Motorcycle Stunts Clips, Videos & News

MotoGP: Lorenzo fastest on home Catalunyan soil

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:00:00 GMT

There's no real surprise a Spanish rider snatched pole at the second of three planned MotoGP events in Spain this year. Jorge Lorenzo was able to trump teammate Valentino Rossi by just one hundredth of a second for the top spot in the final moments of qualifying. Casey Stoner will start on the outside of the front row, the Australian has traded fast times with the Yamaha pair all session.

Lorenzo and the rest of the riders had to deal with sweltering temperatures under a hot sun at Circuit de Catalunya, "The heat was incredible today and it's going to be very tough doing so many laps tomorrow without getting too tired!" said Lorenzo. "I'm so happy to be here on pole in front of my home fans at this track, which I really love. Tomorrow is going to be a very difficult race for everyone and I am expecting a very good fight with Valentino, who has a very strong pace. It looks like Stoner and Dovizioso will be there too so I hope it's an exciting race for the fans! I have a good rhythm here and I feel very comfortable on the bike so I am just going to stay focused and think about having a great race."

Rossi has had a good pace from the start of the weekend but all today it seemed he was busy trying to catch up to his younger teammate. The reigning champ was able to hold provisional pole until the final minutes when his teammate stepped up the ante. His answer to Lorenzo's best time fell just short before qualifying was ended.

"It's good to be back on the front row after three races off it," commented Rossi, "so we're happy about that. Of course I am sorry to miss the pole by such a tiny amount, but anyway we have an excellent pace and I am confident for tomorrow. We've been waiting for good weather for five races and now the temperature is maybe a little bit too much, but for sure it's better than rain for everyone!"

Stoner seemingly came out of nowhere after a less then stellar morning practice. The Aussie eventually sorted out the right setup to be able to pose a challenge to the Yamaha boys and Repsol Honda's Andrea Dovizioso. Stoner's teammate, Nicky Hayden very well might have been in the mix as well had a late session crash not kept him from setting his best lap.

Tomorrow Stoner looks to bring a fight to Lorenzo, "Nobody really knows what anybody is capable of in conditions like this because once the tyres start spinning it is going to be difficult for any of us to match the times we've been doing today. It is going to be a very interesting race and I think everybody is going to be sliding around a lot but the things we tried with the electronics this afternoon should help us in the later stages of the race. We'll see what we can do tomorrow but the idea is to dig in and work hard from the warm-up and hopefully we'll still be fighting at the end."

WSBK Monza: Series Saturday notes

Sat, 09 May 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Spies Takes Five for Yamaha in Monza Superpole

Ben Spies made it an impressive five Superpole triumphs in five races with a blistering lap in the decisive qualifying session at the Autodromo di Monza. The Yamaha World Superbike team's Texan rookie star, who received his Superpole trophy from Troy Bayliss, totally disintegrated the Australian champion's previous record mark of 1'44.931 to clinch the pole with a time of 1 minute 44.077 seconds. The only rider who was able to stay close to Spies throughout the 50 minute session was Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), who had dominated qualifying, but who had to take second best by two-tenths. Third place on the grid went to Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda), who is starting to come good again after a difficult start to the season. The Japanese rider, who almost won here twelve months ago, headed Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Alstare). The German was out of contention until a couple of minutes from the end, but he put in a last-minute effort to haul his GSXR into the fourth slot, making it four different makes, Yamaha, Ducati, Honda and Suzuki, on the first row of the grid.

Ben Spies: "It's been a really good weekend for us so far, we've had these poles this year but I definitely wanted to get this one for Yamaha at their home track. Congratulations to Michel and Kiyo, they did great laps, we've kind of been working under the radar this weekend, very quiet, but it looks like it's going to be a real dogfight tomorrow in the races."

Michel Fabrizio: "I wanted the Superpole at all costs but Ben did a great lap. Hopefully tomorrow I can fight with him for the first time because we have never been up against each other so far. We'll see what happens. In any case I have a much better feeling with this new Superpole formula, I didn't like the one-lap sprint at all."

Ryuichi Kiyonari: "Yesterday and today we tried to make the good setting and finally I could get the bike set up well to go fast. I hope I can get the same result as last year. Last year I almost won and I feel like I have a good chance to win tomorrow because my bike is very fast."

Max Neukirchner: "I really like Monza with all the fans here, it's a great atmosphere. My team did a very good job this weekend . I have a good race pace for tomorrow and hopefully I have made the right tire choice, but I am so happy to be on the front row."

The next rider up was Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), who had to use his second allocated qualifier to save himself from the cut after the second run. Haga will be flanked on row 2 by Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), who set the all-time fastest ever speed recorded in Superbike at 325.8 km/h, and Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki Alstare). In row 3 can be found the first BMW of Troy Corser, with the leading Kawasaki of the still injured Broc Parkes. The first Superpole run saw the elimination of two top privateers, Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) and Jakub Smrz (Ducati Guandalini), both of whom scored podiums at Assen but who will now start from row 5 at Monza.

Lorenzo heads Yamaha one, two in Japan

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

What a day for the Fiat Yamaha team and what a start to the season for all MotoGP motorcycle racing fans. It looked like the Japanese GP would be another rain delayed event but the clouds parted seemingly just for today's race. Valentino Rossi started on pole with Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo, the order decided by Friday practice times after qualifying was canceled due to the heavy rains. By the checkered flag it was Lorenzo that took the win, followed by teammate Rossi. Stoner was missing from the podium; the best he could earn was fourth.

The Fiat Yamaha team couldn't have asked for a better finish in their home country. For Lorenzo, this win is affirmation he is back in good health and ready to renew his title fight. At the start the Spaniard fell behind but was soon able to contend with Dani Pedrosa for second. Meanwhile Rossi was trying to pull a clean lead over their battle. However, the reigning champ wasn't able to escape his teammate's clutches once Lorenzo dispatched Pedrosa. The Yamaha riders had a good spar, with Lorenzo finally breaking free and leaving Rossi to defend for second. The Spaniard now leads the title fight, one point over Rossi and three over Stoner.

"First of all I just want to thank my team, my Mum, Dad and whole family, my friends and all the team workers," said the smiling Lorenzo. "Also Yamaha, as it is their home race, it was a difficult race because I didn't really get a very good start, I think I even finished the first lap in third or fourth. After that I began to catch up the pace. I passed Valentino and opened up a little gap, about a second and a half, and he was following me very hard. I had to ride the best I can to get the victory."

Rossi had the initial pace but as the laps wore on it was clear the Italian wasn't 100 percent happy with the bike. Once his teammate slipped past he had to fight hard to keep Pedrosa from following suit.

"It was a great race, long, very difficult and also physical," explained Rossi. "I got a really good start from the front row, but there was a part of the race that I wasn't quite able to ride like I wanted, there was some kind of problem and I wasn't fast enough to pull away.

"It's a good race, second place is not a victory but it's still twenty points for the championship. I think the championship will become very interesting now because we have four riders ready to battle for wins at the end," added the Italian.

Pedrosa made his Repsol Honda team proud today, as the Motegi Circuit is owned by Honda. While they couldn't beat the Yamaha riders they did at least podium on their own stomping grounds. The team is now second for the manufacturer's title. Both Pedrosa and teammate Andrea Dovizioso -- who finished fifth today -- are showing the new Honda package can take the fight to their rival teams.

"I'm very happy with this result," said Pedrosa. "I've had injury problems for a long time - since last October - and so to be on the podium in the second race of the season is fantastic for me, and really we didn't expect this so soon."

It's a rare occasion to see Stoner off the top three, especially when he started from the front row. Within the first lap it was clear the Australian was struggling, according to the team the streaming data showed a nasty vibration on his front end. Stoner fell to as low as sixth before methodically working his way to fourth. After dominating the Qatar GP the Ducati bike has shown a chink in its armor and allowed Lorenzo and Rossi to close into what will surely be a three-way battle for most of the season.

MototGP: Qualifying for Japan rained out, Rossi awarded pole

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Qualifying for the Japanese GP, round two of the new MotoGP motorcycle season was canceled today on account of rain. If you followed round one, you must be feeling a tinge of deja-vu. The Qatar race was postponed a day after torrential downpours. It seems something this year is angering the rain gods, maybe it's going to s single tire supplier or perhaps the sky doesn't like Nicky Hayden wearing red for Ducati. Regardless the reason, the grid is now shaped by the three practice sessions that took place Friday and today. Valentino Rossi will start on pole, sharing the front row with rival Casey Stoner and Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo.

With today's practice held in the wet the fastest times were set on Friday. Each driver was allowed to use his fastest lap to determine the order. Usually in practice the times can vary a great deal with normally fast bikes running slow as they work under a different program. However, this weekend it looks the usual suspects were on the pace early.

"We've been very unlucky in these two races and last year as well," mused Rossi, "because we've just had so much rain! This year has been worse though because first we had to delay the race in Qatar and now we've had to cancel qualifying here. I don't think it was such a good idea to come to Motegi in April! So now we're going into a race after just 45 minutes in the dry and 45 minutes in the wet, and I think maybe it will be one of the most uncertain races ever! We're lucky because we had a good session in the dry yesterday and so we're on pole, which is very important for the race here but it's still impossible to be at 100% after such a short time and with so little data. In the dry this morning our setting worked well also so I think we can fight whether it's dry or wet, and after all it's the same for everybody. Of course I would prefer it to be dry but above all I hope it's not half and half, I hope it's either fully wet or fully dry otherwise it will be even more difficult."

Stoner is just half a tenth off the Italian's time, it's clear the rivals are neck and neck on a dry setup. It would have been a great show during qualifying as they fought for pole, yet I wager it will be even better during tomorrow's race.

"It would be strange to go through a whole season and have one session that you can't ride in," commented Stoner, "so it's amazing that we've had this situation occur in each of the opening two rounds. It's unbelievable, the rain we've had, and I'd probably be feeling angry and frustrated right now if it wasn't for the fact we're on the front row! It is a difficult situation for everybody to have had so little track time here but we're all, almost literally, in the same boat!"

There is a double meaning being at Motegi for the Yamaha team. Not only are they running in the manufacture's home nation and have a strong local fan base but they are on a rivals turf, the circuit is owned by Honda. With both Fiat Yamaha bikes on the front row and the highest Honda is seventh placed Andrea Dovizioso it looks bragging rights will once again go to the boys in blue and white.

AMA-SC Seattle: Ryan Villopoto summary

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Villopoto Has a Monster Night in Thor's "Frankenstein" Gear
Seattle Winner Chats about Win, Rookie Season and Design Process

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. -- To say Ryan Villopoto had a monster night on Saturday would be an understatement. The 20-year old Washington native made a triumphant return to the series at his "home field" and brought the hometown crowd to its feet with his first career AMA Supercross motorcycle class victory at Seattle's Qwest Field.

To celebrate his return to the Northwest, Villopoto collaborated with the design team at Thor, his longtime apparel and helmet sponsor, to create custom gear for the Seattle round. Dubbed "Frankenstein" because of its purple and black color way, the Villopoto-inspired custom gear was designed off Thor's premier Core line of riding apparel and featured a vibrant yellow #2 on each leg to match the number on Villopoto's Monster Energy Kawasaki.

The Frankenstein Custom Core gear was the third and final custom collaboration of the season for Villopoto. He also wore custom designed Core gear at Anaheim 2, Atlanta, and Daytona.

The following is a brief interview with Villopoto to find out what he thought about his breakthrough victory, his rookie season and the Frankenstein gear.

Question: You were able to win coming back from an illness that took all of your energy away. Did it mean more to you to be able to come back after something like this, beat both James Stewart and Chad Reed, and get such a huge victory?

Villopoto: Yeah it was awesome. I was able to get a really good start while Mike (Alessi) got the holeshot. I stayed close and raced with Mike for about eight or nine laps. I caught up to him and was pretty close, but I hadn't made a pass on him yet so I was able to look at what he was doing. I calmed myself down a little bit and stopped making little mistakes and then really closed up on him and the pressure forced him to make a mistake and he slid out. I didn't hit him, but he was in the main line which allowed Davi (Millsaps) to get pretty close to me and I actually had to put on a pretty good charge the rest of the race to get a gap.

Now that the first win is out of the way and you've proven you have what it takes, what does it do for your confidence from here on out?

My year has been 'ok.' A little up and down and then I got sick and had to take some time off. But it was actually nice to not have to travel for a little bit outside of the actual part of being sick. It helped give me a little break that I needed and now I came back and came out feeling better than I have in a really long time. I'm going to finish out the last two (supercross races) and get ready for the outdoors. Hopefully with a little head start on the rest of these guys.

What went into the design of your gear this weekend?

Well, moving up into the (Supercross) class, you get a chance to wear some different things. When I was in the Lites class, we wore the same gear every week. So this year, Thor told me that we could wear three special sets. I had an orange set, another set that looked like it got hit by paint balls, and then (the Frankenstein) set. Those are the three I picked. Moe (Thor designer) actually designed 10 different sets of gear and I was able to go in and pick out the stuff I really like. It made it easy for me because I don't really have that kind of design background.

What was it about the Frankenstein gear that stood out to you?

It was just different to me. There hasn't been a lot of purple gear done before. I thought it was cool because it had a lot of purple in it as well as black and it really stood out with the fluorescent yellow mixed in.

It really ended up working out really great to have an special set with it being your comeback race, in your hometown, and even your first win. What was it like for you?

I love going back home whenever I can. There just isn't anything like it. I love the rain, the whole scene with all the green everywhere. And to be in front of all my hometown fans, its just something that's really cool. Doing well is always good, but winning my first race adds to it all and (obviously) makes everything that was going on even better.

WSBK Assen: Paul Bird Motorsports preview

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

ASSEN BECKONS FOR PARKES AND TAMADA

Following on from a superb performance at the third round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship in Valencia last time out, Paul Bird Motorsport Team riders Broc Parkes and Makoto Tamada are hoping to continue their good form for the Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team when round four of the series visits the historic Assen circuit in the Netherlands next weekend.

Following the opening two rounds in Australia and Qatar which weren't as successful as they were hoping, Parkes rocketed to a superb tenth place finish in the opening race in Spain which Tamada backed up with his first points of the season despite still suffering from injuries sustained in testing.

As a result, the official factory Ninja ZX-10R riders, with backing from www.supercasino.com, Vent Axia and Kick Energy, are gradually getting to grips with the bikes and with new parts arriving and the Dutch track being similar in characteristics to the Valencia circuit, both 27-year-old Parkes and 32-year-old Tamada are confident going into the second of the European races.

Broc Parkes: "The bike is developing well and we've made some pretty good steps forward over the past few races. We have some new parts arriving ready for Assen and this will hopefully have a good effect to take us to Monza and then the flyaways. The championship is so tight though, anything can happen so it's possible to be in the top ten once more if things go right. I can't say I've had any major results before at Assen but I do enjoy the circuit and the atmosphere is always good."

Makoto Tamada: "There were some setbacks due to my injury during the Valencia races, but I am recovering fast and happy with my progress. I don't feel that I have been able to show anywhere near my full potential this season yet, but I am confident that I will do in the near future. I have a great new team behind me and I have full confidence in them and the goals we have set out to achieve together. I am hoping for a top ten finish at Assen."

Television Coverage...

MotoGP: Bridgestone Qatar GP debrief

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

New tire regulations and allocation procedure a success after first GP

tire compounds available: Soft, Medium

After a rain-delayed but nevertheless successful opener to the 2009 MotoGP season, and the first race for Bridgestone as the series' single tire supplier, Tohru Ubukata reflects on the extended race weekend.

Q&A with Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Motorcycle Race tire Development

How are you feeling after the first grand prix for Bridgestone as the series' sole supplier?

The Qatar night race was one of our most difficult tracks last year because of the cold night-time temperatures and the abrasive nature of the sandy track, so we came here this year knowing it would be challenging for our tires again. However I am happy with the way our soft and medium compound slicks worked this weekend and I believe the wider operating range of each tire offered a more consistent level of performance this time. Also I was encouraged that our tires coped well on this week's sandy conditions.

Did the higher temperatures this year affect tire performance?

Yes, because the conditions were about 10 degrees Celsius warmer than last year so all the riders favoured the medium compound. Our soft compound suffered graining on the sandy track with the heat and abrasion, but the medium compound worked better in these difficult conditions. Even with the medium compound tire we had no problems with warm-up performance which was our main problem last year, so it shows the work we have done on widening the operating range of this year's tires.

Do you think the new tire allocation process was successful in ensuring fairness to all teams?

We worked closely with the FIM to allocate the tires on the Thursday before the race. All the allocation was done by delegates from the FIM. We prepared all the tires for allocation and then the FIM delegates randomly marked tires for each rider and recorded each tire's bar code alongside the rider's name. The FIM delegates placed a sticker of the rider's number on each of their 20 tires, and we then fitted these to the wheels provided by the riders' team. I am quite sure about the fairness as there is no possibility for us to influence the tire choice for each rider. This is very important for Bridgestone.

Are you happy with the way the new tire regulations are working?

I am happy with the new regulations and I think they worked well in Qatar. I believe we made the correct selection of two compounds for this first race, and I believe that these options also were ok for the teams. With just 20 tires per rider, every team had sufficient to complete the race weekend, even though it was extended by one day, so I think new regulation is working ok.

Did the race's postponement until Monday cause any problems with tire allocation?

MotoGP: Stoner unchallenged for pole position in Qatar

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

The 2009 MotoGP season was officially underway with qualifying after sundown at the brightly lit Losail Circuit in Qatar. For the second time in a row the series kicks off their season with a night race at the desert track. Tomorrow, starting from pole, Casey Stoner will seek out his third win in a row in Qatar. On what is being billed as a great rivalry in MotoGP, Valentino Rossi will start in second, alongside the Aussie. Third goes to Jorge Lorenzo, who claimed pole here a year ago on his MotoGP debut.

After the session was completed it looked like either Stoner was sandbagging earlier or the Ducati rider found a way to hook up on the slippery surface while the rest of the field struggled. The Aussie was almost a half minute faster than Rossi. To put this in perspective, Rossi's second to Colin Edwards in sixth has less of a gap in time. If Stoner has the same advantage tomorrow, then round one of the heavy weight fight will belong to him, lucky for Rossi the track is ever changing so the setup tomorrow might favor the Italian.

"It rained a little bit at 'lunchtime' between the two practice sessions today but it was gone as quickly as it arrived and we were relieved that we were able to ride at all," explained Stoner. "There is a little bit of dust and dirt that seems to come down with the rain here so we knew the track conditions would be slick and the lap times wouldn't come down much.

"It's impossible to guess what could happen in the race but generally I'm happy with our set-up and the main thing for us at this early stage is to pick up points, keep working on our weaknesses and make sure we don't make the same mistakes as last year by getting to the middle of the season with problems to fix," added the Aussie.

Mixed with the good news of Stoner's pole there is some concern over his teammate Nicky Hayden after the American took a nasty spill during the session. It's not clear if Hayden will be fit to ride tomorrow, he is being taken to hospital for observation. On the surface Hayden was bruised badly and needed stitches for a cut on his chest. With luck, that's the worst of it for The Kentucky Kid.

"I don't feel like going for a jog right now, I can tell you that much!" joked Hayden. "It was a big crash and I'm in a lot of pain so we're going to get some more x-rays done and see what the score is."

Things went much better for the Fiat Yamaha squad with both of their riders on the front row. Rossi and Lorenzo both went on the softer compound to see how close they can close the gap onto Stoner. Tomorrow the two will need to work together and get around the red Ducati before they square off each other to earn team bragging rights.

"I am really happy to be on the front row here because we know that this isn't one of our best tracks," said Rossi. "We also knew that Stoner would be strong and, although this is definitely true, we're not too far off and the gap is closing all the time. Starting second is going to be very important here because there is a question mark over the tyres on this surface. The asphalt is still very dirty which is hard on the tyres and I think that the last few laps are going to be quite entertaining! Anyway, everyone is in the same position, with the same tyres, and it could make it quite fun; let's wait and see."

Last year Lorenzo was on Michelins but this year the series has only one tire supplier, Bridgestone. The Spaniard is now on equal rubber with Stoner and Rossi and therefore will suffer the same problems tomorrow.

"After being on pole here in my first MotoGP race last year, I am happy to be back on the front row at least!" mused Lorenzo. "It is going to be important I think because it will be a hard race. During the test here I was faster with the hard tyre but for some reason we have the opposite situation this time and I am much faster with the soft tyre. With the hard tyre we have a few issues still, which is a problem because this is the tyre we need to use for the race. Now we need to work hard to try to solve the problem tonight. Tomorrow I won't be thinking about winning, just about doing the best I can and taking as many points as is possible in the circumstances. Of course you never know what will happen in a race!"

MotoGP: Qatari GP Bridgestone preview

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

The opening round of the 2009 MotoGP season gets underway at the Losail International Circuit on 10-12 April, and the sixth running of this Qatari grand prix marks the first race for Bridgestone as the series' official tire supplier. Having worked with 12 riders and seven teams by the end of last year, the tire manufacturer will now support all 18 riders and 11 teams.

The off-season has been punctuated by rider changes, with only four teams retaining their 2008 line-up. The rider pairings of Fiat Yamaha, Rizla Suzuki, Monster Yamaha Tech3 and LCR Honda remain unchanged, whilst there are four new entries. The Pramac pairing of Mika Kallio and Niccolo Canepa step up from the 250cc championship and Ducati testing duties respectively, grand prix veteran Sete Gibernau makes a return from retirement with the new Grupo Francisco Hernando team, and Yuki Takahashi also graduates from the 250cc class. Marco Melandri will make the newly-formed Hayate Racing Team's competitive debut.

Also notable for his fight to regain fitness in time for the season-opener is Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa. The Spaniard crashed during the second evening of the pre-season night test at this circuit and aggravated a knee injury that sidelined him from the final pre-season test in Jerez.

The Qatar GP was the first ever MotoGP round to be run at night at the start of the 2008 season, and for a second year the MotoGP field will take to the track under the glow of floodlights. Ducati Team's Casey Stoner has won in Qatar for the last two years, and in 2008 was also the highest Bridgestone-shod qualifier. During March's pre-season night test the Australian once again set a dominating pace.

The grand prix last year was the scene of Jorge Lorenzo's stunning debut for Fiat Yamaha, snatching pole and finishing second in his first MotoGP race. It was also Valentino Rossi's first race since opting for Bridgestone tires.

Despite being in the desert, the conditions during the test were anything but predictable as proceedings were interrupted by rain and high winds, leaving the riders to hope that the race will be free of such interruptions. The cool night-time temperatures, coupled with the venue's sand-strewn tarmac, make Losail a unique challenge for Bridgestone's engineers and a stern test for its tires.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport Motorcycle Sport Unit

"Now pre-season testing is over we are looking forward excitedly to the first race which is when we will really see how the title fight will develop throughout the year. Qatar has been a tricky event in the past for us because the whole race requires a different approach to deal with the cool night temperatures and the sand that litters the circuit, but Casey has taken the last two wins here on our tires so we are confident of the experience we can draw upon.

Road Atlanta: Series Saturday summary

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Mladin and Rockstar/Makita Take 50th Straight AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike Win

Yoshimura Team Sets Record in AMA Pro Suzuki Superbike Showdown Opener at Road Atlanta

BRASELTON, Ga. (April 4, 2009) - Mat Mladin and the Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki team scored a record 50th consecutive victory in AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited competition Saturday at Road Atlanta in the first race of this weekend's AMA Pro Suzuki Superbike Showdown.

Mladin's victory gave him a perfect sweep of 2009's opening races in what was his most dominating performance of the season. The win also gave the Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki team an unmatched streak of 50 consecutive victories by Mladin and former teammate Ben Spies that began with a win by Spies at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on July 22, 2006.

"The team is unbelievable," said Mladin, who is four-for-four in 2009 American Superbike races. "Obviously, the last few years, Ben (Spies) and I have been at the front of all of the races. This team is amazing. The team this year is really gelling well together. What can you say? Fifty in a row and nine championships in the last decade, it's a pretty good effort."

Starting from the pole on his No. 7 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, Mladin briefly trailed teammate Blake Young (No. 79 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000) at the start but was well in front of the field by the end of Lap 1. He would go on to lead all 20 laps of the race and crossed the finish line a full 15.717 seconds ahead of his other teammate Tommy Hayden (No. 22 Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000). Local Georgia rider Geoff May (No. 54 National Guard/Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000) finished third and Young finished fourth, duplicating the finishing order of American Superbike Race 1 at Auto Club Speedway last month.

"It was a good race for us, obviously," said Mladin, who also set the fastest lap (1:25.714) of the race on Lap 16. "I just got a reasonable start and got to the lead in Turn 1 and then just put our heads down. We've got the bike to a point now where we're starting to be able to push it like I did the Superbike last year. We had a little bit of a problem with the fork yesterday and we fixed it today, but it actually didn't work as well, so I need to go back to having a problem with the fork. We'll sort something out there for tomorrow so I can start getting into the turns a little bit quicker and a little bit deeper and see if we can't keep pushing tomorrow and get going."

Hayden finished second to his teammate for the third straight race but had to charge from seventh on the grid to do it after one of his trademark quick starts.

"I definitely knew it was going to be a little tougher today coming from the second row, but fortunately I was able to get a good start and I was up there pretty good on the first lap," said Hayden, who jumped from fourth to second on Lap 10. "It kind of took me a little while to work through the guys. I had to push to the end, but it feels good to stay up here and stay on the podium. I feel pretty good. After battling for the lead a little bit at Fontana, it's a little disappointing to run a distant second, but we'll try to learn something and be a little stronger tomorrow."

Third-place went to No. 54 National Guard/Jordan Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider Geoff May who raced from sixth at the race's halfway point to capture the final podium spot. May hails from nearby Gainesville, Ga.

MotoGP: Bridgestone Jerez test summary

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Stoner fastest as Bridgestone concludes 2009 pre-season testing

Jerez, Spain - IRTA Test

The last pre-season test before the first grand prix in Qatar on 12 April saw both Spanish sunshine and heavy rain showers on the two days of MotoGP action, giving teams the opportunity to test the two compounds of slick tires that were selected for the test and the single compound of wet tire in the 2009 specification's first wet test.

Once Saturday's rain subsided, the Spanish sun dried the track by midday. As per 2009 regulations, Bridgestone brought two slick tire compounds to Jerez, plus a single wet compound. Front tires were available in medium and hard compounds, and rear tires offered in soft and medium compounds. Each rider received four sets of slicks on Saturday, and three sets on Sunday. In addition, each rider received four sets of wet tires over the two days.

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who completed 25 wet laps, was fastest for Fiat Yamaha on the opening day, just over 0.3 seconds faster than the race lap record as set last year by Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, who was replaced for this test by Kosuke Akiyoshi as he recovers from a knee injury. Valentino Rossi arrived after the rain to complete a Fiat Yamaha one-two whilst Casey Stoner was third for Ducati, the top three separated by just 0.11 seconds.

It was the Australian however who dominated proceedings during Sunday's 45 minute official practice session. Action was brought to a temporary halt with a short red flag period after James Toseland crashed in turn three, before another downpour cut the session short three minutes from the chequered flag. Stoner just beat the downpour to consolidate his control of the session, recording his fastest lap on number 12 of 13 to put himself 0.719 seconds clear of Rossi. Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi completed the official test 0.39 seconds further adrift.

As free practice resumed, ten riders ventured on track to complete a handful of laps each as the rain lifted and the surface dried, before a final downpour at 1800hrs bode a final farewell to the pre-season testing period.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit

"As the sole supplier our aim is to make each tire suitable for a much wider range of conditions than last year, and I think we have seen over the last two days that we have achieved this so I am very pleased with the result of the test. Casey again looks impressive and it is good to see both Suzukis running well, but I am also pleased for Mika Kallio who was sixth fastest in official practice in his rookie season. Now we have finished winter testing and team feedback on our tires has been good so we are looking forward to a good first race in Qatar in two weeks."

Bridgestone launches new tire with Puniet and Canepa

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:00:00 GMT

MotoGP riders help Bridgestone launch new Battlax BT-003RS hyper sports street tire

One week ahead of the final pre-season MotoGP test in Jerez, LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet and Pramac Racing's Niccolo Canepa flew to the southern Spanish circuit of Almeria to support the media launch of Bridgestone's Battlax BT-003 Racing Street hyper sports tire.

The Battlax BT-003RS is designed to provide outstanding street and track-day performance for all sports motorcycles from 250cc on, giving riders of all abilities the chance to experience the grip performance of Bridgestone's MotoGP multi-layer compound technology.

A range of 2009-specification street bikes from MotoGP manufacturers Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha were fitted with the BT-003RS tires and used during the five days, alongside machines from BMW, Triumph and KTM.

In 2009 Bridgestone began the first of three seasons as the official tire supplier to the FIM MotoGP World Championship, and the Battlax BT-003RS is the latest in the company's line of high-performance street tires to draw upon successes in top-flight motorcycle racing.

Gunther Podevyn, Senior Manager Motorcycle tires, Bridgestone Europe: "The BT-003RS is a street tire that is also at home on the circuit. It is designed to work from very low temperatures, giving good performance and safety for the regular street user even in cold conditions, yet as Randy, Niccolo and the 89 attending media demonstrated, Bridgestone's MotoGP expertise means it is also a high-performing and consistent track-day tire. Both Randy and Niccolo gave very positive feedback about the BT-003RS and were very satisfied with the level of grip it delivered under braking, cornering and acceleration, so I am very happy and would like to thank them and their teams for their support."

Randy de Puniet, LCR Honda: "It was my first time with a street bike on the circuit; of course it was not a MotoGP bike but pretty fast anyway. Honestly I was really surprised about the grip level of the BT-003RS. I think this Bridgestone product will satisfy the customers' needs both in the performance field and safety one."

Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing: "Almeria has all kinds of corners - fast, slow, chicanes, everything so it is very good to test the tires here. I am surprised with the level of grip from the BT-003RS as it's not often I ride a road bike with road tires and the level is very high. You can lean the bike over very fast, and the lean angle is unbelievable for a street tire. The BT-003RS is very good - very progressive and you can feel the level of grip very well. You can also push very hard on them - the front tire especially is very good as you can enter corners very fast and the bike is very stable."

Rizla Suzuki head to Spain for final test

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is on its way to Jerez in Spain for the final test in preparation for the 2009 MotoGP season.

Following two successful tests at Sepang in Malaysia and Losail in Qatar, Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi will be planning to continue with the encouraging start to the year that has seen both riders near the top of the timesheets at both tests.

The Official MotoGP Test at Jerez will also see the launch of the Suzuki GSV-R in its new 2009 livery, following the announcement that Rizla will remain as title sponsors for this year.

The 4,423m long Jerez circuit is a regular test-track for MotoGP, and the southern Spanish venue will stage the first piece of competitive action of 2009 when the riders take to the track for a timed 45-minute session on the Sunday afternoon. The fastest rider in this allotted time will drive away with a brand-new car - both Rizla Suzuki riders will be aiming to get their hands on the keys!

Rizla Suzuki will complete its pre-season preparations at Jerez on 28/29 of March, before heading back to Qatar for the first race of the season. Vermeulen and Capirossi will begin their assaults on the championship with the series' one-and-only night race on Sunday 12th April.

Chris Vermeulen:

"The Jerez test can't come soon enough for me. After the first two tests, where we have made some good advances, it will be interesting to see what improvements the Factory has made after all the data we supplied from Sepang and Qatar - I am sure the technicians are doing all they can to find what we are looking for. The Jerez test will be interesting, as it will be the first time we've had a timed session - similar to a new qualifying session - with the single rule tyres. This will give us a good chance to gauge what we could possibly expect from qualifying in the coming season. This is our last test before the season starts so it will be very important for the whole team to get in as much work as possible and end the break from racing on a high!"

Loris Capirossi:

Glen Helen Motocross National title sponsor named

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:00:00 GMT

SOUTH POINT HOTEL & CASINO TO BE TITLE SPONSOR OF THE GLEN HELEN MOTOCROSS NATIONAL

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (March 17, 2009) -- Glen Helen Raceway Inc. President Bud Feldkamp announced last week that this year's Glen Helen National will be known as the "South Point Hotel & Casino Motocross National," the season-opening round of the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The top motocross riders from around the globe will kick off the chase for the world's most prestigious motocross title on Saturday, May 23.

"We at South Point are no strangers to motorsports," said Owner Michael Gaughan. "We are honored to support the 2009 Glen Helen Motocross National. These are the best motocross riders in the world competing for the biggest motocross championship title in the world. Southern California motocross fans deserve a high-quality show like this."

For the first time, the Glen Helen event will be televised with same-day coverage on SPEED.

"Glen Helen Raceway is honored to have Michael Gaughan, a long time off-road racer, and the South Point Hotel & Casino join us as the title sponsor for the 2009 Motocross National," stated Feldkamp. "I can't say enough about Michael and his incredible staff. My hope is that through this collaboration, some of our dedicated fans will take the opportunity to experience the South Point Hotel & Casino for themselves."

To get the "Holeshot" in Las Vegas, visit the South Point Hotel & Casino at www.southpointcasino.com

Suzuki and Rizla's MotoGP partnership keeps on rolling

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Suzuki Motor Corporation and Imperial Tobacco Group are pleased to announce that they have agreed terms for Rizla - the world's leading rolling papers - to continue to be the title sponsor of the Japanese company's MotoGP team for 2009.

Rizla has been the title sponsor of the Suzuki Grand Prix motorcycle race team for the past three seasons and a further one-year extension will see Suzuki MotoGP stars Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen racing the distinctive 'Rizla blue' Suzuki GSV-Rs during this season's championship.

This is further positive news for Suzuki, following on from two successful tests in 2009 at Sepang in Malaysia and recently at Losail in Qatar. Capirossi and Vermeulen both had equally impressive tests as they were consistently inside the top six at both venues and showed big improvements at the two circuits compared to last year's performances. Both riders benefited from many new developments to this year's Suzuki GSV-R, including changes to aerodynamics, chassis, engine and suspension.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will next be in track action at Jerez in Spain at the end of March for the Official MotoGP test, which also includes a televised session. The first race of the year will be a night event, when Rizla Suzuki MotoGP return to Losail on Sunday 12th April.

Paul Denning - Team Manager:

"This is very positive news for Suzuki to continue our partnership with Rizla in today's current difficult climate. We have enjoyed a very close relationship, both on and off the track, with Rizla during the past three years and have certainly considered all the representatives of Rizla as part of the team.

"Our on track performance during the first two tests has also been very encouraging and shows how much hard work the Factory has put in during the off season. The Suzuki GSV-R has certainly come a long way since last year and we know there is still more to come - Chris and Loris were both very impressed with the new bike, but we know there is still a lot of work to do. The Suzuki team will continue to work hard to keep improving, and we are very positive about our prospects for 2009 in partnership with Rizla."

WSBK Qatar: Series pre-race notes

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 06:00:00 GMT

WSBK Magnificent 7 take to the water in offshore powerboats

The second round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship, due to take place in Qatar this weekend, had a watery prologue today as seven top riders took to offshore boats of the Qatar Powerboat Team around the Corniche bay area of the capital, Doha.

Noriyuki Haga (Ducati), Ben Spies (Yamaha), Max Biaggi (Aprilia), Max Neukirchner (Suzuki), Troy Corser (BMW), Jonathan Rea (Honda) and Broc Parkes (Kawasaki) were all invited by Sheikh Hassan Al Thani, Qatar Marine Sports Federation President and Class 1 offshore champion on board two Nor-Tech Mercury 36' catamarans for a different kind of speed trip, this time on water, in the build-up to this Saturday's WSBK round.

"It wasn't my first time onboard this kind of boat but it was quite exciting", declared Phillip Island race 1 winner Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox). "I'm thinking I want to buy this kind of boat but it's just to throw away for the money and I need to check with my wife first!. As for this weekend's race, Ducati have good experience and settings for here, now I have started the season well from the first round so we will see from here in the next races."

"We knew we had the pace to battle at Phillip Island, not necessarily to win, but it was important to get the first win out of the way" commented Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike). "I've kind of been like trying to prove myself on Superbikes for quite a long time, so my win in Australia felt like it had been a long time coming. Qatar is a track where I've never turned a wheel on, it seems OK, I'll just have to go out and learn it. 110 mph on water is a different feeling totally, but luckily we survived that and now I can go to work tomorrow!"

"Phillip Island was high performance on qualifying, nobody expected to see us on the front row and fighting for pole position until the end" said Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing). "But something at the moment is still a bit 'raw' and we need to find the right conditions to make it 'well done' and explore different ways to go for development. At the moment we're in early stages. This morning was a completely new way to go for me, we went fast on the speedboats. It was interesting to see the steering round the buoy, they go very quick and this type of boat is very stable, almost double the speed on the tarmac!" On TV

Eurosport (pan-European): Sunday 15 March, 08.30 race 1 (delayed), 09.15 race 2 (delayed).

Daytona SportBike Daytona summary

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Ben Bostrom Scores First Daytona 200 by Honda Win for Team Graves Yamaha Under the Lights
Thursday's Superpole Winner Leads 1-2 Yamaha YZF-R6 Finish with Teammate Josh Herrin

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 6, 2009) - Ben Bostrom took the lead from M4 Suzuki rider Jason DiSalvo on the run through Daytona International Speedway's tri-oval on Lap 53 and then joined young teammate Josh Herrin in scoring a one-two finish for Team Graves Yamaha Friday in the Daytona 200 by Honda AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL race.

Starting first on the grid on his No. 1s Yamaha YZF-R6 after winning the pole in Thursday's single-bike Superpole qualifying, Bostrom became the first rider since Miguel Duhamel in 2005 to win America's premier motorcycle road race from the top starting spot. He won his first career Daytona 200 victory in his fifth start and had a previous best finish of second in 2003.

"I've tried to win this thing," Bostrom said. "We have been on the pole here twice now and I have lost the race here by two-thousandths of a second. I know what it's like in the heart when you take second at Daytona. It hurts. Now I know what it's like to win."

Bostrom led from the start, lost the lead momentarily in the infield to Danny Eslick and the No. 9 Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Racing/RMR Buell 1125R on the opening lap, but then powered past Eslick to officially lead Lap 1. From there, Bostrom stayed in the lead pack for the entire race, frequently swapping the top spots with Eslick, Team Graves Yamaha teammates Herrin and Josh Hayes (No. 4 Yamaha YZF-R6) and M4 Suzuki teammates DiSalvo and Martin Cardenas.

"The race was really intense and under the lights it was really spectacular," Bostrom said. "When we started out, there were several of us going tooth and nail at the front. I loved every minute of it."

Bostrom crossed the finish line .554 of a second ahead of Herrin's similar No. 8 Team Graves Yamaha YZF-R6 while DiSalvo finished third on his No. 40 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600.

The race was slowed by two safety car periods, including the first on lap 36 due to a temporary lighting failure on the back straight. A red flag was shown a few laps later when the fourth Team Graves rider, Tommy Aquino (No. 6 Yamaha YZF-R6), went down after being hit from behind when the field jammed up while slowing behind the safety car. Aquino was examined and released from the infield medical center and the field was reformed for a single-file restart.

After a few warm-up laps, racing resumed only to see the safety car return a few laps later for the downed bike of Kris Turner (No. 3 Team M4 Suzuki GSX-R600). The race returned to green on Lap 49 for a dash to the finish with Bostrom, Hayes, Herrin and DiSalvo at the point. DiSalvo took the lead on Lap 52 as he battled with the three Graves Yamahas.

"The M4 Suzuki was running really strong up top out there," DiSalvo said. "I think if we could have been a little bit closer and had a little bit better preparation coming into the final lap we could have made a run. We could have got the double draft and I was sitting in third thinking this was going to work out, but it wasn't to be tonight."

