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Articles
Pre-race MotoGP Test Schedule At Indianapolis Motor Speedway
2008-06-11 01:31:00 As Indianapolis is a new track this year, the MotoGP riders will get to test at the track before the actual race takes place in September. The date for this test has been announced as July 1st and 2nd. The MotoGP schedule for this period is already intensely busy, with the British Grand Prix at Donington on June 22nd, followed 6 days later by the Dutch TT at Assen on June 28th. The teams will have just two days to pack up and fly out to Indianapolis, where they will take part in a two day test starting July 1st, before flying back to Europe again ready for the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring on July 13th, followed by the US GP at Laguna Seca in California just a week later. By the time they've finished, they should have enough frequent flyer miles to get NASA's Manned Mission to Mars well underway. DateTimeSeries July 1-210am - 6pmMotoGP July 310am - 6pmRed Bull Rookies Cup More About: Motor , Schedule , Race , Speedway
2008 Catalunya Post-Race Testing - Day 2
2008-06-11 01:17:00 Times courtesy of GPOne.com: 1Casey Stoner Ducati1'42.180 2Andrea Dovizioso Honda1'42.222 3Nicky Hayden Honda1'42.555 4Chris Vermeulen Suzuki1'42.590 5Randy de Puniet Honda1'43.039 6Niccolo Canepa Ducati1'43.683 7Sylvain Guintoli Ducati1'44.074 8Toni Elias Ducati1'44.538 9Nobu Aoki Suzuki1'44.665 10Olivier Jacque Kawasaki1'44.938 11Erwan Nigon Honda1'45.181 12Marco Melandri Ducati1'46.163 13Vito Guareschi Ducati1'47.022 More About: Post , Testing , Race , 2008 , Catalunya
2008 Catalunya Post-Race Testing - Day 1
2008-06-10 02:15:00 Testing was rather eventful, with Casey Stoner setting the fastest time on the new carbon-fiber frame Ducati Desmosedici GP9, the bike scheduled to race next year. Both Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa switched back and forth between the steel-valve Honda RC212V and the new pneumatic valve engine, but Pedrosa had a nasty highside on cold tires, and was forced to retire. Testing of the bike will now be down to Nicky Hayden for tomorrow. Hayden was 4/10ths quicker on the new bike than on the old bike during the race weekend on race tires. The times were provided courtesy of GPOne.com. Testing continues tomorrow. 1Casey Stoner Ducati1'41.533 lap 45 of 52 Q 2Valentino Rossi Yamaha1'41.857 lap 60 of 61 Q 3Shinya Nakano Honda1'42.039 lap 41 of 50 Q 4James Toseland Yamaha1'42.505 lap 55 of 62 5Alex de Angelis Honda1'42.699 lap 30 of 42 Q 6Nicky Hayden Honda1'42.721 lap 60 of 70 7Sylvain Guintoli Ducati1'42.755 lap 56 of 57 Q 8Randy de Puniet Honda1'42.775 lap 48 of 54 9Chris Vermeu... More About: Post , Testing , Race , 2008 , Catalunya
2008 Catalunya MotoGP Race Report - Leading From The Front
2008-06-09 15:46:00 Ask a dozen riders what their favorite race was, and you'll get a dozen different answers. But as different as those answers may be, in the end, they divide out into two camps. On the one hand, there are the Race rs, the riders who love nothing more than to battle with their rivals all race long, only to pass them in the final corner and go on to take the win. On the other, there are the Winners, the riders who only care about getting away from the pack and dominating the opposition. The Racers love to win by fractions of a second, the Winners love to win by minutes. This issue doesn't just divide racers, it also divides fans. Some enjoy nothing more than watching their favorite rider put in lap after perfect lap, gapping the competition by a second or more every time the cross the line. To them, their pleasure in racing is in watching a motorcycle being ridden as fast as humanly possible, the rider attempting to ride the bike at its very limit every inch of the track. For these ... More About: Report , Front , Leading , 2008
2008 Catalunya MotoGP Race Results
