Stoner Wins Another One - 2011 MotoGP Champion

OK, so I do like to say, "...told you so." And, I do it often. I guess that means that one more time won't be adding too much fuel to any fire of hatred anyone has for me...

Casey Stoner is the FIM MotoGP World Champion once again! On board the mighty Honda RC212V, he fought the best on the surface of this planet and beat all comers to the title. Vale, though, is not doing so well this season. It turns out that the Ducati is a bit more of a handful than many thought. I wonder how things would be different if Hayden were to jump into another factory's machinery; Yamaha, or Suzuki anyone?

http://tinyurl.com/3b3d476

P.S. Congratulations Honda, too. After all, the engineers there built the bike.

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

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

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

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

MotoGP Evolution of a Species from Duke Video

A lovely and well-made (as we have come to expect from recent Duke Video releases) documentary focusing on the development of the current four-stroke MotoGP race bike. The video covers 2002 through 2009. It shows how these prototype motorcycles were first developed and the influence of electronics on them and the riders who race them. There is much more contained within. The DVD has been officially released today at £19.56 and can be found at your local video store (most likely in England only) or online.

http://tinyurl.com/ydtspzz

(The entry on the other side of the link has many factual and spelling errors.)

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

Vermeulen Stoked for Phillip Island MotoGP Round

Chris Vermeulen may be leaving MotoGP for the World Superbike paddock, he is more than ready to perform at the Phillip Island in front of his home crowd. He has not been doing so well this year - only one top-10 finish in the 2009 season - but he has a good record at his home track; he landed on the podium in 2006 for the first time in taking second. For this coming weekend, make sure you keep your eye on Vermeulen's Suzuki!

http://tinyurl.com/yhznzwr

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

Bautista Taking 'Big Risk' Switching to Suzuki MotoGP Team in 2010

Alvaro Bautista will be leaving his Aprilia 250 for the Suzuki GSV-R of the factory MotoGP team. He understands that he is taking a risk by mounting himself on hardware which is usually classified as 'below par' in the premier class. However, Suzuki has made some solid improvements on their MotoGP racer and I think that Bautista will help them gain even more on the competition.

http://tinyurl.com/mhcmpd