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Rossi ‘happy’ as ‘09 faster.

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:51:00 +0000

MotoGP » Rossi ‘happy’ as ‘09 faster.

Wednesday, 26th November 2008

Valentino Rossi second fastest on opening day of Jerez MotoGP test.

Valentino Rossi finished the first day of the second post-season test of 2008 by setting the second fastest lap time, behind Dani Pedrosa, at Jerez – but was most pleased to have set that lap on a prototype version of the 2009 YZR-M1.

Jerez marks the last opportunity to gather MotoGP track data before the first test of 2009, at Sepang in February, and Rossi is eager to make provide Yamaha with as much guidance as possible.

Clear skies and a cold wind meant track temperatures were very cool in the morning and Rossi chose to wait until 1.30pm, when the newly-resurfaced track had warmed up slightly, to begin.

The six time world champion went on to complete 20 laps on a 2008-spec bike and 20 on the new 2009 prototype M1, on which he set a fastest lap 0.610sec behind Pedrosa.

“I am happy about this first day because my performance has been good from the beginning and I have been fast all day,” declared The Doctor. “Unfortunately it’s been quite cold and there was only three hours when it was possible to go fast, but we were able to get quite a lot of work done in this short space of time.

“We have tried some different things on the old 2008 bike and we were able to make some improvements and then we also tested several new things on the prototype bike, and I am happy because I did my fastest lap with this bike.”

As per the new single-tyre rule there are just two front and two rear specifications available for the test, with the riders supplied with two tyres of each specification, making eight in total.

“Bridgestone have brought good tyres here; so far I don’t see any problems with the new rule and it seems they’re doing a good job,” confirmed Rossi. “They have resurfaced the track and it has made a big difference; they have got rid of all the bumps and like this it’s great fun to ride around.

Source: crash.net

MotoGP » Rossi’s 69th makes Indy, MotoGP history.

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:11:00 +0000

source : www.road-d.com

Monday, 15th September 2008

Valentino Rossi wins first Indy MotoGP race, sets new all-time win record and stands on brink of eighth world title… despite a hurricane!

Valentino Rossi broke Giacomo Agostini’s all-time premier-class win record by claiming his 69th MotoGP victory during atrocious weather conditions at the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix on Sunday.

The remnants of Hurricane Ike had been battering the circuit since lunch time, when heavy rain and winds hit the Indiana venue, forcing Race Direction to postpone the preceding 250 race.

However, a break in the storm allowed the MotoGP race to start at its allotted time, albeit on a soaking wet track, and it didn’t take long for the torrential rain and gusting winds to return.

Rossi dropped from pole to fourth at the start of the planned 28 laps, then surrendered another place to Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. Thereafter, Rossi found his rhythm and made his way back past reigning world champion Casey Stoner, Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso to sit second behind home hero Nicky Hayden by lap six.

Passing Hayden was no mean feat and it took Rossi eight laps to finally overtake the late-braking American, whose Repsol Honda seemed to have the edge on Rossi’s M1 along the straights.

“It was an amazing race and a great battle with Nicky,” said Rossi. “I always enjoy racing with Nicky and it was like three, four years ago when we did a lot of great battles.

“Nicky grew up very close to me because his first year [in MotoGP] was as my team-mate at Honda. I remember him coming first time from the US, and he was very desperate. I say Nicky, Nicky, quiet, quiet!” smiled Rossi. “It is a bit different here compared to US. But he is always strong and hard to overtake because he is very strong in braking.

“So we stayed together very close for many laps. Nicky is very wide, very aggressive but also very clean. So I enjoyed the fight. Then, when I got in front of him, I was a bit faster.”

But Hurricane Ike wasn’t finished with Indianapolis and on lap 16 of 28 it started to rain heavily once again, accompanied by strong gusts of wind which made riding perilous – even for a seven time world champion.

MotoGP » Rossi wants seven ‘Laguna Secas’.

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:55:00 +0000

Tuesday, 12th August 2008

Valentino Rossi heads to Czech Republic still buzzing from his US GP victory, but expects tough Brno battle.

Despite knocking the wind out of Casey Stoner’s title charge during a thrilling Laguna Seca duel, Valentino Rossi knows he faces some of the toughest battles of his illustrious career to contain the ‘formidable’ young Australian during the final seven rounds of the 2008 season.

Having won the three races leading up to Laguna Seca Stoner, who believes he and Ducati are much stronger during the second half of the season, will now return from the summer break 25 points behind Rossi after finishing runner-up to the Italian in the USA.

But Stoner scored a mighty 146 points during the final seven rounds of last season, on his way to world championship glory, while Rossi managed just 64 points as he slipped to third in the standings.

The only difference in terms of circuits, between this year and last, is that Portugal was among the final seven last year, but was moved earlier in the 2008 calendar to make way for the new Indianapolis round.