2008-06-08 17:12:00 Full results of the MotoGP Grand Prix de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. More About: Results , Race , 2008
2008 Catalunya Warmup Times - Rossi Leads From Edwards
2008-06-08 12:24:00 Pos.No.RiderManufacturerFast LapDiffDiff Previous 146Valentino ROSSIYAMAHA1'43.182 25Colin EDWARDSYAMAHA1'43.2480.0660.066 31Casey STONERDUCATI1'43.2900.1080.042 469Nicky HAYDENHONDA1'43.4820.3000.192 515Alex DE ANGELISHONDA1'43.5520.3700.070 64Andrea DOVIZIOSOHONDA1'43.5770.3950.025 77Chris VERMEULENSUZUKI1'43.7600.5780.183 814Randy DE PUNIETHONDA1'43.8020.6200.042 921John HOPKINSKAWASAKI1'43.8310.6490.029 1065Loris CAPIROSSISUZUKI1'43.8400.6580.009 1152James TOSELANDYAMAHA1'43.9120.7300.072 1256Shinya NAKANOHONDA1'44.0300.8480.118 132Dani PEDROSAHONDA1'44.1170.9350.087 1433Marco MELANDRIDUCATI1'44.6861.5040.569 1550Sylvain GUINTOLIDUCATI1'45.0881.9060.402 1613Anthony WESTKAWASAKI1'45.9272.7450.839 1724Toni ELIASDUCATI1'46.4443.2620.517 More About: Leads , Rossi , Edwards , Times , 2008
2008 Catalunya Qualifying Report - Down To The Wire
2008-06-07 19:08:00 Qualifying practice at the Catalunya Grand Prix at Barcelona, Spain, got underway in warm, humid conditions, under overcast but dry skies. The weather has been like this all weekend, with rain overnight, and occasional smatterings during practice, rendering the track incredibly slippery. After Friday's crashfest, the riders were a little more circumspect this morning, especially once it started to rain with 15 minutes of the session to go. But the afternoon looked like staying thankfully dry. The riders took to the track to a man at the start of the session, working hard to find a race setup after the slippery track surface ruined times on Friday. All except Jorge Lorenzo, that is, who was forced to withdraw from the race after a big crash in Friday afternoon's second free practice session left the Spanish rookie knocked unconscious and out with severe concussion. Times dropped quickly, getting into the 1'43 bracket within 6 minutes, Dani Pedrosa being the first to hit that tar... More About: Report , Qualifying , Wire , The Wire , 2008
2008 Catalunya Qualifying Practice Times Day 2 - Another Lap Record Shatter
2008-06-07 17:16:00 Full results of the official Qualifying Practice session of the 2008 MotoGP Catalunya Grand Prix at Montmelo, Barcelona, Spain. More About: Times , Record
2008 Catalunya FP3 Times Day 2 - Stoner Under Lap Record, Hayden Fast
2008-06-07 13:17:00 Pos.No.RiderManufacturerFast LapDiffDiff Previous 11Casey STONERDUCATI1'43.013 269Nicky HAYDENHONDA1'43.1250.1120.112 35Colin EDWARDSYAMAHA1'43.2430.2300.118 446Valentino ROSSIYAMAHA1'43.2530.2400.010 57Chris VERMEULENSUZUKI1'43.2610.2480.008 652James TOSELANDYAMAHA1'43.2940.2810.033 714Randy DE PUNIETHONDA1'43.3560.3430.062 82Dani PEDROSAHONDA1'43.3750.3620.019 94Andrea DOVIZIOSOHONDA1'43.7080.6950.333 1065Loris CAPIROSSISUZUKI1'43.9470.9340.239 1121John HOPKINSKAWASAKI1'44.0311.0180.084 1250Sylvain GUINTOLIDUCATI1'44.0941.0810.063 1315Alex DE ANGELISHONDA1'44.1261.1130.032 1456Shinya NAKANOHONDA1'44.5581.5450.432 1533Marco MELANDRIDUCATI1'44.5911.5780.033 1624Toni ELIASDUCATI1'44.9621.9490.371 1713Anthony WESTKAWASAKI1'45.3002.2870.338 Circuit records Fastest Lap: 13 Casey STONER 1'43.013 165.194 Km/h Circuit Record Lap: 2006 Nicky HAYDEN 1'43.048 165.138 Km/h Circuit Best Lap: 2007 Valentino ROSSI 1'41.840 167.097 Km/h More About: Stoner , Hayden , Times
Lorenzo To Miss Catalunya GP With Concussion, Maybe More
2008-06-06 22:31:00 After a truly meteoric start to the season, Jorge Lorenzo is being brought down to earth just as abruptly. And I mean brought to earth in the most literal sense of the phrase. First, there was the massive highside at Shanghai, in which the reigning 250 champion fractured bones in both ankles and feet. He rode anyway, and managed an astonishing 4th. Then, at Le Mans, he did even better, taking 2nd, despite spending the weekend either in a wheelchair, or tumbling through the gravel again. And at Mugello, despite recovering enough to only require crutches, he ended up sliding off during the race, in another painful crash. Lorenzo just kept shrugging off every crash, and kept on racing. If somebody was trying to tell the Spaniard something, he certainly wasn't listening. If anything, he was standing with his fingers in his ears yelling LALALALALALALALALALA very loudly just to drown out the warning. Such behavior will only get you so far. At some point, fate will turn around and slap ... More About: Miss , Catalunya
