Jerez Moto2 Test Day 2 - Simon On Record Pace, Suter MotoGP Bike Surprisingly Quick

The sun came out, albeit a rather weak, wintery sun, for the second day of testing at Jerez for the Moto2 class, and all of the riders present finally got a chance to go out and put in some laps, rather than just the handful who braved the damp conditions on Wednesday. Fastest time of the day - and an unofficial lap record, beating the lap record set during the race in May by nine tenths of a second - was set by Julian Simon, the Mapfre Aspar rider setting out his stall for the 2011 Moto2 World Championship. Simon finished the day ahead of his fellow Spaniard Aleix Espargaro, the former MotoGP rider fast in just his second test on the Pons Kalex Moto2 machine.
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Dragon King Valkyrie by Whitehouse

Japanese custom shop Whitehouse has taken a stock Honda Valkyrie and turned it into the Ryuuzin, or Dragon King. Bordering on what looks like a classier take on the Judge Dredd Lawmaster motorcycle (crossed with a locomotive?), Whitehouse has taken careful attention to detail on this 700 lbs (curb weight) behemoth. Large and sinister, Ryuuzin is probably not suitable for the crowded urban streets of Japan, but the Valkyrie platform should provide a comfy touring ...Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

Another Special Pre-Sale Offer: MotoMatters T-Shirt V2.0 Now Available To Order

Cyber Monday is here, it appears, and the gift-giving season is nearly upon us. Those who are still casting about for something to buy their motorcycle-racing-loving loved one - or something to buy for themselves - could do no better than to get their hands on the latest in our range of MotoMatters.com T-shirts! This T-shirt is our tribute to the role that Japan has had in the history of motorcycle racing, and bears a Kropotkin Thinks slogan in Kanji. 
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Mercedes To Become Ducati MotoGP Team's "Official Car Partner"

That the marriage between two of the strongest brands in Italy, Valentino Rossi and Ducati, should turn into a marketing goldmine comes as no surprise. Even before Rossi's signing with Ducati was officially announced, rumors among paddock insiders suggested that Ducati had sponsors lining up to back their MotoGP program, and now that the new season is approaching, Ducati is starting to pick the fruits of that.
For yesterday, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, AMG - a high-performance subsidiary of the Mercedes Benz brand - announced that they are to enter into a marketing partnership that will see the German car manufacturer support Ducati's MotoGP project. The partnership will not produce much in the way of visible sponsorship on the bikes, for Mercedes is to be "Official Car Partner" to the program, rather than any form of main sponsor. The pair will engage in joint marketing activities, including allowing selected Mercedes owners to test ride Ducati's new Diavel machine at AMG events, while selected Ducati owners will be given the opportunity to test Mercedes vehicles.
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Adrian Newey?s Red Bull X1 gets built | F1 Fanatic round-up

The Red Bull X1 - Adrian Newey's 'F1 car without rules' - has been made into a real-life model.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

The complete F1 Fanatic gifts guide 2010 | Features

With the festive season nigh F1 Fanatic's got dozens of gift ideas for you and the other F1 fans in your life.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Sachsenring 2009 MotoGP race analysis

While the weather had produced torrential downpours thoughout the preamble to this GP, it stayed dry for the action in Germany. As the riders lined up on the grid, there was a real feeling of anticipation as Rossi and Lorenzo, so close through practice until that awesome final qualifying lap from Valentino, pulled up next [...]F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Norton In Talks With Inmotec Over MotoGP Engine Supply

The rule changes coming for the 2012 MotoGP season are generating a lot of interest from new manufacturers interested in entering the series. Current Moto2 chassis builders FTR, Kalex and Suter are all believed to be working on chassis for use in the so-called CRT bikes, machines based around production engines, while BMW and Aprilia are also rumored to be looking at entering the class once the capacity returns to 1000cc.
Shortly after the Brno round of MotoGP, news emerged that Stuart Garner, the man behind the resurrected Norton brand, had obtained two grid slots for the 2012 MotoGP championship. The company's plans, it was believed, revolved around taking the 1000cc four-cylinder engine which will form the basis of a high-performance sports bike to be introduced in either 2011 or 2012, and race it as part of a plan to promote Norton as a performance brand. The engines were to be built by Menard Competition Technologies, but rumors emanating from the UK's F1 corridor - an area of the central UK stretching from Aylesbury in the southwest to Leicester in the Midlands - suggest that Norton was having doubts about the rate at which engines could be produced at, and that Norton was exploring other options.
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Kovalainen unhurt after ?major shunt? | F1 Fanatuc round-up

Heikki Kovalainen was knocked unconscious after crashing at the Race of Champions.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Klien: H�lkenberg shows problem faced by rookies | F1 Fanatic round-up

Christian Klien points out how hard it is for new drivers to become established in F1.Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

