MOTOGP NEWS

"Lorenzo outsmarted by 'braver' Rossi"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:11:00 +0000

Jorge Lorenzo was putting a brave face on his final lap in the defeat at the hands of the Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in his home Grand Prix of Catalunya on Sunday.

Having lost last year after a case of Catalunya practice accident, Lorenzo made a spectacular return to Barcelona 2009, the meeting not less than second in four track sessions before the race and qualification of pole position.

Lorenzo then put your colors of FC Barcelona in the first place, with Rossi in close next year and, after Casey Stoner fell off the back 9 of 25 onwards, the race became a pure two-way duel for supremacy.

Neither the broker capable of inflicting a decisive blow, a final round clash was inevitable and began pressing firmly with Lorenzo his way past Rossi on the brakes on a tour.

Rossi's turn four unsuccessful counter-attack and held their ground Lorenzo crucial to halt at the end of the back straight, widely seen as a last chance to overcome.

But Rossi, Lorenzo surprised with the release to the market in the last turn fast, and then maintained that M1 in line to win by just 0.095sec.

"This was a great battle today and a brilliant spectacle for everyone, I am happy to have been a part of it," said Lorenzo.

"Of course I'm sad because I lost my heart to put my bike in my career and I am more used to winning these fights last lap, but Valentino was now perhaps a little smarter or a little more brave than me in the end and was able to beat me.

"In fact, during that last lap, after that happened, I was hoping that he go back brake a lot earlier, but he did not come, then I can not close the line enough in the last corner and that is it.

"I am proud, because even though I'm young and I still have much to learn in this class. My team has worked very well all weekend, thanks to them, if we can continue to firmly, because as the season then who knows what can happen? "

Rossi, Lorenzo and Stoner are now tied at the top of the MotoGP World Championship and also had two victories each of the first six rounds.

"It was a fantastic battle, I believe we all enjoyed watching and seeing Jorge fight to the end with Valentino was very special for our side of the garage," said Lorenzo team director Daniele Romagnoli. "20 points means that we have the same points and Casey and Valentino now we can go to the next race in a strong position. Hopefully we can continue in this way and perhaps the next time we can reverse the position of the podium."

"Stoner: This is what I wanted..."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Ducati finally won the Grand Prix of Italy at the seventh attempt on Sunday, when Casey Stoner won Mugello manufacturer for home - and took the MotoGP World Championship lead.

The Italian Grand Prix was won by home hero Valentino Rossi, with Honda and Yamaha machinery, since 2002 - but Stoner won by one second on the team-mate Jorge Lorenzo Rossi after a nerve-racking wet / dry race.

After that in the early stages, Stoner fell back to sixth place when his wet tires degraded but remained in contact and was fourth at the time of his pit stop, on lap 10 23.

Crucially, the team fitted the soft Stoner available (medium) compound slick tires both front and rear of his Desmosedici, allowing the Australian rapidly to speed on the wet track.

Stoner of the first round of the pools is a 2min 6.761sec, compared to 2min 10.526sec to Lorenzo de Rossi, and 2min 13.483sec.

As a result, even Stoner was second in one lap and took the lead on lap 14. After overcoming a clutch problem, and fighting off Loris Capirossi, the 2007 world champion was able to keep just out of reach of Lorenzo, Rossi, while the delay in the tires hard to let you two seconds adrift in the pavilion.

"Since I won in Italy, at Misano in 2007, and was great for Ducati, but this was what I really wanted," said Stoner after his 18th career MotoGP victory. "We struggled to find a great fit for the last two years, but today was our day.

"We started well in the wet, I felt good and the bike was doing great until the wet tires are worn. I kept trying to push to the limit because they do not want to lose ground in the other, as in Le Mans and stayed there until I was absolutely sure that it was time to change tires.

"As soon as I left I felt comfortable spots and competitive," he continued. "Unfortunately I had a problem with the engine and started giving me some problems. Loris came last and was pushing hard and go very well and kept me on my toes.

"In a moment I thought that was all, but fortunately I was able to work in a way to travel around the problem and bring victory home. I made a few mistakes during the last two laps, but fortunately it did not matter. It was really a race difficult, but a great one for the whole team, for Filippo [Preziosi] to everyone in Ducati and all Ducatisti. I am so happy today. "

"This is definitely a victory for us," said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding Product Director. "Mugello is our circuit, where Vittoriano [Guareschi] has made thousands of miles of testing and Desmosedici which made its first test in 2002.

"So to win here in front of so many passionate Italian fans, workers in factories and suppliers, the Ducati is even more packed than ever, it is a great feeling and a great source of pride. It is a good opportunity to give thank all the sponsors that make possible the results of this kind, and all our technical work, whether on the track or back in the factory that give us the opportunity to unleash the full potential of a special rider.

"Casey rode majestically on board a machine that is built on the sweat of many people."

Stoner second victory of the season has put him back in the MotoGP World Championship lead by four points over Lorenzo, Rossi, with five points further back.

"Valentino Rossi fights back with Jerez victory"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:33:00 +0000

Six-time reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi took his first victory of the 2009 season - and 98th of his career - with a come-from-behind victory in front of more than 123,000 fans on a Sunday Grand Prix Jerez in Spain.

The Italian, second in the first two rounds of the season, held their fourth on the grid at the opening corners - hero of origin, while Dani Pedrosa stormed to a place before the beginning of Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo pole sitter.

Rossi - who appeared deflated after qualifying 0.7sec off pole - snatched third place from Lorenzo on lap two, then made a second pass Stoner on pole for the second claim of the Ducati rider on lap seven of 27.

At that point Pedrosa of Repsol Honda 1.4sec is before the # 46 Fiat Yamaha and Pedrosa - winner of the race last year - initially accompanied Dr. lap lap, Rossi grew up before the Spanish of the rear wheel with eleven laps to go.

Rossi made his move with a repeat victory for his movement Lorenzo within diving Nieto on the corner that leads into the section of the stadium. The 30 years of age a rapid amount of space between him and Pedrosa on his way to a victory 2.7sec title in 2009 and led by eleven points over Stoner.

Rossi repeated his celebrated classic 'portaloo holding 250GP Spanish in 1999, while the earth was the explosion of fireworks.

Pedrosa was capable of maintaining the second position and therefore continue his remarkable record of never finishing lower than second in a MotoGP race in Jerez, while Stoner is facing a late race attack by Lorenzo.

The Spanish, whose victory last weekend Motegi had given him the world championship lead, was strangely out of rhythm in the first half of the race - and nearly seven seconds behind Pedrosa at the halfway stage.

However, the Spanish, 22 years on Monday, which is the way then, closing less than a second of Stoner third with four laps to go - when he lost the front of his M1 and dramatically lowsided in the gravel .

The # 99 machine remount battered but had no link right foot and was forced to cruise back to the pit garage and a bitter DNF.

Lorenzo out of the Stoner left to claim his first podium in Jerez, in his Ducati and the most difficult track, while Randy De Puniet rode a flawless race to claim an excellent quarter for Honda LCR.

It also welcomes Marco Melandri, who matched the best finish on the Kawasaki MotoGP last season in only his third race in the unofficial term Hayate ZX-RR.

The Italian, riding in his 100th MotoGP event, fought countryman Loris Capirossi and Colin Edwards of America for much of the race, the best of Capirossi Suzuki Edwards with a second by less than half a second behind Monster to Yamaha Tech 3.

Andrea Dovizioso took eighth place, despite running off the track on lap eight and back into 16th place, while Toni Elias (Honda Gresini) and Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) completed the top ten.

Sete Gibernau Jerez offset the eleventh round of Francisco Hernando Ducati, while Yuki Takahashi Motegi helped erase his mistake by being the top rookie in twelfth position Scot Honda.

James Toseland was a disappointing 13th in 3 technology, a fraction ahead of Gresini Alex de Angelis. Stoner's team-mate Nicky Hayden faire worse - finishing the race more than a minute behind Rossi and just ahead of rookie Pramac Niccolo Canepa.