Rossi Signs For Two More Years With Yamaha
2008-06-06 18:13:00 According to the Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo, Valentino Rossi will extend his contract with Yamaha for another two years. More detail to follow. More About: Signs , Years
2008 Catalunya FP2 Times Day 1 - Pedrosa Fastest In Crash-Strewn Session
2008-06-06 17:11:00 This afternoon's second session of free practice was riddled with incident. After Casey Stoner, Randy de Puniet and Toni Elias had crashed during the morning's practice, the afternoon got much worse. Jorge Lorenzo, John Hopkins, Randy de Puniet (again) and Dani Pedrosa all came off, but unlike this morning, they did not all escape without injury. The worst of the crashers was - once again - Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo had a very nasty crash on the run down towards the final corner, with one hand trapped beneath the bike at first, then ending up tumbling badly through the gravel. He was not able to tell the corner workers where he was - the standard question which all crashed riders have to answer - and was taken to Dr Costa's Clinica Mobile for further examination. Initial X-rays on his ankles did not show any more damage to his ankles, but he was taken to a local hospital for further examination, and a possible scan for injuries to his head. At the moment, Lorenzo seems unlikely to ... More About: Times , Crash , 2008 , Catalunya
2008 Catalunya FP1 Times Day 1 - Pedrosa On Top At Home
2008-06-06 13:15:00 Pos.No.RiderManufacturerFast LapDiffDiff Previous 12Dani PEDROSAHONDA1'43.691 246Valentino ROSSIYAMAHA1'43.8350.1440.144 348Jorge LORENZOYAMAHA1'43.9610.2700.126 47Chris VERMEULENSUZUKI1'43.9680.2770.007 55Colin EDWARDSYAMAHA1'43.9710.2800.003 615Alex DE ANGELISHONDA1'44.0210.3300.050 74Andrea DOVIZIOSOHONDA1'44.1630.4720.142 81Casey STONERDUCATI1'44.2450.5540.082 965Loris CAPIROSSISUZUKI1'44.2510.5600.006 1052James TOSELANDYAMAHA1'44.2630.5720.012 1121John HOPKINSKAWASAKI1'44.2910.6000.028 1256Shinya NAKANOHONDA1'44.3780.6870.087 1314Randy DE PUNIETHONDA1'44.3880.6970.010 1469Nicky HAYDENHONDA1'44.4820.7910.094 1533Marco MELANDRIDUCATI1'44.6490.9580.167 1613Anthony WESTKAWASAKI1'45.4161.7250.767 1750Sylvain GUINTOLIDUCATI1'45.4741.7830.058 1824Toni ELIASDUCATI1'46.0642.3730.590 Circuit records Fastest Lap: 19 Dani PEDROSA 1'43.691 164.114 Km/h Circuit Record Lap: 2006 Nicky HAYDEN 1'43.048 165.138 Km/h Circuit Best Lap: 2007 Valentino ROSSI 1'41.840 167.09... More About: Home , Times , 2008 , Catalunya
2008 Catalunya Preview- Repeat Performance
2008-06-06 02:30:00 There is a distinct element of deja vu to Sunday's Catalunya Grand Prix at Barcelona. Just last week, the MotoGP circus was in a bike-mad country, at a circuit sure to attract some 100,000 fans on race day, all clamoring for their local heroes. Once again, the local boys will be unable to take a step outside their mobile homes without being mobbed, and will face a barrage of media coverage from the moment they enter the country. Expectations will be high, and failing to win will not be looked upon kindly. As at last week's race, the track features a long straight where horsepower matters, as well as a tight, technical section where agile machines can make good any horsepower deficits. And like last weekend, the weather is looking decidedly changeable, with a strong chance of rain during at least one of the practice sessions. But it's not just last week that Barcelona evokes memories of. This time last year, we were in almost exactly the same situation: Valentino Rossi came to... More About: Performance , Preview , 2008