WSBK 2011 Updates: Xaus At Ten Kate, Maxime Berger With Supersonic Ducati

With the 2010 season now long gone, the line up for the next World Superbike season is nearing completion. The biggest gap in the line up so far was the empty seat in the Ten Kate Honda garage, alongside Ulsterman Johnny Rea. There had been some speculation that Ten Kate would field only a single bike in the 2011 WSBK championship, after HANNSpree pulled out of the title sponsorship role, but that speculation appears to have been premature.
For Ten Kate announced yesterday that Ruben Xaus is to take the second ride for the Dutch Honda team, taking the place of Max Neukirchner, who departs to ride the MZ in Moto2. Xaus had been dropped from the BMW squad after a difficult year full - rather unsurprisingly, given Xaus' reputation - of crashes. Reading between the lines of the press release, it is clear that Xaus has been brought in to a development role, helping to bring on a Honda CBR1000RR that many observers believed had suffered a lack of development during the 2010 season.
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Cspeedphotos from Laguna Seca

MotoGPBlog has been following Dan Lo of CornerSpeedPhoto, (Twitter: @cspeedphoto) for a while now. He’s a talented photographer based in the States, and we’re honoured to feature some of his shots from this year’s Laguna Seca MotoGP round. In particular, the shot of Canepa at turn 2 is awesome. Thanks Dan!
Dan used the following kit [...]Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

Donington Added To 2011 World Superbikes Calendar

After the debacle at Donington, where an overly ambitious plan to raise 130 million Pounds Sterling to modify the track to host Formula One was launched shortly before the credit crunch sent the global economy on a downward spiral, it was feared that international motorcycle racing would never return to the Leicestershire track. The company that was running the track was basically penniless, parts of the track had been already dug up, and East Midlands airport, which sits at one end of the track, was eying the track for extra space to expand into.
But with the track lease now back in the hands of the Wheatcroft family, who own the circuit, things have turned around at Donington. The Midlands' circuit has been brought quickly back up to standard, hosting several local car and motorcycle events, and is now ready to make a return to the international stage. That will take place on March 27th, 2011, when the World Superbike series returns to Donington for the European round of the 13 weekend series. The Wheatcroft family and Infront Motor Sports signed an agreement which will see WSBK race at Donington for the 2011 season, giving the UK two rounds of World Superbikes, along with the Silverstone round on July 31st.
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Tipping contest winners: Donington 2009

It was a freakish race - one which I am still trying to get my head around, let alone write up!
Because of the unusual podium, points were scarce this week with many people striking out. Only one person scored podium points: @leighberwick with his 3rd place for de Puniet. How you picked him out Leigh, [...]F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Interview with Rick Broadbent

MotoGPBlog was lucky enough to catch up with Rick Broadbent, Times journalist and author of Ring of Fire. You can also read our review of his book, and while you’re there, pick up your copy though our Amazon store - see links at the end of the articles.

Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

Renault to revive young driver scheme | F1 Fanatic round-up

Renault are to bring back their scheme which brought several top drivers to F1.Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

Renault to revive young driver scheme | F1 Fanatic round-up

Renault are to bring back their scheme which brought several top drivers to F1.Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info Read More

Donington MotoGP tipping contest prizes

Great news! Enter the Donington round of the Tipping Contest to have a chance of winning a copy of Ring of Fire, The Inside Story of MotoGP by Rick Broadbent.
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
Top three scorers for the round (not overall) will win a copy of Ring of Fire.
The top two scoring Minellas will [...]F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Ducati ST1200 Concept by Luca Bar Design ? Teasing ST Owners Never Looked So Good

Ducati ST owners were less than thrilled to learn that their sport-tourer would not return for the 2008 model year, after Ducati sold just barely over 1,000 units of the bike in 2007. Adding insult to injury was the news that Ducati wasn’t looking to revive the ST brand in the coming years, leaving the Italian company without a proper sport-tourer in its model line-up. With the introduction of the Ducati Multistrada 1200, the Italian ...Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Ducati ST1200 Concept by Luca Bar Design ? Teasing ST Owners Never Looked So Good

Ducati ST owners were less than thrilled to learn that their sport-tourer would not return for the 2008 model year, after Ducati sold just barely over 1,000 units of the bike in 2007. Adding insult to injury was the news that Ducati wasn’t looking to revive the ST brand in the coming years, leaving the Italian company without a proper sport-tourer in its model line-up. With the introduction of the Ducati Multistrada 1200, the Italian ...Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info Read More

Kobayashi aims for zero mistakes in 2011 | 2010 F1 season

Kamui Kobayashi says he's hoping to build on his 2010 campaign with an error-free 2011 season.Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info Read More

Ducati "Not Worried" By Rossi's Times At Valencia

When Valentino Rossi switched from Honda to Yamaha back in 2004, he was fast right out of the gate, setting the fastest time of the Yamaha riders in his first test on the M1, then ending up 3rd fastest in an official test with all of his main rivals for the 2004 season. So when the Italian legend made his debut on the Ducati at Valencia, there was some consternation among the fans and the media about the fact that Rossi could manage only the 15th quickest time, just over 1.7 seconds off the time set by his now former teammate Jorge Lorenzo on the Yamaha.
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H�lkenberg tipped for Mercedes test role | F1 Fanatic round-up

