Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme : FIM Road Racing News

Team offers ticket discount

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:09:00 +0100

The Parkalgar Honda team has offered fans the chance to buy discounted tickets for the second round of the FIM Superbike World Championship in Portugal.

Tickets for the round at Portimao can be purchased at discounted prices which are a minimum 15% below the full price, depending on the original price of the ticket.

Parkalgar Honda leads the FIM Supersport World Championship after Eugene Laverty won the opening round in Australia.

Youngsters get GP chance

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:58:00 +0100

Young riders aspiring to become a future FIM MotoGP World Championship rider have been invited to take part in the official feeder series to the world championships, the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Riders should begin the tough process of joining motorcycle racing's world championship elite by applying online at www.redbullrookiescup.com.

They will then post their results online throughout the 2010 season to keep the judges up to date of their on-track progress.

A selection event will then take place in October when the riders will get the chance to win a place in the 2011 series.

Rea goes back to school

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:32:00 +0100

Jonathan Rea, who races for the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team in the FIM Superbike World Championship went back to school in Northern Ireland to take part in a Honda School of Dreams workshop for nine to 13-year-olds and education providers.

Rea visited Holy Trinity College in Cookstown as part of a programme designed to encourage children to pursue their dreams and was able to pass on his experiences of realising his own dream to become a professional motorcycle racer.

Chris Callan, Science Technician from Holy Trinity College, said: "The pupils really loved the two days, and it was great to see the pupils from different schools working together in their teams. It will have helped them realise that as individuals they are unique, but that school life and life in general requires teamwork."

Rea added: "Honda is really good at this kind of thing, and I love getting involved and putting something back. It was a great day and a brilliant opportunity to tell the kids how I went about pursuing my own dreams. I'd also forgotten how good school desserts are!"

Silverstone work on schedule

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:18:00 +0100

Work is on schedule at the Silverstone circuit which will stage rounds of both the FIM MotoGP World Championship and FIM Superbike World Championship this season.

The Northamptonshire venue has seen many changes over the winter as it gets ready to stage MotoGP and World Superbike racing on June 20 and August 1 respectively.

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."

Toni Elías leads day two at Jerez

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:34:00 +0100

The Spanish rider sets the best Moto2 time of the day on Sunday, with Yonny Hernández and Kenny Noyes also inside the top three places on the timesheet.
The adjective that best defined the second day of testing at Jerez, is intermittent! Less intense than yesterday, the rain made an appearance at intervals throughout the day, restricting further the work of the teams moved to the Andalusian track. Until one in the afternoon, the asphalt dried up, still wet from the deluge night, but ten minutes later you have started to rain, forcing all riders to reach their garages. So, there has been a limited working range, and generally the drivers completed a few laps.

