Lorenzo: Yamaha eager to beat Rossi

Jorge Lorenzo says Valentino Rossi's move to Ducati gives him and Yamaha "great motivation" to beat his current team-mate in 2011.

Rossi has signed a two-year deal with the Italian manufacturer and Lorenzo is eager to show that he can defeat the seven-time MotoGP world champion.

"Yamaha will do its maximum to beat him; more speed and engine power will be needed but we will work harder than ever," said Lorenzo. "Next season will be a very interesting championship."

The Spaniard has shared a difficult relationship with the Rossi as team-mates, with a wall separating the riders in the Yamaha garage.

"I didn't like the wall," Lorenzo said. "I would have expected more of the Rossi from the human side, rather than a bigger exchange of technical information. He unintentionally made me a favour, however, because he has made my team even closer together, and I now go even better since I don't have access to his telemetry.

"I've never felt nervous about the idea of fighting against Rossi. I knew I had to learn, improve and work hard. I've watched the races on TV since I was 10 and have learnt something from riders in every class. From Valentino I've learnt how to manage the race on and off the track much better."

Rossi will be replaced at the factory Yamaha team by current Tech 3 rider Ben Spies next year, and Lorenzo predicts that his relationship with the American will be less volatile.

"I can feel we will have a good relationship with Ben," he said. "Perhaps we won't be best friends, but there won't be a wall in the garage and we won't keep our telemetries secret."

READ MORE - Lorenzo: Yamaha eager to beat Rossi

APRILIA: "NO INTENTION" OF JOINING MOTOGP

EVER since it was announced that the MotoGP class would go to 1000cc engines in 2012, there have been rumours - perhaps wishful thinking is a better term - that Aprilia would join the party in 2012 with a racer based on the RSV4.

It is no secret that Dorna, the commercial rights holders for the MotoGP series, is desparate to attract more than the four is currently has. Ducati will be propping up the class to a major extent in 2011, with six riders on its 80cc V4s, while Honda will have five riders, Yamaha four and Suzuki two (or perhaps just one if rumours are to be believed).

Meantime there are six manufacturers represented in the Superbike class and with suggestions that this year's championship-winning V4 Aprilia is a MotoGP bike in disguise, there has been talk of the Italian manufacturer switching to MotoGP.

Evern former World 500 Champion Wayne Gardner in his regular column has said: "I'll bet my bottom dollar on it."

However, if anyone has taken Wayne up on this, they could be soon in the position of extracting a few dollars from the notoriously tight-fisted Aussie.

That's because Piaggi Group CEO Roberto Colaninno said, "at this moment, we have no intention of doing that," when asked at a presentation to financial analysts if Aprilia had any plans to return to MotoGP.

Of course, the key words here are "at this moment."

Aprilia has a distinguished record in grand prix racing, and recently overtook the legendary MV Agusta in race wins. However those wins were in the 125 and 250cc classes. Its efforts in the 500 class, and the MotoGP class that followed it, are not nearly so impressive. It fielded a 400cc V-twin, that while nimble, was outgunned by the four-cylinder 500cc two-strokes. It also tried its hand with what came to be known as the ill-fated RS3 Cube, a motorcycle powered by a three-cylinder Cosworth developed engine that proved unrideable.

But that was under Ivano Beggio's leadership. And it was in this period the company ran into financial difficulties and was eventually bought by the Piaggio Group.

There can be no doubt that there will be plenty of personnel at Aprilia who would love to go back to MotoGP, but the management will be very wary of the collosal costs involved.

And when a company with the resources of Suzuki is questioning its involvement in MotoGP, and cutting its Superbike involvement, it seems unlikely Aprilia could afford it.

No doubt Colaninno's comments eased the fears of financial analysts, who will be worried about the effect a MotoGP foray would have on the company's finances.

READ MORE - APRILIA: "NO INTENTION" OF JOINING MOTOGP

Dani Pedrosa’s 2010 season so far

The Repsol Honda rider has had the highs and lows packed into his first in nine races, with the nature of his better results hinting at his capacity to be the main challenger to the Jorge Lorenzo in the battle for this year’s title.

