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24-09-2008, 10:30pm
Well let the war of words begin again as this weekend the next round of the MotoGp from Motegi is getting ready to rev up.
Can Rossi seal the championship this weekend well unless he falls off I think it's a done deal.
Anyway here some gossip from around the paddock..
MotoGP title battle turns full circle at Motegi
The A-Style Grand Prix of Japan is an opportunity to take a sixth World Championship for Valentino Rossi, and a return to the last chance saloon for Casey Stoner.
As the MotoGP World Championship enters the home stretch of flyaway races before its finale in Valencia, Twin Ring Motegi will host the fifteenth event of 2008 on 28th September, for the A-Style Grand Prix of Japan.
The 2008 title winner could potentially be crowned at this latest 800cc showdown and, in an about turn from this time last season, it is Valentino Rossi who has the chance of confirming the World Championship in Japan at the expense of Casey Stoner. Arriving at Motegi with an 87-point advantage, with the honour of being the winner of the most premier class races in history secured and on a four-race winning streak, Rossi needs only to finish fourth in Japan to clinch his sixth MotoGP trophy.
That does not mean that all is said and done, however. Last year Rossi conceded the title in discreet fashion in the MotoGP race, dropping down to thirteenth with a mechanical problem in a situation that permitted Stoner the luxury of not having to push for higher than sixth.
Rossi has only won once before at Motegi, onboard a 500cc Honda back in 2001. This year he can even afford a maiden victory in Japan for Stoner, whose return to Japan could see him conceding the title almost a year to the day after winning it.
Stoner may only have the slimmest of chances to prevent Rossi from experiencing his sixth MotoGP title, but he is still in the driving seat for the runner-up spot in the 2008 season. The Ducati rider has a seven point advantage over Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa, who is currently on a run of five races without a podium – the longest of his Grand Prix career since his first top three in 2001.
One rider who has stepped onto the rostrum in recent weeks is Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi´s Fiat Yamaha teammate. The Spaniard has regained confidence lost after a series of crashes to take two front rows and podiums in as many races, making him a dark horse for the runner-up spot and giving some breathing space in the Rookie of the Year battle.
Lorenzo´s perennial rival and fellow debutant Andrea Dovizioso finished on the podium at last year´s 250cc race in Japan, setting the fastest lap of the contest in the process. The future of his JiR Team Scot outfit, and as a result his own destination for 2009, is set to be announced at Motegi.
With their own teams for next season already established, Chris Vermeulen, Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden are separated by just 13 points in their quest for a top six finish in 2008. Whilst the former duo have renewed their contracts with Japanese factories Suzuki and Yamaha, respectively, a move from Honda to Ducati for Hayden at the end of the year has been recently confirmed.
Home rider Shinya Nakano and Alice Team´s Toni Elias complete the top ten in the category, ahead of Motegi racewinner for the last three years Loris Capirossi.
How Rossi can clinch the title at Motegi
An easy guide as to how Valentino Rossi can clinch a sixth MotoGP World Championship at Motegi – and what it means for his place in history.
Valentino Rossi is on the brink of taking his sixth MotoGP World Championship, with his first chance of confirming the crown coming next weekend at Twin Ring Motegi. The Fiat Yamaha rider is in a powerful position in at the head of the standings, with an 87 point lead over 2007 titlist Casey Stoner and a further seven point lead over third-placed Dani Pedrosa. Rossi has the situation in his hands, with a podium finish assuring him of the title - even if Stoner records a first Japanese win.
A rostrum for Stoner could effectively be a stay of execution for the Ducati rider, who at best could reduce the gap to 62 points with 75 still up for grabs, if Rossi fails to score a point. A runner-up finish for the Australian would mean that Rossi could afford to finish as low as eighth, whilst rounding off the podium would require Rossi to finish twelfth or better. Stoner taking fourth place would mean that just a point would give the Italian his sixth title.
Pedrosa will only become involved should he win or finish runner up; a Pedrosa win obliges Rossi to finish in the top ten, whilst second place leaves the Yamaha rider in need of a solitary point.
The rider who at Indianapolis beat Giacomo Agostini´s record of victories with his 69th triumph, Rossi will echo his Italian idol this year if he regains the title. Agostini is the only rider to date to have reclaimed the crown after a two year gap.
