the afternoon shift, Toni has instead defied low temperatures to give vent to his tenacity. 1.38.30 has been the best record of Catalan and the Valencian 1.39.65, a good start for the first official test of the year.

Toni Elias 1.38.30 (47 laps): "It is very cold, so I'm taking it easy, because it is easy to make a mistake and go to the ground. go on you get a shock alert, it is still important to work because we are two months without driving. I am very happy because the bike run a lot, and we have also solved a problem with the clutch we had in the last test, then worked hard and fortunately it has been solved. Today we had very clear ideas and thanks to that has worked in the right direction, it is very important for us to lay a good foundation. know how we work, today was the first day of training on 2012 World Cup begins in April and seems to lack a eternity, but we have to take the maximum time to prepare. "

Nico Terol 1.39.65 (30 laps): "Early in the day I felt quite strange, the truth is that I have a few miles in the new category and I have to keep me still getting used to many things. In the latest round of the day and I started to regain some feeling. I've only given thirty laps, with the same tire, I have not had much information, but this journey has helped me desoxidarme after the winter. Today we basically worked on the bike position, we tried to put everything right in place tomorrow and Friday to try many things. The base is good and we have time left, so I'm calm and pleased with how this training has begun. Temperatures have dropped a lot, so we decided not to roll out in the latest round of the day. The new chassis I liked, I notice that has been deleted rather the lack of grip and is more docile when to turn. "

source: motocuatro

Debut of the Repsol riders in Moto3

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000+01:00

After a long winter break, the Repsol riders of Moto3, Alex Marquez, Miguel Oliveira and Maverick Viñales, have had the opportunity to shoot for the first time this year with their new bikes at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. Despite the low temperatures, young drivers were able to go out and earn his first kilometers on the first of three scheduled days of testing at the Valencia track.

The 12 º C of asphalt on this first day of practice did not prevent pilots begin the process of adaptation to their new machines. In order to earn miles with the new Moto3, Marquez, Oliveira and Viñales have defied the cold asphalt to get your first impressions about your new frames and gradually learn their characteristics.

After a final outing in the afternoon, the three young pilots have concluded the training today with good taste, even though two of them, Alex Marquez and Maverick Viñales-paths have suffered falls significant because of the low temperature of the track.

Morning workouts in the Ricardo Tormo circuit and riders continue Repsol will have a new opportunity to advance the process of adapting to their new Moto3.

Alex Marquez 1:45.1, 28 laps, 112 km. "It was a positive day. Despite having been all winter without touching the bike, now the feeling was good. In the morning, I started quiet and I have gone from strength to strength. By late morning I suffered a fall in a right-hander but I have not done anything, I'm fine.

In the afternoon I was able to roll out again and then I managed to re-set a good pace. Finally, I have finished the first day with good feelings. "

Miguel Oliveira 1:43.2, 34 laps, 136 km. "I felt great on the first day of practice, and I wanted to re-roll. It was a good touchdown after two months without riding the bike.

Although I left a little late to roll on how cold it was early, I could set a good time. The track was cold, but this first day has helped me see where I am compared to other drivers. "

Maverick Viñales "After so long without training, we have considered this first day as a journey to re-take desoxidarme and sensations. has become quite cold and just picked up the asphalt temperature.

I'm happy with the first feeling with the new bike, from here, much work ahead to do with the team. At day's end I had a small crash but no importance. I cant wait to get back on the bike tomorrow to continue with these early days of adaptation. "

Source: Repsol

Redding fastest in the Moto2 field at Test

2012-02-09T04:16:00.000+01:00

The Official Test of 2012 for the Moto2 class saw Scott Redding lead the field as the intermediate class gears up for the start of the season at Valencia.

The first day out for the Moto2 riders concluded after a slow start had many team waiting in their boxes for the track temperatures to rise. The second part of the day allowed all the Moto2 riders to get to work preparing for the start of the 2012 season, with Briton Scott Redding topping the unofficial reported times with a 1‘.36.5 aboard his Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex bike.