Rumours suggest a reserve driver role at Mercedes for Nico H�lkenberg in 2011.Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Pirelli?s motor racing heritage | F1 video

Video of Pirelli's previous F1 appearances in the 1950s and 1980s, and their 2009 tyre tests.F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Donington MotoGP tipping contest prizes

Great news! Enter the Donington round of the Tipping Contest to have a chance of winning a copy of Ring of Fire, The Inside Story of MotoGP by Rick Broadbent.
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
Top three scorers for the round (not overall) will win a copy of Ring of Fire.
The top two scoring Minellas will [...]Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info Read More

Ducati ST1200 Concept by Luca Bar Design ? Teasing ST Owners Never Looked So Good

Ducati ST owners were less than thrilled to learn that their sport-tourer would not return for the 2008 model year, after Ducati sold just barely over 1,000 units of the bike in 2007. Adding insult to injury was the news that Ducati wasn’t looking to revive the ST brand in the coming years, leaving the Italian company without a proper sport-tourer in its model line-up. With the introduction of the Ducati Multistrada 1200, the Italian ...Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info

Poor reliability leaves Virgin last in championship | 2010 F1 season review

They were the first of the three new teams to test their car but Virgin ended the season last.Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

Mallya hints at new driver in Force India line-up | F1 Fanatic round-up

In today's round-up, Force India consider "new drivers" and Lewis Hamilton hits out at Twitter critics.Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

Gascoyne perplexed by Group Lotus row | F1 Fanatic round-up

Mike Gascoyne says he is perplexed by Group Lotus? decision to fight the use of the brand in F1.More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Ducati Diavel Pricing Confirmed

Confirming what we already told you last month, Ducati has officially announced the pricing on the 2011 Ducati Diavel power cruiser. With the base Diavel costing�$16,995, Ducatisti can spend an extra $3,000 for the Diavel Carbon, which costs $19,995, or purchase the Diavel Carbon “Red” (named for its red frame and rally stripe) for $20,395. Is the Ducati Diavel not your cup of tea? In an interesting move, Ducati has setup a feature on its ...F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Who deserves an F1 race seat in 2011? | Debates and polls

Which F1 drivers deserve a place with a team in 2011?Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Who deserves an F1 race seat in 2011? | Debates and polls

Which F1 drivers deserve a place with a team in 2011?Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

Oregon Enters the Great Debate ? Considers Lane Splitting

As a motorcyclists in California, we honestly don’t understand how the other 49 states get along without having lane splitting laws on the books, yet that is the case (for now at least). Although recently Texas and Arizona declined to adopt such provisions for their own motorcyclists, our cousins to the north in Oregon are contemplating allowing lane splitting. Holding an open forum at 6:30 PM tonight in Portland, the Oregon Governor’s Advisory Committee for ...F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Gascoyne perplexed by Group Lotus row | F1 Fanatic round-up

Mike Gascoyne says he is perplexed by Group Lotus? decision to fight the use of the brand in F1.Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

MotoGP Valencia Day 2 Test Times, Final - Stoner Fastest, Lorenzo Close Behind

Final times from testing at Valencia: 
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MotoGP Valencia Day 2 Test Times, Final - Stoner Fastest, Lorenzo Close Behind

Final times from testing at Valencia: 
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Mercedes To Become Ducati MotoGP Team's "Official Car Partner"

That the marriage between two of the strongest brands in Italy, Valentino Rossi and Ducati, should turn into a marketing goldmine comes as no surprise. Even before Rossi's signing with Ducati was officially announced, rumors among paddock insiders suggested that Ducati had sponsors lining up to back their MotoGP program, and now that the new season is approaching, Ducati is starting to pick the fruits of that.
For yesterday, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, AMG - a high-performance subsidiary of the Mercedes Benz brand - announced that they are to enter into a marketing partnership that will see the German car manufacturer support Ducati's MotoGP project. The partnership will not produce much in the way of visible sponsorship on the bikes, for Mercedes is to be "Official Car Partner" to the program, rather than any form of main sponsor. The pair will engage in joint marketing activities, including allowing selected Mercedes owners to test ride Ducati's new Diavel machine at AMG events, while selected Ducati owners will be given the opportunity to test Mercedes vehicles.
read more



Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Norton In Talks With Inmotec Over MotoGP Engine Supply