Dani Pedrosa’s steady progress towards a consistent results this season has placed the Spaniard second in the Championship standings at the halfway point in the season, where at 138 points he currently sits 72 off the leader Jorge Lorenzo. The first nine rounds have produced some of the fantastic results for the Repsol Honda rider who has so far stood on the podium five times, winning twice, and his finer outcomes have been accompanied by some are frustrations too.

The campaign got off to an indifferent start for the Pedrosa with seventh in the Qatar, where he battled with set-up issues that had carried over from pre-season. Undeterred however he remained focused and the following round at the Jerez produced a solid reward, as he took pole position and battled with Lorenzo for the victory before finishing second.

The inconsistency which was to prove Pedrosa’s main obstacle in the early part of the season meant that he would place in fifth at Le Mans as he lost out on a podium finish on the final lap in his 150th GP start. Another strong response came though and this time it was a victory, from the pole position, at Mugello as the intense work put in by the 24 year-old and his team paid off.

A difficult next round at the Silverstone followed where Pedrosa crashed in qualifying and placed eighth in the race, but a succession of the constant results that produced the continuity he had been striving for then poured forth. Second place at Assen from seventh on the grid and then second in his home race at Catalunya paved the way to a second win of the 2010 at Sachsenring, where Pedrosa won a fight with Lorenzo for victory.

The first half of the campaign was rounded off with a first DNF of the season as Pedrosa crashed out at Laguna Seca whilst leading the race, but he remained optimistic despite the setback as he aims to then continue harnessing the aspects of his performance that have delivered him tastes of victory already.

READ MORE - Dani Pedrosa’s 2010 season so far

Alonso 'excited but calm' ahead of Spa

Fernando Alonso looks to impress as the F1 season resumes in Belgium

Fernando Alonso insists that he is both excited but calm ahead of the resumption of the 2010 F1 season this weekend at the Spain.

The Spaniard heads to the Belgian Grand Prix on the back of a pair of top two finishes in the races prior to the summer break, which has brought him right back into the mix in the fight for the 2010 crown.

With just 20 points to leader Mark Webber, Alonso heads to Belgium this weekend looking to narrow that gap even further and the double champion said he was excited about the weekend ahead.

“I really want to get back on track, but in a positive sense, without any feeling of the anxiety, but in a very calm way,” the Ferrari driver said. “I am happy that the return to racing means going to two particularly special venues which host the Belgian and Italian Grands Prix. The Belgian track is possibly the most appealing of the entire season, while Monza will be something special for me, given that it will be my race debut as a Ferrari driver in front of the Italian crowd, in addition to the circuit itself having played such an important role in the history of motor sport.

“I have a good feeling following on from the positive results obtained in Germany and Hungary. As the saying goes, we have to keep the momentum and that should be our aim in Spa, to ensure we carry on the way we started just before the holidays. The Hockenheim and the Budapest results were important not just in terms of the classification in both championships, but also for the confidence it has given us. We have to keep pushing on this way.”

READ MORE - Alonso 'excited but calm' ahead of Spa

Capirossi to announce Ducati return at 200th MotoGP?

Loris Capirossi is set to make his 200th 500cc/MotoGP start this weekend at the Misano, when he might also announce a return to the Ducati for 2011.

The Italian - a factory Ducati rider from 2003-2007 and a Rizla Suzuki rider since - is known to be negotiating closely for a seat with the satellite Pramac Ducati squad for 2011.

Misano, the last home round of the year for Capirossi, Pramac and Ducati, would be an ideal time to announce if a deal has been done. Capirossi has also been linked with the Honda LCR.

Capirossi - a former 125 and double 250cc world champion with nine premier-class grand prix victorious to his credit - hasn't taken a podium since Brno 2008 (his 99th in grand prix and also Suzuki's most recent podium) and is a disappointing 13th in the 2010 championship with seven rounds to go.

The 37-year-old will become only the second rider in the 62-year history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing to reach the milestone of 200 starts in the premier-class, behind Honda Pons former team-mate Alex Barros (245 starts).

Capirossi made his premier-class GP debut in the opening race of the 1995 season at the Eastern Creek in Australia and competed for two years in the class before dropping back down to the 250cc class for three years.

