FB Corse Will Join MotoGP & Julian Simon Test Ducati Desmosedici GP10

FB Corse has been given approval to join the MotoGP Championship starting at the Jerez round - round 3 - with their incredibly talented rider Gary McCoy. Dorna representatives looked at the lap times (unreleased as of yet) and the make-up of the team and decided to let them join in the challenge. Given that Franco Uncini said that he would look at the overall picture, and not just lap times, we cannot say that the FB Corse machine is the equal of the other manufacturers but we should know that it is competitive - otherwise, it would not be in the series at all.

http://tinyurl.com/yfk8fyf

Ducati test rider Franco Battaini is injured, so the Ducati team asked if Julian Simon could take some test laps on the GP10 at Jerez for the marque. Well, it turns out that Simon seems made for the Ducati machine - or, maybe it seems made for him. He ran some 115 laps and actually came within 1.6 seconds of Valentino Rossi's lap record at the track!

http://tinyurl.com/yepxkxf

Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Elias Fastest Again & Derbi GPR125

Toni Elias left the Moto2 test, which ended on Monday, as the fastest rider on the circuit again! Wet weather really slowed things down on the first and last days of the test, so Sunday's times were the fastest. Elias' Gresini Racing Moriwaki finished up third overall at the previous test, so it does seem that they found more power or handling somewhere! Most of the other riders at the top were also on top at the last test...however, some have improved greatly. For the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhc8e4b

Derbi, builder of some of the most exciting small-displacement motorcycles on the road (though, mostly in Europe), has announced the new high-tech GPR 125 four-stroke machine. It is a very well designed and built motorcycle which was developed by Derbi and Piaggio. If you look closely at this bike, you will see some of the most innovative ideas ever executed for a motorcycle of this size. It is worth a look...and it would be a very cool machine to own just for fun!

http://tinyurl.com/yhkzjqu

Thursday Morning Race News - Fiat Yamaha, Jerez and Luthi

Jorge Lorenzo now has a new team manager for his side of the Fiat Yamaha MotoGP garage, Wilco Zeelenberg. Zeelenberg had been team manager for the World Supersport Yamaha squad which took the title in 2009 with Cal Crutchlow - who is now up in World Superbike - so he certainly has the experience. His experience is also rather deep as he was also a racer, including time in the Grand Prix circuit. Let's hope that he is also helpful at keeping Rossi and Lorenzo from going at each other in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yglre8v

For the first time since 1990, the Jerez Grand Prix has won the IRTA award for 'Best Grand Prix' for 2009. Herve Poncharal announced the winner and congratulated the famous circuit. The Jerez facilities have recently been upgraded and it seems that everyone in attendance was quite happy with the event. Good going Jerez! Someday I will see you...

http://tinyurl.com/yl4snub

Interwetten Honda (Caffe Latte)will run with Thomas Luthi in the Moto2 series as well as fielding Hiroshi Aoyama in the MotoGP series. Luthi is a 125c.c. World Champion and has run in the 250c.c. class many times. His first test aboard the new Moto2 machine will be in February. Now there are three teams running in both MotoGP and Moto2 - Interwetten, Tech 3 and Gresini.

http://tinyurl.com/yklj6sn

Hector Barbera and Ducati Testing Goes Well for Rookie MotoGP Rider

Barbera was very happy with his rookie test aboard the Ducati Desmosedici; he had at least one day of good weather in which to test. He was not there to hit good lap times, but to work on the traction control and engine management. However, he still turned in respectable lap times when compared to all riders on the Ducati machine, except for Casey Stoner - who has a very fast lap time. So, overall, the testing was very good for the rookie MotoGP rider...

http://tinyurl.com/ybfvtqb

Rain Hampers Ducati Testing for Hector Barbera

The testing for Barbera at the Jerez circuit in Spain started out very wet. This limited time on the track just a bit, but Barbera was also spied testing on the 2010 Desmosedici, rather than the GP9 version. He was joined by Guareschi and Franco Battaini at the private test. Marc Marquez was also there testing his new Ajo Derbi motorcycle.

http://tinyurl.com/yjasrsb

Hector Barbera and Ducati Testing Today at Jerez

Barbera, who won the final 250c.c. race ever, and Ducati test riders Vittoriano Guareschi and Franco Battaini are all at the Spanish Jerez track today doing some off-season testing. It is Barbera's second time aboard the Ducati as he also tested at the Valencia final (after the race) test with the Aspar Ducati MotoGP team. This is part of the unofficial rookie testing allowed by MotoGP.

http://tinyurl.com/y9wv2ju

FTR Moto Enters Their Moto2 Machine in CEV National at Jerez

In the interest of improving on their technology, FTR will be placing their current development rider, Graeme Gowland, on their Moto2 prototype in the CEV Buckler Spanish Championship this coming weekend. The event will take place at Jerez, and will provide a very good testing ground for the team and engineers. They have been advancing the bike bit by bit after testing at Albacete a few weeks back. Look for them to place high on this machine.

http://tinyurl.com/yfjwqc3