The rule changes coming for the 2012 MotoGP season are generating a lot of interest from new manufacturers interested in entering the series. Current Moto2 chassis builders FTR, Kalex and Suter are all believed to be working on chassis for use in the so-called CRT bikes, machines based around production engines, while BMW and Aprilia are also rumored to be looking at entering the class once the capacity returns to 1000cc.
Shortly after the Brno round of MotoGP, news emerged that Stuart Garner, the man behind the resurrected Norton brand, had obtained two grid slots for the 2012 MotoGP championship. The company's plans, it was believed, revolved around taking the 1000cc four-cylinder engine which will form the basis of a high-performance sports bike to be introduced in either 2011 or 2012, and race it as part of a plan to promote Norton as a performance brand. The engines were to be built by Menard Competition Technologies, but rumors emanating from the UK's F1 corridor - an area of the central UK stretching from Aylesbury in the southwest to Leicester in the Midlands - suggest that Norton was having doubts about the rate at which engines could be produced at, and that Norton was exploring other options.
read more



Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Donington Added To 2011 World Superbikes Calendar

After the debacle at Donington, where an overly ambitious plan to raise 130 million Pounds Sterling to modify the track to host Formula One was launched shortly before the credit crunch sent the global economy on a downward spiral, it was feared that international motorcycle racing would never return to the Leicestershire track. The company that was running the track was basically penniless, parts of the track had been already dug up, and East Midlands airport, which sits at one end of the track, was eying the track for extra space to expand into.
But with the track lease now back in the hands of the Wheatcroft family, who own the circuit, things have turned around at Donington. The Midlands' circuit has been brought quickly back up to standard, hosting several local car and motorcycle events, and is now ready to make a return to the international stage. That will take place on March 27th, 2011, when the World Superbike series returns to Donington for the European round of the 13 weekend series. The Wheatcroft family and Infront Motor Sports signed an agreement which will see WSBK race at Donington for the 2011 season, giving the UK two rounds of World Superbikes, along with the Silverstone round on July 31st.
read more



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Ducati "Not Worried" By Rossi's Times At Valencia

When Valentino Rossi switched from Honda to Yamaha back in 2004, he was fast right out of the gate, setting the fastest time of the Yamaha riders in his first test on the M1, then ending up 3rd fastest in an official test with all of his main rivals for the 2004 season. So when the Italian legend made his debut on the Ducati at Valencia, there was some consternation among the fans and the media about the fact that Rossi could manage only the 15th quickest time, just over 1.7 seconds off the time set by his now former teammate Jorge Lorenzo on the Yamaha.
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Alonso keeps Ferrari on top as Pirelli test ends | 2011 F1 testing

Fernando Alonso was fastest in the the final F1 test session of 2010.More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Tipping contest winners: Donington 2009

It was a freakish race - one which I am still trying to get my head around, let alone write up!
Because of the unusual podium, points were scarce this week with many people striking out. Only one person scored podium points: @leighberwick with his 3rd place for de Puniet. How you picked him out Leigh, [...]Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

2011 Pirelli tyre test: Driver line-up | 2011 F1 testing

Driver line-up for the two-day test on Pirelli tyres at Abu Dhabi.Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

Mercedes To Become Ducati MotoGP Team's "Official Car Partner"

That the marriage between two of the strongest brands in Italy, Valentino Rossi and Ducati, should turn into a marketing goldmine comes as no surprise. Even before Rossi's signing with Ducati was officially announced, rumors among paddock insiders suggested that Ducati had sponsors lining up to back their MotoGP program, and now that the new season is approaching, Ducati is starting to pick the fruits of that.
For yesterday, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, AMG - a high-performance subsidiary of the Mercedes Benz brand - announced that they are to enter into a marketing partnership that will see the German car manufacturer support Ducati's MotoGP project. The partnership will not produce much in the way of visible sponsorship on the bikes, for Mercedes is to be "Official Car Partner" to the program, rather than any form of main sponsor. The pair will engage in joint marketing activities, including allowing selected Mercedes owners to test ride Ducati's new Diavel machine at AMG events, while selected Ducati owners will be given the opportunity to test Mercedes vehicles.
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Jimfaekillie wins the 2010 Predictions Championship | Predictions Championship

Full 2010 Predictions Championship results.More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Rossi?s opinion of the Lorenzo negotiations

This quote comes from the Spanish language website elmundodeportivo.es. The message and the sentiment are clear: “You aren’t worth what I get paid Jorge”.
From elmundodeportive.es, translation by Fans.Moto.GP (Thanks!):
What Jorge is looking for seems presumptuous to me: Arrive at Yamaha, and in his second year ask that he be given the same treatment as me. [...]F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

2010 F1 DVD review available to order

The official 2010 F1 season review DVD will be available to buy from December 6th. With 19 races to fit in this year’s review now includes five hours of footage including on-board camera laps, previously unseen footage and interviews. The reviews is spread across two DVDs. As usual it seems this is the only format [...]Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info

Hamilton grateful for less interference from stewards | F1 Fanatic round-up

Lewis Hamilton said he's glad races have not been "manipulated" in 2010.More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