Canepa's team-mate Mika Kallio retired with technical problems.

The Grand Prix at Le Mans in France, takes place May 17.

Results of the Spanish Grand Prix race at Jerez, round three of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 45min 18557 seconds
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 45min 21257 seconds
3. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 45min 29064 seconds
4. Randy De Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 45min 50450 seconds
5. Marco Melandri ITA Racing Team Hayate 45min 51685 seconds

6. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 45min 52685 seconds
7. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha monster 45min 52978 seconds

8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 45min 53182 seconds
9. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 46min 1246 sec
10. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 46min 3740 sec
11. Sete Gibernau SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando 46min 6749 sec
12. Yuki Takahashi JPN Team Scot MotoGP Racing 46min 10432 seconds
13. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 Monster 46min 12240 seconds

14. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 46min 12498 seconds
15. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 46min 19794 seconds
16. Niccolo Canepa ITA Pramac Racing 46min 29453 seconds

DNF:
Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 15 laps
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 4 laps

"Rossi Signals Intent with Friday Form"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 May 2009 05:15:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi said his intention to return to the top of the podium with a commanding performance in free practice today, surpassing the time the leaves of a sun-soaked Jerez de la Frontera. Jorge Lorenzo, making a triumphant return home after his victory in Japan last weekend, finished the session in the fourth.

After the bad weather the last two rounds in the paddock breathed a sigh of relief today to see the blue sky and the sun and the Spanish team Fiat Yamaha riders were happy to ride in those conditions again. Rossi, who is now a point behind his teammate in the championship classification, made some changes to its base of attachment and reaped the rewards immediately, finishing 0.364 seconds ahead of compatriot Loris Capirossi.

After being fast in the test here in March, Lorenzo was waiting to make a good start, but the Mallorcan was found with an unexpected acceleration in some problems and was not able to match the pace of his teammate. It seeks to reduce the gap with the Italian during the second morning practice and qualifying sessions.

Valentino Rossi Position: 1 Time: 1'39 .647 Laps: 21

"Today there is no prize, as in the test, but still very good for our work to begin so positively. During the first two races we've had a couple of small problems, and today we made a change in our environment to improve things and we can now see it was working. I could go as I wanted with the soft and hard Bridgestone tires and I was the fastest of the whole session. It is very hot today is surely better than the rain of the last races, but that means if so then the race on Sunday will be very hard on tires, so that tomorrow we must concentrate on refining our environment to help as much as possible " .

Jorge Lorenzo Position: 4 Time: 1'40 .441 Laps: 20

"It's good to be back in the sun and in Spain, but I'm a little disappointed by the day. I had a problem at first with my helmet, and were delayed in leaving a trail. Once we started I felt good with the soft tire Bridgestone, but when we tried hard we had some problems later and the bike does not feel completely stable. Tomorrow we must return to a different environment and I hope that things will be better. "

Davide Brivio Team Manager

"This has been a very good opening session! We concentrated on trying some different settings and with the bike for better balance on the basis of our experience of the first two races, and seems to have found something good. We will assess this morning and hope it will be fixed for the race. "

Daniele Romagnoli Team Manager

"The reunion was not so bad, but we found some small problems that we did not expect, in the acceleration. Now we have to compare the data with the test and we are quite sure that tomorrow we can fix these problems and return to our recent. "

"Stoner and Hayden Work on Set-Up"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 02 May 2009 05:07:00 +0000

The MotoGP World Championship 2009 officially landed in Europe today as the first session of free practice for the Grand Prix of Spain held a reception in the brightness of the sun of southern Spain. Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden started working together this afternoon, but both struggled for the right time to make changes to improve their lap times.

Stoner for, starting with the same configuration that allowed the fastest lap in the official preseason testing here a month ago, an issue with front end affected the stability and confidence in the lap time, but the Australian remains impressive as set the third fastest lap. Hayden, meanwhile, spent the session working to adjust the settings for the harder compound Bridgestone tires, but still feeling the effects of his accident just five days at Motegi and could only manage 17th overall.

Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team) 3rd (1'40 .268)

"We started with the settings and everything felt pretty good. We are fighting with some minor problems in a few areas, but I think that was mainly due to the tire pressure was too high and we only have to drop it by a little. tried the second moto, but unfortunately had a technical problem so I went to my first and tried a few things without improving the creation of a hell of a lot. The bike was very good, but turning I lost the front a few times and we could not really understand why. We have tried to establish a front that helped the stability, but the shift was much worse. We have to go back to work tomorrow to find the balance. Anyway, it is good to be back in Europe and working under normal conditions, with this big time. It felt good to have to wear my dark visor again! Hopefully it will be like this because I'm sure we can make appropriate changes to the bike tonight and earn a lot of progress tomorrow. "

Nicky Hayden - (Ducati Marlboro Team), 17th (1'41 .916)

"It was a great first session, especially for us, but not as bad as it sounds good. The bike is a little different from the way he had in the test, but not so great. We had a great underway in the trial so we've done a couple of changes and tried the tires on both bikes just hard to try to understand a little more. I've struggled with the harder tire, and only recently stuck in today and who tried to make the bike work with him. The lap time is not what I was looking for at this time, but my feeling with the bike was really good. I was a little unsure about how I would feel physically and to be honest no I feel great out there, but it is possible to mount. We have a couple of things to talk to the team and hopefully tomorrow I can make a big step. I just need to be quicker! "

"Rossi: I’ll do a Gibernau to Lorenzo"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:59:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi has confirmed that if the MotoGP World Championship leader and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo will fight for victory in the final turn heading for Spanish Grand Prix Sunday, the Italian is ready to repeat his controversial 2005 confrontation with Sete Gibernau.

Four years ago at Jerez, Gibernau and Rossi exchanged the lead several times in a thrilling final lap, Gibernau with the stars get the advantage heading into the final turn.

However, Rossi, usually refuse to settle for second, launched a do-or-die attack by diving to the inside of the 90 degree left hand. The pair clashed at the apex, sending the Movistar Honda Gibernau spearing off the track, while Rossi rode to victory (see picture sequence below).

The podium ceremony marked the only time that Rossi has been booed, but the # 46 remained defiant, insisting he had been a hard but fair.

Rossi, Lorenzo and Gibernau were all present at the press conference Thursday when asked whether Rossi will recur in the transfer of the Fiat Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo, who is currently a point ahead of Italy after the victory of the past Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix.

"Yes," said Rossi, finally, while stressing that there was no intention of making contact with Gibernau.

Lorenzo, who beat Rossi and caught on the road to victory at Motegi, joked he was going to defend against such an attack through the activation of M1 in the fight against the car.

Meanwhile Gibernau, who publicly buried his feud with Rossi as the two shook hands at the press conference Qatar, offered a word of advice to young countryman Lorenzo would have the situation:

"Pray!"

Gibernau will be starting his first Grand Prix of Spain since 2006 on Sunday.

"Since the opportunity to return to MotoGP, this was the place that is actually expected to come," said the winner of Jerez 2004. "It really brings me great memories, is very special and there is another big prize like this. Being back here is really impressive. I felt nervous on my way!"

Last year the Spanish Grand Prix was won by another Spanish, Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda, ahead of Rossi and Lorenzo, who scored pole.

"Honda's RC211V - MotoGP’s best bike?"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:41:00 +0000

Honda RC211V racing may not have since late 2006, but the history of Grand Prix winners with more riders than any other MotoGP bike is far from being challenged.

Ten riders won at least a 990cc race at the RC211V between 2002 and 2006. V5 motorcycle engine remains the only satellite with the motorcycle riders who have won a four-stroke MotoGP race.

Valentino Rossi won the 2002 and 2003 World Championships of the bike, the RC211V Nicky Hayden to return to the top of the world in 2006.

However, as shown below, the 800cc RC212V has been far less competitive, with Dani Pedrosa also to stand on the highest step of the podium since 2007, leaving behind Honda and Yamaha Ducati.