After Bostrom took the lead for good, Hayes was in hot pursuit only to lose control of his Yamaha exiting the infield's east horseshoe section. Hayes was uninjured after the tumble but will have to wait another year for his next shot at what is becoming an elusive Daytona 200 victory. He led a race high 27 laps, Bostrom led 22 laps, Cardenas - who finished eighth - was in front for four laps and DiSalvo and Herrin each led a single lap.

Rookie Spies (Yamaha) spices up Superpole at Phillip Island

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Texan WSBK rookie Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) powered to the first Superpole win of the season in an exciting opening round session at Phillip Island in Australia. The 24 year-old took the top slot on his YZF R1 machine with a time of 1 minute 31.069 seconds. In the new 'knock-out' formula, Italian Max Biaggi scored a second place grid slot, his best ever performance in Superpole, on the brand new Aprilia, the Italian manufacturer returning to Superbike after a seven-year break. The front row of the grid is completed by Britain's Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Jakub Smrz of the Czech Republic, top Ducati rider on a private Guandalini machine.

Spies, who had never even seen the Australian circuit before last week, set the first pole of his career in his first-ever WSBK race: "There was a lot of pressure on me today but first congratulations to these guys, I know how fast the lap time was and we all did a great job. The Superpole was really good, there was a lot of anticipation, a lot of nerves inside the pit box to get the first pole of the year. It's going to be hard tomorrow, with 7 or 8 guys up front and the real race will start 8 laps from the end. Luckily we have a good starting spot, that's all that matters and hopefully we can be there at the end. Just like Biaggi said, I was very surprised at how many people started doing 31s in the second session, we really had to grit our teeth in the last one and put together a good lap."

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) commented : "It's a big sensation for me to come back after so many years to Aprilia with this new project, the bike is good already. We still have to see which is the best way to go but for now qualifying was very good and exciting . I don't know about race pace for tomorrow but this is an encouraging start. When I saw everyone going 31s, I thought 'wow, that is fast'. I had some trouble in the free practice before qualifying, we swapped bikes and it was not my favorite one but we made a great job."

Jonathan Rea, who will be racing in only his second WSBK event tomorrow, declared : "Superbike for me is getting more and more exciting all the time, a big thanks to the team for helping me make the transition from Supersport so easy. I've got a lot of learning to do but every time I jump on the bike it's getting better. The new structure of Superpole was really exciting, with everyone in the box thinking should I go or should I stay, but lucky for us we used the first qualifier in the second session and got into the top 8. I saw Ben's lap time in the session before and it left me with a 31.3 with one qualifier left. We made a little mistake in the last run but I don't think we can go much faster than that."

Jakub Smrz was also delighted with his Superpole performance: "For us it is a very good start to the season because we didn't test here like the other guys. Now I am very pleased with the bike especially because this morning we had some small problems, then in Superpole everything went better. It's very nice to be ahead of the factory Ducatis but it's only the start of the season and what is most important is to get a good result in the race."

WSBK Phillip Island: Series preview

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Expectation hits fever pitch as 2009 World Superbike season kicks off in Australia

The 22nd edition of the FIM Superbike World Championship gets underway this weekend at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia. Expectation is already at fever pitch over the start of this season, the first for many years without Troy Bayliss, one of the legendary names in Superbike history, who retired at the end of 2008 after winning his third world title in the production-based championship racing series. With Bayliss gone, the question is now who will write their name in the record books alongside the other legendary Superbike greats like Merkel, Roche, Polen, Russell, Fogarty, Corser, Kocinski, Edwards, Hodgson and Toseland.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: Superbike continues to show enormous potential and the 2009 edition of the championship organized by Infront Motor Sports will see a record seven manufacturers present on the grid (Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha). The result perfectly demonstrates the impressive growth of the category, which this year has also added quantity to quality, with a record number of 32 permanent riders in the 14 rounds that make up the 2009 calendar.

A QUESTION OF BALANCE: It is difficult to find a clear favourite in this year's championship, both amongst men and machines, and in particular after the various pre-season test sessions. Almost every manufacturer has at least one candidate for the title within their ranks. Ducati Xerox go aces high with top signing Noriyuki Haga flanking talented youngster Michel Fabrizio, who is called upon to make a quantum leap in quality this season. Yamaha World Superbike have totally revamped their squad with the arrival of the Anglo-American pairing of three-times AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies and Britain's Tom Sykes. All eyes are focused on the Texan, one of the most interesting names to emerge in the last few years. Hannspree Ten Kate Honda again have a three-pronged attack, with Carlos Checa as the focal point and Ryuichi Kyonari and Jonathan Rea on the wings, both capable of extraordinary feats. Suzuki Alstare have decided to go with the German flow of Max Neukirchner, last year's revelation, together with the reconfirmed Yukio Kagayama. The Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team pairing of MotoGP and SBK race winner Makoto Tamada and Australian Broc Parkes also looks an interesting one as the Japanese manufacturer has decided to boost its investment in SBK.

THE CHALLENGERS: The 2009 season also marks the return of Aprilia and the entry of BMW, both global brands that add more prestige to Superbike. The Italian marque shows that it means business right from the start, with the signing of two top riders of the calibre of Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano, while the same can also be said for the German company, who have snapped up double world champion Troy Corser and multiple race winner Ruben Xaus. Both teams are aiming for a place at the top, and quickly too.

PRIVATE AFFAIR: SBK is not just a battle between the top teams and riders. The aim has always been to have balanced technical regulations aimed at keeping costs down, so that private teams can take part in the championship and have the chance to emerge. This year once again therefore a handful of quality private teams are in a position to sign up quality riders, because they have competitive machinery available; all eyes therefore will also be on Shane Byrne and Leon Haslam, Roberto Rolfo, Jakub Smrz, Brendan Roberts and Regis Laconi, riders who are all capable of cutting a decent figure in a championship that promises to be electrifying.

Yamaha riders on the pace in the Australian sunshine

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The Yamaha World Superbike team has enjoyed a successful final pre-season test at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia. The two day test was the final shakedown for the 2009 YZF-R1 in advance of the season opening race this coming weekend and was a valuable opportunity for both riders to get to know the track.

Three-time AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies ended the final day of testing with a quick 1.32"36 lap time, a mere 0.2 of a second off fastest rider Michele Fabrizio. Fellow Yamaha World Superbike team rider Tom Sykes had a crash on the start of the second day of testing and spent a large part of the day resting before going back out again for a final run. He too stepped up the pace and finished the day with an overall time of 1.32"10, a great result considering he missed most of the day's track time after his fall.

Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike team -- 1.32"36 (160 laps)

"It was a good test for me. We worked on a lot of race stuff, we had some tires to test and get through for Pirelli then we got up to speed on the track and did some longer stints getting the bike to work on race setup. We were looking good for race pace, we did a race simulation and it felt really good. For sure we only got two days testing on the track and the whole race weekend is going to add some adrenaline. I'm extremely happy with the bike and the team is working really well so I can't wait to get started."

Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike team -- 1.32"10 (100 laps)

"I was more than happy with day one, having never seen Phillip Island before, I went out and pulled a 1.33"2, which wasn't too bad considering it's a new track for me. We worked on some minor adjustments and worked on getting a good base setting for the bike. I'm more than confident in its capabilities and set up, we're pretty much on the times. Going into day two I knew I could improve, but unfortunately on my first run, getting up to speed I had a fall. I wasn't even busting myself and not sure how it happened, got on it a bit too soon at the exit of turn 2, ran wide by two feet and where the tarmac ripples slightly the rear end low sided, I caught it then high sided the other way! Luckily I have no serious injuries so will be fighting fit and raring to go at the weekend. I went back out again at the end of the second day and found my pace again easily so am still confident to fight for the podium."

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team manager

"The test went well with the exception of Tom's crash. We didn't have so many problems and it was very important that the guys learned the circuit as it's a new one for them. By the end of the first day they were making good laps with great pace. By the end of the last day, Ben was up with the fastest riders, Fabrizio and Haga. Tom had a big crash in the morning of the second day, the doctor said to stay in the clinic until the afternoon to rest. In the late afternoon he came back out for one and a half hours time on track, it was impressive as with his last lap he made his fastest lap of the test. In the end the test was also a big running in for us as the bike is still new, we tried to find the best set up, and tried some different tires. We've answered all our questions and feel really good about going into the first race weekend in a few days time, we're ready to fight!" Yamaha World Supersport team get down to business

NEW SPORT BIKE RULES AS THUNDER SILENCED

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

TORONTO, Ont. (February 20) -- The Parts Canada Superbike Championship has announced major changes to the rules for its Sport Bike support divisions, opening the door for a range of new machinery to participate in the two classes.

Starting with the 2009 season, twin cylinder motorcycles from Buell and BMW will be allowed to compete in the Sport Bike classes, running to separate weight and horsepower limitations than their 600cc four cylinder opposition.

"Buell and BMW have both been great supporters of the national series and we think their presence in the Sport Bike classes will add excitement to two of the most competitive divisions on the tour," said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, which organizes the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

In the Yoshimura Pro Sport Bike division, the twins must weigh at least 400 pounds and may deliver no more than 140 horsepower on the official series Dynojet Dyno. Minimum weight for 600cc fours is 350 pounds and maximum horsepower is 125.

In the Armour Bodies Amateur Sport Bike category minimum weight is also 400 pounds for the twins while maximum horsepower is 135 hp, as opposed to limits of 350 pounds and 118 hp.

Twins of 750cc and under and Triumph's 675 triple were already eligible for the Sport Bike classes.

The word "600" has been dropped from both class names to reflect these changes.

The Sport Bike rule changes have been made in conjunction with the termination of the Canadian Thunder and Sport Twins classes. A division specifically for twin cylinder motorcycles was launched in 2005 and its champions included Darren James for Buell/Harley-Davidson, who won the title twice, former Canadian Superbike champion Michael Taylor with BMW and Italian Valter Bartolini, who won last year for Ducati.

There are no plans to restart the class in the future.

"We were happy with the division's competition and the variety of machinery and riders it introduced to the national tour," Fraser said. "But sponsors have refocused their resources and we thought it would be prudent to make some changes to our Sport Bike classes to keep Buell and BMW involved in the series."

This Week in Monster Energy® Supercross: Atlanta

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Stewart/Reed Tied in Points Heading into Georgia Dome

AURORA, Ill. (February 20, 2009) -- With the AMA Supercross class points race tied at 152 between San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed, the two front runners are essentially starting a new season as Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, heads east and unfolds under Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

The action that has brought Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., and Reed, of Tampa, Fla., to this new beginning should not be overlooked. In the past six races, Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion, has been victorious. Reed, the reigning AMA Supercross champion, turned in six consecutive second place finishes. The only other rider to win a race this season is JGRMX Yamaha's Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., and he did so at Anaheim 1.

"I'm looking forward to racing at the Georgia Dome," said Reed. "Going back East will be good, and I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed and doing my own program. Georgia's fun, I love it there. It's a nice, big stadium, and I think it will be interesting because James (Stewart) and I are tied in points after seven races and we're starting all over again, basically, and I'm OK with that."

Reed appeared to be the favorite heading into San Diego last weekend where he's won five races in the past six seasons, but Stewart stopped the momentum and moved into the points lead, erasing the 23-point deficit he faced after Anaheim 1. While Reed and Stewart are technically tied in points, if the season ended today Stewart would be crowned champion because he has more wins.

"To come back where we were at, 23-points back, it's just amazing," said Stewart. "San Diego is special to me - it gave me my first victory in 2002 so I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the city."

Mike Alessi, who rides for the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team, picked up his best results of the 2009 season last weekend at the San Diego race. He earned the holeshot in his heat finishing third, and then he holeshot the main event and finished up in sixth position. He's looking forward to the upcoming race at the Georgia Dome.

"I've only raced at the Georgia Dome once and it was a very long time ago," said Alessi. "But I'm trying to go into this weekend with a good, realistic attitude and be right there, and finish in the top 10 again. I want to be smooth, steady and consistent every weekend and get the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 out there on the holeshot."

Making his way back to racing is Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Michael Byrne, who missed the first several races of AMA Supercross this year with a wrist injury. Byrne returned with a vengeance at last weekend's San Diego race. The Australian rider finished second in his heat race and eighth in the main. When stateside, Byrne lives in Newnan, Georgia, and he is excited to race at his "home track," the Georgia Dome.

"I think now that I've got my first race back out of the way, it makes me a little more prepared for next week," said Byrne. "I just want to go there and ride hard and try to get stronger. I think Atlanta will be even better than this last weekend at San Diego."

Nico Izzi started the 2009 Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship strong by picking up a podium position in the season-opening round in Houston. Izzi is hoping to better that third-place result this weekend in Atlanta.

Silverstone unveils dynamic modifications to circuit

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Silverstone Circuits Limited has unveiled provisional plans for a number of striking modifications to the track and spectator viewing areas at the UK's premier motor racing venue. The most significant addition to the circuit will be a new section of track running from the approach at Abbey corner to a spectacular 'Arrowhead' at the inside of Becketts. The Arrowhead will then join up with the existing National Straight. Additional sections of track will also be laid at Chapel and Club in anticipation of FIM MotoGP World Championship motorcycle racing at Silverstone.

Computer generated overview of track changes planned at Silverstone Circuit

The announcement follows the recent signing of a five year agreement between Silverstone and Dorna that will see MotoGP racing at the iconic Northamptonshire circuit from 2010. Several alterations are being made to make the circuit more bike-friendly. The alterations have already been extensively discussed with FIM and will be in accordance with their regulations and subject to final homologation. However, the new Arrowhead, and fast section of circuit leading up to it, are designed to be a stunning feature for riders, drivers and spectators alike.

The Arrowhead and its approach will provide a focal point for overtaking and will be surrounded by several new spectator areas. It will also be overlooked by the grandstand at Becketts, providing fans with an opportunity to see two sections of track from the one vantage point. Both MotoGP and British Superbike riders will also be pleased to see that the plans include the moving of grandstands and safety barriers at Woodcote. This will enable the circuit to build a new run off area at the fast entry to Pit Straight and dispose of the slow chicane, which is currently a necessity for safety purposes. The new plans form part of a GBP 5 million investment by Silverstone, with work set to be carried out between November 2009 and March 2010. In addition to changes to the track, improvements to spectator viewing facilities will include moving some of the existing grandstands to bring them closer to the track. Richard

Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented, "Silverstone is one of the easiest circuits to get in and out of in the world, we have sizeable hard-standing car parks, and the facilities for teams, media and fans are second to none. We are happy with the infrastructure, but we now have an opportunity to make some exciting changes to the circuit and fundamental improvements to the viewing experience for fans.

Happy birthday, Valentino Rossi!

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Valentino Rossi turns 30 today, 16th February 2009. The Fiat Yamaha rider has had an immensely successful career to date, winning eight world championships, 97 races and becoming the most successful premier-class rider of all time. As he enters his 14th season in the world championship, his sixth with Yamaha, he is still the dominating force in the sport, having recaptured the title in typically exciting style last season.

Below is a collection of quotes from colleagues, fellow riders, family and a few of his more famous fans. Some are recollections of favorite moments with Valentino, whilst some are simply messages for him on the day he turns 30. All are different ways of saying 'Happy Birthday, Valentino!'

Davide Brivio (Fiat Yamaha Team Manager)

"I don't really have a favorite memory of Valentino, or at least it's difficult to choose the 'absolute best!' The first one that comes to mind however is just after the Welkom race in 2004, his famous first MotoGP race with Yamaha. Before Valentino finally joined Yamaha, during one of the meetings the previous September, he said that he wanted to win his first race with Yamaha! This immediately created a lot of pressure for me and for Yamaha, but anyway I promised him that we would all try all our best. Honestly at that time I felt that it was going to be a very difficult thing to achieve! During the final few pre-season tests the chances of doing it began to look better and better, but in a race itself anything can happen. Incredibly, he won that race in Welkom and just after it, after the technical meeting had finished, we were alone in his changing room. Somebody had left a bottle of wine in the fridge and we opened it and raised a toast to that day way back in September, when he had first said that he wanted to win this race. "We did it!" I said to him. It was a very emotional moment for me because it was the moment we achieved our very first target together. Happy Birthday!"

Cesare Cremonini (Singer and friend)

"Vale is a fighter, but armed with a smile. I've never seen him lose his humanity, even in the most difficult moments. One time I found him making gags and jokes as if he was at home with friends, when in fact he had just a couple of minutes to go before a decisive race. While he was putting on his leathers, ready to go out and challenge the world, he transmitted a joy for life, listening to a song on his ipod. "Ciao Ragazzi! See you later!" He said. Then came a sweeping victory at the limits of possibility and a long night of partying together! Happy Birthday, Vale!"

Tom Cruise (Actor and Rossi Fan)

"Valentino, You are a true champion. You keep raising the bar, relentlessly pursuing the next race, the next challenge, the next championship. I also know that the victories don't necessarily become easier. You have to dig deeper, work even harder, become more focused to overcome the distractions. That's what you do. And I, like countless others, know that when you're on that track anything is possible. It was my great pleasure to be there at Laguna Seca and see you take that victory. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it! You certainly don't disappoint! Thank you for all the great races you have given us, and for all the great races yet to come. Happy Birthday."

Daniel-Day Lewis (Actor and Rossi Fan)

"Every race, every win, every championship! Vale the kid in the portaloo is an old favourite, always irresistible in victory and gracious in defeat (not that he had to prove it very often!) But the all-time favourite memory for me would be him at Laguna Seca going inside Stoner through the dirt. Death or glory; the whole race an answer to those daft enough still to have a question. And to have shaken the hand of that man - that I won't forget either."

Aldo Drudi (Designer and Rossi Fan)

Rick Ware Racing adds sponsor for 2009

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Rick Ware Racing (RWR) is proud to announce that EPH Tools & Machining LTD. Has joined the organization as an associate sponsor for the 2009 season.

EPH TOOLS & MACHINING LTD. is a family owned Automotive Production Equipment Supplier mainly involved in the tube bending industry. EPH Tools was originally established in 1987 by present owners Ted & Phyllis Hayes and is located in Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada. The company has grown from a two-person operation to its current fifty-employee base and is the largest employer in this unique area of Rural Northern Ontario, Canada. EPH Tools is very well known in the Automotive Tube Bending Industry throughout North America, Mexico, and also does machines for Australia and other Global Markets as well.

"EPH has been involved in racing since 2002 and on behalf of all of us at EPH Tools; we wish Ware Racing a very safe and successful year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series", stated Ted Hayes.

"We are excited that EPH Tools has joined with us again. It's been a few years since our NASCAR days, but they are a great company and more so, great people and we are glad to be together again. EPH Tools will be featured on the AMA and NASCAR entries for RWR this season in 110 events.

CHRISTIE TO RACE WITH HONDA IN 2009

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

TORONTO, Ont. (February 13) -- Canadian Amateur 600 Sport Bike champion Jodi Christie will ride Honda motorcycles in his bid for the 2009 HJC Pro Rookie of the Year Award in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

The 16-year-old from Keene, Ont. will compete aboard a CBR600RR in the Yoshimura Pro 600 Sport Bike class and Parts Canada Superbike feature division with backing from the Honda Powerhouse Dealers of Ontario.

His equipment will be prepared by Ben Gartner and his Port Perry, Ont.-based ProStar Motorsports outfit.

"I am very happy to be teamed up with the Honda Powerhouse Dealers of Ontario and ProStar Motorsports," Christie said. "I am confident we have a solid team put together for my Pro rookie season. I am anxious to race with the other Pro riders and learn from this experience."

Christie burst onto the national racing scene last year by claiming the Armour Bodies Amateur 600 Sport Bike title in his first attempt with three wins in six races. He also earned pole position in qualifying for every round and set class lap records at three venues.

In Ontario, Christie won the Amateur Superbike and 600 Sport Bike titles in the RACE SuperSeries Championship based out of Shannonville Motorsport Park with eight race wins, nine podium finishes and four lap records.

After an impressive tryout last fall he was scheduled to compete in the AMA Red Bull Rookies Cup in the U.S. this summer, but that program was cancelled in mid-January.

"Although I am not riding in the Red Bull Rookies Cup any more I am excited to be back in Canada and riding under a great team," Christie added.

In addition to his Parts Canada Superbike Championship commitments, Christie will also race in the Pro Superbike and 600 Sport Bike classes of the RACE SuperSeries at Shannonville, using Pirelli tires on his Honda motorcycles.

Christie will make his Pro debut at the Parts Canada Superbike official preseason Pirelli tire test in Jennings, Fla. April 28-29.

Marco Melandri to join Speedcar in Qatar

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

MotoGP Champion Marco Melandri to make Speedcar debut in Qatar

MotoGP star Marco Melandri will be making his Speedcar Series debut at the Losail International Circuit on February 12-14, 2009.

The World Champion of the 2002 MotoGP (250 cc) will team up with Heinz Harald Frentzen driving for Team Lavaggi. The Italian biker will for the first time be racing a car on a permanent circuit having appeared in a touring car race at the Bologna Motor Show in 2006.

Melandri may be new to car racing but he is familiar with the Losail International Circuit having ridden on the track in the MotoGP. It will be of interest to see how his biking experience will help him in a Speedcar.

Fourteen drivers and seven teams will compete in Speedcar Series' first night race over the race weekend. The third leg of the season will also see 2 other new drivers, Qataris Ahamad Al Kuwari and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani join the fray.

The two local drivers will form the QMMF (Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation) team. Both drivers will have the advantage of having raced on the track before when competing in the Qatar National Road Racing Championship (QNRRCH).

MotoGP: Yamaha Sepang test summary

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Fiat Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo rounded off the first test of the 2009 season in strong style, with the Italian finishing second, less than one tenth off Casey Stoner. His Spanish team-mate was seventh and inside the lap record pace for the first time this week.

Rossi continued to focus mainly on electronics on the last day as he looked to fine-tune the 2009 M1 step-by-step. With the stitches in his hand and foot he decided not to attempt a long-run, but was able to improve on his time from previous days by half a second and recorded a best lap of 2'01.137.

Lorenzo had struggled to find confidence on the first two days of tests but on the final day found his rhythm with the new Bridgestone tires. He was delighted to complete a long-run of 22 laps and his best lap of the day, in a time of 2'01.907, was over a second quicker compared to previous times during this test.

The next stop for the team is a night test at Doha in Qatar on 1st, 2nd and 3rd February.

Valentino Rossi - Position: 2nd Time: 2'01.137 Laps: 43

"I am leaving this place feeling happy, because we've made a good start. Everything went well: my pain is less, the bike is good and I am feeling better and better. We finished everything we wanted to do on the bike and the setting and the rhythm is quite good. The lap time is fast so we have made a good start. We didn't do the long run, but actually we didn't need to. Without my injury maybe it would have been possible, but in this situation we decided to leave it. My injuries are getting better each day because they're only cuts and they're healing fast. I don't think that they made much difference to my speed here and by the Qatar test I will be back in perfect shape. I did the fastest lap today with the hard Bridgestone tire, so it means that the bike is good. For sure we need to improve some more but since this year we have less testing, this performance has been very important. The first test of the year is always difficult, even if you trained a lot in the winter, so I am happy! Qatar will be interesting, because last year we weren't strong there, but then last year the bike was not yet ready when we went to the first race in Doha. I am really looking forward to the next text there."

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 7th Time: 2'01.907 Laps: 61

"I am very happy because I've seen how fast I can ride with the Bridgestone tires. Today has definitely been the best day for me at this opening test of the year. Also, we have been able to do a long run in hot conditions with 32 degrees (36 in the afternoon!), and I was able to finish 22 laps without stopping.I was tired when I finished but it was incredible; the rhythm was good and my best lap was right at the end, when I did a 2'01.9. This means that I have improved over a second since yesterday and we have made a big step forward. We need kilometres under our belt and we've got some week! All the team worked hard up until the last minute and now they will keep going so we can try to go even better in Qatar next month. We have to continue in the same way as today, improving all the time, because we don't have that much time until the first race!"

Bridgestone completes successful first test of 2009

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The first test of the 2009 MotoGP season was successfully concluded today with all 17 riders in attendance using Bridgestone tires under the single tire ruling that has come into effect for this season.

After three days of uninterrupted running in the Malaysian heat, Ducati Team's Casey Stoner finished fastest, followed closely by Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi. With every machine equipped with the same tires, the top five riders were separated by just 0.5seconds.

As per the new single tire supplier regulations, Bridgestone brought two compounds of its slick tire to the test - medium and hard. Each rider was supplied with a total of ten sets of tires during the course of the three days, as well as an additional three tires (one front and two rears) for Bridgestone's testing purposes.

On the opening day of the test every rider was allocated two medium sets and two hard sets of tires. A further three sets of tires were provided per additional day with each rider selecting his combination of compounds.

The test gave Bridgestone an excellent opportunity to continue working closely with all this year's teams and riders and also to introduce two different specifications of extra hard compound rear tire, under development for races later in the season such as the Sachsenring and Phillip Island. Each rider was offered one of each specification, along with an additional hard compound front tire for the testing runs, and the performance of each closely monitored.

Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Race Tire Development

"The test has been very successful for us as all the teams responded positively to the performance and durability of our tires, and we have gathered some valuable data relating to our extra hard compound rear tires. This will allow us to determine the best way to develop these for races later in the season. The test has also given us a lot of information that will allow us to ensure we select the correct tire compound choices for future hot races."

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit

Bridgestone MotoGP: 2009 tire supply

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:00:00 GMT

In 2009 Bridgestone begins the first of three seasons as the official tire supplier to the MotoGP World Championship. This will represent a very different approach for tire supply to motor cycling's premier sports category from its previous competitive tire supply environment. Hiroshi Yamada, Bridgestone Motorsport, Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit, explains some of the differences at of the start of pre-season testing in Malaysia.

Q+A with Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit

How many specifications of tire will there be in 2009? We will have four different specifications of front tire and six different specifications of rear tire for the season.

How many specifications will there be at each race for each rider? There will be two specifications of dry front tire and two specifications of dry rear tire for use at every event. In addition there will be a single specification of wet tire.

How will Bridgestone determine the tire specifications for the season?

We will have to supply tires for all the circuits we visit from only four front tire specifications and six rear tire specifications, so it is clear that there is a change of approach from when we faced tire competition and we were always making new specifications. In determining our specifications we have to ensure our tire range can cover all of the circuits, and all of the likely temperature conditions. This means the operating range of the individual tire specifications is wider than we have seen previously.

How are the tire allocations determined for each event?

The choice of the two tire specifications for front and rear each race ultimately lies with Bridgestone. However we will make these decisions based on the data we have accumulated in conjunction with all of the manufacturers in 2008 and from races and tests in 2009. We have extensive knowledge of most of the circuits we visit so we are confident we can make good choices.

Different bikes and riders use their tires differently - how can you ensure fairness?

We have already worked with all of the current MotoGP manufacturers so we are familiar with the characteristics of their bikes, just as they are familiar with our tires. Even from the early stages of the end of 2008 tests we received very positive feedback. Also, as our tires are not developed during the season, the teams can develop their bikes to maximise their performance with our tires.

AMA-SC San Francisco: Series practice notes

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Stewart and Dungey Post Fastest Practice Lap Times at Monster Energy® Supercross at AT&T Park

SAN FRANCISCO (January 31, 2009) -- At today's Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FI Motorcycle World Championship, at AT&T Park James Stewart, who rides for the San Manuel Yamaha team, and Ryan Dungey, who rides for the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team, clocked the fastest practice lap times. Stewart, of Haines City Fla., posted a 49.477 lap time with Rockstar/Makita's Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., posting a 50.145 lap time. Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., turned in a 49.819 lap time in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class.

Honda 2009 Motorcycle Racing Plans

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

With its motorsports activities as the symbol of Honda's challenging spirit, the company has competed in a variety of races since the days of it's founding, aiming for the top level in the world. Constantly striving to fulfill big dreams and high aspirations, Honda has pursued the challenge of leading-edge innovation.

In 1954, Soichiro Honda, the company's founder, announced Honda's intention to take part in the Isle of Man T.T. Race, a Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (WGP) race. Honda started competing in the WGP five years later in 1959. In 1961, only the company's third season, Honda succeeded in dominating the 125cc and 250cc classes of the Isle of Man T.T. Race, winning the top five positions in both classes. Honda also earned its first rider's and manufacturer's titles in both the 125cc and 250cc classes, titles the company had eagerly awaited. Since then, Honda has taken on challenges in a variety of motorcycle race categories.

A logo commemorating the 50th anniversary of Honda's participation in the WGP is attached to the machines and to the uniforms of the riders in each race.

For 2009, the 50th anniversary of the start of Honda participation in the WGP, the company has set its sights on recapturing the championship in the MotoGP class, the top WGP class. Honda will tackle this challenge by drawing on its advanced technologies. Honda aims to continue working on new endeavors with the know-how it has accumulated up to now, along with the spirit of challenge fostered through these motorsports activities, with the hope of sharing the dreams and excitement from these activities with its customers

FIM* Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix

MotoGP class
Honda has set its sights on recapturing the three championship titles of rider, manufacturer and team in the MotoGP class, the top class of the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (WGP), with a total of six riders competing, including satellite team members. Honda plans to race six RC212V machines, which have been further evolved with state-of-the-art technologies.

The Repsol Honda works team will compete with two riders: Dani Pedrosa, in his forth year in the MotoGP class, and Andrea Dovizioso, Pedrosa's new works team teammate. Yuki Takahashi moves up from the 250cc to the MotoGP class this season to compete as a satellite team member. As the only Japanese rider in the MotoGP class, expectations for his success in the series are high .
*1: FIM stands for Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme.

250cc class
In the 250cc class, Honda will field six riders from a total of four teams. Hiroshi Aoyama, Raffaele De Rosa and Ratthapark Wilairot will ride the RS250RW. Moving up to the world championship series this season for a greater challenge is Shoya Tomizawa, who until last year, competed in the GP250 class of the All-Japan Road Race Championship Series. Tomizawa, along with Bastien Chesaux and Toni Wirsing, will take part in the race on an RS250R.

FIM World Trials Championship Series

For the FIM World Trials Championship Series (WCT), Honda will run two Montesa COTA 4RTs equipped with highly competitive 4-stroke engines. With riders Toni Bou, champion for the last two years, and Takahisa Fujinami, the only Japanese rider competing in the WCT, Honda aims to capture the rider's title for the third consecutive year and its forth consecutive manufacturer's title.

Ama SC San Francisco: Round five preview

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Stewart Carries Three-Race Win Streak into AT&T Park Saturday Night

AURORA, Ill. (January 26, 2009) -- Team San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., brings a three-race win streak to San Francisco this Saturday night as the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns to AT&T Park. Stewart, the 2006 winner in San Francisco, trails defending AMA Supercross class champion and current points leader Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., by nine points. In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship, Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., carries a two-race win streak and the championship points lead into AT&T Park. Fans can take advantage of several discounts that are now available, including a $10-off coupon from participating Big O Tire locations, $40 off with purchase of the Fan Four Pack at participating Jack in the Box locations and free Extreme Value ticket vouchers are available at OTD Cycle Sports.

Last Saturday night at Houston's Reliant Stadium, Stewart picked up that third consecutive race win before 48,277 fans and moved into second place in overall points standings. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., started the AMA Supercross class main event with the holeshot with Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., and Team Yamaha's Josh Hill, from Yoncalla, of Murrieta, Calif., followed in second and third respectively. Stewart was fourth while Reed found himself mired in eighth.

By the end of lap one Stewart moved into second place and set his eyes on Villopoto who held down the lead. Villopoto didn't make it easy for Stewart to take over the lead, but on lap three thee Yamaha rider moved into the number-one position and rode on to victory. Further back in the pack Reed was working his way into the lead and by lap 12 he moved into second place where he finished. Villopoto held on to round out the podium in third.

"I felt good all day," said Stewart. "I knew it was going to come down to the start. I love it here in Texas so I would like to say thanks to all of (the fans). It was all good clean racing tonight, especially with Villopoto. I had a great line over in the whoops and it all just worked out tonight. Every week we get better and my San Manuel Yamaha is working great."

Despite having to wait yet another week to capture his first win of 2009, Reed still maintained the points lead after another valiant effort. He currently holds a nine point advantage over Stewart.

"That was tough those first few laps," explained Reed. "I had to be smart and keep it up. It was tough racing tonight. James (Stewart) is riding great and I wish I could get better starts to make it better for the fans.

"It was tough for me this weekend, I don't know why, so to get second is awesome. It was really a struggle all weekend. I didn't have the groove and I was pushing it, and I fell a few times in practice, so it wasn't for lack of trying. I'm happy that we didn't lose any ground this weekend, even though we struggled a bit."

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., won his second career AMA Supercross Lites class race to open the Eastern Regional Championship.

MotoGP: Bridgestone 2009 season preview

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Bridgestone looks forward to Official tire Supplier Status from 2009

Bridgestone is pleased to confirm that it has signed the final contract with Dorna to be the Official tire Supplier for the MotoGP class in the FIM MotoGP World Championship for a three-year period commencing with the 2009 season. This follows a tender process which took place in 2008.

The agreement covers the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons where all MotoGP competitors will exclusively use Bridgestone tires. Riders using Bridgestone tires have won the past two MotoGP seasons. In 2007 Ducati rider Casey Stoner was the first competitor to win the title using Bridgestone tires, whilst Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi won last season's title.

The opening round of the 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship will take place at the Losail circuit in Doha, Qatar on the evening of April 12th.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, Chief Executive Officer of Dorna, said: "We're delighted to have secured Bridgestone as sole tire supplier for all teams in the MotoGP class of the FIM World Championship for the next three years. Bridgestone is a company with a fantastic reputation and they make an outstanding contribution to motorsport. We strongly believe that this new agreement is very positive as it will simultaneously reduce costs and increase competition in MotoGP."

Hiroshi Yasukawa - Director of Bridgestone Motorsport, said:

"Becoming the 'Official tire Supplier to the MotoGP World Championship' is a prestigious honour for Bridgestone and we await the start of the 2009 season with great anticipation.

"In these turbulent times of economic crisis, Bridgestone is delighted to be working positively with Dorna to make an exciting contribution to MotoGP. We are dedicated to our support of MotoGP and being chosen as the official tire supplier shows the high regard in which we are held by the sport in which we have been involved since 2002. Our participation in MotoGP is an important element of our position as the foremost tire supplier in motorsport.

"In supplying all MotoGP competitors we will treat manufacturers, teams and riders with fairness and to do this we can draw on our experience of supplying all of the teams in Formula One with our tires for the past two seasons. We hope that having all riders using our tires will mean exciting races in MotoGP for the next three seasons."

Bridgestone in MotoGP:

This Week in Supercross: Houston

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Opening Race for Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Championship

AURORA, Ill. (January 23, 2009) -- Reliant Stadium will play host to the highly anticipated opening race of the 2009 Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship tomorrow as Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, drops the gate in Houston for the 43rd time in history.

The Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship will be headlined by last year's winner at Reliant Stadium, Austin Stroupe (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), rookie Blake Wharton (Geico Powersports Honda), veteran Brett Metcalfe (GEICO Powersports Honda), sophomore Wil Hahn (MDK/KTM) and 2008 AMA Supercross Lites third-place finisher Nico Izzi (Rockstar/Makita Suzuki).

Wharton, who is from Texas, makes his professional AMA Supercross Lites class debut this weekend.

"I'm really looking forward to racing my first AMA Supercross Lites race this weekend," said Wharton. "I have put a lot of work into my starts because I've learned that a good start is everything in supercross racing. My plan is to be consistent because you can't afford to crash or fade with only 13 laps in a race. I have been practicing at the Honda test track in Corona everyday riding with the Honda riders, and I feel ready and prepared to race my first race for GEICO Powersports Honda this weekend in Houston."

At last weekend's race in Anaheim, defending, two-time AMA Supercross class champion Reed took over the championship points lead, thanks to a second-place finish. Prior to that, Reed had tallied two more podium results.

"I feel good about Houston," said Reed. "Houston is a lot like Phoenix for me; it's a race where I've kind of struggled over the last few years. I look forward to going there and putting in a solid ride on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450. The track at Anaheim last weekend was dry and slick and difficult to pass on, and I learned a lot about falling and when you need to dig deep and really go for it. I think Houston is going to be good, it's a stadium I enjoy, it's the new one and a football arena, so there are a lot more 180-degree turns, which I really enjoy."

Geico Honda's Kevin Windham is the defending winner of the Houston race. Last weekend in Anaheim he finished a season-best third place.

"It was great to be back up on the podium last weekend," said Windham. "Knowing the success I had in Houston last year, winning the event, I feel confident heading there again. The GEICO Powersports Honda team put a lot of work into each race and I am confident we will again be on the box this weekend. Since the start of the year I have been in California riding and training, and I'm really looking forward to seeing my friends and family again. I'm especially looking forward to seeing my wife and daughters--they always give me energy."

Honda Red Bull Racing's Ivan Tedesco, who missed this race last year due to injury, has finished sixth (Anaheim 1), fourth (Phoenix) and seventh (Anaheim 2). He's currently sixth overall in the AMA Supercross class standings.

"I just want to get on the box this weekend. I just want to put A2 behind me and move on to Houston. I didn't get to race Houston last year because I was out injured so I am keen to race in front of the Texas crowd again."

Honda Red Bull Racing's Davi Millsaps would rather forget the first three races of his 2009 season, finishing 12th (Anaheim 1), 12th (Phoenix) and 10th (Anaheim 2).

SUPERCASINO.COM TO BACK BIRD'S WORLD SUPERBIKE BID

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Hot on the heels of the recent announcement that loyal long-term sponsors Vent Axia and Kick Energy were to back Paul Bird's works Kawasakis in the 2009 World Superbike Championship, the team has secured another lucrative deal with gaming giants SuperCasino.com.

SuperCasino.com was launched in October 2008 and is the new home of Live Roulette, Live Blackjack and the other games. It is part of the NetPlay plc group of companies and is the latest brainchild of Martin Higginson who was the man behind Bird's long-term association with Monstermob.

After a couple of years away from the sport, the lure and excitement of the PBM team being awarded the official contract to run the works Kawasaki team in WSB meant Higginson saw an ideal opportunity to re-establish his association with the team that won three British Championships in his colours.

Higginson's association with Birdy's team has seen them achieve plenty of milestones over the years. They gave James Toseland his Superbike debut in 2000 on the Demon-backed Vimto Honda and won the British Superbike Championship with both the late Steve Hislop in 2002 and Shane Byrne the following year on the Monstermob Ducatis. Stuart Easton also sampled British Supersport Championship success as well as John McGuinness winning a number of TTs and the Macau GP for the pairing. But perhaps the crowning moment was when Shakey topped the podium twice as a wild card at Brands Hatch when he beat the best in the World Superbike Championship in 2003.

Now with the impressive new workshop facilities built and with riders Broc Parkes and Makoto Tamada enjoying a successful test at Almeria last week before the official WSB tests in Portugal this weekend, anticipation is high for the Cumbrian-based team.

"Paul's team will be a major player in this year's World Superbike Championship so the time was right for us to link up again. We wanted a professional and successful platform to continue the fantastic growth of our SuperCasino.com brand and I know Birdy's the man to do that for us in WSB. I'm delighted to be part of this and along with the other sponsors, I can't wait to go racing" said Higginson.

Bird is also very enthusiastic about the deal. "Martin and I have been friends for years and when he suggested coming on board, I leapt at the chance to work with him again. We haven't even discussed a budget yet but I'm sure that won't be a problem and we hope for this to be another long-term association as when he's with us, he brings us a lot of luck!"

AMA-SC Houston: Round four preview

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

A Tight Monster Energy® Supercross Chase Sets Stage for Excitement at Reliant Stadium; $10 Treadhead® Seats Still Available for Monster Energy® Supercross Race in Houston

AURORA, Ill. (January 20, 2009) -- While San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., is on a two-race win streak, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., takes over the points race as Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, heads to Houston's Reliant Stadium this Saturday night. With tickets available for as low as $10, fans can watch this epic showdown in the AMA Supercross class and the opening race of the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class.