MotoGP Electronics: Even More Complex Than You Thought

If there's one subject that makes a MotoGP fan's blood boil, it's electronics. Electronic rider aids have removed a lot of the spectacle that formerly characterized the series, controlling wheelspin and managing tire wear, turning MotoGP into a series where the front wheel is paramount and the winner is the rider who can carry the most corner speed. 
The electronics consist of a battery of sensors, monitoring the location and state of the bike on the track. GPS tracks the precise position of the bike as it travels round the track; gyroscopes monitor its attitude; accelerometers measure the forces being exerted through corners; and a range of engine and wheel sensors monitor wheel speed, engine speed, throttle position and a multitude of other parameters. All this data is fed into (for Yamaha and Ducati, at least) the Magneti Marelli Marvel 4 ECU, which then translates all that information into an engine mapping perfectly matched to the conditions on the track.
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Rossi Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

Almost 7 months to the day since Valentino Rossi dislocated his shoulder in a motocross training accident, damaging vital ligaments connecting his humerus (arm bone) to his scapula (shoulder blade), the Italian has finally had surgery to correct the problem. Rossi today underwent arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder at the Cervesi di Cattolica hospital near his Tavullia home to repair damage to the supraspinatus tendon (part of the rotator cuff group of muscles and tendons) and the glenoid ligament (the ligament that surrounds the shoulder socket and keeps the humerus or arm bone in place).
read more



More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Indy tipping contest scores

In another lean week top scorers, two names shot ahead from the pack to challenge the leaders - @tailzer and @harleymac1. Pulling off an impressive Brit-centric Minella to gain 6 points, @tailzer took second place in the overall standings. Well done sir! @harleymac1 also made impressive gains with his 6 point Minella.
Honorable mention goes to [...]More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

WSBK 2011 Updates: Xaus At Ten Kate, Maxime Berger With Supersonic Ducati

With the 2010 season now long gone, the line up for the next World Superbike season is nearing completion. The biggest gap in the line up so far was the empty seat in the Ten Kate Honda garage, alongside Ulsterman Johnny Rea. There had been some speculation that Ten Kate would field only a single bike in the 2011 WSBK championship, after HANNSpree pulled out of the title sponsorship role, but that speculation appears to have been premature.
For Ten Kate announced yesterday that Ruben Xaus is to take the second ride for the Dutch Honda team, taking the place of Max Neukirchner, who departs to ride the MZ in Moto2. Xaus had been dropped from the BMW squad after a difficult year full - rather unsurprisingly, given Xaus' reputation - of crashes. Reading between the lines of the press release, it is clear that Xaus has been brought in to a development role, helping to bring on a Honda CBR1000RR that many observers believed had suffered a lack of development during the 2010 season.
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F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Picture gallery: 2011 young drivers test day one | 2011 F1 testing

Here's a collection of pictures from today's young drivers test in Abu Dhabi.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Press Release Round Up From Day 2 Of The Valencia Test

Just as we did yesterday, here's the round of press releases from the official test at Valencia, the final day of the test. As both Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner are under contract to teams other than the ones they were riding for, there's no rider quotes from them. Stoner spoke to the press separately afterwards (more on that later), while Filippo Preziosi reported on Rossi's feeling on the Ducati Desmosedici. Below are the press releases, and a full list of times is here:

LORENZO AND SPIES WRAP UP SUCCESSFUL VALENCIA OFFICIAL MOTOGP TEST
Day two of the Valencia test started under better conditions than yesterday, allowing Yamaha Factory Racing riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies a full morning's riding in the Spanish sunshine. Both riders had completed their testing schedule by the lunchtime break, giving the Yamaha engineers enough data to work over the winter break for the first of the 2011 tests in Sepang at the end of January.
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F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

FIA appeal court decides World Touring Car title | F1 Fanatic round-up

The World Touring Car Championship was decided in the FIA's International Court of Appeal.More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Indy tipping contest scores

In another lean week top scorers, two names shot ahead from the pack to challenge the leaders - @tailzer and @harleymac1. Pulling off an impressive Brit-centric Minella to gain 6 points, @tailzer took second place in the overall standings. Well done sir! @harleymac1 also made impressive gains with his 6 point Minella.
Honorable mention goes to [...]More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Ricciardo fastest in first young drivers test | 2011 F1 testing

Daniel Ricciardo was the fastest driver on the first day of the young drivers test sessions at Abu Dhabi.Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info

New engines help Renault to best result of 2010 | Renault race review

Petrov's defence from Alonso was aided by him having a new engine at Abu Dhabi.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Ferrari hit back at criticism of race strategy | Ferrari race review

Ferrari critised for their tactics as Alonso lost the championship in the final race of 2010.Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info

Looking For A New Bike? You've Just Found It...

... But it's going to cost you! Fortunately, your hard-earned cash will end up doing untold good for Riders for Health.

