Capirex Rides Into the Sunset

Loris Capirossi announced today that 2011 would be his final season in motorcycle racing. Two decades is a long time to do anything other than breathe or, say, workout, and 22 years competing at the very edge of life and death is a long time indeed. Read on in an article I wish I had written.

http://www.tinyurl.com/4yemcp5

Rizla Suzuki Unveils Livery, MSF Promotes Gladden & Sommerset Rebels Meet Complete

There is not a lot beyond a photo, but the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team has now shown us what their Suzuki GSV-R will look like for the 2010 season. Riders Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista will look good riding one of these...And, I almost forgot, Troy Lee Designs was at the helm of this design!

http://tinyurl.com/yzfwvku

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (USA) has promoted Robert Gladden to be their General Manager. Gladden was the MSF Director, Program Administration, before he was promoted from within. He will now report to MSF President Tim Buche and will have much more responsibility. To read up on some Gladden history, please take the link. He has had an intriguing path to the top.

http://tinyurl.com/ylyu6ny

The Somerset Rebels Speedway meet coming up a week from today is now fully set. After Suyfutdinov's confirmation a few days ago, we now get news that his fellow countryman Roman Povazhny will be joining the event as well. That means that the weekend is fully set and ready to go. If you can get to this meeting, you will not be disappointed - you will have one hell of an evening!

http://tinyurl.com/ykcwm9j

More Morning Moto News - Rossi and Lorenzo, Capirossi & Spies and Stoner

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

And, More Evening News - Rizla Suzuki Riders & 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

The MotoGP Rizla Suzuki team riders stopped in Japan at the Suzuki factory in Hamamatsu to tour the factory, meet the people working there, and to meet with the race department ahead of their test in Malaysia. There are some issues which Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista want to work out before they begin their work at the Sepang IC. For more, please take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yfso36w

Finally, Yamaha has unveiled one of the most anticipated bikes this season, the 2010 XT1200Z Super Tenere! It is meant to be a direct competitior to the R1200GS from BMW, as you already know. Of course, there is the Ducati offering as well...and Moto Morini...and Moto Guzzi....it's getting veyr crowded in this popular segment these days. This is one sweet machine, though...

http://tinyurl.com/yzg5nom

Tuesday Night Moto News - Troy Lee Designs and Rizla Suzuki

There are some better photos somewhere on the 'Net, but the linked piece is solid and explains everything. Troy Lee Designs will be doing the livery for the 2010 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team's bikes. Given how busy he has been helping to raised funds for the Haiti Earthquake (have you given yet?), it is a wonder where he finds the time. It is sure to be a decent design...and we get to see it at Qatar in March. Should be good!

http://tinyurl.com/yhg4gbo

More Morning Moto News - Rossi and Lorenzo, Freixenet & More About Sepang Practice

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

And, More Morning News - Loris Capirossi & Superbike-Coach

Loris Capirrossi is hoping for a good practice run at the Sepang Cricuit in Malaysia, where the MotoGP teams will be this coming weekend for some long practice work. He is sure that his Suzuki is getting there as the Suzuki factory and the team have worked very hard over the winter to get the bike ready to race. It is looking good for the Italian in 2010; let's all hope that he is right and he will be a real threat to the top four guys...

http://tinyurl.com/yjkgvsu

Superbike-Coach is a California-based and run motorcycle training school. They will teach you everything from better street riding skills on up to their 'Knee Down' course, which helps you preform much better cornering at the track. For the details and the scheduled dates, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yzzv99r

More Morning Moto News - Sweepstakes, Leon Haslam & Capirex

Over at the U.K. newspaper, the Mirror, is having a sweepstakes where you could win a Leon Camier autographed Pirelli British Superbike Championship book. All you have to do is join some panel of theirs and you are automatically entered...easy as pie!

http://tinyurl.com/yf8x2fl

On the first day of the Portimao World Superbike test, Leon Haslam has topped the time sheets at the track. Of course, they are not all there looking for fast times, most are chasing setup demons and trying to figure out how to tune their race machines for the team riders. But, it does show that Haslam is putting in his effort to win the 2010 series title. Jonathan Rea was in second place on the day...

http://tinyurl.com/yj4s7cn

World Supersport times at the same test: http://tinyurl.com/ybqod4f

Loris Capirossi has been in the news a great deal these last few days. He must have had an interview day or two recently. Anyway, Capirossi is quite happy to know that the MotoGP engine limit will move to 1000c.c. soon. In fact, he said he would be the 'happiest person on earth' if the powers-that-be were to move the date of this rule change forward to 2011. Can't blame him...

http://tinyurl.com/yfu79jd

Even More Morning Moto News - Vancouver, BSB & Capirossi

If you live in the Pacific-Northwest, you must learn about the Vancouver Motorcycle Show. It will be held from 21 to 24 January 2010 in the TRADEX Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford, near Vancouver, BC. It is a pretty big deal for that part of Canada and almost every large manufacturer will be on hand with their latest and greatest products. Take the link to learn more - attend if you are able!

http://tinyurl.com/yl8eltx

Sure to be another star of the above show: http://tinyurl.com/yflh6s6

Over in the British Superbike Championship, they have again appointed Mervyn Whyte MBE - who is the North West 200 Race Director - to be Chief Steward of the 2010 running of the series. This is his second stint at this position, which he did well previously, and he is more than happy to take up the work.

