Moto GP

[Rev004]

The Mugellon MotoGp is only a few days away and once again we get to see the boys go at it again.
If the leader board stays as close as it is now we are in for one hell of a year especially when it it gets close to the end of the year.

Anyway in the mean time here's some more light reading for those interested.

MotoGP front slick tyre choices increased
Thursday, 21 May 2009

Grand Prix Commission announces regulation amendment as of June 24th, 2009.


MotoGP riders will have added choice for their front slick tyre allocation from the end of next month, the FIM has announced. Although the total number of front slick tyres permitted for a race weekend will remain unchanged at eight, three different distribution options will be made available. They are as follows:

3 of specification “A” + 5 of specification “B”, or:


4 of specification “A” + 4 of specification “B”, or:


5 of specification “A” + 3 of specification “B”.


From the FIM:

“During the preceding Grand Prix (or the official test organised by Dorna/IRTA, in the case of the first Grand Prix), the tyre supplier will inform the teams of the two front tyre specifications that will be available for the next Grand Prix. Teams must inform the tyre supplier of the number of each front slick specification required no later than 2 hours after the finish of the MotoGP race of this preceding Grand Prix (or 2 hours after the end of the final session of the official test, in the case of the first Grand Prix). This allocation request will be final and no changes are permitted after this time.”

The timing of the change in regulation means that the first available opportunity for teams to choose between the three options will come at the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya, when the decision will be made on the front slicks to run at the following weekendâ€s Alice TT Assen.


Toseland looking forward to Mugello after breaking flag-to-flag duck
Thursday, 21 May 2009

British rider ready for Italian round after wet-dry top ten return in Le Mans.


Despite the rainy nature of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship season, there were no flag-to-flag races last year. That meant that last weekendâ€s Grand Prix de France was a first experience of the two-bike scenario for seven premier class riders.

Amongst the first-timers was Monster Yamaha Tech 3â€s James Toseland, who placed ninth in the wet-dry race at Le Mans. It was a day of new experiences for the Briton, as he explained to motogp.com.

“We all knew that we were going to have to come in at some point, as the weather forecast said that it wasnâ€t going to rain again. After just two or three laps there was about two-thirds of the track dry and a couple of really tricky damp corners,” said Toseland on the decision to switch to his dry M1.

“It was my first time, and I even got on a bike with my right leg which I havenâ€t ever done before! I broke it badly in 2000 and could never little pee wee it high enough!

“It was eventful. The concentration level required was huge, and then to ride on slick tyres when the track is a bit damp was very tricky. You can see that by the fact that it caught one of the best out in Valentino (Rossi).”

After returning to the top ten in France Toseland now moves on to Mugello for the latest round of MotoGP action, at an eagerly-awaited Grand Prix for the satellite rider.

“It was my first time there last year, and I got my equal best result of sixth position. So Iâ€m looking forward to going there. Itâ€s a really amazing track, with what I think is one of the best layouts on the calendar,” he concluded.


Vermeulen uses hindsight on Le Mans change timing
Thursday, 21 May 2009

Australian admits that bike switch was perhaps made too late.


Chris Vermeulen is one of four flag-to-flag racewinners since the introduction of the format in 2006, and he returned to the scene of his only Grand Prix triumph to date last week at Le Mans. The circumstances were different for the Australian –the race went from wet to dry- but nonetheless he was back in pit lane changing Suzuki GSV-Râ€s during the French visit.

“The conditions were the reverse order of a couple of years ago, when we won here. Knowing when to come in was really a tough decision, and we probably came in a little bit too late in hindsight,” admitted Vermeulen after taking a season-best result of sixth.

“When youâ€re out there itâ€s difficult to know who is coming in and what tyres those on track are using. I saw Rossi come in and go back out on slicks. Then when I saw him go down I thought that it wasnâ€t the right thing to do. Weâ€ve got some good points and our best result of the season, so it worked out alright.”

The desire to gain an extra advantage led to riders mulling over the possibility of starting the race with slick tyres, although the timing of the sunshine did not quite lend itself to such risk-taking. Instead there were plenty of nervous moments as the riders went out on wets.

“There were sections that were completely dry when we started, and that was just cooking the wet tyres. Then youâ€d get to a corner that was soaking wet. It was a gamble, but in the end the track was more or less completely dry,” explained the Suzuki man, before looking forward to the next round on the MotoGP calendar.

“Mugello is going to be a hard one for us. The Suzukiâ€s speed is not the quickest, thatâ€s no secret, so the big long straight is probably going to hurt us. However, weâ€ve had a good result and are looking to improve upon it next time out.”


Step-by-step with Andrea Dovizioso
Monday, 25 May 2009

Repsol Honda rider reveals faith in Honda and analytical approach.


