MotoGP
Rossi: “I Would Feel Like A Traitor Going To Ducati”
Source: MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks - ... that the winter is now officially over for racing fans - Friday, 12th March 2010, 13:51 GMTJust over a month ago today, Valentino Rossi vowed to stop talking about his future in the press. But like everyone who has vowed to give up smoking or lose weight at the start of a new year, Rossi has found that such resolutions can be incredibly difficult to maintain. For at the ceremony on Thursday night where Rossi was presented with the "Winning Italy Award" in recognition of his work in improving Italy's public image abroad, Rossi was once again tempted into making statements on where he will be riding next season. In response to questions about how much longer he will stay in MotoGP, the Italian living legend put the fears of MotoGP fans and organizers to rest: "I am again enjoying the sport and the desire to compete, so I think I will continue for some more years," Rossi told the press. Rossi could not avoid the question on all of Italy's mind, either. When asked about a potential switch to Ducati, Rossi was very clear: "An Italian on an Italian bike would be nice, yes. But I think I want to stay with Yamaha, which is also a little bit Italian. I would feel like a traitor if I acted any other way, because I feel very good with them." read more Read article
Suzuki Reveal 2010 MotoGP Livery
Source: MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks - ... that the winter is now officially over for racing fans - Friday, 12th March 2010, 13:31 GMTAfter Yamaha and Ducati revealed their 2010 bikes, today it was the turn of the smallest of the manufacturers, Suzuki. The Rizla sponsorship remains, with the brand strengthened by having the livery designed by the famous American firm of Troy Lee Designs. The traditional Rizla powder blue remains, but the darker elements make the bike look squatter and rather more brooding. Much more like a MotoGP should look. Suzuki also released the specifications of the bike, but like the specs provided by every manufacturer in MotoGP, they do not reveal any real information of note, such as bore, stroke, V angle, etc. The engine has received significant upgrades over the winter, to produce more horsepower and better engine characteristics, an improvement which saw both Loris Capirossi and Alvaro Bautista leap up the timesheets during the last test at Sepang. Suzuki has a strong record of testing at the Malaysian track, but they tend to start slipping backwards as the season goes on. With the veteran/rookie pairing of Capirossi and Bautista, perhaps this is the year that Suzuki turns the corner. Here's Alvaro Bautista's bike: read more Read article
Qatar night lights beckon for final pre-season MotoGP Test
Source: News RSS on motogp.com - The Official MotoGP Website - Friday, 12th March 2010, 12:41 GMTThe last MotoGP 2010 pre-season test will take place under the floodlights at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th March. Read article
Silverstone announces top class support race package for 2010 AirAsia British Grand Prix
Source: Latest News Articles from ACU.org.uk - Friday, 12th March 2010, 10:32 GMTMOTOGP, the world’s premier motorcycle race series, returns to Silverstone on 18-20 June and the Northamptonshire Circuit has announced details of a top class support race package for the 2010 AirAsia British Grand Prix. In addition to the three FIM World Championships - namely MotoGP, new Moto2 and 125cc classes - the AirAsia British Grand Prix weekend will feature two rounds of the ultra competitive Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship and a round of the 250GP ACU National Championship. This year’s National Superstock Championship is gearing up to be one of the most hotly contested in history, boasting eight manufacturers – BMW, Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Ducati, Aprilia and KTM – and multiple British Championship winning riders, including Steve Plater, Glen Richards, John McGuinness, Karl Harris and Scott Smart. By virtue of the Championship’s position on the race programme, the 1000cc Superstock bikes will also be the first ever to compete on Silverstone’s new Grand Prix circuit. The British Grand Prix programme will be completed by a round of the 250GP ACU National Championship, with a full grid of 250cc 2-strokes, celebrating the class which, in 2009, saw its final year as a World Championship category. Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented, “In terms of quality on-track content, Silverstone is delivering the very best race package for fans. Everyone’s looking forward to seeing the likes of Rossi, Stoner and Lorenzo go head to head around the super-fast, technically challenging circuit here at Silverstone. In addition to MotoGP, the World Moto2 Championship will be making its UK debut, with Scott Redding flying the flag for the Brits, and there’s a great chance of British success in the World 125 GP, with Bradley Smith and Danny Webb leading the charge. “Add to this, two rounds of the National Superstock 1000 Championship, featuring the cream of British Championship racing stars, and the 250GP ACU National Championship race, ensuring the distinctive sounds and smells of 250cc 2-strokes ring around Silverstone, and we have a fantastic offering for the fans.” Tickets for the AirAsia British Grand Prix are on sale 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For further information, up-to-date availability and to purchase tickets visit www.silverstone.co.uk, or call 0844 3750 500. For information on official hospitality packages, call 0844 3728 230. Read article