The #65 then return to 500cc in 2000 and has been in the premier-class ever since.

Below are some other facts and statistics relating to the Capirossi's career in the
premier-class:

* Capirossi has the fourth longest winning career of all-time in the premier-class: 10 years 338 days between his first win in the 500cc class at Eastern Creek Australia in 1996 and his last MotoGP win in Japan in 2007. Only Alex Barros, Phil Read and Giacomo Agostini have longer winning careers in the premier-class.

* Capirossi has won premier-class GP races on four different motorcycles: 500cc Yamaha, 500cc Honda, 990cc Ducati and 800cc Ducati.

* Capirossi is one of only four riders to have won in the premier-class on bikes from three different manufacturers. The other riders to have done this are: Mike Hailwood, Eddie Lawson and Randy Mamola.

READ MORE - Capirossi to announce Ducati return at 200th MotoGP?

Dani Pedrosa Youngest Riders MotoGP

Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa (born September 29, 1985 in Sabadell, Spain)

Dani Pedrosa Youngest Riders MotoGP

Dani Pedrosa Celebrate Winning

READ MORE - Dani Pedrosa Youngest Riders MotoGP

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa fastest in practice for the Honda

Dani Pedrosa, boosted by signing a new two-year deal with the Honda, continued his superb recent form by topping the practice timesheets during the Friday's running ahead of the inaugural Aragon Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old Spaniard won the last two races in the Indianapolis and Misano and he topped the first of Friday's two sessions near the Alcaniz, setting a best time of one minute 50.506 seconds.

The day's second session, added to the schedule, along with a third session on Saturday morning, to allow the riders to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings, was washed out by the rain with no one able to better their times from the morning running.

Casey Stoner, who will partner Pedrosa at Honda next year, set the pace during that session following a heavy rain shower.

Pedrosa's dominance in the morning saw him beat the Ducati of Nicky Hayden into second by a full four tenths of a second, with the championship leader Jorge Lorenzo third for Yamaha ahead of the other Ducati of Stoner.

Marco Simoncelli was an excellent fifth on his Gresini Honda, ahead of Valentino Rossi and Hector Barbera, who continues to impress on the Aspar Ducati.

Andrea Dovizioso, Colin Edwards and Ben Spies rounded out the top 10.

But the wet afternoon session saw Pedrosa struggle badly and he will be hoping that the remainder of the weekend is dry after ending the second 45-minute session way back in 13th place, a full 3.6 seconds off Stoner's pace.

The Australian took advantage of a drying track surface to beat Lorenzo by over half a second in the dying moments.

Hayden, who looked strong throughout both sessions, was third fastest in the damp with Rossi fourth and Marco Melandri fifth on the second Gresini machine.

Lorenzo, who leads Pedrosa by 63 points in the standings, was disappointed at his relative lack of pace in the morning, but was happier with how his M1 handled in the wet.

"We are lacking a bit of grip but I hope we can improve our setting more tomorrow so we can make another step," he said.

"Unfortunately it rained this afternoon but it was good to get the chance to try our wet setting and it seems our bike was okay in these bad conditions.

"It was good to have two practice sessions today; even though the overall amount of time is the same over four days, four separate sessions makes it easier to get to know the circuit and what we need in order to be fast here."

The new circuit met with almost universal approval from the riders and teams, with Tech 3 Yamaha racer Spies among those enjoying the new challenge.

The Texan said: "I really like the track. It has got some good elevation changes that make it pretty cool and the first couple of the corners remind me of Istanbul Park (in Turkey) on the video game. You know it is a fun track when you want to stay out and ride and that's how I felt today.

"I was pleased with progress in the dry this morning and I'm really happy with how it went in the rain."

READ MORE - Spaniard Dani Pedrosa fastest in practice for the Honda

Vettel: Points gap is not that dramatic

Sebastian Vettel insists the 24-point gap between himself and Mark Webber is not as big as it looks as he bids to become the Red Bull's first World Champ.

Vettel and his team-mate Webber are just two of the five drivers still involved in this year's title fight with the Webber leading the way on 187 points while Vettel is the final driver in the running with 163.