http://tinyurl.com/yhobzxn

Loris Capirossi has now said that the MotoGP paddock is a place for 'girls' (no offense of females intended, he simply meant young and scared) and real roads racing is where the men are today. He stated this as he was letting us know that he hopes to attend the Isle of man TT this year (in a car, he says) to help celebrate 50 years of competition for Suzuki. I understand what he is saying, but he is no 'girl' in the sense that he is frightened - he is a very brave competitor, IMHO.

http://tinyurl.com/yazjz9j

Rizla Will Be Staying in MotoGP Championship with Suzuki

A new two-year deal is about to be signed between Rizla and Suzuki to keep the team together until 2011 at least. The economic situation had better improve a bit or that might be their last year there for some time. At least their sales in India are doing very well. It is good to know that there are still companies out there committed to our sport - so few are, so few can afford to anymore...This is good news!

http://tinyurl.com/yzdv2xr

Capirossi to Help Develop World Superbike GSX-R1000 Development

It's an odd thing to hear, but Loris Capirossi will be helping the Suzuki WSBK effort test the 2010 Suzuki GSX-R1000 race machine. Riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli will be assisted by the Suzuki MotoGP rider. As the article says, looks like Suzuki is serious about World Superbike now!

http://tinyurl.com/yjxvpwg

Valentino Rossi Takes Second in Monza Rally 2009

Rossi was joined by two other MotoGP racers in this event: Marco Simoncelli and Loris Capirossi. Rossi led for much of the event, but spun out and ended the day in second place - not bad for someone whose real job involves two wheels, not four. Simoncelli finished in seventh and Capirossi had some trouble and finished in 15th. Rossi was driving a Ford Focus WRC car with co-driver Carlo Cassina. Must have been fun!

http://tinyurl.com/yb82kwz

Rizla Suzuki Has Finished Three Days of Testing at Estoril

Alvaro Bautista and test rider Nobuatsu Aoki were in Estoril testing the new GSV-R over the last three days. The testing went rather well with Bautista doing over 200 laps on the MotoGP machine. Aoki was merely there to finish development testing which began with Loris Capirossi at Valencia. Overall, things are looking up for the Suzuki MotoGP team in 2010...

http://tinyurl.com/yzdo7yc

http://tinyurl.com/ykjhhld

Capirossi Unhappy With MotoGP Testing Ban

Loris Capirossi would really like to have more time to test the Suzuki GSV-R - and he does have a good point. However, due to the strict cost-cutting which has taken over MotoGP recently, testing has been cut to the very minimum. Capirex would simply like to have more time to work on the Suzuki in order to improve the machine. However, there are some who support the economical measures, so it is unlikely to get changed anytime soon, unfortunately...

http://tinyurl.com/ylnfhqd

MotoGP: Loris Capirossi Interview from Singapore

In the interview, he stated that the MotoGP series would welcome a Singaporean race circuit into the long list of race visits worldwide. Apparently, a circuit is under construction already - the Changi circuit. He also spoke about his own career and his 2010 teammate, Alvaro Bautista. It's a good interview, take a look...

http://tinyurl.com/yjhmvbv

Photos of the Great Helmet Designs of the 2009 MotoGP Season

This came along and I found it to be interesting, so I thought I would share it with everyone. The author has collected images from just about every MotoGP race this season - that's not so different. But, what is different is that the images are all of riders' helmets in the series. Some of the best are here - Rossi's Drudi-drawn lids, Lorenzo's special lids, Nicky Hayden's various designs, Colin Edwards, Capirossi, and de Angelis...Enjoy!

http://tinyurl.com/yknzsux

Ready for Malaysia - the MotoGP Championship at Sepang

Well, this coming weekend will be yet another tough race for the MotoGP racers. Valentino Rossi may be able to clench the title if he wins or places far enough above Jorge Lorenzo, but that might not come to pass as Por Fuera is on fire! Casey Stoner may play spoiler to all of this - he can't win the championship but he might change the points enough to force Rossi to wait for another race to take victory. Then there is the heat and humidity of Malaysia - the racers have to be very careful of their health while there as it can be very hard on the leather-clad athletes during the race. No matter what, there will be a MotoGP race this weekend and that is worth the trip alone...

http://tinyurl.com/yzxme6r

Rizla Suzuki - how will Caprirossi and Vermeulen handle the heat? http://tinyurl.com/ykzzndr

Ducati - will Casey Stoner get sickened by the weather; can Hayden stay upright and not get hit by another racer? http://tinyurl.com/ygltcav

Scot Honda: http://tinyurl.com/yhp5s93

Standings ahead of the Malaysian GP: http://tinyurl.com/ykdzw4x

Suzuki Remains Cursed at Australia's Phillip Island

A Suzuki GSV-R has only made it to a single sixth place finish at Phillip Island since its 2002 introduction. That is not a good record for an otherwise constantly improving machine. Neither Chris Vermeulen nor Loris Capirossi could get their Suzuki to the podium this weekend. In fact, Capirossi was placed at the back of the grid due to the fact that he had to violate the new MotoGP engine rules - he had to use his sixth engine and they are only allowed five from mid-season to the finale - and, Suzuki was fined 10 points in the manufacturer's championship...

http://tinyurl.com/yfrpatd

Loris Capirossi is Sure of Suzuki's GSV-R Making Improvements

Though Capirossi had to retire on lap 20 of the Portuguese Grand Prix, he still feels that the Suzuki MotoGP bike has had some impressive improvements. After all, he was challenging for sixth place when he encountered the technical issue with the GSV-R. He will get the chance to prove this progress in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yb4g6rf

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!