Thread: MOTOGP

01 - 03 April 2011
Moto Grand Prix of Spain
Circuito de Jerez, Jerez

Stoner fastest overall, already under Jerez lap record
Friday, 1 April 2011

It was once again a Repsol Honda Team one-two after the first day of running for the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend with Casey Stoner setting the fastest combined time from the two practice sessions ahead of Dani Pedrosa.

In the morning session, Stoner and Pedrosa were the only two riders to lap faster than the existing lap record, set by Pedrosa in 2010, and after only 45 minutes on track the pair were just 0.3seconds from last year’s pole time.

Race times Thailand.

125cc 16:00

Moto2 17:15

MotoGP 19:00

That podium was a real gift to Nicky- five guys ahead of him crashed- he was glad to get it, though.

Wildest race in years.

Lorenzo reigns in Spain
Sunday, 3 April 2011

Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) took victory in the wet MotoGP race at the Gran Premio bwin de España after Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) crashed whilst leading. It was a Spanish one-two with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) claiming second position and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) in third.



The current MotoGP World Champion started from the front row and was able to pick up 25 points and claim his first victory of the 2011 season at the Gran Premio bwin de España. This result was his second successive win at the Andalusian circuit and a replica one-two with Pedrosa. The Mallorcan finished a clear 13.256s over his fellow compatriot after a chaotic race which was unpredictable until the very last lap.
In a race which was run in wet conditions, making it very slippery, Simoncelli was on his way to his first victory in the premier class with a three second advantage over Lorenzo. The Italian suffered a nasty highside at turn one, losing a potential debut win. Pedrosa had made a tentative start to his race but managed to get back in the hunt for the win. Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) had passed the Spaniard for second in the dying laps, but made a mistake and ended up in the gravel, losing 20 points.

It was the same story for Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) who due to Spies’ error, was on course to take a rostrum place behind Pedrosa. However the American also ended up visiting the gravel trap and was unable to restart. It was Hayden who finished in third to take the first podium for Ducati Team this season and his second of his career with the team.

Qatar race winner Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) was victim to a mistake from Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) which ended his race prematurely. The Ducati rider who started from 12th, was up to fourth within the early laps and then joined the leading group. After passing Lorenzo, Stoner was his next target and as he made his manoeuvre on the Australian, he made it through on the inside and then lost control of his bike. His error caused a collision with Stoner, sending them both off. The Repsol Honda rider was unable to restart his bike, whilst the Italian was able to continue, albeit further down the field. Due to incidents further ahead, Rossi picked up 11 points for fifth place.

Truly a bizarre race [MOTO GP].
Been a long time since anything as dramatic as the last few laps as I can recall.
At least Nicky Hayden gets to stand on the rostrum once in a season!
Colin Edwards must be wondering if someone up there dosn,t like him.
Rotten luck on his part.
Well done Bradley Smith on his 4th place in the MOTO 2 race I thought he was on to a win at the
start! Keep it up!

Rossi getting back on and finishing 5th (what a competitor) only added insult to Casey's injury.

short youtube clip here of the Rossi/Stoner 'meeting'; all very slow-motion looking

and one from the past, Mick Doohan

Grand Prix legend Mick Doohan to ride the Isle of Man TT Mountain course



Grand Prix legend Mick Doohan will ride the iconic Mountain course during the 2011 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy.

The five-times 500cc World Champion will complete a lap of the course alongside Ian Hutchinson – who won all five solo TT races in 2010 – on June 8. Doohan will ride a Honda Fireblade during the Arai parade lap.

The Australian is one of the most successful racers in Grand Prix history, securing the 500cc World Championship in five consecutive years between 1994 and 1998. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight and Valentino Rossi with seven have scored more premier class world crowns.

Doohan, riding for Honda, dominated Grand Prix racing in the 1990s. Notably in 1997 he won 12 out of 15 races, finished second in two more and crashed out of the final event of the season while leading by more than six seconds.

Originally Posted by yortyiam

Well done Bradley Smith on his 4th place in the MOTO 2 race I thought he was on to a win at the
start! Keep it up!

I like the Moto2, and the madness of 40 bikes on the grid.
Thailand's Ratthapark Wilairot was 12th, 4 points, but good just to complete the race he crashed out in Qatar and is still getting rehab for major injuries he got in a bike accident (he was pillion) here in Thailand at Xmas-time.
I'd say unless he performs well this year Honda will drop him, he did OK in the 250 class but last year's 22nd overall in M2 is not good enough


a long break now to Estoril, Portugal on 1 May.