With three races completed, the hotly contested AMA Supercross class has seen two winners, JGRMX/Yamaha/Toyota's Josh Grant (Anaheim 1) and Stewart (Phoenix & Anaheim 2). Last Saturday night 43,009 Monster Energy® fans at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., watched Stewart win his second consecutive race of the year and chipped away at the points deficient he was faced with after finishing 19th at the season opener.

Heading into Phoenix's Chase Field Stewart was 23 points out of the points race; his victory there moved him up to seventh place in the standings (18 points out of the points standings) and a win Saturday night in Anaheim moved him into fourth place, just 12 points behind Reed. A three-time winner in Houston, Stewart continues his quest to the top.

"I didn't get the greatest start," said Stewart. "It was a freight train out front, but I was able to get around Windham (Kevin) and Ryan (Villopoto). I came up short on the triple jump and lost my back brake for a few laps."

Reed knows something about comebacks as well. Starting in last place Saturday night in Anaheim, Reed used every lap of the 20-lap main event to claw his way into second place, which was good enough to take over the points lead from Grant. Reed, a two-time winner in Houston, races for his first win of the 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross season.

"I was somewhere in the top five off the start and someone took me out," said Reed. "I tried to play damage control tonight," added Reed. "It was a super difficult track to pass on. We have the points lead now, so I am so excited. Our team has been working their butts off, and I am confident. I tried to be smart for 20 laps. I knew these guys would get tired, so I kept my head down and charged hard."

The AMA Supercross class main event at Angel Stadium began with GEICO Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., winning the holeshot and leading the first 10 laps before Stewart passed him for the lead.

The riders competing on the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship will take a break as the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship begins at Reliant Stadium. Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., takes a six point lead into the break over Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif.

Coming into Anaheim, Dungey enjoyed a two-point lead. In the main event, he passed Morais for the lead and rode off to his second consecutive race win of the season and extended his points lead.

"It was a great ride," said Dungey. "I heard the fans every step of the way. The track played out really good for us. This is really enjoyable. We have a two week break in the Lites class, so we can go back and work hard and show up prepared for the next race."

Supercross Anaheim II: Round three summary

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Stewart Races to Second Win in a Row as Reed Moves into Monster Energy(R) Supercross Points Lead; Dungey Extends Lites Class Points Lead with Anaheim 2 Victory

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 17, 2009) - Before 43,009 fans at Angel Stadium, Team San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his second consecutive Monster Energy(R) AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., moved into the AMA Supercross class points lead with a valiant come-from-behind race where he started in 20th and finished second. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won his second consecutive Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race.

GEICO Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., led the AMA Supercross class through turn one as he picked up the holeshot award. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Mike Alessi, of Apple Valley, Calif., and JGRMX/Yamaha/Toyota's Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., followed in second and third respectively. Defending champion Reed started in 20th place after a first turn crash and Stewart was near the middle of the pack.

"I was somewhere in the top five off the start and someone took me out," said Reed.

After two laps, Stewart made his way into fourth place, and by lap six his was in third place. By lap eight Stewart held down second place and Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., was third. Out front, Windham was unable to hold off Stewart, who made the pass for the lead on lap 10.

On lap 18 Reed moved into second place and chased down Windham on the last lap to finish second.

"I tried to play damage control tonight," added Reed. "It was a super difficult track to pass on. We have the points lead now, so I am so excited. Our team has been working their butts off, and I am confident. I tried to be smart for 20 laps. I knew these guys would get tired, so I kept my head down and charged hard."

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., jumped out of the gate to win the holeshot award in the AMA Supercross Lites class main event. Following in second and third place were GEICO Powersports Honda's Dan Reardon, of Menifee, Calif., and Dungey respectively.

Wrooom ice race report

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Wrooom: Shutting down on the track

Madonna di Campiglio, 16th January - The curtain fell on the 19th edition of the Wrooom meeting with the traditional race on the ice track at Madonna di Campiglio. A feverish Kimi Raikkonen and Marc Gene - who should have been in a test session with the F60 at Vairano, but which had to be canceled due to the bad weather conditions - were not present. Meanwhile the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro's drivers Felipe Massa and Luca Badoer, and a third driver, replacing Marc Gene, Massa's little brother Eduardo, sat behind the wheels. The Brazilian vice-champion ended the race in second place, after being overtaken on the penultimate lap by the Australian Ducati Marlboro Team driver Casey Stoner. His team-mate, the American Nicky Hayden, crossed the line third, ahead of Luca Badoer, Ducati Marlboro Team test driver Vittoriano Guareschi and Eduardo Massa.

CLAUDIO DOMENICALI REVEALS DESMOSEDICI GP9 SECRETS

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Madonna di Campiglio, Trento. The second day of the Wrooom - MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2009 took place under light but constant snowfall today, forcing the presentation of the new Ducati Desmosedici GP9 to be put back until tomorrow, Thursday 15th January, when it will be unveiled against the spectacular backdrop of the Dolomite mountain range in Madonna di Campiglio. Today's programme was still a packed one, however, with Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Corse and General Director of Ducati Products, taking the chair in this morning's press conference. Domenicali answered questions from the international press about the technical updates on the GP9, commenting also on the major talking points of the coming season and last year's campaign.

"As always it's a pleasure to be here at Madonna di Campiglio for Wrooom 2009", said Domenicali, before briefly assessing the 2008 season for Ducati Marlboro Team. "Last season was certainly exciting, with some great moments for us and others that were obviously difficult. When you look at the numbers we won six races, set pole position on nine occasions and set the fastest lap in eight races. If it wasn't for probably the best Valentino ever, coming back from two difficult seasons and rediscovering the strength to have an exceptional season, those numbers would have surely added up to a successful defence of the world title. When you consider these excellent results and the fact that Casey (Stoner) is still only 23 years old, with plenty of potential to improve even more, once the disappointment is out of the way we can't be anything but satisfied with 2008 and confident about the season to come. For 2009 we have many new things, starting with the bike: the GP9 is characterised by a major change in the chassis, with the switch from the traditional Ducati steel trellis chassis with a carbon fibre frame that brings the upper part of the engine up to the level of the steering column. It is a change we have thought about and tested for a long time, firstly with Vittoriano (Guareschi), who is always our first point of reference. He gave his approval to the new system and then the official riders tested it at Barcelona. We won the MotoGP World Championship with the trellis frame so it clearly a very effective design but we have been looking to take another step forward that can help us overcome some of the problems we've had, specifically with the MotoGP bike. Amongst the other updates on the GP9 one of the most relevant is an evolution of the engine management system, with a new combination of airbox and mapping that should provide a flatter power curve and improve rideability, as well as improving outright power, which currently remains more or less the same as last year. Another new thing for 2009 is the arrival of Nicky (Hayden) to the team. He has been very amenable from the start and he is a rider who perfectly fits in with our motto of never giving up. We think he's the ideal team-mate for Casey and I'm sure they can develop a positive team spirit. He has started out with the right attitude because he had a tough first day at Valencia, more difficult than we had imagined, but he ended the December test just a couple of hundredths of a second off the third fastest lap time and that is very satisfying."

Silverstone to host MotoGP from 2010

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Silverstone Circuits Limited has announced that, following the signing of a five year agreement with Dorna Sports (the commercial rights holder for MotoGP), the world famous Northamptonshire circuit will host the British Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) from 2010. MotoGP is the pinnacle of two-wheeled racing and features the best riders and fastest race bikes in the world. Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, is thrilled to see top flight motorcycle racing back on the calendar at the Home of British Motor Racing.

Phillips commented, "Silverstone is the UK's premier motor racing venue and we are thoroughly looking forward to hosting the world's premier motorcycle racing event from 2010. We have worked closely with Dorna Sports to bring MotoGP to Silverstone and both parties are extremely excited about the opportunity to take this world-class event to another level.

"Silverstone is a unique UK race circuit; rich in heritage and unrivalled in terms of what we are able to offer fans, championships and teams. The Grand Prix circuit offers a combination of high speed straights and technical corners, presenting a real challenge to the riders, while the facilities for teams and spectators are second to none.

"The circuit is also recognised as being one of the most easily accessible in the world. All of these factors, along with Silverstone's vast experience of hosting world class international events, contributed to MotoGP coming to Silverstone."

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, commented, "We are delighted that the MotoGP World Championship is returning to Silverstone as of 2010. The venue has excellent facilities and a circuit with a great heritage, having hosted some superb Grand Prix racing in the 1970s and 1980s. We are sure that MotoGP's visits to the UK will continue to be highly successful when we make the historic move back to Silverstone next year."

Silverstone officials have been working closely with the FIM whose representatives have visited the circuit on several occasions. Alterations will be made to the circuit layout in order to comply with FIM regulations, while improvements to several spectator viewing areas are also planned. Full details of all track and venue changes will be announced in due course. Having hosted the FIM Road Racing World Championship (MotoGP) between 1977 and 1986, and rounds of the World Superbike Championship until 2007, Silverstone is no stranger to staging international two-wheeled events. Few who saw it will ever forget the classic battle between Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts at Silverstone in 1979. The Northamptonshire venue has also been a regular host of rounds of the British Superbike Championship.

Welcome rest day in Chile for KTM's Dakar stars

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

After seven days hard riding the four KTM factory riders are resting up in Valparaiso on the Chilean coast before tackling the remaining six days of racing.

Riders still have plenty to occupy themselves during the day off and to prepare for the second half of the race. The first week of this South American Dakar was supposed to be a �gentle' warm up but has turned out to be as tough as any �African' Dakar that has gone before it. And it is certain that next week is going to be even tougher�

Marc Coma (Repsol KTM) 1st overall
"When people back home watch us on television and see the towns we pass through, the bivouacs we are sleeping in, I think they might get the wrong impression. Obviously the living conditions in South America are easier than in Africa, but let me tell you, out on the piste the Dakar spirit is very much there. It has been an extremely tough week - at least as hard as any other Dakar I have done before. My week has gone reasonably well, and for sure I am happy to be in the lead, but the situation with the rear mousse has been a big additional stress. All we can try and do is make the best choice for the day ahead and hope that it is the right one. I have been lucky that Jordi (Viladoms) and Gerard (Farres) have been so close behind me and that has helped reduce the problem - but for sure it is always in the back of my mind. The restart will see us heading into the Chilean desert and I am sure it will be very beautiful. I am also sure it will be very hard. Physically I feel strong and I think I am going to need all that strength!"

Cyril Despres (Red Bull KTM) 5th overall (at 1h35'23)
"It looks like Jordi (Viladoms) is going to get a 20 minute time penalty which means I will move up to fifth overall. That means that in one week I have moved up 17 places - though obviously the closer you get to the lead the harder those places are to take! Clearly in terms of pure speed Marc and I are pretty evenly matched, but the Dakar is an endurance race and we have seen before that anything can happen. Here in South American with the mousse �surprises' and the fact that we know the terrain much less that is even more the case. It is why I remain convinced that I still have a chance of final victory and why I will keep pushing all the way to the end. We haven't yet received tomorrow's road book, but looking at the profile of the stages to come it would seem that the next six days are going to be even tougher. The harder they are the better my chances of being able to pull back time."

Economy hits Kawasaki, riders left stranded

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

They may have finished last in the manufacturers' title fight last year, but their riders gave it their best shot. Now the downfall of the economy seems to have affected Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. with news that they have elected to pull the plug for the 2009 MotoGP season.

American John Hopkins, who has been with the team since 2008, and newly signed Italian rider, Marco Melandri, are now left without a ride for the 2009 season. It was reported that Kawasaki spent over $40 million US dollars annually to campaign in the top-level bike series. How much of that amount was paid to the riders is unknown.

Per the official press release from Kawasaki: "Amid quickly changing business environment, Kawasaki has been promptly taking countermeasures to cope with the situation. As the world economy is not likely to recover in a short period due to the major impact of the financial crisis, Kawasaki decided to suspend its MotoGP racing activities from 2009 season onward and reallocate management resources more efficiently."

The Californian rider Hopkins now lives in Miami, Fla., and after finding success in America with two AMA titles, he moved to Europe with Yamaha in 2002, taking on the world's best road racers. However one year later, he made the switch to Suzuki and over his five years with the team, he ended with one pole (his first and only in '06). His best season came in 2007, placing fourth in the overall standings with four podium finishes.

This past season, Hopkins signed with Kawasaki and his best finish was fifth at Portuguese Grand Prix. A heavy high-speed crash in qualifying for the Dutch TT sidelined the American rider for two races, including his home race at Laguna Seca while he underwent surgery to his left ankle. Ironically, both Kawasaki riders had a tough time at Assen as teammate Anthony West crashed out of the race.

On September 14, 2008, the Kawasaki Racing Team, signed Melandri to a two-year contract which was to begin this year. The 2002 250cc champion hails from Ravenna, Italy and landed his first ride in the faster MotoGP machines in 2002 with Yamaha.

Since his MotoGP debut, Melandri has amassed five victories and 19 podium finishes. Two years later, the Italian moved to the Tech 3 Yamaha satellite team, still searching for the elusive first win. After a rough start with a few podium finishes, Melandri and Yamaha parted ways. He ended up on a Honda and history was made when he earned two back-to-back grand prix events which was a first for Honda. The double victories moved Melandri to second in the 2005 final standings; his best overall finish to date.

Reed chasing first win for 2009 in Phoenix

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Defending AMA/World Supercross champion Chad Reed is aiming to steer clear of the chaos that shook up last weekend�s season opener and make his way to the top step of the podium at Phoenix�s Chase Field on Saturday.

The 26-year-old fought back to claim third at Anaheim 1 (A1) after a heated battle with a championship rival resulted in a spectacular crash before mid-race distance.

A race-fit Reed, fresh from dominating the Australasian Supercross Championship, was able to remount and push his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 through the field to salvage valuable points.

Reed said he was looking forward to another competitive showing in Phoenix.

�The team has been working really hard, it�s very early in the season but all signs are positive so far,� said Reed.

�My speed at Anaheim was good, the bike was awesome � the win was there for the taking but in the end I ran out of laps.

�Consistency will be important this season, we�ve got a very competitive field of riders capable of taking top points so it will be vital to stay fit and out of trouble.

�This was my first AMA Supercross race with the team and I really feel like I am fitting in well, these guys are passionate about what they do and determined to keep that number 1 on the bike.�

Reed�s third place at A1 saw him take 20 points and third place overall in the season standings.

The fast-paced, 17-round championship is a true test of physical and mental strength for the world�s top riders.

AMA News

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

American Motorcyclist Association announces 85th anniversary celebration at 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days; Historic motorcycle parade to headline the event

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce that the Association will celebrate its 85th anniversary year in 2009 with a number of activities and events, culminating with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 24-26, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

One eye-catching activity at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be a motorcycle parade with bikes representing the more than eight decades the AMA has been protecting riders' rights, from 1924 through 2009. This distinctive collection of motorcycles will provide a physical and visual representation of the long and varied history of the AMA.

"We're excited about pulling together this rich symbol of the AMA's history, and assembling such a diverse collection of motorcycles will be no small feat," said Tigra Tsujikawa, AMA marketing and special events manager. "If any of our members would like to have his or her motorcycle considered for this special opportunity, I encourage them to call the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum at (614) 856-2221 or e-mail us at 85thparade@ama-cycle.org for details."

Founded in 1924, the AMA quickly became a national voice for the growing number of motorcycle clubs and riders in the U.S., a legacy that the Association has carried forward ever since. Today the AMA is the country's leading advocate for the protection and promotion of the motorcycling lifestyle and -- with more than 300,000 members -- it has grown to become the largest motorcycling organization in the world.

"During our 85 years, the AMA has undergone numerous changes to meet the evolving needs of our membership," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Currently, the AMA is positioning the organization to better serve all motorcyclists for the next 85 years and beyond. In 2009, we will recognize both this landmark anniversary and this exciting time of change with various events and activities, culminating at one of the year's can't-miss motorcycling events, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days."

In addition to the 85th anniversary celebration motorcycle parade, the AMA is asking its members to help the Association tell its story.

"We want to know from AMA members, 'Why did you join the AMA? What does motorcycling mean to you? What events, bikes or people represent your most memorable motorcycling moments?'" said Tsujikawa. "Remember that a picture tells a thousand words, so please include photographs whenever possible."

AMA members can e-mail their memories to 85thmemories@ama-cycle.org.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the proceeds of which benefit the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, has grown to become America's grandest celebration of motorcycling heritage, and features numerous activities inspired by all eras. In addition to activities tied to the AMA's 85th anniversary, the weekend will be loaded with highlights, including the world's largest motorcycle swap meet, demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, bike shows, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, club corrals that feature both marque and regional clubs, and guided rides through the rolling Ohio countryside.

Anaheim I: Round one summary

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Rookie Josh Grant Wins First-Ever Monster Energy® Supercross Race at Angel Stadium; Weimer Opens Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Championship with Huge Win

Anaheim, Calif. (November XX, 2009) -- JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha rookie Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., won the first AMA Supercross class race of his career before 42,309 fans at the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season opener at Angel Stadium. Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, won the opening race of the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship.

San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., picked up the AMA Supercross class holeshot as Grant and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed followed in third. Reed, the defending Monster Energy® Supercross champion, quickly moved into second place and began his chase on Stewart.

On lap 2 Reed passed Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion. Stewart answered back on lap six as he regained the lead, but just a few turns later Reed and Stewart collided, causing each of them to crash. Upon reentering the race, Stewart was hit by GEICO Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham. Stewart was unable to restart his bike and return to the race, while Reed reentered the race in third place.

Grant took over the lead and rode to a flawless win. Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short finished second and Reed finished third.

"I don't know what to say right now," said Grant. "To get my first win out of the way is huge, and I am so pumped. I saw those guys (Stewart and Reed) on the ground and just raced hard to the win."

GEICO Powersports Honda's Dan Reardon, of Menifee, Calif., opened the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event with the holeshot, leading Weimer and KTM's Justin Brayton, of Murrieta, Calif., through turn one.

Defending class champion Jason Lawrence was involved in a massive pile-up that collected several riders, including defending Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class champion Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla.

Weimer moved around Reardon on lap two and began to extend his lead. While riding in second and third place, respectively, Reardon and Brayton crashed into one another, losing several valuable positions. This allowed Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., to move into second.

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., started tonight's race in 10th place and finished third. Morais finished second and Weimer scored the second AMA Supercross Lites class win of his career and leads the points race.

Supercross series announces 2009 television package

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:00:00 GMT

2009 Monster Energy® Supercross Television Package Announced; 2009 Season Kicks off Live on SPEED Saturday Night

AURORA, Ill. (January 2, 2009) -- Feld Motor Sports announced today the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, original-airing television schedule on CBS Sports and SPEED. Coverage of the 2009 season began with the season preview show on Saturday, December 27 on CBS Sports. Like the 2008 season, each Monster Energy® Supercross race in 2009 will be broadcast in HD.

SPEED will air the opening round of Monster Energy® Supercross live from Angel Stadium on Saturday, January 3 from 7:00-10:30 p.m. PST. The television team, consisting of pit reporter Erin Bates, analyst Jeff Emig and play-by-play announcer Ralph Sheheen, will deliver the live race call. SPEED will air a combined 28-plus hours of original programming throughout the 2009 season in addition to the repeat airings, which have yet to be announced.

CBS Sports will close out the season with a wrap-up show Sunday, May 3 recapping what is expected to be one of the most competitive seasons ever. In total, CBS Sports will carry nine hours of Monster Energy® Supercross coverage.

"Partnering with CBS Sports and SPEED once again gives supercross strong network and cable coverage to new and existing Monster Energy® Supercross fans," said Todd Jendro, senior director of supercross, Feld Motor Sports, Inc. "CBS Sports kicked off the year off with its annual Monster Energy® Supercross preview show that foreshadowed what could be one of the greatest seasons ever. Eight more hours of network coverage on CBS Sports will follow. SPEED will dedicate original and repeat airings of the AMA Supercross class and the AMA Supercross Lites class. Additionally, 2009 will be the first year that AMA Supercross Lites class racing will be next-day aired."

"We are looking forward to another season of supercross with our new partners at Feld Motor Sports," said Rick Miner, SPEED SVP of Production & Network Operations. "Our new long-term deal will ensure the continuing process of developing exciting and innovative coverage of some of the network's most popular motorcycle racing."

AMA-SC: 2009 teams announced

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

2009 Monster Energy® Supercross Teams Announced

AURORA, Ill. (December 30, 2009) -- The lineup for the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season has officially been released, showcasing new faces in different places and a talented, deep roster of contenders. The 2009 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and exciting championships in history.

Leading the way as the top contenders for this season's title is reigning AMA Supercross champion Chad Reed and 2007 AMA Supercross class champion James Stewart. Ready for the challenges that lie ahead, former AMA Supercross Lites class champion and premier class rookie Ryan Villopoto is ready to take the next step while veteran Kevin Windham looks to break through with his first AMA Supercross class title.

In the AMA Supercross Lites class, defending regional champions Jason Lawrence (West) and Trey Canard (East) return to achieve the rare feat of multiple AMA Supercross Lites class championships. Fresh off a breakthrough season in 2008, Ryan Dungey is hungry to claim his first AMA championship while Brett Metcalfe, Austin Stroupe, and Jake Weimer look for success.

Monster Energy Kawasaki
2 Ryan Villopoto
15 Tim Ferry

San Manuel Yamaha
7 James Stewart
38 Kyle Chisholm

Rockstar / Makita Suzuki
10 Ryan Dungey
20 Nico Izzi
22 Chad Reed
26 Michael Byrne
800 Mike Alessi

Team Yamaha
8 Grant Langston
60 Broc Hepler
75 Josh Hill

Honda Red Bull Racing
9 Ivan Tedesco
18 Davi Millsaps
29 Andrew Short
101 Ben Townley

Spike Energy/Toyota Yamaha (Joe Gibbs Racing)
21 Cody Cooper
33 Josh Grant

GEICO Powersports Honda
14 Kevin Windham
24 Brett Metcalfe
39 Trey Canard
40 Daniel Reardon
61 Blake Wharton

Monster Energy / Pro Circuit Kawasaki
19 Jake Weimer
46 Austin Stroupe
116 Ryan Morais
377 Christophe Pourcel

Jagermeister/MDK KTM
11 Travis Preston
28 Josh Summey

Hart & Huntington Honda
59 Troy Adams
67 Josh Hansen

Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Honda
47 Jimmy Albertson
63 Chris Blose
85 Sean Borkenhagen

MDK/Muscle Milk KTM...

Anaheim I: 2009 season opener preview

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Reed to Stage Title Defense as 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross Championship Begins at Angel Stadium

AURORA, Ill. (December 29, 2008) -- The 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, kicks off at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., this Saturday for the first of three races at the famed facility. AMA Supercross champion Chad Reed will defend his championship against the top racers in the world, including James Stewart, who returns from injury, Kevin Windham, who was runner-up last year and Ryan Villopoto, who is one of the world's top young racers.

Reed, of Dade City, Fla., dominated in Anaheim last year, winning all three races en route to his second AMA Supercross title. The three-race sweep marked the first time the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider had won at the legendary Angel Stadium since 2004. He joins former AMA Supercross class champion Stewart as the only riders to sweep all three races in Anaheim.

GEICO Powersports Honda's Windham, of Centreville, Miss., chased Reed to the final race of the season in 2008 and finished second overall in the standings. The veteran earned four main event wins and eight podium finishes, marking the third time in his career that he finished runner-up in the championship.

Team San Manuel Yamaha's Stewart, who missed most of the 2008 Monster Energy® Supercross season due to a knee injury, will challenge Reed for the number-one plate. On the way to winning his first AMA Supercross championship in 2007, Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., captured 13 wins and two additional podium appearances.

"Defending your championship is harder than winning because you have guys that are really hungry to take it from you," said Stewart."You have to work double-time just to stay ahead of the game."

Former AMA Supercross Lites class champion Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., makes his AMA Supercross class debut at Angel Stadium. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider is a three-time AMA Motocross Lites class champion and has the speed to run with the elite riders in this class.

"I don't think it's out of reach to win the championship, but it's definitely going to be tough," Villopoto added. "I might be asking a lot, though. You have to look at being consistent and that's what I want to do. If I can be consistent, I can maybe get second or third."

Also returning to the class in 2009 are Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., who won main events at Atlanta's Georgia Dome and Detroit's Ford Field, and Factory Yamaha's Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., who won the main event at Minneapolis' Metrodome.

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., was runner up in the 2008 Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class and won two of the three main events in Anaheim last year. YOT, Boost Mobile, Monster Energy, AM/PM's Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif., won the third and final race last year in Anaheim, eventually earning the class championship. Like it has shown in years past, this season's AMA Supercross Lites class is expected to be stacked with talent.

"The field is so deep in the lites class that I could probably name off a couple dozen guys that are going to be fast next year," said Dungey. "I'm just going to train this off season and work toward being 100 percent for the start of the season. We'll see who is lined up on the gate at that time."

The first AMA Supercross race was held in Anaheim on December 4, 1976, and Marty Smith won on a Honda. Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath share the all-time AMA Supercross class win record at Angel Stadium with eight wins each. In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, three riders have swept all three races at Angel Stadium: Villopoto, Ivan Tedesco and Ernesto Fonseca. Stewart, Windham and McGrath are the only riders in history to win in the AMA Supercross Lites class and AMA Supercross class at Anaheim.

2009 preview show airs on television

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

CBS Sports to air Preview Show of 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross Season

AURORA, Ill. (December 26, 2009) -- Feld Motor Sports announced today that CBS Sports will broadcast a one-hour preview show in HD of the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, Saturday, December 27 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Looking ahead at the highly anticipated 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross championship, the preview show sets up the various storylines. CBS Sports gives viewers an in-depth analysis of the Chad Reed/James Stewart rivalry and weighs in on AMA Supercross Lites star Ryan Villopoto's move to the premier AMA Supercross class.

With a new season comes new changes, and two of the biggest changes are Stewart and Reed's new teams. The show will give an overview of the 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross team line-up.

"This is a great way to preview the 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross championship," said Dave Prater, director of supercross, Feld Motor Sports. "With the highly publicized team changes of Reed and Stewart, some of the other major team changes were overshadowed. The one-hour preview show will bring fans up to speed on who's racing where."

The stars of tomorrow will be illuminated with a close look at the AMA Supercross Lites class' top riders. Defending regional champions Jason Lawrence (West) and Trey Canard (East) will defend their championships against a host of hungry races looking to make their mark, including Ryan Dungey, winner of three main event and the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout and Austin Stroupe, who won a main event last year as a rookie.

CBS Sports will broadcast nine hours of Monster Energy® Supercross in 2008, which will include seven races, the preview show and a recap show Sunday, May 3 at Noon EST.

Somebody hasn't told Australian Harley buyers about any...

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

2008 motorcycle sales hit record numbers in just 11 months

Harley-Davidson Australia is celebrating another year of outstanding sales with the news today that 2008 sales results are the best on record ever in Australia.

In just 11 months of 2008 the iconic brand has sold 7,150 motorcycles, surpassing all previous yearly results with December, traditionally one of the best retail trading months of the year, still to be recorded.

The exceptional year-on-year sales increase highlights Harley-Davidson Australia as one of few companies prospering in a challenging economic environment.

A key strategy underpinning the growth is the diversity of appeal in the Harley-Davidson suite of motorcycles. In 2008 the Softail Fat Boy (FLSTF) remains the highest selling model with 874 motorcycles sold to date, continuing the 2007 trend. Strong sales performance is also recorded by the Night Rod Special (VRSCDX), part of the new �Dark Custom� range.

In 2007 Harley-Davidson introduced a new range of motorcycles collectively referred to as �Dark Custom�. The range is a distinct break from the classic chrome styling for which H-D is renowned. Dark Custom is instead defined by black monochromatic finishes and modern urban street styling.

Harley-Davidson Australia Managing Director, Peter Nochar, said �although our classic Softails continue to sell extremely well the introduction of �Dark Custom� has boosted our outstanding sales result. In addition, our Sportster range is on the rise thanks to fantastic new models and the sheer affordability. When you can buy the genuine article from as little as $10,995 + on-road costs why settle for anything less.�

2009 Int'l Women & Motorcycle news

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Harley-Davidson and Buell to be presenting sponsors of 2009 AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference

Harley, Buell and AMA Partner to Celebrate Women Riders

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is thrilled to announce that Harley-Davidson and Buell are the Presenting Sponsors of the 2009 AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference. From August 19-22, women will celebrate the freedom and control that comes with taking to the open road on two wheels at the fifth AMA Women's Conference in scenic Keystone, Colo.

This will be the second time the Motor Company has been the Presenting Sponsor of the conference, which will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for thousands of women riders to come together and enjoy the camaraderie, scenic roads and informational seminars during the conference.

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, women now account for 12.6 percent of all motorcycle riders, a 29 percent increase since 2003. As a reflection of this trend, the AMA has seen an increase in conference attendance over the years and anticipates that it will double at the 2009 event with more than 2,200 participants.

"Harley-Davidson and Buell are excited to be very involved with this incredibly important -- and fun -- event that will bring together thousands of women riders," said Leslie Prevish, Women's Outreach Manager, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. "The Motor Company has been committed to encouraging women to ride for decades -- even marketing the 1920 Sport model as 'The Woman's Outdoor Companion.' Being the main sponsor of the AMA conference is another example of how Harley-Davidson continues to promote and support women in the sport of motorcycling."

"The AMA could not be more pleased to welcome Harley-Davidson and Buell as the presenting sponsors of the fifth AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference," said AMA Marketing and Special Events Manager Tigra Tsujikawa. "This highly anticipated event brings the very best of the motorcycling world to women motorcyclists. It's going to be a first-class conference, and we are excited to align ourselves with the world-class products and people of Harley-Davidson and Buell."

In addition to a wide range of daily workshops, conference attendees will have the opportunity to demo new bikes, shop for the latest gadgets and gear at the vendor marketplace, and enjoy after-hours social activities. The conference is not restricted to women only -- attendees are encouraged to register their spouses, partners, family and friends. Keystone is located just 90 miles west of Denver. With the picturesque Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, riders will be able to take advantage of the scenic riding opportunities in the area, including some legendary two-lane, off-road and dual-sport adventures.

Reserve Your Spot
The fifth AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference will be held at the Keystone Resort & Conference Center in Keystone, Colo., on Aug. 19-22, 2009. Lodging reservations can be made by calling (800) 258-0437; mention group code CZ0AMAW. Early in 2009, the AMA will provide conference registration information at www.womenandmotorcycling.com. Sign up for conference email alerts by e-mailing the AMA at info@womenandmotorcycling.com.

2009 Australian Racing Calendar / Provisional Draft 5

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

-- 2009 Australian Motorcycle Racing Calendar / Provisional Draft 5 (All dates and events subject to change)

January 2 - Speedway - Australian Solo Speedway Championship Qualifying - Gosford NSW
January 3 - Speedway - Australian Solo Speedway Championship Round 1 - Newcastle NSW
January 7 - Speedway - Australian Solo Speedway Championship Round 2 - Mildura VIC
January 10 - Speedway - Australian Solo Speedway Championship Round 3 - Gilman SA
January 17 - Speedway - Ron Johnson Memorial Speedway - Pinjar Park WA
January 18 - Speedway - Australian Under 16 Speedway Championship - Undera VIC
January 25 - MX/SX/Enduro - Dongara Arenacross - Dongara WA
January 31 - Speedway - Australian Under 21 Solo Speedway Championship - Gosford NSW
January 31 - MX/SX/Enduro - NSW Yamaha MX Cross Cup Rnd 1 Stadium MX - Orange Showground NSW
February 1 - Road Race - Vic Junior & Metrakit Road Racing Rnd 1 & Preston Race School - Broadford VIC
February 8 - Road Race - NSW FX Cup Series - Eastern Creek NSW
February 20 - MX/SX/Enduro - Summercross Junior MX - Coastal Park WA
February 21 - MX/SX/Enduro - Summercross Senior MX - Coastal Park WA
February 21 - Speedway - Chum Taylor Memorial Speedway - Pinjar Park WA
February 21 - MX/SX/Enduro - NSW Yamaha MX Cross Cup Rnd 2 MX - Clarence Lithgow NSW
February 22 - MX/SX/Enduro - ATV Maffra Sale Two Day Open - Maffra VIC
March 1 - Road Race - Australian SBK Rnd 1 (World SBK) - Phillip Island VIC
March 1 - MX/SX/Enduro - Arena Cross Invitational MX - Southern Cross WA
March 1 - MX/SX/Enduro - Wanneroo Junior MX Open - Pinjar Park WA
March 7 - Road Race - Australian Off Road Championship Rnd 1 & 2 - NSW
March 8 - Road Race - East Coast Road Race Series Rnd 1 - Broadford VIC
March 8 - MX/SX/Enduro - ATV Tri State Series Rnd 1 - NSW
March 15 - Road Race - NSW FX Cup Series - Wakefield Park NSW
March 22 - Road Race - MRRDA Rnd 1 - Oran Park NSW
March 22 - MX/SX/Enduro - Civil War of MX - Coastal Park WA
March 29 - Speedway - Australian Speedway Sidecar Championship - Mildura VIC
March 29 - MX/SX/Enduro - WA Tumbulgum Natural Terrain Motocross - WA Byford/Tumbulgum
April 5 - MX/SX/Enduro - Australian MX Championship Rnd 1 - Wodonga VIC
April 5 - Road Race - Australian SBK Rnd 2 - Symmons Plains TAS
April 5 - Road Race - Victorian Historic Road Race Championships - Broadford VIC - HMRAV
April 5 - MX/SX/Enduro - Australian Off Road Championship Rnd 3 & 4 - Wonthaggi VIC
April 5 - MX/SX/Enduro - WA Junior MX Open - Eric Walter Park WA
April 5 - Road Race -WA Club Race Day - MCRCWA - Wanneroo Raceway WA
April 5 - MX/SX/Enduro - ATV Polaris State 8 Series Club Day Rnd 1 - TBA
April 11 - MX/SX/Enduro - WA Junior MX Championship Rnd 1 - Esperance
April 12 - Road Race - Barry Sheene Classic - Eastern Creek NSW
April 12 - Road Race - Honda Broadford Bike Bonanza - Broadford VIC
April 12 - Road Race - Eastern Cup and Nationals BEARS - Mac Park SA
April 19 - MX/SX/Enduro - Australian MX Championship Rnd 2 - Canberra ACT
April 19 - MX/SX/Enduro - A4DE - Orange NSW
April 19 - Road Race - Victorian Road Race Championships Rnd 1 & Vic Junior Road Racing Rnd 2 - Broadford VIC - PMCC
April 25 - MX/SX/Enduro - Yilgarn Rallye Southern X Enduro - Southern Cross WA
April 26 - Road Race - East Coast Road Race Series Rnd 2 - Oran Park NSW - NSW Road Race Championships
April 26 - Road Race - WA Road Race Championship Rnd 1 - MCRCWA - Wanneroo Raceway WA
April 26 - MX/SX/Enduro - WA Motocross State Championship Rnd 1 - Coastal Park WA
April 26 - MX/SX/Enduro - ATV Thumb Pump 300 - Mildura VIC
April 27 - MX/SX/Enduro - WA Junior Motocross Championship Rnd 2 - Shrubland Park Bunbury WA
May 2 - MX/SX/Enduro - NSW Yamaha MX Cross Cup Rnd 3 Grass Track MX - Dunedoo NSW
May 3 - Road Race -MRRDA Rnd 2 - Broadford VIC
May 3 - MX/SX/Enduro - NSW Yamaha MX Cup Rnd 2 - Clarence Lithgow NSW...

WSBK: Carloia nominated as Permanent Race Director

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

FIM SUPERBIKE & SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUPERSTOCK 1000CC FIM CUP

New permanent Race Director

The FIM-SBK Permanent Bureau, composed of Messrs. Vito Ippolito FIM President and Maurizio Flammini, President of FGSport, unanimously decided to nominate Gian Franco Carloia as Permanent Race Director for all FIM Superbike/Supersport World Championships and Superstock FIM Cup events -- replacing Mr Alberto Fantini.

Gian Franco Carloia, 46 years old, who has been working for FGSport since 1993, holder of a FIM licence for Clerk of the Course since 2000, has been Assistant to the Race Director since 2001 and FGSport representative in the Race Direction as from 2004.

FIM Sports Director Ignacio Verneda said:

"For such an important task it is essential to have an experienced, capable person, and I am convinced that Gian Franco is the right person, as he has already gained a lot of experience in all these years working as assistant to Alberto Fantini and I have no doubt he will do an excellent job. On behalf of the FIM, I would also like to thank Mr Fantini for his very professional job as Race Director".

Paolo Flammini, CEO of FGSport declared:

"First of all, I'd like to thank Alberto Fantini for his invaluable contribution to the growth of the FIM Superbike World Championship since the very first event in which FGSport was involved. Now it's time for Gian Franco Carloia to take up this important heritage and responsibility. I'm sure that Gian Franco will do an outstanding job and I wish him the best possible success in his new position."

2009 MotoGP Entry List

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

The FIM today released the provisional entry lists for the MotoGP World Championship 2009 as follows:

MotoGP
3. DANI PEDROSA, SPA, REPSOL HONDA TEAM
4. ANDREA DOVIZIOSO, ITA, REPSOL HONDA TEAM
5. COLIN EDWARDS, USA, TECH 3 YAMAHA
7. CHRIS VERMEULEN, AUS, RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP
14. RANDY DE PUNIET, FRA, LCR HONDA MotoGP
15. ALEX DE ANGELIS, RSM, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI
21. JOHN HOPKINS, USA, KAWASAKI RACING TEAM
24. TONI ELIAS, SPA, SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI
27. CASEY STONER, AUS, DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM
33. MARCO MELANDRI, ITA, KAWASAKI RACING TEAM
36. MIKA KALLIO, FIN, PRAMAC RACING
46. VALENTINO ROSSI, ITA, FIAT YAMAHA TEAM
52. JAMES TOSELAND, GBR, TECH 3 YAMAHA
59. SETE GIBERNAU, SPA, GRUPO FRANCISCO HERNANDO
65. LORIS CAPIROSSI, ITA, RIZLA SUZUKI MotoGP
69. NICKY HAYDEN, USA, DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM
72. YUKI TAKAHASHI, JPN, SCOT RACING TEAM MotoGP
88. NICCOLO CANEPA, ITA, PRAMAC RACING
99. JORGE LORENZO, SPA, FIAT YAMAHA TEAM

250cc
4. HIROSHI AOYAMA, JPN, SCOT RACING TEAM 250cc
7. AXEL PONS, SPA, PEPE WORLD PONS WRB
8. BASTIEN CHESAUX, SWI, RACING TEAM GERMANY
9. TONI WIRSING, GER, RACING TEAM GERMANY
10. IMRE TOTH, HUN, TEAM TOTH APRILIA
12. THOMAS LUTHI, SWI, EMMI - CAFFE LATTE
14. RATTHAPARK WILAIROT, THA, THAI HONDA PTT SAG
15. ROBERTO LOCATELLI, ITA, METIS GILERA
16. JULES CLUZEL, FRA, MATTEONI RACING
17. KAREL ABRAHAM, CZE, CARDION AB MOTORACING
19. ALVARO BAUTISTA, SPA, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM
21. HECTOR BARBERA, SPA, PEPE WORLD PONS WRB
25. ALEX BALDOLINI, ITA, WTR SAN MARINO TEAM
28. GABOR TALMACSI, HUN, BALATON RACING TEAM 250cc
35. RAFFAELE DE ROSA, ITA, SCOT RACING TEAM 250cc
41. ALEIX ESPARGARO, SPA, CAMPETELLA RACING
48. SHOYA TOMIZAWA, JPN, TEAM CIP
51. STEVIE BONSEY, USA, APRILIA MADRID
52. LUKAS PESEK, CZE, AUTO KELLY - CP
58. MARCO SIMONCELLI, ITA, METIS GILERA
63. MIKE DI MEGLIO, FRA, MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM 250cc
75. MATTIA PASINI, ITA, TEAM TOTH APRILIA

125cc
5. ALEXIS MASBOU, FRA, LONCIN RACING
7. DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, SWI, AJO INTERWETTEN
8. LORENZO ZANETTI, ITA, WWC
11. SANDRO CORTESE, GER, AJO INTERWETTEN
12. ESTEVE RABAT, SPA, BLUSENS APRILIA
16. CAMERON BEAUBIER, USA, RED BULL KTM 125
17. STEFAN BRADL, GER, KIEFER RACING
18. NICOLAS TEROL, SPA, JACK & JONES PONS WRB
24. SIMONE CORSI, ITA, JACK & JONES PONS WRB
27. STEFANO BIANCO, ITA, CBC CORSE
29. ANDREA IANNONE, ITA, WWC
30. PERE TUTUSAUS, SPA, MATTEONI RACING
32. LORENZO SAVADORI, ITA, FONTANA RACING
33. SERGIO GADEA, SPA, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
34. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, SWI, DEGRAAF GRAND PRIX
38. BRADLEY SMITH, GBR, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
44. POL ESPARGARO, SPA, BELSON DERBI
45. SCOTT REDDING, GBR, BLUSENS APRILIA
60. JULIAN SIMON, SPA, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
66. MATTHEW HOYLE, GBR, MAXTRA TEAM
71. TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA, JPN, LONCIN RACING
72. MARCO RAVAIOLI, ITA, CBC CORSE
73. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI, JPN, WWC
81. JASPER IWEMA, NED, KIEFER RACING
88. MICHAEL RANSEDER, AUT, MAXTRA TEAM
93. MARC MARQUEZ, SPA, RED BULL KTM 125
94. JONAS FOLGER, GER, WWC
99. DANNY WEBB, GBR, DEGRAAF GRAND PRIX
TBC. xx, BELSON DERBI

EASTON WINS 42nd MACAU GRAND PRIX ON DOOSAN HONDA

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Stuart Easton, riding the Doosan Honda 1000cc Fireblade, has won the 2008 Macau Grand Prix.