For the past 18 months or so, Don Emde has been building a unique Yamaha YZF-R1. With the assistance of Valentino Rossi and his designer Aldo Drudi, as well as a host of motorcycling greats such as Roland Sands Design, Yamaha USA, Ohlins, Akrapovic, AGV and many more (see this page for a full list of the people behind the project), the former Daytona 200 winner has created a one-off Yamaha painted with Valentino Rossi's "Five Continents" helmet design. To top it all, the bike has been signed by Valentino Rossi himself.
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Rossi Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

Almost 7 months to the day since Valentino Rossi dislocated his shoulder in a motocross training accident, damaging vital ligaments connecting his humerus (arm bone) to his scapula (shoulder blade), the Italian has finally had surgery to correct the problem. Rossi today underwent arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder at the Cervesi di Cattolica hospital near his Tavullia home to repair damage to the supraspinatus tendon (part of the rotator cuff group of muscles and tendons) and the glenoid ligament (the ligament that surrounds the shoulder socket and keeps the humerus or arm bone in place).
read more



More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Cspeedphotos from Laguna Seca

MotoGPBlog has been following Dan Lo of CornerSpeedPhoto, (Twitter: @cspeedphoto) for a while now. He’s a talented photographer based in the States, and we’re honoured to feature some of his shots from this year’s Laguna Seca MotoGP round. In particular, the shot of Canepa at turn 2 is awesome. Thanks Dan!
Dan used the following kit [...]More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Press Release Round Up From Day 1 Of The Valencia Test

Here at MotoMatters.com, we have never been keen on posting press releases without any commentary to explain the background to them. But the circumstances of the first MotoGP test of the 2011 season at Valencia are so extraordinary - Valentino Rossi's long-awaited Ducati debut, for example, as well as the first outing for Casey Stoner on the Honda - that we are prepared to make an exception. Here are all today's press releases, featuring expertly massaged opinions and heavily doctored ride quotes:

Factory Yamaha:
LORENZO AND SPIES FIRST AND THIRD AT VALENCIA TEST
Yamaha Factory Racing Team riders Jorge Lorenzo and new team-mate Ben Spies completed a successful first day of the official MotoGP test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia today, topping the timesheets as only two of five riders to dip below the 1.33 minute mark . Rain in the morning saw the day's session delayed until the track had dried with all riders waiting until the afternoon before venturing out onto the circuit.
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It's Happened At Last: Valentino Rossi Out On The Ducati

The waiting is finally over. At around 12:25pm on Tuesday, November 9th, Valentino Rossi finally rolled out of pit lane for his first laps aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP10. Two hours and twenty five minutes after practice had officially started.
Tension had been building for hours, after rain had started falling in the morning, continuing past the 10am start time for the first official test of the 2011 MotoGP season. Fortunately, the rain clouds soon blew over, and the sun and strong winds dried the track sufficiently for the first riders to venture out. With the promise of action, crowds of journalists started to gather in pit lane, while crowds of fans gathered on the rooftop of the building which houses the pits and lines the Valencia circuit's front straight.
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Ruben Xaus to Ten Kate Honda

After being booted from the BMW factory World Superbike team at the end of the season,�Spaniard Ruben Xaus has landed himself a new job with the Ten Kate Honda WSBK squad. The Captain of Crash in the 2010, Xaus and the BMW S1000RR seemingly couldn’t come to an accord on the fastest way around the race track, which often resulted in Xaus ending up on wrong side of the gravel traps. With murmurs starting early ...F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

And Now For Something Eerily Similar: Moto2 Test Images From Joe Wierzbicki

I know this guy... That's not his number!

Kenan Sofuoglu - he learned on Sunday not to try and out-crazy a Moto2 rider
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Predict the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winner

Can you name the top five finishers in the Abu Dhabi GP? Make your prediction now to win F1 prizes.More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Ruben Xaus to Ten Kate Honda

After being booted from the BMW factory World Superbike team at the end of the season,�Spaniard Ruben Xaus has landed himself a new job with the Ten Kate Honda WSBK squad. The Captain of Crash in the 2010, Xaus and the BMW S1000RR seemingly couldn’t come to an accord on the fastest way around the race track, which often resulted in Xaus ending up on wrong side of the gravel traps. With murmurs starting early ...F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

Rear wing tweak key to McLaren?s pace

McLaren say they've finally got their Suzuka rear wing working, which was key to Lewis Hamilton's pace in second practice today.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Final Valencia Day 1 MotoGP Test Times - Lorenzo Flying, Stoner Following

Final times from Day 1 of the Valencia MotoGP test: 
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Interview with Rick Broadbent

MotoGPBlog was lucky enough to catch up with Rick Broadbent, Times journalist and author of Ring of Fire. You can also read our review of his book, and while you’re there, pick up your copy though our Amazon store - see links at the end of the articles.

