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The BMW S1000RR will also be campaigned in Australia - as readers of this blog will no doubt already know - in both the Asutralian Superbike Championship and in Australian Formula Xtreme. Craig Coxhell, a privateer champion, will be taking the new machine to the tracks in the ASBK series. And, the Motohansa Laser Exhaust Race Team will be fielding Jeremy Crowe in the Formula Xtreme Championship. For all the information, please take the link.
http://tinyurl.com/yky94eq
We have several reports coming in from the MotoGP preseason test at Qatar. I have already linked you to the team press releases in a previous post and, since there are so many of the other reports, I will simply place links here for you to peruse to find any story you may be looking for...
A little on Lorenzo: http://tinyurl.com/yzpd5w
More on Rossi: http://tinyurl.com/yzwm2o8
Bit about Repsol Honda: http://tinyurl.com/ygez35z
Second day early results: http://tinyurl.com/yj9eb6f
Vesrah Suzuki had a decent Daytona experience - well, at least rider Cory West as Jeff Wood was the victim of an unfortunate competitors engine oil which forced him to retire. West, though, took sixth place in the Daytona 200 after only having about a week to get ready for the event. They now have three times as much time to get ready for the next round...do you see a championship in their future?
http://tinyurl.com/yekwvb6
Leon Haslam, of the World Superbike series, says that the next event will be much tougher on all riders. Given that this was the first real race of the season in WSBK, there were teething problems for all teams as they adjusted to their new organizations and bikes. That means that by the next event, many teams will have things dialed in better. Look for it all to heat up even more as 2010 continues...
http://tinyurl.com/yev6j66
New rumors say that Jorge Lorenzo will be in good enough shape to participate in the final MotoGP pre-season test in Qatar next weekend (18 - 19 March 2010). Lorenzo and his team will use the time on the track to see how well his injuries have healed, thus telling them how well he can handle his race machine, the YZR-M1. Only some time on the track will allow them to judge it properly. This is good news as he was expected to miss this test entirely...
http://tinyurl.com/ybfxm2x
Valention Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo (flew from Spain; not at testing due to his injury) again stopped in Indonesia on their way out from the testing at Sepang in Malaysia. It was yet another PR move, but it sure delighted fans in the huge Asian nation. The main purpose was to pay a visit to one of the Fiat Yamaha team's sponsors. Take the link to learn more.
http://tinyurl.com/yjwhr9k
Loris Capirossi is rather pragmatic about his work on the Suzuki GSV-R. He feels that the team and his machine are actually in a good situation after the second test of the preseason. He did finish the test in sixth position, so he is in better shape than he was at the beginning of 2009.
http://tinyurl.com/ygq5k3m
Looks like Ben Spies and Casey Stoner have taken to each other quite well. The two share some activities off the track and Stoner has been giving advice to Spies about riding in the MotoGP Championship. It is nice to hear that these guys that have so much money at stake can still be good friends. 2010 will be a good year for MotoGP.
http://tinyurl.com/ykgnh79
Geoff may has made his way onto the entry list at the Daytona 200 for 2010. May has formed Geoff May Racing with which to compete in the AMA Pro Racing series this year. It is a full privateer effort, as you can see, and he will run his own Suzuki GSX-R600 in the Daytona SportBike Championship. His last position was as a rider for the Jordan Motorsports team, which dumped him at the end of last season.
http://tinyurl.com/ylfkh2d
Jorge Loranzo, Fiat Yamaha MotoGP rider, will miss the next big MotoGP test due to an injury he sustained while training on a motocross bike. He fell while riding the off-road machine on a course near Barcelona and fractured his hand in the process. Lorenzo is all patched up now, but he must wear something to protect his hand for the next four to six weeks.
http://tinyurl.com/yg77scz
Nicky Hayden recently had to have surgery on his arm to remove some scar tissue from a previous surgical procedure. He did this right after the Sepang MotoGP test, but his Ducati team is saying that he will be perfectly fit to ride in the next test at the end of this month. That's very good news as Hayden really needs any seat time he can get to dial that Desmosedici in to his liking.
http://tinyurl.com/ygrrcv7
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
MotoGP Fiat Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi took some time after their testing in Malaysia to stop in Thailand. They visited the Yamaha Riders Club and visited with and answered the questions of a select group of lucky riders. It was certainly an event not to be missed if you live in that nation!
http://tinyurl.com/yaobqna
Freixenet and Dorna have decided to continue their partnership. Freixenet will continue to provide the cava at each of the MotoGP events through 2011. It's always good news when a huge sponsor like this stays the course.
http://tinyurl.com/ycwdxrk
First up in the practice category is the unbelievable early performance of Ben Spies at the Malaysian test. He was on fire and managed to be in the top-five overall. That bodes very well for his freshman year in the MotoGP paddock.
http://tinyurl.com/yb8ds93
Loris Capirossi had a great test in Malaysia and he is quite happy with the testing he and his team completed. They have made some definite progress and it did show last weekend. As for Alvaro Bautista, he also made great progress in getting used to his new race weapon. Suzuki seems ready to compete, but only time will tell.