Starting from sixth position, on row two of the grid, the 24-year-old Scotsman from Hawick made a flying start and by the third corner had clawed his way up to third place behind multiple Macau GP winner Michael Rutter and race leader Cameron Donald.

On the second lap, Stuart got the better of Rutter and moved into second place behind the Suzuki of double Isle of Man TT winner Cameron Donald.

Easton increased the pressure on the Australian's TAS Suzuki with each passing lap around the 6.12km Circuito Da Guia and on lap five, Donald suffered a mechanical failure forcing him to retire leaving Stuart with a clear track ahead.

NW200 Ducati rider Rutter was chasing hard and by lap eight, both Stuart and Michael had broken clear of the following pack. By lap thirteen there was a twenty-second gap between the two front runners and third place man John McGuinness.

Rutter continued to pile on the pressure but Stuart was controlling the race from the front and held off the Ducati challenge to cross the finish line 2.722 seconds ahead of the six-times winner.

An elated Stuart said: "After qualifying, I told the team that I couldn't fault the bike and was feeling very confident about the race. I got a great start and by the third lap had settled in nicely behind Cameron. Unfortunately for him he retired leaving me with a three-second lead over Michael on the Ducati. I think it was fairly even between Michael and myself and during the mid-part of the race I have to admit I was feeling the pressure of leading. In the latter stages we had to clear groups of backmarkers which really focussed my mind and I realised I could win. I pushed hard during the last few laps I really dug deep and eventually finished almost three seconds ahead of Michael."

"I must compliment the team because without doubt that's the best race bike I've ever ridden. The team have worked so hard and the result speaks for itself."

"What a fantastic day for the team" said smiling Crew Chief Mick Shanley, "Right from the off Stuart didn't put a foot wrong and thoroughly deserves this, his first Macau GP win. The SMR team has been working so hard all season and Stuart has given myself and the lads that elusive victory and the perfect end to the 2008 season."

WSBK: Yamaha Kyalami test notes

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Spies and Sykes put the 2009 WSB Yamaha R1 through its paces in South Africa

2009 Yamaha Motor Italia Superbike riders Ben Spies and Tom Sykes have endured some serious heat on their three day test in Kyalami. The young riders have endured track temperatures approaching 50 degrees as they put the all-new-for-2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 through its paces on only its second outing on track.

Spies was second quickest on day one with an impressive best lap time of 1'41"599(46 laps) in the African sunshine. Team mate Tom Sykes was struck down with a mysterious bug, and he only managed to put in some laps prior to returning to the hotel.

Day two saw Spies fall in testing, so missing the final time on track, he still managed to improve on his day one times, finishing the day with a best lap of 1'41"049 (38 laps). Sykes managed to improve dramatically on day two with a best time of 1'42"933 (18 laps).

The final day saw Spies pull in his fastest time of the test, taking second fastest honours overall and only a mere 0.2s behind Michele Fabrizio and beating Noriyuki Haga to the second spot,making him one of only three riders to break the 1.40 barrier with a time of 1.39"978. Tom Sykes was getting back on form until an unfortunate crash curtailed his testing for the day, he again improved on his times in the limited laps run with a 1.41"562. The re-entered Aprilia squad took 8th and 9th and the new for 2009 BMW factory team finished 11th and 13th.

The new 998cc bike, featuring a high tech powerplant closely linked to the M1 MOTOGP bike, is currently at the very beginning of its development for the 2009 WSB season and is still relatively close to production specifications. The M1-derived crossplane crankshaft design and uneven firing interval, give very good traction to the bike and improved tyre life. The new chassis gives an unparallel feedback to the riders, improving stability and feeling out of corners. The WSB spec engine is being developed step by step, improving power output at each stage in the run up to the first race in 2009.

So far the team's minor modifications to the standard bike include a modified cam-shaft, an enlarged radiator for extra cooling and the addition of an oil cooler. The new bike has no rear sub-frame but incorporates a strengthened frame. The exhaust is unique, and was developed in partnership with Akrapovic. The standard fuel tank has also been replaced with an aluminum tank with increased capacity. The bike features the latest Magneti Marelli electronic systems. The new swing arm is also developed purely for the WSB race bike based on knowledge taken from the 2008 racing season.

WSBK Series: Kyalami test notes

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Fabrizio goes quickest on opening day of Superbike testing at Kyalami

Michel Fabrizio notched up the quickest time with his factory Ducati 1098F09 on the opening day of Pirelli tire development testing at Kyalami (South Africa). The winter tests are being used by almost all the top manufacturer teams in preparation for the 2009 FIM Superbike World Championship, which gets underway in Australia at the start of March.

The Italian powered to a superb time of 1 minute 41.204 seconds, a tenth of a second under the unofficial circuit record set by Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) in 2002 during the last edition of the South African round, which returns to the calendar next year on May 17th.

"I'm really pleased because it's the first time I've lapped on this track", declared 23 year-old Fabrizio, who is about to embark on his second season with the Italian factory team. "I feel sure can go even quicker, I'll try and do so in the remaining two days."

Another major surprise was second place for Yamaha Motor Italia's American rookie signing Ben Spies, who ended up just a fraction behind. "I like this track; it's almost like some AMA tracks and it's not too technical, not that difficult to learn, but I was having a lot of fun riding on it. We were most interested in trying out the bike in hotter track conditions than in Portimao. The handling is good; the engine comes in really smooth exiting corners and it lays the power down well. Top end makes no difference in that situation and the engine really drives well from low down", commented the 24 year-old Texan, a new face on the Superbike scene in 2009.

It wasn't a particularly good start on the factory Ducati for Noriyuki Haga, ex-Yamaha, who crashed three times on his debut with the 2009-spec Italian machine: the first after colliding with Jonathan Rea, the others due to a couple of mistakes, but the Japanese rider did manage to set fourth quickest time.

Max Biaggi arrived in the circuit late at lunchtime, after the other riders had already had four hours of track time, due to a series of never-ending problems with his flight, which began on Monday evening and which lasted 36 hours instead of the scheduled 12. Despite this Aprilia's new signing however did manage to get up to seventh place, 1.2 seconds off the pace, and just behind his equally impressive team-mate Shinya Nakano. "I really like the RSV4, today we just got warmed up, we'll see where we can arrive in the remaining sessions", declared Biaggi.

NJMP releases 2009 schedule

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

New Jersey Motorsports Park Releases Schedule for 2009 Season Calendar Features Seven Major Spectator Events, Opening with Grand-Am Weekend

Millville, NJ -- December 8, 2008 -- New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) announces the 2009 season schedule featuring a full slate of seven major spectator races over the course of its second season of operation. The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series returns to NJMP this year as a marquee race, on April 30 -- May 3. A new highlight on the schedule this year will be the 2009 AMA Superbike Championship series, September 4 -- 6. In addition, NJMP will be booking over 400 club and driver school events, featuring some of the biggest names in amateur racing including SCCA, EMRA, Porsche Club of America, BMW Club of America and New York Sport Bike Club.

More than 100,000 spectators will visit the Millville, NJ-based complex over the course of the season, as the facility welcomes some of America's top racing series. Tickets for all Spectator Events as well as two types of Season Tickets will be available beginning Wednesday, December 10. The first type of Season Ticket, allowing access to Spectator Events only is $275. The second type of Season Ticket, allowing access to both Spectator Events and all Club Events is $350. Tent and RV camping passes are also available for purchase as are gift certificates in increments of $25. Visit http://njmp.com for details on how to order or call the NJMP Ticket Office at (856) 327-7217.

2009 New Jersey Motorsports Park Spectator Calendar

April 30 -- May 3 - Grand-Am - Thunderbolt Raceway
May 29 -- 31 - New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix Festival - Thunderbolt Raceway
June 12 -- 14 - Mazda Formula X - Thunderbolt Raceway
Sept 4 -- 6 - AMA Superbike - Thunderbolt Raceway
Sept 11 -- 13 - ARCA RE/MAX Series - Thunderbolt Raceway
Sept 18 -- 20 - Ferrari Challenge - Thunderbolt Raceway
Oct 1 -- 4 -- SVRA - Thunderbolt Raceway

Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series: April 30 -- May 3
Returning for a second season at NJMP, the Grand-Am Series looks to build on the excitement of 2008's race. Featuring two classes of prototype and production-based cars, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series teams feature top-class Daytona Prototypes from teams including Chip Ganassi Racing, Penske Racing and 2008 winners Michael Shank Racing. The GT-class features production-based racers from Pontiac, Porsche, Mazda and others. Additionally, more than 100 competitors are expected in the KONI Challenge Series, and the Ford Mustang Challenge and Skip Barber Series will be in attendance as well.

AMA-SBK: Series Daytona Test, day three notes

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

AMA Pro Road Racing and Dunlop Tire Test at Daytona International Speedway: Day 3 Report; Yamaha and Bostrom Set Daytona SportBike Pace; Hodgson Hopeful with Honda

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 7, 2008) - A pair of final practice sessions for AMA Pro American Superbikes and AMA Pro Daytona SportBikes brought a successful three-day AMA Pro Road Racing Dunlop Tire test to a close Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

Yamaha teams in both of AMA Pro Road Racing's premier classes showed up in full force and Ben Bostrom unofficially clocked the fastest Daytona SportBike lap of the overall test Saturday night in the final of two night practices. The three-hour night sessions were run in preparation for the season-opening Daytona 200 by Honda, which will be run under the lights at Daytona for the first time on Friday, March 6. Bostrom was stoked with not only the performance of his Yamahas but also with the idea of running at night in the Daytona 200 next spring.

"It was really fun at night," Bostrom said. "The bike seems to run good on the crisp air, which is kind of cool. More than that, you get a special feeling under the lights, you feel more like a rock concert ... like big time."

Bostrom will run for the 2009 AMA Pro American Superbike championship on a Factory Yamaha YZF-R1 in addition to competing in the Daytona 200 on a Graves Yamaha YZF-R6. Yamaha will field four entries in the inaugural Daytona 200 under the lights.

"The night practice was really exciting and there is a great vibe here at night," said Tom Halverson, Yamaha Road Race Team Manager. "We are really happy that Yamaha has made a real strong commitment to being here and being a part of this series. Yamaha has really shown that racing is a strong part of its heritage. They want to be here and have worked with AMA Pro Road Racing to get this whole thing off the ground. They really wanted to show a commitment here, and I think we have accomplished that."

HODGSON HOPEFUL WITH HONDA Among the American Superbike pacesetters was 2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson on an American Honda CBR1000RR. As the final Sunday afternoon session was winding down, Hodgson unofficially ripped some of the fastest American Superbike laps of the test on the 2.9-mile Daytona configuration.

Rossi rewarded for perfect partnership with Stobart

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Rally GB has seen a relationship blossom this weekend between MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi and the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford rally team. When the two-wheeled champion made the decision to contest the final round of the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship the Stobart squad were more than happy to accommodate and help his cause to raise funds for the Children in Need charity.

Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler and COO William Stobart were delighted with the presence of the six-time MotoGP champion and the atmosphere he generated around the team's service area and indeed the entire event.

"The Stobart team has done a great job here on our home event. I am really pleased that Valentino came to drive one of our cars and we have both worked extremely well together; he is a fantastic draw for fans and spectators and we have had a massive interest in the team. Some of his splits and stage times have been really impressive.

"Valentino's run here has really raised the global and national media exposure for both the team and Stobart Group. To have the support of a motorsport legend for our home event is a real boost and is something really special to end off a great year in business for Stobart Group and a great year in motorsport for our rally team." said Tinkler.

Rossi also generated a phenomenal amount of publicity and media coverage and ramped up the global exposure the team already achieve through the World Rally Championship.

Fans too greatly enjoyed the presence of the champ who was more than happy to meet his supporters in Great Britain. The Italian thoroughly enjoyed his time with the entire Ford family and his time behind the wheel of the Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC.

"We have had a great time here with the Stobart team and everyone has worked fantastically well together," commented Rossi. "I have really enjoyed this rally, especially when we got some fast times today and hopefully we will get a chance to work again together with Stobart."

AMA-SBK: Series Daytona test, day one summary

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

AMA Pro Road Racing and Dunlop Tire Test at Daytona International Speedway: Day 1 Report; Dunlop Pleased With Feedback; Higbee and Buell First Out; Night Tests Begins

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 5, 2008) - A new era for the reorganized AMA Pro Racing and Dunlop Tire began Friday at Daytona International Speedway Friday where several AMA Pro American Superbike and AMA Pro Daytona SportBike teams and riders tested Dunlop's latest tires all day and for a few hours into the night.

Participating riders included Jake Zemke, Ben Bostrom, Josh Hayes, Neil Hodgson, Michael Barnes, Shawn Higbee, Chris Ulrich, Blake Young, Larry Pegram and several others with American Superbikes and Daytona SportBikes from Yamaha, Honda, Buell, Suzuki and Ducati all being put through their paces. American Superbikes are running on the 2.9-mile course while Daytona SportBikes are marking a return to the full 3.51-mile course.

The main focus of the three-day test, however, is on Dunlop which signed as the Official Tire of AMA Pro Road Racing just a little over a month ago. Around the clock work on both sides of the Atlantic made for a successful first-day debut, however, with teams and riders in both premier divisions delivering favorable feedback to Dunlop personnel on site at Daytona.

"The mission here is to deliver a tire that will do the distance, be safe and the same for everybody and give good performance," said Jim Allen, Dunlop Tire Senior Road Race Manager - Motorcycle. "It is interesting to hear some of the riders that have come off other brands of tires and the comments have been very favorable all the way through. Daytona is a very, very difficult track and you always have to pay attention when you are here. It has given us troubles in the past but what we saw today was all good, all positive from a mileage standpoint and from a grip standpoint. We are quite pleased with what we have seen so far."

While Dunlop and the AMA Pro teams and riders will surely benefit from the three-day session, the tire manufacturer's first real test was just having enough tires manufactured and delivered to Florida in time for this weekend's practice.

"The guys from Dunlop in England who were involved in designing and building the tires are here and they did a remarkable job," Allen said. "We had very little notice and had about two weeks to make the tires and another week to get them over here. We have a long history here and relied on that but it was still a challenge we had to meet. There is no place to test for Daytona except at Daytona."

WHO'S ON FIRST

AMA Series News: Women Riders

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference: 2009 event celebrates women who ride

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Move over, guys. These days, more and more women are getting behind the handlebars in the motorcycling world. Thousands of them will celebrate their love of all things motorcycle at the fifth American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) International Women & Motorcycling Conference, Aug. 19-22, 2009, in the dramatic resort town of Keystone, Colo., just 90 miles west of Denver.

The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference focuses on educating, encouraging, inspiring and mentoring women in the lifestyle and sport of motorcycling, according to AMA Marketing and Special Events Manager Tigra Tsujikawa.

"This event represents the best of both worlds for women motorcyclists," said Tsujikawa. "We will have the opportunity to connect with and learn from other women riders. And through seminars, activities and classes, we'll gain the knowledge and skills to ride where the road or trail leads next."

The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference is well timed. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, women now account for 12.6 percent of all motorcycle and scooter riders, a 29 percent increase since 2003.

As the number of women motorcyclists has risen, so has attendance at the AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference. The last conference, which was held in Georgia in 2006, drew more than 1,100 participants. The AMA anticipates that number will double at the 2009 event, which will feature prominent women riders, racers and industry leaders.

Among them is Genevieve Schmitt, founder of the online magazine, WomenRidersNow.com.

"For many years, women have been saying that the motorcycle industry is not paying attention to them," said Schmitt. "The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference is the industry's response to that, and has been for the last four conferences. Each conference attracts more sponsors, more participation from manufacturers and vendors, and more participants. I see the 2009 conference, with its supremely scenic location in Keystone, Colo., as being the best yet. If you're a woman and you're a rider, this is the event you need to attend."

MOSPORT RELEASES 2009 MAJOR EVENT SCHEDULE

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

BOWMANVILLE, ON (December 1, 2008) - Mosport International Raceway's 2009 major event schedule, released today, will again feature the only Canadian stop in North America's premier sports car championship - the American Le Mans Series, along with two rounds each in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. Tickets for the six-event schedule are now on sale.

In making the announcement, Myles Brandt, president and general manager of the country's largest motorsports facility said that Mosport's 2009 race line-up will continue to emphasize quality, variety and value.

"We've put together the strongest and most diverse motorsports schedule in Canada, featuring a great blend of world class programs like the American Le Mans Series and the country's top stock car and motorcycle championships," said Brandt. "Also important to our fans is that we've held the line on ticket pricing. Our weekend SuperTickets range from $30 to $65, with children 12 and under admitted free. We believe this makes a weekend at Mosport one of the most affordable major sporting events in Canada."

All major race events at Mosport include these value-added benefits with paid admission:

* kids 12 and under admitted free (with a paid adult admission)
* free access to the Race Team Paddock
* free access to the Mosport Motorsports Expo and Marketplace
* free access to the Saturday Night Stock Car Racing at Mosport Speedway
* free parking

The green flag drops on Mosport's 49th season of racing May 15-17 with the Victoria Day SpeedFest, celebrating the summer's first long weekend.

Tickets and holiday gift certificates can be purchased online at mosport.com or by calling the Mosport Ticket Hotline (1-800-866-1072).

Since 1961, Mosport International Raceway has been Canada's Home of Motorsports, playing host to more than 400 event days a year. Located less than an hour east of Toronto, the 750-acre, multi-purpose facility is the only permanent motorsports complex in the GTA, with a world-renowned 4-kilometre road course, a 2.4 kilometre driver development centre with skid pad, a 1.4 km pro kart circuit and a half-mile paved oval.

MOSPORT'S 2009 MAJOR EVENT SCHEDULE

May 15-17 Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend

The kick-off to Mosport's season features the Castrol Canadian Touring Car Series, the Sundown Grand Prix endurance racing classic and the GT Challenge. This long-weekend start to summer camping includes a Saturday night fireworks display.

June 12-14 Mosport High Octane Weekend

Drivers in Canada's top stock car championship will take on one the world's most challenging road courses as the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series makes its first of two stops at Mosport. Also on the race schedule are two U.S.-based championships, the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup and the F2000 Championship presented by Hoosier Racing Tires. The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Series returns for their second round at Mosport.

Bridgestone MotoGP: Jerez/Philip Island Tests Debrief

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

The final MotoGP tests of 2008 took place at the end of last week with eight teams enjoying a two-day test at Circuito de Jerez in Southern Spain and two teams testing at Australia's Philip Island Circuit over three days.

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi ended the Jerez test as the fastest rider, setting a time of 1' 39.429s on the second day, edging out the Dani Pedrosa's first day fastest time of 1' 39.525s. The test took place over 26-27 November and fourteen riders took to the track over the course of the two days. On the final day, Pedrosa was second fastest to Rossi, whilst the third to sixth fastest riders, Jorge Lorenzo, Toni Elias, Alex De Angelis and Nicky Hayden, were separated by just 0.06s, illustrating the very close level of competition, even for those riders who have changed teams from the 2008 season.

Bridgestone brought the softest compounds proposed for the 2009 season, with two compounds available for each rider. It was the second opportunity for riders to evaluate the 2009 specification tyres, following the post race test in Valencia at the end of October. In particular, Bridgestone was assessing the tire working range, with Spain providing weather at the cooler end of the spectrum and Australia conditions at the hotter end. Overnight rain meant that no running took place in Jerez on Thursday morning, although significant amounts of running took place during the rest of the test.

At Philip Island, the Suzuki and Kawasaki teams tested, with harder tyres than those used in Jerez. Rain was also experienced here, limiting running, but it was far warmer than in Jerez. MotoGP now enters the test ban period with the next official MotoGP test scheduled for Sepang, Malaysia, 5-7 February.

Q+A with Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Race Tire Development

What was Bridgestone's objective from these two tests?

"From our perspective we wanted to assess the suitability of these tyres for next year's races and in particular evaluate the tire working range. For this we tested in the relatively cool conditions of Jerez, where the ambient temperature was around 12o.C and the track temperature around 18o.C . In the cold, the main consideration is grip levels and warm-up time. Philip Island allowed us to look at the higher range of temperatures, as the ambient temperature was around 25o.C and the track temperature about 40o.C . Here the main consideration is heat durability. In both locations the tires worked well, so we are confident when we look ahead to 2009."

How big a change is the resurfaced track at Jerez?

"The new surface offers more grip and it is more aggressive on the tyres. Feedback from all the riders has been positive and our tires seem to work well here, even in the cold conditions and during the initial laps so we should be pleased with this."

2008 Awards Banquet Report

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

AMA Racing end-of-year awards banquet honors season standouts

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The stars of AMA Racing gathered at the stunning Barber Vintage Motorsports in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 22, to celebrate the successful seasons of some of the country's best motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle racers.

Champions in disciplines ranging from land-speed racing to motocross to trials and everything in between were honored at the end-of-year banquet. In addition, a number of special awards were presented to those who went above and beyond this season to elevate 2008 to one of the most memorable in recent history.

The AMA Racing Athlete of the Year award was awarded to Ricky Dietrich, top American at the 2008 International Six Days Enduro in Serres, Greece, as well as the champion of the 2008 AMA Maxxis EnduroCross Championship Series. Dietrich, who wrapped up the EnduroCross title the same night of the banquet, led the Team USA Trophy Team to its best finish in years at the ISDE after an injury took overall leader and Team USA Captain Kurt Caselli out of the race.

Harold Goodman was honored with the ATVA (All-Terrain Vehicle Association) Athlete of the Year award. Goodman, who was competing in the Baja 1000 the night of the banquet, won four of the seven rounds of the Duro Extreme Dirt Track ATV National Championship Series en route to the title.

Destry Abbott was honored with the AMA Racing Sportsman of the Year award. Abbott demonstrated utmost sportsmanship when one of his competitive rivals, Josh Morros, was seriously injured and knocked unconscious in the next-to-last round of the AMA FMF Racing National Hare & Hound Championship Series. Abbott, who was racing for the title at the time, remained with Morros to aid the injured rider as best he could until medics arrived. Abbott ultimately continued and finished fourth in that round to clinch his fifth AMA Hare & Hound National Championship, tying the record held by Danny Hammel and Dan Smith.

"This is definitely a highlight for me. It's something I've never gotten before," Abbott said. "I've always tried to represent the sport well, and it's neat to be recognized for that. The important thing, though, is that Josh is doing a lot better. He has a tough road ahead, but he wants to be back on a bike. I told him he's welcome to come to Phoenix and train with me as soon as he's able."

The AMA Racing Female Rider of the Year was Leslie Porterfield. Porterfield became the official fastest female motorcyclist in America this summer at the International Speed Trials by BUB with a top speed of 232.523 mph.

"It was something that took a lot of determination and hard work," said Porterfield. "I had a really great crew and friends and family behind me. It's an honor to get this award."

Heather Byrd was honored as the ATVA Female Athlete of the Year. Byrd was the champion in the Pro-Am Women class in the ITP Moose Racing ATV National Motocross Series. She claimed the title in impressive fashion, winning all 10 rounds of the series.

"Racing just gets in your blood, and it becomes something that you just do," Byrd said. "People who leave the sport for whatever reason, always come back. I'm just proud to be part of the sport. You meet so many great people in AMA Racing and the ATVA. It's just great to be a part of it."

The AMA and ATVA Youth riders of the Year were Anson Maloney and Jesse Skvarek. Maloney, who moved up from the mini-bike ranks and topped the field in the 200 B class in the AMA Western Hare Scrambles Championship Series, scoring four wins in the five rounds he contested. Skvarek received the ATVA award for a performance that landed him the 90 CVT class in the ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Championship.

Other special awards were presented to Jeff Fredette, AMA Racing Vet/Senior Rider of the Year; Ken Marcou, ATVA Vet/Senior Rider of the Year; and Thomas Brown, ATVA Amateur Rider of the Year.

Rossi, Loeb: Seekers in the thrall of the F1 thrill

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

The funny thing is, Valentino Rossi was never particularly a Ferrari fan. As he wrote in his 2005 autobiography, "What If I Had Never Tried It," the Italian motorcycle racer who has won world championships at 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and five times in MotoGP was not a team devotee so much as a driver fan. "And as a boy, I had liked Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and, later, Jacques Villeneuve," he wrote. "And, at the height of his career, Villeneuve was the archrival of (Michael) Schumacher, and therefore of Ferrari as well."

So maybe it's Ferrari who are fans. Because there Rossi was again this week, driving a Formula One F2008 with his chosen number, 46, airbrushed broadly across the nose. The Urbino native was at Mugello, familiar as a motorcycle venue. Just off a runner-up spot in the Monza Rally, the 2008 MotoGP champion tried the F2008 Thursday and Friday, setting a best time of 1 minute, 22.55 seconds, less then 2 seconds off F2008 times recorded by team drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Rain put Rossi off course Friday, stopping a morning session then spinning him off again after 20 laps. In two days, Rossi drove just under 200 miles.

Rossi, 29, manages respectable, not record, times. Then he observes a certain protocol: He profusely thanks his Ferrari hosts -- starting with President Luca di Montezemolo. He praises mechanics and engineers. He extols the virtues of all.

"I'm really happy that I had this possibility, and I want to thank President Luca de Montezemolo and [Ferrari team director] Stefano Domenicali for it," Rossi said. "Driving a Ferrari Formula One car on a track like Mugello is something fantastic and incredible. It's great to work with people on such a high level, like those who were at the track with me today. We've done some pretty good work, very professional, and we tried to improve lap after lap."

Now and then, he teases.

"With a lot of work, I could have become a good F1 driver."

The funnier thing is, when Rossi drives a Ferrari F1 car, sages flock to keyboards to predict the date The Doctor, self-named to reflect the number of Italian medical practitioners called Rossi, will chuck two wheels for four. He reitereates his future is MotoGP, but speculation persists. Can there only ever be one Surtees?

As it is, Rossi has been not only vocal but active in his interest in rallying. He'll be at the wheel of a Ford Focus when Wales Rally GB rolls off Dec. 4 in aid of BBC charity Children in Need.

Ferrari and Rossi always call his F1 flings fun runs. While Rossi wrote that he was distressed over news of the first such making its way into media, the real benefit of these drives is public awareness -- to Ferrari and to the nation -- for holding up that an Italian champion and Ferrari do mix. No less than agencies Reuters and AFP carry the news.

The latest Rossi ride is hailed as an opportunity for two champions, a constructor and a rider, to celebrate. The sessions have been spearheaded throughout by then sporting director, now team boss Domenicali, one in good position to understand the value of an Italian champion driving an Italian champion as Ferrari looks to its roots in its post-Teutonic time of life.

Australian Super X Round Six - Reports

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

CDR Rockstar Yamaha rider, Jay Marmont, has kept his Super X championship hopes alive tonight when he took out world champion, Chad Reed, in the semi final of the first run man on man format at the penultimate round of Super X in Townsville.

The crowd of 10,000 saw everything from high action racing to crazy tropical rain and storms as well as witnessing the biggest upset of the season.

The man on man format carried out in the Open class final ran off a similar draw to a tennis grand slam, which pitted two riders against each other in a series of two lap races with heats, quarter finals, semi finals and the final.

It was in the semi final that the Super X one and two riders went up against each other with Reed and Marmont racing neck and neck on the first lap. It was in the second that Marmont took control riding a strong and fast race despite extremely difficult slippery and wet track conditions.

Marmont then went on to beat Woodstock Thor Honda�s Daniel McCoy in the final to be the first rider to finish first on the podium other than Reed.

�It was tough and fun racing tonight. The track was really slippery and there were huge puddles everywhere, but I just stuck to my race plan and got the win. The championship is still alive now and as we saw tonight anything can happen.
It�s pretty exciting that it all comes down to the final round in Brisbane next week.�

The King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath, made his Super X debut treating fans to an epic battle against Australian veteran Cool Air Troy Carroll Racing�s Troy Carroll. The pair were swapping the lead right up until the finish line with McGrath only winning by a few inches.

McGrath then lined up against McCoy who caused the other big upset on the night taking out McGrath in the second semi final.

The battle for third was the race everyone expected to be the final with the two Supercross greats, Reed and McGrath. The pair raced side by side at the start of the race, but Reed went on to win comfortably to finish on the podium.

The Lites final once again provided a number of thrills and spills with Motorex KTM�s Tye Simmonds taking out his first win of the championship. The 16 year old rode a great race and managed to overtake series frontrunner Shift Motul Suzuki�s Matt Moss in the final stages of the race.

There was still celebration in the Moss team though with his second place putting him far enough ahead in points to wrap up the Lites series.

�I am just so stoked to win the championship. I have had such great support from my team, family and friends so this is for them too. I can�t wipe the smile off my face.�

Kawasaki Racing�s Luke George who was sitting in second position in the championship was not so fortunate with a bad crash in the opening stages of the final putting him out of the race and the final in Brisbane.

New Zealand�s Levi Sherwood made a return to the Australasian Freestyle Motocross Championship, once again busting
out never seen before moves to take the win. Kain Saul and Cam Sinclair tied for second.

The championship will now make its way to Brisbane�s QSAC stadium next Saturday to finish off the inaugural year of Super X.

-- Woodstock Honda

KING OF SUPERCROSS FACES OFF WITH WORLD CHAMP IN TOWNSVILLE

The King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath raced to a strong fourth place in a crowd-pleasing, final one-on-one showdown with World Champion Chad Reed in Townsville (QLD), tonight.

Qualifying sixth fastest, the greatest supercross racer of all time took the holeshot in his heat race and streaked away to pull a gap on the field.

Hunted down by Honda team-mate Dan Reardon in the 10-lap heat, McGrath battled with the reigning Australian Supercross Champion before slipping back to second place.

With a comfortable buffer over third place, McGrath had fun showing off for the fans, treating them to his trademark nac-nac trick as he raced to the finish line 9.064 seconds ahead of third place.

Progressing easily to the SX Open main event, McGrath's first two-lap challenge was with Barry Surawski.

Sailing through to a clear victory over Surawski, McGrath edged into the quarter finals to take on multi-time Australian champion, Troy Carroll.

McGrath's second two-lap battle saw the American stretch a good lead, but a minor error had Carroll back in the action and fighting for the win.

Rizla Suzuki travels down under for final 2008 test

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is on its way to Phillip Island in Australia to participate in its final test of 2008, as it further evaluates new parts and components for next season's Suzuki GSV-R.

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen will be visiting the 4,448m Australian circuit as part of a private test -- along with Kawasaki's MotoGP team -- while the remainder of the MotoGP paddock will be at Jerez in Spain. The Team has chosen to visit Phillip Island as it is a circuit which highlights any lack of engine performance or rear grip and any improvements found at the fast Australian track will certainly help at other venues on the MotoGP calendar.

The two Rizla Suzuki regulars will be joined by Factory Test Rider Nobuatsu Aoki for the three day test, where the experienced Japanese racer will be on-hand to assist with the assessment of prototype chassis and engine parts for the 2009 machine.

The trio of Rizla Suzuki riders will take to the track on Wednesday 26th November for the first of a busy three-day period which will see the team planning to make improvements and a good direction in readiness for its attack on the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

Loris Capirossi:

"This will be a very important test for us as we will be able to see where we are at the moment for next year. Suzuki has been working really hard since the last test at Valencia and we will have lots of new parts to try out at Phillip Island. We have just done some wind tunnel testing in Japan and with the data we got there it will be interesting to see what the new aerodynamics will be like. We need to make the most of these three days as we don't have as many tests over the winter. It will also be good to have Nobu there to gives us some extra info and try out all the newest parts to see their durability and performance."

Battery powered seven second dragbike...

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Conversation concerning electric powered vehicles is normally the domain of green groups and eco warriors but more recently there has been talk of environmentally friendly motorcycles in drag racing circles.

The slightest mention of the words electric powered are normally enough to send just about any revhead into a slumber but a small group of American innovators are turning that around and leaving mouths agape wherever they go.

The subject of their passion is not some sort of uninspiring electric scoot that struggles to reach 60km/h but a truly awe inspiring creation they have dubbed the �KillaCycle�.

That aggressive name alone may not be enough to perk the interest of motorcycle enthusiasts, but mention these numbers and even the most skeptical will sit up and take notice: 0-100 in under a second and a standing quarter mile in 7.8 seconds.

And no that isn�t a misprint. The Killacycle can hit 100km/h from a standstill in under a second and the only thing to be heard is some tire and wind roar as this silent assassin disappears in to the distance. Dragstrips are never going to be the same again...

Denver based engineer Bill Dube� designed and built the KillaCycle as a private project largely funded by himself although as the rate of success increases a few minor sponsors have come onboard to lend a hand.

A123 Systems provided 1210 of their nanophosphate lithium-ion batteries that powered the machine to its first seven second pass last month at Pomona Raceway. The 85 kilograms of batteries hold enough charge to power the Killacycle to more than half a dozen 7 second passes.

And the running costs? Around ten cents worth of electricity is all it takes to refuel the Killacycle and the latest Manzanita Micro charger has the recharge time down to five minutes.

Picked your jaw up off the floor yet?

While the proven 7 second potential of the Killacycle is amazing, it is still a long way from the 5.7 second world record set by Larry McBride onboard a conventional Nitromethane powered Top Fuel motorcycle. But Top Fuel motorcycles have had many decades of development, need engine rebuilds between runs and cost thousands of dollars in fuel for each race meeting and those costs are continuing to escalate.

However in the field of battery power, costs continue to tumble and the rate of improvement continues to accelerate out of sight. That first 7 second pass was achieved not by a well funded major enterprise but is simply the backyard project of a guy that designs pollution measurement equipment for a living with an annual budget around $13,000 USD. That should give the drag racing fraternity a major fright and clearly signals the potential of battery vehicles should anyone put some serious money behind such a project...

Indianapolis Motor Speedway news

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

THE RACETRACK OF CHAMPIONS: 2008 IMS WINNERS SWEEP TITLES

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 -- When Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line Sunday, Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, history was made 1,045 miles away, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

IMS further cemented its reputation as a racetrack of champions when Johnson clinched his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title, as all three winners of major events in 2008 at the Speedway -- Scott Dixon, Johnson and Valentino Rossi -- also captured their respective series crowns this year.

It's the first time this feat has occurred since IMS began to play host to three annual races in 2000.

Dixon won the 92nd Indianapolis 500 on May 25 in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone for his first victory in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." He went on to clinch his second IndyCar Series title, as his first came in 2003.

"Obviously winning the Indianapolis 500 and a second IndyCar Series championship means a great deal to me and the whole Target team," Dixon said. "It has truly been an amazing year for the whole organization.

"I want to also congratulate Jimmie Johnson and Valentino Rossi on their championships. Although I wasn't at the NASCAR race this season to watch Jimmie win, I did have the pleasure of attending Rossi's incredible win at the first-ever Indianapolis GP. It's truly a great class to be a part of, and I'm sure Jimmie and Valentino are looking forward to duplicating those achievements as much as I am in 2009."

Johnson held off championship rival Carl Edwards to win the 15th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 27 in the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet. It was his second victory in the marquee NASCAR race. Johnson earned his third consecutive NASCAR season title this season, tying a record held by the legendary Cale Yarborough. Johnson's first Brickyard victory came in 2006, his first title season.

Rossi pulled away from American favorite Nicky Hayden to win the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sept. 14 on the No. 46 Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha/Bridgestone in torrential rain and high winds. The victory helped propel Rossi to his sixth career MotoGP World Championship.

The 2009 IMS Centennial Era season starts on track with the 93rd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, continues with the 16th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 26 and concludes with the second annual Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Sunday, Aug. 30.

***

Stobart support Rossi's run for Children In Need

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Stobart Motorsport have backed MotoGP star Valentino Rossi's bid to raise funds for Children In Need on next month's Wales Rally GB. Rossi will drive a Ford Focus RS with full Stobart livery and incorporate the charity's logo and mascot Pudsey Bear.

In an effort to increase charitable donations for the Children in Need appeal the Stobart team are offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to one lucky person by putting up for auction a priceless item within the realms of world motorsport.

In keeping with all Eddie Stobart trucks, and the team's other rally cars, the five times MotoGP champ will sport a girl's name on the front of his car; and the choice of name will go the highest bidder in a charity auction. After the event, the name will then be transferred to one of the 1850 Eddie Stobart trucks where it will be cemented in the history books of the trucking Superbrand. The winner will also receive Stobart VIP hospitality for the event.

The auction will run from today until Friday 21 November and details on how to place your bid can be found at www.stobartmotorsport.com.

The 29-year-old Italian is attempting the Cardiff-based event for the second time in his career and will be in the safe hands of expert co-driver Carlo Cassina who has contested 24 WRC events in his career. Cassina's impressive resume includes one victory on Rally Portugal in 1988 beside the last and only Italian to win the World Rally Championship for drivers, Miki Biasion.

For decades the Eddie Stobart transport company has upheld an idiosyncratic tradition of identifying its many trucks by allowing their drivers to choose a female's name to adorn it. The fact that thousands of people are currently on the waiting list to name a Stobart truck demonstrates the popularity of the iconic UK-based logistics firm; now part of the newly-formed Stobart Group. This tradition has since been employed by its motorsport wing which has seen cars named by their drivers in the WRC, British Rally Championship, Production World Rally Championship and the Fiesta SportingTrophy.

Valentino Rossi said:

"If two wheels are the big love of my life, 4 wheels, and especially rally cars, are surely my big passion! Having the chance to race at the Wales Rally GB and having, at the same time, the possibility to raise funds for Children In Need is something really special and I am very proud and happy. I cannot wait to be in the car and to have a lot of fun!"