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Sauber tester Gutierrez joins top GP2 team

GP3 champion Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber's test driver for 2011, joins GP2 team ART.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Suzuki Confirm A Single Bike For MotoGP In 2011

With Honda confirming that they will be running a three-man factory team next season, there are only a couple of loose ends left to tie up. The most significant - and the most depressing - is that Suzuki has finally announced that they will only be fielding a single MotoGP bike for 2011, with Alvaro Bautista at the helm.
The move was another one of the 2011 MotoGP season's many, many open secrets, and a move that Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has been trying to fend off since it was first mooted. Dorna believes that Suzuki has an obligation under the terms of the contract it has with the Japanese manufacturer to supply a minimum of two bikes to the MotoGP grid. Suzuki believes it only has a commitment to supply a presence on the grid, and that a single bike complies with its obligation under the contract. Ezpeleta met with Suzuki after the Motegi round of MotoGP in Japan, but failed to come to an agreement. This matter is likely to end up in the courts at some point, but that won't help get any bikes on the grid for 2011.
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Sachsenring 2009 MotoGP race analysis

While the weather had produced torrential downpours thoughout the preamble to this GP, it stayed dry for the action in Germany. As the riders lined up on the grid, there was a real feeling of anticipation as Rossi and Lorenzo, so close through practice until that awesome final qualifying lap from Valentino, pulled up next [...]Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

Sauber tester Gutierrez joins top GP2 team

GP3 champion Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber's test driver for 2011, joins GP2 team ART.Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

Triumph Tiger 800 European Pricing Revealed

UPDATE: British pricing has come in at �7,149 for the Tiger 800, and �7,749 for the Tiger 800 XC. The optional ABS package is an additional �600. For reference the base BMW F800GS costs �7,780.00 MSRP OTD. While pricing in the United States still is yet to be determined, Triumph has set its base MSRP for the Tiger 800 & Tiger 800 XC for the Italian market (and presumably the European market as well), which ...Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info

Jules Bianchi to test for Ferrari again

Ferrari will run Jules Bianchi in the young drivers' test at Abu Dhabi next week as they did last year.More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Final Valencia Day 1 MotoGP Test Times - Lorenzo Flying, Stoner Following

Final times from Day 1 of the Valencia MotoGP test: 
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Moto2 Test Times From Valencia

Testing for the Moto2 class at Valencia was a complicated and chaotic affair, not out on the track, but certainly for anyone trying to make sense of the times. Riders were swapping bikes and testing for multiple different teams, making judging who was fastest and when extremely difficult.
Unofficial (and difficult to interpret) times from Valencia: 
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?We don?t manipulate things like Ferrari?

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz spells out his team's policy ahead of the season finale.Schumacher Ferrari F1 More Info Read More

It?s getting closer in the Predictions Championship

Arun and Sabatino win the penultimate Predictions Championship round.Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

Alonso loses the battle but he?s winning the war

Fernando Alonso saw his championship lead cut from 11 points to eight in Brazil.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Donington MotoGP tipping contest prizes

Great news! Enter the Donington round of the Tipping Contest to have a chance of winning a copy of Ring of Fire, The Inside Story of MotoGP by Rick Broadbent.
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
Top three scorers for the round (not overall) will win a copy of Ring of Fire.
The top two scoring Minellas will [...]Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Mercedes seal fourth in constructors? championship

The 2009 constructors' champions finish fourth in the championship this year.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Interview with Rick Broadbent

MotoGPBlog was lucky enough to catch up with Rick Broadbent, Times journalist and author of Ring of Fire. You can also read our review of his book, and while you’re there, pick up your copy though our Amazon store - see links at the end of the articles.

More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Davide Brivio Out of Yamaha, Maio Meregalli In

Yamaha Racing announced this week that Davide Brivio, the Team Manager for Valentino Rossi’s side of the garage, will be leaving the team at the end of the season. Taking on a management role in Rossi’s VR46 brand, Brivio will be replaced by Massimo “Maio” Meregalli, the former factory Yamaha World Superbike team manager. Meregalli’s appointment to the position likely has to to with the entry of Ben Spies into the factory team, as he ...Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

Tipping contest winners: Donington 2009

It was a freakish race - one which I am still trying to get my head around, let alone write up!
Because of the unusual podium, points were scarce this week with many people striking out. Only one person scored podium points: @leighberwick with his 3rd place for de Puniet. How you picked him out Leigh, [...]Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

Video: Valentino Rossi on ?His M1?

We’ve got a special treat for you this Friday as Yamaha Racing has released a video that talks about the evolution of the YZR-M1 over the past seven seasons, which is narrated by The Doctor himself. Valentino Rossi and his team were integral to the success of Yamaha, turning what was considered to be the worst bike in the paddock into the star it is today. Giving a great account of each bike’s progress over ...Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Tipping contest winners: Donington 2009

It was a freakish race - one which I am still trying to get my head around, let alone write up!
Because of the unusual podium, points were scarce this week with many people striking out. Only one person scored podium points: @leighberwick with his 3rd place for de Puniet. How you picked him out Leigh, [...]Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

H�lkenberg takes shock pole position

Nico H�lkenberg will start the Brazilian Grand Prix from pole position.F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso

2010 Valencia MotoGP Qualifying Practice Result: Storming Lap Steals Pole In Final Seconds

Results and summary of qualifying for the MotoGP class at Valencia:
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Lotus confirm 2011 Renault engine deal, Red Bull extend contract

Lotus confirm they will use Renault engines in 2011.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Honda Mid Concept ? Is This The Year of the Scooter?