Andrea Dovizioso has been inseparably linked with Honda during his time in the World Championship, from his start in the 125cc class to his eventual progression to MotoGP. The Italian explained his step-by-step trajectory in a revealing interview with Honda Motor Company, reproduced below.

“My first full-size motorcycle was a 125cc Grand Prix bike, and it was a very traumatic experience,” says Dovizioso. “I was asked to race the bike in 2000 by Fiorenzo Caponeraâ€s team because I was the fastest kid in pocketbike. But a GP bike is too big a jump from pocketbike because it isnâ€t easy to ride; itâ€s so difficult to use the engine because the rpm range is so narrow. I tested this Aprilia GP bike three times at Maggiore during the winter before the 2000 season, and each time I went very slow. In the end the team said I wasnâ€t fast enough to race.

“Every weekend I play football, ride motocross and ride pocketbike, but Caponera told me I need to stop football and focus on roadracing. Iâ€d already had a couple of try-outs with local football teams.” But the enthusiastic teenager wasnâ€t worried when he was told he wasnâ€t fast enough to race the 125cc GP bike. “When you are young you donâ€t think like that, you donâ€t think itâ€s all over,” he says with a wry smile. “Within a week another team near my home gave me a bike to ride in the Aprilia Challenge, for 125cc streetbikes. I won my first race on the bike and then I won the championship!

“This has always been my style, ever since I raced in pocketbike. Itâ€s my character, thatâ€s all. Of course, my father Antonio [a keen club motocross rider, even now at the age of 55] helped me think like this. When you start racing in pocketbike your father is everything. He is your mechanic, your driver, your teacher, everything. Thinking hard is important in every sport, of course, not just in bike racing. Whatever you are doing itâ€s important to understand everything and to think about everything so you can improve.

“My race weekends are very different now compared to what they used to be in 250cc and 125cc. From eight in the morning to eight or nine at night you are always working on something, especially the electronic controls systems. However much time you spend thinking, itâ€s never enough, because you can always do more. In 250cc and 125cc itâ€s not like this.”

Doviziosoâ€s race preparations begin immediately after the previous race. “When I get home I watch the race on TV and study every practice session which can help me learn something new before the next race. At every race I give myself a target because it is always important to keep improving. At the moment I am working with a new team, so we are working very hard to improve my feeling with the bike and to improve the set-up. Of course, I donâ€t consider this to be real work, because itâ€s what Iâ€ve always wanted to do with my life!”

In between races Dovizioso keeps himself fit in the gym and on the motocross track. “When I am at home I ride motocross as often as I can. For me itâ€s the most fun. I love everything about it, from leaving home to go to the track to the actual process of riding. When I am riding my MotoGP bike you have to think very hard, you canâ€t just ride, with motocross you can just ride and have fun with the bike.”

When he does motocross, Dovizioso rides a Honda CRF250 and Honda a CRF450, in fact heâ€s spent pretty much the last nine years of his life on Honda machinery. He won the 2001 125 European Championship and the 2004 125cc World Championship on Honda RS125Rs, then twice finished second in the 250cc World Championship aboard an RS250RW. During his time in 250cc he turned down an offer from the Aprilia factory to ride its 250cc, which has dominated the series in recent years.

“At the beginning it was coincidence that I rode Hondas, but then it was my plan because I believe in Honda. When I was riding 250cc I had the possibility to go to Aprilia but I wanted to stay with Honda because I believed in them for MotoGP.”


Hayden talks Mugello, road bikes and preparation in new Shell interview
Monday, 25 May 2009

Ducati rider gives in-depth video interview with key sponsor and supporter.


Former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden began a new chapter in his career at the start of the year, moving to Ducati for the 2009 season. The American has been familiarising himself with the Desmosedici GP9 and his new team, and also collaborating with one of their principal sponsors in Shell.

In a new video interview undertaken with shell.com/ducati, available free on motogp.com, Hayden gave his insights into the MotoGP World Championship.

Race Preparation

“Every part of the weekend is important, I think that first practice on a Friday sometimes really sets the tone, how quick you make progress and you normally know by the end of Friday if itâ€s going to be a good weekend or not. Qualifying also on Saturday is really important, the level of competition in MotoGP is so important that you canâ€t qualify on the fourth row and expect to have a big result on Sunday normally, so itâ€s all important – every lap, every session youâ€ve really got to focus on it and get the most out of everything so come Sunday when it is time to race youâ€re prepared.Those meetings at night are just as important to make the right decisions with your team and to make the right steps to be ready to race.
“Iâ€ve got a routine that I like to stick to and I take the weekend really serious.Itâ€s not a game, itâ€s not there just to be hanging out and ‘oh if it goes good, ok if not, whatever†I take it serious and a lot of people expect a lot from you so itâ€s you know, some weekends are a lot better than others but for the most part I feel really lucky, really fortunate to do what I do. I love the racing; I love what I do, so the more races the better for me! Thatâ€s the fun part…”
Favourite MotoGP Circuits