Combined results Moto2 Sunday Test day 2 - Jerez
1    24-Toni ELIAS GRESINI RACING MOTO2-1:45.024
2    68- Yonny HERNANDEZ BLUSENS-STX-1:45.528
3    9- Kenny NOYES JACK&JONES BY A. BANDERAS- 1:45.704
4    15- Alex DE ANGELIS SCOT RACING TEAM -1:45.732
5    16- Jules CLUZEL FORWARD RACING-1:45.765
6    71-Claudio CORTI FORWARD RACING-1:45.889
7    12 -Thomas LUTHI INTERWETTEN MOIWAKI MOTO-1:45.902
8    44- Roberto ROLFO ITALTRANS S.T.R.-1:45.865
9    48 -Shoya TOMIZAWA TECHNOMAG-CIP -1:45.969
10    60- Julian SIMON MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM- 1:46.193
11    40 -Sergio GADEA PONS RACING-1:46.418
12    80- Axel PONS PONS RACING -1:46.492
12    15- Alex DE ANGELIS SCOT RACING TEAM-1:47.096
13    35- Raffaele DE ROSA TECH 3 RACING-1:46.505
14    4-Stefan BRADL VIESSMANN KIEFER RACING-1:47.120
14    25-Alex BALDOLINI CARETTA TECHNOLOGY RACE-1:46.548
15    17- Karel ABRAHAM CARDION AB MOTORACING-1:47.141
15    6-Alex DEBON AEROPORT DE CASTELLO-1:46.566
16    59- Niccolo CANEPA SCOT RACING TEAM -1:46.569
17    63- Mike DI MEGLIO MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM-1:46.573
18    41 -Arne TODE RACING TEAM GERMANY-1:46.660
19    53-Valentin DEBISE WTR SAN MARINO TEAM-1:47.283
19    75-Mattia PASINI JIR MOTO2-1:46.712
20    8- Anthony WEST MZ RACING TEAM-1:46.716
20    25-Alex BALDOLINI CARETTA TECHNOLOGY RACE-1:47.312
21    72-Yuki TAKAHASHI TECH3 RACING-1:46.785
22    53-Valentin DEBISE WTR SAN MARINO TEAM-1:46.821
23    4-Stefan BRADL VIESSMANN KIEFER RACING-1:46.837
24    10-Fonsi NIETO G22 HOLIDAY GYM-1:46.875
25    17-Karel ABRAHAM CARDION AB MOTORACING-1:46.900
26    61- Vladimir IVANOV GRESINI RACING MOTO2-1:47.145
27    5- Joan OLIVE JACK&JONES BY A. BANDERAS-1:47.152
27    10- Fonsi NIETO G22 HOLIDAY GYM-1:48.336
28    52- Lukas PESEK MATTEONI CP RACING-1:47.175
29    77 -Dominique AEGERTER TECHNOMAG-CIP-1:47.399
30    45 -Scott REDDING MARC VDS RACING TEAM-1:47.561
31    95- Mashel AL NAIMI BLUSENS-STX-1:48.096
32    39- Robertino PIETRI ITALTRANS S.T.R.-1:48.181
33    3 -Simone CORSI JIR MOTO2-1:48.440
34    21-Vladimir LEONOV VECTOR KIEFER RACING-1:48.622
35    27- Vincent LONBOIS MARC VDS RACING TEAM-1:49.234
36    88- Yannick GUERRA G22 HOLIDAY GYM-1:49.510

First day of Moto2 Test at Jerez, classification

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:10:00 +0100

The morning rain which limited early activity on the morning of the first day of the official test at Jerez today (Saturday) had disappeared by the afternoon, allowing the majority of the riders of the intermediate category to take to the Andalusian track.

Combined results Moto2 Test Jerez
1- 15- Alex DE ANGELIS SCOT RACING TEAM -1:55.835
2 -35- Raffaele DE ROSA TECH 3 RACING-1:56.054
3 -24- Toni ELIAS GRESINI RACING MOTO2-1:56.246
4-12 -Thomas LUTHI INTERWETTEN MOIWAKI MOTO-1:56.624
5- 16- Jules CLUZEL FORWARD RACING-1:56.662
6- 3 -Simone CORSI JIR MOTO2 -1:56.963
7 -41 -Arne TODE RACING TEAM GERMANY-1:57.096
8- 25-Alex BALDOLINI CARETTA TECHNOLOGY RACE-1:57.659
9 -80- Axel PONS PONS RACING -1:57.744
10- 60- Julian SIMON MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM- 1:57.897
11- 53-Valentin DEBISE WTR SAN MARINO TEAM- 1:57.925
12 -9- Kenny NOYES JACK&JONES BY A. BANDERAS- 1:58.075
13- 17- Karel ABRAHAM CARDION AB MOTORACING- 1:58.641
14- 5- Joan OLIVE JACK&JONES BY A. BANDERAS-1:58.788
15- 59- Niccolo CANEPA SCOT RACING TEAM -1:59.085
16 -40 -Sergio GADEA PONS RACING-1:59.388
17 -77 -Dominique AEGERTER TECHNOMAG-CIP- 1:59.421
18- 68- Yonny HERNANDEZ BLUSENS-STX -1:59.607
19 -52- Lukas PESEK MATTEONI CP RACING- 1:59.662
20-48 -Shoya TOMIZAWA TECHNOMAG-CIP -2:00.234
21 -45 -Scott REDDING MARC VDS RACING TEAM - 2:00.550
22 -61- Vladimir IVANOV GRESINI RACING MOTO2 - 2:00.612
23- 44- Roberto ROLFO ITALTRANS S.T.R.- 2:00.897
24- 95- Mashel AL NAIMI BLUSENS-STX -2:01.111
25 -10- Fonsi NIETO G22 HOLIDAY GYM- 2:01.143
26 -63- Mike DI MEGLIO MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM- 2:02.213
27- 27- Vincent LONBOIS MARC VDS RACING TEAM -2:02.376
28 -8- Anthony WEST MZ RACING TEAM -32:02.819
29 -39- Robertino PIETRI ITALTRANS S.T.R.- 2:04.629
30- 88- Yannick GUERRA G22 HOLIDAY GYM- 2:07.049