However, the German, who has claimed seven pole positions but only two race wins this season, is adamant the gap is not as big as it may appear.

"Whether I'm not 24, 25 or 30 points behind I still could not care less. The new points system scares people more than necessary," Vettel told the Bild.

"Many are not yet familiar with it and that a win counts for 25 points. If I was eight or nine behind with the old system where there were ten for a victory, then it would all look much less dramatic."

Vettel, though, has had a mixed season, coming for a great deal of cricitism as a result of two high profile accidents.

The first saw him take out his team-mate in Turkey while in Belgium he crashed into McLaren's Jenson Button.

But despite the complaints, which had McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh labeling him a "crash kid", the Red Bull racer says he has not once doubted his ability to win the World title.

"In peace lies strength," he added. "We are not panicking but continue to work quietly.

"I believe I can win the title and that is crucial!"

READ MORE - Vettel: Points gap is not that dramatic

Pedrosa excited at Aragón challenge

A new circuit and the continued chase of the Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo have the Repsol Honda rider in a highly motivated mood ahead of the weekend.

Dani Pedrosa is a focused man ahead of this weekend’s Gran Premio A-Style de Aragón where he will be going for a fifth win of the 2010 season. So far the Repsol Honda rider has already doubled his best-ever win tally in a season with his four wins to date, and with victory last time out at the Misano took his first back-to-back premier class successes.

At 63 points off Championship leader and rival Jorge Lorenzo the task that faces him may appear daunting at first sight, but the fact that Pedrosa has recouped 14 points in the last two rounds and still has 150 to ride for in the remaining six races paints a far more open picture.

This weekend will see the 24 year-old face off against Lorenzo on home soil as the World Championship makes its first ever visit to the new Motorland Aragón circuit, a track that Pedrosa scoped out back in July in a private test.

“I’m looking forward to arriving at the Motorland Aragón and trying the new track on the RC212V,” he said. “I did some laps in July with a Honda CBR1000RR street bike and I really enjoyed the layout – I loved the circuit. It’s very different to the ones we are used to racing at in the MotoGP Championship, and so it will be really interesting this weekend. The circuit combines fast and slow corners which are quite technical, and the last straight and finish line section is going to be amazing. There are also some blind turns where you need to look for the references outside the track. The facilities are very high spec and it looks like the fans are in for a treat at this race.”

Pedrosa has finished second to Lorenzo in both the Spanish rounds so far this year at Jerez and Catalunya, and arrives at Aragón with a renewed confidence following his recent dominant run of form.

“It’s always very nice to race in Spain and I can imagine that the atmosphere will be incredible; I’m looking forward to meeting the Spanish fans again,” he said. “The team and I also arrive in a very good mood thanks to the great job we have been doing and our good results in the last races. It will be a challenge for everybody this weekend and we need to make the most of the practice sessions – in this area we have improved a lot in the second part of the season. Our bike has been working well at very different circuits, so I hope we can also do a good job in Aragón. I’m really looking forward to this Grand Prix.”

It is not just Pedrosa and Lorenzo who are competing closely having both now taken 12 premier class victories in their careers. After the former’s win at Misano Honda and Yamaha have taken exactly the same number of MotoGP victories during the four-stroke era at 59 each.

READ MORE - Pedrosa excited at Aragón challenge

Stoner secures first win of 2010 at Aragón

The Australian tasted success in the Gran Premio A-Style de Aragón on the Sunday ahead of Dani Pedrosa, as Nicky Hayden scored his first podium of the campaign after edging a fine battle with Jorge Lorenzo for third.

Casey Stoner took his first victory of the 2010 campaign at the Aragón on Sunday, converting his pole position at the Spanish circuit into a well-deserved win. The Ducati Team rider finished 5.148s ahead of the Dani Pedrosa, with Nicky Hayden completing the podium for his first top-three result of the year after a magnificent last-lap overtake on Jorge Lorenzo.

Starting from pole Stoner held his position going into the first turn, but usual rapid starter Pedrosa dropped to fifth as the riders bunched up in the tight opening curve. The Repsol Honda rider fought back in the early stages of the race however to climb to second behind Stoner, and the gap between the two fluctuated throughout.

