More Morning Moto News - MotoGP vs WSBK, Dr. Costa & Moto2

A very neat little column/editorial about which of the two series - either MotoGP or World Superbike - is the best to watch. Well, the writer reaches a very respectable conclusion, but it is one you may expect. Given the talent in each series, and the motorcycles which they each race, it seems that both of these world-class series are worth your time and money...and, maybe, more!

http://tinyurl.com/ylk6rkq

And, we also have a short piece on Dr. Costa or MotoGP and World Superbike fame. We all know about him and, if you don't, you do not know nearly enough about motorcycle racing. Dr. Costa has taken a position at Imola now, and some are wondering if that means a return of the Imola 200, which used to be run with Grand Prix motorcycles...interesting and certainly a worthy idea!

http://tinyurl.com/yablkh9

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta fears that the Moto2 series may become a victim of its own success. Ezpeleta believes that the current team line-up may be too large for it to be a viably entertaining series. Of course, we have yet to see a race from this class, so only experience will let us know. In the mean time, I say you should just watch and enjoy and we will all make our minds up about half-way through the season.

http://tinyurl.com/yk7z8w3

More Morning Moto News - Yoshimura Japan, Rossi and Lorenzo, & Aprilia and BMW

The famed Yoshimura Japan team, which is made up of various riders and the best Suzuki equipment in the paddock, will also be taking on three rounds of the World Superbike Championship. We had heard rumors last year about this and it has now been confirmed. They will use BSB rider Yukio Kagayama at Assen and Magny Cours and Daisaku Sakai will race for them at Imola. For more details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yb4tztt

Well, now that we all know that the Fiat Yamaha garage might as well be split in two and moved far apart given that neither Lorenzo's or Rossi's teams will share data with each other, we might wonder how the riders feel. Well, Rossi is OK with it, but Lorenzo does not understand why they did it. He feels that the team would be better served by them sharing data and improving the YZR-M1 for both of them...

http://tinyurl.com/y8aqt87

Neither Aprilia nor BMW have released any information on whether they will enter the MotoGP series now that the 2012 rules will allow them to put their machines up against the other manufacturer's prototypes. It is a bit odd, but it is probably because they are still studying the move to see if it would benefit them or simply cost them a fortune.

http://tinyurl.com/y8ssaxe

Tuesday Night Moto News - Yoshimura Suzuki

Yoshimura Suzuki is moving out of the AMA paddock - well, let's say they are expanding. Having been so successful in the AMA Pro Racing over the last several years (domination of the Superbike class for over a decade), they have decided to embark on some World Sueprbike rounds - and an endurance race - with a few different riders. They will participate in Assen, the Netherlands, with Yukio Kagayama; the second at Imola with Daisaku Sakai; and, finally, the Suzuka 8 Hours with Kagayama and Sakai e Nobuatsu Aoki.

http://tinyurl.com/y8kfdeq

Fausto Gresini Speaks About MotoGP and His Team

Gresini was at the World Superbike round at Imola, Italy, and took some time to answer questions about his teams future in MotoGP. See what he has to say about his two current and his two new riders for 2010...

http://tinyurl.com/ye7z27f

BMW Having Some Success in World Superbike

However, I am rather sure it is not the success they were hoping for. At Imola, Xaus managed two top thirteen finishes after coming back from injury. Troy Corser managed an 11th place finish in race 1, but had a DNF in race 2; both issues brake-related. BMW has one of the most powerful stock bikes on the grid, so I think we should see better finishes next year once they have the machine sorted for racing. Even given this, BMW has had a good season considering they are using a NIB motorcycle...

http://tinyurl.com/ybcs4au

2009 Imola World Superstock Results

So, I did not get these posted yesterday, but then I did not have a decent link. If you are wondering how the event finished up, check it here:

http://tinyurl.com/y8h9hsg

Late on this One - Marco Simoncelli's World Superbike Qualifying

He managed to qualify well and made it to Superpole, so he started in eighth. As for his races, I only know that he did score a third place position in race 2 ahead of Max Biaggi! That is fantastic for a rider who only has a few hours experience on the Aprilia RSV-4.