And the bragging rights that will come with a sixth title? Rossi will have exceeded the total number of premier class titles taken by Mick Doohan, and become the only rider ever to win the World Championship on 500cc, 990cc and 800cc machines.
Honda home race awaits Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa is feeling `quite confident´ as he prepares for Honda´s most important race of the year.
Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa will be upholding Honda´s honour at Motegi next weekend, and his wet weather work at Indianpolis could stand him in good stead in Japan. The Spaniard may be getting used to the pneumatic valve engine and Bridgestone tyres package debuted at Indianapolis, but he is feeling assured ahead of round fifteen.
`Indianapolis was an important weekend for us, with lots of work and with all kinds of different weather. That made it quite tough, but it did give us experience in different conditions, so we could learn about my new machine and tyres in both dry and wet conditions,´ says Pedrosa, who finished eighth in his first American participation of the year.
` I hope that we can use the data we gathered there to help us achieve a good result at Honda´s home race. I am feeling quite confident for the Japanese round. Motegi is one of those tracks that I like because the surface has good grip and not so many bumps.
Pedrosa is currently on a five-race run without placing on the podium –his longest since his first rostrum back in 2001. Previous form perhaps does not bode well for him, with collisions for the 22 year-old on both MotoGP visits to Twin Ring Motegi; in 2006 he bashed fairings with Colin Edwards on the second corner (he eventually finished seventh) and last year he suffered one of the most spectacular highsides of the season as the track turned wet. However, pole position last year indicates that Pedrosa has the speed to do well in Japan, and he may be aided by his trust in Bridgestone rubber.
`It is important to have good braking power and good acceleration from your machine, which means that the tyres are very important because you need to be able to brake late into the corners and accelerate strongly out of the corners,´ notes the 2007 World Championship runner-up.
`My favourite section of the track is the middle bit, climbing the hill towards the highest point. To achieve a fast lap you need to get your braking points absolutely correct, and the final section is probably most important for a good lap time. It's the kind of circuit where you need to use an aggressive riding style.´
Pedrosa has previously won at Motegi for Honda in 2002 and 2004, during his time in the 125cc and 250cc classes.
Stoner injury could lead to preseason absence
Requiring an operation on his troublesome scaphoid, Casey Stoner is likely to miss some of the preseason tests for 2009. There is also an outside chance that the World Champion will not complete the current season.
2007 World Champion Casey Stoner´s improperly-healed scaphoid fracture has been well documented in recent weeks, with the 2003 injury causing the Ducati rider pain during races and practices.
Such are the problems caused by the injury that there is a chance of the Australian missing the final part of this season, although this is an unlikely course of action. He admitted that his condition was not what he wished it was at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, and acknowledged that an operation was on the cards.
`I´m not 100% but I've got a few weeks to try and improve a few things,´ said Stoner. `I do need an operation, but we´ll race for as long as we can and try and do it at the end of the season. I don´t think that we will do the tests at the end of this year; maybe Valencia but I´m not sure.´
Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo revealed doubts about the true extent of the poker-faced professional Stoner´s injury at Indianapolis, taking a pragmatic approach to any possible operation in advance of next season.
`Let´s say that at the moment, it (the injury) is a problem in the races for Casey. He doesn´t speak too much about it, but we will be taking things race-by-race,´ explained Suppo.
`If the pain is manageable then he will finish the season, otherwise we will try and get something arranged earlier. At the moment it seems that he will be able to complete the year, but if he is operated on after Valencia then he will definitely miss the Jerez test –that´s not a big issue as he doesn´t need a lot of tests in which to understand the bike.´
If Stoner were to miss a chunk of preseason due to an old injury, it would not be for the first time in his MotoGP career. The current title holder had preparations for his premier class debut in 2006 hindered by a right shoulder injury, a six year-old ailment for which he had to undergo surgery. At the beginning of 2008 he suffered a crash at Jerez, injuring his collarbone and missing a chunk of the testing schedule.
Hayden joins Ducati for 2009
Nicky Hayden has been confirmed as Ducati factory rider for next season, in a deal announced on Monday.
