Road Racer X's Speed Dating & Morais Filling In for Parkes

For this week of March we have a number of important dates in the weekly Road Racer X Speed Dating column. Celebrating birthdays this week are Danny Webb, Andrea Dovizioso, Roberto Rolfo, Al Ludington, Steve McQueen, Keiichi Kitagawa, Raffaele De Rosa, Harald Eckl, Chris Walker, Burt Munro, Sebastien Charpentier, Toni Elias, Christian Sarron, Bill Bagnall, and Katsuaki Fujuwara. Unfortunately, it is also the anniversary of the death of Mike Hailwood...Please take the link to learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/yfh76yc

In the World Superbike Championship series, Echo CRS Honda rider Broc Parkes sustained a broken leg in a preseason training injury and had to give up his seat to Josh Brookes at Phillip Island. For the Portimao round (and, quite possibly for Valencia as well), the faster Sheridan Morais will be substituting for Parkes on the Honda. Morais has been able to out-ride Parkes before, so this may be the beginning of something or just a quick trip to the majors for Morais...

http://tinyurl.com/yh6pmnt

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

Monday Morning Moto News - Phillip Island, John Hopkins and Gresini

Down Under in Australia, Motorcycling Australia is looking for corner workers for the 2010 World Superbike Championship round at Phillip Island. It is the opener for the season and will take place from 26 through 28 February 2010. You will need your own transport to the track, but everything else is provided - though, you must camp at the event or pay for your own lodging. See the link for more.

http://tinyurl.com/ycnvdr3

FB Corse, who expect to compete in select MotoGP events in 2010 on their way to a full season, says that John Hopkins is still their rider no matter what the news reports have suggested. Apparently, FB Corse has said that they allowed the M4 Suzuki test in order to keep Hopper sharp. They have stated that he will be riding their three-cylinder MotoGP machine in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yeenonb

Gresini has announced their rider line-up for the 2010 Moto2 World Championship. They will field Toni Elias and a Russian rookie named Vladimir Ivanov. Elias was not expecting to end up here, but he will give it his best and hope to get back to MotoGP. Elias should be a good mentor for the newbie rider Ivanov due to his huge amount of experience. It should be a good team.

http://tinyurl.com/y8ugwpu

Toni Elias Will Know His Future Next Week - Potential Moto2 Ride

Elias has been in and out of the news recently. Most of that is based on the possibility that he will return to the MotoGP paddock as a Moto2 rider. Well, now we hear that next week they may finalize an agreement which will see him on any number of teams - but, Fausto Gresini seems to be the one he is waiting for...

http://tinyurl.com/ycoc9xo

Elias May Still Have a Future in the MotoGP Class

Rumors have him riding a Moto2 bike next season, but Elias says that he is not there yet. He may, in fact, get a ride with the Scot Honda team. The Phillip Island finishing order may help determine where he rides in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/ygteqld

Update on World Superbike Championship Team Riders

As you have seen, the rider and team connections are changing up for 2010 World Superbike Championship. Many riders will be switching teams and some will be moving elsewhere. Ben Spies is moving to MotoGP, Max Neukirchner will be riding for Ten Kate Honda...but, many are still awaiting new deals, including Carlos Checa, Toni Elias and others. This article lists Leon Camier and Shane Byrne as being without a ride, but we are now rather sure that they will be with a factory Aprilia WSBK team in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yl4ws7b

http://tinyurl.com/ygsh2pf

Official on Neukirchner: http://tinyurl.com/yjjekvx

San Carlo Gresini Racing is Doing Well in 2009, Can it Continue at Phillip Island

Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis have had some differing fortunes recently; Elias has been improving most of the year and is sitting in 7th place in MotoGP Championship points. De Angelis, though, has had two DNFs in the last two races, yet he did score points in every race up to Misano. Both riders are competitive at Phillip Island, at least their past would indicate this. So, again, we are in for good racing!

http://tinyurl.com/yldmxql

Tony Elias and Gresini Honda Return to Portugal

Elias won the Portuguese Grand Prix back in 2006 - it was hist first win in the premier class and the last time a satellite team won a MotoGP race. With only one podium so far this season, Elias is looking to change this on a track with which he is incredibly familiar and comfortable...

http://tinyurl.com/y8jspa5

Gresini Honda also Near Home at Misano

Most of the crew of the Gresini MotoGP team are from the area around Rimini. Plus, rider Alex De Angelis is from the town next to the track.

http://tinyurl.com/lgfnqm

Of course, De Angelis is not happy about being let go from the Gresini team next year. He is fully supported in his argument by me - just look at his performance this year and remember that he is on a satellite ride!

http://tinyurl.com/lynqos

Friday Pre-Race Press Conference at Indianapolis MotoGP

It's Friday! And, it is time for the pre-race interviews at the Indianapolis track before the MotoGP weekend starts - actually, conducted yesterday. Read up on Rossi, Hayden, Edwards, Pedrosa and Elias...

http://tinyurl.com/ncto8b

Elias and de Angelis are Both Looking Forward to Indy

San Carlo Honda Gresini team is on a high after Toni Elias scored a podium at Brno, and de Angelis has been improving steadily throughout the season. They should both do well at Indy.

http://tinyurl.com/m3ul9m

MotoGP Riders' Circus Summary to Date

Have a look at a nice piece on the confusing world of 'who will ride where' in MotoGP.

http://tinyurl.com/luwt7s

More MotoGP Rider Moves? Elias Talking with Suzuki

If you kept looking at all of the information around the Internet, you might think that next year's MotoGP team line-up will change drastically (again!). Melandri in talks with Gresini; Marco Simoncelli signing with Gresini for next year, Hayden leaving Ducati (not true, according to sources), etc.

Well, this is just another one of those blurbs...but with solid sources:

http://tinyurl.com/ludnvn