Time Changes All Things - Dr. Costa Passes the Torch

Dr. Costa and the Clinica Mobile Staff

The Clinica Mobile will never be the same, but it may be better. Dr. Claudio Costa, the long-time head of the mobile clinic which offered the best trackside medical care outside of a world-class hospital for the riders in the MotoGP World Championship, is moving into a new position at the Clinica Mobile. His usual duties will be taken over by Dr. Michele Zasa, who will head the clinic, and Dr. Guido Rosa Prati, who now runs the European Diagnostic Centre. Assurances have been given that the relationship with Dorna will continue as normal and the capabilities of the medical center itself will only improve. Dr. Costa will be missed, but he deserves some time with his family and being in charge of his own health, primarily in enjoying it.

http://tinyurl.com/lzvty7y

Bradley Smith to Remain in Moto2...Instead of MotoGP!

It really takes a level of maturity rarely seen in people his age (especially motorcycle racers) to hold yourself out of the premier racing level in order to continue developing your skill set. MotoGP is the goal of everyone in Grand Prix racing, but Smith is being smart and biding his time until he feels he is ready - genius!

http://tinyurl.com/3pof7na

UAE National Race Day 6 Preview & Anthony West Rides MZ in Moto2

Well, in the UAE Sportbike Championship, Arushen Moodley is in a commanding lead and heading for the 2010 title. However, the first runner-up position is still up for grabs. Moodley is riding an Aprilia and the two rider fighting for second place are riding another Aprilia and a Yamaha...should be very interesting. And, it looks like Yamaha's YZF-R6 will be conquering the Sportbike 600 Class...unless pretender to the throne Jason Burnside can take his Honda to the top...For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yleuonq

Anthony West is back on the World Championship circuit, although it will be in the supporting Moto2 class. He will ride for a newly announced MZ team, which only recently gained permission to join the championship. This is big news for MZ as they have wanted to join the racing for quite some time. They should learn a great deal from this and I am hopeful that West will have a good season!

http://tinyurl.com/yhmx6bz

A Very Good Series on MotoGP Safety in a Timeline

Road Racer X has just put up a timeline series on safety improvements in the motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship or MotoGP. They start at the very beginning of the championship itself and will continue up to the present - and likely 2012 as the rules are being worked out now - with six parts. They are only up to Part 3 now, but all of them are available online for free. It's worth your time...

Here we will start with Part 1 as the next parts of the series are linked from there.

http://tinyurl.com/ygng9zw

More Morning Moto News - Alex Gobert's Racing Insider

This week's 'Racing Insider' from our Australian friend Alex Gobert is now available. There are the usual stories on Australian Motocross, which just started its season, Australian off-road motorcycle racing, Australian Superbike, MotoGP, and Moto2 this week. There is some good detail on the Oz MX world as we hear so little about it up here in the US; he has a good story on a young off-road racer, Daniel McCoy; he also goes into some detail on the happenings in MotoGP. Don't miss it, please take the link and have a read!

http://tinyurl.com/yeoxxqz

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

Wednesday Morning Moto News - Christian Iddon & Moto2 Testing Continues

Christian Iddon, well-known supermoto racer, has signed on to ride in the British Superbike Championship with SMT Honda. They signed the rider, even though he has limited roadrace experience, because the team owner has faith in Iddon's abilities - a rare thing in motorsport. For all of Iddon's history and what he is looking for in his first season, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yl5zzr3

The Moto2 teams are mostly all present at the pre-season test being held at Valencia currently. On day two, 125GP Champion Julian Simon set the pace for the entire field. The second day was also the first full day of testing the spec Honda engines they will be using during this season. Simon was followed closely by American Kenny Noyes on his Team Jack & Jones (Antonio Banderas) machine. Toni Elias still kept them in sight, though, and finished up day 2 in third place.

http://tinyurl.com/yfw8k7a

http://tinyurl.com/yfr8zuq

Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Toni Elias Fastest & Celtic Racing Daytona 200

Toni Elias was the fastest Moto2 rider on the circuit at the recent Moto2 test session at Valencia in Spain. Elias is using, of course, the Honda spec engine and a Moriwaki chassis. On the first day of the three day event, Elias held the fastest lap and was the quickest around the track. He is picked as a favorite for the Moto2 Championship, but he has to get there first. Julian Simon, 125GP Champion, was a very close second to Elias.

http://tinyurl.com/yh3pgvw

Finally, we get a wrap-up of what the 2010 Celtic Racing team will look like. We have heard that American PJ Jacobsen and Bermudan Antoine Richards will both be racing for the team, but from different sources. Now we have confirmation that Jacobsen will be riding in the Daytona SportBike class and Richards will be riding in the East Coast Supersport class. The team will officially debut at Daytona this week. If you are going, you should already be there!

