More Morning Moto News - XDL Championships, FB Corse & Colin Edwards

The XDL Championship Series was also running an event at Daytona Bike Week in Florida this week. The event went well even if the weather was not cooperating. They have even expanded the women's series of the Championship and put them right up there with the males in the sport. Another change was to the format - allowing two runs versus one in previous years. So, who won - well, none other than reigning champion Yamaha-mounted Bill Dixon. Dena Sodano took the win on the women's side.

http://tinyurl.com/y9stg73

The FB Corse MotoGP team will begin testing in a few weeks - in mid-March - with Gary McCoy. They will be at the Valencia circuit from 15 - 17 March. It has to show that it is competitive against the current MotoGP machines before it will be allowed to race alongside them. They had better get this test right...or, they will be in for a long fight to get into the Championship.

http://tinyurl.com/ydyt2c3

http://tinyurl.com/yf7h3tr

Colin Edwards is very happy with the current state of the Yamaha YZR-M1 machine. He believes that Yamaha is doing a good job of developing the machine to be competitive in the MotoGP series. They seem to have done him right for a change...the season will tell us more.

http://tinyurl.com/ye6vas3

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

More Morning Moto News - Moto2 @ Valencia, Steve Parrish & Road Racerhead

Some of the Moto2 teams were also out at Velncia doing some testing. Tech 3 was there with both riders, but left early due to the terrible weather. The Tech 3 team just cannot seem to get time on a track without some inclement weather interrupting them. Both Yuki Takahashi and Raffaele de Rosa had time on the circuit. Even Herve Poncharal thinks they may be cursed...

http://tinyurl.com/yc93xcc

Steve Parrish was at an event centered around the new Capcom MotoGP 09/10 video game. So, one enterprising press attendee took some time to interview the well-known motorcycle personality. Parrish is a fixture in worldwide motorcycle racing - as if you do not already know that. He is an interesting person as well, so take some time and read this interview.

http://tinyurl.com/y9ebm2m

Over at Road Racer X, their Road Racerhead column is in the midst of wondering if the old days of Carl Fogarty will return for Great Britain - a time when English riders start winning WSBK and even dominating the sport as they once did. Well, there is a chance now considering how many riders from the U.K. are competing in the WSBK paddock in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yzc9hdb

More Morning Moto News - WSBK, UAE Sportbike & Ben Townley

The Valencia testing of some World Superbike teams is now moving along just fine. In fact, Carlos Checa managed to get his Althea Ducati to the top of the lap charts. Aprilia, BMW and Ducati are there testing, with factory Ducati finishing up on Thursday, and the privateer Althea team still at the track. Aprilia left early dues to the weather earlier in the week and BMW was at the bottom of the timesheet.

http://tinyurl.com/yhrydmx

Now, just a bit south and east of the WSBK racers we have the UAE Sportbike Championship. On Friday, all the motorcycle racing was held. In the premier class, Aprilia-mounted Arushen Moodley took both victories available to him. In the 600c.c. class, Yamaha man Jussi Hoikka took a hard-fought victory. For the rest, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhx9zy3

New Zealand native Ben Townley will be joining the European MX1 Championship for three rounds as he has now recovered from his 2008 injury. He already won the New Zealand Championship title and will return to US competition after his stint in Europe.

http://tinyurl.com/ybaja8m

Thursday Morning Moto News - Erik Buell & WSBK Valencia Testing

An exclusive interview with Buell man Erik comes to us via MotorcycleUSA, and it is rather long. If there are any burning questions you have about Buell's demise or the reasoning behind the whole thing, you might find an answer or two here. Otherwise, Buell is as much in the dark as the rest of us - only H-D knows some of the answers, and they won't talk about it until people start retiring.

http://tinyurl.com/yz3bmfr

At the second testing session for which the Aprilia World Superbike team has traveled to Valencia, a heavy downpour has caused them to stop their testing. They have nearly lost a full day's worth of information due to the unexpected storm. It looks like they will only have the Phillip Island test to finalize settings for Camier and Biaggi.

http://tinyurl.com/ylqtnbz

It wasn't only Aprilia's team having a hard time, we also see that the BMW WSBK team was 'washed out' of practice due to the heavy rain.

http://tinyurl.com/yz3jphe

More Morning Moto News - RSV-4 Recall, WSBK and Leon Camier

The Aprilia RSV-4 Factory is being recalled on a global basis - we already heard about the Australian and the US recall, now we get one from Great Britain. It appears that the total number of machines which this recall concerns is right around 300 bikes. Only 30 are being pulled from the U.K., and the rest are elsewhere in the world. It all goes back to that conrod failure at the RSV-4R intro. Aprilia is usually rock-solid for reliability, so this is an odd start of a new model for them...

http://tinyurl.com/ye39qrh

Over in the World Superbike paddock, there are some teams which had planned on taking another practice at Valencia after the Portimao official test. Well, the weather seems to be working against them. So far, only two riders - Haga and Fabrizio - have even ventured onto the track.

http://tinyurl.com/ydcps8a

Leon Camier is rather sure that he has a good handle on his Aprilia WSBK machine, even though he ended the Portimao test in 12th position. He says that it does not look good on paper, but that his team is making good progress. He also stated that his low lap times could be attributed to the fact that he was not after fast laps, not yet.

http://tinyurl.com/ybxfa5n

From Day Two of Valencia Test - WSBK and Moto2

First off we hear that Biaggi managed to lead the second day of testing on the Spanish track while riding his WSBK Aprilia RSV-4. It's not like that is much of a surprise, actually. Following him were Haslam - Suzuki Alstare and Crutchlow - Sterilgarda Yamaha. As more comes in, I will update this post.