Suzuki unveil 2010 livery
Source: News RSS on motogp.com - The Official MotoGP Website - Friday, 12th March 2010, 10:22 GMTSee the first pictures of the new 2010 Rizla Suzuki GSV-R after the MotoGP team revealed the Troy Lee Designs inspired livery. Read article
NATIONAL SUPERSTOCK, 250GP TO SUPPORT SILVERSTONE MOTOGP
Source: Bike Sport News RSS Feed - Friday, 12th March 2010, 0:00 GMT250cc bikes back on the MotoGP grid at Silverstone Read article
Silverstone track works nearing completion
Source: Latest News Articles from ACU.org.uk - Thursday, 11th March 2010, 19:03 GMTWORK on the new Grand Prix Circuit at Silverstone is nearing completion as the Northamptonshire venue’s multi-million pound investment in a new track layout and improved spectator facilities remains on schedule to be finished by the end of March. The new circuit will host a number of world class events in 2010, including the blue-riband MotoGP and World Superbike motorcycle races on 18-20 June and 31 July - 01 August respectively. The first major international event to test out the new circuit will be the Silverstone Supercar featuring the FIA GT1 World Championship, on 01-02 May. Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, said, “Work on the circuit and venue is on schedule. The team has been working around the clock, through some pretty terrible weather conditions, to make sure the circuit is ready on time. The track works at Brooklands and Woodcote are now complete, including the new run-off area for the fast entry into Pits Straight, while the major new development – the new section of circuit from Abbey, up to the Arena Complex and round to the National Straight – is also coming along nicely. “There is still a considerable amount of work going on at Silverstone, including the new elevated banks and spectator viewing areas, which will continue beyond March. Conference and hospitality buildings are also being built on the new Stowe Complex.” Click on the following link to access the latest images, highlighting work that has been carried out at Silverstone (to date): http://www.flickr.com/photos/48246033@N08/sets/72157623578111068/detail. ACU Business Development Manager Dave Luscombe said: “It is great to see Silverstone coming on so quickly and everything is on schedule for the MotoGP round in June. It is nice to be sharing the same venue as the British Formula One round and the facilities I am sure will be second to none for the bikes. Well done to Silverstone for listening to the bike racers and making the changes requested to turn it into one of the best motorcycle tracks in the world.” Read article
BOS Release Can for BMW S1000RR
Source: The Latest Motorcycle News - Wednesday, 10th March 2010, 19:57 GMTPerformance exhaust specialist BOS has developed a MotoGP style slip-on silencer for BMW’s 193bhp S1000RR sports bike. Read article
Silverstone track developments on schedule
Source: | Motorcycle Sport | World Superbikes - Wednesday, 10th March 2010, 13:33 GMTSilverstone’s new track developments are nearing completion with the new layout and spectator facilities expected to be finished by the end of the month. The Northamptonshire circuit will host BSB, WSB and MotoGP events during 2010. Silverstone’s Managing Director Richard... Read article
Freddie Spencer’s Championship Bikes For Sale
Source: MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks - ... that the winter is now officially over for racing fans - Wednesday, 10th March 2010, 12:40 GMTAsk some of the veterans of the MotoGP paddock who the greatest racer of all time was, and you'll get a fairly short list of names, usually including Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Kevin Schwantz. But the answer to that question is almost always followed up by the words "And then there's Freddie Spencer, of course..." Spencer's career was cut short by a wrist injury, but before he was forced to retire, the young American shocked the world by being the only man to win both the 500cc and 250cc World Championships in the same year. Fast Freddie was precocious, sensitive and blindingly, mind-bogglingly fast. Since retiring from racing, Spencer's fortunes have been very mixed. The Louisiana native ran a successful riding school and was the motorcycle racing commentator for the US SpeedTV channel, but both of those ventures have gone sour. Spencer's riding school was forced to shut down at the end of 2008, after financial problems saw the instructors go unpaid and the bikes repossessed. Spencer's commentary work also dried up, with Daytona legend Scott Russell taking his place in the commentary booth. read more Read article
