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

Bradley Smith Signs with Aspar Aprilia for 2010

Smith is on pace to become a British World Champion - the first since Barry Sheene in 1977. He finished second in the 125c.c. World Championship to teammate Julian Simon in 2009. It is not much of a stretch to see him taking the crown in 2010. He will join Nico Terol on the Aprilia next season as Simon is moving up to Moto2 next season. Good luck Smith!

http://tinyurl.com/yeskumy

MotoGP: 2009 Valencia 125GP Results

Well, the 2009 champion, Julian Simon, took victory in front of his home crowd today at Valencia. His teammate - and up and coming racer - Bradley Smith pulled in just two-tenths of a second behind Simon, with Pol Espargaro rounding out the podium. We have certainly seen where the sport may go next year with the late charges of Smith and Espargaro - you won't want to miss 2010!

http://tinyurl.com/yhmxege

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Britain Danny Webb just can't catch break - or can he? He further damaged his feet during practice at Valencia and could not take part in the race today: http://tinyurl.com/yg2486f

Valencia MotoGP: 125GP World Championship Qualifying

The champ is leading the way at the final 2009 125c.c. World Championship race at Valencia, Spain. It is appropriate as Simon is a Spaniard and will probably be the crowd favorite in the race tomorrow - of course, he isn't the only Spanish rider, but he is at the top of his game, seemingly. Who knows, in just a few years we could see him on a MotoGP bike. It would not be unheard of. Following Simon on the grid are Simone Corsi and Bradley Smith.

http://tinyurl.com/ykfmcjr

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Simon Fastest in Friday 125GP Practice at Valencia

The champion is still on the pace at this weekend's races. Julian Simon may add even more points to his total this weekend - though, they are virtually meaningless since he already has the crown this year. If he does win, it will be the first victory on home soil for the Spaniard. The real surprise, though, is German wild-card entry Marcel Schrotter as he was fastest for much of the practice session and finished in third on Friday...very nice!

http://tinyurl.com/yb8ccx8

Danny Webb Has Signed with Aprilia for 2010 125 World Championship

Webb will ride in the seat once occupied by Nicolas Terol (who will join Aspar Aprilia in 2010) on the Jack & Jones Aprilia team in the 2010 125c.c. World Championship series. He had a problem getting sponsorship money, but that seems to have gone away as they just announced the deal.

http://tinyurl.com/yemktty

Bradley Smith Wants to Win at Valencia World Championship Round

Of course he does, doesn't everyone who races? Smith has had an awesome second half to his season which has seen him climb into second place in the 125c.c. World Championship after 5 consecutive podium finishes. He nearly won the last race in Malaysia and came close at Phillip Island. If the 18 year old can take victory at Valencia, he is guaranteed a ride with just about anyone, though he will probably stay at Aspar Aprilia for 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yjk9qtc

Bradley Smith Close to Signing with Aspar Aprilia for 2010

It is not finalised yet, but sources say that Bradley Smith is close to signing with the Aspar Aprilia 125 World Championship team. He had wanted to go into the Moto2 series, but the team already has a full dance card for that series with Julian Simon, new 125GP Champion, and Mike di Meglio. Gresini approached Smith for the Moto2 class, but that team has yet to get their budget settled.

http://tinyurl.com/yhve2u5

MotoGP Results: 125 World Championship at Sepang in Malaysia

The 125c.c. Champion has already been crowned, and it is the Aspar Aprilia Ace Julian Simon. He showed just how much he deserves the honor by winning his race at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix today. He fought an almost race-long battle with his teammate Bradley Smith. Pol Espargaro rounded out the podium...

http://tinyurl.com/ygqsszf

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Overall standings after Sepang: http://tinyurl.com/yjot8h2

MotoGP: Malaysian Grand Prix 125 World Championship Qualifying

Marc Marquez managed to take pole position for the second time this season at the Sepang International Circuit. He was followed by Julian Simon and Bradley Smith, who will sit second and third on the grid, respectively. Smith has a broken right foot, which he sustained at the end of the qualifying session, but will ride in the race anyway; after qualifying third, he feels he can have a great race, so why not?

http://tinyurl.com/yf7p9fg

http://tinyurl.com/yl4srbs

Malaysian MotoGP Round 125 First Pratice Results

Britain's Bradley Smith took the first position in today's practice - he was fast right off the start. He managed to get passed Marc Marquez on the KTM and Julian Simon, Smith's teammate at Aspar Aprilia, who took third position. The heat in Malaysia is incredible this weekend, so that may contribute to an odd race weekend...get ready and watch!

http://tinyurl.com/yfllxdh

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Julian Simon Takes 125cc Pole Position at Estoril Portuguese Grand Prix

He was on fire, or so the reports say. In either case, Simon will have a great chance to clench his title this weekend. Yet another reason to watch this weekend!

http://tinyurl.com/ya65nhz

Final qualifying list: http://tinyurl.com/yerfttt

Interview With Jorge Martinez 'Aspar'

This interview was provided by the Aspar team, but it is rather informative. As you probably know, he will be entering the MotoGP class with a satellite Ducati in 2010 and Hector Barbera. He will continue to run a 125c.c. and Moto2 team as well. Should be interesting in 2010!

http://tinyurl.com/ye3r54a

Simon Clenches Closest Pole of Season for 125's

The 125c.c. qualifying at Indy was the closest session of the season so far. Julian Simon, of Bancaja Aspar Aprilia, pulled out the pole by .6 of a second.

http://tinyurl.com/lpgzbg