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

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

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 » Nicky Hayden joins Ducati.

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

source : www.road-d.com

Tuesday, 16th September 2008

Nicky Hayden finally confirmed at Ducati Marlboro for the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

Just one day after scoring his first podium of the 2008 season, in Sunday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix, it has finally been officially announced that 2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden will join Ducati for 2009.

Hayden’s Ducati move, which will see the 27-year-old line-up alongside 2007 world champion Casey Stoner, has been considered a done deal for months. The American will make his debut on next year’s Desmosedici GP9 in a test immediately after the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix, on October 27th.

“We are really happy to have Nicky join us,” declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding Product Director. “We are certain that his never-say-die attitude, riding style and character will be great additions to our team in 2009. I would like to thank HRC for allowing Nicky to start testing our bike immediately after the Valencia Grand Prix.”

Although a Repsol Honda rider for his entire six-year grand prix career, there has been an increasing degree of inevitability about Hayden and Ducati joining forces, which began when the Italian marque first tried to sign the American towards the end of his title-winning season.

Hayden eventually chose to stick with Honda for a further two years – believing, like many, that the Japanese giant would be hard to beat during the start of the new 800cc era – just as it had been when the 990cc class began in 2002.

But it was Stoner, signed by Ducati after Hayden’s polite rejection, who romped to ten wins and the 2007 title, then provided the closest opposition to Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi during 2008.

By contrast Hayden, and to a lesser extent Honda, have struggled ever since the capacity cut – the Kentuckian claiming just four podiums since the end of 2006, while Honda has won only four races, all with Hayden’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Many consider (rightly or wrongly) that Hayden hasn’t received the backing he deserves from Honda since the arrival of former 125 and double 250cc world champion Pedrosa.

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 » Toseland: WSBK as hard as MotoGP.

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:59:00 +0000

Monday, 4th August 2008

James Toseland believes trying to reach the top of the MotoGP World Championship isn’t any harder than doing so in the World Superbike Championship.

James Toseland believes the challenge he faces in trying to reach the top of the MotoGP World Championship isn’t any harder than doing the same in the World Superbike Championship.

The relative merits of each championship – and most specifically which provides the greatest test of rider talent – have long been debated, and no rider has yet won both the 500cc/MotoGP World Championship and World Superbike Championship.

Indeed, despite MotoGP joining WSBK in running four-stroke machinery since 2002, only Troy Bayliss, Max Biaggi, Alex Barros, Chris Vermeulen and Makoto Tamada have won both (four-stroke) MotoGP and WSBK races.

Double WSBK title winner Toseland, who switched to MotoGP this season, suggests the limited nature of that list is down to each championship producing its own outstanding specialists.

“They’ve got different riding styles [in MotoGP] and the way you overtake in MotoGP is different to Superbike,” Toseland told Crash.net. “But it’s no easier to try and beat Valentino Rossi or the likes in MotoGP or Troy Bayliss in Superbikes.

“When I was in Superbikes we were all specialists in Superbike racing, so it was just as hard to win those races as these,” he explained.

Toseland entered the World Superbike championship in 2001, finishing his first season in 13th position. He took his first podium in 2002, first win in 2003 and first title in 2004.

One area in which Toseland believes MotoGP differs significantly from WSBK is in the level of talent present throughout the (18-rider) field.

“The depth in MotoGP is just incredible. They’ve got eleven world champions in MotoGP, I believe, from various different classes,” he said.

“The level of competition between the riders and manufacturers is just so close in MotoGP. The slightest disadvantage and you can find yourself outside of the top ten very easily.”

After a spectacular second place on his MotoGP qualifying debut at Qatar, and four sixth-place finishes from his first seven starts, a turn one accident at the following British Grand Prix marked the start of a tough four-race run for Toseland.

The Tech 3 Yamaha rider looked set to rebound last time out at Laguna Seca, when he qualified fifth on the grid, but the Englishman was left bitterly disappointed by Michelin’s tyre problems in the race.

After eleven of 18 rounds, Toseland now sits ninth in the world championship standings.

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

Qualifying times – Mugello.

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:35:00 +0000

x roadie

Saturday, 31st May 2008

Rossi takes home pole position and his first ever pole with Bridgestone to end Michelin’s perfect 2008 qualifying run.

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

500GP race winner Tady Okada has returned as a wild-card this weekend, to give the pneumatic-valve Honda engine its MotoGP debut…

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 48.130 secs
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 48.297 secs
3. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 48.313 secs
4. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 48.375 secs
5. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 48.383 secs
6. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 48.666 secs
7. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 48.905 secs
8. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 49.025 secs
9. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 49.095 secs
10. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 49.145 secs
11. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 49.220 secs
12. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 49.246 secs
13. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 49.565 secs
14. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 49.601 secs
15. Tady Okada JPN Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 49.829 secs
16. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 49.851 secs
17. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 50.275 secs
18. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 50.465 secs
19. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 50.889 secs

Lorenzo stuns with crutches to second.

Mon, 19 May 2008 16:32:00 +0000

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Lorenzo stuns with crutches to second.

Monday, 19th May 2008

Illustrious team-mate Valentino Rossi may have stolen the limelight with his 90th grand prix victory in Sunday’s French Grand Prix, but injured rookie Jorge Lorenzo arguably produced the ride of the day.

Fractures to both ankles at the previous Shanghai round have left Lorenzo needing a wheelchair or crutches when off the bike, and the Estoril winner raised serious doubts about his ability to race at Le Mans when he fell twice in practice – in addition to several other off-track moments.

The reigning double 250cc world champion had dug deep to qualify fifth on the grid, but later admitted he was ‘dreaming’ of a sixth or seventh place finish in the race – especially after lapping just 11th quickest in morning warm-up and plummeting to that same position by lap two of the grand prix.

Whilst championship rivals Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Rossi battled with Colin Edwards at the front, Lorenzo initially looked to be struggling and was still only ninth by lap seven.

However, the 21-year-old suddenly ‘found his feet’, bursting past John Hopkins, Loris Capirossi and Nicky Hayden on the following lap, before chasing down last year’s winner Chris Vermeulen.

Lorenzo overtook the Rizla Suzuki rider on lap 15, by which time Rossi had escaped out front, but Edwards, Stoner and Pedrosa were well within reach. The #48 made short work of the trio, helped by an engine failure for Stoner, and crossed the line five seconds from Rossi.

The amazing ride marked Lorenzo’s fourth podium from his first five MotoGP races, and he is now joint second with Pedrosa in the championship standings – just three points from Rossi.

The message was clear, if Lorenzo can finish in second with two broken ankles – at a track he had never ridden an M1 at before this weekend – what will he do when he is fit? His rivals must be worried…

“Firstly I want to say congratulations to Yamaha because it’s fantastic to have three on the podium and it demonstrates how strong our bike is,” said Jorge, who climbed the podium with the aid of crutches, and was given a seat to help rest his feet.