AMA-SBK: Jake Zemke nominated for Athlete of the Year

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

AMA road racer Jake Zemke nominated for 2008 AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is proud to announce that newly crowned 2008 Formula Xtreme Series Champion Jake Zemke is the final nominee for the 2008 AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the 2008 AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet on Sunday evening, Nov. 23, at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds, Ala.

Dating back to 1976, the AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award is the highest honor bestowed on a professional motorcycle racer competing in AMA events. Past recipients of the award include such legendary names as Bob Hannah, Scott Parker, Kenny Roberts and Ricky Carmichael.

The nominees for the 2008 award are AMA Flat Track Champion Kenny Coolbeth, AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies, AMA Motocross Champion James Stewart, ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA Pro Champion Dustin Wimmer, and Zemke.

Zemke, from Paso Robles, Calif., earned his nomination for this prestigious award by capturing the 2008 AMA Formula Xtreme Series Championship. Zemke's second-place finish at Road Atlanta clinched the title with one round to go.

"When I found out I was nominated, I was quite a bit surprised," Zemke said. "It's obviously an honor. Only five guys a year get nominated, and to have your name put up there as one of the five best out all of the racing disciplines that are represented, it's a pretty cool deal. When you look back on who has won this thing, it's a pretty impressive list -- not just the winners but the nominees."

The 2008 Formula Xtreme title is Zemke's first professional championship, yet the 12-year veteran of the AMA professional road-racing circuit has finished championships in the top five 11 times, the top three nine times, and has been runner-up five times. Zemke said that, despite this being his first title, he never anticipated anything less from himself.

"This is something that I've expected," Zemke said. "Being as close as I have before, I look at it as something that just didn't come together, for whatever reason, before this year. This has always been my goal. Of course, I had a great team behind me, and the Erion Honda team played a major role in my success. I couldn't have done it without them."

To see first-hand whether Zemke wins the AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award, attend the AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet, where AMA Pro Racing will honor its professional champions, joined by their families, friends, fans and industry leaders. Held at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, the banquet will take place among a collection of more than 1,200 historic and popular motorcycles.

Yamaha sweeps Qatar 8 hour podium

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

After eight intense hours around the impressive Losail circuit in the Qatari desert the Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle claimed all three podium spots in the final round of six in the Endurance FIM World Championship. Yamaha Austria Racing Team, represented by Igor Jerman, Steve Plater and Steve Martin finished ahead of Yamaha Folch Endurance and Maco Moto Racing.

For Jerman and Martin it was a case of sweet revenge after narrowly missing out on victory in Losail twelve months previously. Their triumph, together with Plater on this occasion, gave YART their first set of winner's garlands in 2008 and confirmed their vice-champion standing in the '08 competition.

The team ended the meeting three laps ahead of Folch Endurance; the Spanish duo of Daniel Ribalta and Pedro Vallcaneras losing precious time to a rear wheel problem. The crew were nevertheless pleased to end their first season at world level with a decent third place overall in the championship.

Small problems impeded the progress of Maco Moto Racing but Jason Pridmore and Thomas Hinterreiter were joined by WSB runner Jakub Smrz for a final and memorable podium placing with the R1.

The Qatar event represented the third consecutive podium finish for YART as they took 2nd position at Oschersleben in August and 3rd spot at the Bol d'Or in France in September.

Capirossi tastes podium success in UK rally

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racer Loris Capirossi had a successful rally debut yesterday as he drove his Suzuki Swift to third place in the Swift Sport Cup, and ninth position overall in the two-wheel drive section of the Tempest Rally.

Capirossi started the day steadily in his Group N car as he came to terms with the demanding 80km of special stages held in the forests and Military training grounds around the Hampshire town of Aldershot in England. As the day progressed, Capirossi became more confident with the incredible performance and handling of the Swift and moved through the field before eventually getting into the top-three in the later stages. He pushed hard as darkness fell, but couldn't quite find the few seconds that he needed to progress further up the leader-board. With comprehensive assistance from experienced co-driver Craig Thorley, Capirossi brought his number 65 Suzuki Swift home in third place, just 14 seconds away from the eventual Swift Sport Cup rally - and championship -- winner Mark Gamble.

Capirossi's MotoGP Team manager Paul Denning was also competing in the rally, but he had a less successful conclusion than his Italian rider. Denning was in close touch with Capirossi and the leaders in the early stages, but a mistake at the end of a fast straight on stage four saw the Englishman slide off the road and into a ditch. He was unable to get his Suzuki back into the stage within the time limit and was disqualified. Denning and co-driver Jemma Bellingham did rejoin the rally for the four afternoon stages and restored some pride by recording some of the quickest times as the torrential rain and high winds battered the competitors.

Capirossi was on hand at the end of the rally to present the winners with their trophies and meet-and-greet his fellow drivers to discuss both the day's events and the demands of their respective motorsport disciplines. Capirossi and Denning will now prepare for Rizla Suzuki MotoGP's next winter test at Phillip Island in Australia later this month, when the evaluation of the 2009 Suzuki GSV-R will continue in readiness for next year's assault on the MotoGP World Championship.

Loris Capirossi:

"It has been a great day and it was really fun to do the rally. I took my time in the early stages as I got used to driving on the loose surfaces and in the forests, it was certainly very different from the wide-open tracks that I am used to in MotoGP! As I got more confident with the car my times improved and I was able to go a lot quicker and I think if we could have done a couple more stages I might have caught the leader, but I am really pleased with third in my first rally. It was a shame that Paul crashed out, because I think our times were very close and it would have been good to have had that extra bit of competition with him, but I think I would have beaten him anyway! I want to say a big thank-you to Craig for some great co-driving and to the organizers for putting on such a good day, plus thanks to Suzuki for inviting me to take part in the event and giving me this opportunity to drive the fantastic Suzuki Swift in a rally."

Daniel Reardon reports after Super X event at Parramatta

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

As you know, I injured my shoulder at the Geelong Super X round. I had a heap of scans and saw a bunch of specialists and it's come up pretty good.

The specialist told me that it was obviously dislocated, but it wasn't as bad as what it could have been, which is really good news.

There weren't any tears or anything like that in my shoulder, so I was actually really grateful and lucky to have come away with such a small injury. With the way it felt initially, I thought it was going to be much worse.

The Australian Supercross Motorcycle Championship is important to me because of what it is and also as part of my preparation for next year, so it's important for me to get back on feet as soon as possible. I wanted to be sure I did everything right and didn't risk doing myself damage.

I spent a week and a half off the bike just resting up and trying to get ready for this weekend's Super X in Parramatta.

My week was good coming into this round; at the end of it I did a little riding down at Mitch Hoad's place and felt reasonably comfortable.

Coming into tonight, I was still hurting, but I wanted to show that I could turn things around and put the pain aside.

Tonight was our first race under lights and the crowd and the atmosphere were awesome.

The track was definitely a little tough, being so tight, and the format was a little weird but hey, it was all good.

One thing is for sure, the format was definitely exciting - I think the people were a little surprised with the way things went.

Each race was a struggle because of the importance of getting a good start. For the majority of the time I got good starts, but there was once instance there when I didn't and I had to work hard to try and get through.

I finished second to Chad, which is alright, but I was a little disappointed with the end result - I'm not so much looking at a placing, but just the way I feel within myself. I felt that I rode way too tight tonight and that's maybe the result of not really having a full two weeks on the bike and feeling a little hesitant with my shoulder, but I'll work on it this week...

AMA at SEMA Show news

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

National OHV organizations hold land-use forum in conjunction with SEMA

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Leaders from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and other national organizations met in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 6, to discuss a variety of land-use issues affecting off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. The meeting was held in conjunction with the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) convention in Las Vegas.

In addition to the AMA and the AMA's sister organization, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association, stakeholder organizations represented included the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, Americans For Responsible Recreational Access, the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the National Motorcycle Stunts Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, the Off-Road Business Association, the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and Tread Lightly!

This is the third forum that the groups have held in 2008. This meeting focused on the recent federal election results and their impact on recreational access issues, as well as the priorities and challenges facing OHV recreation in the 111th Congress. Also discussed were strategies to address the upcoming Recreational Trails Program reauthorization, and the on-going U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Route Designation process.

The organizations represented believe that it is useful to periodically discuss and explore areas where they share a common interest. Recognizing that each organization has a separate mission in representing its distinct membership, communicating with each other serves to strengthen advocacy efforts for OHV recreation.

"The AMA values its partnerships a great deal," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed Moreland. "Working together is the only way the AMA and our partners can meet the public lands access challenges before us. Meeting and sharing ideas and resources helps us address these challenges with a united front, and it amplifies our collective voice when advocating for continued responsible access to public lands."

Loris Capirossi Tempest Rally preview

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Capirossi ready to rally this weekend

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racer Loris Capirossi is swapping two-wheel stunts for four this coming weekend as he competes in the Suzuki-sponsored Tempest Rally in Hampshire, England.

Capirossi and Team Manager Paul Denning -- who will also be competing in the rally - completed a successful test of the Suzuki Swift "Sport Cup" rally car at Turweston Aerodrome in Northamptonshire, England on Tuesday, in preparation for this weekend's final round of the Swift Sport Cup one make series. The pair accumulated around 100 laps between them on the bespoke gravel circuit in both daylight and dusk conditions to get first-hand experience of the situations which the drivers will encounter on the 80km course through the forests and Military training grounds of Aldershot. Although both bring limited knowledge of rallying, the session also provided the chance for Capirossi and Denning to once again become accustomed to driving with pace notes, instructions detailing the road ahead, which will be given by co-drivers Craig Thorley and Jemma Bellingham respectively.

Capirossi and Denning were both given initial instruction in the Group N Suzuki Swift by one of Britain's hottest new rally prospects James Wozencroft. They were both taken for a number of demo laps around the gravel circuit to show the amazing handling performance of what is essential a road car. The Suzuki Swifts that that pair will be driving -- with Capirossi's car sporting his distinctive racing number of 65 - are based on a standard 1586cc, 123bhp Swift Sport with small changes made to the vehicle to cope with the rigorous of off-road driving, plus the addition of all the safety features needed to compete in a rally.

The Rizla Suzuki MotoGP duo will get underway in the 13 stage rally at 09.00hrs GMT on Saturday 8th November, when both will be looking to give a good account of themselves as they compete in their own rally within a rally for the glory of being the highest placed driver from the MotoGP team.

Loris Capirossi:

"It has been really good fun today and I have enjoyed the test day. The car is great fun to drive, and I'm really looking forward to Saturday. Today we only played, but at the weekend we will need to be careful because we have 13 difficult stages and it will be very different to the test we had today which was in a very controlled environment. It's completely different to what I'm used to, as this is the first rally for me on loose surfaces, but the car is very well set up and easy to control. I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to compete in the Tempest Rally, and I appreciate the support that Suzuki has provided to ensure that I have the best possible car and I want to say thank-you to them for giving me the chance to drive in the rally. We will have to see what happens on Saturday -- but for sure I want to beat Paul!"

Paul Denning -- Team Manager:

WSBK: Yamaha Portimao test summary

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

New R1 makes a great start for the 2009 Superbike season at Portimao

2009 Yamaha WSB riders Ben Spies and Tom Sykes enjoyed a successful two day test at Portimao with their new team. The riders used the time to develop both their relationships with their new team and also to make a start on the development of the all-new 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1 race-stunt bike.

Day one of testing was spent mostly riding the 2008 WSB machines, giving both riders the opportunity to learn the highly technical Portimao circuit which opened for the first time last weekend for the last round of the 2008 World Superbike Championship.

Day two saw the riders lapping on the all-new for 2009 Yamaha WSB R1. The new 998cc bike, featuring a high tech powerplant closely linked to the M1 MOTOGP bike, is currently at the very beginning of its development for the 2009 WSB season and is still relatively close to production specifications. However with the 2009 production R1 crossplane crankshaft engine and a unique uneven firing order giving linear torque and greater traction rider Ben Spies was able to come within two tenths of the race lap record set by Troy Bayliss during the inaugural race weekend two days previously.In a validation of the team's belief in the potential of the new bike both riders put in fast lap times, Ben Spies lapping consistently in the low 1.44s on the second day.

The Yamaha WSB team now move on to South Africa for the second test to take the next steps in the development of the bike.

Ben Spies (1'43.9)

"The whole Superbike weekend has been great for me.Having my own crew chief here from the US joining the team is good, he really understands me and it's great to see him working well with the Yamaha Motor Italia Technical Chief Silvano Galbusera. Getting out on Nori's bike we made a couple of changes and got going, it answered a lot of questions for me on the different tyre manufacturer and riding new circuits.The 2009 bike is at the beginning of its development, but for where it's at now compared to where we will be when we line up at Philip Island it's hugely exciting. The team worked really hard on the bike this weekend and it's just going to get better and better. I'm really looking forward to next year."

Tom Sykes (1'44.5)

"For me it's been a very good test. Having done two days I now feel fully part of the team. It was quite difficult arriving on Tuesday morning for the 1st day of the test, facing a new bike, a new circuit, and a new team. It was important to me to get it right from the start. We are developing well together and we have a good understanding. I was very happy with my time on the 2008 bike, and happy with a good race pace.For the 2009 bike, considering it's at a very early stage of development, I think it's a fantastic package.The feeling coming out of the corner is unbelievably smooth, the power is so controllable, the whole bike remains incredibly stable. There is still lots to be done but the outcome is already very good. All in all it was a great weekend for me, I was really happy to get started and learning, getting on with the new team and feeling part of it."

WSBK Portimao: Series weekend summary

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Troy Bayliss wound up his Superbike career, and the 2008 FIM Superbike World Championship, with a spectacular double win in the final round at the Portimao in Portugal in front of 91,000 spectators.

Race 1

The first race was totally dominated by Bayliss, who powered into the lead at the start and was never seen again. The triple world champion's margin over his pursuers was just over two seconds at the flag but it had been much wider throughout the race. There was a terrific scrap for the remaining podium places, the right choice of Pirelli tire making all the difference and in the end it was Checa who came on strong to take the runner-up slot from Corser. The outcome for fourth place was also uncertain until the flag, and it eventually went to Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), making his WSBK debut. Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare) recovered well to finish fifth, ahead of another Spaniard, Gregorio Lavilla (VentAxia Honda) and Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda). Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) crashed out while trying to reach the leading group, while Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) and Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) both retired a few corners in after a clash.

Race 2

The second race saw another totally dominant win from Bayliss, who bows out after a season in which the Australian clearly proved to be the strongest rider out there. Ducati's triumphant day was completed with a second place for Michel Fabrizio while the final podium place went to Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) who got the better of Neukirchner in the final stages. Thanks to a sixth place behind Nieto, Corser finished runner-up in the championship, taking advantage of a ride-through penalty for Haga for a jump start. Regis Laconi (Kawasaki) scored a good result in tenth for Kawasaki, while Biaggi could only finish in thirteenth place.

FIM Supersport Motorcycle World Championship

Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) made a victorious return to the Supersport class. The Turkish rider, 2007 world champion, after a few laps settling in, took control of the race and went on to win by a wide margin over his future team-mate Andrew Pitt, who won this year's title. It was a terrific battle for third between Joan Lascorz (Glaner Motocard.com Honda) and (Parkalgar Honda), with the win going to the Spaniard in a sprint finish. Fifth went to Broc Parkes, best Yamaha to the chequered flag, while Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Honda Althea) finished sixth.

Superstock 1000 FIM Cup

The deciding race for the Superstock 1000 category proved to be an exciting one, as Brendan Roberts (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) powered to the win and the title. The young Australian also gained an advantage from a crash by points leader Xavier Simeon (Suzuki Alstare), which allowed him an easy run to the title. Second place went to another Australian Chris Seaton (Celani Suzuki) ahead of Maxime Berger (Hannspree IDS Ten Kate Honda), another of the stars of this season. Michele Pirro (Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni) finished fourth, while Alex Polita (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) was out of luck in the title battle after starting from row 5.

World Superbike 2008 - Round 14 - Portimao (Portugal)

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Brendan Roberts was today crowned FIM 1000 Superstock Cup World Champion after defying the odds going from fourth in the Championship to take the overall win. The new Portuguese circuit, Portimao, was a tester for all the riders this weekend as the track was only finished a couple of weeks ago. Roberts dominated throughout the weekend and took the fastest lap, pole position and the overall race win to take the Championship title.

Disaster struck Roberts at the last round at Magny Cours, where the young Australian was unable to finish the race after a gear box problem, dropping him to fourth in the Championship table. The 23-year-old originally from Adelaide, Australia, knew that he had to win in Portugal this weekend and hope for the best, his dreams came true and Roberts secured the race win and the Championship title for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team.

Riding the Ducati 1098R Roberts was eager to show people his true colours and was on flying form throughout the weekend at Portimao. Roberts topped the time sheets in both qualifying sessions and was eager to fight off his opposition during the 12-lap race. After a last minute tyre change on the grid due to the changing weather conditions, Roberts got a great start and was leading into the first turn, but slipped back to third after the opening lap behind Chris Seaton and Championship leader Xavier Simeon.

Roberts got tied up in a battle for second position and also the Championship, with Simeon and the two battled with each other, swapping positions for a couple of laps, Roberts finally made the move stick and he began to hunt down fellow Australian Seaton for the lead. Making a comfortable pass on lap eight Roberts had to remain focused for the remainder of the race. Cutting down his lap times he stretched out nearly a three second lead at the chequered flag, winning the Championship by seven points after going into Portimao with a nine point deficit.

Parkes and Foret out to secure final 2008 prize

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) and Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport Team) will be out to end the season on a high note at the Parkalgar circuit in Portugal.

Each rider has already scored a race win in 2008, Parkes in Losail and Foret in Monza, and for Parkes, currently fighting for third in the championship, there is only one ambition this weekend, to secure a victory for his team and himself in his last race for Yamaha.

Foret has recovered well from the serious head and spine injuries that ruined his mid-season push whilst sitting second in the championship. His comeback at Magny-Cours at the last round was impressive, as he posted an eighth place finish, despite his enforced lack of physical conditioning. Foret will return to the fray with Yamaha once again in WSS in 2009, alongside new signing Cal Crutchlow, who will test the YZF-R6 after the Portimao race.

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) is determined to march to a top ten finish overall after the Portuguese round. Currently he is 11th, albeit only two points from tenth.

Parkes, like most of the field, has not seen the all-new track on the Algarve up close yet, but expects to be on good form after a month of preparation and anticipation. "I've got to get a good result after the last round, when I got knocked off. So that means finding a good set-up for the race, concentrating on getting a better start, get the front early and then stay there. I normally learn tracks petty quickly and according to everyone who has seen it the new venue is really good. I'm just psyched to get out there and give it a go. I'll try to win my last race for Yamaha to say thank you to them for the past four years."

Foret sees the Portimao race as a good opportunity to boost his confidence before the winter testing begins shortly after race day. "I was very pleased with the way things went at Magny-Cours, even though I was very tired at the end of the race. I will be much stronger this weekend and I am very keen to see the new track, which should be fantastic."

Wilco Zeelenberg, the Yamaha World Supersport Team Manager, acknowledged that racing so late in the year, and at a new circuit, was slightly peculiar. "It is a little strange to be racing the final round of the championship on a track we have never been to and to be racing so late in the year, especially as the championship has now been decided. The new track layout looks challenging, there are lots of blind corners and those kinds of tracks are the most difficult to learn. Because the track is completely new, when the weather is nice all will be fine but it will be difficult if there is a lot of wind blowing dust across the track. We will start with our normal base set up and start working on finding the right gearing from the very start. It is our last race with Broc and I hope he will be able to take a good result."

Bridgestone begins 2009 preparations with Valencia tests

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Less than 24 hours after Casey Stoner took victory in the final race of the 2008 season, Bridgestone's preparations for the 2009 season got underway with a test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia.

Bridgestone will be the sole tire supplier to the MotoGP championship from 2009 and the Valencia test marked the first occasion to evaluate new specification tyres with all teams and riders for next year. A total of 18 MotoGP riders participated in the test on Monday with some riders joining new teams and others enjoying their first taste of MotoGP machinery.

In accordance with the agreed tire restrictions for this test, Bridgestone supplied a total of 12 slick tires to each rider, consisting of two different front and rear specifications.

The introduction of the sole tire supply regulation for next season will see a reduction in the total number of tires available for each rider during the race weekend, so tyres will have to operate within a wider working range with a greater level of durability. Bridgestone has also reduced the maximum level of grip of the tires in a concerted effort to assist the sport's governing body in its drive for improved safety through reduced cornering speeds.

Monday's session was held in hot and sunny conditions with Casey Stoner resuming where he left off on Sunday, topping the timesheets with a best lap time of 1m32.464s using the new Ducati GP9 machine. Tuesday's session was curtailed by intermittent rain and by 14.00 no riders had ventured out on track.

Bridgestone will now use the data collated from this session in order to prepare tyres for the next test session which will take place at the end of November in Jerez.

Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Race Tire Development

"I am really very satisfied with the first trials of our new specification slick tyres which we were able to carry out in the dry conditions on Monday. Considering it is the first time that we are producing MotoGP tires for everybody in a sole tire supply situation, I think we have made a good start. We have used the foundation of our 2008 tires for these new specs but made some important alterations to ensure that the tires have a wide operating window and can work well for all teams and riders. We have reduced the overall grip level of the tires in order to accomplish this and the feedback from the riders has been encouraging. The track conditions on Monday were excellent and the lap times were also very competitive as a result. The most important thing for us is to know that our tires are durable because this will be one of the most fundamental things for us next season. Some riders put up to 40 laps on the same set of tyres with great consistency which was particularly impressive.

Fiat Yamaha Valencia test notes

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Rossi makes positive start on 2009 campaign in Valencia

One day after the final race of his victorious season, MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi began working towards the defense of his title with his first day's testing aboard the 2009 prototype M1. The Italian was third fastest in a time of 1'32.921, quicker than his best lap in yesterday's race.

Rossi made two runs of six laps each with his 2008 M1 in order to check some settings and also get a feel for the new tires, as today was the first day of the new mono-brand tire rule with Bridgestone now the official supplier for all riders. He then made five runs and a total of 28 laps on the new prototype, setting his best time on the second run.

Lorenzo started off on his 2008 M1 in order to get a feel for the different tires and to check some settings. He made ten laps with the old bike before climbing onto a test bike, which has some new prototype parts for him to try. He made five runs and 36 laps with the test bike, and despite a low-speed crash on the outlap of his third run he was able to make good progress and set a best time of 1'33.550.

Valentino Rossi - Position: 3rd Time: 1'32.921 Laps: 40

"Today we began work on 2009 and I was able to try the new bike for the first time. It is only the first prototype but my impression of it is very good and it seems they have done a good job. We are working on the engine in order to have more acceleration on the exit from the corner and there is a small change, not enough yet but in the right direction so this is important. We worked on the setting and the weight distribution and I was faster with the new bike so this is good!We need more time to understand the bike and more laps but this is only the first day and it is very positive. The other 'big' thing today of course is the

and I am really happily surprised. This is not the best track to try them at as we don't have so much data for here but anyway they feel very good. I was expecting less grip but we had a lot and everyone was fast today. The track conditions are a lot better today than they have been during the weekend so this makes a difference, but anyway we can already see that they are quite good. I think Bridgestone have done a good job but of course it will be hard to know for sure until we have been to some different tracks. We have to wait and see. For me they feel good even in comparison with my Bridgestone tyres from all of the season so I am happy so far. I have a special 'world champion' helmet now which I like a lot and which I will use throughout the winter testing. As for the number one...I will keep my 46 of course but I will put the number one on my back as I did in the past."

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 7th Time: 1'33.550 Laps: 46

"I am really happy today because now everyone has the same tires. I tried a test bike with some new parts and today we were just working on collecting information and understanding the new things. I think it was a good day and I made some good laps, so I am quite happy. I had a crash in the afternoon which was my mistake, it was at turn twelve and I opened the throttle too much when the tire was cold, but I was not hurt and we were able to continue. Tomorrow we will try again with the new tyres and keep working and collecting information. Of course we need more time to be able to understand them and evaluate them properly, this is just the first day but we will go step-by-step. There is a long time before the new season but I am excited that we have started work already."

Stoner dominates at Valencian GP

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Casey Stoner has won the Valencian GP, the final event in the 2008 MotoGP season. The Aussie led from start to finish, claiming his sixth victory this year. Stoner held off local rider Dani Pedrosa for the win while Valentino Rossi moved his way from starting tenth to finish third in the race.

Since 2003, Stoner hasn't won at Circuit de Valencia, Pedrosa is the rider that seems to fair well here in any class. Yet, today the Spaniard's luck ran out and the 2007 Champion was able to claim the both the first event in Qatar and now final race of the season. All that eluded him was a back-to-back championship; Rossi had already wrapped that up last month. The Ducati rider helped the bike maker finish second in the Manufacturers' title, with Honda settling for third.

"We couldn't really have asked for much more today," smiled Stoner. "To end a difficult season in this way is a fantastic feeling and it's a nice way to thank everybody at Ducati for their hard work. Once again my crew got it right, finding a good setting for the bike despite limited dry track time.

"This was the first time we've ridden in these conditions all weekend so there were still a few question marks before the race, so to go out and set the pace like that was a nice feeling. Now I'm really excited about testing the new bike tomorrow. It felt good the last time I rode it and I'm sure they've made it better, so hopefully we can have a good first session and go home for the winter full of optimism about next season," added the Aussie.

As Stoner said, most of the weekend was spent on a wet track but the weather stayed nice for the riders in today's race. Pedrosa had a bike that worked well in both conditions but couldn't match the pace of Stoner. For a fleeting second the Repsol Honda rider held the lead before the red Ducati pulled in front, never to look back. Pedrosa claimed eleven podiums, including two wins on his home soil. The hat-trick escaped him today but third in the championship should be a nice consolation.

The team celebrated Repsol's 40th anniversary in racing with special liveries based off the sponsor's first design in 1969. They close the season second to Fiat Yamaha in the Teams' Championship, Ducati Marlboro finished third.

"I am happy with second place today," said Pedrosa. "I pushed Casey as hard as I could but he had something a little extra and he managed the gap very well. We worked hard all weekend, so my thanks to my team and also to Repsol, the bike I rode today was one of the best-looking bikes I've ridden. The crowd was great, it was fantastic to see so many fans here, packing the grandstands and obviously really enjoying the spectacle and pushing us along.

"Overall, I am also happy with the last few races, because we were able to come back from a difficult period during the middle of the season. We changed tyres [switched to Bridgestone from Michelin] and I came in for some criticism, but finally we got back on the pace at the last few races, running close to the front in the wet and in the dry.

Pedrosa continued, "It hasn't been the easiest of years. I broke my right hand during preseason testing, I broke my left hand in Germany and I injured my left knee at Phillip Island. These injuries caused me to lose my rhythm and they interrupted our development work, while everyone else was racing and improving their bikes. I have had to push really hard to come back from all these injuries. Tomorrow we start testing for 2009 -- I am looking forward to it because things are going well now. I hope to have a good off-season and stay healthy."

Behind them, the 2008 Champion had quite a race on his own. Rossi wasn't as quick in yesterday's qualifying and found himself on the fourth row. The Fiat Yamaha team and their ace worked hard to find the right setup to charge through the field. By lap one he held onto seventh and it wasn't long before he fought his way to the final podium spot. Progress was halted from there on, Stoner and Pedrosa were just too far away. Still only a World Champ could dash to the front and make up seven positions in six laps.

Stoner takes season's final pole in Valencia

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Casey Stoner has pole for the final grid of the 2008 MotoGP season. What a season it has been. From rookie to champions alike there have been high points and low moments. Valentino Rossi has already been crowned with this year's title and Stoner will be runner-up. Both these quick riders want to take the last win for themselves, while Spaniards Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo look for a home victory.

Today's pole for the Valencian GP was Stoner's ninth of the season. The Ducati rider started out front more times than anyone else on the field. Unfortunately, it wasn't always translated into a race win. The Aussie's injuries made it hard for him to keep the pace full distance. Next year he will be healed and the Ducati team will have a brand new bike to take on Rossi and the rest and tomorrow's race will be the litmus test.

The weather in Valencia has been wet for much of the on track activities. In the morning the track was soaked for the final practice. Qualifying looked to be a bit more promising but again storm clouds loomed overhead, throwing all the teams' programs out the window.

"That was a really strange session," explained Stoner, "because of the weather but the team did a good job to judge the conditions well and adjust the setting of the bike during the limited dry track time available. It seems this track isn't as demanding on my wrist as Sepang was because there aren't as many hard braking areas, although I went out without strapping today and that didn't turn out to be the best decision. We'll strap it up tomorrow but I don't think it will be a problem. It's important to be on the front row because it is so hard to pass at this circuit and it's also nice to take the final pole position of the season. Hopefully the weather stays dry - for us and for the incredible fans here."

The Repsol Honda teammates completed the front row with Pedrosa second and Nicky Hayden third. Pedrosa was less than a tenth off Stoner's winning time. The Spaniard is a local hero in Valencia, the third event held in Spain this season. Twice this year Pedrosa has won on home soil, he looks for the hat-trick tomorrow.

"Finally, it looked like we might get a dry session this afternoon," commented Pedrosa. "The hour started dry but then it started raining again, which spoiled the work we had planned focusing on trying different race tyres. I wanted to continue working with race tires, preparing for the race, but we made an early switch to qualifying tires to make sure of a good grid position for tomorrow, in case it started raining more heavily. Finally we made the front row, quite close to pole, and the front row is particularly important at this track. We were only able to try one race tire this afternoon, so we will need a good warm-up and then we will need to think very carefully about which tyres we will run in the race. I hope we can have a dry race tomorrow, not only for us but also for all the tens of thousands of fans who always pack the grandstands here."

Hayden was a tenth off his teammate's pace. In the last part of the season the American rider has been up near the top and another front row start today shows his potential for next year. For 2009 Hayden will switch camps to Ducati with Stoner as teammate. For now, the Kentucky Kid will enjoy his last race on a Honda.

"We were close but close don't count, I guess! We shouldn't be too bummed out though," said Hayden, "because we're on the front row. It was pretty obvious that we really wanted to be on pole, we've been fastest all weekend, the bike is working good and the team did a great job when it started sprinkling, getting one bike ready with qualifiers early on. It was quite a tough session, going to qualifiers and then back to race tyres.

2009 ACO calendar

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Keep these weekends free!

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest's 2009 season is going to be an intense one full of exciting events for 2, 4 and 6-wheel vehicles on the Bugatti track as well as on the big Le Mans 24-Hours circuit. Get out your diaries now -- weekends like these are not to be missed!

28th-29th March -- French Promosport Cups
An innovation in 2009: the season will kick off with the French Promosport Cups instead of the French Superbike Championship (put back till September). The meeting will include races for 125, 600 and 1000 cc motorbikes as well as the Honda Junior Cup, the Promo 500 Cup and the Makes Cup.

18th-19th April -- The Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorcycles
The 32nd Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorcycles is on the FIM Endurance World Championship Calendar, and will be a top-level event thanks to works involvement via professional teams. The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team based at Le Mans will be defending its title. 66 motorcycles are accepted for practice and 56 will start the race at 15h00.

22nd-23rd April -- Le Mans Series tests
Another 2009 innovation: All the teams will be welcome to the Le Mans Bugatti circuit between the first and second rounds of the 2009 Le Mans Series for two days' testing.

16th-17th May -- The French Motorcycle Grand Prix
The French Motorcycle Grand Prix will again be held on the Bugatti circuit, and in 2009 there will a French World Champion racing in front of his home crowd. Mike di Meglio won the 125 cc World Championship before the end of the 2008 season. His presence will attract the interest of French motorbike fans for the 125 and 250 cc championships and of course the highlight of the weekend, the top category Moto GP.

31st May -- The Le Mans 24-Hours test day
This will be shakedown day for the 55 entrants invited by the ACO to take part in the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours. They will have the 13,629-km track all to themselves for 7 hours. So there will be no time to lose to prepare for the most mythic endurance race in the world, which will take place 2 weeks later. A third 2009 innovation: the test will be accompanied by a race to the delight of the spectators (30 000 people in 2008!).

13th-14th June -- The Le Mans 24 Hours
The 77th running of the greatest endurance race in the world is the first one under a new set of ACO regulations, which will come into force progressively between now and 2011. Its basic guidelines concern the future of the event in terms of sporting equality, safety, cost reduction and sustainable development. More than ever the Le Mans 24 Hours will be in tune with the concerns of its era. The sport will win and the on-track action will again live up to the spectators' expectations. The attendance record to be beaten is 258 500 (2008). In addition, a round of the Le Mans Formula, the new feeder formula championship created by the ACO and Oreca, will be held as a curtain-raiser to the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours.

4th-5th July -- LM Story
Every odd year LM Story is back on the calendar with races on the Bugatti circuit for the delight of lovers of historic racing. In 2007, 350 cars took to the track for 17 races divided up into 9 groups. Clubs of historic vehicle collectors of all makes and types will be part of the 2009 programme as well as a large assortment of Alpines.

Fiat Yamaha riders head to Valencia with more records in sight

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

A record-breaking season for Fiat Yamaha reaches its finale this weekend as the Grand Prix of Valencia brings the curtain down on the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. The traditional season-ending Spanish fiesta sees Valentino Rossi arrive with the title already in his pocket and the all-time points record for a season within his sights, whilst Jorge Lorenzo will become the highest-placed rookie in four-stroke MotoGP history by scoring just four points.

In a season that has seen Rossi become MotoGP World Champion for the sixth time, breaking the record number of wins in the class and scoring his 150th Grand Prix podium on the way, he now needs just eleven points to break the record for the highest tally in a season. He currently stands on 357 points, meaning fifth place or above would take him above the benchmark he set in 2005, which was equaled by Casey Stoner last year.

Lorenzo currently lies fourth in the championship and whilst third is now a mathematically impossibility, Andrea Dovizioso would have to win the race and hope the Spaniard finishes no higher than twelfth to dislodge him. Dovizioso is also the only rider with any chance of denying Lorenzo the title of Rookie of the Year. It is a familiar scenario for the old rivals, who entered the final round of the 2006 season at Valencia battling for the 250cc title, which Lorenzo won with fourth place as the Italian finished seventh.

The 21-year-old from Mallorca has never won at the Ricardo Tormo circuit although he will be looking to set that record straight this weekend in front of the 130,000 race-day fans that will pack into the unique stadium-style surroundings of the track. The layout is characterized by a never-ending burst of tight corners, connected by short straights. The long penultimate looping left-hander and the fast entry to turn one contrast violently with the otherwise geometric flip-flop chicanes and slow speed corners of the infield.

Valentino Rossi Motorcycle Racer- "An account to settle"

"I have had two bad years at Valencia and I have some memories I would like to forget with a good result there this year - I have an account to settle! In 2006 I crashed and lost the championship and then last year I broke my hand and lost second place in the championship! It's not the best track for us but I won there with Yamaha in my first year with them and I would like to do the same again this weekend. It's been a fantastic season and the win on Sunday in Malaysia was great, but I am not finished yet and I want to reward my team, Yamaha and Bridgestone for a fantastic season with the best possible result on Sunday. Then we can all celebrate with a big party!"

Jorge Lorenzo - "Aiming to finish on a high"

"Sunday was really disappointing but I am not hurt and now we are looking forward to Valencia. It's the third 'home' race for me and since at the last one, in Barcelona, I couldn't race, I especially want to get a good result for all my fans. It will be a special race because it's the 10th anniversary of the Valencia circuit. Of course it is a little sad that I am no longer fighting for third in the Championship, but I can still be Rookie of the Year and this is what I am aiming for. It is really important for me and for all my team. I don't have the best record at Valencia, I've never won the race there, although I was second in 2005, but I do have great memories from winning the 250cc world championship there in 2006. It will be our last race with Michelin, who I won my first premier class race with, and more than anything I want to get a good result for them, for my tire technician Pierre, for Jean-Phillipe Weber and of course for my team."

Davide Brivio - "We want to win and party"

Rossi takes win under hot Malaysian sun

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Valentino Rossi may have already won the MotoGP championship this year, but that wasn't going to stop the Italian from taking more wins. In a day described by most teams as "sweltering", Rossi played it cool to win the Malaysian GP in Sepang. Polesitter for the race, Dani Pedrosa, crossed the line second. Andrea Dovizioso earned the first podium of the season for JiR Team Scot, better late than never.

The Penultimate weekend for MotoGP was wet at times, always humid and became extremely hot for the race. Circuit temperatures hit an astounding 60 C (140 F) and every degree was felt by the riders. At the start Pedrosa lead the field with Dovizioso making a brilliant leap into second. It wasn't long before the Italian was passed by fellow countryman Rossi. Soon the champ was after Pedrosa, making the pass about midway into the race. Behind them Jorge Lorenzo, teammate to Rossi, slid his Fiat Yamaha into the gravel, ending his chance for a podium finish.

Casey Stoner also had a tough day, the '07 champion was able to hang on to the end but his injuries made it an exhausting race. Sixth place was all he could get, but it was enough to secure the runner-up position in the title hunt, Pedrosa will end the season third.

On the track, Rossi crossed the line four seconds in front of Pedrosa, the Italian now ties Giacomo Agostini for total career podiums. Earlier this season Rossi had already surpassed the legend in total wins.

"I am so happy with this win today because all of the toughest championship of my career, including with Yamaha in 2004, have been won with nine victories," explained Rossi. "Of course that doesn't mean I don't want to win again next week, but for now I like this number! Today was incredibly hard because it was so hot. Once I got behind Dani I tried to pass many times but he was very fast and very consistent and I had a good battle to get by him.

"Anyway, it was important to win here because when we came here in the winter I did a very fast race simulation and I promised my new Bridgestone tire technician, Peter, that we would win the race! I took a gamble in February so I had to win today! Finally I want to congratulate my friend Marco Simoncelli for winning the 250cc World Championship today. I know how hard he has worked to get here and he really deserves it - I am very happy for him," added the Doctor.

Pedrosa had a solid Sunday, the Spaniard did his best to fend off Rossi but The Repsol Honda rider just couldn't match pace. The team is still learning a great deal about their new bike and Bridgestone combination. Their improvement is looking good; Pedrosa and teammate Nicky Hayden will be strong in the season finale at Valencia.

"It was a very tough race and I'm happy very about this result," said Pedrosa. "I want to thank my team, we have worked well, improving every session. On Friday morning we were only 17th, I think, then we started moving forward and yesterday we were able to get pole and today I finished second, so finally it has been a good weekend for me and my team.

Bridgestone appointed sole MotoGP tire supplier from 2009

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Bridgestone has today been officially appointed the sole tire supplier for the MotoGP World Championship for a three-year period starting from 2009.

The decision comes following an announcement in September from the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) that MotoGP will become a single-make tire formula from 2009, and after a subsequent tender process in which Bridgestone was the only tyre manufacturer to submit a proposal to FIM and Dorna.

The specific regulations pertaining to the single tire contract will be confirmed by FIM in due course.

Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport commented on today's announcement:

"Bridgestone is pleased that we have been appointed the sole tire supplier to the MotoGP World Championship for the next three seasons, starting from 2009.

"Although we were sorry to hear that tire competition would not continue in MotoGP, Bridgestone appreciates the importance of safety and cost in motorsport. We respect the decision taken by FIM and Dorna to impose a one-make tyre rule for next season and acknowledge the safety and cost reasons given for their decision.

"We submitted a proposal to FIM and Dorna in order to continue competing at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, and to continue to be a part of the MotoGP community, of which we are proud to have been involved since the 2002 season.

"We have developed strong relations with manufacturers, teams, riders and personnel in the MotoGP world and are happy to be able to continue a high level of participation in the sport. Even in a single tire situation, however, we must also guarantee and increase our return on investment from a business point of view, something that we hope to achieve through a close working relationship with all our teams and with Dorna.