Chaz Davies is also in this article; he qualified 11th for the World Supersport Imola race.

http://tinyurl.com/ye2tmvt

Imola World Superbike Race Results

Don't read this unless you have already seen the race as you will be surprised. It seems that Noriyuki Haga is back on form and doing quite well, thank you very much. He managed to come back from his horrendous Donnington crash to take the Imola circuit by storm and now leads Spies in the Championship points battle...read it all here:

http://tinyurl.com/yae2hvl

Slightly better post: http://tinyurl.com/ycv7jag

Imola World Superbike Qualifying from Every Class

The list is not easily readable, but it does have every qualifying result from yesterday's Imola World Superbike event. Since the race is going off today, this is a good read ahead of its US broadcast - and some other nations as well:

http://tinyurl.com/ye3d5fd

World Superbike Imola Superpole Results

Fabrizio managed to keep himself at the front in the Superpole qualifying at the Imola circuit in Italy. American Ben Spies is right behind him on the grid and Fabrizio's teammate Noriyuki Haga is in fourth. This should make for very interesting and fun racing tomorrow. If you can watch it, don't miss it!

http://tinyurl.com/yedhmgd

Fabrizio Takes Pole at WSB Imola Round

The free practice and qualifying were both delayed due to rider complaints about the track surface - it was too slick. So, the track worked out this issue and the free practice became qualifying. Michel Fabrizio took pole while riding his Ducati, which put Honda's Carlos Checa in second and Yamaha's Ben Spies in third. One more provisional qualifying will set things up for Superpole.

http://tinyurl.com/ybbo7wa

Simoncelli Looks to Finish in Top 5 at Imola

Marco Simoncelli will be riding the new Aprilia RSV-4 in the World Superbike round at Imola, but not even Biaggi has been able to keep it reliably at the front this year - of course, it is definitely a 'development' year for Aprilia since the bike is brand new. Given his practice success, though, he just may be able to keep himself at the front throughout the weekend...we will see!

http://tinyurl.com/yd7j38d

The Gates Have Opened at Imola for World Superbike Weekend

For the first time in three years, the Imola circuit has welcomed the World Superbike Championship. On Thursday, the track held 'free Thursday' and allowed anyone to come on out and see the series setting up and getting ready for the races over the weekend. A press conference was also held which many top riders attended...

http://tinyurl.com/y8txonb

Simoncelli WILL be Racing for Aprilia at Imola WSBK Round

This is now confirmed: Marco Simoncelli, current 250c.c. GP Champion, will ride alongside Max Biaggi at Imola. He did rather well in testing at Mugello and will replace injured rider Shinya Nakano.

http://tinyurl.com/y8qnulj

P.S. That hair!

Spies Confident Ahead of Imola WSBK Round

He really wants to win in Ducati's backyard at the Imola round in Italy. He believes that his team is ready for the fight and he is prepared to take victory in both races...

http://tinyurl.com/y8uafbl

Imola World Superbike Race Preview

We have been reading many race stories ahead of the return to Imola of World Superbike, but I guess there is no such thing as too much knowledge, especially considering what is at stake in this series. It will be very good racing and worth watching, if you get to see it...if not, I will post results when I get them.

http://tinyurl.com/nnaach

Aprilia to Debut Lower-Spec RSV-4R at Imola WSBK Round

We have already seen the Aprilia RSV-4 Factory - and many have seen it in person at US and worldwide racing events (I even have photos in the public 2009 USGP photo album), but we had not seen the 'stock' version yet. Well, Aprilia will show it off at Imola this coming weekend at the World Superbike round at Imola.

http://tinyurl.com/maav3j

Interview with Ten Kate Honda Riders Jonathan Rea and Carlos Checa Ahead of Imola

In just the last four races, the two riders have a total of five podiums between them and they are really looking forward to the Italian round of WSBK at Imola. Checa is really loving the new Ohlins suspension he has been using this year and Rea is looking to show consistency.

http://tinyurl.com/md9hs6

Kawasaki World Superbike Team Getting Ready for Imola

At the last race in Germany, the Paul Bird Motorsports team had some serious issues. Makoto Tamada and Broc Parkes both crashed in the first race which led to Tamada sitting out the entire weekend with concussion and Parkes having to ride his back-up machine. They are hoping - and getting ready for - better results at the next round at Imola.

http://tinyurl.com/nchokv

Preparations Are On for Imola World Superbike Round

Imola is getting ready for the World Superbike racing after three years of absence; Troy Bayliss took the victory there the last time they visited the Ferrari circuit. Also covered is the series-to-date and what we might expect at the Italian round...

http://tinyurl.com/losdre