http://tinyurl.com/ybcwa43
The Malaysian MotoGP test has now concluded - at least according to reports - and Valentino Rossi once again took the fastest lap time at the track. Stoner was right behind him, with the usual Lorenzo and Pedrosa - but, Ben Spies held fifth place! We are in for a phenomenal race year in that series in 2010!
http://tinyurl.com/yddydwx
More on the Day 2 testing: http://tinyurl.com/yagfyhd
More on the Day 3 testing: http://tinyurl.com/yc5qsr6
Leon Camier is convinced that he will be able to learn a great deal from riding with Max Biaggi on the Aprilia factory team in WSBK. It makes sense as Biaggi does have a long career in motorcycle racing at all levels and he knows the RSV-4 race machine even better. There really is little doubt that Camier will be a high-level competitor and will only make the WSBK paddock more fun to watch.
http://tinyurl.com/yb7b8el
And, in other Aprilia news, word is that Giampiero Sacchi will be leaving the company comes out. Word is that he is fed up with the direction that Aprilia is taking following the decision to drop their Moto2 project. Of course, this is all hear-say right now...
http://tinyurl.com/yejh6yf
First of all, Fiat Yamaha has finally debuted their livery for the 2010 season - and it is not that much different from 2009. Anyway, Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi and both of their respective teams are featured in the linked photos - thanks to Yamaha for setting up the whole event.
http://tinyurl.com/yh5f22v
And, from the same linked site above we have all of the press reports given out by each MotoGP team after the first practice yesterday at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. It was an interesting day with the fastest laps produced by Rossi, Stoner, Edwards and Capirossi for day one's testing. It means little as they are just pursuing setup and such during this test. For more information, please take the links below...
http://tinyurl.com/yl3l32m
Team Reports are listed after this link (for today only as the linked page is updated regularly):
http://tinyurl.com/yz8elyp
First of all, we hear that Doug Henry has taken a Bronze Medal at the X Games - as if he has not already done enough. He stood on the podium of the inaugural Adaptive SnoCross event at the 14th Winter X Games in Aspen riding a Yamaha FX Nytro snowmobile! He was the only paraplegic competing in the event and he still out did more able-bodied riders. The man is a legend!
http://tinyurl.com/yhyvkcv
In Australia, the Dirt Bike Promotions (DBP) Stadium Motocross Series attracted over 300 riders to compete in the events held at Bathhurst Showgrounds. In the end, young Dylan Heaton was victorious and took the overall win. He was up against older riders, but still held his own. It is a good read...
http://tinyurl.com/yg6je6j
And, over at Yamaha Motor Co., the promotions department has put together a teaser video based on the upcoming (Thursday, 4 February) Fiat Yamaha unveiling. They will be displaying the new livery which will grace the MotoGP machines of Rossi and Lorenzo at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. They will then attend to the official MotoGP test at that location this coming weekend.
http://tinyurl.com/ygug5yc
Again we hear from James Toseland; this time it is about Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Toseland has now stated that he sees Rossi as a 'genuine' guy and Lorenzo as 'cocky'. There is some evidence backing him up in this, but it really is a matter of perspective. What's your opinion? Well, you are free to state it here.
http://tinyurl.com/ykzjs83
Dani Pedrosa has admitted that he needs to make fewer mistakes if he wants to take the MotoGP title. He has run into many problems in his quest to take that Championship, and he has been the cause of some of his won problems - though, not all of them! No matter your perspective on this, you know that he is a talented rider who does have a real chance to become a Champion.
http://tinyurl.com/yke62k2
How about some words from Hiroshi Aoyama and Marc Simoncelli about the new Moto2 class. Both were 250c.c. World Champions, and both are sad to see the two-stroke era come to an end. But, they are also quite ready to see what the new Moto2 series will bring to us in 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/ylm659y
Over at the Rare SportBikes for Sale blog, we get a look at an astounding example of a 1999 Laverda 750S Formula motorcycle. It is for sale in North Carolina, and there are very few examples in the US of this fine Italian stallion. You won't find many of these on the road...and the price is excellent.
http://tinyurl.com/y95fdca
Jorge Lorenzo has been working with Intermom Oxfam to create an online commercial to get people to donate to the Haiti earthquake relief. Given the immense suffering in that nation now, this is an incredible gesture. Lorenzo will also donate his gold boots, which he wore in 2008, to be auctioned for more money directed at relief efforts. Anything that helps, helps!
http://tinyurl.com/yal4ubk
The 11th Annual Riding Into History event will take place in St. Augustine, Florida, on 15 May 2010. A group put together for the event and a local BMW Owners Association - Northeast Florida - will be organizing the event and Clement Salvadori will be the Grand Marshal. Craig Vetter and artist Don Bradley will also be in attendance. There should be some 300 to 400+ motorcycles on display.