The pair were consistently fast for the duration of the race but Stoner managed to pull away towards the end as he achieved what was eventually a comfortable 25 points, with Pedrosa maintaining his good form in second.

There were battles all the way through the field and none more entertaining than that between Hayden and Championship leader Lorenzo for the final podium spot. A fearless overtake on Lorenzo by Hayden on the final lap delivered the American the honours, and ended the Fiat Yamaha rider’s record of having placed on the rostrum at every race so far this season.

Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) notched another impressive result with fifth place as he resisted the challenge of Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), who crashed out on the final lap whilst pushing hard in their contest.

Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) rounded off a tough weekend in the sixth place, whilst rookies Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) completed the top eight with solid displays. Marco Melandri (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and Aleix Espargaró (Pramac Racing) took top-ten finishes, whilst Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) escaped injury when he crashed out on lap 16.

Lorenzo’s advantage at the top of the Championship was cut to 56 points and he now stands on 284 points, with Pedrosa on 228 in second. Stoner’s victory lifts him to third on 155, with Rossi staying fourth and Dovizioso dropping to fifth.

READ MORE - Stoner secures first win of 2010 at Aragón

MotoGP Results 2010 – Silverstone

Race results from the British MotoGP, round five of the 2010 world championship. Hiroshi Aoyama did not start the race after he has been injured in morning warm-up…

1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 41m 34.083s
2. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 41m 40.826s
3. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 41m 41.180s
4. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 41m 41.397s
5. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 41m 41.577s
6. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 41m 43.138s
7. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 41m 48.508s
8. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 41m 49.396s
9. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 42m 2.0370s
10. Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing 42m 16.477s
11. Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar 42m 17.448s
12. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 42m 17.491s
13. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 42m 17.663s

DNF:

Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini

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READ MORE - MotoGP Results 2010 – Silverstone

Toni Elias MotoGP Fortuna Yamaha

Toni Elias (born March 26, 1983 in Manresa, Spain)

Toni Elias MotoGP Fortuna Yamaha

Toni Elias in Motorcycle

Toni Elias

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Jorge Lorenzo takes win in manic bike swap race

Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo took a stunning second win of the season in Le Mans today, negotiating varying track conditions and a change of bikes to lead from the first lap to the flag and take the championship lead. It was a doom-laden day for his team-mate Valentino Rossi however as the world champion slid off early on and then had a ride-through penalty to compound his misfortune.

With the track still wet from a rainy morning all riders started the race on rain tyres, with the mechanics readying the dry bikes in pit lane in anticipation of an early change as the track dried out. Lorenzo, starting from second, slipped a place at the start but had passed both Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa by the end of the first lap to take the lead. By lap five a dry line had begun to appear and a few riders chose to make early pit stops to change bikes. The 22-year-old Spaniard however was feeling comfortable and had an excellent pace on his Bridgestone wets and so he stayed out, constantly stretching his lead. In the end he was the last of the front-runners to pit, a gamble which paid off brilliantly as he was by then nearly 34 seconds clear and was able to rejoin the race in the lead on lap 13. Once he had bit of heat in his slick tyres the youngster put his head down and kept his nerve for the remaining 15 laps and he eventually took the chequered flag an impressive 17.710 seconds clear of second-placed Marco Melandri.

It was a day of stark contrasts on the opposite side of the garage, with Rossi forced to make an incredible four visits to pit lane. The Italian was in second behind his team-mate when he elected for an early bike change, coming in to swap onto his second M1 on dry Bridgestones after just five laps. The change went smoothly but the track was still damp in places and he went down on the next lap whilst trying to warm his tyres up. He returned to the pits next time around to swap back onto his other bike, with the rules stipulating that he had to keep one wet tyre with the second bike change, but a problem with his pit-limiter meant he was penalised for speeding on exit and forced to return once again two laps later to perform a ride-through penalty. His final visit to the garage came on lap 11 when he changed once again onto a fully-dry machine, but by then he was some two laps adrift and he finished in 16th.