"Alongside safety and cost, fairness is another pillar of Bridgestone's involvement in motorsport and we are committed to servicing our teams fairly at all times. Having worked with all manufacturers in MotoGP this season, we believe that we are well placed to offer the fairest possible treatment across all teams.

"We have relished competing on a global motorcycle racing stage with our rivals over the last seven seasons and will miss the opportunity to showcase our technical capabilities against them. In this period of competition, we have improved our performance level step by step and have been immensely proud to have taken the world title for the last two seasons, firstly with Ducati and Casey Stoner in 2007, and this year with Fiat Yamaha and Valentino Rossi.

Malaysian MotoGP: Bridgestone preview

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

MotoGP is set for a frantic final flourish to the 2008 championship as the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia plays host to the penultimate race of this year's campaign before the whirlwind tour moves to Valencia next week for the season finale.

This weekend's event will be the tenth consecutive MotoGP race to be held at the Sepang International Circuit since the Malaysian GP event was moved there back in 1999. Alongside Shanghai and Catalunya, it is one of three circuits on this year's calendar that also holds Formula One races, so Bridgestone can boast a wide-ranging pedigree at the track.

On two wheels, Bridgestone has two Sepang victories, both with Ducati, with Loris Capirossi in 2005 and Casey Stoner in 2007. Valentino Rossi may already have wrapped up this year's riders' title, but there is plenty left up for grabs in these final two races.

Casey Stoner took a popular home win at Phillip Island two weeks ago to extend his grasp of second place in the table and will be hoping to capture his second consecutive Malaysian GP victory this weekend. Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa will be hoping to end his season with some strong results to consolidate his top three status in this year's championship.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Motorcycle Sport Unit Stunts.

"This long and competitive season is building to a resounding end with two quite contrasting race venues in Malaysia and Valencia. Malaysia is traditionally one of the hottest of the season, while Valencia can be quite cool at this time of the year. We have a good history in Malaysia. It was the scene of one of the two victories we shared with Ducati in our debut season of collaboration in 2005 after a great ride from Loris. He followed that win up with second place in 2006 after a very exciting battle with Valentino. It was also a tightly-fought race last year and we emerged with a 1-2, Casey taking his tenth win of the season in style ahead of Marco in second on the Honda Gresini bike. The last few races have proven to be very close, and I expect something similar in Sepang this weekend."

Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Race Tyre Development

"Sepang is one of the longest circuits on the calendar with two very distinct straights, both of which are around 1km in length, interlinked by a tight hairpin. The track layout requires a lot of outright engine power and good braking stability from the machines as riders brake from speeds in excess of 300km/h. It is also one of the hottest tracks that we race at with track temperatures often in excess of 50 degrees Celsius. For this reason, we have to look carefully at the central part of the tire because of the pressure that it is placed under and the length of time that riders are upright over the lap. The circuit was resurfaced for last year's event which gave us a new challenge, but the race performance showed good pace and consistency across the entire field, and it was a highly competitive race. Sepang is also a much-used place for pre-season testing, so most teams will arrive at the track for Friday practice with a good idea of bike set-up, which in turn allows us to get to work quickly on tire evaluation for the weekend.

MICHELIN TACKLES TROPICAL CHALLENGE

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Michelin's MotoGP crew swaps the cool, breeziness of Phillip Island for the sweltering tropical heat of Sepang for the penultimate race of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship.

Michelin performed well at Phillip Island, with Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V-Michelin) scoring a superb podium result and all six Michelin men inside the top nine finishers. Hayden is currently sixth overall in the points standings, just behind fellow Michelin riders Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) and Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Team Scot Honda RC212V-Michelin) and just in front of Colin Edwards (Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1-Michelin).

Sepang is one of the most challenging events of the MotoGP season, with riders, motorcycles and tires pushed to the limit by the intense weather conditions, with temperatures sometimes edging towards 55 degrees and humidity at up to 80 per cent. The circuit also demands much from riders and their machinery, with a com bination of wide, sweeping corners and heavy braking. Sepang's testing layout makes it MotoGP's most popular off-season test venue, with some teams visiting the track several times during the sport's winter season.

"After Phillip Island, which is the toughest circuit for tires, Sepang is another big challenge for the tire companies," says Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing. "But conditions are very different from those we experience in Australia, with much higher ambient and track temperatures. At Phillip Island we had to contend with a track temperature between 22 and 35 degrees; at Sepang it can be anything between 40 and 55 degrees, which makes it very tough for the tires. The layout of the Sepang circuit puts less stress into the tires than Phillip Island, which puts so much heat into the tires. In Malaysia it is the heat that demands so much from the tires.

"We expect the asphalt to be less demanding than it was last year, when the whole track had been resurfaced, because Sepang is used a lot for racing, testing and other activities. Riders use similar rear tire constructions as they used at Phillip Island, with different compounds adapted to suit these special conditions. Edge grip and traction are very important at Sepang, with quite a few long corners. The tires need to provide consistent performance through these corners during the race.

AMA Congress annual meeting summary

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

American Motorcyclist Association Congress convenes, passes new lower sound rules for motorcycle competition

PICKERINGTON, Ohio--The 2008 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Congress gathered October 9-11 to consider numerous issues affecting amateur motorcycle competition and recreational riding in the United States. Rule changes passed by AMA Congress included the regulation of motorcycle sound levels at competitive events, motocross class advancement and new event types for road riders.

In all, AMA Congress considered 83 rule proposals at the 2008 annual meeting, 47 of which were passed or amended for possible ratification by the AMA Board of Directors. In deference to the needs of local AMA organizers, the AMA and original equipment manufacturers, most rules adopted by the 2008 AMA Congress will not take effect before 2010, at the earliest.

Most notably, the 2008 AMA Congress passed a 94 dB(a) standard for all amateur and Pro-Am motocross and off-road competition, effective in 2011. The new standard will not apply to land-speed racing, speed trials or drag-racing events.

The new level mirrors both the 2009 standard for professional motocross and Supercross racing in the United States, as well as the level mandated by the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme), which governs international motorcycle competition. Currently, sound limits for amateur motorcycle competition are 99 dB(a) for closed-course competition and 96 dB(a) for cross-country racing.

"Few issues contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling community than excessively loud motorcycles, and this measure addresses the issue head-on," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "This standard is already in place for professional and international competition, making this one of the most cost-effective and easy-to-implement solutions to the sound problem. That said, AMA Congress understands that amateur competitors may need more time to adopt this new standard and wisely established a reasonable deadline for compliance."

Also at the meeting, AMA Congress passed revised advancement procedures for amateur motocross racers, which are designed to be more equitable to C-class riders poised to advance to the B level.

On the road-riding side, the AMA Congress considered several proposals, including two that develop new types of events. One is the Bonus Hunt, which is part scavenger hunt and part road enduro. The other provides a more detailed procedure for the popular Vintage Motogiro event, which gives owners of vintage and antique motorcycles a chance to meet and show off their unique machines.

US Open Saturday night summary

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Stewart Enjoys $100,000-Plus Payday at Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open

LAS VEGAS (October 11, 2008) -- L&M San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, taking home the $100,000 winner's pay check.

Stewart set the stage coming into tonight's main event, winning the superpole, which put him two steps away from claiming the $250,000 Trifecta bonus award. Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., stopped Stewart from winning the $250,000 when he won the holeshot award. Yamaha's Broc Hepler, of Kittanning, Pa., followed Reed through turn one and Stewart started in fourth.

Reed led the first 16 laps before suffering a major crash that allowed Stewart to move into the lead. Red Bull Honda's Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, moved into second place, where he finished. Reed finished third.

In the overall, Red Bull Honda's Ivan Tedesco, of Tallahassee, Fla., finished second and Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle, Plaine, Minn., finished third.

"I wanted to come here and do good for the team," said Stewart. "I was lucky that Chad made a mistake for me. It was a great night and I am glad that we put on a great race for the fans."

Jesse Nelson bounced back from a rough ride Friday night to win the Alpinestars 85cc Mini Invitational. While trailing Nelson, Joe Savatgy, who finished second last night, crashed the timing section, giving up his chase for the lead. Austin Politelli, who won last night's main event, finished second place tonight and won the overall.

Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Overall Results
1. James Stewart, Yamaha (1-1)
2. Ivan Tedesco, Honda (5-4)
3. Ryan Dungey, Suzuki (5-4)
4. Andrew Short, Honda (9-2)
5. Justin Brayton, KTM (4-9)
6. Josh Hill, Yamaha (3-12)
7. Michael Byrne, Suzuki (7-6)
8. Chad Reed, Suzuki (14-3)
9. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki (8-13)
10. Broc Hepler, Yamaha (6-11)

Alpinestars 85cc Mini Invitational Overall Results
1. A. Politelli, Suzuki
2. K. Kamm, KTM
3. J. Savatgy, Honda
4. J. Nelson, Honda
5. J. Owen, Suzuki
6. M. Maze, Suzuki
7. D. Epstein, Yamaha
8. M. Bisceglia, Yamaha
9. T. Stewart, Yamaha
10. C. Alldredge, Yamaha

Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Saturday Night Results
1. James Stewart, Yamaha
2. Andrew Short, Honda
3. Chad Reed, Suzuki
4. Ryan Dungey, Suzuki
5. Ivan Tedesco, Honda
6. Michael Byrne, Suzuki
7. Dan Reardon, Honda
8. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki
9. Justin Brayton, KTM
10. Nico Izzi, Suzuki

Troy Bayliss proves he is a master with third crown

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

At the age of 39, Troy Bayliss continues to ride the high waves in World Superbike competition, this past weekend in Magny-Cours, France, the Aussie wrapped-up his third world championship with one event (two races) remaining on the 2008 calendar.

"I'm extremely happy to have won my third world championship and to be able to say I have won on three different generations of the Ducati Superbike Motorcycle. I want to thank the entire team who have worked so hard and put a lot of trust in me. Together we have done a great job this season," smiled Bayliss.

Riding for the Ducati Xerox Team, he got the job done. Bayliss was third in the first race on Sunday but came back to land the victory in the afternoon on Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours on his Ducati 1098 F08.

Bayliss kick-started his world racing career in 1997 but took three years away from Superbikes. He returned in 2006 to land 12 wins out of 24 races plus five Superpoles to earn his second crown. His first championship came in 2001 with two Superpoles and six victories.

"These last years with Ducati, since 2000, have been a great experience for me," said Bayliss.

Ducati moved Bayliss into another world stage in 2003, '04 and '05. His debut in MotoGP was remarkable with three podiums and two front row starting positions. He ended sixth and missed the top rookie award by a mere two points.

Bayliss admitted he found MotoGP to be very tough and his second season in '04 was dismal but at the end, he found the podium in the season finale and simply said, "You probably haven't seen me smile like this for a while ... It's been a tough year for me and everyone at Ducati but the bike has come good in the second half of the season."

The Aussie and Ducati parted ways in '05 with Bayliss moving to Honda in MotoGP. "For me the switch from Ducati to Honda is a bigger change than coming from Superbikes to MotoGP," he said.

His move back to the Superbike World Championship with Ducati is now history.

Two races have yet to run and the Aussie no doubt will add to his impressive career stats. With 150 starts, Bayliss has to his credit 50 wins, 29 second place finishes and 13 on the final podium step, plus his 25 Superpoles.

This year's stats will end on November 2 in Portimao, Portugal on the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit. Out of the 26 races thus far this season, the Aussie has nine wins and will be the first to admit, it has been a tight battle between himself, Noriyuki Haga and the "other Aussie", Troy Corser, both racing for the Yamaha Motor Italia team.

"This whole year has been up and done, with several riders remaining consistently fast. From half way through the season we became more confident and so there was a lot of pressure but I've done what I set out to do, I really wanted to win on the three different Ducati Superbikes," Bayliss said. "It's just a fantastic feeling. Now I have secured the title, I'm looking forward to enjoying the last round at the brand new track of Portimao, where I'm hoping I can finish the season on a high!"

WORCS to receive AMA sanction in 2009

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

American Motorcyclist Association announces agreement to sanction WORCS events for 2009

PICKERINGTON, Ohio--The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is proud to announce that it will sanction the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) for 2009. In addition, the AMA and WORCS will also partner on several rounds of the AMA Western Hare Scrambles Series, which will lay the groundwork for future cooperative endeavors.

"Off-road racing is a unique area of motorcycle competition where both the country's top athletes and recreational amateur racers frequently compete in their respective classes at the same events," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Thousands of our members are die-hard off-road racing enthusiasts, and the AMA remains steadfastly committed to this form of competition on all levels. As one of the premier series for off-road racers in this country, WORCS represents an excellent additional partner for the Association as we continue to grow and improve this area of competition."

With the addition of WORCS events, the AMA adds another of the country's top off-road series to its fold, which also includes the AMA FMF Racing National Enduro Series, the AMA FMF Racing National Hare & Hound Series, the Can-Am AMA Grand National Cross Country Series, the AMA/MAXXIS National Endurocross Series, the AMA/NATC National Observed Trials Series and the AMA Eastern and Western Hare Scrambles Series.

AMA Off-Road Director Chuck Weir added that the benefits of sanctioning WORCS will go beyond that series alone.

"The AMA is thrilled with the opportunity to sanction this world-class championship, and honor the WORCS champions with AMA recognition," Weir said. "In addition, by working with WORCS on the AMA Western Hare Scrambles Series, both programs will be elevated and better racing will result for the competitors and fans. This is a win/win relationship that will start paying dividends immediately."

Sean Reddish, CEO and founder of WORCS, said that he has long wanted to affiliate WORCS with the AMA, the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body and the leading advocate for motorcyclists' rights in the United States.

"WORCS has looked at partnering with the AMA for the last three years and now the time is just right," Reddish said. "With the growth of the WORCS series and the new direction AMA has taken in sanctioning, we knew that 2009 was the year to make it happen. Many positive things can be said of the AMA, and the one that I and WORCS consider the most important is the protection of our right to ride and race."

Reddish added that WORCS hopes to co-sanction three to four races with the Western National Hare Scrambles program in 2009.

ELLISON AND MARTIN ALL SET FOR BRANDS FINALE

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship concludes this weekend with the final round at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit whereby Hydrex Bike Animal Honda riders, James Ellison and Guy Martin, aim to round the season off in style.

When the series last visited the Kent track back in May, albeit on the full GP circuit, both riders came away with a decent points haul and the pair will be looking for a repeat of those performances for Shaun Muir's team.

28 year old Ellison from Kendal in Cumbria currently lies in seventh place in the standings, 34 points down on the experienced Michael Rutter, and but for his one and only indiscretion on his comeback season, when he slid off in the first race at Silverstone a couple of weeks ago, James could have been realistically challenging for a top six placing after claiming three podiums throughout the season.

For 26 year old Martin, the meeting offers the chance to rid himself of the bad luck that has plagued his entire season and the rider from Kirmington in Lincolnshire will be looking to add to his one and only top ten placing so far, which he scored at the very first round at Thruxton.

James Ellison: "I'm really looking forward to Brands Hatch to try to get around the problems we had at Silverstone. It's a bit of a short circuit and not much you can do there with settings so I reckon we'll be competitive. I'll just keep trying for this elusive win, I have two chances left and I'd like to get that top step of the podium for all the team, to pay them back for all their hard work."

Guy Martin: "It doesn't seem five minutes ago that the season was just starting, full of high expectations, but it's just not happened for me this year. I'm looking forward to getting some better results at Brands Hatch as we really need a tonic to carry us into the winter months. But come Sunday evening, it will be a case of 'win or lose, we'll have some booze.'"

The first of the thirty lap encounters is scheduled for 2pm with the second race getting underway at 4.45pm and as ever, the action will be shown live on British Eurosport with a Channel 4 highlights show to be aired during the following week, as well as motorcycle stunts.

Tommy Aquino is 2008 Road Race Rookie of the Year

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Graves Motorsports' Tommy Aquino is 2008 AMA Road Race Rookie of the Year

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida--AMA Pro Racing is proud to announce that Graves Motorsports Yamaha rider Tommy Aquino is the 2008 AMA Road Race Rookie of the Year. In his first full professional season, Aquino finished 14th overall in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei.

AMA Road Race Rookie of the Year honors are awarded to the eligible rookie rider with the most points accumulated in one of the eligible AMA professional road-race classes, Superbike, Supersport, Formula Xtreme or Superstock.

"Tommy had an exceptional year in the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship, and we're happy to recognize those efforts with the AMA Road Race Rookie of the Year Award," said AMA Pro Racing Special Projects Manager Bill Syfan. "This young man put in a number of solid rides against some of America's best road racers, and established himself as a possible front-runner for 2009. We would like to congratulate Tommy, the Aquino family and Graves Motorsports on a successful season."

Aquino's closest competitor for the honor was Seth Starnes, who was competing in the AMA Superstock Series presented by Dynojet. Going into the last round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, Starnes has accumulated 121 class points to Aquino's 111. Aquino, however, wrapped up his year with a 7th in the Supersport race, while Starnes carded a 19th in Superstock. The additional points gave Aquino the edge he needed to claim the award by 2 points, 135 to Starnes' 133.

"It's exciting to win this award," said Aquino, who's from Woodland Hills, California. "I only completed seven races (because he turned 16 in May) and got top 10 in most of them. I knew everybody would be a lot better than me at first, but it worked out and was fun."

Aquino added that a big difference between the amateur and pro ranks was the motorcycle stunting intensity.

"I learned that in the pros, everybody up front is really aggressive, and I had to be aggressive to do well," he said. "You also have more confidence, though, because you know you're racing around people who know what they're doing, so close riding and aggressive riding isn't as dangerous."

Aquino had a successful amateur career before he made the leap to the pro ranks this year. Aquino was the 2007 WERA National Champion in the 600 Supersport class and finished second in 600 Superbike Expert last year.

Stoner wins home Australian MotoGP

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

For the second year in a row Casey Stoner his won at his home event, the Australian GP at Phillip Island. Last year's MotoGP champion started from pole and led every lap around the 4.445 km (2.762 miles) circuit. This year's title winner, Valentino Rossi, crashed in qualifying but was still able to move his way into second place. The Fiat Yamaha rider passed Nicky Hayden for the spot on the final lap. Hayden's third moved him up two places in the point standings.

Quick all weekend, Stoner was hungry for today's win. The Aussie shattered the track record to gain the top starting spot. In the race only Hayden could keep up, but eventually even the American fell six seconds away from the Ducati.

"This weekend has been a bit like the whole season - up and down! Thankfully it's finished on a high and it's a great feeling to win my home Grand Prix in front of all these wonderful fans, with my family here too," said Stoner. "That's largely down to the hard work of my team because we've had some issues with the bike here but today it felt great and I was able to push hard from the first lap. Sometimes at this track you can have the best pace but still get dragged into a battle but I was able to get away, even though Nicky chased me hard for a long time before eventually dropping off and giving me some breathing space. It's been a great year for me and even though we haven't won the title I feel proud of our achievements. If we can battle for the championship again next year that would be great but for now I'm just going to enjoy winning my home GP."

In contrast, Rossi had a terrible Saturday. The Italian looked quick during practice but a mistake in qualifying sent the Fiat Yamaha bike into the gravel. Rossi banged his head pretty good and wasn't able to place a competitive time before the end of the session. After a good night's rest the Doctor was ready to make up for his spill.

Starting twelfth on the grid the champ quickly dispatched a large chunk of the field before hanging onto the tail of his teammate, Jorge Lorenzo. Without losing his pace Rossi slipped past the sister Yamaha and then worked on James Toseland for third, the pair not giving an inch before Rossi finally made a pass stick. Rossi became a man possessed, with six seconds between himself and Hayden he gave his all to catch the Honda. When Hayden's rear tire faded away Rossi was able to make the pass on the final lap. Clearly Rossi won the hard charger award, gaining eleven positions on his quest for the best possible finish.

"That was a very exciting race for me, from start to finish!" smiled Rossi. "Unfortunately I made a small mistake yesterday and I paid a high price for it - both with my starting position and with my body! This morning my neck was okay but I had a lot of pain in my head, so I have to say thank you to Dr. Costa and the Clinica Mobile because they gave me a lot of massage and some medicine and I was in better shape for the race.

Stoner takes pole at his Australian home event

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Casey Stoner can only become the runner-up for this season's championship but the Australian isn't going to let anyone take away the win at his home event. A week after Valentino Rossi took the title in Japan the MotoGP series moved to a smaller island, Phillip Island, for the Australian GP.

In today's qualifying, Stoner went out as the session closed to grab pole away from Nicky Hayden, setting a new circuit record along the way. When the dust settled Jorge Lorenzo also managed to beat out Hayden for second place. In his own right Hayden's third is well earned. The American was also lightning quick, he set the first hot lap to break the old track record. All three drivers in the front row are separated less than a tenth of a second.

Doubts surrounded Stoner going into his home event. Many sideline tacticians were quick to speculate the 2007 champion's injured wrist is what made him lose to Rossi this season. Denying his old injury has anything to do with missing the title, the Aussie brushed aside all criticism and did what any professional rider does best, go faster than everyone else on the track. Tomorrow will be a challenging race for Stoner but it looks like the Ducati rider isn't worried, a win at his home race before his birthday is the extra juice needed to claim victory.

"This is actually the first time this season we've had three identical qualifying tyres and the first one ran out of grip in the final sequence of left-handers," explained Stoner. "With the last one I tried to preserve it a bit better by picking the bike up out of the corners earlier and even then it was do-or-die in those final three bends. I thought the lap time would be good enough for a front row start but we ended up on pole position so I'm surprised and extra happy today. This is my home race but there is no pressure on us and I just want to enjoy it. I hope the fans do too."

Lorenzo was an example of consistency today, earning him his seventh front row start of the season. Once the Fiat Yamaha team sorted out a dry weather setup, the Spaniard finished the morning practice third quickest. During qualifying the MotoGP rookie's pace increased every lap with his best and final a mere seven thousandths from Stoner. While a new comer to the premier class Lorenzo has a winning history here in 250cc.

"The weather was more complicated than it looked because the wind was very strong, but anyway my bike worked very well," said Lorenzo. "I am disappointed to miss out on the pole position by such a tiny amount but anyway I am happy to be on the front row and also to have such a good race pace. My rivals are fast too and we know that it is going to be a hard battle, but I am really looking forward to it. Yesterday we tried some practice starts, because this has been an issue for me lately, so now I hope I can get a good start tomorrow, stay at the front and try to fight. Thanks to my team and Michelin for getting us onto the front row again; the fourth race in a row!"

Australian MotoGP: Bridgestone Friday practice report

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Aussies lead the Bridgestone charge in wet and dry

Australian riders Casey Stoner and Chris Vermeulen were the top performing Bridgestone-shod riders in the opening two practice sessions for Sunday's Australian GP after a mixed day of weather conditions at Phillip Island.

Stoner led the way in this morning's dry and sunny session with a massive 0.670s advantage over his nearest challenger Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi. Rossi, who clinched the 2008 MotoGP crown with a win at Motegi last Sunday, was in turn three-tenths clear of San Carlo Honda Gresini man Alex De Angelis who completed an all-Bridgestone top three in the dry conditions.

As clouds gathered over the island, rain made yet another unwelcome visit to a MotoGP weekend this season in time for the afternoon practice session, which saw Chris Vermeulen take top Bridgestone rider honors in third position for Suzuki behind wet pace-setter Nicky Hayden and second-placed Andrea Dovizioso. It was very much a day of two halves but with six riders in the top ten in both sessions, Bridgestone's Australian GP preparations have started solidly.

The Phillip Island track is renowned for its technical complexity with the dominance of fast left-hand corners placing a firm emphasis on performance and durability on that side of the tire. Bridgestone hopes for improved track conditions for tomorrow's practice and qualifying session as it works to extract a performance level from its tires similar to that seen in last year's Australian event in which Ducati riders Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi took a 1-2 finish.

Tyre Talk with Shinji Aoki - Bridgestone Motorsport - Assistant Manager, Motorcycle Race Tyre Development

What did Bridgestone look at in this morning's dry session?

"In this morning's dry session we got immediately to work looking at several different compounds for this track, and we could quickly find a good direction. This circuit is probably the most severe in the world for the left-hand side of the tire, so we must carry out some longer runs tomorrow to assess the durability. Today, the wear appearance from the motorcycle race tires was as expected but the heating process in the tire is different on non-consecutive runs. When the rider pits in, the tyre naturally starts to cool down, but when completing consecutive laps the heat is prolonged over a greater period of time and affects the tire much more. This is our main focus and challenge for this track, which is why an analysis over longer runs will be so important."

Are there any concerns over wet weather tire pace?

"The track's characteristics affect wet tires in exactly the same way as the slicks on the left-hand side of the tire. This afternoon, our wet weather tires generally need a few laps to reach the optimum temperature, but then showed a good level of consistency. We could of course try to find a better lap time by using softer specification wets, but we must consider the durability over the complete race distance. As typical for this season, the rain is following us wherever we go, but hopefully this will make way for better weather tomorrow and Sunday."

A look at eight-time champion Valentino Rossi

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Further information World Title Valentino Rossi

"I think it's difficult to say, but maybe this is even better than the first championship with Yamaha in 2004. In 2004 I arrived after three championships in a row; the change was very big and no one expected me to win then, not even us to be honest! But this year is great too because I didn't start as the number one favorite after losing for two years. The taste of this is something special.

"In 2006 I lost because of bad luck; I still won the most races and was the fastest on track for most of the time, but in 2007 Stoner was a lot faster than us and so we got to the end with a big of disadvantage. Winning this championship was very difficult but also very, very important.

"The decision to change to Bridgestone tires, which I took together with Jeremy, my team and all the Yamaha crew, was very important, as were the changes to the bike because the first 800cc M1 last year was not competitive enough. We spoke a lot during last season and I remember a strange meeting in Valencia last year, me with a broken hand, speaking with Furusawa about 2008. From then we started to work on the improvements for this season. It's also been important to have the right people in the right place and this year everything has been correct. It's been step-by-step.

"I think I have made a lot of good decisions this year and we have been competitive from the start. Qatar was the worst race of the season but I knew our potential was good so, although we were a bit worried at that point, we weren't desperate because we knew if we fixed a few problems we could try to win.

"I grew up a lot in the last two years, because at the end of 2005 I had a great career and I had won all the important targets so far. 125, 250 and then five titles in a row in MotoGP with two different bikes -- I felt unbeatable. But in 2006 and 2007 I learned to lose and this has been very important. I came out much stronger and my level of concentration and effort to win this championship has been higher than ever before.

"This season has had some different periods. At the beginning of the year we had some important results when Bridgestone wasn't the strongest: Jerez, Portugal and others, and in that period we took a big advantage from Stoner. After Barcelona Casey started to ride like a demon and dominated three races in a row, and then we went to Laguna which was the turning point of the season. Laguna was a real battle and from then on we have flown.

"The show after the race was one of my friends pretending to be a 'notary', signing and certificating the eighth championship 'deed'. It was very exciting to be planning the championship t-shirt and celebration once again with my friends and fan club and the one we came up with is funny I think, it says 'I'm sorry for the delay!'

"I am very content at Yamaha and this is why I signed for two more years. I had some good offers at other factories, but I already changed bike once and proved everything I wanted to and so there is no need to do that again. Also I am no longer 20 years old and I need a good atmosphere in my team in order to keep me focused and happy, and I have this at Yamaha. The atmosphere in our team, from the Japanese all the way down to the garage is fantastic and this is what makes me want to stay.

Rossi wins twice over, race and title both his in Japan

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Valentino Rossi clinched the 2008 MotoGP World Championship in total style at the Motegi circuit in Japan, his manufacturer's home track. The Doctor clinched his fifth consecutive win today, number 70 for his all time win record. The Fiat team and Yamaha can both proudly say they helped Rossi earn his sixth world title along with their own respective teams' and manufacturers' crowns. The Italian rider truly has become a legend from this generation of motorcycle racers.

Rossi started fourth on the grid and just needed to finish on the podium to wrap up this year's championship. His main rival, Casey Stoner was second and needed victory here to have any hopes of keeping his title chase mathematically possible. At the start it looked as if Stoner might get lucky when pole sitter Jorge Lorenzo slid down the order.

Meanwhile, Rossi dropped into fifth for a moment before putting his spurs on. He was soon past teammate Lorenzo and off after Dani Pedrosa and Stoner. Stoner's Ducati got around Pedrosa and Rossi quickly followed suit. The two rivals then engaged in their own personal battle at the front, a fitting visual representation to this season's epic fight between them.

By lap fourteen Rossi decided a podium wasn't good enough and flew past Stoner for the lead. By then the championship was already won but once Rossi is on a charge only a checkered flag can make him slow down. Stoner crossed the line next, two seconds behind. Pedrosa and Lorenzo were left to sort out third, and the pair of Spaniards fought hard, knowing precious points were at stake. Lorenzo made a bold move at the hairpin and almost collided with Pedrosa. The rookie lost enough ground trying to recover and Pedrosa was able to stretch out about one second over Lorenzo before the race was over, taking third place for himself and Honda.

Fittingly, Pedrosa is third in the championship while Lorenzo is fourth. Stoner will now have to fend off Pedrosa for second in this year's title; the gap is now only eleven points. But that's for later consideration, for now all eyes are on multiple-champ Rossi and the Fiat Yamaha team, 2008 World Champions in the sport's highest level of competition.

More to follow....

Lorenzo on Japan pole, Rossi close to sealing title

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Jorge Lorenzo, the Spanish rookie that turned so many heads in the first half of the MotoGP season has captured the Japanese GP pole position at Motegi, his first top spot since the Portuguese GP. Casey Stoner will start next to the Yamaha rider, fighting to keep his championship hopes alive. American Nicky Hayden completes the front row on the outside in third. Michelin and Bridgestone are both represented at the front. Yamaha and Honda's positions will make the Japanese crowd feel national pride, while Stoner's Ducati just couldn't help but add some Italian seasoning into the mix.

Fiat Yamaha rider Lorenzo lost momentum mid-season after a series of multiple crashes and injuries. Yet the youngster never gave up and today Lorenzo sends a clear message that he is ready to salvage this season. With the fastest time already his, the Spaniard went out one final moment to set a time of 1'45.543, breaking the track record by two-tenths of a second.

"I'm so happy for this pole position because this is how I started my season and it shows that we are returning to how we were," smiled Lorenzo. "It's the first pole since Portugal, when I won, and we have had a hard time since then until the last two podiums so this is a great satisfaction for me. I was able to ride so fast all day today, a big improvement from yesterday, and my Michelin tires worked so well all day so thank you to them. My team have done a great job to set the bike up and this is a fantastic qualifying for us. It's not the race so now we have to wait for tomorrow, but we're starting in the best place so I am looking forward to having a great race."

Ducati was looking fast on Friday and in the morning Stoner was able to find a tad more pace than Lorenzo but the Japanese manufacturer and young rider could not be denied the home pole. Even the local insects are out to keep an Italian bike from stealing the show, hitting Stoner's visor on his final hot lap in qualifying, wrecking his vision.

"For the race we're in quite good shape," explained Stoner. "We've still got a few things to improve for tomorrow but we're reasonably happy because we're running consistent lap times. I'm a little bit disappointed with qualifying. Of the three qualifying tires you always use the first one to try and get used to it and build from there but the second tire didn't work as we hoped and then on the third one I got a bug on my visor at the start of the lap! I couldn't get the rip-off visor off because I was trying to push but the bug distracted me and I couldn't see properly. It's a silly little thing but stuff just doesn't seem to be going for us at the moment! Anyway, second place is still good and tomorrow's another day. We're in good shape for the race and we'll do the best we can."

Japanese MotoGP: Bridgestone preview

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The Twin Ring Motegi holds its tenth consecutive premier class motorcycle race this weekend, having made its debut on the calendar back in 1999. It is the only Japanese round of the championship and marks the home grand prix of many manufacturers, including tire supplier Bridgestone, whose technical centre is situated in Kodaira on the outskirts of Tokyo.

Bridgestone has a strong history of success at Motegi with three pole positions and four consecutive wins since 2004. Makoto Tamada took the first Bridgestone-shod Motegi win in 2004 aboard his Camel Honda, while Loris Capirossi has been the man to beat for the previous three seasons. He claimed the first ever Bridgestone-shod Ducati win at Motegi in 2005, laying an important milestone in Bridgestone's MotoGP history.

Capirossi was triumphant also the following year and in 2007 he led a Bridgestone 1-2-3 in a race that saw Casey Stoner secure the first ever championship title for Ducati and Bridgestone.Heading to this year's Motegi round, Valentino Rossi is at the helm of the championship with an 87-point cushion and in with a mathematical chance of taking the title with four race weekends still in hand.

Bridgestone will bring new rear construction and compounds to Motegi, tires that were tested with encouraging results in the post-Brno test, while harder compound front tires will also be made available to Bridgestone's riders, to combat the stop-go nature of the Motegi circuit. Bridgestone is supplying tires to 13 riders this weekend with the addition of Suzuki wildcard Kousuke Akiyoshi.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Motorcycle Sports Unit

"The Japanese Grand Prix is a particularly important race for Bridgestone since our head office and technical centre are both located in Tokyo, so it is very much a home event for us. We have had some great results in recent years with four consecutive victories, including three in a row with Ducati and Loris, who has established himself as a real Motegi master. I will never forget the rush of emotions that we all experienced last year when Casey took the title, and for this reason Motegi will always have a special place in our MotoGP history. This year Valentino is in a commanding lead of the championship, so he also has a chance to take the title this weekend, but we must firmly focus on the race in hand. With such a high level of competition, success will not be automatically guaranteed this weekend, but we will enter the race weekend with the usual aim of providing our teams with tires capable of fighting at the front, with the ultimate goal of taking our fifth home win."

Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Race Tire Development

"Motegi is a high-grip, abrasive circuit with a particularly stop-go character. There are a lot of slower turns with medium length straights interlinking them, so there is a lot of emphasis on braking stability and acceleration out of the slower corners. We will be bringing new rear construction and new rear compound tires for Motegi based on data we obtained from the post-Brno test in August. The results from this test were quite promising and the new tires have been designed to give better edge grip, which will be beneficial to riders through these slower-speed corners. The stop-go nature of the course also demands a lot from the front tire, so we have had to prepare harder compound front tires for this purpose."

WSBK: Yamaha signs Cal Crutchlow for 2009

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Yamaha signs Cal Crutchlow for the 2009 World Supersport Team

The Yamaha World Supersport team has signed British Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow to partner Frenchman Fabien Foret for the 2009 World Supersport Championship. The 22yr old British rider is highly competitive and is no stranger to championship success.

In the current British Superbike Championship Crutchlow has scored a respectable ten podiums including two wins and three pole position starts. He is fourth in the standings on 265 points, chasing third place fellow Brit Tom Sykes, who also steps up to Yamaha next year as he joins the World Superbike team.

Crutchlow's career has been nurtured by Yamaha from the start, it was through The Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup that he first had the opportunity to showcase his talents, taking 2nd place in the 2003 competition, and getting the help up to premier British road racing, making it fitting that he now returns to the Yamaha family to continue developing his career. He moved on to race in the British Supersport Championship, finishing 10th in 2004 (Motorcycle Stunts), 3rd in 2005 and winning the championship in 2006. Championship wins have marked his career from the start, including 1st place in the 1999 UK Junior Challenge and 1st place in the 2001 Aprilia RS 125 Challenge.

Cal Crutchlow "I'm really looking forward to the experience. To go into what is in my eyes the top team in the World Supersport paddock and have the opportunity to challenge for a world title with Yamaha is very exciting. I'm really looking forward to next season, I can't wait!"

Wilco Zeelenberg (Yamaha World Supersport Team Manager) "We've been talking to many strong riders over the last couple of months and have beenfollowing Cal's progress this year in The British Superbike Championship, he's really impressed us. We're convinced that his riding style will suit our YZF R6 very well. He's a very good Supersport rider, we know that coming from Superbikes to Supersport riders don't have any issues with speed. The 2009 championship will be tough again and we have seen him prove on track that he is happy to get in the middle of the pack and fight for the win."

Utah MMP news on Noah Talley

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Local Supermoto Rider Invited to Red Bull Rookie Cup Tryouts

TOOELE VALLEY, UTAH (September 22, 2008) -- Noah Talley, a 13-year-old Supermoto racer from Elk Ridge, Utah, who is a regular competitor in the Plaza Cycle Utah Supermoto Championship at Miller Motorsports Park, has received a very prestigious invitation to participate in the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Tryouts next month.

Talley, who started riding in motocross at age 8, has been competing in Supermoto races for the past two years. He currently competes -- and is leading the points -- in the 450cc Intermediate, 250cc Expert and Asphalt Only classes in the Plaza Cycle Utah Supermoto Championship, in which he regularly competes against riders who are much older than he.

This year's Tryouts will take place October 4-6 at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Ala.

"It is an honor to have been chosen to participate in the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Tryouts," Talley said. "I'm really looking forward to seeing how I stack up against some of the best young riders in America, and I hope that I can make a big step up in my racing career."

Talley's task will be formidable, since the Rookies Cup is seeking road-racing talent and all of his experience has been in motocross and Supermoto motorcycle competition.

The Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup is a unique program for fostering motorcycle talent in promising young riders who compete on actual road racing circuits in front of raceday crowds, on identical bikes and under identical conditions. The program is designed to create a level playing field so that the best and the brightest emerge at the top and no young talent is overlooked due to a lack of financial resources or professional backing. Based on the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in Europe, the AMA U.S. Rookies Cup focuses on seeking out North and South American racing talent between 13 and 17 years old.

For tickets or information regarding Miller Motorsports Park, call 435-277-RACE (7223) or visit the track's website at www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com.

WSBK Vallelunga: Series weekend summary

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Haga takes sensational double win at Vallelunga, Bayliss crashes out on last lap

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) scored a sensational double win in the twelfth round of the HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome in front of 82,000 spectators. The Japanese rider, who hadn't won a race since Nurburgring, took the maximum points, while championship leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) wasted an opportunity to clinch his third title when he crashed out on the final lap of race 2, postponing the race for the title until Magny-Cours.

Race 1

Haga powered to his fifth win of the season, battling throughout the 24-lap race with an on-form Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati). The Italian tried everything to pass Haga but in the end had to settle for the runner-up slot. Third place went to Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), while Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki) recovered from a poor start to grab fourth place from Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Bayliss, who struggled after making a wrong choice of tyre. Seventh went to Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), who ruined a good result in front of his home crowd with a poor start. Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Honda Althea) stalled at the start but then was able to recover to finish eighth.

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB): "I'm really very happy because this weekend my feeling with the bike was very good even though on Friday I had a big crash, but no problem. Also my body is feeling much better now. It was quite a tough race, 24 laps here is very long and I had pressure from Max but my bike was good and thanks also to my team for the win."

Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati): "It was a nice race and a nice start and I tried to keep up with Haga in front and then when Corser arrived he was really trying hard. Then I got back to Nori, but he was riding very good and it was tough for me, I was always behind him, I couldn't attack because I lost too much time going out of the curve."

Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB): "We made a change from the morning warm-up and the bike felt pretty good even though it was a bit of a gamble. In the infield section just before the last corner it jumped out of gear into neutral and I lost a bit of time. In the end I pushed as hard as I could to the two guys up front but it was too much to make up. I'm happy enough to get third because it's more points in the championship."

Race 2

After winning race 1 Haga then took the honors in the second encounter, but he had to work much harder this time around as Bayliss never let up for one instant. The race was decided at the hairpin on the final lap, when Troy crashed out at low speed. The Australian thus misses out on a chance to clinch the title with two rounds remaining, although now he needs just 21 points from the last four races to become champion for the third time...

Wet weather welcomes Yamaha riders to Rome

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Inclement weather was the backdrop of yet another opening day of WSS qualifying, as Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport Team) and Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Supersport Team) made their first qualifying times at Vallelunga.

