Moto GP

[Rev004]

Bruce Oh I'm sooooooooooooo sorry that so many people have come to rely on me for all the gos and up to date info but that thing called work has got in the way this weekend and a great job by the way for putting the results up from the first round of free practice see your can do it .

It was a little disappointing to see that Chris Vermeulen is without a ride at the moment for next season, I really hope someone picks him up.

So Bruce this is just for you even though you've probably read it already..

Pedrosa fastest in Friday rain at The Brickyard
Friday, 28 August 2009

It was no hurricane but there was rain on Friday afternoon as the MotoGP riders practiced at Indianapolis.

Best images of MotoGP FP1 in Indianapolis


The man setting the best lap of the opening MotoGP practice session of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix was Repsol Hondaâ€s Dani Pedrosa, who went round the 4.216km track in 1â€51.507s in wet conditions.

With the riders lapping more than ten seconds off the sort of pace that would be expected on a dry track, it was Pedrosa who adapted best to the conditions on his factory RC212V as he produced his best time on the sixth of just 16 laps.

Late charges from Pedrosaâ€s former team-mate Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and the reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) saw them place themselves in second and third positions on the timesheets, with times respectively 0.155s and 0.307s behind the Spaniard.

Like Hayden and Rossi, the Italianâ€s Yamaha colleague Jorge Lorenzo also produced his fastest pace on his final lap, putting himself fourth with a 1â€51.894 time.

Satellite pair Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and James Toseland (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) were fifth and sixth, with both hoping for good results this weekend as they attempt to secure 2010 rides.

The top ten was completed by Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki), home rider Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and Marco Melandri (Hayate Racing).

Aleix Espargaró got his first ever MotoGP ride in the session and did well to end up in 15th place, lapping ahead of Gabor Talmacsi and his temporary team-mate Niccolò Canepa.

Edwards feeling confident after day one
Friday, 28 August 2009

Home rider Colin Edwards spoke to motogp.com after the first practice at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.

Edwards comments on Friday Indy showing


Monster Yamaha Tech 3â€s Colin Edwards is desperate to get a good result this weekend at Indianapolis, following his nightmare 15th place at the inaugural Indy event last year, and things started solidly for the Texan rider on Friday as he lapped eighth fastest in a difficult wet session.

When asked to assess the grip levels on the varying asphalt areas of the 4.2km Brickyard MotoGP layout in the rain, Edwards noted, “The first part of the track looks mirror smooth, almost like glass, but the grip there is actually pretty good as long as you donâ€t hit any big puddles.”

“The old surface is obviously the best, then the little area from turns five and six is quite strange but the grip there is good too. So you have to just push and push, everything seems to be staying under us and I feel pretty confident.”

Having lapped in a best time of 1â€53.128 towards the end of the session on his satellite Yamaha M1 machine, Edwards reviewed his dayâ€s work, stating, “Well you start with your dry settings and you know what to do to make a wet bike. You tone things down with the springs and so on. Now we have to go the opposite way if the weather improves as we have got a pretty good wet bike, and we should be ok.”

Hayden hopes for consistent conditions for rest of weekend
Friday, 28 August 2009

Nicky Haydenâ€s biggest weekend of the year started well on Friday in the rain at Indy, but he wants more dry time on his Ducati Desmosedici GP9 over the next 48 hours.

Hayden looking forward to dry track time


Ducatiâ€s Nicky Hayden loves the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix, with the event being held within driving distance of his Kentucky home, and Friday was a good start for the former World Champion at round twelve as he placed second in the FP1 run.

Hayden was second at the inaugural Indy GP last year and he would love to achieve a similar result this time around, in front of his home fans, as he goes in search of his first podium with Ducati.

Reviewing the first practice, which saw him produce his best time right in the final seconds, Hayden said, “The bike felt pretty good from the beginning and after trying something new on the other bike, which didnâ€t work, we went back to the standard setting and went from there. The track was really tricky because there were sections with a lot of standing water and others where the grip was amazing - you had to be really on your toes.”

“Over the last couple of laps I just went for it because I knew I had a chance to be on top today and this is the highest Iâ€ve been in any session this year. Iâ€m up front with a smile on my face, so it ainâ€t so bad!”

Asked about the approach he will take for the rest of the weekend he replied, “If something unexpected happens and it does rain in qualifying or on Sunday we have got some great information, but we only have a little bit of dry data. It is nice to be wet because I can be at the top, but I really need more dry time. If it is going to be dry on Sunday we want it to be dry on Saturday so that we can get a direction because it takes me time to get on the pace.”

Fiat Yamaha pair reflect on good start
Friday, 28 August 2009

World Champion Valentino Rossi and his talented team-mate Jorge Lorenzo gave their thoughts after finishing Friday practice third and fourth respectively at Indianapolis.


For MotoGP title holder Valentino Rossi his job at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix is to try and repeat his historic 2008 victory in the inaugural edition of the event - and he started in good fashion on Friday at the Brickyard, as he lapped third fastest in the rain.

His team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was just behind him, as he has been so often this season, this time in fourth place, with a lap just 0.08s slower than the Italianâ€s.