Pol Espargaró (Pons Racing) completed the day in second, half a second behind Redding, with Italtrans Racing Team rider Claudio Corti in third with a reported time of 1’37.4. Max Neukirchner of Kiefer Racing and Pons Racing’s Tito Rabat completed the top five times, with all five riding Kalex machinery.

2010 Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias finished the day in the eleventh place out of 31 riders on track, at the controls of Mapfre Aspar Team’s Suter. The Spaniard reported that he took the day easy after not riding for two months, saying "we took it easy because it’s easy to make mistakes and crash, after two months it was important to get back on the bike with confidence."

Elias was a tenth of a second behind last year’s 125cc runner up, Johann Zarco, who was the fastest newcomer of the day, ranking 9 places ahead of rival and 125cc World Champion Nico Terol.

Season favorite and 2011 runner up, Marc Marquez is recovering from eye surgery and was not present at the test.

Unofficial Moto2 lap times Wednesday (recorded by teams):

1. SCOTT REDDING, MARC VDS RACING TEAM 1’36.5 53 laps

2. POL ESPARGARO, PONS RACING 1’37.0 47 laps

3. CLAUDIO CORTI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM 1’37.4 52 laps

4. MAX NEUKIRCHNER, KIEFER RACING 1’37.5 38 laps

5. ESTEVE RABAT, PONS RACING 1’37.5 43 laps

6. THOMAS LUTHI, INTERWETTEN PADDOCK 1’37.9 24 laps

7. ANDREA IANNONE, SPEED MASTER 1’37.9 27 laps

8. SIMONE CORSI, IODARACING PROJECT 1’38.0 43 laps

9. MIKA KALLIO, MARC VDS RACING TEAM 1’38.1 26 laps

10. JOHANN ZARCO, JIR Moto2 1’38.2 22 laps

11. TONI ELIAS, ASPAR TEAM Moto2 1’38.3 47 laps

12. ALEX DE ANGELIS, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING 1’38.7 20 laps

13. ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, SAG TEAM 1’38.7 27 laps

14. BRADLEY SMITH, TECH 3 RACING 1’38.8 36 laps

15. DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, TECHNOMAG-CIP 1’39.0 68 laps

16. AXEL PONS, PONS RACING 1’39.1 45 laps

17. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI, ITALTRANS RACING TEAM 1’39.2 40 laps

18. MIKE DI MEGLIO, SPEED UP 1’39.2 21 laps

19. NICOLAS TEROL, ASPAR TEAM Moto2 1’39.6 30 laps

20. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, GP TEAM SWITZERLAND 1’39.7 36 laps

21. ALEXANDER LUNDH, MZ RACING TEAM 1’39.7 29 laps

22. XAVIER SIMEON, TECH 3 RACING 1’40.1 36 laps

23. DAMIAN CUDLIN, QMMF RACING TEAM 1’40.9 45 laps

24. ROBERTO ROLFO, TECHNOMAG-CIP 1’41.4 46 laps

25. ERIC GRANADO, JIR Moto2 1’41.5 30 laps

26. ELENA ROSELL, QMMF RACING TEAM 1’41.7 57 laps

27. YUKI TAKAHASHI, NGM MOBILE FORWARD RACING 1’42.7 3 laps

28. MARCO COLANDREA, SAG TEAM 1’44.0 35 laps

29. GINO REA, GRESINI RACING Moto2 No times provided

30. RATTHAPARK WILAIROT, THAI HONDA GRESINI Moto2 No times provided

31. JULIAN SIMON, AVINTIA RACING Moto2 No times provided

source: MotoGP Official

Moto3™ machines hit the track at Valencia

2012-02-09T04:14:00.000+01:00

2012 Preparations are underway for the inaugural Moto3™ class, with the first day of the Official three day Test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia finishing with the Sandro Cortese leading the field.

After a slow start to the day due to cold weather conditions, there was plenty of action on track in Valencia from the new Moto3™ machines preparing for the upcoming season as more than 30 riders made the most of a warmer afternoon on the 250cc four-stroke bikes.

The top ten unofficial times saw eight of the top ten riders on KTM machinery, with Sandro Cortese (Red Bull Ajo) the clear leader of the field during the first day of testing with a 1’41.6 on his KTM, nearly a full second ahead of any of his rivals.