http://tinyurl.com/ylou8oh

Saturday Morning Moto News - BMW S1000RR, Jonathan Rea & More MotoGP and Moto2 Rules

Would you like to see the 2010 BMW S1000RR valvetrain going at full tilt? The engine will rev up to 14,200RPM - a huge number when you really think about it. Well, if you would like to see this amazing bit of technology in action, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yb8vllo

Jonathan Rea has his sights firmly set for MotoGP. Even though the young Northern Irishman will fight it out this season on the World Superbike stage, his ultimate goal is to race in the Grand Prix series. His Ten Kate Honda team will certainly do whatever it takes to keep him on top this season, so he might get that chance after all.

http://tinyurl.com/yhjxvkt

The FIM has released an even more detailed explanation about the new rules for the 2010 MotoGP and Moto2 series. They have had to make updates due to some technology issues as well as problems with understanding the spec-engine rule in Moto2. There are many changes, so do yourself a favor and take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yzagam8

More Morning Moto News - Isle of Man TT & Moto2 Test

A minister in the Isle of Man government, John Shimmin, is upset that he was mislead into splitting the TTXGP from the Isle of Man TT event. Shimmin did want the island to become a leader in zero-emissions racing, so he helped with the first TTXGP. He just cannot understand why the original deal fell apart after only one year...I bet it has to do with finances - everyone wants a part of the future!

http://tinyurl.com/yhdveg9

Shoya Tomizawa, on the Technomag-CIP Suter MMX bike, was fastest on the first day of the Moto2 test at Catalunya, Spain. Roby Rolfo managed to dislocate his shoulder in a fall, which will have him out for four weeks and he will miss the next Moto2 test at Valencia. Jules Cluzel and Yonny Hernandez were second and third on the day. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhdt9xw

More Morning Moto News - Gruppo Campari, Chris Vermeulen, Bradley Smith & Scott Redding

Gruppo Campari - owners of the Cinzano brand - has signed with Dorna to continue their sponsorship until the 2013 season. As you probably know, as you are watching MotoGP, you will often see the Cinzano billboards all over the track - this agreement is why. However, Cinzano will be replaced with new leading brand Aperol. Sponsorship is very important in racing and this is good news!

http://tinyurl.com/y8rg7rf

Chris Vermeulen has a tough task ahead of him in the World Superbike Championship; he has to bring Kawasaki back to the podium in that series. Vermeulen has had some up and down times, but he is always a racer's racer and is actually looking forward to the work he has to do in 2010. For more on the monumental season he has in front of him, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yj4upac

British racers Bradley Smith and Scott Redding are on their way to Barcelona for the World Championship practice. Redding is taking his first turn aboard his new Marc VDS Moto2 machine and Smith is returning to the 125cc machine from Bancaja Aprilia. These are the first tests of the season for those classes and it should provide some great information for riders, teams and fans alike!

http://tinyurl.com/yhr42ku

Monday Morning Moto News - Suzuki Alstare, Kenny Noyes & Broc Parkes

Alstare Suzuki has also unveiled their 2010 World Superbike livery. Riders Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli have a pair of very sweet looking Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbikes with which to tackle the World Championship. At least they will look good doing so...

http://tinyurl.com/yf7yvc2

American Kenny Noyes is the only American in the Moto2 series in 2010, but that is not a problem for the Spanish-born rider. He is riding on the Antonio Banderas Jack and Jones team, a new partnership for the Championship. His partner in crime is Joan Olive - and they are both ready to start racing!

http://tinyurl.com/yh6s9w8

After hearing that Jorge Lorenzo will be missing the next MotoGP test, and that Hayden is having surgery on his arm - but will still make the test - now we get news that in World Superbike, Australian Broc Parkes has broken his leg in a training accident. He will miss the opener in his home nation and could be out for as long as six weeks. That's not a good way to start a season...

http://tinyurl.com/yjougpz

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

And, More Morning Moto News - Scott Redding and California Superbike School

Scott Redding and his Marc VDS Racing Moto2 have scored a real coup - they now have Pete Benson as their crew chief. Apparently, Nicky Hayden's Ducati team only wanted Benson to handle suspension tuning, so he went with the better position and one which he knows very well. There is probably something behind this, but all we know now is that Redding now has a great crew chief!

http://tinyurl.com/yfjhxlx

Keith Code has increased the number of students his California Superbike School can teach again; this time it is in Chennai, India. Yes, over in the Subcontinent, they now have a world class motorcycle racing school which they can attend. It is a huge step and a very forward-thinking plan given that nation's new found ability to purchase full-sized sportbikes. This could be the beginning of an Indian invasion in the upper levels of worldwide motorcycle racing!

