Road Racer X's Speed Dating & Morais Filling In for Parkes

For this week of March we have a number of important dates in the weekly Road Racer X Speed Dating column. Celebrating birthdays this week are Danny Webb, Andrea Dovizioso, Roberto Rolfo, Al Ludington, Steve McQueen, Keiichi Kitagawa, Raffaele De Rosa, Harald Eckl, Chris Walker, Burt Munro, Sebastien Charpentier, Toni Elias, Christian Sarron, Bill Bagnall, and Katsuaki Fujuwara. Unfortunately, it is also the anniversary of the death of Mike Hailwood...Please take the link to learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/yfh76yc

In the World Superbike Championship series, Echo CRS Honda rider Broc Parkes sustained a broken leg in a preseason training injury and had to give up his seat to Josh Brookes at Phillip Island. For the Portimao round (and, quite possibly for Valencia as well), the faster Sheridan Morais will be substituting for Parkes on the Honda. Morais has been able to out-ride Parkes before, so this may be the beginning of something or just a quick trip to the majors for Morais...

http://tinyurl.com/yh6pmnt

Some More MotoGP Post-Qatar Test Stories

Well, it seems that Dani Pedrosa is not too happy with where his team is at present. Much more needs to be done before the racing can start for Repsol Honda.

http://tinyurl.com/yzff56f

In other Repsol Honda news, Andrea Dovizioso is more than happy to face his first race in 2010. Dovizioso has been the top Honda rider through the testing and his season looks on track.

http://tinyurl.com/ygzqrlu

Gresini Honda riders Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli had a bad test at Qatar as well. The team has now called on Honda to help them out and discover why these two could not break the top 10 during practice...something is not right.

http://tinyurl.com/yk8pjt5

And, well, Valentino Rossi is quite happy with the Yamaha YZR-M1 so far this year. After all, he has led just about every preseason test so far...

http://tinyurl.com/yj2xgcp

Repsol Honda Launches 2010 MotoGP Team and Bikes

It all happened in Madrid, Spain, appropriately enough, where Repsol Honda showed their 2010 livery and rider Dani Pedrosa to the world. Andrea Dovizioso was not well and decided to stay home in Italy to recover for the Qatar test this coming weekend - probably for the best. Pedrosa arrived on stage riding a trials bike and his Honda RC212V was lowered from the rafters to the stage, which gave the whole thing a theatrical twist. This is the 16th year that the two names have been associated - it does seem longer - and it is now known worldwide...check the link for the rest...

http://tinyurl.com/yg8btlt

More Morning Moto News - All Things Moto(GP) & MotoGP Interviews with Pedrosa and Dovizioso

A new webcast series is coming to us from OnTheThrottle.tv; it is called All Things Moto(GP) and will be hosted by Liam Shubert. Obviously, the show will concern itself with the MotoGP series. It can be found on RoadracingWorld.com and will be presented every Monday. Last night's episode was the first of this season and you can still catch it by taking the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/ydqfq2a

From another one of our favorite websites comes a couple of MotoGP interviews. Both of them were obtained in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit after the recent pre-season test. First up is Repsol Honda man Dani Pedrosa, who will most certainly be one of the front runners in this years Championship. Right after Pedrosa is his teammate Andrea Dovizioso, who is also a force on the MotoGP track. This is a good way to get some perspective on the testing from the rider's point of view.

Pedrosa: http://tinyurl.com/ybmg542

Dovizioso: http://tinyurl.com/y98bt4v

MORE Morning Moto News - Honda MotoGP & Fantasy Motorcycle Racing

Honda has decided that they very much need to capture the MotoGP title very soon! They have not won since Nicky Hayden took the 2006 Championship. They have thus reorganized the team structure to help them get their wish. A new Technical Director has been assigned and each of Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso will be managed separately and the development of the RC212V will be much more focused in 2010. Given Pedrosa's run at last year's title, we should see some interesting developments from the factory Repsol team.

http://tinyurl.com/yackulr

Motorcycle USA has announced that they will be hosting a Fantasy Motorcycle Racing game which includes MotoGP, World Superbike and AMA Motocross - as far as can be seen from the attached article. It's free to use, so what are you waiting for?

http://tinyurl.com/yas69ap

More Morning Moto News - Duke Video, Randy de Puniet & Andrea Dovizioso

Duke Video's "MotoGP: Evolution of a Species" is reviewed for us in the linked article. If you have not heard of this video, you should be very shocked! It is a very well-done documentary on the technical and engineering side of the MotoGP Championship. If you have ever had questions about the machinery your favorite racer uses, this is a DVD which will help explain the MotoGP motorcycle for you.

http://tinyurl.com/y8mazy5

Randy de Puniet is anxious to get aboard his LCR Honda at the upcoming Sepang test for MotoGP teams. He is looking forward to campaigning the new RC212V in the 2010 Championship. However, he is not losing his grip on reality and expects there to be some work to get the bike working well for him. So, Malaysia will be very useful to de Puniet and his team.

http://tinyurl.com/yep5tf8

Andrea Dovizioso wants Honda to let him help develop the RC212V so that he has a real chance at winning races in 2010. Given his stellar performances at some circuits last year and his failures at other tracks, they might do well to listen. Either way, he will have his chance on the new beast at the Malaysian test.

http://tinyurl.com/ycnezsy

Rossi Receives Awards from Italian Press in Bologna

During his trip up to Bologna for the motor show there, Valentino Rossi also attended some events just for him. One of them was a night for Italian magazine awards; Rossi received the 'Top Rider' award from the readers of Motosprint - the other was the very prestigious Casco d'Oro award, which is the top award for any rider from the moto press in Italy. It was a good night for him...and some others, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yauzze7