2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden has been officially announced as a Ducati rider for next season, joining current titlist Casey Stoner in the Italian manufacturer´s star-studded factory team lineup.
The announcement follows Hayden´s first podium of 2008, taken at last Sunday´s Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.
`We are really happy to have Nicky join us,´ declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding Product Director. `We are certain that his never-say-die attitude, riding style and character will be great additions to our team in 2009.´
The `Kentucky Kid´ will have his first chance to ride the Desmosedici GP9 after the final race of the season at Valencia, the scene of his 2006 title triumph. He has received special clearance from HRC to make the seamless switch. Domenicali thanked the Honda and outgoing Ducati rider Marco Melandri in the short statement
` I would like to thank HRC for allowing Nicky to start testing our bike immediately after the Valencia Grand Prix. I would also like to thank Marco Melandri for his professionalism during a difficult year, which was below all our expectations. Unfortunately his feeling with the Desmosedici was never good enough to allow him to ride as well as he can. We wish him all the best for the future.´
Hayden joins the squad after a long association with Honda, for whom he picked up titles in AMA Superbike and 990cc MotoGP competition. The Japanese factory issued a press release confirming Hayden´s departure, in which both parties expressed their gratitude for their time together. Like Ducati´s acknowledgement of Melandri´s tough time with their 800cc bike, Honda also made mention of Hayden´s own difficulties with the RC212V.
`We wish to thank Nicky for all he has achieved for Honda both as a rider and a man. Nicky and Honda have shared much success and a few disappointing days but in each case Nicky has always behaved cheerfully and has led the team in a positive way. His warm-hearted character has been much loved by all who have worked with him,´ stated HRC president Masumi Hamane.
`Nicky raced the 990cc RC211V with great success but since the technical regulations reduced MotoGP engine capacity to 800cc, both Nicky and HRC have tried our best but we have been unable to find the best balance between rider and machine necessary for Nicky to show his full potential, so we have decided to part company at the end of the season.
`We want to thank Nicky who always tried positively under tough conditions. We respect him for his brave challenging spirit. We wish Nicky good luck for the future with his new challenge. Nicky is a good guy loved by all, but also he is a tough competitor and I am sure he will be tough to beat next season.´
Hayden himself singled out Honda for praise, although he would not talk about the 2009 season just yet with four more races to go in the current campaign.
`(My time with Honda) It´s something I´ve enjoyed a lot. I want to thank everybody there, all the guys from tyre technicians to crew chiefs and all the way up. Sure, it hasn´t just been one big holiday, along the way there´s been some tough days but a lot of good days too,´ said the American.
`I´d just like to thank everyone, and the best way to thank them is to put up some results these last few races. That´s the plan.´
Suppo says Hayden `the best teammate for Stoner´
Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo has expressed his delight with the acquisition of Nicky Hayden for 2009.
Ducati´s confirmation of the season´s most exciting reshuffle –Nicky Hayden´s signing for the factory team- creates a formidable lineup for the Italian manufacturer in their quest for 2009 glory, and Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo sees his new acquisition as the ideal man to partner existing rider Casey Stoner next season.
Commenting on the coup for the 2006 MotoGP titlist, and his pairing with the current World Champion –something of an open secret in the paddock and press- Suppo declared:
`We´re very happy to have Nicky onboard. Everybody knew about it or was speaking about it for a lot of weeks! We are delighted to have come to an agreement with him. I really believe that he´s the best teammate for Casey and that he can do a good job next year.´
Hayden´s first encounter with the Desmosedici GP9 will come on October 27th, the day after the final round of the present season at Valencia, after the `Kentucky Kid´ received special permission from Honda to make an early switch. Suppo is confident that his new charge´s `rough and ready´ style will afford him homology with the Ducati machine.
`I want to thank HRC for allowing Nicky to ride our bike immediately after Valencia, and I am really looking forward to seeing him on the bike. I think that his aggressive and spectacular style will fit well with the bike,´ he concluded.
Aside from pairing two MotoGP World Champions in the Ducati garage, the addition of Hayden –and departure of current rider Marco Melandri- also means that the Italian outfit will not be fielding a `home´ rider for the first time since their arrival in MotoGP back in 2003.
