WSBK- arrived in the US- Miller Motorsports Park

Names of the turns:

Start line- Release
1st- Sunset bend
2nd- dreamboat
3rd- work-out
4th- scream
5th- Black Rock Hairpin
6th- Right Hook
7th- Knock Out
8th- Witchcraft
9th- First Attitude
10th- Second Attitude
11th - Bad Attitude
11th- Tooele Turn
12th- Kink
13th- Club House Corner
14th Wind up

Statistics: From Kyalami to Miller

SPIES GOES DOWN IN HISTORY: Six straight poles for the American, who equalled his compatriot Doug Polen for the longest ever all-time sequence. Polen recorded his streak in 1991, from Osterreichring to Hockenheim. Spies obtained his record by a whisker, since his gap to second qualified Fabrizio was only 0"001, the smallest in history, beating the 0"002 recorded between Akira Yanagawa and Wataru Yoshikawa at Sugo, 1997.

11 OUT OF 12: After the Kyalami races, Noriyuki Haga counts eleven podiums in twelve races, his only retirement being the second race at Monza. In championship history the riders who managed to score eleven or more podiums in twelve races were always crowned champions at the end of the season. This is the list: Carl Fogarty, 12 podiums out of 12 races in 1995, 11 out of 12 in 1999; Colin Edwards in 2002 (11 podiums); Neil Hodgson in 2003 (12); Troy Corser in 2005 (12). Also the riders with ten podiums out of twelve races were crowned champions: Raymond Roche in 1990 and Troy Bayliss in 2006.

HAGA'S ADVANTAGE: 85 points over the second classified in the championship is a safe margin towards the world title. That's what the statistics say. Only three times in history after twelve races has the championship leader managed to have a larger advantage, and in all cases he was crowned champion: in 2003, Neil Hodgson had 130 points over James Toseland; in 1995, Carl Fogarty, 114 points advantage over Aaron Slight; in 2006, Troy Bayliss, 94 points over Haga. The "safety margin" after the twelfth race goes down to 34 points. With this advantage or more, all the riders managed to secure the title. This is the list: Corser in 2005 (73), Doug Polen in 1991 (50), Carl Fogarty in 1999 (45), Colin Edwards in 2000 (42), James Toseland in 2007 (35), Raymond Roche in 1990 (34). Haga at Kyalami set a milestone related to number of points gained: in his career he racked up 3049 points, the third all-time rider to pass the 3000 mark. The other two are Carl Fogarty (3020) and Troy Corser (3708.5).

STEVE MARTIN: Thanks to his participation with the BMW squad, Steve Martin extended his longevity records in the World Superbike Championship: he is the only rider who has participated in eighteen different seasons, keeping the distance to Corser, who at the moment counts fifteen, and he is the rider with the longest timespan between his first and last race: 19 years, 6 months and 5 days. His first race was at Oran Park in 1989. The second in this ranking is always Troy Corser, with 16 years, 6 months and 22 days separating Phillip Island 1992 and Monza 2009.

NATIONS: Noriyuki Haga at Kyalami scored the 58th win for Japan, which now needs only one win to reach Italy at the fourth place all-time. The current ranking is Australia with 119 wins, USA with 109, Great Britain 98, Italy 59 and Japan 58. Sheridan Morais was the eighth South African rider to take part in a World Superbike race and the first to score points since Lance Isaacs at Oschersleben, 2000 (14th). Shaun Whyte was the first Zimbabwean rider in World Superbike history.

KYALAMI RACE NOTES

Maiden podium for Jonathan Rea, the thirteenth youngest in history with 22 years, 3 months and 15 days;

Ducati set its 20th straight front row. The absolute record belongs to the Italian manufacturer, with 71 straight front rows from USA 1991 to Australia 1996;

First Supersport podium for Mark Aitchison.

MILESTONES IN THE UNITED STATES:

(from 1989 to 1991 the race was held at Brainerd, from 1995 to 2004 at Laguna Seca)

1989: first win for the future World Champion Raymond Roche;

1990: first win for Doug Chandler, who in qualifying scored the first Kawasaki pole;

1995: another milestone for Kawasaki, which scored its 25th win with Anthony Gobert;

1997: tenth win for John Kocinski;<

1999: first win for Ben Bostrom;

2000: tenth win for Noriyuki Haga, first pole position for Troy Bayliss;

2001: 150th win for Troy Corser;

2002: 100th race for Noriyuki Haga;

2008: first pole and win for Carlos Checa, 100th win for Honda.