Lorenzo’s 25-point haul takes him into the lead by one point and he now has 66 points to Rossi’s 65. Stoner has the same points as Rossi but lies third as the Italian has more second places, and Pedrosa follow in the standings. With just nine points separating the top four the next round in Mugello is sure to be a thrilling spectacle.

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 1 Time: 47′52.678
“Never in all my dreams did I imagine this situation today – winning the race and leading the championship. This season I have been much more calm and careful and so I was really upset after the crash in Jerez because I didn’t expect it! Today has made up for that though. I had a very good pace with both types of tyre and the strategy of our team worked perfectly. I felt happy to stay out on the wet tyres for such a long time and in the end I think we changed at exactly the right time for our race; there was some luck on our side but we were also strong, calm and careful and this paid off. It was the first time in my life that I’ve had to change bikes during the race and I was very nervous, but it went smoothly and I was able to rejoin in the lead. I’m sorry for Valentino because it was bad luck to crash, but now we are nearly on the same points and it seems like the championship is starting again! I want to thank my team because they were very clever today, I’m so happy to be here and to have won a third MotoGP race.”

Valentino Rossi - Position: 16th Time: +2 Laps
“I had difficulties from the start today and I really could not ride my bike to its best. Already by the fourth lap I felt that I was quite slow and that I couldn’t ride as I wanted. I decided to change bikes early because usually this strategy – being among the first to change the bike pays off. Of course I knew that I had to warm the tyres up a little bit but I crashed anyway in that corner because at that point the track was still wet and I just didn’t ride into it in a calm enough manner. Luckily I was able to make it back to the pits and I changed again, but the rule says that if you change the bike again then you have to use one wet tyre, and so this is what we did. When I started that time, the pit-limiter on my bike was not on and so I was given a ride-through for speeding, but by that time it was too late for our race anyway. We’ve had problems throughout the entire weekend with the set-up of the bike and today I was just hoping that I could stay with the riders in front and get some important points for the championship. Now we go to Mugello, my home GP, where I will perhaps be even more motivated than usual!”.

READ MORE - Jorge Lorenzo takes win in manic bike swap race

Melandri Back on Kawasaki in MotoGP

Kawasaki Racing's Marco Melandri testing in Valencia,
shortly before Kawasaki pulled the plug on their MotoGP team.

Kawasaki announces that after constructive talks between Kawasaki, Dorna and other involved parties, a new one-rider Team will participate in the 2009 MotoGP Championship season.

This decision was made after negotiations that followed Kawasaki’s January 2009 announcement to suspend its factory supported MotoGP activities due to the economic crisis. Rider for the new MotoGP team will be the Italian Marco Melandri.

The team will be equipped with Kawasaki motorcycles and supporting materials.

That Kawasaki has come to this new team approach is the result of on the one hand the need for a strong reduction of MotoGP racing investments and on the other hand the necessity to come to constructive solutions for all related parties.

The new team will disclose more details about its 2009 season’s plans on a short notice.

Courtesy of Kawasaki Racing

READ MORE - Melandri Back on Kawasaki in MotoGP

Marco Melandri MotoGP Road Racer

Marco Melandri (born August 7, 1982 in Ravenna, Italy)

Marco Melandri MotoGP Road Racer

Marco Melandri Standing Motorcycle

Marco Melandri Turn quickly

READ MORE - Marco Melandri MotoGP Road Racer

YZR-M1 (Fiat Yamaha Team)

Bike No. 46 & 48

Engine

• Engine type: Liquid cooled Crossplane crankshaft inline four-cylinder, four stroke
• Maximum power: Over 200 horsepower (147 kW)
• Maximum speed: In excess of 320 km/h

Transmission

• Type: Six-speed cassette-type gearbox, with alternative gear ratios available

Chassis and running gear

• Frame type: Aluminium twin tube delta box, multi-adjustable steering geometry/wheelbase/ride height. Aluminium swingarm
• Suspension: Ohlins upside down front forks and Ohlins rear shock, all adjustable for pre-load, high and low-speed compression and rebound damping. Alternative rear suspension links available
• Front/rear wheels: Marchesini 16.5 front, 16.5 rear, available in a variety of rim widths
• Front/rear tyres: Bridgestone, 16.5 front, 16.5 rear, available as slick, intermediate, wet and hand-cut tyres
• Brakes: Brembo, two 320 mm carbon front discs, two four-piston callipers. Single 220 mm stainless steel rear disc, twin-piston calliper
• Weight: 148kg, in accordance with FIM regulations
• Fuel capacity: 21 litres, in accordance with FIM regulations