Criville ready to ride again at Motegi
The 1999 World Champion Alex Criville will be on track at Motegi on Saturday on a Honda NSR500, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of MotoGP racing at the Japanese circuit.
Alex Criville will be back in his World Championship leathers this coming weekend in Japan, as he rolls out the Honda NSR500 once more as part of Motegi´s `tenth anniversary in MotoGP´ celebrations.
A number of former HRC riders are set to join Criville on track at the Twin Ring circuit on Saturday, with a series of demonstration laps on Honda machinery from the renowned museum at the Japanese venue.
Ahead of the celebratory events motogp.com caught up with ex-Repsol Honda star Criville to get his thoughts on remounting the NSR500 which he rode to World title glory in 1999.
What do you remember about that first race at Motegi in 1999?
`Well, the rain was crazy! Kenny Roberts Jr made a great start and Mick Doohan went after him, chasing him down. In the wet every rider takes the race as he can. That was the second race of the year and I wanted to be careful and not take too many risks, even though I wanted to maintain a good position in the World Championship. I was fighting with Norick Abe and Sete Gibernau and at the end I crossed the line fourth, in my first race at Motegi and in fact that was my best result ever there.´
How does it feel to be getting back on a 500cc at Motegi? Are you looking forward to the celebrations?
`It will be amazing. To have that feeling of riding the NSR500 again and with Mick Doohan and Freddie Spencer will be a real pleasure. I guess it is like going back in time! It is superb that on the Japanese Grand Prix weekend we can celebrate the anniversary like this, with the Honda bosses arranging for the old bikes to come out of retirement in the museum and to put them back out on the track. We have to thank them for acknowledging the heritage of the sport like this and as soon as they asked me to participate of course I said yes.´
Did you like the circuit as a rider?
`The track is very good. It has two or three unique features which make it different. The back straight and the braking point at the end. The part just before you go through the tunnel which then brings you onto the last section and on which the races are normally decided. For me the first corner was really tricky, it is difficult to take it correctly. We have seen, and always will see, great racing at Motegi.´
Criville will participate in the tenth anniversary celebrations at Motegi early on Saturday afternoon, from 12.30pm to 12.50pm local time.
Can Rossi seal the championship this weekend well unless he falls off I think it's a done deal.
Anyway here some gossip from around the paddock..
MotoGP title battle turns full circle at Motegi
The A-Style Grand Prix of Japan is an opportunity to take a sixth World Championship for Valentino Rossi, and a return to the last chance saloon for Casey Stoner.
As the MotoGP World Championship enters the home stretch of flyaway races before its finale in Valencia, Twin Ring Motegi will host the fifteenth event of 2008 on 28th September, for the A-Style Grand Prix of Japan.
The 2008 title winner could potentially be crowned at this latest 800cc showdown and, in an about turn from this time last season, it is Valentino Rossi who has the chance of confirming the World Championship in Japan at the expense of Casey Stoner. Arriving at Motegi with an 87-point advantage, with the honour of being the winner of the most premier class races in history secured and on a four-race winning streak, Rossi needs only to finish fourth in Japan to clinch his sixth MotoGP trophy.
That does not mean that all is said and done, however. Last year Rossi conceded the title in discreet fashion in the MotoGP race, dropping down to thirteenth with a mechanical problem in a situation that permitted Stoner the luxury of not having to push for higher than sixth.
Rossi has only won once before at Motegi, onboard a 500cc Honda back in 2001. This year he can even afford a maiden victory in Japan for Stoner, whose return to Japan could see him conceding the title almost a year to the day after winning it.
Stoner may only have the slimmest of chances to prevent Rossi from experiencing his sixth MotoGP title, but he is still in the driving seat for the runner-up spot in the 2008 season. The Ducati rider has a seven point advantage over Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa, who is currently on a run of five races without a podium – the longest of his Grand Prix career since his first top three in 2001.
One rider who has stepped onto the rostrum in recent weeks is Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi´s Fiat Yamaha teammate. The Spaniard has regained confidence lost after a series of crashes to take two front rows and podiums in as many races, making him a dark horse for the runner-up spot and giving some breathing space in the Rookie of the Year battle.