I don't know, Casey- he's got you 7-1:

MotoGP marshals favoured Rossi, says angry Stoner



MADRID | Mon Apr 4, 2011

(Reuters) - Angry Australian Casey Stoner accused MotoGP marshals of regularly favouring Valentino Rossi after he and the Italian great collided at a wet Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

Rossi's Ducati slid into Stoner's Honda at the Jerez circuit while fighting for second place with 20 laps remaining in a race full of incident that was eventually won by Spain's world champion Jorge Lorenzo.

While marshals helped the Italian remount and return to the action, finishing fifth, Stoner was forced to retire and lost the overall MotoGP lead when he could not get the Honda push-started.

"I think if we'd got over the hill with more people pushing, there's a good chance we could've started the bike," the autosport.com website quoted Stoner as saying.

"When I looked back I had like one guy pushing me, all the rest were walking back to their posts... What am I supposed to do with that?

"This is something that riders who are against Valentino have had to learn to deal with. It's completely unfair, but it's something that's happened to me in the past when I've crashed," added the 2007 world champion.

"I've had people pushing my bike off the track - even when it's perfect and I can still race. I've had to fight with marshals to get them to try and get me started again.

"This was a racing incident, just him losing the talent in this corner. It's disappointing for me, but for me the worst was the marshals not helping me and to completely forget me like I'm nothing, and then trying to push me off the bike basically," said the 25-year-old.

Stoner, who has started both races this season on pole position and won the opener in Qatar, said the issue needed to be addressed even if he saw no point in going to the authorities himself.

"I'd like to see something done about it, not just for me but for other riders," he declared.

"I just think it's completely unfair. There's not enough consistency in the marshalling all around the world. There's got to be consistency with everyone, not hampering someone's race just because of popularity."

"I don't go to the safety commission anymore," he added. "It's like knocking your head against a wall. Nothing happens.

"You put a lot of effort in for nothing in that safety commission. There are just certain people they listen to, certain people who complain about small things."

Rossi did go to see the Australian after the race to apologise, although even that did not placate the Honda rider who felt the nine times world champion had made too much of a public show of it.

"I would prefer it if Valentino did it away from the cameras and would say something to me quietly without always having to have proof," he told the official motogp.com website.

"Valentino doesn't do this for himself, he just wants to show to everybody that he has apologised."

Ratthapark 'can gain podium finish'
Published: 5/04/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Sports

Moto2 rider Ratthapark Wilairot still believes that he can claim his career first podium finish.

The Thai had a decent performance at Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. He started in 31st position and finished 12th to claim his first four points of the season.

Ratthapark's best lap was the fourth fastest among 39 competitors. He timed one minute and minute 54.365 seconds and was 0.074 seconds behind winner Andrea Lannone of Italy.

The only Thai in the World Motorcycle Championships said: "At least I finished the race and secured my first points of the season. I now feel confident with my new bike. I believe that I will become better and finally claim my first poidum finish."

The Honda rider failed to finish in the season opener in Qatar. The next race will be at Estoril in Portugal on May 1.

it's along time till the next race, so . . .

an update on the Paris Hilton 125cc team


Sergio Gadea, Paris Hilton and Maverick Vinales

well at least they ditched the pink paintwork before the season started


Sergio Gadea was third in the first race of the season at Qatar on the Paris Hilton SuperMartXE 125, Vinales was 9th

But not so good at Jerez when they both crashed out on lap 8.

After 2 races Gadea is 6th overall on 16 points, Vinales 14th with 7
**************


Paris and friend in practice as backup team

Stoner crash to be investigated

The crash which sent Australian Casey Stoner sliding out of the Spanish grand prix last weekend will be investigated by MotoGP officials.
Stoner was taken out during the wet race at Jerez by Italian Valentino Rossi, who was attempting a rash overtaking move.
Both riders fell but there was fury from Stoner and others later when track marshalls pushed Rossi's Ducati back onto the track and ignored Stoner.
The marshalls could be seen en masse helping Rossi while Stoner was left remonstrating and appealing for assistance.
MotoGP race direction have announced that they will hold a hearing to discuss the crash, according to the authoritative motorcyclenews.com website.
Officials will meet with the clerk of the course and the chief marshal at the next round of the championship at Estoril in Portugal on April 28.
Rossi immediately walked to Stoner's garage and apologised to the Australian, who lost his world championship lead in the crash.
Race winner and hometown hero Jorge Lorenzo was also severely critical of the track marshals.
"There is no way that Valentino wanted to crash," Lorenzo said. "It can happen to anybody, it could happen to me also.
"Casey didn't do anything bad for this crash and he was riding very well and he didn't deserve this.
"Somebody told me the marshals helped Valentino and not Casey and this for sure I don't like.
"I would like that these things are done impartially and not like this.
"But in this moment the marshals are also nervous and it is difficult to react in the perfect way sometimes," Lorenzo said.

