12/11/09

The 2009 MotoGP World Championship came to an end, last Sunday, with the Gran Premio Generali De La Comunitat Valenciana, at Ricardo Tormo circuit, in Spain, and Fiat Yamaha rider, Valentino Rossi, already confirmed as this year's Premier Class World Champion.

Expecting to start from Pole position, Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner suffered a monumental highside on the warm up lap, due to a tyre temperature issue, and was unable to race, leaving #3 rider, Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, able to make his usual flying start, after which he was un-catchable, taking his second only win in this year's competition, and retaining third position in the final championship results.

A relatively restrained battle for second and third race places between Rossi, and team-mate, Jorge Lorenzo, left the younger rider frustrated, but content with his number two in the final standings, whilst a tearful James Toseland, made an emotional farewell to MotoGP, returning to World Superbikes in 2010.

The "Bridgestone Test Team", can have few complaints about the manufacturer's performance, as sole tyre supplier to the Premier Class this year, when lap times have improved, across the board, and racing, generally, become more entertaining.

MotoGP fans, have a long wait until the 2010 season kicks off, at Qatar, in April.

Following his impressive wildcard race to seventh place, in Valencia, and now officially riding for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, American, Ben Spies may be the man to watch next year.

06/11/09

This Sunday, the 2009 MotoGP World Championship contest draws to a close, with the Grand Finale, being the Gran Premio Generali De La Comunitat Valenciana, at Ricardo Tormo circuit, in Spain.

Whilst Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi, has already secured the 2009 World Champion title, second and third places are still to be fought over, thus an exciting end to the season seems certain. Particularly so, as currently third placed Casey Stoner, was last year's winner at Valencia, and a disastrous performance by Jorge Lorenzo, presently in second place, this weekend, could just see a "tie", for the position he will start from, at this year's final race.

Meanwhile, Repsol Honda and Dani Pedrosa, need a big mistake by Casey Stoner, to be in with a chance of keeping Pedrosa's "#3".

World Champion, Rossi, has 286 points, in advance of the Valencia event. Jorge Lorenzo, also Fiat Yamaha, holds 245, and Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner starts, in Spain, with 220.

The decision to adopt Bridgestone, as the sole tyre supplier to the premier class, has been vindicated, with consistently faster lap times recorded, throughout this season, and generally more competitive racing, leading to improved audience figures, and greater public interest.

There is a sad end to the year's action, for "Brit", James Toseland, currently in 14th place, after a poor performance at Sepang, as his brief career in MotoGP comes to an early close. Some may feel that team politics are behind his departure, as a number of established MotoGP pilots have not matched up to James' record, since he moved "up" to MotoGP.

28/10/09

Last Sunday saw the penultimate race in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship, the Shell Advance Malaysian Grand Prix, at Sepang, where Valentino Rossi secured this year's title, his ninth overall Championship, and his seventh title in MotoGP.

It was the first completely wet race in this series, but Casey Stoner stormed home to his third consecutive victory, since returning from illness. Dani Pedrosa was second, with Rossi in third place, after recovering from a poor start.

Jorge Lorenzo, starting from the rear of the field, following mechanical problems, saw his hopes of winning the World Championship title in 2009 finally demolished, although, despite his disadvantaged start to the race, he still managed to finish in fourth position at Sepang.

With the final event, in this year's competition, to be held in Valencia, on 8th November, the battle for second and third title places is still on. A win, or DNF, in Spain will be capable of completely altering the current standings below first place.

Fiat Yamaha's Rossi and Lorenzo, go to Valencia with 286 and 245 points respectively. Ducati Marlboro #27, Stoner, takes 220 to Spain, whilst Repsol Honda's Pedrosa will start the final race with 209.

16/10/09

Three rounds remain, in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship, as the action moves "down under", for this Sunday's Iveco Australian Grand Prix, at Phillip Island.

Reigning World Champion, Valentino Rossi, was unable to be competitive, last time out, at Estoril, and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo is now just 18 points in arrears, with everything to play for, and second place, as the current season nears its climax.

Only three points behind currently third placed Dani Pedrosa, is a resurgent Casey Stoner, with wins at Phillip Island in both of the last two years, and a unique affinity with the Australian circuit, where Pedrosa was "DNF" in 2008.

Following Estoril, the league table has Fiat Yamaha riders, Rossi and Lorenzo, on 250 and 232 points respectively; Repsol Honda's Pedrosa with 173, whilst Stoner's, Ducati Marlboro, score is 170.

MotoGP junkies have another week to wait, until the next round of the 2009 World Championship, on Sunday, 4th October, when the bwin.com Grande Premio De Portugal kicks off at Estoril circuit.

Meanwhile, Dunlop are busy with preparations for Moto2, the new, 4-stroke, World Championship class, which will replace the 250cc category, from next year.

Dunlop will be single make tyre supplier to this 600cc 4-stroke class, and tyres are expected to be available in November, for riders to test and use.

Motogp.com asked the manufacturer's Motorsport Manager, Jeremy Ferguson, what Dunlop expects from, and hopes for Moto2?

"What we want to achieve, to be perfectly honest, is what Bridgestone have achieved in MotoGP. That means close competition and tyres that are of a really good standard, because you can see that from results, like when people set new lap records on the last lap or penultimate lap of a race, then the tyre has done its job."

18/9/09

There's a break now, in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship competition, until Sunday, 4th October, when the action happens at Estoril, with the bwin.com Grande Premio De Portugal.