http://tinyurl.com/ydswu4m

http://tinyurl.com/y8c57u3

Here is more; ADV's AT02 Moto2 motrocycle was also tested at the event and it did rather well. Rider Alessandro Brannetti enjoyed his time aboard it and had no issues.

http://tinyurl.com/ybddnzj

Julian Simon, Mike di Meglio and Gabor Talmasci also tested the FTR Moto2 bike. This bike is one produced in England which will see work in the Moto2 series in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yesbrhx

Leon Haslam Fastest at Valencia Testing - Wrap-Up of Event

Haslam managed to pull his Alstare Suzuki around the Valencia track faster than anyone else testing there. Of course, this is only testing and not everyone there was working for outright lap times - there is plenty to do on the new machines that does not include watching the clock...First debrief linked below:

http://tinyurl.com/yhjlntk

Jakub Smrz To Test Aprilia in Valencia

This week, Smrz will take his first testing ride on the Aprilia RSV-4 at the Valencia circuit this week. He will be joined by several other WSBK regulars and some newcomers and returnees at this test. Smrz is in his first season with his new team - which switched from Ducati to Aprilia after the 2009 season ended - and he is ready to make an impression.

http://tinyurl.com/yc2a3pd

World Superbike (and Moto2) Testing at Valencia This Week

Starting on Wednesday, riders from World Superbike, World Supersport and Moto2 will descend on the Valencia track for some testing in preparation for 2010. So far, it seems that only Honda, Suzuki, Aprilia and Yamaha will be present with their WSBK riders.

http://tinyurl.com/ygnhols

Even more news on the testing at Valencia: http://tinyurl.com/yeac47z

Testing in progress: http://tinyurl.com/ye24ddj

James Toseland had a bad moment - he crashed his R1 while testing - but he has recovered and is continuing to test: http://tinyurl.com/ye22627

In the end, Crutchlow and Toseland had a good test: http://tinyurl.com/yfmw7qr

Dakota Mamola Takes His First Win at Valencia Finale

Randy Mamola's son, Dakota, won his first race at the final round of the Metrakit 125cc Pre-GP Mediterranean Championship in Valencia. It was a rain-affected race, and the conditions were terrible. The young Mamola started the race in 17th position on the grid, but managed to get to fifth by the first corner. He passed the rest of the field to gain his second podium (his other was at Catalunya) and his first ever win. His father is very proud, as you would expect.

http://tinyurl.com/ydkq6vr

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

Want to Ride Some Top MotoGP Circuits? You Can!

Focus Events has arranged it so that anyone who signs up can ride at either Le Mans or Valencia. Valencia - actually the Circuit Ricardo Tormo - has not had any such events for the public in over seven years. Focus can get you there during 19 - 21 April 2010 for only £675. If Le Mans is more your style, 18 - 19 August 2009 are your dates. To take advantage of this rare chance to ride in the tire tracks of your favorite MotoGP racer, take the link below and get in touch with Focus Events!

http://tinyurl.com/y89gmxk

P.S. Mostly for United Kingdom residents

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

Colin Edwards Misses Valencia Testing Due to Illness

Edwards was able to test on Monday, but on Tuesday morning he woke up with a serious virus. He at first thought it was food poisoning, but Clinica Mobile determined it was a virus - no further details have been disclosed. Not the best way to end the season, but at least he did not encounter it before the race last Sunday!

http://tinyurl.com/yh9wedu

MotoGP Rookies Get Extra Testing Time - Some of Them

Alvaro Bautista will be testing with the Suzuki MotoGP team in Estoril next week. It is not known how this came about except that Suzuki rented the track for three days next week and has invited other rookies to take part as well. However, an new official rookie test will be held in Malaysia at Sepang during 21 - 23 December 2009. Interesting...

http://tinyurl.com/yhgqac2

MotoGP Testing Continues in Valencia - Spies Fourth Fastest

Ben Spies isn't waiting for an invitation to go fast - he is already fourth fastest in the 2010 paddock. Of course, it is only a test and not everyone is there, but it still shows how good he actually is on a motorcycle. In other interesting news, Lorenzo ended the testing in first place - two positions ahead of third-place Rossi. Stoner was right in between them on the list. For the rest of the data, take the link...

http://tinyurl.com/yfm3jh7

Tuesday testing reports from each team attending: http://tinyurl.com/yz8elyp

Alvaro Bautista Racks up 52 Laps at Valencia Test

Bautista was a workhorse at the Valencia post-season test. He rode the tires off of the GSV-R. He managed some impressive lap times on board the Suzuki machine. OK, it wasn't Stoner territory, but for his first ride on the 800c.c. MotoGP bike, it wasn't bad either. He will be a real force - maybe the rider that Suzuki needs? I miss Vermeulen...but I do not hate Bautista because of it.

http://tinyurl.com/ydp66o9

Hiroshi Aoyama Rides the Honda RC212V at Valencia

So, we all know that MotoGP teams have been testing at Valencia since Monday. But, what we could use to know is how Aoyama is doing with the RC212V - well, we may know some of that as well since he does like the machine and "thoroughly enjoyed the experience." He was recruited by Daniel Epp to ride the Honda for the new Interwetten MotoGP team in 2010. He actually rode the Honda bare - no electronic aids - and still managed to turn in good times for his first ride on the machine.

http://tinyurl.com/yklwt2b