Laverty set the 12th fastest time of the session relatively early, while Parkes built up confidence and speed to go 14th, despite the rain falling more heavily.

With the rest of the race weekend expected to be fully dry, warm and sunny, the team hopes to be able to move from a machine set-up based on their recent wet weather experiences at Donington to the strong base set-up they found in official tests at Vallelunga in July.

Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) was only 17th fastest due to the rainy conditions and an early fall, while David Salom (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) went 31st. His team-mate Jason Crowe (Yamaha Spain World Supersport) was 27th.

Eugene Laverty (12th - 1'57.315 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"I was happy with the set-up in the wet and I set a quick time early on. Then it started hammering with rain and I didn't want to push too much. I should be dry tomorrow so I just wanted to set a decent time and find a good wet set-up just in case it is wet again. 12th position doesn't matter so much right now, because it should be dry and hopefully I will get some dry track time tomorrow before the second qualifying session. I just need some dry time on this bike! My injured foot caused me a bit of a problem in the morning but this afternoon we made some adjustments to my boot and now it is OK."

Broc Parkes (14th - 1'57.534 - Yamaha World Supersport Team)
"Today was OK. After Donington where we didn't do so well in the rain I had a lot better feeling with the bike here. It started to rain a lot harder near the end of the session but that's when I did my best lap, which shows we made progress. It will be dry tomorrow, so we will be looking forward to that. We have good dry information from our test here in the summer so it will be good to put that into action."

Road Race Grand Championships news

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

American Motorcyclist Association announces contingency, activities for AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships

PICKERINGTON, Ohio--The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce numerous contingency commitments and additional off-track activities for the 2008 AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships, set for September 19-21 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

"The AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships are more than just a race. It's an event, with something for everyone, whether they're competing on Mid-Ohio's world-class road course, enjoying the atmosphere of the racetrack or watching the racing action," said AMA Sports National Technical Manager Anthony Grilli.

The following companies have announced contingency payments for this year's event: Bridgestone, Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli, Buell, Kawasaki and Suzuki. More companies are expected to be announced soon and they will be listed in the Racing section of www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

In addition to the action on the track, a Saturday night rider party will kick off approximately one half-hour after the day's last race. Complimentary pizza and beverages will be available for riders, crew, officials, friends and family.

Also, the @thletic Xpressions Communication Clinic will be offered at the AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships. The clinic is a media skills development training program and is the same training provided to all athletes in the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup. It will be held on the second floor of the Mid-Ohio Goodyear Tower on Friday, September 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Additional information is available by phone at (216) 244-1250 and also will be provided at the event.

Sanctioned by the AMA and run by the Championship Cup Series (CCS), the event will feature CCS classes, including youth classes. The program will operate under CCS rules and regulations, and CCS officials will be on hand to handle officiating duties.

To access a schedule and supplemental regulations for the AMA Sports Road Race Grand Championships, see the CCS website at www.ccsracing.us and the Racing section of www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Entries will still be accepted at the track as late as Friday morning.

To take in the exciting action at the event, race fans can purchase tickets from the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, either in person the day of the event or online at www.midohio.com.

Australian GP: Moto Australia announces wildcards

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Motorcycling Australia (MA) are happy to announce that five Australian riders have been granted wildcard entry into the 125cc MotoGP event to be held at Phillip Island from October 3 -- 5 2008.

Blake Leigh-Smith, Rhys Moller and Brad Gross have all been granted FMN wildcards by MA, while Jake Horne and Jed Metcher have been allocated wildcards from the FIM.

Leigh-Smith and Moller both competed at the 2007 MotoGP event, however neither made it past qualifying.

Leigh-Smith came off his bike on the opening lap of qualifying and was forced to witness the remainder of the 2007 event from the sidelines with a shoulder injury, while Moller missed out on qualifying for the final race after finishing more than seven and a half seconds behind the leading rider.

Aged 19, Moller is the oldest of the five riders and could prove to be a strong chance after recently recording a time of 1:42:50 in a club race on the Phillip Island circuit.

The wildcard entries are a fantastic opportunity to showcase young talent rising through the ranks of Australian motorcycle racing.

The event will provide the five riders with the chance to race at an international level in front of a passionate home crowd.

MA has not nominated any wildcard entries for the 250cc class of racing.

Toronto Motorcycle Show Gears Up For December

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Extreme Motorcyclists Jason Britton and Cody Ives to Appear

September 15, 2008 – Toronto, ON -- The Toronto Motorcycle Show, the Canadian motorcycle and ATV industries’ premier motorcycle, scooter and ATV event, announced today an exciting line-up of features and entertainment including the Extreme Globe stunt show featuring teenaged stunt riders Cody
and Kyle Ives. Extreme motorcyclist, Hollywood stunt rider and host of
“SuperBikes,” Jason Britton, will also be appearing at the show. The Toronto Motorcycle Show, one of seven Canadian motorcycle and ATV shows owned by the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council (MMIC) and Canadian Off-Highway Distributors Council (COHV), will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from Friday, December 12th until Sunday, December 14th, 2008.

“There are hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have a passion for riding, and with rising gas prices and the growing issues of traffic congestion and carbon emissions, there are even more people discovering the benefits of owning cost-efficient, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly two wheel vehicles like motorcycles and scooters,” said Darryl Bond, Show Manager.
“The Toronto Motorcycle Show is the industry-sanctioned official launch event for the MMIC’s seven city road show where their members will introduce their hottest new rides for the coming year.”

Bond added, “We are going extreme this year – we will feature the Extreme Globe stunt show, featuring Cody and Kyle Ives. We are also excited to have the amazing stunt motorcyclist Jason Britton, who will be available to talk to fans and sign autographs. Fans, riders and families have more things to see, hear and sit on at the show this year.”

Where: The Toronto Motorcycle Show

South Building, Metro Toronto Convention Centre

222 Bremner Boulevard

What: Extreme Globe: Three times a day, Cody and Kyle Ives will showcase their amazing motorcycle riding skills and defying gravity in the Extreme Globe steel cage. Cody, Kyle and their parents recently appeared as participants on the hit ABC Television reality series “Wife Swap” where Cody and Kyles “special talents” created some havoc for their host family.

Host of “SuperBikes” and Extreme Motorcyclist, Jason Britton: One of the most celebrated extreme stunt riders and Executive Director of 2Wheel Tuner Magazine, Jason Britton, will be available to talk to fans and sign autographs all weekend at the Parts Canada booth.

Yamaha Riding School for Kids: Yamaha Canada and Canadian Motorcycle Training Services present a free opportunity for kids aged 6 - 12 (certain conditions apply) to take a ride on the latest Yamaha TT-R off-road motorcycles.

Rossi sets winning record at wet maiden Indy race

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Valentino Rossi set two records at a wet and very windy Indianapolis Speedway today. The Italian won the inaugural race at the Brickyard and became the most winning rider in MotoGP history while doing so. The Doctor was tied with legendary Giacomo Agostini for most wins at 68 going into this weekend's event. Even the remains of Hurricane Ike couldn't stop Rossi from earning win 69.

"This is fantastic because it's been a long time since I won in the rain and even longer since I won four in a row!," beamed Rossi. "To win the first race here at Indianapolis is a great emotion and to beat Agostini's record is also incredible, now I hope my record will stand for 30 years like his! It was an amazing race and, once I was able to pass Stoner, I knew I had the chance to win so I pushed very hard. I had a great race with Nicky; he was really hard to pass so congratulations to him. When the wind and rain came it became very hard, I think I could have kept going for another eight laps okay but there were things flying through the air -- beer cans, plastic glasses -- so really I think it was the right decision to stop the race!

"Sincerely I don't think I've ever ridden in conditions like these and I was lucky because I was far in front and therefore didn't have to take any big risks. It's been a perfect weekend for us despite the weather because we made the pole position, the fastest lap and we won, so I want to congratulate my team once again for a fantastic job, today and all year. Also thanks to Bridgestone because my tyres were very good today. I've really enjoyed racing here in Indy and I am looking forward to coming back next year. Now we have a big advantage and it would be great to win the championship in Motegi, but it's not over yet so we will keep our concentration and keep working! Finally I want to dedicate this victory to my Grandfather Dario, who sadly died today at aged 82," added the Italian.

Speaking of the number 69, Nicky Hayden's Repsol Honda bearing that number lead a fair part of the race before it was cut short due to worsening conditions. The Kentucky Kid fought off Jorge Lorenzo in the final laps to score second place in front of his home crowd. Hayden started in a soft wet compound which launched him into the lead but as the track started to dry the tread pattern wore down. As the rain flared back up the Honda driver found himself just struggling to hold on with a bare rear tire.

"Man, it felt really good to be in the lead and I felt quite comfortable. It's been a long time," admitted Hayden. "I was thinking 'this only happens in the movies': your home race, missing the last two and coming back to win. I was able to stay focused but Valentino came past and he had a little more speed, especially in section three. Then when he touched the line onto the back straightaway I was able to make up a little more ground and I thought maybe I was okay. But when it started raining heavy I was in trouble because when it had dried I'd used up a lot of the left side of the tyre, so it got pretty gnarly with all the water.

"Sure, you dream about winning your home race, but honestly I shouldn't be too greedy with how things have been," continued the Repsol rider. "I'll take this second and enjoy it. I'd just like to say a big thanks to my team, all my guys, my friends, my family, everyone who's stuck with me through tough times. Also, thanks to Indy and everyone for making this race happen. It's a great feeling to be able to race so close to home, I enjoyed it."

Rossi takes inaugural Indianapolis pole

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

A dry day greeted the MotoGP riders at the Indianapolis Speedway, a change from yesterday's wet practice. The jury is still out if it was a turn for the better, grip levels switched; the older part of the circuit became green where the slippy new section from Friday was much better today. Valentino Rossi found the best away around the Indy infield, the points leader will start on pole for tomorrow's inaugural race. Casey Stoner's streak of poles was broken but the Aussie is still on the front row in second. Fiat Yamaha sees both of their riders at the top, Jorge Lorenzo will start third.

After the morning practice it was clear the usual suspects were back at the front, except Stoner who was a low seventeenth. The Ducati team lost some time sorting out a gremlin from the bike. All teams worked feverishly to find the right setup for the magic lap. With rain almost a certainty for tomorrow getting a good grid position could make the difference between victory and failure.

Rossi quickly found a dry track setup that suited his style and was able to fend off the pole from Stoner's last charge. The Doctor ended up less than a tenth of a second quicker than his rival. The pair will continue their fight for the title tomorrow. If Rossi wins then he will be the lone holder for the most wins in MotoGP history.

"I'm very happy to get the chance to ride on this circuit in the dry," said Rossi, "it's a great track and I had a lot of fun today. It's technical and difficult, which I like, and it seems to suit our bike and tires well. There are places to pass, especially turn one and turn ten, and the grip of the new asphalt is much better in the dry. If it's like this tomorrow, then we can have a great race! Unfortunately this seems unlikely so we will have to wait and see what the situation is tomorrow at race time. If it's 'normal' rain then we will be okay, if it's like yesterday then we have to take a decision all together about racing. I am really happy with the work we did today, we found a great setting for the qualifying tires this afternoon and I made some good laps, especially the last two. I knew I could try for 1'40 and I was able to do 40.7. Whatever the weather tomorrow, this pole position will be very important."

After Stoner and the Ducati team had the bike in working order the reigning champ pushed hard to equal the Yamaha in front of him. Stoner was the only other rider to break the 1'40 barrier, if he had more time in practice he might have been even faster.

Indianapolis MotoGP: Repsol Honda preview

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Dani Pedrosa makes his debut with his Bridgestone tires this weekend. Nicky Hayden, in front of his compatriots again, hopes to put in a good race after recovering from his injured right heel

The legendary track of Indianapolis in the USA, makes its first ever appearance in the World Motorcycling Championship calendar this weekend. A legendary circuit because of its oval shape, one which normally witnesses spectacular Nascar races, will this weekend be converted into the setting for the 2008 season" 13th race.

After this race in the USA the teams and riders will go to Japan in just a few weeks -- Motegi, then Australia -- Philip Island and Malaysia -- Sepang -- to bring the season to a climax in Valencia at the end of October.

Indianapolis will be a big challenge for the riders in the three categories, above all because of the peculiar characteristics of the American track, and because all the teams know absolutely nothing about it. It is located inside an oval, there are a couple of narrow, very slow curves that the riders will have to take special care on this weekend

This will be a very special weekend for two members of the Repsol Honda Team. Nicky Hayden will perform in front of his compatriots, in fact he will race the first time since he did so at the end of July at Laguna Seca. Since then an injury on his right foot while training on a supermotard bike has prevented him from riding in the Czech Republic GP and at Misano. For Dani Pedrosa the race in Indianapolis will be very important, since he will ride competitively with Bridgestone tyres for the first time, and it is probable that he will also use the new engine with pneumatic valves. The day of practice that the Repsol rider had at Misano with the new engine, on the Monday after the race, was very satisfactory and so everything points to Dani using this option at Indianapolis.

THE YOUNG REPSOL RIDERS, SEEKING A PODIUM FINISH IN AMERICA

Julian Simon in the Repsol KTM Team 250cc, as well as Esteve Rabat and Marc Marquez in the Repsol KTM 125cc team, will once again be seeking a podium finish at Indianapolis, something that has eluded the first two of them so far this season. Julian Simon, the rider in 250cc. has improved in the last few races and can see the podium clearer than ever, while young Marquez and Rabat, in the tough 125cc category, were both fighting for the podium positions in the recent San Marino GP.

Marquez finished 4th but Rabat was further back in Misano. The two previous motorcycle stunts riders saw how they were able to keep up with the fastest riders in the category in San Marino though. Marquez has already been on the podium this year; in his first season in the World Championship the young Repsol rider finished in third position, in the recent British GP.

Quotes

MotoGP

Dani Pedrosa

"Indianapolis will be a very important weekend for us, but it's hard to say much about the track because we know so little about it. My first test with Bridgestone went well. After leaving Misano we have worked with the data in order to make the best possible start at Indy.

We only have four hours of practice on a completely new circuit, with new tyres and a new machine, so we will have to work very hard to make sure we get the best out of the package on race day. I have heard that the track isn't very grippy and it seems like there are quite a few tight and slow corners, so handling of the machine will be important. Anyway, we will do our best as always. And it will be good to ride in front of the American fans after I had to pull out of the Laguna GP due to the injuries I got in Germany."

Indianapolis MotoGP: Bridgestone preview

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Bridgestone is hoping to continue its competitive run of form at this weekend's inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix, the second race to be held on American soil this season.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a world renowned racing venue and has played host to a multitude of four-wheeled events over nearly a century, but this weekend's race opens a new chapter in the circuit's impressive history.

A two-day MotoGP test took place at the Speedway back in July for tire manufacturers to get to grips with the complex new 16-turn circuit layout and asphalt. The session was open to non- regular GP riders only, so Bridgestone worked alongside Niccolo' Canepa (Ducati), Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki), Ben Spies (Suzuki) and Wataru Yoshikawa (Yamaha) in order to obtain initial data.

It has been less than two months since MotoGP last visited the US. In the two races since Laguna Seca, Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has taken a maximum fifty points to extend his lead of the championship to 262 points. Ducati's Casey Stoner still retains second in the classification to keep two Bridgestone-shod riders at the head of the championship with five races of the season to go.

Bridgestone will supply a total of 13 riders this weekend with the addition of Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa and Rizla Suzuki wildcard Ben Spies. It will be Spies's third race of the season after replacing Loris Capirossi at Donington and participating as a wildcard at Laguna Seca. For Pedrosa, it will be his first race weekend using Bridgestone tyres after just one day of testing after Misano.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Motorcycle Sport Unit

"We are all excited at going to Indianapolis for what promises to be a fantastic weekend of motorcycle racing. Bridgestone is very well acquainted with the Speedway from our four-wheeled racing activities, including Formula One and the IndyCar Series. We naturally hope that our success at the Speedway on four wheels continues on two wheels with the inaugural Indianapolis MotoGP this weekend. We have enjoyed a lot of success this season, in particular with Valentino and Casey who have taken ten victories between them, but our rivals took a notable step forward in Misano and will be looking to keep up that momentum. We will be supplying tires to 13 riders this weekend with our 11 regular riders joined by Ben Spies as a wildcard for Suzuki and Dani Pedrosa who will be making his debut race appearance on Bridgestone tires. It will be a learning curve for everybody but new circuits are always an enjoyable challenge and usually produce interesting and unexpected results."

MOTOGP SET TO MAKE HISTORIC DEBUT AT INDIANAPOLIS

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

On Friday 12th September, with an extended free practice session of an hour and a half, the MotoGP World Championship will take to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the very first time. The mere mention of the legendary venue, built back in 1909, stirs the passion of fans all over the world, who consider it a temple of speed and a theater of motorsport dreams made famous by the Indy 500-mile car race.

The popularity of MotoGP in the USA is on the rise and it is no coincidence that, alongside Spain and Italy, America is one of only three countries to host more than one Grand Prix over the course of the season. Circuit organizers are predicting weekend crowds of over 150,000, amongst which will be Ducatisti representing the 60 Ducati Clubs & Motorcycle Stunts across America. They will make their presence felt at Indy, taking over an entire grandstand to show their support for Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri

The Australian travels on the back of two disappointing races, in which he has once again demonstrated his undoubted speed but has been unable to turn it into a solid result. However, Stoner remains as competitive as ever and he is determined to prove it over the final five races of the season - starting at Indy.

Marco Melandri has shown improvements over the past few weekends and has set himself the target of a better starting position as he looks to consolidate his progress with a top race result this weekend.

LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP Project Director

"Just to walk into the legendary Indy circuit for the first time will be a huge emotion. Casey has an incredible ability to adapt to new things so I think he can do really well on a circuit that is unknown to everybody. We're hoping that the problems he had with his wrist at Misano don't prevent him from riding at his maximum this weekend. Casey underwent a CAT scan last week, which showed that the scaphoid he fractured and had operated on back in 2003 has never completely healed. With the support of a pool of doctors over the next few weeks, Casey will decide if another operation is going to be necessary. Marco has improved his feeling with the Ducati over the past few races so I hope this trend continues until the end of the season."

CASEY STONER (Ducati MotoGP Team) 2nd overall on 187 points (-75)

"Obviously I'm not happy with the results of the last few races. We have proved that we are consistently fast but that clearly isn't enough. I know that I have got the support of a great team and a bike I have a great feeling with. I'm going to try to enjoy riding it over the final few races, which all take place at circuits I like a lot. I also have to think about the scaphoid that we thought had healed back in 2003 but is still giving me problems. For the time being I have to deal with it but we're talking to the doctors about what to do with it in the future. I can't wait to go back to America and race at Indianapolis, a circuit nobody knows but where I am sure our bike and tires will work just as well as they have done at the last few races."

MARCO MELANDRI (Ducati MotoGP Team) 14th overall on 48 points (-214)

Indianapolis MotoGP: Michelin preview

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Michelin's MotoGP crew travels to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway aiming to follow up its strong showing at the recent San Marino Grand Prix with another good result. At Misano three Michelin men finished in the top six, Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) taking a brilliant second place.

Indy will be a new challenge for the Michelin's MotoGP motorcycle riders. The historic ‘Brickyard circuit' has never hosted a motorcycle World Championship race, though the tyre companies got to know the track during an official two-day MotoGP test session on July 1 and 2. Testing restrictions forbid full-time MotoGP riders from taking part in such pre-event tests, so Michelin was represented by its test riders Erwan Nigon (Honda RC212V-Michelin) and William Costes (Yamaha YZR-M1-Michelin).

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a racetrack with a long and illustrious history. Indy opened for business in 1909 when the circuit was paved with bricks, hence the nickname. The venue is most famous for its speed oval car races, most notably the Indy 500, the world's biggest motorsport event, which is why the city has been christened ‘Racing Capital of the World' . The venue's first bike GP uses a new track layout constructed through the infield section that leads onto the oval's main straight where bikes will reach 320km/h, around 200mph.

Following Indy, MotoGP continues its out-of-Europe tour with trips to Japan, Malaysia and Australia before returning to the Continent for the season finale at Valencia, Spain, on October 26.

MICHELIN AND THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGE OF INDIANAPOLIS

"The Indy MotoGP circuit is unusual, with a fast main straight, heavy braking into the first turn and then a lot of slow corners," says Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing. "As a MotoGP track it is very atypical and more complex than we expected. The Turn One fast left-hander isn't too grippy, so after the tests there were discussions about regrinding the surface but it was decided to leave the track unchanged.

WSBK Donington: Series qualifying report

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Bayliss notches up sixth Superpole win of the year at Donington Park

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox powered to his sixth Superpole of the year in the Bennetts European Round at Donington Park in a wet 50-minute, 12-lap session. For the Australian rider, who as a result wins the Alfa Romeo Superpole Award, it was his third Superpole in a row and the 24th in his career. Bayliss looked particularly quick in the final part of the 4.02 km circuit, and is certainly one of the candidates for the wins in tomorrow's eleventh round of the championship.

The only rider capable of matching Bayliss's performance was Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB), but he crashed at the final hairpin on his quick lap right at the end and had to settle for eighth quickest time. Alongside Bayliss on the front row are the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda pairing of Brands Hatch winner Ryuichi Kiyonari and Carlos Checa.

Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) made a major improvement today to take the final front row grid slot, while wild-card James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) took the first place on row 2 ahead of Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati). The British wild-cards who had made all the running in the first two days were out of luck; Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) crashed into the gravel, as did Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda).

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) could only manage a place on the third row, while Max Neukirchner (Alstare Suzuki), who has failed to shine so far this weekend, is one row behind.

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox): "It's been a difficult situation this weekend, wet right from the start but for sure tomorrow it's going to be dry and that will throw a spanner into the works as far as tire choice goes! I'm very happy today, but these other guys were riding really hard, Kiyonari especially. I don't think anyone can match my poles this year so for sure it's nice to win an Alfa!"

Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda): "Today was very difficult conditions but we tried many different settings and finally I found a good one. For wet conditions we are OK but I do not know if it is dry. For me however, either is OK for tomorrow."

Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda): "It was quite a hard job because today at Donington was not the best conditions, but we've been working quite well during the weekend and have got good settings for tomorrow if it is wet. We are very satisfied with the front row and quite ready and comfortable about these conditions tomorrow."

FIM Supersport World Championship

Matthieu Lagrive (Intermoto Czech Honda) will start the tenth round of the Supersport championship from pole position for the second race in a row following on from Brands Hatch. Next to the Frenchman will be Britain's Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who will be looking for his third win in a row tomorrow, Barry Veneman (RES Software Suzuki) of the Netherlands and Australian Joshua Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda). The difficult weather conditions brought forward a number of riders not usually seen at the front of the grid, in particular Belgium's Didier Van Keymeulen (RES Software Suzuki), Finland's Vesa Kallio (Benjan Honda) and South African Hudson Kennaugh (Raceways Yamaha)...

Capirossi and Vermeulen to continue with Suzuki

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Capirossi and Vermeulen to continue with Suzuki in 2009

Suzuki Motor Corporation are pleased to announce that Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen have both agreed terms to continue riding for the Japanese company's MotoGP squad for a further season.

Capirossi joined Suzuki at the end of 2007 and has shown throughout the 2008 season that his energy and enthusiasm for racing are still as high as ever. Indeed, his desire to compete for Suzuki at the highest level of motorcycle racing has seen him race this season with serious injuries that would have side-lined many other riders. Capirossi's wealth of knowledge and experience has been invaluable to the development of the Suzuki GSV-R during this year, both in a racing and developmental role, and he is determined to turn Suzuki's 800cc prototype machine into a race-winning bike during the remainder of 2008 and through 2009.

Capirossi comes from Bologna in Italy and began Grand Prix racing in 1990. He has won World Championship titles in both the 125cc class (twice) and the 250cc categories. He still holds the record for becoming the youngest ever World Champion and also the record for the longest winning career in Grand Prix racing, a time-span of over 17 years from his first victory (125cc -- Great Britain, 1990) to his most recent (MotoGP -- Japan, 2007). He has also just broken the record for the most starts at Grand Prix events, an amazing 277 races. Capirossi has achieved 99 podiums and 41 pole positions in all categories throughout his career -- totals he is determined to add to whilst riding with Suzuki.

Vermeulen joined Suzuki at the Valencia test in 2005 -- having finished as runner-up in the World Superbike Championship that year -- and made his racing debut at Jerez in 2006. He achieved his first pole-position in Turkey that year and followed up with his debut podium in Suzuki colors at his home Grand Prix in Australia later that same season. Vermeulen then created history for Suzuki by becoming the first winner for the famous Japanese marque in the four-stroke era, when he raced to a stunning wet-weather victory at Le Mans in France in 2007 -- a season that also saw him take three further podiums, one pole-position and two front-row starts. So far in 2008 Vermeulen has had back-to-back podiums in Germany and America and currently sits in sixth place in the riders' championship.

Vermeulen hails from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. The 26-year-old Australian races with the crossed number seven on his bike, a number made famous by the late Suzuki great Barry Sheene. Vermeulen began road-racing in 1998 -- after winning a number of Dirt Track championships similar to motorcycle stunts-- where he was soon spotted by Sheene who persuaded Vermeulen to leave his home and race in the UK in 2000. Vermeulen spent two years racing Superstock and Supersport classes in Britain before moving to the World Supersport Championship, a title that he won in 2003. Since making the switch to MotoGP, Vermeulen has become a very popular member of the Suzuki team and a highly respected rider amongst his peers and fans alike.

Loris Capirossi:

"I am delighted to be staying with Suzuki for another season. I have really enjoyed my short time here and know we are making progress and can be on top again. The management has shown faith in me - even though I have not been at my best due to my injuries - and now I must start to re-pay them for their belief in me and to committing to me a further season. I have enjoyed working with Paul and my whole crew has been fantastic all season, whatever I have asked for they have delivered and they are probably the hardest working guys in the paddock. I still have unfinished business in MotoGP and on the Suzuki, I still have podiums, pole positions and race wins in me and I believe that I can achieve that with this team. I want to finish my career with Suzuki and I want to do that in style!"

Chris Vermeulen:

"I'm extremely happy to be staying with the Suzuki team, it is a factory and squad that I know well and respect enormously. Over the last three years there has been big progress with both the machine and with my level as a rider. Suzuki was my entry into Grand Prix racing, I have been here for three years and won a GP - and been on podium many times -- so I am really pleased to be continuing this relationship. I had offers from other teams, but I always felt that I wanted to stay with Suzuki if we could get the terms agreed so that everyone was happy. Luckily we were able to do that, so now I can get on with trying to win more races and help Suzuki get to a World Championship challenging level."

Bridgestone San Marino MotoGP debrief

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Q+A with Tohru Ubukata

The San Marino and Riviera di Rimini Grand Prix gave Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi his sixth race win of the season and third in a row as he extended his lead of the world championship to 262 points with just five races remaining. The win represented the 30th MotoGP victory on Bridgestone tires and took Rossi to 68 premier class triumphs, equaling Giacomo Agostini's record.

For the second race in a row, Alice Team's Toni Elias fought comfortably towards the front of field to claim a well deserved podium finish. His third place in Misano means that the Spaniard has taken 36 points from a possible 50 in the last two events.

It was a weekend of close competition for MotoGP's tyre manufacturers with a 50-50 split in both qualifying and the race. It was, however, Bridgestone-shod riders who took top honors with Rossi winning Sunday's race and Ducati's Casey Stoner storming to an impressive seventh straight pole position on Saturday afternoon.

Other notable performances from the Rizla Suzuki duo of Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi made it another strong weekend for Bridgestone, but with such renewed competition from its rivals Bridgestone has vowed to continue its tyre development as the championship slowly edges towards its culmination.

Q+A with Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Race Tyre Development

How was the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini GP from Bridgestone's point of view?

"It was a competitive weekend from a tire perspective with both manufacturers quite evenly matched over the entire weekend. From Friday practice, we could see that our rivals had returned to their usual high performance level, and there was a very balanced split on all three days of the weekend. Ambient and track temperatures were very high, more so than last year, so the consistency of the tires over the race distance was quite pleasing. Naturally, Valentino's win was an excellent result for us and our tenth win of the season, but our rivals were not far behind." Did you notice an improvement in qualifying tire performance?

"On the whole, we have been a bit behind in terms of qualifying results this season, even if Casey has taken pole for seven races in a row. Whenever he has a good feeling from his bike in race trim, he can usually find a similar competitiveness on qualifying tires. His race tire pace in Misano was so strong that his fastest lap on race tires in qualifying would still have been good enough for the second row. It was an exciting qualifying session and it was our strongest all round performance of the season with three riders in the top five, which will hopefully lead to further improvements in coming races."

Road Atlanta: Slednecks Racing race report

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Privateer Team, Slednecks Racing, Experiences a Tough Ending to what was Otherwise an Outstanding AMA Season

September 2, 2008, Braselton, Georgia: Slednecks Racing will end their debut AMA season a little early after a string of tough luck hit riders, Josh Galster and Misti Hurst.

During Sunday's AMA Supersport race at Road Atlanta, Galster suffered a bad crash that has left him with a severely broken wrist and left hand, as well as a fractured C2-vertebrae in his neck. Also known as a "hangman's fracture," this type of break in the neck could have easily resulted in full or partial paralysis.

Galster will be fitted with a halo to stabilize the neck before flying out to California where he will undergo surgery for his wrist and where they will make the final decision of whether or not to perform surgery on his neck. He is expected to make a complete recovery and is in good spirits. "I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers." He said. "People have been so supportive and awesome. Thanks."

The weekend was a difficult one for Galster who was in the running for the Rookie of the Year award. Chasing bike problems for the last three weekends in a row, the team spent most of the practice sessions working out the main issues and had little time left over to set up the bike and suspension before the start of the Supersport Race.

Qualifying in 28th position with a time of 1:32.4, Galster got a poor start and was left pushing his way through the pack when the race was red flagged due to a crash that involved several riders.

"The second start was much better." Said Galster. "I was feeling really good, the bike was running awesome and I was gaining on some guys." Galster dropped his times down to a 1:31.7 and was running as high up as 20th place when suddenly he lost the rear coming out of turn 5 and was launched high into the air.

"I flipped a bunch of times," He explained from the hospital, "people almost ran over me, and I jumped up and walked off the track, yelling at the corner workers and telling them NOT to red flag the race, that I would walk back to the pits. I knew my hand was bust because my ring finger was pointed to my thumb, and my neck hurt a bit. It wasn't until they did the CT Scan and X-Ray that I found out it was actually broken."

Galster's teammate Hurst, who withdrew from the race at VIR and was not in attendance at Road Atlanta due to unexpected circumstances, was relieved to hear that Josh was fairing OK. "I was watching the race on Live Timing when I saw that he went down. It is a helpless feeling to not know what is happening and I was on the phone immediately waiting to hear the news. I'm just glad that he is alright."

San Marino GP: Gresini Racing Misano test summary

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

NAKANO AND DE ANGELIS WORK ON BRIDGESTONE QUALIFERS AT MISANO TEST

Team San Carlo Honda Gresini were back on track at the Misano circuit yesterday for a test session with both riders, who concentrated principally on Bridgestone's qualifying tires.

Shinya Nakano completed 53 laps and was the faster of the two, ending the day second on the overall time sheets. The Japanese rider declared himself happy with the work done together with the team and after gathering plenty of data he is confident that the hard work will bear fruit in the next race at Indianapolis.

Alex De Angelis also worked closely with the motorcycle team and Bridgestone with the objective of improving his qualifying performances, an area he feels has plenty of room for improvement.

#56 Shinya Nakano (53 laps -- 1'35''446)

"Yesterday's work was focused on testing different types of qualifying tires and I'm happy because we've found the right direction to follow. I'm sure we've given Bridgestone useful information for the next Grand Prix. We had a few problems in the last race so we completed a few laps on a variety of race tires and the situation improved. Obviously we'll have to adapt our findings to the conditions we find in the USA for the race at Indianapolis but either way I'm sure the data we've gathered will help us to improve."

#15 Alex De Angelis (41 laps -- 1'36''120)

"Yesterday we focused on qualifying tires and practice starts because at the moment they are the two areas we need to improve on the most and where we need to work. I have to say that with regard to the tires Bridgestone gave us we found a better feeling and the bike performed better. We definitely have to keep working and I'm sure that the data we've given Bridgestone will allow them to come up with new material that should help us even more. I'm also happy with the practice starts -- they were probably my best of the season."

MotoGP:�Honda and Kawasaki make progress during Misano test sess

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa had an intensive day of testing at Misano today, making his debut with Bridgestone tyres and testing Honda’s pneumatic-valve RC212V. He enjoyed a positive feeling with the tyres and set a fast pace at the end of the day using the pneumatic-valve machine.

Pedrosa rode from 13.30 to 18.15, starting out with the spring-valve RCV that he used during the weekend’s San Marino GP. The Spaniard began the process of adjusting bike set-up to suit the Bridgestones and got on well with the tyres. He rode a best lap of 1m 35.555s, then later in the day switched to the pneumatic-valve RCV and clocked a 1m 34.652s, learning more about his new tyres and gaining valuable data for ongoing machine development. Conditions were once again hot and sunny, with ambient temperature at 34 degrees and track temperature at 42 degrees.

Pedrosa’s first day with Bridgestone was very encouraging. Now his team will analyse what they’ve learned today to prepare for the next MotoGP round at Indianapolis on September 12/13/14.

Dani Pedrosa, fastest lap: 1m 34.652s (81 laps)
“I’m happy starting this new challenge and I would like to thank Bridgestone. Today we also made an important step forward in developing the 2009 bike, but now my first priority is to be fully competitive again. Of course, there is a lot of work to do but I am determined to win again this year. Today we worked hard on bike set-up. The feeling with the new tyres on my RC212V is different, both for settings and for riding style, but I just tried to follow my feelings and adjust the set-up accordingly.

“Today was only the first day of this new challenge but I am happy. I also tested the pneumatic-valve engine. The engine character is different, the power delivery is a bit more aggressive, but the engine has some good points. I have no experience on this latest bike, so I had to test many new things today. This has been an important test. Now we will analyse all the data and we look forward to the next race at Indianapolis.”

Kazuhiko Yamano - Team Manager
“Today’s test session was important and Dani’s feeling with the Bridgestone tyres was positive. He started the session with the valve-spring engine and then switched to the pneumatic-valve engine. The character of these two bikes is different but Dani was faster with the pneumatic-valve engine, his lap times improved a lot. Of course, there are positive and negative points with the engine which we will now analyse.”
FREE PRACTICE LAP TIMES
1. Pedrosa (Spa-Honda) 1'3”652 (81 laps)
2. Nakano (Jap-Honda) 1'35”446 (53)
3. Hopkins (Usa-Kawasaki) 1'35”879 (70)
4. De Puniet (Fra-Honda) 1'35”972 (48)
5. West (Aus-Kawasaki) 1'36”101 (77)
6. De Angelis (Rsm-Honda) 1'36”120 (41)

KAWASAKI CONTINUES DEVELOPMENT AT MISANO

Kawasaki's John Hopkins and Anthony West (featured in motorcycle stunt clips) returned to the Misano circuit today for a one-day post-race test, to continue development of their upgraded Ninja ZX-RR race machines.

Hopkins was keen to make up for track time lost recently to his Assen and Brno injuries, and spent the five hours on track running through an extensive test programme, concentrating particularly on improving the front-end stability of his machine.

The 25-year-old Anglo-American worked mainly on enhancing his set-up to accommodate a newer specification Bridgestone front tyre option that many of the MotoGP front-runners now use. This brought a new direction for the team, but with only a short time out on track today, he will not be able to add it to his tyre allocation without further set-up development of his Ninja ZX-RR. The Kawasaki pilot spent the last few hours refining the chassis setting of his machine using his current tyre options, and ended the day confident of improvements.

Rossi wins, Stoner doesn't finish redux at Misano

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

This weekend's MotoGP San Marino GP at Misano proved that lightning can strike twice. Valentino Rossi took the win as Casey Stoner retired, eerily mirroring the Czech GP which was held two weeks ago. This time around Fiat Yamaha has a fantastic day, not only did their points leading driver take first, but rookie teammate Jorge Lorenzo returned to the podium in second place. Toni Elis made Alice Team proud by finishing in third place, scoring his second podium finish in as many races. Dani Pedrosa was fourth, he started sixth and at one time was in second before the Yamahas and Elis picked him off.

Rossi couldn't have asked for a better day. The Italian won at his home track and made the local fans go crazy in typical fashion. What wasn't typical was which race win this was in Rossi's career. This was his 68th victory in MotoGP, tying him for the most wins in the series with Giacomo Agostini, another Italian. One more win and Rossi will set the record and most likely will be immortalized as a Motorcycle legend.

"Today is a truly fantastic day," smiled Rossi, "and I can't believe that I have matched Agostini's record! He was one of my heroes so it's quite incredible to have made it to 68 wins. This was quite a difficult weekend for us from the start and there has been the added pressure of a home race, which makes it harder to concentrate because there is so much distraction!

"I got a good start but then Dani came past me very fast and I then lost a lot of time getting past him and had to take some big risks -- I had a big slide! Once I was past him I could see Casey, although I have to admit that today I wasn't as confident as I was in Brno that I could win. Anyway I kept pushing because it's not in my nature to ride for second place and I think it still could have been a battle; I was very fast once I found my rhythm. Then I saw Casey slide out. I'm sorry for him once again but this is very good for our championship so I am happy for our team.

"We have 75 points," reminded the Doctor, "which is a lot, but there are still five races and I will ride to win at every one, as I always have done throughout my career. Thanks to my fantastic Yamaha team, to Bridgestone and of course congratulations to Jorge as well, he kept pushing me today and I wasn't able to relax even for one minute! It is a great day for us all."

After his latest spill, which happned at Laguna Seca in America, Lorenzo had been slowly coming back up to speed. At one time this rookie was the points leader before multiple injuries from more than one race kept him down. The Spaniard never gave up and today's second tells Rossi and the rest of the riders that Lorenzo is back.

"Seeing the party Valentino's fans were making for him around the track today reminded me how much I want to start winning again," admitted Lorenzo, "but as a start this second place is fantastic for us! I lost some ground at the early on but then I took my rhythm, passed Dani and started to push, and then I kept pushing until the end. To be one and two on the podium again, like in Le Mans, is wonderful and after four months of problems I am enjoying this moment very much -- it's perfect. Since the Brno test and with the improvements that Michelin have made here my confidence has being going up all the time and my riding style has improved as well, so I want to say thank you to them. I hope the situation is the same at the next races, then we can continue to be strong like this. Thanks to all of my team and congratulations to Valentino and Toni."

The hand Stoner broke last year was bothering him here in Italy. The Ducati rider was on a mix of pain-killers and antibiotics for the weekend. Even feeling ill the Aussie was fastest on both Friday and Saturday. With another pole Stoner looked to finally end Rossi's winning streak. Unfortunately, the front got away from him and he was off into the gravel on lap six while he was in the lead. Rossi was closing in so the pressure was on and Stoner knew it. It was a bitter end to a strong weekend when the reigning champ watched Rossi drive off in the distance.

Stoner likes the top, takes San Marino GP pole

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Even with an old injury back to haunt him, Casey Stoner cannot be kept off the pole for the San Marino GP. The reigning MotoGP champ beat Valentino Rossi by half a second to earn his seventh consecutive pole. The rivalry between the two will stay intense as they fight off the front row. Joining them will be Jorge Lorenzo, the rookie is back to his fast ways after healing from his latest of multiple injuries.

Stoner has been fast all weekend and was the favorite for pole today. The Aussie did not disappoint, only needed two sets of qualifying shoes to lock down the top spot. His hand his causing him a great deal of discomfort but it's obviously not bad enough to restrain the red Ducati.