Hayden Won't Race Pneumatic Valve Engine At Barcelona
2008-06-05 23:51:00 Apparently, it's still not ready. There are very few stories about MotoGP where a sentence so obtuse can be so obvious, but almost every MotoGP follower worth their salt will immediately understand that "it" is Honda's pneumatic valve engine, and what it won't be ready for is the upcoming MotoGP race at Barcelona in Catalunya, Spain. Development of the engine has been going on for 7 months now, but it continues to be plagued by problems - albeit problems of a decidedly unspecified nature. At first there were rumors of reliability problems, with the phrase "grenade engine" being bandied about the paddock. Then, it was said to be a question of edge grip and drive, with Tady Okada, HRC's test rider who ride the bike as a wildcard at Mugello last weekend, saying that the power delivery was still not what it should be. HRC engineers even resorted to telling journalists that the steel spring valve engine is now so strong that they have had to revise their targets for the air valve... More About: Race , Hayden , Engine , Valve
Kawasaki's Shopping List: Edwards, Vermeulen, Dovizioso
2008-06-04 19:30:00 John Hopkins' signing with the Kawasaki MotoGP team last year signaled a shift in emphasis for Team Green. They needed a big name rider to gain interest in the team, and help develop the bike. Hopkins' signing also raised the question of whether the team would go with one big name rider and a support rider, or whether they would try to attract a second big name. Last year, financial constraints prevailed, enforced by Hopkins' multi-million dollar contract, and Michael Bartholemy signed Ant West to run alongside Hopper. But the question has remained open ever since. Kawasaki would really like another big talent to run alongside Hopkins, to help make the bike competitive. This year, it looks like they could be chasing a more established rider than Ant West. According to Motorcycle News, Bartholemy has a list of five targets he would like to sign, which he hopes to whittle down to just two names after the Barcelona round on Sunday. Those names include Colin Edwards , Chris Vermeul... More About: Shopping , List
250 Replacement Class: KTM Proposes 500cc Twins
2008-06-03 23:09:00 The plan was relatively simple: Very few manufacturers still make small-capacity two stroke motorcycles, two strokes were under attack from the environmental lobby, and there are only two manufacturers seriously committed to the class. Combine all these facts together, and it was painfully obvious that the 250cc class was doomed. The only question was, what should replace it? Dorna's initial proposal was to replace the two strokes with inline four cylinder four strokes, with a capacity of between 625 and 650cc. The engine would be subject to severe restrictions, possibly based on an a motor currently in use in a street bike, and could perhaps be a spec unit coming from a single factory. Each competing team or factory would then be free to construct a prototype chassis around the standard motor, and this is where they could try to make the difference. The idea was that this would help keep costs down and keep up grid sizes. The proposals were greeted with scorn and disdain by KTM ... More About: Twins , Class
Kawasaki And Suzuki: No Third Bikes For 2009, And No Kawasaki Wildcards