Rossi won the 990cc MotoGP title for Yamaha in 2004 and 2005, with Casey Stoner after the opening ceremony, claiming 800cc title for Ducati in 2007. Rossi gave Yamaha its first 800cc crown last season.

Rossi and Max Biaggi remain the only drivers to win races in MotoGP for two different brands of machines.

Number of different MotoGP race winners by manufacturer:

990cc (2002-2006)
Honda: 10 - Valentino Rossi, Sete Gibernau, Max Biaggi, Marco Melandri, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, Alex Barros, Toni Elias, Makoto Tamada, Tohru Ukawa.
Yamaha: 2 - Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi.
Ducati: 2 - Loris Capirossi, Troy Bayliss.
Suzuki: 0
Kawasaki: 0
Aprilia: 0
Roberts: 0
WCM: 0
Moriwaki: 0

800cc (2007 onwards)
Yamaha: 2 - Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo.
Ducati: 2 - Casey Stoner, Loris Capirossi.
Honda: 1 - Dani Pedrosa
Suzuki 1 - Chris Vermeulen
Kawasaki: 0
Roberts: 0
Ilmor: 0

What do you think has been MotoGP's best bike and why? Leave you comments below...

"MOTOGP: Lorenzo Heads Fiat Yamaha"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:26:00 +0000

After that it seemed at one point on race day as if the Grand Prix of Japan would be a complete wash, the sun broke through the dark clouds and flowing in the circuit of Motegi as the Fiat Yamaha team enjoyed a clean sweep of the two points. The requirements have been canceled yesterday due to heavy rain, the two runners started the race from the front row of the grid according to their times of free practice on Friday. After an impressive career, Jorge Lorenzo took the glory of standing on the highest step of the podium, after coming across a shiny scrap with his teammate Valentino Rossi, who finished a close second.

Starting from third on the grid Lorenzo briefly lost a position in the first round, but was soon back to his place of beginning, as he crossed the line first. With a higher rate than his compatriot Pedrosa, who seemed as if the Mallorcan was celebrated, and of course on lap three, the Spanish second edge. Once there he had the unenviable task of closing a gap of two seconds to his teammate Rossi, but it gradually edged nearer his colleague. The two have a good head to head fight, exchanging positions in the V-Lorenzo corner before finally finding a way past Rossi. From that moment there was no looking back, and Rossi was trapped behind the battle with Pedrosa, Lorenzo second sealed a glorious victory in MotoGP.

Ranging from the first corner, Rossi has opened up the gap of the Spaniards in the early stages, but once Lawrence has found a way past, which caused the champion Pedrosa was more trouble. Pedrosa to attack on several occasions, the Italian was forced to keep his opinion about it, but always seem to have enough edge to keep. The move comes the murderer in the tunnel turn five, and the race was decided as Rossi pulled away from Pedrosa in the final stages.

With Lorenzo's championship leader with 40 points, one ahead of Rossi, the MotoGP World Championship moves to his home race in Jerez in just one week.

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 1stTime: 43'47 .238

"First I want to thank my team, my mom, dad and the whole family, my friends and the whole team of workers. In addition, Yamaha, and that is their home race, was a difficult race because it did not really get a very good start, I think we even finished the first round in the third or fourth. After that I started to catch the pace. Valentino went and opened a little gap, about a second and a half behind me and was very hard. I to travel the best I can to achieve victory. "

Valentino Rossi - Position: 2ndTime: + 1.304

"It was a great career, long, hard and physical. I have a very good start in the first row, but there was a part of the race that I was not able to go as he wanted, there was some kind of problem and I do not was fast enough to leave. I lost time and then George was involved in a battle with Dani and then in the latter part of the race I was able to speed up my pace and my selection of lines, establishing a good lap times. I tried but again, unfortunately, Lorenzo was a little too far. It is a good career, second place is not a victory but still twenty points for the championship. I think the championship will be very interesting because we now have four riders ready for the battle to win final. "

Daniele Romagnoli - Team Manager

"I'm really happy with the result today, not expecting a victory, maybe just thinking about the podium, so I'm very happy. We did a great job in

Friday and I think that is the key because we have worked hard throughout the tire harder and at the end that was good. With the information and data collected, only today I had to make some adjustments to the bike and that has brought us this victory, and we can show the world how strong is Yamaha. Jerez will be a great battle, like today will be a great show and I am waiting for that event. "

Davide Brivio - Team Manager

"Firstly, congratulations to George, who rode very well, and congratulations to Yamaha because this result confirms the great work we have done in recent months. We are always very fast and for the second time this year we have two drivers on the podium . Day or night, whenever we are there! Valentino had a very important second place, because our goal is to always be there. We are now waiting to return to Europe for a very important stage of the championship and is crucial to start this time in the top. "

"Stoner: No problems at all"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Casey Stoner has confirmed that the lights to flag victory on Monday night delayed Qatar MotoGP season opener was smooth as it seemed.

After qualifying on pole and leading every session of the track, Stoner and 1.2sec nearest rival, ahead of Loris Capirossi at the end of lap one - and three seconds clear by the time the queen of the six times world champion MotoGP Valentino Rossi was second.

Rossi gradually eroded the advantage of Stoner 1.9sec before the first half, but Stoner was permitted rapprochement and the Italian was not the Yamaha rider finally gave way, dropping quickly 7.8sec behind Stoner at the flag dropped frames.

Stoner has won the last three races MotoGP Qatar - in one day and two at night.

"I am very happy with this victory, because it is the fruit of hard work by everyone in Ducati during the winter," said Stoner. "It was difficult to work in such short sessions this weekend here and enter the race last night we took a bet with an adjustment for change was not sure, but we have the opportunity to try it in the warming and feel great, so thanks to the team who worked very hard over the weekend. That gave me more confidence before the race.

"We knew that this circuit is challenging for the consumption of fuel and had to adjust my style a bit to keep pace and maintain the advantage over Valentino, but finally we had no problems at all with it. My wrist felt 100% tonight but have to work on my overall fitness after the downtime during the winter and I am sure we can move forward. "

Stoner's victory was also the first of the new era of a single tire.

"The whole world is on the same tires and not to hear more about" your tires are better than mine, ' "said Casey." The handle is not the best on this track and the bike was moving a little But perhaps my home-track days I feel more comfortable doing that other riders might like this. We are all on the same tires and it is a good feeling to win the first race this way. "

Stoner's 2009 margin of victory over Rossi was two seconds larger than it had been more of the doctor's Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in the past year. Lorenzo finished third on Monday night, 16 seconds of Stoner.

"Rossi backs Monday MotoGP re-run"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Queen six times MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has backed the decision to re-enforce the cancellation of the Grand Prix of Qatar on Monday night.

Sunday night due to begin the 2009 MotoGP season, had to be abandoned due to heavy rain in the desert.

"This is a real disappointment, since they were dismissed on the grounds of race is so close to the beginning!" Said Rossi, who already are lined up alongside pole sitter Casey Stoner when the rain began to fall. "After the rain stopped the [former] 125 race we thought we had escaped, because the track was dry and then, but then the rain came down even more just in time for MotoGP. It is very unfortunate because we do not expect this in the desert. "

Rossi believes that after so much effort and preparation it is better to have a re-run Monday in the street have done nothing.

"After six months without racing, and after two days of practice and hard work throughout the world is very frustrating and that's why it's important to take the race tomorrow," he explained.

"It is strange because I do not think that race was a Monday! Also be difficult to wait another day, and the pressure will be more, but I am happy that we will have the opportunity to travel.

"Of course, now we must keep our fingers crossed for the weather tomorrow, but the forecast said it was ok! The other important thing is to do something to clean the track, because it will be very dirty after that. Maybe we should all a career with the hire car in the morning! "he joked.

Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, who completes the front row Monday, was also in favor.