Photos:
1- Alex DE ANGELIS
2- Raffaele DE ROSA
3- Toni ELIAS

Edwards impressed with Yamaha efforts

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:21:00 +0100

Colin Edwards believes Yamaha have excelled themselves in their efforts over the winter to provide him with an improved bike for the upcoming FIM MotoGP World Championship campaign.

The outspoken Texan shone for the satellite Tech 3 team last year, finishing fifth in the riders' standings while the factory bikes of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo dominated at the front.

Edwards again looks set to be on the pace in 2010, with two top-five finishes at recent Sepang tests, and he believes Yamaha have been shrewd with their approach to the new YZR-M1 machine.

"Even though Yamaha kicked ass last year and they had the best bike on the grid, they have been working hard in a few different areas and they've made improvements for my riding style. Hats off to them," Edwards told www.motorcyclenews.com.

Yamaha have introduced a revised chassis and swingarm, and a new electronics package on the new bike, all of which have been well received by Edwards.

"They have not reinvented the wheel because I can remember coming to Sepang before and having a completely new bike with new engine and new chassis and new everything. That cost a lot of money," he added.

"When you talk about what they've brought new, it's not that much but all of it is in the right area.

"As long as you spend the money where you need to, it works out."

Bautista tipped to shine at Suzuki

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:38:00 +0100

Suzuki's MotoGP boss Paul Denning is expecting new boy Alvaro Bautista to shine for the team in the forthcoming FIM MotoGP World Championship season.

The Spaniard raised a few eyebrows in Sepang when he finished 10th at the second pre-season test of 2010, and Denning is optimistic Bautista will prove the perfect foil for team-mate Loris Capirossi on the factory GSV-R.

"It's a fresh start and the main reason Suzuki went with Alvaro is that from a racing point of view a rider can always make a difference," Denning told www.motorcyclenews.com.

"And the big attraction with Alvaro is that on race day and he comes out with the gloves on and is just desperate to race.

"So many times he's had bad weekends on Friday and Saturday but he just forgets it and is right up there battling with the front guys.

"His spirit and enthusiasm is a nice thing to introduce to the garage and we are a bit lucky in our choice.

"He's good at what he does but he's not a superstar. He's grounded and a normal lad and fits in superbly well."

Moto2 & 125cc official tests continue in Jerez

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:30:00 +0100

From Saturday 6 until Monday 8 March, the teams and riders from the Moto2 and 125cc World Championship categories will continue the work for the second official winter test of the pre-season at Jerez.

Earlier in the week in Valencia, the riders of the new intermediate category were able for the first time to ride with the official Honda engines on the new 4-stroke 600cc machines.