2008-06-03 16:11:00 For several years now, MotoGP grids have looked worryingly empty. The causes are well-known, and have been debated for years, but basically it boils down to the expense of fielding competitive machinery. The situation was exacerbated by the switch to 800cc: Just as all of the factories looked like getting a handle on the formula, the formula changed, requiring another vast sum of money to develop the new bikes. Dorna have relied very heavily on Honda to help fill out the grids, while putting pressure on the other manufacturers to start pulling their weight. Kawasaki and Suzuki have been particular targets, the two teams only field two bikes since they entered the class in 2002. It seemed as if 2009 would be the year the two factories finally relented, and fielded extra machinery. It now appears this is is not going to be the case. With the current season going well below expectations for both Kawasaki and Suzuki, both teams have decided to field only two bikes for the 2009 season,... More About: Bikes
2008 Mugello MotoGP Race Report - Great Expectations
2008-06-02 16:52:00 Expectations are a double-edged sword. Expectations, the expectations you have of yourself, and the expectations that others have of you, can inspire you to remarkable achievements. But wanting to live up to those expectations can also place an incredible burden upon you, knowing that you if you fall short, you disappoint not only yourself, but also all those around you. The way you handle that burden is a test of character, self-knowledge, and mental strength. All professional sportsmen and women face this burden, but for one reason or another, it is heavier in some sports than in others. Sometimes, it is the popularity of the sport which bears upon the protagonists: a Brazilian striker in the World Cup knows that he carries the weight of tens of millions of fans with him. In some sports, it is the lack of margin for error which imposes itself: with just under 10 seconds to win a race in, a sprinter has to get everything right, from start to finish; the slightest hesitation and y... More About: Great , Report , Race , Expectations , 2008
2008 Mugello MotoGP Race Results
2008-06-01 17:09:00 Full results of the 2008 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix at Mugello More About: Results , Race
2008 Mugello Warmup Times - De Angelis Shocks The Field
2008-06-01 12:26:00 Pos.No.RiderManufacturerFast LapDiffDiff Previous 115Alex DE ANGELISHONDA1'49.633 22Dani PEDROSAHONDA1'49.8250.1920.192 346Valentino ROSSIYAMAHA1'50.0130.3800.188 41Casey STONERDUCATI1'50.0300.3970.017 565Loris CAPIROSSISUZUKI1'50.1910.5580.161 656Shinya NAKANOHONDA1'50.3830.7500.192 769Nicky HAYDENHONDA1'50.4200.7870.037 85Colin EDWARDSYAMAHA1'50.4480.8150.028 952James TOSELANDYAMAHA1'50.5730.9400.125 107Chris VERMEULENSUZUKI1'50.6481.0150.075 1148Jorge LORENZOYAMAHA1'50.7141.0810.066 1224Toni ELIASDUCATI1'50.8051.1720.091 134Andrea DOVIZIOSOHONDA1'50.9471.3140.142 1450Sylvain GUINTOLIDUCATI1'50.9711.3380.024 1521John HOPKINSKAWASAKI1'50.9881.3550.017 1633Marco MELANDRIDUCATI1'51.0141.3810.026 1714Randy DE PUNIETHONDA1'51.3791.7460.365 188Tadayuki OKADAHONDA1'52.0262.3930.647 1913Anthony WESTKAWASAKI1'52.3222.6890.296 More About: Times , Field , 2008 , Mugello
2008 Mugello Qualifying Report
2008-05-31 19:59:00 After yesterday's torrential rain, which even managed to influence this morning's final free practice session, the MotoGP regulars were delighted to be rolling out of the pits onto hot tarmac in warm sunshine. The weather had almost completely cleared up, the clouds hanging back in the Tuscan hills, granting the MotoGP riders a reprieve from the rain - at least for the moment. With so much time already lost to the conditions, the pack rolled out almost as one to set about the tricky business of finding a dry weather setup which will work. With hot sunshine forecast for the race tomorrow, and three sessions either blighted or at least impeded by rain, there was much to do. The pace was very fast right from the off, with Colin Edwards taking just over 6 minutes to drop into the 1'50s, and start approaching what looked likely to be race pace. Just a couple of minutes later, a group of riders had all set times well within the 1'50 bracket, and a realistic pace for tomorrow's race... More About: Report , Qualifying , 2008 , Mugello
2008 Mugello Qualifying Practice Times Day 2 - Lap Records Tumble