Alberto Moncayo (Aspar Team Moto3) and another Aspar Team rider, Hector Faubel, both had reported times of 1’42.5, with Finnish rider Niklas Ajo (TT Motion Events Racing) and Spaniard Luis Salom of the RW Racing GP team completing the top five, all aboard KTM machines.

125cc Rookie of the Year Maverick Viñales (Avintia Racing), who just signed with the sponsor Repsol today, completed 35 laps though his times were not given.

Unofficial Moto3 lap times Wednesday (recorded by teams):

1. SANDRO CORTESE, RED BULL KTM AJO 1’41.6 (39 laps)

2. ALBERTO MONCAYO, ASPAR TEAM Moto3 1’42.5 (48 laps)

3. HECTOR FAUBEL, ASPAR TEAM Moto3 1,42,5 (45 laps)

4. NIKLAS AJO, TT MOTION EVENTS RACING 1,42,7 (37 laps)

5. LUIS SALOM, RW RACING GP 1,42,8 (30 laps)

6. DANNY KENT, RED BULL KTM AJO 1,42,8 (43 laps)

7. MIGUEL OLIVEIRA, MONLAU COMPETICION 1’42.9 (35 laps)

8. ZULFAHMI KHAIRUDDIN , AIRASIA - SIC - AJO 1’43.0 (33 laps)

9. EFREN VAZQUEZ, TEAM LAGLISSE 1’44.4 (30 laps)

10. BRAD BINDER, RW RACING GP 1,44,9 (42 laps)

11. ARTHUR SISSIS, RED BULL KTM AJO 1,45,0 (52 laps)

12. ALEX MARQUEZ , MONLAU COMPETICION 1’45.1 (28 laps)

13. TONI FINSTERBUSCH, RACING TEAM GERMANY 1’45.2 (10 laps)

14. ADRIAN MARTIN, TEAM LAGLISSE HONDA 1’45.5 (29 laps)

15. NICCOLO ANTONELLI, SAN CARLO GRESINI 1’45.8 (26 laps)

16. KENTA FUJII, TECHNOMAG-CIP-TSR 1’46.2 (59 laps)

17. DANNY WEBB, MAHINDRA RACING 1’46.5 (36 laps)

18. LOUIS ROSSI, RACING TEAM GERMANY 1’46.5 (36 laps)

19. ISAAC VINALES, ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA 1’46.6 (18)

20. ALAN TECHER, TECHNOMAG-CIP-TSR 1’46.7 (40 laps)

21. JACK MILLER, CARRETTA TECHNOLOGY 1’47.1 (35 laps)

22. ALEXIS MASBOU, CARRETTA TECHNOLOGY 1’47.7 (52 laps)

23. GIULIAN PEDONE, AMBROGIO NEXT RACING 1’48.7 (50 laps)

24. JASPER IWEMA, MOTO FGR 1’49.2 (21 laps)

25. LUIGI MORCIANO, IODA TEAM ITALIA 1’50.1 (9 laps)

26. RICCARDO MORETTI, MAHINDRA RACING 1’50.1 (13 laps)

27. ROMANO FENATI, TEAM ITALIA FMI no time provided

28. ALESSANDRO TONUCCI TEAM ITALIA FMI no time provided

29. IVAN MORENO, TEAM MACHADO no time provided

30. MAVERICK VINALES, AVINTIA RACING Moto 3 no time provided

31. MARCEL SCHROTTER, MAHINDRA RACING no time provided

32. JAKUB KORNFEIL, REDOX-ONGETTA-CENTRO SETA no time provided

33. JONAS FOLGER, MZ RACING TEAM no time provided

source: MotoGP Official

Gino Borsoi on the Aspar CRT project

2012-02-08T20:00:00.001+01:00

The former rider and current manager of the Valencia team presents the bike that Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró will contest this year in the premier class.

The new CRT adventure begins with the start of the 2012 MotoGP ™ World Championship, and the Aspar Team is playing a pioneering role in the class. Last week in Valencia, riders Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró had their first contact with the ART prototype. Gino Borsoi spoke with motogp.com about the characteristics of the new bike and in the attached video you can see its potential.

source: MotoGP Official