"I'm happy with the decision of the race tomorrow, because I really want to travel," said the young Spanish, second in last season's inaugural night race. "For us it is not such a big problem for delay, and is better than wasting a whole weekend of work. I am disappointed because I was ready, but we can not avoid the time and unfortunately this is impossible to walk in the rain. It would have been a great pity not to have a career, so now we just need to stay focused. "

"After an internal debate with Masahiko Nakajima, Davide Brivio, Daniele Romagnoli and, of course, Valentino and Jorge, Fiat Yamaha's decision was to fully support the proposal for the race tomorrow," confirmed director Yamaha Motor Racing Lin Jarvis. "We have put much effort into, with a test here and then these first five days of work, we believe it is important to stay and put on a show and a career.

"Obviously it causes great inconvenience to all, from a logistical point of view, because we have to change flights and hotels for all of our staff, but we are willing to do for the good of our sport."

The decision to hold a re-run Monday was "accepted by a large majority."

The race will now be run at 9 pm local time on Monday night with a warm-up at 6.30pm.

"Valentino Rossi: Tests mean nothing"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Six-time reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will have to work hard to overcome the challenge of predicting Casey Stoner in Qatar this weekend to open the season, but warned that "the evidence does not mean anything," and insists that has "some cards to play."

While Rossi is undoubtedly the title favorite heading into the new season, a victory in Qatar is a much tougher, at least on paper. The Italian claimed his worst final race of the 2008 season with the fifth in Losail, in his debut on Bridgestone, and has won only twice in five visits Losail.

Rossi Qatar latest victory was in 2006, and was only third fastest in Qatar in 2009 pre-season testing, over a second behind the Ducati of Stoner. Stoner has won the last two races MotoGP Qatar.

Surprisingly, Rossi was also passed by the Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, now using the same technique Bridgetsone/M1 package, test at night - but remains defiant.

"Qatar is one of our strongest tracks but we still have some cards to play and expect a bit more work to do to improve the first race," he said. "The evidence does not mean anything really, once you get to the races, the situation is totally different and really have little idea of what will happen until you get there, it's very exciting!

"I'm feeling confident, we're in good shape, even if we are to what was our worst track during testing, but I'm satisfied with my performance overall M1; Yamaha have done a great job and so this makes me happy. "

"Valentino has been very strong during the test and we are not concerned with Qatar, United Kingdom, we still have some things to try and we're confident that it will be fast enough to challenge it," the team manager Davide Brivio.

Stoner, the 2007 world champion and 2008 Rossi's closest rival, was able to overcome the Italian in the three tests before the season, but Rossi is on race day as master of battles and is interested in seeing how the new tire rule will affect only tactics.

"With the new rule, the only one of the tires will clear the tactical race by race," he said. "I think a lot of new factors come into play and strategy will be very important in determining where to start the race. I think the luck will also be a factor in the rating, more than before! In fact, I am quite curious to see what will happen in a race 45 minutes with so few tires that will be interesting. "

"The new standard tire is very exciting, something new is added to the first race, but we are very confident because we have had one years in the Bridgestone and it is also clear they have done a good job with new tires," said Brivio .

2009 is the tenth season for Rossi at the first class and now needs only three career victories to reach 100 historic Grand Prix victories in all classes.

"I used last week to relax, refresh and train," said Rossi. "It will be a very long season and we have to be constantly at 100%. We will consider the race by race and keep focused on the goal, that is, of course, to win the championship again."

"Kawasaki's MotoGP project: 2002-2008"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:52:00 +0000

A brief history of Kawasaki MotoGP project for 2002-2008.

Kawasaki the "suspension" of the activities of its factory in MotoGP for the year 2009 marks the end of a difficult chapter for the Japanese company, whose motorcycle factory ZX-RR is the only entry that has not won a grand prize from the 990cc Four-stroke era began in 2002.

The following is a brief summary of the Kawasaki MotoGP project for 2002 to 2008 ...

2002 Pacific Grand Prix: The ZX-RR MotoGP makes its debut at the end of the 2002 season, in the hands of Akira Yanagawa Kawasaki WSBK winner at home in Motegi. Yanagawa qualify angle machine 18th appearance of the 22 runners, but the accidents out of the race after an engine failure, the maintenance of a fractured pelvis in the process.

The 2002 Malaysian Grand Prix will be replaced by injured Yanagawa Kawasaki, former World Supersport champion Andrew Pitt for the remaining three rounds of the season, from Sepang in Malaysia, where Pitt takes the ZX-RR MotoGP finish your first ( but 19th and last).

2002 Valencia Grand Prix results Pitt the ZX-RR MotoGP claiming the first twelfth points (out of 14 finalists) at the end of the season in Valencia.

The 2003 Grand Prix of Japan ZX-RR in the first full season of racing begins at Suzuka, Japan, with a corridor of two lines of Pitt and former 500cc race winner Garry McCoy.

2003 Grand Prix results McCoy his first points ZX-RR, Kawasaki and claims the best finish of the season in ninth place with a wet Grand Prix at Le Mans (round four). McCoy results in only two more occasions.

2003 Grand Prix of Valencia McCoy finished the season 22nd in the world championship with 11 points, with Pitt in the past 26 and only 4 points. Development and test pilot Alex Hofmann impressed by his team's top rider in the wild green card presentations at Mugello and Assen. Both Pitt and McCoy Kawasaki after leaving the final in Valencia. Kawasaki finished seventh and last in the constructors' championship (19 points) and 12th and last team in the championship (15 points).

2004 South African Grand Prix season begins with New Hofmann promoted to a full-time career with former headquarters of the World Championship 250cc and 500cc runner podium finisher Shinya Nakano. Kawasaki also changing tires Bridgestone, Dunlop.

2004 Italian Grand Prix Nakano miraculously escaped serious injury when his rear tire explodes at 300 km / h (186 mph) during the Italian GP in Mugello. Shinya is back in action just a week later in Catalonia, where he claims the ZX-RR best career result to date in seventh place final.

2004 Pacific Grand Prix Nakano took the ZX-RR his first MotoGP podium finish, third place at home in Motegi (round 12).

2004 Malaysian Grand Prix Nakano qualified third on the grid at Sepang for the ZX-RR in the first front row start. Finishes eighth in the race.

2004 Grand Prix of Valencia Nakano finished tenth in the world championship season with 83 points and only four non-results, while Hofmann collected 51 points for 15th position. Kawasaki also has one quarter of the constructors' championship (95 points) and seventh in the team championship (134 points).

2005 Spanish Grand Prix Nakano and Hofmann maintained for both 2005 and begin the year with the fifth and eleventh place in the opener in Jerez. To Nakano, is his best result of the season.

Grand Prix of Portugal 2005 Hofmann highsides walk during a rally to promote the Portuguese GP (round), breaking his left scaphoid and forcing him to miss both Estoril and the next two rounds.

2005 Grand Prix of China replaced injured Hofmann round three by Olivier Jacque, who stuns promptly by finishing in second place - just 1.7sec behind Valentino Rossi - on his debut ZX-RR in soaking wet conditions in Shanghai. This result is still the best set of a ZX-RR and the pilot nearest one ZX-RR has come to victory.

"Dovizioso shrugs off Pedrosa rivalry"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:36:00 +0000

Andrea Dovizioso is to demonstrate that it is more than "just a rival" of new team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Andrea Dovizioso has admitted that he has not established a link with Repsol Honda Team-mate Dani Pedrosa, however, insists, but there is plenty of time for that to happen.

Dovizioso switch independent of the IRB Team Scot brought to the factory supported by the Human Rights Committee team will be one of the most closely moves during the off season, not least because it follows in the footsteps of Nicky Hayden, who suffered a strained relationship infamy, along with Pedrosa.

In fact, Pedrosa's manager Alberto Puig has already fired the first warning shot to Dovizioso by labeling it simply as "just another opponent."

However, the Italian refuses to read too much into their rivalry, admitting that he does not know very well Pedrosa at the time but that comes as a 'good guy'. Curiously, however, added that Pedrosa could not have reached its full potential yet "because of his manager."

"Dani is a former 125cc and 250cc World Champion and a great rider, but first of all that is a good guy, probably even Shyer me," said the official website of MotoGP.