Lorenzo´s perennial rival and fellow debutant Andrea Dovizioso finished on the podium at last year´s 250cc race in Japan, setting the fastest lap of the contest in the process. The future of his JiR Team Scot outfit, and as a result his own destination for 2009, is set to be announced at Motegi.
With their own teams for next season already established, Chris Vermeulen, Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden are separated by just 13 points in their quest for a top six finish in 2008. Whilst the former duo have renewed their contracts with Japanese factories Suzuki and Yamaha, respectively, a move from Honda to Ducati for Hayden at the end of the year has been recently confirmed.
Home rider Shinya Nakano and Alice Team´s Toni Elias complete the top ten in the category, ahead of Motegi racewinner for the last three years Loris Capirossi.
How Rossi can clinch the title at Motegi
An easy guide as to how Valentino Rossi can clinch a sixth MotoGP World Championship at Motegi – and what it means for his place in history.
Valentino Rossi is on the brink of taking his sixth MotoGP World Championship, with his first chance of confirming the crown coming next weekend at Twin Ring Motegi. The Fiat Yamaha rider is in a powerful position in at the head of the standings, with an 87 point lead over 2007 titlist Casey Stoner and a further seven point lead over third-placed Dani Pedrosa. Rossi has the situation in his hands, with a podium finish assuring him of the title - even if Stoner records a first Japanese win.
A rostrum for Stoner could effectively be a stay of execution for the Ducati rider, who at best could reduce the gap to 62 points with 75 still up for grabs, if Rossi fails to score a point. A runner-up finish for the Australian would mean that Rossi could afford to finish as low as eighth, whilst rounding off the podium would require Rossi to finish twelfth or better. Stoner taking fourth place would mean that just a point would give the Italian his sixth title.
Pedrosa will only become involved should he win or finish runner up; a Pedrosa win obliges Rossi to finish in the top ten, whilst second place leaves the Yamaha rider in need of a solitary point.
The rider who at Indianapolis beat Giacomo Agostini´s record of victories with his 69th triumph, Rossi will echo his Italian idol this year if he regains the title. Agostini is the only rider to date to have reclaimed the crown after a two year gap.
And the bragging rights that will come with a sixth title? Rossi will have exceeded the total number of premier class titles taken by Mick Doohan, and become the only rider ever to win the World Championship on 500cc, 990cc and 800cc machines.
Honda home race awaits Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa is feeling `quite confident´ as he prepares for Honda´s most important race of the year.
Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa will be upholding Honda´s honour at Motegi next weekend, and his wet weather work at Indianpolis could stand him in good stead in Japan. The Spaniard may be getting used to the pneumatic valve engine and Bridgestone tyres package debuted at Indianapolis, but he is feeling assured ahead of round fifteen.
`Indianapolis was an important weekend for us, with lots of work and with all kinds of different weather. That made it quite tough, but it did give us experience in different conditions, so we could learn about my new machine and tyres in both dry and wet conditions,´ says Pedrosa, who finished eighth in his first American participation of the year.
` I hope that we can use the data we gathered there to help us achieve a good result at Honda´s home race. I am feeling quite confident for the Japanese round. Motegi is one of those tracks that I like because the surface has good grip and not so many bumps.
Pedrosa is currently on a five-race run without placing on the podium –his longest since his first rostrum back in 2001. Previous form perhaps does not bode well for him, with collisions for the 22 year-old on both MotoGP visits to Twin Ring Motegi; in 2006 he bashed fairings with Colin Edwards on the second corner (he eventually finished seventh) and last year he suffered one of the most spectacular highsides of the season as the track turned wet. However, pole position last year indicates that Pedrosa has the speed to do well in Japan, and he may be aided by his trust in Bridgestone rubber.
`It is important to have good braking power and good acceleration from your machine, which means that the tyres are very important because you need to be able to brake late into the corners and accelerate strongly out of the corners,´ notes the 2007 World Championship runner-up.
`My favourite section of the track is the middle bit, climbing the hill towards the highest point. To achieve a fast lap you need to get your braking points absolutely correct, and the final section is probably most important for a good lap time. It's the kind of circuit where you need to use an aggressive riding style.´
Pedrosa has previously won at Motegi for Honda in 2002 and 2004, during his time in the 125cc and 250cc classes.