2008-05-31 17:21:00 Full results of the official Qualifying Practice session of the 2008 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix at Mugello More About: Times , Records
2008 Mugello FP3 Times Day 2 - Pedrosa In Lap Record Territory
2008-05-31 13:25:00 Conditions were dry, despite rain during the preceding 125 practice. Pos.No.RiderManufacturerFast LapDiffDiff Previous 12Dani PEDROSAHONDA1'49.975 21Casey STONERDUCATI1'50.3640.3890.389 365Loris CAPIROSSISUZUKI1'50.5270.5520.163 415Alex DE ANGELISHONDA1'50.6160.6410.089 55Colin EDWARDSYAMAHA1'50.7500.7750.134 646Valentino ROSSIYAMAHA1'50.8920.9170.142 756Shinya NAKANOHONDA1'51.0531.0780.161 850Sylvain GUINTOLIDUCATI1'51.0861.1110.033 921John HOPKINSKAWASAKI1'51.2721.2970.186 1069Nicky HAYDENHONDA1'51.2961.3210.024 117Chris VERMEULENSUZUKI1'51.4361.4610.140 124Andrea DOVIZIOSOHONDA1'51.6991.7240.263 1314Randy DE PUNIETHONDA1'51.7601.7850.061 1448Jorge LORENZOYAMAHA1'51.9401.9650.180 1524Toni ELIASDUCATI1'51.9691.9940.029 1652James TOSELANDYAMAHA1'51.9952.0200.026 1733Marco MELANDRIDUCATI1'52.4192.4440.424 1813Anthony WESTKAWASAKI1'52.9672.9920.548 198Tadayuki OKADAHONDA2'00.20110.2267.234 Circuit records Fastest Lap: 19 Dani PEDROSA 1'49.975 171.693 Km/h Cir... More About: Times , Record , 2008 , Territory , Mugello
Repsol Men To Get Pneumatic Engine At Barcelona
2008-05-30 23:27:00 It's been a long time coming, but it looks like the Repsol Honda riders will finally get their hands on the new Honda RC212V engine with pneumatic valve actuation. Toby Moody over at Autosport.com is reporting that Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa will have the option of using the air valve engine at the Catalunya round of MotoGP. Despite the atrocious conditions for free practice today, and a minor crash late in FP2, HRC's engineers have pronounced themselves happy with the new engine's comportment so far. Tady Okada told the HRC crew that both power delivery and handling are good, and their optimism means that they have decided to make the new engine available to both official factory Honda riders at the Grand Prix de Catalunya next weekend. That will be very welcome news to both Pedrosa and Hayden. Like Mugello, the Montmelo track near Barcelona has a long and fast front straights, where top speeds will once again hover round the 200mph mark. The 1000 extra revs the new RC212V p... More About: Engine
2008 Mugello FP2 Times Day 1 - Vermeulen Dominates In The Wet
2008-05-30 17:11:00 Both of today's sessions took place in the wet, but while the track dried out as FP1 progressed, FP2 took place in a proper downpour. With the track soaking, it's no surprise to see Chris Vermeulen's name at the top of the timesheets, the Suzuki man a renowned rain rider. Vermeulen dominated the last 10 minutes or so of the session, and was fast throughout. The big surprise was James Toseland. Toseland has only ridden the track testing a Ducati superbike, and on a brief test of the Ducati MotoGP bike after winning the World Superbike crown in 2004, but the British rookie spent a couple of days after the Le Mans Grand Prix testing rain tires for Michelin at Clermont Ferrand in France. His work has immediately started paying dividends, for until Vermeulen started running very quick times at the end of the session, Toseland was the man to beat. Like Vermeulen, Nicky Hayden got faster towards the end of the session, though Hayden is still struggling in the drier conditions. But Cas... More About: Times , 2008 , Mugello
2008 Mugello FP1 Times Day 1 - Hopkins Tops Wet Weather Surprise