"Maybe this is why we do not have a great feeling, but we will have plenty of time to know each other. I think right now is not reaching its level at the roadside, perhaps also because of his manager ".

Looking ahead to what will be an important year in the first class, Dovizioso goal for 2009 is to beat Pedrosa, a goal that is believed to meet.

"To finish ahead of Dani would be important, and I'm sure my chances, but focuses mainly on step on the podium at any time I can, being consistent with my new Honda HRC throughout the season."

"Fiat sticks with Yamaha"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:53:00 +0000

Fiat extends title sponsorship of the factory Yamaha MotoGP team.

Fiat will continue as a sponsor of the factory Yamaha MotoGP team for the next two seasons.

Fiat replaced the camel as title sponsor in 2007 and, after a difficult debut season, the colors of the Fiat took the riders' world championship glory with Valentino Rossi in 2008 - when Fiat Yamaha also managed the team Yamaha title and the constructors' crown.

"We are delighted to continue our partnership with Fiat for a further period of two years," said Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing Sr. "It remains a very interesting mix for an Italian car manufacturer to become a member of a Japanese manufacturer of motorcycles in the world of motorcycle racing first round.

"After a difficult first season in 2007 we were really happy to win the triple crown this year the titles of Yamaha and Fiat.

"Fiat in the decision to continue for another two years is a sign of confidence in our activities and a strong confirmation of the importance of participating in the MotoGP Championship. Our goal for the future is clear: we want to continue with our winning ways and provide even more excitement for fans of the Fiat Yamaha Team. "

Rossi and 2008 rookie of the year Jorge Lorenzo will continue to form the Fiat Yamaha Team rider in the series in 2009.

"We are pleased that we can continue this successful partnership for the next two seasons," said Lorenzo Sistina, managing director of Fiat Automobiles. "Our sponsorship of Yamaha is an asset in our branding strategy that brings us ever closer to young people and ensures that they are fully in line with their interests and passions."

"Rossi hopes to end title of the season in style"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:26:00 +0000

A record season for Fiat Yamaha comes to an end this weekend at the Valencia Grand Prix brings the curtain down on the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. The traditional season-end party believes that Spanish Valentino Rossi arrives with the title already in his pocket and the time for all points of record for a season within his sights, while Jorge Lorenzo will become the most high position in rookie four-stroke MotoGP history by scoring only four points.

In a season that has become MotoGP World Champion Rossi for the sixth time, breaking the record for victories in the class and note its 150th Grand Prix podium on the road, which now needs only eleven points to break the record for the most senior match in a season. He is currently on 357 points, ie fifth place or above would take him above the reference in the whole of 2005, which was matched by Casey Stoner last year.

Lorenzo is currently fourth in the championship and third, while now it is a mathematically

impossibility, Andrea Dovizioso would have to win the race and I hope that Spanish does not finish higher than twelfth evict him. Dovizioso is also the only rider with any chance of denying Lorenzo the title of Rookie of the Year. It's a scene familiar to the old rivals, who entered the final round of the 2006 season in Valencia the fight for the title of 250cc, Lorenzo, who won the fourth place as the Italian finished seventh.

The 21-year-old from Mallorca has never won at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, although it seeks to establish clear that this weekend in front of 130,000 days of the race fans who packed the stadium unique style of the surroundings track. The design features a never-ending burst of tight corners, connected by pure short. The loop tobe long penultimate left and the speedy entry to turn a violent contrast with the otherwise geometric flip-flop chicanes and slow speed corners of the infield.

Valentino Rossi - "One has to resolve"

"I've had two bad years in Valencia and I would like to forget some memories with a good result here this year - I have an account to settle! In 2006 I crashed and lost the championship, and then last year I broke my hand and lost second place in the championship! This is not the best track for us, but I won there with Yamaha in my first year with them and I would do the same again this weekend. It's been a fantastic season and the victory Sunday in Malaysia was great, but I'm not finished yet and I want to reward my team, Yamaha and Bridgestone for a fantastic season with the best possible result on Sunday. Then we can all celebrate with a big party! "

Jorge Lorenzo - "In order to finish on a high"

"Sunday was really disappointing, but it does not hurt me and now we are waiting to Valencia. It is the third" home "race for me and now in the final in Barcelona, could not race, especially wishes to obtain a good result for all my fans. It will be a special race because it is the 10th anniversary of the Valencia circuit. Of course it's a little sad that I am no longer fighting for third place in the Championship, but can still be the Rookie of the Year and this is what I am aiming for. It's really important for me and my whole team. I do not have the best record in Valencia, I have never won the race there, although I was the second in 2005 but I have great memories of winning the 250cc world championship here in 2006. It will be our last race with Michelin, I won my first race of the first class, and most of what I want to get a good result for them, for my tire technician Pierre, Jean-Phillipe Weber, and of course for my team ".

Davide Brivio - "We want to win and part"

"Valencia is the last race of the season so go there with a dual objective - winning the race and party! It is nice to go to another race without any pressure and I think that all the Spanish fans will enjoy watching in the Valentino unbelievable the way he has shown recently. Of course it has been a tough few weeks on the road for the team with a lot of traveling, but honestly when you are winning part you do not feel the stress! Even so, it will be nice to be back in Europe and will focus on ending the season on a high. Whatever the outcome, we will be party on Sunday night! "

Daniele Romagnoli - "The motivation is high"

"We still have a career to go and another is a Spanish so it's really important for Jorge. Despite the bad result at Sepang we have high motivation and we really want to finish the season well. We will do our best to be back there on the podium and to finish the season in the manner in which George and the whole team deserves. Despite not getting the best results we've been in good shape for the last three race weekends and qualified on the front row five races in a row now, so we know we can do. This will be the last race with Michelin and so this is another reason to push. We want to give them a good outcome to thank them for their hard work they have done throughout the season. "

"Stoner: I could not ask for more!"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:07:00 +0000

Casey Stoner concluded 2008 MotoGP World Championship and began with a victory after dominating the season on Sunday-ending Valencia Grand Prix - a result which also handed the second place at Ducati the constructors' championship world.

Starting from pole, Stoner initially lost the initiative Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda - but never allowed the Spanish to gain the breathing room you want to dive on the inside in turn two.

Stoner steadily increased their advantage thereafter, winning by 3.39sec from Pedrosa after 30 laps, with 2008 world champion Valentino Rossi a distant third for Fiat Yamaha.

"I could not ask for much more!" Casey smiled. "To end a difficult season in this way is a fantastic feeling and it is a good way to thank everyone at Ducati for their hard work.

"Once again my crew got right, finding a good setup for the bike despite the limited time dry. To be honest I was very worried during qualifying yesterday because I did not have a good feeling at all, But by the time we put the softer tires on the bike already feels better and then the guys did a fantastic job and overnight in the warming up this morning to pave a little more of the problems.

"This was the first time we have assembled in these conditions all weekend so it is still some question marks before the race, so to come out and set the pace as it was a nice feeling," said Stoner, who had already secured second in the riders' world championship over Pedrosa.

Stoner sixth victory of the season, on a circuit where we celebrate the success of his debut in the 125cc category in 2003, was also the 150th for riders from Australia in the Grand Prix of all kinds and means that Ducati has won 17 of the 36 races since the start of the 800cc era.

"The victory of Casey is now a real gift to us because we finished second in the [construction] championship," said Ducati Corse technical director Filippo Preziosi. "I am also happy because after two days of testing here on Monday and Tuesday, Casey finally be able to have his operation in the knowledge that finished the season with a wonderful victory."

Stoner delayed an operation to graft bone to fix the broken scaphoid on his left wrist, an old injury that has never healed until after the test in Valencia with a view to assessing the Ducati GP9. Stoner previously rode an early version of the bike, which has a carbon fiber chassis, during the post race test in Catalunya in June - and was faster than had been in this year's GP8.

"I'm really excited to try the new bike tomorrow - is why we have had in riding," confirmed Stoner. "It felt good the last time I rode and I am sure that we have done better, and we hope that we can have a good first session and go home for the winter full of optimism about the upcoming season."