“Last year, at most of these final circuits, we weren’t able to fight at the top but we are working hard now to be able to provide Valentino with the most competitive package to allow him to race at the front, as he has for the majority of this year’s races,” said Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio.

“Every race from now on will be very important and Brno could be one of the most difficult for us against our competitors,” he warned.

Stoner won at Brno last season, when Rossi limped home in seventh, but the battle should be much closer in 2008 – with both riders now on Bridgestone tyres and Rossi’s M1 considered the best all-round package on the MotoGP grid.

“Last year we had a bad time at Brno; I could only finish seventh and it was quite disheartening,” admitted Rossi. “This year, however, we’re going there in a very different frame of mind: leading the championship, following a great win and with our bike and tyres working very well. I’ve had a good summer break, just relaxing with my friends and family, but now I am really looking forward to going racing again.”

source : crash.net

MotoGP » Lorenzo set for latest comeback.

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:52:00 +0000

Tuesday, 12th August 2008

Race-winning MotoGP rookie Jorge Lorenzo prepares for his latest injury return.

Race-winning MotoGP rookie Jorge Lorenzo will make his latest return from injury at this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Lorenzo underwent arm surgery immediately after his stunning debut MotoGP victory at Estoril, only to break his ankles next time out in China.

Further falls at Le Mans, Mugello and Barcelona climaxed in the Spaniard missing his second home race due to concussion, with attempts to carefully rebuild his battered confidence then shattered by a huge first lap highside – which left him with three broken metatarsals in his left foot – at Laguna Seca. Intense physiotherapy during the summer break has at least offered Lorenzo the chance to reach ‘near full fitness’ for this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno, a circuit where he has taken 250cc victory from pole position for the last two seasons, in addition to a 125cc win back in 2004.

“I am going to Brno with a high hopes and above all trying not to think about the disappointment of Laguna Seca; it’s behind me now,” said the reigning double 250cc world champion. “In the USA I was fast once again and I hope that I can carry on like this in the Czech Republic. I know that I can.

“Brno is a circuit that I like a lot, it’s one of my favourites. I’ve won there three times in 125cc and 250cc. It’s a good place for my riding style and the weather is normally perfect. Physically I feel very good after the crash and the injuries, I definitely feel as good as could be expected.

“It’s the first time this season that I’ve really had proper time to recover, thanks to the holidays, so I think I am in good shape. At the moment I am still using my crutches to walk but I have been able to do some training and I know that I won’t have a problem when I arrive in Brno on Thursday,” he insisted.

For Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha team manager Daniele Romagnoli, this weekend will be all about continuing the process of rebuilding Lorenzo’s confidence in his Michelin-shod YZR-M1.

MotoGP » Sachsenring – Race results.

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:25:00 +0000

Sunday, 13th July 2008

Full race results from the German Grand Prix at a wet Sachsenring, round ten of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship.

Dani Pedrosa crashed out on lap five, while holding a seven second lead.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 47min 30.057 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 47min 33.765 secs
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 47min 44.059 secs
4. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 47min 44.181 secs
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 48min 12.079 secs
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 48min 16.705 secs
7. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 48min 34.540 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 48min 34.645 secs
9. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 48min 46.830 secs
10. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 48min 59.332 secs
11. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 47min 41.757 secs
12. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 47min 43.954 secs
13. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 48min 13.749 secs

DNF:
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 8min 5.615 secs
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 3min 23.795 secs
Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 14min 50.161 secs
Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 32min 10.373 secs

MotoGP » Pedrosa to miss US GP?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:24:00 +0000

Monday, 14th July 2008

Dani Pedrosa injures hand and ankle after crashing out of German Grand Prix lead.

Dani Pedrosa’s Sachsenring accident, which cost him the race and world championship lead, may also rule the Spaniard out of next weekend’s US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Pedrosa had shocked the paddock by rocketing to a 7.4secs leads after just five laps around the soaking Sachsenring circuit, but then fell at high speed as he braked for turn one.

“It was a little strange. I had only just touched the brake and I crashed,” confirmed Pedrosa after his first DNF of the season. “It was a real pity because I’d got a great start and was going well. I had a good feeling. The front felt perfect, the rear was sliding just a little, but the general feeling was good considering the track conditions. It is a real pity.”

“Dani was showing very good performance at the start of the race, he had a good feeling for the conditions but he was unlucky. It was a fast crash,” added team manager Kazuhiko Yamano.

After falling, the Spaniard slid into the run-off area, rolled through the gravel trap, then came to a halt against the air fence. Pedrosa fractured the top bone of his left index finger in the incident and also has a suspected fracture of his right ankle.