2008-05-30 13:16:00 The session started very wet, but dried up as it went along, with the track drying out and times falling. The Kawasakis and Suzukis were fastest in the drying conditions. When it was still properly wet, it was Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi topping the timesheets. Pos.No.RiderManufacturerFast LapDiffDiff Previous 121John HOPKINSKAWASAKI1'54.053 265Loris CAPIROSSISUZUKI1'54.5200.4670.467 313Anthony WESTKAWASAKI1'55.0210.9680.501 415Alex DE ANGELISHONDA1'55.1411.0880.120 556Shinya NAKANOHONDA1'55.5281.4750.387 64Andrea DOVIZIOSOHONDA1'55.7181.6650.190 77Chris VERMEULENSUZUKI1'55.7741.7210.056 82Dani PEDROSAHONDA1'55.8051.7520.031 91Casey STONERDUCATI1'58.6184.5652.813 1046Valentino ROSSIYAMAHA1'58.6724.6190.054 1114Randy DE PUNIETHONDA1'59.2405.1870.568 1269Nicky HAYDENHONDA1'59.4365.3830.196 1352James TOSELANDYAMAHA1'59.8995.8460.463 1448Jorge LORENZOYAMAHA2'00.0045.9510.105 1533Marco MELANDRIDUCATI2'00.1626.1090.158 1650Sylvain GUINTOLIDUCATI2'01.7187.6651.556 1... More About: Weather , Tops , Times , Hopkins , 2008
2008 Mugello MotoGP Preview - Physical Poetry
2008-05-30 02:29:00 Over the next few days, it is going to be impossible for any MotoGP fan worth their salt to avoid hearing the phrase "nestling in the Tuscan hills." For the MotoGP circus returns once again to Mugello , one of the most beautifully situated race tracks in the world. The Italian track seems to bring out the poetical in even the most hard-nosed and cynical of journalists and press officers, and before you know it, you are awash with press releases and previews sounding more like paeans to the pastoral idyll in which the circuit is located than cool analyses of the race that is to come. Once you visit Mugello, it's not hard to see how this happens. Mugello sits in a rich green valley, just to the north of Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and arguably the modern world, and just south of the imposing peaks of the Apennines. The soil is fertile, the climate is warm without being too hot, the proximity of the Mediterranean both moderating the harsh summer heat and providing a re... More About: Poetry , Preview , Physical , 2008
Spies Opens Talks With Ducati For 2009
2008-05-28 15:49:00 That Ben Spies will be moving to MotoGP in 2009 is common knowledge. For over a year now, Spies has talked openly of wanting to make the switch to the premier class of motorcycle racing, and has always spoken of doing so with Suzuki. A logical choice, given Spies' (relatively) long association with the marque. But lately, progress towards this goal has stalled, as problems have arisen over the price of leasing a GSV-R from Suzuki. Jorge Martinez, boss of the Aspar team which dominates both the 125 and 250 classes, has already complained in private of the amount of money which Suzuki wants for a bike, and is currently in talks with Ducati for a bike to run rising 250 star Alvaro Bautista on in MotoGP next season. Now, it is starting to become apparent just how determined Spies is to get into MotoGP. Motorcycle News is reporting that Spies' manager Doug Gonda has approached Ducati about a ride in 2009. With both factory seats ostensibly taken for next year, Casey Stoner's contract...
Aprilia To Return To MotoGP
More articles from this author:2008-05-22 12:55:00 The proposed changes to the 250 class - with the 250 cc two-stroke twins likely to be replaced with rev-limited, spec ECU 625cc four-stroke inline fours - is having an unexpected effect on the MotoGP class. With KTM and Aprilia currently mainstay of the 250 class, the Japanese manufacturers having withdrawn factory support some time ago, the two European factories are extremely displeased with the new proposed measures. But unless they can persuade all of the manufacturers gathered in the MSMA to vote against the proposals, the two strokes are doomed. Aprilia now seems to have decided that, with no experience of building engines in the proposed new format, it would be better to focus its attention elsewhere. The Noale factory has already announced plans to enter the World Superbike series in 2009 with a new 1000cc V4, and now, according to MCN, Aprilia are working on a new engine for entry in the MotoGP class. The engine will also be in a V4 layout, and is expected to start dyno t... More About: Return 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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