Meanwhile, Marco Melandri brought the curtain down on his Ducati ill-fated career with a 16th position. The Italian mounted an impressive load at the height of the last 18 and a tenth, but a mistake with just three laps to go undid all his hard work.

"Despite everything that was a fun race because I felt very comfortable on the bike and I was able to attack and spend a lot of pilots," said Melandri. "Since so ago was a handicap and I have lost contact with the group quickly that Lorenzo was in. But Lappen well with a decent pace. Unfortunately, near the end of the race I hit neutral instead of first gear and ran wide. I 'm disappointed, because I would have been nice to me and the team to finish well. At least this is a worthy career. "

"I am pleased to Marco because despite not get the result at the end, which has fought hard, did a lot of passes and rode like he knows he can, in his last race with us," said Preziosi.

Stoner joined his new team-mate Nicky Hayden on Monday, while Melandri will make his debut for Kawasaki.

"Valencia - Race results."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:57:00 +0000

Full race results from the 18th and final round of 2008 MotoGP World Championship in Valencia.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 46min 46.114 sec
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (B) 46min 49.504 sec
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 46min 58.308 sec
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 47min 10.273 sec
5. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 47min 12.346 sec
6. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 47min 18.323 sec
7. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 47min 20.685 sec
8. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 47min 21.775 sec
9. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 47min 24.342 sec
10. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 47min 33.697 sec
11. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 47min 38.221 sec
12. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 47min 38.464 sec
13. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 47min 38.947 sec
14. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 47min 39.341 sec
15. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 47min 39.525 sec
16. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 47min 54.501 sec
17. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 47min 57.295 sec
18. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 48min 23.169 sec

"Rossi, Pedrosa anticipate 'interesting' test"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:26:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa and for the future after the test career of Valencia.

Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa in the head this weekend in the final season of Valencia with an eye in the season since 2009, preparations for which will begin with a post-race test at the Spanish circuit.

The test Rossi will ride a 2009 first version of the YZR-M1 and also have a better idea of the type of tires Bridgestone will supply the entire field of MotoGP in 2009.

"The test on Monday and Tuesday will be interesting," said Rossi. "First, in the past we were lucky, because usually on Monday that could sleep - after Sunday night [party] - but this year the journalists did not try the bikes and we will test from Monday the morning to make sure that it will be harder!

"It's interesting because we have the prototype of 2009 to test the bike for the first time after the test canceled at Motegi, and it is also possible to test some tires for the next year the new standard," said Yamaha's world champion in 2008, He also announced that it will drive for Ford in the Rally GB in early December.

Meanwhile, Pedrosa - who, like Rossi and Casey Stoner, also led the MotoGP World Championship fixtures this season - is waiting for the test for similar reasons.

"Monday and Tuesday will be a very interesting, especially for the situation of tires and some new parts for next year's bike," said Repsol Honda Pilot.

"There is not much time to rest [after the race] because, as Valentino said before that you have Monday to rest, but this year the test will begin immediately on Monday.

"We have an idea [about how the tires will be next year], it is still not completely clear, but I think after the race that will inform us about the new tires," said Pedrosa, referring to the fact that the rules Tire 2009 are still being finalized.

Pedrosa and Stoner have already been confirmed as finishing second and third in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, but Dani is chasing a perfect hatrick of Spanish origin wins this season - and his first victory on Bridgestone tires.

"Gibernau deal confirmed"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:19:00 +0000

Sete Gibernau riding a Ducati Desmosedici for a fifth Francisco Hernandez Where the new 2000 team in 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

As rumored, the former double MotoGP World Championship runner-up Sete Gibernau will end its two years of retirement and return to the first class action next season.

It was officially announced in Valencia on Thursday afternoon that Spanish was the fifth ride for the Ducati Desmosedici GP9 Francisco Hernandez Where new brigade 2000, led by'12 1 'world champion Angel Nieto children of Paul and Gelete.

Gibernau of the Desmosedici will be dressed in white, black and gold colors next year, although their number of runs is still unknown. Sete's traditional # 15 was taken by Alex de Angelis this season and the bike at the launch was a question mark in place of a number of races.

Gibernau was the main Honda Pilot - Valentino Rossi and closest title rival - during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, but the pressure of the fight against the dominant Italian seemed to take its toll and Sete remained winless in 2005, despite five pole positions.

The Spanish went to the factory Ducati team for the 2006 season, when bad luck and injuries prevented a podium finish. Sete lost his seat at future world champion Casey Stoner for 2007.

After a year off the track, Gibernau returns to the scene burst of MotoGP, where its presence as a spectator in June of the Grand Prix of Catalunya led to an invitation from Ducati to test an early version of next year's GP9.

Gibernau - a former Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Ducati Grand Prix rider - Establish a best time of 1min 51.7sec radical in the carbon fiber-framed machine at Mugello, effectively also the fastest return of Toni Elias and Alicia Sylvain Guintoli during the Italian Grand Prix

During his second test Gibernau also has the opportunity to test this year, the GP8 - with which fell back to his best time a 1min 50.5sec, 0.6sec faster than Marco Melandri and Stoner 0.5sec behind the best race lap Mugello.

Ducati Corse general manager Filippo Preziosi Gibernau hopes that the pace immediately with the GP8 that "boost" Melandri and Elias, both are still struggling badly to adapt to the machine - Sylvain Guintoli have shown signs of progress.

Gibernau the third and final test of Ducati, at the end of July, saw him repeat his strong race pace and also established a tire qualifying for the eighth time in the Italian GP network. The Spanish now looks certain to replace Melandri in the second half of the season, but the Melandri / Ducati split never happened and

Gibernau stayed on the sidelines - although clearly not forgotten.
Gibernau, after nine 500cc/MotoGP race winner, said his most recent victory in 2004 Qatar Grand Prix, a race that Rossi was demoted to the back of the grid due to overnight cleaning network by his team. Rightly or wrongly, Rossi Gibernau blame for the "unsportsmanlike" protest, and after the race, Gibernau furiously declared that "not winning more." Although the relationship between the couple, later improved, Rossi of the "curse" still has not been broken.

2000 where currently runs on Pablo Nieto KTM machinery in the 125cc World Championship. Paul - 125GP a corridor for the last ten seasons, which has claimed a race victory, eight podiums and three pole positions - has already announced it will withdraw from the race and Gelete join brother in a management role for The team graduation MotoGP 2009.

2009 Ducati MotoGP line-up will therefore be its largest ever - with Stoner and Nicky Hayden at Ducati Marlboro, Mika Kallio and Niccolo Canepa and the PRAMAC Where Gibernau to 2000. Gibernau has been helped by the single tire rule, which ended the need for Ducati Test Equipment Tire.

Gibernau means to cope with full-time MotoGP network will increase from 18 to 19 riders next season.

Sete Gibernau - MotoGP career highlights:

500cc/MotoGP: 9 (wins), 30 (podiums), 13 (poles), 8 (fastest laps).

2006: Ducati 13th in world championship.

2005: Honda 7th in world championship.

2004: Honda 2nd in world championship (4 wins).

2003: Honda 2nd in world championship (4 wins).

2002: Suzuki 16th in world championship.

2001: Suzuki 9th in world championship (1 win).

2000: Honda 15th in world championship.

1999: Honda 5th in world championship.

1998: Honda 11th in world championship.

1997: Yamaha 13th in world championship.

"Rossi takes the heat for the ninth victory"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:45:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi won the ninth race of the season in Sepang.

2008 MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi rode a perfect race conditions at Sepang last Sunday to take his ninth victory of the season and his 150th Grand Prix podium.

The Italian is the second rider in the history of the sport to reach that milestone, the other is Giacomo Agostini, who all-time record first-class win Rossi has already broken this season.

With temperatures above 40 degrees, Sunday, the penultimate round of the 2008 world championship race was clearly going to be a test of endurance for both riders and tires.