Stoner injury could lead to preseason absence
Requiring an operation on his troublesome scaphoid, Casey Stoner is likely to miss some of the preseason tests for 2009. There is also an outside chance that the World Champion will not complete the current season.
2007 World Champion Casey Stoner´s improperly-healed scaphoid fracture has been well documented in recent weeks, with the 2003 injury causing the Ducati rider pain during races and practices.
Such are the problems caused by the injury that there is a chance of the Australian missing the final part of this season, although this is an unlikely course of action. He admitted that his condition was not what he wished it was at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, and acknowledged that an operation was on the cards.
`I´m not 100% but I've got a few weeks to try and improve a few things,´ said Stoner. `I do need an operation, but we´ll race for as long as we can and try and do it at the end of the season. I don´t think that we will do the tests at the end of this year; maybe Valencia but I´m not sure.´
Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo revealed doubts about the true extent of the poker-faced professional Stoner´s injury at Indianapolis, taking a pragmatic approach to any possible operation in advance of next season.
`Let´s say that at the moment, it (the injury) is a problem in the races for Casey. He doesn´t speak too much about it, but we will be taking things race-by-race,´ explained Suppo.
`If the pain is manageable then he will finish the season, otherwise we will try and get something arranged earlier. At the moment it seems that he will be able to complete the year, but if he is operated on after Valencia then he will definitely miss the Jerez test –that´s not a big issue as he doesn´t need a lot of tests in which to understand the bike.´
If Stoner were to miss a chunk of preseason due to an old injury, it would not be for the first time in his MotoGP career. The current title holder had preparations for his premier class debut in 2006 hindered by a right shoulder injury, a six year-old ailment for which he had to undergo surgery. At the beginning of 2008 he suffered a crash at Jerez, injuring his collarbone and missing a chunk of the testing schedule.
Hayden joins Ducati for 2009
Nicky Hayden has been confirmed as Ducati factory rider for next season, in a deal announced on Monday.
2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden has been officially announced as a Ducati rider for next season, joining current titlist Casey Stoner in the Italian manufacturer´s star-studded factory team lineup.
The announcement follows Hayden´s first podium of 2008, taken at last Sunday´s Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.
`We are really happy to have Nicky join us,´ declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO and Ducati Motor Holding Product Director. `We are certain that his never-say-die attitude, riding style and character will be great additions to our team in 2009.´
The `Kentucky Kid´ will have his first chance to ride the Desmosedici GP9 after the final race of the season at Valencia, the scene of his 2006 title triumph. He has received special clearance from HRC to make the seamless switch. Domenicali thanked the Honda and outgoing Ducati rider Marco Melandri in the short statement
` I would like to thank HRC for allowing Nicky to start testing our bike immediately after the Valencia Grand Prix. I would also like to thank Marco Melandri for his professionalism during a difficult year, which was below all our expectations. Unfortunately his feeling with the Desmosedici was never good enough to allow him to ride as well as he can. We wish him all the best for the future.´
Hayden joins the squad after a long association with Honda, for whom he picked up titles in AMA Superbike and 990cc MotoGP competition. The Japanese factory issued a press release confirming Hayden´s departure, in which both parties expressed their gratitude for their time together. Like Ducati´s acknowledgement of Melandri´s tough time with their 800cc bike, Honda also made mention of Hayden´s own difficulties with the RC212V.
`We wish to thank Nicky for all he has achieved for Honda both as a rider and a man. Nicky and Honda have shared much success and a few disappointing days but in each case Nicky has always behaved cheerfully and has led the team in a positive way. His warm-hearted character has been much loved by all who have worked with him,´ stated HRC president Masumi Hamane.
`Nicky raced the 990cc RC211V with great success but since the technical regulations reduced MotoGP engine capacity to 800cc, both Nicky and HRC have tried our best but we have been unable to find the best balance between rider and machine necessary for Nicky to show his full potential, so we have decided to part company at the end of the season.
`We want to thank Nicky who always tried positively under tough conditions. We respect him for his brave challenging spirit. We wish Nicky good luck for the future with his new challenge. Nicky is a good guy loved by all, but also he is a tough competitor and I am sure he will be tough to beat next season.´
Hayden himself singled out Honda for praise, although he would not talk about the 2009 season just yet with four more races to go in the current campaign.