Valentino Rossi - 3rd
“I sat out the first twenty minutes in order to save the engine mileage and by the time I went out it was very wet. Unfortunately the track wasnâ€t draining so well where there is new asphalt and in some corners it was quite dangerous with standing water and a risk of aquaplaning. This weather was unlucky but it wasnâ€t such a bad session and our pace and setting in the wet was quite good. We were able to improve the balance of the bike and if the conditions are like this again then we have some ideas to improve further. Luckily however it looks like the weather will be much better and so tomorrow we will start again from zero in the dry!”
Jorge Lorenzo – 4th
“This track has three kinds of asphalt and in some places the bikes looked like they were at sea! The riding style was very complicated to get right today, above all in the first two sectors, but anyway Iâ€m quite happy, especially because this is my first start after confirming that Iâ€ll stay with Yamaha next year and Iâ€m proud to be here. I felt quite confident today even in the bad weather but hopefully tomorrow the sun will shine and we can see where we are in the dry.”

Lorenzo outlines reasons for remaining with Yamaha
Thursday, 27 August 2009

Following this weekâ€s news that Jorge Lorenzo will ride for Yamaha again next year the Spanish star has revealed his reasoning for staying put.

Lorenzo on new Yamaha deal


He sits second in the championship in his second year in MotoGP with Fiat Yamaha and Jorge Lorenzo has decided that a third year with the team will suit him best, as he seeks to overcome his illustrious and seemingly untouchable rival and colleague Valentino Rossi.

Lorenzo had a serious offer on the table from Ducati for the coming season but has decided to stay with Yamaha as he continues in his quest to become the number one rider in the world.

“One important point was the experience I have with this bike,” Lorenzo explained to motogp.com in the Indianapolis paddock ahead of round twelve, as he revealed the reasons for his biggest decision since becoming a premier class rider. “Two years of experience is a lot and now, at this moment, I can ride the bike quite easily.”

Noting the influence of Yamaha Racingâ€s senior management on his decision making process Lorenzo also stated, “Another point is the confidence Yamaha have given me in the last two years, especially Lin Jarvis, who was key to my decision.”

Meanwhile, when asked about his objectives for the rest of this year Lorenzo replied, “Well, there are still six races to go and while there is a mathematical possibility and we have not lost the championship, we have to think we can still win. Itâ€s not easy, because Valentino has a 50 point advantage, so our goal is to enjoy ourselves and to try to get some podiums and victories.”

Suzuki and Capirossi stay together for 2010
Thursday, 27 August 2009

Suzuki Motor Corporation is pleased to announce that it has secured the services of Loris Capirossi for the 2010 MotoGP World Championship.


Capirossi will sign a one-year extension to his current Suzuki contract during the Indianapolis MotoGP this weekend. The experienced Italian joined Suzuki at the start of the 2008 season and has become a highly respected and influential figure within the Hamamatsu factory's racing division.

The agreement with Capirossi finalises Suzuki's 2010 MotoGP rider line-up, following the recent announcement that 24-year-old Spanish star Alvaro Bautista will join Suzuki for the next two years.

Loris Capirossi:
"I am very happy to continue working with Suzuki and everyone involved with the Racing Group and the team. I love working with my crew and feel really at home here. When I joined Suzuki I really wanted to win races and this is still the target. I love the competition and the challenge and my ambition to succeed is as strong as ever. We are 100% focused on developing the GSV-R into a race-winning machine and the improvements that have come through recently show that Suzuki is working in the right direction. I am pleased to have signed again at this time of the season as it gives me a great motivation for the rest of the year and an incentive to get the bike ready for 2010."

Paul Denning - Team Manager:
"Loris brings so much character, bravery and experience to Suzuki, and his technical input is invaluable. He still has an enormous drive and determination to succeed - we now have to react to his requests and give him the tools to be as competitive as possible. We hope that Loris, with the youthful exuberance of Alvaro alongside him next season, will be a good partnership. Loris is a great team-mate but certainly won't want to be beaten by the younger guy so I am sure he will be fighting hard!

"This announcement confirms that Suzuki and Chris Vermeulen will not be working together in 2010. On behalf of Suzuki Motor Corporation and the whole team, including title sponsor Rizla, I want to wish Chris the best of luck in his future career. He has been a great asset to us and a true professional at all times - even when things have not quite gone to plan. We have had some amazing high-points with Chris - taking Suzuki's first four-stroke Grand Prix win at Le Mans in 2007 being the obvious highlight. We hope that he continues to have success throughout his career and trust that Chris, Toni (Vermeulen's girlfriend) and his family will always remain friends of the team."

Vermeulen on Indy and his desire to continue in MotoGP
Thursday, 27 August 2009

Chris Vermeulen will not be a Suzuki rider in MotoGP next year, but he hopes to use the Indianapolis weekend to secure an opportunity to remain in the World Championship.

Vermeulen previews Indy weekend and looks beyond Suzuki


With the confirmation ahead of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix that Loris Capirossi will continue with Suzuki alongside new recruit Álvaro Bautista in 2010, Chris Vermeulen is searching for a ride for next year as he strives to continue in MotoGP.

A good result at the famous American venue would do his chances no harm and the affable Australian had the following to say when quizzed about his future plans: “At the moment Iâ€m still unsure. It is clear that I wonâ€t be with Suzuki as I wonâ€t be staying there next year. I want to stay in the MotoGP paddock and we are talking with some teams at the moment, but things are not decided yet and hopefully I will know a lot more after this weekend. The teams are private teams, but we have to wait and see.”

A top five result at Indianapolis is certainly within Vermeulenâ€s capabilities, especially if the new chassis and engine on the GSV-R can be tuned in correctly to suit the track.

The former GP winner previewed the weekend saying, “We are at a very special place. The first time we came here last year the weather had a big effect. But we would love to step back on to the podium again because it has been more than a year since we did so. We had a very good test at Brno and we had some new parts there which we hope are going to help us here.”