"The hand wasn't too much of a problem today although I didn't want to risk working it too hard," admitted Stoner. "There is a bit of bone floating around in there and when my wrist gets into a certain position in some of the corners the nerves get trapped and I get a shooting pain up my arm. I can deal with that though and we have an important job to do this weekend."

Amazing Stoner thinks he had more under him, "the lap time could have been better but all in all I'm delighted to be on pole again. It's going to be a long, tough race tomorrow but I'm looking forward to it."

This is Rossi's home track and the Italian tried his best to get pole. The bike wasn't suited for the hot and dry temperatures but throughout the day the Fiat Yamaha team dialed in his bike. By the end of qualifying Rossi had picked off his teammate for the second spot. The bike and the rider will no doubt be ready for an assault on Stoner. A few more precious points for Rossi and Stoner will be feeling miles away for the championship.

"This weather is amazing, but I think maybe it's better if you're at the beach than at the track; we're in the wrong place! I definitely prefer this to rain though so after the recent races, when we have never been sure about the weather, this is great," Rossi said. "I'm happy about our work because we did a good job with the qualifying tyres this afternoon and we were able to improve with each one, which is important."

Lorenzo is happy to be back to the front of the field. He was looking strong on his motorcycle for the whole session. What remains to be seen is if the Spaniard can keep the pace all full race distance before his injuries start complaining.

"It feels really good to be back on the front row again and I am very happy today," said Lorenzo. "It is clear that to stay with Stoner and Valentino is going to be very hard, but the important thing is that we have been able to compete with them today and we're in a good position to try again tomorrow. I'm still not thinking about results but I will just do my best, try to take a good rhythm and try to put on a good race for all the fans!"

The second row will be made up of Randy De Puniet for LCR Honda in fourth, Toni Elias qualified strongly for Alice Team again in fifth and Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa will start sixth. Pedrosa is third in the title hunt and used to being on the front row. Unfortunately his crash at the German GP has taken some wind from his sails.

Stoner sets searing pace in Misano practice

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Reigning motorcycle world champion Casey Stoner kick-started the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini Grand Prix in style on the opening day of action at the Misano World Circuit today, topping both free practice sessions and ending the day four-tenths-of-a-second quicker than his nearest challenger.

The Misano circuit has been slightly modified for this year's event, extending the overall lap to 4.226km. The new layout has rendered all existing lap records obsolete, but Stoner's best practice lap today was still just 0.2s slower than the fastest lap in last year's race, which he himself set.

The Ducati rider's best lap of 1m34.806s made him the only man to dip under the 1m35 mark today with Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi in second place and Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi right behind in third.

Chris Vermeulen, who scored a podium at last year's Misano race, was in sixth place at the end of the day after another encouraging performance for the Rizla Suzuki team, while San Carlo Honda Gresini riders Alex de Angelis and Shinya Nakano set the eighth and ninth fastest times of the day.

Competition for the top positions is tough with five different teams represented in the top five in the combined practice standings and a closely-matched performance from both tyre manufacturers.

Tyre Talk with Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Motorcycle Race Tyre Development

Were you pleased with the performance in today's practice?

"We have had two trouble-free sessions with some excellent weather conditions, so it has been a positive day's work. I am quite pleased with the level of our tyre performance and happy to see such a close competition throughout the field. We knew from last year's event that we would have to work on improving some problems with graining and initial results today suggest this is less of an issue. The slight modifications to the track layout do not really affect tyre performance and we were able to have a solid day of work, following our usual method of tyre evaluation."

What tyres did Bridgestone evaluate over the day?

"We tested a range of compounds from soft, medium and hard tyres over the course of the day. We looked at harder compound tyres in this afternoon's session due to the higher track temperatures which reached over 40 degrees Celsius. Temperatures are similar to what we expected heading into this race weekend, but we hope to carry out longer runs tomorrow to assess the durability of our tyres. Casey has again shown a very competitive pace right from the start and there are other Bridgestone riders who have set good lap times today. A lot of riders set their quickest times towards the end of the afternoon session, and I am sure there is more performance to be found tomorrow."

Weather:
Session 1 / Dry - Air 28C, Track 30-35C (Bridgestone measurement)
Session 2 / Dry - Air 31C, Track 45C (Bridgestone measurement)

Road Atlanta: Round 11 doubleheader preview

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Rockstar

PICKERINGTON, Ohio - The AMA Superbike Championship heads to Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia on August 29-31 for the penultimate round of the 2008 season. The weekend could very well have the feel of a finale, due to the strong likelihood of one or more title races being decided a round early.

The AMA Superbikes first challenged Road Atlanta in June of 1980, where the legendary Eddie Lawson claimed the first win at the circuit. However, the venue didn't become a mainstay on the calendar until 1998 when it kicked off the current trend of weekend Superbike doubleheaders.

AMA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED

Post-Race Drama Following VIR
While Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Mat Mladin dominated on the track at VIRginia International Raceway, crossing the finish line first for the fifth and sixth consecutive races, the drama didn't end there.

Following the post-race technical inspection, Mladin's crankshaft was deemed illegal and he was disqualified, stripping him of two victories.

The six-time AMA Superbike champ has appealed the decision, the final outcome of which could play an extremely important role in series history. If denied, the Australian will not be in contention to claim a record-setting eight AMA Superbike race wins in a row at Road Atlanta, and even more importantly, it will pave the way for his teammate, Ben Spies, to clinch his third-straight AMA Superbike title with a safe ride on Saturday.

The Numbers
If Mladin's DQ stands, Spies needs just 12 points -- a 19th-place effort -- to lock up the crown. Should he manage that, he'll join Reg Pridmore, Fred Merkel, and Mladin as the only riders in AMA Superbike history to win three consecutive titles.

Even if Mladin's appeal is successful, Spies will still be solidly in control, although his road to the throne won't be quite as simple. He'd need to continue finishing in the top two in the season's final three races to assure him a third championship.

Road Matlanta
While Mladin has done his fair share of winning at just about every circuit the series has visited during his illustrious career, he has been particularly dominant at Road Atlanta. The former Cagiva 500GP pilot has won eight of the last nine Superbike races at the venue and 11 in all.

Suzuki has won the most recent ten AMA Superbike races at Road Atlanta.

However, two-time defending champion Spies has yet to claim a Superbike victory at the circuit -- a track he's logged many miles on over his career. Despite his strong title position, Spies claims he'll be out to change that this weekend. If he clinches the championship on Saturday, he'd be free to go all out on Sunday in his quest for the win.

After the Fact Double Podium
Yamaha Factory Racing's Eric Bostrom enjoyed his strongest outing of the season at VIR, crossing the line in fourth both times out. Those results got even stronger following the decision to disqualify Mladin, elevating the Californian's finishes to a pair of thirds, his first two (podium-less) podiums of the year on the YZF-R1 Superbike.

AMA PRO HONDA OILS SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SHOEI

Another Shot at an Early Title
Graves Motorsports Yamaha's Ben Bostrom has been the leading player in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport title race all season long.

If he can score his seventh win of the season -- and do so in perfect fashion as he's done three times already this season -- Bostrom will put the pressure on second-ranked Erion Honda's Jake Zemke, who currently trails the Californian by 28 points (299-271). Zemke would need to finish on the podium in that case, otherwise Bostrom would already be celebrating his championship season by the time the series traveled back to one of his best tracks, Laguna Seca, for the season finale.

The Return of Hayes
While Bostrom and Zemke have been the headliners much of the season, Erion Honda's Josh Hayes reminded everyone why he won more races than any rider in the class last year, dominating the Supersport race at VIR. Another outing like that from the Mississippian could help keep his teammate in the points race for another weekend.

Herrin Back on the Box
Meanwhile, Bostrom may get some help of his own, as teammate Josh Herrin showed a return to form at VIR as well. The rising star finished third, his first podium since opening the year with three podium results, including a win at Barber Motorsports Park.

AMA FORMULA XTREME

On the Verge
While Zemke is just hoping to stay alive in Supersport, he's on the verge of his taking the Formula Xtreme title.

San Marino MotoGP: Bridgestone preview

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Misano was a frequent destination for premier class motorcycle racing in the 1980s and early 1990s with a total of ten events held at the venue until 1993. After a fourteen-year sojourn, MotoGP made a welcome return to the track last season at a new-look and extended circuit, in the guise of the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini Grand Prix.

Further modifications have been made to the circuit for this year's event which sees the track length increase from 4.180km to 4.226km, Misano's longest configuration yet. As a result, all existing circuit records, held by last year's winner Casey Stoner, will be invalidated by first practice on Friday.

Bridgestone had a highly competitive MotoGP debut at the Misano circuit last year with a sensational podium clean sweep and securing the top five positions in the 28-lap race.

Bridgestone heads to Misano this year following five consecutive wins on its tyres in Donington, Assen, Sachsenring, Laguna Seca and Brno with 12 podiums from a possible 15 taken by Bridgestone-shod stunt riders in the last five events.

With his win in Brno, Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi extended his grasp of the championship to 50 points with 150 left to play for, while last year's Misano victor Casey Stoner still holds second place.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Motorcycle Sport Unit

"After the wet German race, the cool Laguna Seca weekend, and the resurfaced Brno, we now move to Misano which will hopefully be a more typical race weekend for everybody. Misano was anything but typical last year with extremely heavy rain that restricted track time on Friday, so I think we all hope for a fully dry weekend this year. We had a good first trip to Misano with Casey winning the race and the top five riders all on our tyres. However, success is not automatically transferable from one season to the next and I am sure our rivals will be back in contention this weekend. We carried out extensive tyre testing in the post-race test at Brno which will form the basis of our race preparations for the final six events of the year, and which we hope will help keep Bridgestone riders at the top of the championship by the end of the season."

Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Race Tyre Development

"The character of the asphalt at Misano is quite slippery, and we suffered from quite bad graining over longer runs in the race, so we have to accommodate for that this year by producing stronger tyres. The circuit itself has been extended slightly for this year's race with changes to the third corner which increase the overall lap slightly to 4.226km. This should not have any real effect on tyre performance. There are a lot of slow and tight corners, and the main straight is also not too long, so the focus will be on finding good braking stability and traction over the lap. We will bring updated race specification tyres to Misano with compound adjustments made to counter the demands of the track. We also have new qualifying tyres for this weekend in a bid to get our riders as high up the grid as possible, since overtaking is not particularly easy at Misano."

BSB: Bike Animal Cadwell qualifying report

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

SIXTH ROW START FOR MARTIN AT CADWELL AS ELLISON WITHDRAWS

Hydrex Bike Animal Honda riders James Ellison and Guy Martin qualified in sixteenth and seventeenth place respectively following on today's historic new F1 style knock-out qualifying at round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship held at Cadwell Park today.

Now segregated into three qualifying sessions, the pair made it into Q2 but couldn't progress any further for various reasons.

Ellison, who has scored in every round of the Championship to date had been previously injured in a training accident and was suffering with torn ligaments in his right wrist meaning he spent a minimal amount of time on the Shaun Muir Racing Honda Fireblade and despite bravely battling on, had to settle for sixteenth at the end of the session.

Meanwhile Guy Martin showed a resurgence of short circuit form to qualify for Q2 and at one point was running on the verges of the final ten Q1 positions, but by the end of the session he had slipped to seventeenth and will line up on the sixth row of the grid.

However, Ellison will take no further part in the weekend's proceedings as he has been declared unfit to race so will now concentrate on getting fit for the next round at Croft in three week's time.

Ellison's withdrawal now means that Martin is left to uphold honour whereby the rider from nearby Kirmington is hoping to impress at his local circuit.

In the Metzeler Superstock 1000cc category, Kieran Clarke qualified 21st for tomorrow's race whereby he will be looking to add to his points tally from his last two outings.

James Ellison: "I injured my hand when I was training in Spain last week and whereas I thought it would be OK, having ridden the bike around a demanding track as Cadwell, it's proving to be a bit of a problem and it's just getting worse and worse. I wanted to get into the top ten and then I could have made a decision tomorrow. But really the only way I can get ready for Croft is by resting it and hopefully it should be healed in around 7 to 10 days. I have to think about the rest of the season, and I'm chasing third in the Championship so I don't really want to miss a round, it's just really disappointing. The guys in the team have worked so hard and I'm just disappointed for them too."

Guy Martin: "The weather hasn't helped the job, I've still got loads of harvesting to do and my combine blew up last night! I'm happy on the bike side of things though. We're at the point where we're making just a little change each time and we're getting faster each time so it's building my confidence up with the team and with the bike. We're finding that the settings are more like a TT stunt bike now. I don't think we'd be cheeky in asking for a couple of top ten places tomorrow, that would be mint."

Shaun Muir (Team Owner): "We have taken the decision to withdraw James so he won't be riding tomorrow so I'm just disappointed really, especially for the team who have all worked so hard. BSB is our priority so we need to consider the bigger picture and get James back up to full fitness in time for Croft. We need Guy to pull a rabbit out of the bag for us now so we're looking for him to score a good result for us, like we are Kieran in the Superstock race."

The first of the two 18-lap Bennetts British Superbike races gets underway at 1.45pm on Sunday with the second at 4.30pm. The Metzeler Superstock 1000 race is scheduled for 5.20pm. The British Eurosport 2 live broadcast window is 1.30pm to 6.30pm.

JiR Team Scot interview with Pietro Caprara Part 2

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The concluding part of the Pietro Caprara interview - Chief Technician for JiR Team Scot in MotoGP and Andrea Dovizioso's crew chief - addresses topics such as what work goes on in the pits and how the bike is set up in testing and practice.

What has the transition from 990cc to 800cc been like?

"With the advent of the 990cc machines, this was initially greeted with many uncertainties related to the competitiveness of the machines, but soon we saw an escalation of the dizzying performance, which led to a reduction in engine capacity - all in the name of safety of the riders, as the power looked as if it was going to be difficult to manage. Since the switch, you watch the stopwatch and now the times are equaling the 990cc machines, but the intervention of important electronics has helped here. Security and safety is a factor to which the team, riders, Dorna and IRTA have given more and more attention."

Engine, tires and suspension are the three parameters that must be balanced with each other to the needs of the riders. Can you identify a priority among these elements?

"Certainly suspension and tires hold a crucial role and must work in 'balance', with each other. And - particularly in the light of the benefits that we have with today's tires - the set up of the bike has to be made very carefully. It is no less important the role of an engine, but with the advent of the four-strokes, the electronic management is the core in order to maximize the performance of the bike tires and suspension."

We often hear that there is no such thing as the perfect bike, but instead a rider must adapt to the machine to influence the results.

"Yes, it's true, but you can reach a good final compromise. In general we try to develop a balanced motorcycle, whose base is exploitable on all circuits. For sure, it is better to have a bike, which is adaptable, than one, which gives 100% but only under certain conditions. A rider of talent is an element that integrates into this context and he may be able to cover any gaps in the bike and ride around problems."

During practice, in the final twenty minutes riders are battling together and locked in the frenzy of using qualifying tires. In just one lap the rider must give his maximum. How do you adapt the bike for this and how much comes from the rider himself?

"The preparation of the bike does not change too much, as you might think, with regard to the overall geometry of the bike. The suspension is used as it would be for the race, but possibly 'hardened' up a little to exploit the qualifying tire a little more, which is only usable for one lap, sometimes only a lap and a half. Instead, it's more the rider who tends to change his style of riding to exploit the increased grip, which is often disproportionate to the rubber used in the race. Think about it, if in any corner the rider can make up a tenth of a second on qualifying rubber and the circuit has ten corners, then a perfect lap would mean you're a whole second faster. The rider who can better exploit this advantage of qualifying tires takes pole - in theory!"

JiR Team Scot interview with Pietro Caprara Part 1

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Pietro Caprara, born in 1967, is the Chief Technician of JiR Team Scot in MotoGP. He has extensive experience in world competition, which began in 1996 with the Yamaha YZR500 in the Blue Riband class before moving to MotoGP with Team Yamaha and then Aprilia where he spent three years in the 250cc category.

His extensive experience makes for an interesting interview as to how things have changed over the years from 500cc two-strokes to the MotoGP four-strokes and what a technician can do to put their rider in a position to win.

Pietro Caprara
Chief Technician, JiR Team Scot

Since the mid-seventies, two-strokes dominated the 500 class, before the four-strokes came along at the end of 2001. What are the characteristics and differences between the two technologies?

"The differences between the two types of motors have both construction implications and mechanical, environmental, how the motorcycle is driven, as well as construction and maintenance cost issues. Mechanically the two-stroke engine is simple, the piston, with its alternating motion, opens and closes the ports of the intake and exhaust from which the mixture of air/petrol and oil and exhaust gases enters and leaves.

In comparison, the four-stroke motor is complex and heavier than its two-stroke equivalent. The upper part of the engine is the 'head', which holds the intake and exhaust valves, driven by camshafts. Engine power comes from petrol shot into the engine via injectors.

The lubrication of the two-strokes engine, crankshaft and connecting rods, is entrusted to the fuel. The power is normally governed by a carburetor that has a mechanical operation typically controlled by the depression created by the movement of the piston.

The lubrication of the various mechanisms of the four-strokes is entrusted to oil and this can be collected in a reservoir, built in the lower part of the engine called a sump, which can either be a �dry' or �wet' sump depending on whether the oil is collected in a separate tank."

How have these differences changed the way you work in the pit garage?

"The maintenance and alteration of a two-stroke is very different from a four-stroke and can be carried out completely in the field, given the simple nature of its construction. Historically these changes used to be made by the team, even in satellite squads.

The maintenance of the four-stroke is complex and only factory technicians are entrusted to work on the engine, while mechanics from satellite teams are only allowed to do maintenance that doesn't involve opening up the engines."

So, with these two very different technological characteristics with these powerplants, what are the different feelings for the rider using them?

"The peculiarity of the two-stroke engine, in principle, is that it produces very little torque low down in the rev range but lots at high revs. In 500ccGPs maximum torque was very close to that of maximum power on the rev counter, but in modern MotoGP the release of both torque and power is more linear and more progressive and so is more exploitable and has wider powerband than that of a two-stroke. To give the two-stroke more flexibility exhaust powervalves were adopted to broaden where the power and torque came in, giving more drive when you opened the gas. The differences on the track were that riding the two-strokes smoothness on the throttle and through the corner was the best way to ride and the bike had almost no engine braking and the weight of the machine was lower too. In MotoGP you can break the smooth trajectory through the corner as you've so much torque and power, you can accelerate away out of the turn. With a 500, the acceleration phase was the most delicate operation, because the violence with which the power came in meant that rider error would lead to sudden loss of adhesion of the rear tyre and a subsequent classic high-side. The two-stroke motorcycles required sensitivity from the rider: especially on the throttle. With the four-strokes, the relatively large amount of power is offset by the electronic management and traction control system. This year for example, beginners in the MotoGP class coming from the 250cc two-stroke category have adapted quickly, getting good results in the race, although they are generally the riders who have been the best in the category they have just left."

AMA Toyota Motocross Enters Penultimate Round in Southwick

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Heads to New England for Kicker Audio Southwick Motocross National

SOUTHWICK, Mass. (August 19, 2008) -- Motocross 338, New England's pro motocross facility, welcomes the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF for the penultimate round of the 2008 season with the Kicker Audio Southwick Motocross National. On August 23-24, the world's best riders will tackle the "Sandbox" for round 11 of the 12-race championship.

Moving from its traditional mid-season date, the circuit's only sand track will present new challenges for the competitors with weather conditions expected to be at their warmest ever. Since hosting its first AMA Pro National in 1976, Motocross 338 has seen many of the sports greatest riders grace the winners circle. However, no rider has been more dominant at Southwick than Ricky Carmichael, whose nine overall victories are five more than any other rider. For the first time since 1999, a new face will sit atop the podium.

Monster Energy Kawasaki's James Stewart and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto have been the men to beat in the AMA Motocross and AMA Motocross Lites classes and both riders clinched their respective championships last weekend in Millville, Minn. For Stewart, it was his first career AMA Motocross title while Villopoto claimed AMA Motocross Lites crown number three. Heading into Southwick, Stewart is just four moto wins away from being the second rider in history to complete a perfect season while Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey guns for his third consecutive victory in AMA Motocross Lites.

Track manager Ralph Pittello has made significant strides to make the 2008 event at Southwick available to more fans, expanding the track's VIP area as well as adding a large, yet limited number of bleacher seating free for those in attendance.

In addition to the excitement of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, the AMA/WMA Women's National Motocross Championship Presented by Kawasaki competes in round five of its six-race season. Points leader Ashley Fiolek will lead the way while Massachusetts local Katlyn Crowley will have the hometown crowd on her side.

KAWASAKI DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES AT BRNO

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The Kawasaki Racing Team brought to a conclusion a successful two-day test at the Brno circuit today, where perfect testing conditions allowed Anthony West and Olivier Jacque to work their way through an intensive evaluation programme aboard their Ninja ZX-RR machines.

As Kawasaki's test and development rider, it was Jacque who shouldered most of the testing duties over the course of the two days. The former 250cc world champion completed a total of 87 laps of the 5.403km Brno circuit, as he worked with his crew to further refine the same upgrades on his Ninja ZX-RR that helped West to a career best fifth place finish in Sunday's Czech Republic Grand Prix.

The two Kawasaki pilots also evaluated chassis settings which, when combined with a different front tyre option to that run by both West and Hopkins in Sunday's race, gave both riders improved feeling from, and more confidence in, the front end of their Ninja ZX-RR machines.

John Hopkins made a brief appearance on track during the first day of testing, but decided to sit out the remainder of the test after struggling with a minor, but painful, injury sustained in a practice crash on Friday. The 26-year-old Anglo-American displaced an intercostal muscle in his rib cage (often happens doing motorcycle stunts), which was affecting his breathing on the bike.

With Misano just ten days away, it was decided that Hopkins would withdraw from the test in order to give him maximum recovery time ahead of the next race.

Anthony West - #13 - 65 Laps - 1'59.010

"I didn't test yesterday because Olivier was evaluating various different parts on my machine, however we have managed to achieve quite a lot during today's track time. We focused mainly on setting up the bike to suit a front tyre option that we've not used so much but has been put to good use by a few other Bridgestone riders recently. Previously we've not been able to make this tire work effectively, but with the changes in chassis set-up we've made, it is now a viable option for us to use. In the race this weekend I had to push hard every lap to be fast, but with the advances we've made at this test, the bike feels much more rideable. I'm now really looking forward to furthering our improvements next time out."

Jacque - #19 - 87 Laps - 1'58.483

"The last two days have been very useful to us and we've gathered a lot of data. We firstly worked with our base chassis setting to see where we could make adjustments to improve the stability and balance of the machine. We also had a new swing-arm and some electronic components to test today, which have both brought interesting results. This track is quite grippy so it's difficult to see exactly where this puts us with regards to some of the other circuits, but I am confident that we've made many forward steps. We now need to spend time reviewing the data to assess fully everything we've evaluated in the last two days."

Ducati Brno Test Notes

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM STAY AT BRNO FOR FIRST DAY OF TESTS

The Ducati Marlboro Team completed the first of two days of post-race testing today at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic, with the warm sunshine returning to make for much higher temperatures than during the Grand Prix weekend.

Casey Stoner completed 55 laps on race tyres, carrying out a variety of positive set-up and tyre tests and maintaining a consistently quick pace - well inside the circuit record he set in Sunday's race.

Marco Melandri also worked on his set-up, completing 71 laps as he looked to continue improving the feeling with his machine as he has done over the past few races.

Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro Team): 1'56.261 (race tires)

"It has been a really positive day. We didn't have too much to test - a couple of new tyres and that's about it - but we managed to find a new setting to improve on what was already a very good situation. I managed to drop my lap times by almost a second on yesterday and that's really positive. Unfortunately my physical condition on Friday and the rain on Saturday meant that we didn't head into the race in the best possible shape. In any case I'm happy because the things we've improved today will be useful for the upcoming races. Hopefully the weather's good to us again tomorrow so we can finish the job off with Bridgestone"

Marco Melandri (Ducati Marlboro Team) 1'58.325: (race tyres)

"Today we worked mainly on trying to understand why I struggled so much at the start of the race yesterday. My pace hasn't been particularly fast but I'm happy that it was consistent on both new and used tyres. We've taken a step forward and we'll work hard tomorrow to take another one. We'll probably modify the weight distribution a little to improve the overall feeling. We're working well and I can say that today has been a good day of tests."

Rossi wins Czech MotoGP, Stoner doesn't finish

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Valentino Rossi walked away stronger than ever with victory at this weekend's Czech GP ar Brno. Casey Stoner, Rossi's main rival for the title, was leading the race when he went off into the gravel. Stoner is now fifty championship points down on the Italian. Second instead went to Toni Elias, Alice Team's best finish so far. Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi rounded out the podium places.

Rossi is now one race away from Giacomo Agostini's record of all time wins in the MotoGP. With five races to go and the streak the Italian seems to be on this record might become his before the season is over. Rossi and Stoner were running away from the rest of the field when Stoner went off the track, giving Rossi's Fiat Yamaha a clean and clear path to the checkered flag.

"I lost about half a second getting past Hopkins at the start and Casey was incredibly fast at that stage," explained Rossi, "like he'd already done ten laps! For a short time I was worried but then, after two laps, I understood that my bike was working very well and that I was fast enough to try to catch him. I had closed a little bit already and gradually the red bike was becoming a bit bigger in front of me, and I think this is when he started to push harder and made his mistake. I was anticipating a very hard battle if I did catch him, so when I saw the red bike slide out I could hardly believe it - this made things a lot easier for me! After that I just enjoyed riding my bike; my Bridgestone tyres worked very well until the end and my M1 felt very good.

"Of course I can't count this as a complete victory because Casey fell, and I am sorry for him, but this is racing and I have to be happy with this result. We are 50 points clear which is a lot and I am very excited to be going to Misano in this situation. However we know that 50 points is still not always enough when you have someone as strong as Casey and so we won't relax," added the Italian.

Fifty points certainly is a lot of ground to make up with only five races to go. Stoner was strong the entire weekend and the crash was uncharacteristic of the reigning champ. In fact, Stoner had finished the last thirty consecutive races, ever since he started with Ducati Motorcycles in 2007. The streak ended here today, and so might have his hopes for a back-to-back championship.

"The crash came out of the blue, that corner was an easy one but I lost the front and it happened very quickly, very suddenly and I didn't manage to save it," admitted Stoner. "It's a hard one to explain and we will look at the data but sometimes this kind of crash happens at this level of racing and it was my mistake! We knew that we needed to win this race - and more - in order to close down Valentino's advantage so this makes the championship very difficult for us. Anything can happen in racing but fifty points is a big gap against such a strong and consistent competitor. Anyway I never throw in the towel, nor does anybody at Ducati, and we will keep fighting until the end. Misano is a home race for the factory and there will be lots of Ducatisti there, so my main thought now is to stay positive and bounce back with a good show for them in two weeks' time."

Stoner claims sixth consecutive pole at Brno

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Rain and feeling sick couldn't keep Casey Stoner away from grabbing his sixth consecutive pole. The Ducati worked perfectly in combination with the Bridgestone tires to put the reigning champ right where he wanted to be for the Czech GP. His chief rival, Valentino Rossi, was a full second off Stoner's pace, and the rest of the top ten were separate by just tenths of a second. Lining up on the outside of the front row will be John Hopkins, a great recovery from his injury a few races ago.

"We went out at the start and tried to basically put a good few laps together because we still didn't really know what weather was going to do," explained Stoner. "It looked like it might clear up but it actually did the opposite. I still wasn't totally happy with the set-up so I came in to make some changes but when we went back out there was two or three inches of standing water in some places and the bike was aquaplaning everywhere. We knew that as long as the rain kept coming as it did then nobody was going to be able to go much quicker because the track conditions were so difficult.

"The points are not dished out until tomorrow and anything can happen," added the Aussie, "especially in the wet, so we'll just stay focused, stay relaxed, and hope the weather stays dry!"

Rossi dodged the accumulating puddles on his Fiat Yamaha around to score another front row start. In the morning the Italian was only fifth fastest on the damp track but things looked better has the weather looked worse. The session was effectively over half-way when standing water made it impossible to improve.

"I hope that we are in good shape for tomorrow," said Rossi, "if it's wet or dry. For sure though, like everyone else, I hope it will be dry because the conditions today were really terrible! After twenty minutes this afternoon there was too much water and it was impossible to improve the setting of the bike or the time, so I am glad I was able to do some good laps at the beginning. I think I can be more competitive in the dry, because also we have a few modifications to try, so hopefully it will be dry all day tomorrow to give us the best chance. Let's keep hoping and see how we go!"

Tomorrow calls for the chance of more rain which can play into Rossi's favor even though wants a dry track. Stoner isn't feeling well and a full race distance might be too much for him. Rossi, on the other hand, is feeling 100% for tomorrow's race at Brno.

The American rider John Hopkins had to sit out his home race at Leguna Seca before the short summer break. Now he is back and looking to make up some lost ground but his knee is still sore after the surgery. Hopkins took a chance that the weather was going to get worse and headed out with soft tire on his Kawasaki to set fast times right away. His tactic was the right one and put him on the front row for the first time since 2007.

An ill Stoner stays fast for Czech MotoGP

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

After a bit of a summer break the MotoGP riders have crossed the pond back to Europe to try their hand at the newly resurfaced Brno circuit for the Czech GP. A few riders used the time off to mend broken bones and sore joints, trying to get ready for the back-half of the season. All teams took the time to test and evolve their bikes, with the season this competitive no one can afford a lazy summer day.

Rain clouds loomed overhead as the bikes took to the track, their tire evaluations would have to be completed as fast as possible before the rain made it impractical to collect any worthwhile data. More showers are forecasted tomorrow during qualifying. Proper setups will be hard to come by; the team that's quick on their feet will gain the upper hand.

For today the two top riders were not surprisingly Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner. The rivals traded fast laps with Stoner setting the better time in the second practice. Rossi was quickest in the morning and a mere tenth of the Aussie's afternoon fast lap. Stoner isn't feeling well this weekend but that hasn't stopped him from pushing his Ducati hard to keep Rossi behind him. Yet not everything looks good for the reigning champ, he is having a hard time staying out for long periods of time, his race pace will suffer if he can't keep his strength the full distance.

"Unfortunately I've not been feeling well for a few days and I felt very weak today - I even felt sapped of energy just putting my gloves on. I can deal with a bit of tiredness but this afternoon I could only ride a handful of laps before I started to feel cramps in my stomach," explained Stoner. "The guys improved the bike every time I came in so it was frustrating not to be able to put it all together with a long run. We still have a lot of work to do so hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and the weather holds out for us."

Things are looking a lot more optimistic in Rossi's Fiat Yamaha camp. The Italian has a decent points lead after Stoner's falter at the US GP. Both riders are on Bridgestone tires, the hard compound provided by the manufacturer seems to be the best choice for the new surface.

"I've had a good holiday but it's fun to be back on the bike again! Today has started very well and I am very happy with my bike and with our tires, it seems the Bridgestones are working very well here so far," said Rossi. "The new asphalt is good, much better than last year and the grip improved throughout the day so I think that they have done a good job."

Loris Capirossi was a half second slower than the faster pair. The Rizla Suzuki rider seems to have recovered from his injury sustained at Assen this June. Capirossi is also running on Bridgestone tires, the Michelin boys better find a way to get back into the top three.

"My lap-time is not too bad, but I think we can improve on that," admitted Capirossi, "we have the power and I need to work on my rhythm a bit. One of the best things today is that I am nearly at 100% after the injury, my condition is great and this weekend I want to give the team something good because after recent races they really need it!"

Gresini Racing's Shinya Nakano was third fastest in the morning and ended today with the fourth fastest time. The Japanese motorcycle rider was just a little faster than teammate Alex De Angelis who had an accident today. It would seem the Gresini Honda team has found a bit of speed over the break on their new RC212V bike.

"It has been a positive day and I can say that Shinya has started out really well with the new bike," said Team Manager Fausto Gresini. "He is very happy with it and with this being only the first day he still needs more time to get used to it. Obviously we will keep working to make more improvements and there is certainly margin for that. Alex did well today and despite the crash he was fast all afternoon, once again showing his great potential."

An update on a few injured riders, John Hopkins is back in his Kawasaki saddle after sitting out the Sachsenring and Laguna Seca races. The American had a spill in both practice sessions today but reports that his knee is staying strong and the evolved bike looks good. He set the eighth fastest time today and looks to improve for qualifying.

MOTO-ST: Heartland Park Topeka doubleheader preview

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Touring Sport Ducati Ready to Go for Another Doubleheader Victory

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 13, 2008) - Fresh from a doubleheader triumph at Barber Motorsports Park, Touring Sport Ducati has every intention of making it two-in-a-row when the SunTrust MOTO-ST Series thunders into action, August 16-17 at Heartland Park Topeka.

Running in the Buell Motorcycle Company SuperSport class (SST) and the BMW GrandSport Twins class (GST) class, Touring Sport Ducati sits in second place in both classes.

"We are currently seven points out of the lead in SST and one point out of first in GST," explains team manager Frank Shockley who, along with teammates Brad Phillips and Peter Friedland, earned the GST title last season. "Winning at Barber was a huge morale booster for all of us and really got us going. Now we're ready to do it all over again at Heartland Park."

Piloting the team's No. 75 Ducati 848 in the SST Class will be Ryan Gordon of Clemson, S.C. and two-time World Superbike and World Endurance Champion Doug Polen.

"I'm looking forward to Heartland Park," says Polen, who lives in Camarillo, Calif. "It will be my first time on the track and my first time running with Gordon. It will all be new and that will make it fun. I'm pretty much used to adapting to anything so I don't foresee any problems. I missed running at Barber due to a prior commitment, so it was Gordon and Elleby who took the win. I know I better have my act together as everyone on the team will definitely give me a bad time if I make a mistake."

"Doug always does an excellent job for us," continues Shockley. "He and Ryan (Gordon) are going to make a good pair. I've known Ryan for a few years. He actually burst on the scene in 2004 and immediately began winning. He rode here and in Europe and then two years ago he retired for awhile. Now, he's back and riding for us."

Leading the charge for GST points will be Frank Shockley and Brad Phillips aboard the team's No. 77 Ducati PS1000LE.

"This time out Peter Friedland has a prior commitment and will unfortunately miss this round," explains Shockley. "So it is all up to me and Brad. We definitely want to put our Ducati on the top of the Podium again. We like being there so that is our plan. One of the good things about this race is that we have a promoter's practice day on Friday. This will give us ample time to set up our bikes and learn the track which is cool. I have ridden there before and I really like the track layout. All in all, this is definitely gong to be a fun event."

There is literally no other form of motorsports that can be compared to the spectacle of this type of professional team two-wheeled competition. It is unique. It is fast and unbelievably exciting. Unprotected by metal or heavy roll bars, knee-dragging riders wrestle heavy machines about corners, leaning over at impossible angles, then rocket down straights at speeds over 150 mph, sometimes so close that they trade the paint off their fairings. It is definitely team road racing at its very best...

Czech MotoGP: Repsol Honda preview

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Repsol Honda RC212V riders Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden roar back into action at Brno following MotoGP's traditional three-weekend summer break. The Czech Grand Prix commences the crucial second part of the MotoGP season, with just seven of 18 races remaining, three in Europe and four outside Europe.

The sport's 25 day recess between the US and Czech GPs is no real holiday for the riders -- Pedrosa, Hayden and their rivals have all been working through much of the break. Pedrosa has been recuperating from the fractured left wrist and fractured left index finger he suffered at last month's German GP which prevented him from competing in the US GP. Hayden meanwhile has been training back home in Kentucky, USA, working to keep in prime physical condition. The 2006 MotoGP champ also took part in the Supermoto event at the X Games (Including lots of Motorcycle Stunts) in Los Angeles. Hayden hurt his right heel when he made a heavy landing during practice for the event on Friday August 1 but is hopeful the injury won't prevent him from riding at Brno. Further details will be released as soon as they are available.

Brno has been part of the World Championship calendar since the mid 1960s, when the nation's grand prix was staged around a 10.92km/6.785 mile street circuit on the outskirts of the city. Mike Hailwood won the 1966 and 1967 500 GPs there on his Honda RC181 four, but eventually the circuit was deemed too dangerous and hosted its last premier-class GP in 1977. It took a decade before the current Brno circuit was completed. Honda has enjoyed great success at this fast, undulating circuit which features many tricky downhill corners that require a perfect chassis set-up. Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Tadayuki Okada, Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau have all won races with Honda at the modern Brno venue.

The Repsol Honda Team will remain at Brno for crucial post-race tests, during which Pedrosa is likely to try the pneumatic-valve RC212V engine that Hayden been using since June's British GP.

Dani Pedrosa

"The holiday period gave me a good chance to relax and recover, so I hope I will be fine for Brno. When I returned from Laguna Seca my doctor told me I needed a week and a half of complete rest. I couldn't train so I spent an enjoyable few days in Mallorca, disconnecting from everything and resting both my hand and foot. I had the stitches removed from my hand in Barcelona and then I started rehabilitation. The hand still hurts but the wrist has good mobility and the fingers are no longer swollen. The foot is still taped, just to avoid rough movements. I started training last week, mostly on my bicycle. I hope I can have a good race at Brno to start the second part of the championship in the best possible way. Brno is a good circuit, with some interesting uphill and downhill sections, very much in the style of the classic circuits. The track is medium speed to very high speed with some good corners and fast straights. It's the kind of circuit that demands a gentle, fine riding style, you don't need to be aggressive when taking the corners. It has just been resurfaced, so we will have to wait and see what the grip is like. The atmosphere is always great, with a big and enthusiastic crowd on race day. Getting the set-up right for this track is always a delicate operation, aiming to get the best compromise between cornering ability and braking stability."

Czech MotoGP: Bridgestone preview

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:00:00 GMT

With batteries recharged after three weekends of no racing action, MotoGP makes a welcome return in Brno where the fierce battle for this year's thrilling championship will recommence.

Brno is the second most visited city in premier class history with a total of 31 events held since 1965. 11 races were held on the old road course which was used until 1977. After a ten-year break, a new-look 5.4km Brno circuit was introduced to the championship, where, with the sole exception of the 1992 season, it has remained ever since.

The track has been resurfaced for this year's event, which will offer tyre manufacturers a new challenge, but Bridgestone can draw from several seasons of success at the Czech track. Loris Capirossi was victorious for Ducati in 2006, taking pole position and the fastest lap of the race, while Casey Stoner repeated the feat one year later, leading a Bridgestone 1-2 with John Hopkins taking a career-best second place for Suzuki.

Bridgestone heads into the final third of the season with two of its riders at the head of the championship classification. Valentino Rossi's win in Laguna Seca extended his lead of the series to 212 points, while Casey Stoner continued his championship revival to claim second in the table.

Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Motorcycle Stunts Sport Unit

"Brno is a track that has been quite favourable for Bridgestone in recent years, and we have celebrated victory there for the previous two seasons with the Ducati team, first with Loris Capirossi in 2006 and again last year with Casey Stoner. We have two very formidable riders at the top of the table with Valentino and Casey, but there are still 175 points available over the next seven races, so the championship is far from over. This weekend's race has the added complications of a new track surface, but I am sure we will see a competitive battle at the front, especially with our rivals more determined than ever to renew their championship challenge."

Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager, Race Tyre Development

"Brno has been resurfaced since last year's event so we have had to revise our approach to the weekend. Even if we have been competitive in recent seasons, we have had to produce different tyre compounds for this year's event compared to the usual Brno-spec in order to adapt to the new surface. In accordance with the sporting regulations, and thanks to IRTA, tyre manufacturers were permitted to test at the circuit for two days back in June, and this allowed us the chance to acquire data from this new asphalt, which appears less grippy than before. The track itself is renowned for its elevation changes, which put a real focus on bike set-up and rider confidence, so all elements of the bike-rider-tyre package will be put to the test this weekend."