Valentino Rossi to Drive WRC Car at Bologna Motor Show

Rossi will be at it again at the Findomestic Memorial Bettega held at the Bologna Motor Show today and tomorrow. He will drive a Ford Focus RS WRC car against several current World Rally Championship drivers. Along with Rossi, the likes of Andrea Dovizioso, Mattia Pasini, Andrea Iannone and Loris Reggiani will all be in attendance and will compete in a drifting competition. A must see for Italian racing fans!

http://tinyurl.com/yz2ycyv

More Post Race Reports from the Valencia MotoGP Round

After the last race of the 2009 MotoGP calendar, there will be many reports on the events at the race and events elsewhere which are connected to the final race. We have a three-day practice running at Valencia right now with new riders trying out new machines and the racers staying with their team will be working on new technology for 2010. So, here I will gather the reports as they come in and post them here. Expect various 'insider' sections and many, many press releases. Enjoy!

Quotes from the Valencia MotoGP round: http://tinyurl.com/yzylunm

Jorge Lorenzo takes second position overall in MotoGP: http://tinyurl.com/yg66cnk

Slightly Ducati-based after the race report: http://tinyurl.com/ygtm5wb

MotoGP: Valencia Preview Notes - Final 2009 Round

There are still many contests to be decided at the final round of the 2009 MotoGP season. Second place in the series is one important question which will be decided this coming weekend. That is not to mention the hard-fought battle for fifth place between Edwards and Dovizioso. Plus, we get to see Ben Spies back in the paddock; I wonder how that will go? The biggest question, though, in my own opinion will be the race to the 250 World Championship, which is now between Aoyama and Simoncelli - also, it will be the last race for the 250c.c. two-strokes as next year we will see the Moto2 series. There are plenty of other answers coming this weekend, so do not miss it!

http://tinyurl.com/yzjth8o

Team race previews: http://tinyurl.com/yz8elyp

Colin Edwards Wants Fifth Place in MotoGP World Championship

He is fighting hard against, well, everything, but mostly Andrea Dovizioso. He only finished 13th in Malaysia, but Dovizioso DNF'ed, so he still has a chance if he can do well at Valencia...

http://tinyurl.com/yhvdovf

MotoGP Riders Must Look After Their Health in Malaysia

This has been covered - especially concerning Casey Stoner - but it is an important aspect of racing at the highest level in the world. In Malaysia, riders have to deal with intense heat and energy-sapping humidity. They must drink constantly as they can loose up to 2kg of water wait in one 45 minute session on the track. So, how are they dealing with it and who is helping them?

http://tinyurl.com/yk98585

Pedrosa and Dovizioso Visit Honda Australia Rider Training

Pedrosa and Dovizioso surprised the staff at the Honda Australia Rider Training center just outside of Melbourne, Australia. They hung around and talked about racing, technology, techniques and other motorcycle-related questions with the instructors and some students who were there for training. They also sampled some of the simulators and did quite well, as you may expect!

http://tinyurl.com/ygunv4v

Repsol to Remain Factory Honda Sponsor in MotoGP

After such success, why would they want to cease their partnership? Well, the economic situation is now improving but oh so very slowly, so money is tough to come by; that would be one good reason. However, Repsol and Honda have combined to win 98 race victories and 9 World Championships. Plus, who does not recognize the Repsol badging on Honda motorcycles?

http://tinyurl.com/ye9exy9

MotoGP Portugal Grand Prix Preview

Before the MotoGP race this weekend, it is useful to get up-to-date on the happenings in the paddock between the last race at Misano. And, there is much going on; Dovizioso running new suspension, Stoner returning to action, Rossi starting his 100th race with Yamaha, and much more. Take the link and read it before the weekend get here!

http://tinyurl.com/yd69uw5

Additionally, Bridgestone has never won a MotoGP race at the Portuguese Estoril circuit. They will this year as they are the sole tire supplier to the series...

http://tinyurl.com/yahf5np

Honda Rider Andrea Dovizioso Will Run Ohlins Suspension in Portugal

As we already know, Dani Pedrosa switched to the Swedish suspension manufacturer and it helped him challenge for the race win in almost every race since. At Estoril, Dovizioso will also run with Ohlins, and we will probably see some improvement in his finishing...

http://tinyurl.com/ye2gpkz

MotoGP 2009 Portugal Race Previews

From the Repsol Honda team, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso are ready to tackle the track and improve even more on a stand-out season.

http://tinyurl.com/ydob3dv

Over at Fiat Yamaha, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo are sitting first and second in the championship points and Portugal will see one fantastic race between the two, almost assuredly...

http://tinyurl.com/y92ygu5

Recent improvements on the GSV-R have helped Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi see some better finished in the last few events, will it continue? It certainly looks positive...

http://tinyurl.com/yc6pxmu

All in all, it will - AGAIN - be a very good racing weekend in Portugal!

Pedrosa Hopes to Redeem Himself at Misano

Repsol Honda has been on a bit of a high. Both of their riders are doing quite well this season, but Dani Pedrosa has been excellent this year - with some exceptions. Indy was the most recent incident for Pedrosa, and we all know what happened there (he fell while leading but still managed 10th).

http://tinyurl.com/nd6l4o

News from Indy First Day MotoGP Practice

Pedrosa and Repsol Honda are happy! Just take a look at today's results from Indianapolis.

http://tinyurl.com/n47dp3

No One Dreading Indy GP? Pedrosa and Dovizioso Ready

Repsol Honda teammates Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso are ready for round 12 at Indianapolis. With both riders being on hot streaks and both of them liking the Indy track, we could see a very tight finish order this weekend. You must watch!

http://tinyurl.com/lr9pur