http://tinyurl.com/yb3wrvo
Finally, we have some more results from the World Superbike Championship practice at Portimao. There are plenty of reports, so I will post any interesting stories that come my way. Just keep your eyes on the list below.
http://tinyurl.com/yb3lu5q
http://tinyurl.com/ye447kf
http://tinyurl.com/y8z68z6
http://tinyurl.com/yetxpn5
http://tinyurl.com/yd3f26p
Apparently, when Jorge Lorenzo is on his bike and in his leathers, James Toseland is infinitely annoyed by him but, when Lorenzo is off the track and has his helmet off, he is a very nice guy. At least that is how Toseland sees things. He also turned down a reality TV show - good for him! Some candid conversation after the link.
http://tinyurl.com/y88duod
Toseland's teammate, Cal Crutchlow, had a great WSBK practice over the weekend. The World Supersport Champion made his way around the track and beat out Toseland on time - even while trying to find a decent setup for his R1.
http://tinyurl.com/ye4cam2
Chris Vermeulen did not have a great testing session, but he and his team learned a great deal. They are getting themselves ready for the next test at Phillip Island - right before the season opens there - to find further improvements.
http://tinyurl.com/yd4oueb
Sylvain Guintoli is counting the days until the start of the 2010 World Superbike Championship. He is ready to tackle this series and see what he can do to achieve the championship for his team - to put it simply, he is confident and wants to get racing!
http://tinyurl.com/ycpcll5
Fiat Yamaha will be unveiling their livery at the first day of the Malaysian test on 4 February 2010. Basically, it's a big media day and photos of the bikes and riders - Rossi and Lorenzo - will be encouraged. If you are in the press, this is for you.
http://tinyurl.com/y8krw42
The most popular chassis in Moto2 may be the Sutter MMX - up to a third of competitors in the class may be using their product. Sutter MMX is based in Switzerland and made the frames for the Kawasaki MotoGP teams, plus they will be making all of the slipper clutches used in the series. They were lucky in being the first to get prices out and have product ready for testing, and that is why they seem to be in the front of everyone else at this point.
http://tinyurl.com/y9ec2wo
Turns out that the BMW S1000RR will be seen in the Australian Superstock 1000 series this season. The Motohansa team has joined up with Laser Exhaust to field Jeremy Crowe on the machine at select ASBK rounds throughout the year. Perhaps they will make it a full-time effort before season's end.
http://tinyurl.com/yztx4nj
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
Into the second post now...
We get news that Jorge Lorenzo wanted to quit MotoGP in 2008! This was due to his long list of serious crashes suffered in the class during the 2008 season - it was getting dangerous for him and might have ended his career prematurely. So, who can blame him for considering it...but, Rossi always crashed a great deal in his first season with each new class - except his debut on the 990.
http://tinyurl.com/ybx53uo
Next, one of Lorenzo's competitors, Dani Pedrosa, has now had surgery to remove a screw in his hand - and other work there. This is to continue work on his left hand in order that he may use it more freely again.
http://tinyurl.com/yappecj
Motul has announced that they will continue to support the Australian Superbike Championship in 2010. Motul feels that its involvement is only natural for their products - and the ASBK organizers fully agree!
http://tinyurl.com/y9qwrte
That's it for the racing news. But, there is more!
Want to know what goes on behind the scenes in the Fiat Yamaha garage? Well, this is not exactly what you will find here, but you will see video interviews with Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Davide Brivio and Gigi Soldano. Just take the link and watch the videos - this is a rare opportunity, so make sure not to miss it!
http://tinyurl.com/y8pqno7
Lorenzo is one of the top-flight riders in the MotoGP Championship - always a threat to win a race, no matter where it is. Given his experience in the series, he really feels that Yamaha is the one to beat in 2010 and likely beyond. It makes sense when you see who is riding Yamahas in 2010 - Lorenzo, Rossi, Edwards and Spies.
http://tinyurl.com/yhms3ah
Also, here are some photos of his time in Bali where he took a vacation while he was touring Yamaha establishments in Asia last month.
http://tinyurl.com/yjnyryq
And, he is ready to challenge Rossi in the MotoGP Championship next year:
http://tinyurl.com/yz53xat
I would say 'tell us something we don't know,' but Jarvis is right in his opinion here. It will be very tough for Yamaha to win the rider's, constructor's, and team MotoGP championships in 2010. There are many newcomers, some rearranging of teams, and the usual four are all closely matched on the track. I have said it before and I will say it again - 2010 will be a great year for motorcycle racing!
http://tinyurl.com/yjtw4fu
Jorge Lorenzo had a great 2009 MotoGP season; he was very close to taking the championship away from Rossi. In 2010, the Fiat Yamaha rider wants to win it all this time. He and his team feel that he has learned a great deal from his 'mistakes' in the 2009 season and will use that to beat Rossi and every other MotoGP rider. Again, 2010 will be a great year for motorcycle racing!
http://tinyurl.com/yauy5kp