Pedrosa is due to fly to Barcelona to see his surgeon Xavier Mir in advance of next weekend’s US GP and the Clinica Mobile – which treated Pedrosa at the circuit – believes that ‘in consideration of the serious injuries suffered’ surgery on Pedrosa’s left hand is ‘likely’.

But if surgery does take place, the Clinica Mobile added that Pedrosa ‘will not be able to take part in the next GP at Laguna Seca, and we can expect his return at the Czech Republic Grand Prix [on August 17] after the summer break’.

Pedrosa had led the MotoGP World Championship by four points over Valentino Rossi heading into the German GP, round ten of 18.

MotoGP » Assen – Race results.

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:14:00 +0000

Saturday, 28th June 2008

Full race results from the Dutch TT at Assen, round nine of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship.

Valentino Rossi fell on the first lap and rejoined in last. Nicky Hayden ran out of fuel on the exit of the final turn, handing third to Colin Edwards.

Dani Pedrosa now leads the world championship standings by four points from Rossi, with Stoner 29 points behind Pedrosa…

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 42min 12.337 secs
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 42min 23.647 secs
3. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 42min 29.462 secs
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 42min 32.814 secs
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 42min 39.683 secs
6. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 42min 40.945 secs
7. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 42min 44.667 secs
8. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 42min 47.229 secs
9. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 42min 50.903 secs
10. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 42min 51.154 secs
11. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 42min 58.362 secs
12. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 43min 0.550 secs
13. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 43min 11.931 secs

DNF:
Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 11min 41.383 secs
Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) lap 1
Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) lap 1

MotoGP » Donington Park: Race results.

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:04:00 +0000

Sunday, 22nd June 2008

Full race results from the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, round eight of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 44min 44.982 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 44min 50.771 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 44min 53.329 secs
4. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 44min 57.660 secs
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 44min 59.783 secs
6. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 45min 0.672 secs
7. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 45min 3.178 secs
8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 45min 6.648 secs
9. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 45min 14.336 secs
10. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 45min 26.012 secs
11. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 45min 29.408 secs
12. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 45min 31.181 secs
13. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 45min 33.713 secs
14. Ben Spies USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 45min 34.573 secs
15. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 46min 7.168 secs
16. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 46min 15.003 secs
17. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 45min 32.234 secs

DNF:
John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 24min 18.021 secs

Valentino Rossi consecutive 7th Mugello (italy) victory.

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:44:00 +0000

x roadie

Sunday, 1st June 2008

Italian legend thrills home fans with seventh consecutive Mugello victory.

Valentino Rossi escaped from the pack to claim his magnificent seventh consecutive home Mugello victory in dominant style in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.

Rossi, riding under bright sunshine and in front of almost 100,000 trackside fans, got a bad start from pole position and was only fourth through the first sequence of corners, behind Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi.

But The Doctor worked his way clinically forwards, passing Capirossi’s Suzuki on the opening lap and immediately closing the slight gap to his title rivals.

Stoner’s powerful Ducati got the better of Pedrosa along the home straight on lap 2 of 23, with Rossi dropping the Repsol Honda rider back to third later on the same lap.

The Bridgestone-shod Fiat Yamaha star then took the race lead from Stoner with a clever inside move through a downhill turn and the face painted on the top of Rossi’s special Mugello helmet never looked back.

At a track famous for its close slipstreaming battles, Rossi’s lead broke two seconds by the halfway mark and the seven-times world champion went on to take his third victory in a row (from six 2008 starts) by that same margin after backing off in the closing stages. It had been 17 years since the last non-Michelin win in the premier-class at Mugello, by Wayne Rainey in 1991 using Dunlop tyres.

Rossi celebrated his 91st grand prix victory by pumping his fist across the finish line before enduring one of his toughest tests of the afternoon when he had to weave his way through the invading fans on the slow down lap.

Perhaps surprisingly, there was no special celebration – although it could be argued that none was needed in such an emotionally charged environment, with the whole of the Mugello home straight packed with fans by the time the podium ceremony took place.
last but not the least GO ROSSI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO

Race results – Mugello.

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:40:00 +0000

x roadie

Sunday, 1st June 2008

Rossi wins seventh consecutive home Italian Grand Prix.

Full race results from the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, round six of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 42min 31.153 secs
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 42min 33.354 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 42min 36.020 secs
4. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 42min 37.466 secs
5. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 42min 43.683 secs
6. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 42min 44.959 secs
7. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 42min 45.600 secs
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 42min 46.472 secs
9. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 42min 46.480 secs
10. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 43min 1.938 secs
11. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 43min 10.774 secs
12. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 43min 21.174 secs
13. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 43min 21.593 secs
14. Tady Okada JPN Repsol Honda Team (M) 43min 30.002 secs
15. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 43min 31.889 secs

DNF:
Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 9min 25.989 secs
Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 9min 26.358 secs
John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 11min 17.629 secs
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 11min 11.489 secs