Successful operation for Pedrosa

Wednesday, 6 April 2011
The Repsol Honda rider had the titanium plate and screws fixed to his collarbone removed during surgery in Barcelona.


Dani Pedrosa has undergone successful surgery at Teknon Medical Centre, in Barcelona, to decompress his left subclavian artery and is expected to recover satisfactorily. The intervention was performed by Dr. César García-Madrid, vascular surgeon, and Dr. Joaquim Casañas, trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, both specialists at Teknon.
In order to release the arterial compression, the titanium plate and the screws fixed to the collarbone have been removed. The subclavian artery has also been separated from the fibrotic tissues that surrounded costoclavicular space. At the same time, intraoperative angiography by minimally invasive transfemoral approach confirmed the return of the subclavian flow.
The medical checks performed last week at Institut Vascular Sala Planell, including several physical tests and four dimensional CT with contrast in specific positions, confirmed that the symptoms of pain, numbness and lack of strength in Dani’s left arm were due to compression of the subclavian artery secondary to the collarbone fracture.
Dani Pedrosa will remain in hospital for a further 48 hours to continue treatment with analgesia and anti-inflammatories. Next week he will visit the doctors again to determine his rehabilitation, in order to participate in the Grand Prix of Portugal, to be held in Estoril on May 1st.

Pedrosa was really a mess- you could see when his arm started to bother him as his lap times would begin to drop.

This four-week break was the best thing that could have happened for him.

^

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Texas to host round of MotoGP championship from 2013
12 April 2011



The new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas will host a round of the MotoGP world championship from 2013.

The track is due to be completed in June of next year in time to host Formula One's return to the United States later the same season. MotoGP already has two rounds in America, the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca and the Indianapolis Grand Prix.

The deal will see Austin host MotoGP for 10 years.

The popularity of the sport has increased in the US in recent years with 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden and Texan Ben Spies among the current field.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, chief executive of series promoters Dorna, said: "We are delighted to be adding the Circuit of the Americas to the MotoGP calendar. It's an honour to expand our Championship to Texas, which has a rich history of producing World Championship riders. We have had a wonderful and special relationship with [former world champion] Kevin Schwantz for 20 years and often talked about a mutual dream of increasing the popularity of MotoGP in the US and raising our already successful worldwide profile. Now we have realised that situation and are looking forward to this new venture together."

The 10-year agreement is a sign of our confidence and commitment to the future success of MotoGP racing in Austin," he added.

Estoril

(UK times)
Qualifying - Saturday, 30 April
125cc qualifying: 1250-1400
Moto2 qualifying: 1400-1500
MotoGP qualifying: 1500-1600

Racing - Sunday, 1 May
Moto2 live: 1110-1230
MotoGP live: 1230-1400
125cc live: 1430-1530



Circuit info
Length: 4.182 m. / 2,599 miles
Width: 14m
Left corners: 4
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 986 m. / 0,613 miles

One of the trickiest tracks on the GP calendar, Estoril combines long, constant radius corners with heavy braking zones, bumpy straights and a difficult chicane which was added to the back section in 1994. Its geographical position means that weather can be unpredictable, although its generally warm, dry nature makes it a regular choice for pre-season testing sessions.

San Carlo Honda Gresini Team’s Marco Simoncelli was quickest for the second practice for the bwin Grande Prémio de Portugal after also topping the timesheets in FP1. The Honda rider got the better of reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda). Rossi was 4th.

*************

and I think Casey Stoner should stick to racing, he is making a name for himself as a perpetual whiner these days; telling Burgess and Rossi to 'keep their mouths shut' won't make him many friends

28 April 2011

In a lengthy interview with Spanish sporting daily Marca, Casey Stoner admits he is having one of the best phases in his career to date. The Repsol Honda rider commented that he had been working throughout the winter primarily to get used to the RC212V before development started, and also praised his rivals.

Stoner also responded to criticisms from Jeremy Burgess and Valentino Rossi after their move to Ducati, when “they did not know the real potential of the bike because I had not pushed it to the limit, and other things. Or Jeremy saying that only 18 seconds were needed to adjust the bike because it had a very simple setting. They’ve taken months and months with the bike and haven’t improved it. For me, they have to keep their mouths shut because they have not figured out how to ride this bike.”

and more here
Pedrosa positive, Stoner and Dovizioso unhappy