The last three editions of the US Round

<2008>

At the start of race 1 Bayliss was the fastest off the line and was first into the first corner in front of Neukirchner and Biaggi, who had a rocket start from ninth in grid. The rider who didn't have such a good start was Fabrizio, who was down in fourteenth at the end of the first lap. Biaggi's good luck however was short-lived as he was passed by Checa and Corser in the space of a couple of turns, then on the second lap he was touched by Haga, went wide and came back on track only seventeenth; in the meanwhile Neukirchner passed Bayliss for the lead. Checa was the man on the move and didn't stay long in third as on the very next lap he passed Bayliss and moved onto Neukirchner's tail, one more lap and he was in the lead and started pulling away. Behind him Bayliss caught Neukirchner. On the fifth lap however two major falls affected the race: first was Bayliss, who lost the back end of his bike on the final turn and highsided, landing in the middle of the racing line, with bikes screaming past around him. There were scary moments before the Australian managed to gain a safe place on the outside of the track. Bayliss had just managed to get to safety when another rider was on the ground: Haga, who lost the front and slid off. When the Japanese rider came to his feet he was clearly suffering with his right arm, the one with the collarbone he broke in practice. Bayliss' accident scattered Checa's rivals and Carlos gained momentum to pull away. At the end of the following lap he was over two seconds clear of the rest and from that moment on he could never be caught up to the end when he gained his first ever Superbike win. Behind him Neukirchner seemed to be a safe second until the final stages, when first Corser and then Fabrizio overtook him and left him fourth.

In race 2 Max Neukirchner seemed to be fueled up to win as he moved from the third place he occupied on the first turn behind Bayliss and Corser to the lead on lap three and started pulling away. Checa however was having none of it and after a cautious approach at the first stages started to fight back and on the fifth lap passed both Corser and Bayliss, setting after Neukirchner, who already had more than a second over him. On the very next lap another drama: Bayliss slowed down because a gearbox lever went loose, leaving him with no gears. The disappointed Australian reached the pits, where the problem was fixed, but when he regained the track he was two laps down. Checa in the meantime closed on Neukirchner, while behind them there was Biaggi, leading the two Yamahas of Corser and Haga, the latter always suffering and nonetheless giving it all as usual. On the ninth lap Checa passed Neukirchner and soon pulled away to his second win, while behind Neukirchner there was much fighting, because Biaggi had problems in keeping Corser at bay and behind them Michel Fabrizio was charging and catching up. Troy managed to pass the Italian on the fifteenth lap, while Fabrizio sets his sights on Haga and passed him on the next lap, but on the seventeenth lap the situation changed completely as Biaggi went wide and Fabrizio snatched fourth position, which became third after a couple of turns when Corser slid off the track all alone and was out of the race. The remaining laps were a piece of cake for Checa: Neukirchner had a good margin over Fabrizio and the trio finished in this order.

2004 (Laguna Seca) : In race 1 Chris Vermeulen was on a class of his own and he left only some laps in the lead to Toseland, then he pulled away and won with a great margin. In race two Toseland was able to stay with the Australian for the entire race, but wasn't able to challenge him for the win.

2003 (Laguna Seca) : Ruben Xaus was the only rival of Neil Hodgson for the world title and at Laguna Seca the Spaniard tried to reduce his disadvantage in the standings. In race 1 he tried to pull away, but he fell on the ninth lap and left Mat Mladin, Laconi and Chili to fight for the win. Mladin after a handful of laps wasn't able to sustain the pace and dropped off, then Laconi fell and Chili had only to keep an eye on Hodgson to conquer the win. In race 2 Xaus finished what he started in race 1, taking a lonely win, while behind him the battle for second was between Toseland and Hodgson. James eventually fell at the Corkscrew and Hodgson, in order to avoid him, had to take a trip across the sand trap, losing three positions, that he would eventually recover before the end to finish second behind his team-mate.

The Boys arrived in Mugello!

Sorry for not giving any updates in the last couple of weeks, been a crazy time here. But Mugello weekend is starting (and unfortunately I'm not there), but here is some updates and some news from our favorite boys before the weekend starts.

Mugello: Record Lap
C. Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1′50.003

Mugello: Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2008, 1′48.130

Grand Prix Results: Mugello 2008
1. V. Rossi (Yamaha) 42′31.153
2. C. Stoner (Ducati) +2.201
3. D.Pedrosa (Honda) +4.867

. J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) NF

Gran Premio d’Italia Alice racing numbers

Thursday, 28 May 2009- motogp.com

Some key numbers ahead of round five of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

996 - Following his 12th place finish at Le Mans, Nicky Hayden has a career total of 996 points. A top twelve finish at Mugello would make him the 16th rider of all-time to reach the milestone of 1000 career points in the premier-class.

343 - The highest recorded maximum speed at Mugello is 343 kph (213.1 mph) set by Alex Barros on a factory Honda during the race in 2004.

24 - This is the 24th occasion that a GP has been held at Mugello, including 19 consecutive years from 1991.

16 - Valentino Rossi’s 16th place at Le Mans is the first time that he has ever finished last in a Grand Prix race and the first time he has ever finished a race outside a point scoring position.