Rossi, starting in the second, crossed the line first in the third position, but was soon able to move Andrea Dovizioso, then set the fastest round of the race as he pursued Repsol Honda Dani Pedrosa.

The leading pair gradually began to open up clear from the air chasing pack, but the gap between them remained just two tenths for the next eight laps.

Rossi finally made his move at mid-distance, via Pedrosa on the brakes at the hairpin at turn nine, and then was indisputably the checkered flag, crossing the line 4.008sec ahead of Spanish with Dovizioso in third place.

"I'm so happy with this win because now all the tournaments toughest of my career, including with Yamaha in 2004, have won nine victories," said Rossi, who also had nine victories in 2003. "Of course not mean that I do not want to win again next week, but for now I like that number!

"Today was incredibly difficult, because it was so hot. Once we got behind Dani I have tried to pass many times, but was very quick and very consistent and I had a good battle to get by him.

"Around back I understand better that it is possible and, finally, I could make my move and go away from him. Everything worked very well today in these conditions, my M1 and the Bridgestone tires and I want to thank everyone for making me so fast all weekend.

"I love to win here because it's a great track, but today was really a test, especially in the last five laps when in fact he had to make an effort to keep my concentration in that incredible heat.

"Anyway, it is important to win here because when we arrived here in the winter I did a very fast race simulation and I promised my new coach of the Bridgestone tires, Peter, who would win the race! I took a gamble in February for I had to win today! "revealed.

Rossi also paid tribute to countryman Marco Simoncelli, who finished his first world championship in the 250cc class in Sepang.

"Finally I want to congratulate my friend Marco Simoncelli to win the 250cc World Championship today. I know how hard he has worked to get here and really deserves it - I'm very happy for him," said the doctor.

"Nine victories sounds good! Now that we have won the world championship to the great race for fun and to think only of winning today and was like," said Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio. "Valentino rode a perfect race, which started well, Dani continued for some time passed and he escaped and he did a good job to keep your concentration and rhythm in such hot conditions. This has been another great day in a fantastic season for and now we're waiting for a more in Valencia. "

The18th and final round of the season will take place in Valencia next weekend, with Rossi looking to avenge two bad years on the track and the team-mate Jorge Lorenzo determined to ensure the rookie of the year with the title of a positive performance After falling from sixth place in Sepang.

"Rossi, Pedrosa stems from Sepang victory"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:18:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi wins Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, Andrea Dovizioso will debut MotoGP podium.

Valentino Rossi took his ninth victory of the 2008 MotoGP season - and 150th Grand Prix podium - after a cool, calculating the victory on Sunday at the Malaysian GP at Sepang a scorching heat.

The Italian, who wrapped up 2008 title two rounds earlier in Japan, dropped from second to third in the first round, pole sitter, while Dani Pedrosa attacked in the early lead.

Rossi put his Fiat Yamaha ahead of countryman Andrea Dovizioso to claim second by the start of round two, and soon was inhibited Pedrosa in the rear wheel. The torque is distributed along the back after the round, as it pulls away from Dovizioso, who had a queue of backup runners behind him.

Pedrosa is at his most dangerous when it is able to escape in the early laps, but by failing to do so, the Spanish hoped to certain victims of Rossi.

The only trouble is that their Rossi Fiat Yamaha could not match Pedrosa of Repsol Honda along the Strait, even in the wake, forcing the Italian to a plot of braking movement.

That finally came in the middle of the 21 laps, and saw the eight time world champion, trawler inside of your foot on the asphalt as he dived successfully within Pedrosa on a hairpin left.

The Italian was then the biggest threat of inclement weather, with six laps to go was waved white flags, which indicates that the exchange of the bicycle is allowed now due to the threat of rain. That did not materialize and Rossi cruise to a comfortable four-second victory over Pedrosa.

On the contrary, the battle for the final podium position went well at the line.

Dovizioso, who had finished fourth on three occasions during his rookie season before Sepang, mounted an admirable defense against Nicky Hayden - Repsol, the Italian whose headquarters will be next year - for nearly the entire race, with five other riders also in the contest by half point.

That way fight was reduced from seven to six when Jorge Lorenzo, who has a bad start on the front, he lost the front of his M1-Michelin Shodo factory and fell from the sixth position through a turn.

With four laps to go, Hayden has finally ahead of Dovizioso - diving into America in the first round, with Dovi retaliate immediately, only gently pressed to the edge of the track Hayden.

Dovizioso, but was not completed and pulled his team within IRB Scot machine Hayden in the next hard braking zone. A small error Dovizioso Hayden then allowed a little breathing room, and putting Hayden briefly in danger of attack from Gresini of Shinya Nakano, but 2006 was the world champion again in the # 4 of the rear wheel by the start of the final lap.

Dovizioso, under braking impressive whole career, which was held tight lines for the final round and was rewarded with his first MotoGP podium - and the first podium this season to a satellite Honda Pilot - by 0.3sec from Hayden.

Nakano has overtaken Casey Stoner, with six laps to go to the Ducati Marlboro star appeared to be suffering badly in 42 degree heat exhausting, but hung in the sixth with three seconds ahead of Loris Capirossi of Rizla Suzuki.

That means the sixth position Stoner has secured second place in the 2008 world championship classification, the Australian holding to 26 points ahead of Pedrosa in the game next weekend in the final season of Valencia.

Colin Edwards was the only Technique 3 Yamaha rider to reach the flag at Sepang, in the eighth, after rookie team-mate James Toseland fell early in the race. Behind Edwards, Chris Vermeulen was the second GSV-R home in the ninth, with Randy Puniet tenth of the LCR Honda.

Kawasaki riders John Hopkins and Anthony West finished eleventh and twelfth, ahead of Alice's Sylvain Guintoli and Gresini Alex de Angelis.

The second of Alice Ducati Toni Elias was forced to serve a sentence of Jump Start, but still finished ahead of the factory Ducati rider Marco Melandri to claim the final world championship point. Suzuki wild card Nobuatsu Aoki was 17 and a distant past.

Malaysian Grand Prix:

1. Rossi
2. Pedrosa
3. Dovizioso
4. Hayden
5. Nakano
6. Stoner
7. Capirossi
8. Edwards
9. Vermeulen
10. de Puniet
11. Hopkins
12. West
13. Guintoli
14. de Angelis
15. Elias
16. Melandri
17. Aoki

"Yamaha is preparing for the penultimate round"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:55:00 +0000

A glorious season for the Fiat Yamaha MotoGP Team has reached its penultimate chapter this weekend, with Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo led to the podium in the Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur. Since the fresh air of the series at Phillip Island heads and steam sticky Sepang with both riders eager to keep the history of Yamaha have at least one runner on the podium at every race so far this season.

Second place in Australia for Rossi, who was crowned World Champion in the previous round in Japan, resulted in his 149th visit to a Grand Prix podium and leaves him only ten below the all-time record held by Giacomo Agostini, who also robbed of the all-time win record earlier this season. The 29-year-old, who is the most successful pilot in Sepang with four victories, is also just 35 points below the highest ever match in a season of MotoGP, which he shares with Casey Stoner, with 50 still up for grabs .

After back-to-back fourth place finishes in the last two races, Lorenzo has also indicated a major and three return as its main goal for this weekend. The Spanish rookie, who won the 250cc race at Sepang two years ago and clinch his second world title in the class with third place last year, has played a crucial part in the success of the Yamaha this season, with the lifting of Factory equipment and Constructors' titles. He is currently fourth in the championship with a 37-point advantage over Andrea Dovizioso that seems destined to remain there - an unprecedented position for a debutant in the four-stroke MotoGP was.

Sepang is one of the best tracks on the MotoGP calendar, measuring 16 meters across in some areas, and always features high track temperatures in the tropical climate. With four major hairpins, and some fast and frequent changes of direction in its design of 5542 km, Sepang provides a stern meeting for the entire bike set-up and its largely consistent, if demanding, climate is the ideal place for testing winter.

