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

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

Monday Moto News - Scott Redding, MotoGP and Reitwagen BMW

Scott Redding has now confirmed the deal with Marc VDS Racing for the 2010 Moto2 World Championship season. He is very excited, as you might suspect, and is looking forward to the development of the new machine - and the racing which will follow. Redding is hugely skilled and will certainly be running near the front if he has good machinery. His partner on the team is Belgian rider Vincent Lonbois.

http://tinyurl.com/ykvx4we

How about a quick rundown of where every rider will be in the MotoGP paddock for 2010. There were some serious changes there which could have confused even baseball statisticians. Do yourself a favor and take the link for a short read and update.

http://tinyurl.com/yla82sx

Australian rider Andrew Pitt and his teammate, Roland Resch, were in Australia at the Eastern Creek circuit riding the BMW S1000RR in preparation for the 2010 World Superbike Championship. Their team, Reitwagen BMW, also had famed tuner Peter Goddard to help with bike setup. The team will be competing on one of the most powerful machines in the WSBK paddock, so expect some very interesting results.

http://tinyurl.com/ygdomga

Monday Morning Moto News - Back to Work Edition, Part 2

Had to have a part two...unfortunately. The host of this blog only allows so many tags and I keep exceeding that number so I have to start a new post. Here we go, more 2010 moto news...

It looks like youngster Scott Redding may be close to inking a Moto2 deal for 2010. He may be riding for the new Belgian Moto2 team (Marc VDS Racing) led by former factory Kawasaki boss Michael Bartholemy. There is not a confirmation as of yet, but it is known that the two have been in talks since December.

http://tinyurl.com/yel8pps

More about the MCN Motorcycle Show coming up during 4 - 7 January 2010 at the ExCel London. You could win a wearable camera, the X170 Action Camera, which will debut at the event. Check it out!

http://tinyurl.com/yc8zmvu

Out in Sacramento, California, the California Automobile Museum (2200 Front St.) will have a show entitled "Born to Ride" which will feature several significant motorcycles from last century. Included will be an H-D once owned by Steve McQueen and the very rare 1942 Crocker. If you can get there, please do!

http://tinyurl.com/y8f4vgf

Michael Bartholemy - ex-Kawasaki MotoGP Team Boss - Enters Moto2

Michael Bartholemy has joined with the Marc VDS Racing Team, who also run in auto races, to bring two riders into the all-new Moto2 World Championship. His time with Kawasaki has prepared him for the hardships of being behind other teams (unfortunately) and he will be well-suited to this endeavor. They will announce their riders very soon. Also, Didier de Radigues will be on the team - he was a runner-up in the 1982 350c.c. world championship.

http://tinyurl.com/yh84w4x

http://tinyurl.com/y95fvzj