READ MORE - YZR-M1 (Fiat Yamaha Team)

Race 17: Sepang F1 International Circuit

Sepang F1 Circuit - Polini Malaysian MotoGP 2009

• Race Date: October 25, 2009
• Pole Position: Left
• Track Length: 5,548 m
• Track Width: 25 m
• Longest Straightaway: 929 m
• Left Turns: 5
• Right Turns: 10
• Year Track Opened/Upgraded: 1997/1999
• Track Location: Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia
• Event Promoter: N/A
• Event Website: www.malaysiangp.com.my

2008 Winner :

• 1st: Valentino ROSSI, Fiat Yamaha Team - 43'06.007
• 2nd:Dani PEDROSA, Repsol Honda Team - 43'10.015
• 3rd:Andrea DOVIZIOSO, JiR Team Scot MotoGP - 43'14.543

Sepang - track information

Built with Formula One cars in mind, the long 5.548km circuit contains a variety of bends and undulations and a 920 metre start and finish straight which runs parallel with an almost as long straight which is linked to the main straight by a first gear left-hand hairpin.

The circuit is famous for its enormous grandstands, featuring hibiscus (the national flower of Malaysia) style roofs which dominate both straights and for the humidity and weather changes. It's always very hot and humid for the riders and teams and often in the afternoon very heavy short sharp thundery showers can fall, just to make practice, qualifying and racing even more demanding.
The Malaysian Grand Prix was first staged at the bumpy and tight Shah Alam circuit in Kuala Lumpur in 1991 and stayed there until 1998 when it switched for one year to Johor. In 1999 it was held at Sepang for the first time and Kenny Roberts won the race for Suzuki and repeated his victory the following year en route to the World 500cc Championship.

Technical information

Sepang circuit is one of the longest and most complicated circuits in the World MotoGP Championship. Sepang is one of the most challenging circuits both technically and for the riders. As well as being very long, the extreme climatic conditions make it very difficult tom compete here. An air temperature of around 38 degrees, a track temperature of nearly 60 degrees and humidity levels of more than 75% represent a tough challenge for all riders.

The Sepang is track which combines fase and slow speeds. In three corners speeds of only 60 Km/h are reached whereas on the two straights riders can reach in excess of 305 Km/h. There are sectors of the track where bike agility is crucial, but also other sectors where the bike must be very stable to be able to take corners at more than 170 Km/h. As is normally the case in this sport, it is impossible to find ideal settings with such differing demands on the bike so we must find a satisfactory balance to achieve a good result.

Suspension set up is complicated in Sepang. A series of hard braking zones would requires fitting of hard front springs, but since there is another bumpy section of the track where chattering is commonplace, springs that are slightly softer than are fitted to absorb this chattering. In the rear suspension the most important factor is the grip. Depending on the amount of grip at the track in the beginning, normally slightly softer springs are fitted to start off to increase rear grip. Normally, however, after the first day of practice, the level of grip increases, and a harder spring is fit in the rear to cope with the corners which are taken at nearly 180Km/h.

The gearbox set up is also a crucial factor at this circuit given the large gap between slowest and fastest speeds on one lap. A very short first gear ratio is used and the sixth is relatively long, near the 325 Km/h mark. With two long straights, which are taken starting in second gear and moving up to sixth, it is crucial to find the correct steps between gears. As an indicator of this it is worth bearing in mind that for 25% of the lap time the rider is on the two straights. The most important gears are second and third since all the corners except the fast '3' corner are taken in these gears.

The climatic conditions are extreme in Sepang the bikes must be specially prepared to increase the refrigeration efficiency of the engine. To achieve this end, radiators with larger capacities than normal are fitted.

Tyre choice again is important in Sepang. The two consecutive straights of nearly 1km each put an enormous amount of stress on the tyres, so much so that we have seen tyres quite literally explode in the past because of the high temperatures inside. The Michelin and Bridgestone technicians will have taken note of the performance of their tyres in preseason testing in Sepang.