“Every race is a big race.You know, the home GPâ€s in America this year, Laguna Seca weâ€re going to race July 4th and Indy also is huge, I mean MotoGP in America is growing a lot and Indy is very close to my house. Weâ€ve worked a lot promoting the race together. So thereâ€s those two and also the two Italian rounds – Mugello in particular, I think to be the Ducati factory rider, to go to Mugello itâ€s something that Iâ€m quite excited about. Itâ€ll certainly be a big sense of pride but theyâ€re all important – they all pay the same amount of points so you need to bring your ‘A†game every week.”
Ultimate road bikes

“The road bikes are getting really cool and the new Hypermotard by Ducati is pretty cool because itâ€s so versatile, I would have to say thatâ€s probably the best bike, if I had to go out and buy a street bike right now that would be the one.”
Biking Heroes

“I would say my all time hero is Bubba Shobert, he was an American dirt-tracker who went to race roadracing and won some AMA races and just started in GP before he had a career-ending crash at Laguna Seca. Actually the second year I won at Laguna I wore a replica helmet like his and that was one of the coolest moments of my life, to win a race in his helmet. But I respect all the guys, all the guys who came before me to really pave the road, to give me this sport how it is.”
Interview courtesy of Shell.com/Ducati.


Three-way fight headlines MotoGP Mugello return
Monday, 25 May 2009

Gran Premio dâ€Italia Alice takes place this weekend at famous circuit.


Itâ€s one of the most eagerly-awaited rounds on the MotoGP calendar, and this season there is a title battle equally as breathtaking as the Mugello scenery. The Gran Premio dâ€Italia Alice takes place this weekend to mark the fifth race of the 2009 season, with the top three riders in the premier class separated by just a single point.

Leading the World Championship for the second time in the present campaign, Jorge Lorenzo has sixty-six points to his name after a blistering start to the year. Victories in Japan and, most recently, France have been the standout results for the Fiat Yamaha rider since the beginning of the season, with a further visit to the podium making up the rest of his total. Only a crash in Jerez has blotted his copybook thus far, something rectified at Le Mans, and the Spaniard is keen to make amends for his 2008 DNF at Mugello with another sterling result.

Trailing teammate Lorenzo by one point, Valentino Rossiâ€s record at Mugello speaks for itself. Victory at the last seven MotoGP visits to the Italian track give the reigning World Champion an incomparable pedigree at a single circuit. Rossi has won in all conditions and on a variety of machinery at Mugello, but a win is never a done deal with the high talent level in MotoGP. The six-time premier class titlist is gunning for his ninety-ninth triumph and, most importantly, the leadership of the classification in front of his home fans. If any further motivation were needed, Rossi arrives in Italy following a last place finish at Le Mans.

Adopted by a section of the Italian crowd as one of their own, Casey Stoner is level on points with Rossi in a tightly-packed top three. Like his rival, Stoner also finished off the podium in France, meaning that no rider has stepped onto the rostrum at every race in 2009. A win in Mugello would not only be a huge psychological advantage for the Australian, but would also bring delight to Ducati and their fans at the Italian factoryâ€s home race. Stoner has taken a second place and qualified on pole position in the past two visits to Mugello.

Rapidly catching the leading group, Repsol Hondaâ€s Dani Pedrosa is building confidence and fitness with every race. He chased down teammate Andrea Dovizioso for a third consecutive podium at the last round, and has been one of the few riders to give Rossi problems at the scene of this weekendâ€s race in recent years. He is currently nine points behind leader Lorenzo in the classification.

In some respects, fifth-placed Marco Melandri is the surprise package of 2009 so far. Riding an under-developed Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR for the Hayate Racing team, the Italian took an unexpected podium at Le Mans in the flag-to-flag MotoGP race. However, despite his setbacks in recent years Melandriâ€s talent has never been in doubt, and the former MotoGP World Championship runner-up will be out to show as much at his home Grand Prix. He is currently level on points with fellow local rider Dovizioso in the standings.

The Gran Premio dâ€Italia Alice is also a home round for Rizla Suzukiâ€s Loris Capirossi and Pramac Racing rookie Niccolò Canepa, who both have extensive experience of the Mugello track. Capirossiâ€s laps have come over the course of eighteen race visits in his World Championship career –including a MotoGP victory in 2000- whilst Canepa was a frequent visitor to the circuit last year as Ducatiâ€s official test rider.

Only seventeen riders will participate in the first Friday practice session for the Gran Premio dâ€Italia Alice, as Sete Gibernau will sit out the event after fracturing his collarbone at Le Mans.

The race itself takes place on Sunday, May 31st, with practice and qualifying on the two days prior.