Want further proof that the maxiscooter segments is poised to move in the next five years? Honda has also released its own take on the crossover market segment that sits between scooters and motorcycles, dubbed the Honda Mid Concept. With the upright and feet-forward sitting position of a scooter, but the 17″ wheels, dual-clutch transmission, and Pro-Link suspension of a Honda motorcycle, the Honda Mid Concept is another stab at looking for vehicles that fit ...Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

Championship contenders on treacherous ground

Alonso won't want a repeat of last year?s result in Brazil - Webber won after Alonso was taken out on the first lap.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

2010 Estoril MotoGP Qualifying Session Lost To Bad Weather, Grid Set From Practice Times

Qualifying finally ended up being washed out at Estoril, with driving rain and strong winds causing qualifying sessions for all three classes to be washed out. This meant that the grid was set using the combined best times from practice, putting Jorge Lorenzo on pole, alongside Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi.
Grid: 
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2010 Estoril MotoGP Qualifying Session Lost To Bad Weather, Grid Set From Practice Times

Qualifying finally ended up being washed out at Estoril, with driving rain and strong winds causing qualifying sessions for all three classes to be washed out. This meant that the grid was set using the combined best times from practice, putting Jorge Lorenzo on pole, alongside Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi.
Grid: 
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2011 Honda CB1000R Coming to America

While the tri-color paint scheme might still be too cool for the United States, Honda has finally seen the light, and decided to bring the 2011 Honda CB1000R to the America after all. Based-off a de-tuned CBR1000RR, the CB1000R is Europe’s fun street-naked from the Honda brand that brings some punch to the table (even more when you bring it back to RR specification). While the headlight might remind some of a certain Star Wars ...More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

2010 Estoril MotoGP Qualifying Session Lost To Bad Weather, Grid Set From Practice Times

Qualifying finally ended up being washed out at Estoril, with driving rain and strong winds causing qualifying sessions for all three classes to be washed out. This meant that the grid was set using the combined best times from practice, putting Jorge Lorenzo on pole, alongside Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi.
Grid: 
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2011 Triumph Tiger 800 & Tiger 800 XC Details Released

Triumph has been teasing us for months about its new Tiger 800 & Tiger 800 XC adventure motorcycles, and now finally the wait is over as both bikes have debuted at EICMA. Centered around a three-cylinder 799cc motor, the Triumph Tiger 800 & Triumph Tiger 800 XC make 95hp and 58 lbs?ft of torque, which will likely come as a disappointment for many who were expecting more out of the stroked Daytona lump. Things get ...Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari F1

The engine situation with two races to go

How much engine life do the championship contenders have left - and are Alonso and Vettel at risk of penalties?Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Sachsenring tipping contest scores

A quiet week at the top of the standings, with @daveminella just inching away from the pack by a single point. Shouts out to @Brian_GP, @danzero and @ducatinewstoday for pulling off their Minellas. Had you guys been around earlier you would be pushing the top spots. The good news is, there is plenty of time [...]More Info Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out

Williams to supply gearboxes to HRT in 2011

Williams have announced they will supply gearboxes to fellow Cosworth users HRT in 2011.Ferrari F1 More Info Read More Click Here

Ferrari will be ?very careful?, says Domenicali

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said the team will be taking a conservative approach at Brazil this weekend.Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher Ferrari

2010 Estoril MotoGP Race Result - Easy Victory Taken After Early Tussle

Results and summary of the MotoGP race at Estoril:
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Phillip Island Likely To Start MotoGP Season From 2012

The cold temperatures at Phillip Island two weeks ago once again raised the issue of whether it is wise to stage the Australian Grand Prix there right at the tail end of the Antipodean winter, when the weather can be very cold and wet. Valentino Rossi led the calls for the race to be moved to the start of the MotoGP season, which would be the Australian late summer.
Dorna CEO was very receptive to the idea of moving the race to earlier in the year, but his hands are tied by a couple of factors, meaning that this change is unlikely to happen for 2011. However, in an interview with Israeli TV journalist Tammy Gorali, Ezpeleta revealed that he will by pushing to make the change for the 2012 season. "For sure, we will change this for the following year if we can't change for next year," Ezpeleta told Gorali, adding that his preference would be for the race to start the season.
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Williams back H�lkenberg

In today's round-up, Frank Williams backs driver Nico H�lkenberg amid rumours he might be replaced.Read More Click Here Alonso Find Out Schumacher

Laguna 2009 tipping contest prizes

Thanks to all our competitors last week - it was a week that was particularly scare on points with Dani Pedrosa hardly featuring in the picks - only four of you had him on the podium at all, and only @rumblestrip as high as second. Elsewhere, he was mentioned but generally only as a crash [...]F1 More Info Read More Click Here Alonso