Travel information
The circuit is some 5km from Kuala Lumpur airport and easily reached.

Sepang International Circuit
Jalan Pekeliling
64000 KLIA
Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 87782255
Fax +60 3 87831020
Google maps


HOW TO ARRIVE:

The international circuit of Sepang is situated as far off 5km Kuala Lumpur airport. Leaving the airport, following the City centre signs and then the Sepang F1 Circuit one.

From the Kuala Lumpur centre, taking the airport route and follow circuit signs.

READ MORE - Race 17: Sepang F1 International Circuit

Race 18: Circuit Valencia, Spain

Comunitat Valenciana - bwin.com Gran Premio de la Valenciana

• Race Date: November 8, 2009
• Pole Position: Right
• Track Length: 4,005 m
• Track Width: 12 m
• Longest Straightaway: 876 m
• Left Turns: 9
• Right Turns: 5
• Year Track Opened/Upgraded: 1999
• Track Location: Cheste - Comunitat Valenciana, Autónoma de España
• Event Promoter: Bwin.com
• Event Website: www.circuitvalencia.com

Valencia circuit information

It hosts the first Grand Prix in 1999. The tracks has several layouts, anticlockwise running with varying lengths, generating five right corners, eight left one and a straight 876 long.

Circuit de la Communitat Valenciana
Autovia A-3 Salida 334
Apartado de correos 101
46380 Cheste, Valencia
Spain
Tel +34 96 252 5220
Fax + 34 96 252 5224
Google maps



HOW TO ARRIVE:

Easily reachable by car from the airport and the city centre. Get into the A3 forward Madrid and take the out way at the km 334. then go on to the circuit.

READ MORE - Race 18: Circuit Valencia, Spain

Fantasy MotoGP Prizes

This is where knowledge and expertise really pay dividends. In 2009 there is more on offer than ever before. An Official MotoGP Scooter, Helmet, Jacket and Race Tickets are all up for grabs.

This year's prizes are:

A Yamaha JogRR MotoGP bike, the official paddock scooter of the MotoGP World Championship, awaits the overall winner of this year's game. Chart your progress throughout the season in our results section to check your position in the standings.


The 2009 overall runner-up will receive a MotoGP rider's replica helmet or the Official exclusive MotoGP X-lite helmet. If you are the lucky winner will you choose a Valentino Rossi replica design or the latest X-lite MotoGP? Whatever you choose you are guaranteed to look the part!





For the competitor who comes third in the Fantasy MotoGP 2009 there is an awesome MotoGP branded Alpinestars jacket to be won. Designed to the highest technical specifications the jacket will keep you safe, warm and looking good - IF you are lucky enough to get your hands on it!





The winner of each of the 17 individual rounds of the Fantasy MotoGP 2009 game wins the superb prize of two Grandstand race tickets, for the entire weekend at a Grand Prix of their choice.

READ MORE - Fantasy MotoGP Prizes

MotoGP.Com Fantasy Game : How to Play

Playing is simple, but firstly you must be a registered motogp.com user to play the game. Once you are registered and logged in, go to the 'Play Now' section and predict the order in which you think the first 15 riders across the line at the next MotoGP race will finish in.

To make your prediction follow the simple instructions in the Play Now section. You can change your prediction up to 15 minutes before the start of the relevant MotoGP race.

Whoever scores the most points at each round wins MotoGP Grandstand race tickets for the Grand Prix of their choice. Points from each round contribute to your overall score throughout the season, with the final winner in the general Fantasy MotoGP 2009 standings winning a Yamaha JogRR MotoGP bike. There are also great prizes for runner-up and third place overall as explained in our Prizes section.

You will be awarded points for each of your riders who finishes in the top fifteen. The points are distributed in the following way:

You will always receive points for a lower position if that is where your rider ends up. If your rider finishes higher than you predicted you will only receive the points for the position in which you thought he would finish, whereas if a rider finishes below where you predicted you only receive the points related to his actual final position.

READ MORE - MotoGP.Com Fantasy Game : How to Play