http://tinyurl.com/ykt3zp9

And, More Morning News - LeoVince USA, UK M/C Industry & China Eyes Mission

LeoVince USA has announced their global sponsorship program and the teams that they will support for the 2010 motorcycle racing season. The list is rather long and includes such series as MotoGP, Moto2, World Superbike and many others. For the full details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yaytcd7

If you have been reading up on your U.K. cycle news, you have probably heard that the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) is trying to get some help from the government. They would like something similar to Britain's 'cash for clunkers' program (which was similar to the US scheme) for motorcycles. Also, some environmental subsidies would be very useful to them. Given the suffering of that industry in a place like the U.K. where it is so important, I am hopeful that their government officials will find some way to assist...

http://tinyurl.com/yb67nxp

Zongshen Power Machinery, a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer, is looking towards Mission Motors in San Francisco to aid them in developing electrical engine systems. There is an agreement already signed which will have them trading tech and knowledge and may even lead to a Chinese electric motorcycle start-up. Wow, once the Chinese start building them, they will get very inexpensive everywhere. Let's just hope the quality does not suffer in the brands we already know and love.

http://tinyurl.com/ylz7gbv

Wednesday Morning Moto News - Claudio Castiglioni, MotoGP, Moto2 & 125GP

MV Agusta's president, Claudio Castiglioni, is backing a plan to raise the overall speed limit in Italy from its current setting at 130 km/h (81 mph) up to 150 km/h (93 mph). The Italian transport agency is trialing the new speed limit in some areas with an eye to making the change national. Castiglioni has stated that modern motorcycles are perfectly able to travel safely at those speeds. Maybe he will have some influence...

http://tinyurl.com/yb9bm92

The FIM has released the entry list for the 2010 125c.c. World Championship. Bradley Smith is the favorite for the title, as we all may well know. But, he has some competition from Aspar rider Nicolas Terol. For the full list and a short article on the series, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ybksf3j

Moto2 has also been presented to us by the FIM. At present, there should be 39 riders lining up for the inaugural season. Many of the newcomers - and former 250c.c. riders - have already been mentioned as this class is getting an extraordinary focus from the media. It is a new series, and no one is sure who will be the favorite, so hold on tight as the season starts very soon!

http://tinyurl.com/ydootoe

We also get the official list of MotoGP entrants - 17 riders for 2010, at least full-time. There will be a few other teams which will only contest some rounds this year, but the rider group competing for the championship is only 17 bikes total. Have a look...as if you don't already know.

http://tinyurl.com/yke3zjm

Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Toseland, Pedrosa, Aoyama and Simoncelli

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

More Morning Moto News - Julian Simon, WSBK & Burgess

After a great deal of negotiating and work, it seems that the Aspar Moto2 team will be using a RSV chassis after all. Julian Simon has tested many Moto2 machines and he, and his team, like the RSV frame with the 600c.c. Honda engine. They were going to use an Aprilia frame, but Aprilia cancelled their Moto2 project and left the team hanging. Now they are back at it and happy with what they have.

http://tinyurl.com/yhhsmcx

And, there are more post-practice reports from the World Superbike test at Portimao in Portugal over the weekend. If you want to know more about the behind-the-scenes and get some info which may not have popped up in the simple timesheets posted, this is the time to do so. Their next test will be at Phillip Island where the 2010 season starts.

http://tinyurl.com/ygs4pqt

http://tinyurl.com/yzqrvj7

http://tinyurl.com/ye6qsou

Jeremy Burgess has nothing but good things to say about the Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike. He really believes that when all of the statistics are written and people look back on the M1, it will go down as one of the best race bikes on the planet. Well, with as many championships as Rossi has brought for the factory, I doubt anyone will disagree.

http://tinyurl.com/yg85bh7

And, More Morning News - Fiat Yamaha, Moto2 & Motohansa

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

Late Morning Moto News - Gary McCoy, ASBK & Broc Parkes

Gary McCoy was shafted by his World Supersport team, Triumph ParkinGO BE1 Racing. So, he is hoping to gain a ride in the Moto2 series. He has some interest from a builder, but nothing has been decided yet. Given his ability to put a bike on track and fight for a win, McCoy deserves to get a seat with some team and soon!

http://tinyurl.com/yd9vunj

He was stunned at being dumped: http://tinyurl.com/yezsjex

The Australian Superbike Championship - Motorcycling Australia - has announced practice days at Phillip Island. They will be 28 - 29 January 2010. For the details, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ybjzewv

Broc Parkes has made his debut on the Honda CBR1000RR with the Italian Echo-CRS Honda team. He will be competing in the 2010 World Superbike Championship, so his practice time on the new machine is critical. It turns out that he had a good test and all went well. This will be the first season in WSBK for the team, but not the rider...

http://tinyurl.com/yd4684q