Valentino Rossi - looking to have fun "

"I'm looking forward to going to Malaysia because we made a bit of testing there with Bridgestone so we have a lot of data - something we have not had much of this season. I was very strong there in the winter and I hope that the same thing again this time, especially since we know much more about the tires now. We have two races left and I would try to win them both, and I also want to maintain the excellent record Yamaha podium this season. I love Malaysia and I've had some great races there in the past, more generally, our bike fits very well with any luck so we can expect a fun weekend. That said, we know that Casey will be strong again, as well as by other what will undoubtedly be a good fight! "

Jorge Lorenzo - "I'd like to go back on the podium"

"I'm hoping to arrive in Malaysia and one goes to a very fast circuit, what I like and where the most important thing we've tested this year and things do not go wrong. We've marked outcomes decent in the last four races so I am optimistic that in the last two rounds of my rookie MotoGP season. We have a couple of fourth places recently so now I'd like to go back on the podium. I hope and believe that some come with Michelin tires that give a slightly better performance in Japan and Australia, where they were a bit short of being the best. Sepang is well known for heat and changing conditions, one minute can be boiling hot and then the following is throwing down with rain. I'm going to be tough training this week to stay in good shape and complete a journey across the Pacific. "

Davide Brivio - "An eye in the statistics"

"We have reached our most important goals for the season so that the focus for us is to have fun, but we also have one eye on the statistics. It would be nice to keep this platform to run Yamaha until the end of the season and if Valentino can make search points that means he has had a strong finish to the year, which is clearly what we want. Sepang We are well aware of the pre-season testing but, as with every season, for the moment to return to the race has a whole season of development under its belt and the bike is very different. The data are really useful, but to start from scratch with the settings. The circuit has two long pure, that proof of bicycles " top speeds, but overall it's a good track and Valentino likes a lot. Hopefully we can have another weekend of fun, as in Phillip Island. "

Daniele Romagnoli - "George has already exceeded expectations"

"Malaysia is a track that already tested three times in the winter - once in late 2007 and twice in the beginning of 2008. We have a basic start-up, much of the information and Jorge knows how to mount the bike here. If we look at the results so far this season Michelin have done well at tracks where we have seen before, so I'm sure we will be competitive again. We fight for pole position in the final round at Phillip Island and is sincerely we are a little disappointed not to be on the podium. It would be great to make up for this weekend that whatever happens, but Jorge has already exceeded our expectations for him this season there is absolutely no pressure on him - we just want to enjoy himself and do his best. "

"Pedrosa: I have to adapt my driving style"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:38:00 +0000

Dani Pedrosa admits he needs to adapt their style to get the best package for Repsol Honda.

Dani Pedrosa was satisfied with his performance in free practice for the penultimate round of the Malaysian Grand Prix, the Spanish noted that, unlike its rivals, is starting from scratch.

With Sepang proving a popular destination for the tests, most of the teams come to this round clutch creation of information, but with Pedrosa arrives with a new bike and tires, not the practice is vital for him to collect data.

Struggling to find the "rhythm" to initially be the 17th fastest in the morning, Pedrosa steadily worked his way up the order in the afternoon to finish the day in fifth place.

"This morning we struggled because we lacked a bit of pace, but during the afternoon session I was able to improve my feeling with the bike and my race pace. We've worked on the launch, we have tested some tires and we have more tires to test tomorrow. Tire choice is especially important here, so we'll concentrate on that.

With a bike and different tires to fit, Pedrosa is aware that it is on the back foot this weekend for what the time is still good.

"Then tomorrow afternoon we will try to get a good grid position, which is also very important here. I hope we have two sessions in dry tomorrow so we can continue in preparation for the race.

"Everybody is quick in Sepang, because all the evidence here during the winter, so everybody has a great amount of data available to them.

"This winter I have tested only a day here and the package that I have now is completely different to what we had then. As for the Bridgestone tires, which are different to what I am used to here, so I have been trying to adapt my style horse. "

"Rossi chasing historic podium."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Yamaha have obtained a podium in every race this season, Valentino Rossi wants to make sure they complete the full set in Sepang and Valencia.

Valentino Rossi has set himself the target of at least one result on the podium this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix for Yamaha to maintain the fine run of podium finishes.

So far this season, Yamaha have had at least one of their runners standing on each of podiums this year, with the management of Rossi in 14 of the 16 races, while Jorge Lorenzo and Colin Edwards until the two missing in Italian with the full set.

It is one of the few landmarks that Rossi is willing to work for in the penultimate event of the season having reached a period of ten podium finishes all-time record held by fellow legend Giacomo Agostini.

In addition, to Rossi needs just 35 more points to overcome Casey Stoner and the entire record of scoring the most amount of points over a season.

Given that it has finished inside the top two positions during the last seven races in Sepang and is a popular venue for testing equipment, Rossi is confident of taking another step to boost its iconic status.

"I'm looking forward to going to Malaysia because we made a bit of testing there with Bridgestone so we have a lot of data - something we have not had much of this season. I was very strong there in the winter and I hope that what same again this time, especially since we know much more about the tires now.

"We have two races left and I would try to win them both, and I also want to maintain the excellent record Yamaha podium this season.

"I love Malaysia and I have had some great races there in the past, more generally, our bike fits very well with any luck so we can expect a fun weekend. That said, we know that Casey will be strong again, and others as it will undoubtedly be a good fight! "

"Rossi talks twelfth to second"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Valentino Rossi charges twelfth to second in the Grand Prix of Australia.

Valentino Rossi gave a classic display of their fighting spirit at Phillip Island on Sunday, when the newly crowned MotoGP six time world champion overcame the aftermath of a huge drop in rating by the twelfth to the second.

"That was a very exciting race for me, from start to finish!" Rossi smiled. "Unfortunately I made a small mistake yesterday and I have paid a high price for it - both with my original position and with my body!

"This morning my neck was fine but I had a great pain in my head, so I have to say thank you to Dr. Costa and the Clinica Mobile because they gave me a lot of massage and some medicines and I was in better shape for the race. "

From the back of the fourth row, Rossi fell to eighth from the bottom of the opening round - disappeared in the strict sense a collision with Alex de Angelis in the process - and soon he was engaged in a thrilling battle for third place with fellow Yamaha riders James Toseland and Jorge Lorenzo.

Rossi dispatch the Spanish within two laps and is Toseland, but shortly after the British put a spirited challenge, and third in wresting back hanging for five more laps before finally Rossi has the better of him on lap 13 of 27.

"The first time I passed James I thought I would be able to go, but then I went and I realized that his pace was not so bad, and we had a great battle!" Rossi recalled. "It was very strong and difficult to move on but once I got by I could go."

With a sure podium place eight times champion could have been forgiven for coastal home, but instead Rossi put everything on a jumper six seconds of difference Nicky Hayden. Little by little Rossi on the floor The Repsol Honda rider, the second theft in the last round and record his 14th podium of the season.

"I just kept pushing slowly and Nicky have bigger and bigger," said Valentino, who threw his knee sliders to the thousands of fans gathered under the podium. "It was fun to keep fighting until the last lap and I'm very happy with this second position because it is always a great thrill to be on the podium here.

"Thanks to my team and Bridgestone, with Casey was as strong as I think this is the best we could have done today and really enjoyed the race," he concluded.

2007 world champion Stoner led the race from start to finish, taking the checkered flag in his home race by 6.5secs over the 29-year-old Italian.

Stoner Rossi's victory means that the race run of five victories has come to an end, but Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio hailed "an incredible performance" of his star runner.

"We do not win, but this is another incredible performance by Valentino, demonstrating once again how it never gives up," said Brivio. "The championship is safe, was from the fourth row of the grandstand and have already been a good achievement, but still pushed to the maximum and made it to second!

"He was not in perfect shape, but the Clinica Mobile helped him a lot and was able to do his best once again. We are racing for fun and now we've had a lot of fun today in a race that was exciting for the start to finish, "he added.

Rossi now has a two-week period of rest to recover from their injuries Phillip Island before pursuing his ninth victory of the season during the penultimate round of the championship in Sepang on October 19.