2010 Winter Test FIM Road Racing World Championship GP - Moto2 Classification - Valencia

Pos-N°-Rider-Team-Nationality-Machine-Time-Km/h
1 -60- SIMON,Julián- MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM D- ESP- RSV -01:37,156-147,41
2- 9- NOYES,Kenny- JACK&JONES-BANDERAS D-USA Promoharris-01:37,371-147,59
3 -24- ELIAS,Toni- GRESINI RACING F- ESP- Moriwaki -01:37,530 -147,83
4 -71- CORTI,Claudio FORWARD RACING F- ITA- Suter-01:37,579-147,53
5- 72- TAKAHASHI,Yuki TECH 3 RACING F- JPN -Tech 3-01:37,635 -146,72
6- 15- ANGELIS,Alex De SCOT RACING TEAM F- SMA Scot- 01:37,687-144,54
7- 61- IVANOV,Vladimir GRESINI RACING C -RUS -Moriwaki- 01:38,040 -147,06
8- 12 -LUTHI,Thomas INTERWETTEN MORIW. D SUI- Moriwaki-01:38,056-145,82
9- 68- HERNANDEZ,Yonny BLUSENS-STX D- COL -BQR-01:38,144-145,29
10 -10- NIETO,Fonsi G22 HOLIDAYGYM D -ESP -Moriwaki- 01:38,151-144,79
11- 53- DEBISE,Valentin WTR SAN MARINO T. D- FRA- ADV-01:38,190 -143,69
12 -17- ABRAHAM,Karel CARDION AB MOTORA. D- CZE -RSV- 01:38,260-146,16
13- 16- CLUZEL,Jules FORWARD RACING F -FRA- Suter-01:38,301-144,46
14- 35- ROSA,Raffaele De TECH 3 RACING F- ITA- Tech 3-01:38,426-146,04
15 -40- GADEA,Sergio PONS RACING F ESP- Pons- Kalex-01:38,456 -144,93
16- 80 PONS,Axel PONS RACING F ESP- Pons- Kalex- 01:38,459-145,12
17- 2 -TALMACSI,Gabor SPEED UP F- HUN -Speed Up-01:38,512-143,99
18 -8- WEST,Anthony MZ RACING T. F -AUS- MZ- 01:38,523 -145,48
19- 25- BALDOLINI,Alex CARETTA TECH.R.DEPT. F- ITA -I.C.P.-01:38,542 -143,37
20- 63- MEGLIO,Mike Di MAPFRE ASPAR TEAM D -FRA- RSV-01:38,572-144,58
21- 59- CANEPA,Niccolo SCOT RACING TEAM F- ITA- Scot- 01:38,671-144,94
22- 48 -TOMIZAWA,Shoya TECHNOMAG-CIP F -JPN -Suter-01:38,681 -143,38
23 -41 -TODE,Arne RACING T. GERMANY D -GER- Suter -01:38,783-142,74
24- 4- BRADL,Stefan VIESSMANN KIEFER R. F- GER- Suter-01:38,893 -143,47
25 -5- OLIVE,Joan JACK&JONES-BANDERAS D -ESP- Promoharris-01:38,940 -145,15
26- 6- DEBON,Alex AEROP.CASTELLO-AJO D -ESP- FTR-01:38,977-144,21
27- 77- AEGERTER,Dominique TECHNOMAG-CIP -F -SUI Suter-01:38,988 -145,05
28- 45- REDDING,Scott MARC VDS RACING T. -E- GBR Suter-01:39,198-144
29 -95- NAIMI,Mashel Al BLUSENS-STX D -QAT- BQR-01:39,212-143,71
30 -39- PIETRI,Robertino ITALTRANS S.T.R. F- VNZ- Suter-01:39,339 -142,34
31- 75- PASINI,Mattia JIR MOTO2 F ITA -TSR-01:39,701-142,57
32 -29- IANNONE,Andrea SPEED UP F- ITA- Speed Up-01:39,999-140,46
33- 52- PESEK,Lukas MATTEONI CP R. F- CZE- Moriwaki-01:40,254-141,32
34- 27 -LONBOIS,Vincent MARC VDS RACING T.- E- BEL Suter-01:40,525-141,62

Simon sets the pace in Valencia

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:40:00 +0100

Julian Simon set the fastest time at the three-day test FIM Moto2 World Championship test at Valencia in Spain.

Last year's 125cc world champion, riding for the Mapfre Aspar team, set a best time of one minute 37.156 seconds at the Ricardo Tormo circuit to head America's Kenny Noyes by just over two tenths of a second.

Former MotoGP riders Toni Elias, Yuki Takahashi and Alex De Angelis showed good pace throughout the three days and ended up third, fifth and sixth respectively.

Scott Redding, the only British rider present, ended the running down in 28th place for the Marc VDS Racing Team but was happy with the progress the team had made.

He told Motorcycle News: "The weather was pretty changeable, and we've had a few issues with the bike over the three days, so we didn't get quite as much track time as we were hoping for here in Valencia.

"Having said that, I'm pretty happy with how far we've progressed. We think we've found the cause of the chatter that was a problem in Catalunya, but rain on the last day meant that we weren't able to confirm this.

"We need to continue with improving the set-up, sure, but I also need to start opening the throttle and pushing for a fast lap time now."