`(My time with Honda) It´s something I´ve enjoyed a lot. I want to thank everybody there, all the guys from tyre technicians to crew chiefs and all the way up. Sure, it hasn´t just been one big holiday, along the way there´s been some tough days but a lot of good days too,´ said the American.
`I´d just like to thank everyone, and the best way to thank them is to put up some results these last few races. That´s the plan.´
Suppo says Hayden `the best teammate for Stoner´
Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo has expressed his delight with the acquisition of Nicky Hayden for 2009.
Ducati´s confirmation of the season´s most exciting reshuffle –Nicky Hayden´s signing for the factory team- creates a formidable lineup for the Italian manufacturer in their quest for 2009 glory, and Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo sees his new acquisition as the ideal man to partner existing rider Casey Stoner next season.
Commenting on the coup for the 2006 MotoGP titlist, and his pairing with the current World Champion –something of an open secret in the paddock and press- Suppo declared:
`We´re very happy to have Nicky onboard. Everybody knew about it or was speaking about it for a lot of weeks! We are delighted to have come to an agreement with him. I really believe that he´s the best teammate for Casey and that he can do a good job next year.´
Hayden´s first encounter with the Desmosedici GP9 will come on October 27th, the day after the final round of the present season at Valencia, after the `Kentucky Kid´ received special permission from Honda to make an early switch. Suppo is confident that his new charge´s `rough and ready´ style will afford him homology with the Ducati machine.
`I want to thank HRC for allowing Nicky to ride our bike immediately after Valencia, and I am really looking forward to seeing him on the bike. I think that his aggressive and spectacular style will fit well with the bike,´ he concluded.
Aside from pairing two MotoGP World Champions in the Ducati garage, the addition of Hayden –and departure of current rider Marco Melandri- also means that the Italian outfit will not be fielding a `home´ rider for the first time since their arrival in MotoGP back in 2003.
Criville ready to ride again at Motegi
The 1999 World Champion Alex Criville will be on track at Motegi on Saturday on a Honda NSR500, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of MotoGP racing at the Japanese circuit.
Alex Criville will be back in his World Championship leathers this coming weekend in Japan, as he rolls out the Honda NSR500 once more as part of Motegi´s `tenth anniversary in MotoGP´ celebrations.
A number of former HRC riders are set to join Criville on track at the Twin Ring circuit on Saturday, with a series of demonstration laps on Honda machinery from the renowned museum at the Japanese venue.
Ahead of the celebratory events motogp.com caught up with ex-Repsol Honda star Criville to get his thoughts on remounting the NSR500 which he rode to World title glory in 1999.
What do you remember about that first race at Motegi in 1999?
`Well, the rain was crazy! Kenny Roberts Jr made a great start and Mick Doohan went after him, chasing him down. In the wet every rider takes the race as he can. That was the second race of the year and I wanted to be careful and not take too many risks, even though I wanted to maintain a good position in the World Championship. I was fighting with Norick Abe and Sete Gibernau and at the end I crossed the line fourth, in my first race at Motegi and in fact that was my best result ever there.´
How does it feel to be getting back on a 500cc at Motegi? Are you looking forward to the celebrations?
`It will be amazing. To have that feeling of riding the NSR500 again and with Mick Doohan and Freddie Spencer will be a real pleasure. I guess it is like going back in time! It is superb that on the Japanese Grand Prix weekend we can celebrate the anniversary like this, with the Honda bosses arranging for the old bikes to come out of retirement in the museum and to put them back out on the track. We have to thank them for acknowledging the heritage of the sport like this and as soon as they asked me to participate of course I said yes.´
Did you like the circuit as a rider?
`The track is very good. It has two or three unique features which make it different. The back straight and the braking point at the end. The part just before you go through the tunnel which then brings you onto the last section and on which the races are normally decided. For me the first corner was really tricky, it is difficult to take it correctly. We have seen, and always will see, great racing at Motegi.´
Criville will participate in the tenth anniversary celebrations at Motegi early on Saturday afternoon, from 12.30pm to 12.50pm local time.