Given the currently hugely competitive relationship between Fiat Yamaha riders, and numbers one and two in the championship league, Valentino Rossi, and Jorge Lorenzo, the younger rider will be looking back to his maiden Premier Class victory, at the Portuguese circuit last year, and determined for a repeat result!

Ducati rider, Casey Stoner, is thought to be fit enough to ride at Estoril, after recovery from a mystery illness, and Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa will remember his #2 podium, last time in Portugal, when he came home ahead of Valentino Rossi, who finished in third place.

With just three races remaining in the current Championship, after the 4th October event, and just 30 points between Rossi and Lorenzo as the Portuguese race begins, it's all up for grabs this time!

It was the G.P. Cinzano Di San Marino E Della Riviera Di Rimini, last Sunday, round 13 in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship, at Misano circuit, and reigning World Champion, Valentino Rossi, delivered an impressive win, after a difficult first few laps, which saw Alex de Angelis, Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden crash out on turn two, at the start of the race, with Rossi only narrowly avoiding the smash.

Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa, made a brilliant start, and led the race for a while, but finally came home in third position, behind Jorge Lorenzo's Fiat Yamaha.

Also with Fiat Yamaha, Valentino Rossi, extended his Championship lead to 30 points, as just four rounds remain in the 2009 competition. The next event being the bwin.com Grande Premio De Portugal, on 4th October, at Estoril.

In front of his "home crowd", Rossi was delighted with his Misano victory, when he also set a new lap record, at the Italian circuit.

09/09/09

01/09/09

It was Round 12, of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship, and the "Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, produced a result which left the 2009 World Championship "blown wide open", when Jorge Lorenzo came home first, slashing his Fiat Yamaha team-mate's lead to just 25 points, with five races to go.

Valentino Rossi went down on lap nine, with his first "DNF" since 2007, after Pole Position starter, Dani Pedrosa, crashed his Repsol Honda during the fourth lap, as he lead the race. Remounting, the #3 rider finished in 10th position.

Alex de Angelis, gained his first ever Premier Class podium, finishing in second place, with Nicky Hayden bringing his Ducati home behind the San Carlo Honda Gresini rider, in third, following a brilliant ride, when he fought off Repsol Honda's Andrea Dovizioso's stiff challenge.

MotoGP now moves to Misano, and the G.P Cinzano Di San Marino E Della Riviera Di Rimini, this Sunday.

20/08/2009

With Casey Stoner sidelined, due to illness, the Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky, at Brno, last Sunday, was always likely to be a three horse race, and the "probable contenders" proved true to form, with World Champion, Valentino Rossi, dominant throughout the race, followed, and ultimately hotly perused, by team-mate, Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo, both riders leaving Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa in a safe, even lonely, third place.

Yet another fierce battle between Rossi and Lorenzo, diverted attention from action towards the rear of the field, with all the usual "thrills and spills", but the most dramatic moment of the race was the #99 rider, Lorenzo's, spectacular lowside at turn three, with just five laps remaining, as he struggled to take the lead from Valentino, who, with 212 points under his belt, following Brno, a clear 50 point lead from Jorge, his nearest rival, and 62 ahead of Casey Stoner, whose return to competition may be a further two races away, may now be feeling that his hold on the 2009 world title is at least, firm to secure!

Another six events lie ahead of this year's competitors, with 30th August seeing the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix. British rider, James Toseland, will go to the USA in 13th position, with 62 points.

14/8/2009

After a three week break, MotoGP moves to the Czech Republic and this weekend's Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky, at Brno Automotodrom.

Valentino Rossi leads the championship with 187 points, followed by Jorge Lorenzo, his Fiat Yamaha team-mate, on 162, then Ducati Marlboro Team's Casey Stoner at 150, 35 points ahead of fourth placed Dani Pedrosa, with Repsol Honda, on 115.

Last year, at Brno, Rossi won the race, with Alice rider Tony Elias second, and Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi third.

After a three week break, since the British Grand Prix, MotoGP addicts will be happy to see the return of their favourite sport!

28/7/2009

The British summer delivered a typically unpredictable package of weather, at Donington Park last Sunday, during what is thought to be the last MotoGP event to be held at the Derbyshire circuit.

Sunday dawned damp and cool, with conditions deteriorating throughout the day, leaving many of the vast crowd of spectators arriving on two wheels, with an horrendous wet ride home, whilst most drivers faced long delays, exiting Donington.

But, our guests, and those invited by the UK Market Leader, Bridgestone, had plenty of cover, and great hospitality, including paddock and garage visits for some, and were ready for what turned out to be perhaps the most surprising result in the Premier Class this season.

Team Ducati made a disastrous "wet" tyre choice, whilst it was uncertain should the race be wet, or dry. In the end it was not much more than damp, and Casey Stoner, with Nicky Hayden, both suffered the humiliation of being "lapped".

An early crash took out Jorge Lorenzo, and Fiat Yamaha team-mate, Valentino Rossi, also fell, but was able to continue, finishing a very creditable fifth, one slot ahead of Brit, James Toseland.

So, the race went to Repsol Honda rider, Andrea Dovizioso, who chased #46 rider Rossi right from the start, and rode brilliantly in the World Champion's wake, until Rossi's fall left the way open for a final struggle, which saw Dovizioso achieve his first MotoGP victory, followed by Colin Edwards, 2nd, and Randy De Puniet, 3rd.

Although, as the track became very slippery, four riders changed to "wet" bikes, in the end, remaining on Bridgestone's slicks, proved to be the right decision.

MotoGP moves next to The Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky, on 16th August, when the action takes place at the Automotodrom Brno, Rossi starting the event with 187 points, next being Jorge Lorenzo at 162, then Casey Stoner, 150.