13 - There has been at least one Italian rider on the podium in the premier-class at Mugello for the last thirteen years.

8 – The last eight riders who have started from pole position across all three classes have failed to convert the pole into a race victory. In fact from the last eight poles only two riders have finished on the podium – Rossi in Japan and Dani Pedrosa at Le Mans.

4 – The first four races of the year in the 250cc class have been won by four different riders (Héctor Barberá, Álvaro Bautista, Hiroshi Aoyama and Marco Simoncelli) which last occurred in 1999 (Loris Capirossi, Shinya Nakano, Valentino Rossi, Tohru Ukawa).

4 – Mugello is one of just four circuits on this year’s calendar where Ducati have not had a MotoGP win. The others are Indianapolis, Estoril and Le Mans.

3 – Last year at Mugello Italian riders won all three GP races: Rossi, Simoncelli and Simone Corsi. This was the first time that Italian riders won all these three classes at the same GP event on home soil since 1975 at Imola.

3 – For the first time in the 60-year history of Grand Prix racing, all three championship classes currently have Spanish riders topping the championship standings.

Fiat Yamaha aim for more success at magnificent Mugello
http://www.rossifiles.com

The Fiat Yamaha Team head to the spectacular Italian circuit of Mugello this weekend flying high at the top of the championship after a formidable start to the season. Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi lie first and second in the riders’ standings while the team, which is based at Gerno di Lesmo, just outside Milan, is leading the team table and Yamaha the Manufacturers’.

22-year-old Lorenzo comes to Italy this weekend in stunning form, lying first in the championship after two wins from four races, with the second having come at the last round in Le Mans. The Spaniard has a good record at Mugello and took victory there from pole in 2006 on the way to his first world championship, but he has a score to settle with the track this time around after sliding out on lap seven on his MotoGP debut there last year. This time he is fully fit and determined to continue the momentum of his season with another trip to the podium.

Rossi shares an unmatched relationship with this Tuscan track, having won there an incredible nine times in thirteen years. The last seven victories have been consecutive, including the last five with Yamaha and this weekend he will be more determined than ever to add another victory to his stunning record. Last time out saw a rare error from Rossi when he fell at Le Mans and he eventually finished last in a race for the first time in his career, meaning he took zero points and surrendered his championship lead to his team-mate, albeit by just one point. This weekend he will put all that behind him in pursuit of more home glory and a second win of the season, when tens of thousands of his passionate Italian fans fill the Mugello amphitheatre and turn the hillsides yellow.

Mugello is one of the fastest and most spectacular circuits in the world, with the 1,141m main straight seeing the 800cc machines reach speeds of over 320km/h before braking into the fearsome downhill right-hander. The track differs from other fast circuits in its frequent changes of gradient and the speed of its chicanes. There is a mix of slower and high-speed corners, although even the slowest corners are still wide – allowing plenty of scope for overtaking as the riders get a choice of line, putting the emphasis as much on their skill as on the precision of their chassis set-up and generally leading to some spectacular racing in an unrivalled atmosphere.

Jorge Lorenzo - “A beautiful circuit”
“Mugello is, along with Phillip Island, the most beautiful circuit that we race at; I love it! Plus I am feeling very confident after our good race in Le Mans. We have had some very strange races with the weather conditions and I would never have expected to recover 24 points in one go. Now we arrive in Italy (where the weather I hope will be better) as leaders, but the most important thing is that I am confident and feeling fit. Last year was not easy for me; I already had problems with my ankles and then I crashed when trying to pass Andrea Dovizioso. Mugello and Montmeló were horrible for me and finished that period of the season having taken no points. This year, just to take some points at this track and at Catalunya will be an improvement and that’s my aim! On Wednesday I will be in Rome, watching Champions League Final with my team, Barcelona, against Manchester United. I hope the weekend begins perfectly for me with that title!”

Valentino Rossi - “Something incredible”
“Racing at Mugello is something incredible for me, but every year it gets more difficult to keep my record going and seven wins in a row is already a lot! I do feel pressure going there, but at the same time it is always amazing and the fans give me an extra motivation that helps me to perform in a different way there. I hope it’s the same again this year, because after Le Mans I really need a good result! It was disappointing but everyone has the occasional bad day and that was ours. Everything possible went wrong but hopefully that is all our bad luck for now and this time, at our home race, we will be back to our best. I always look forward to this race; it’s very busy for me but I have so many amazing memories. Let’s hope to create some more this weekend.”

Daniele Romagnoli - “Motivation is high”
“Heading to race in Mugello after the great victory in Le Mans gives high motivation to Jorge and the entire team. This year the top riders are very close and to stay at the top of the championship we are going to have to make sure we’re always on the podium, so we have to keep a high level of concentration and our feet on the ground. Last year Jorge crashed in the race when he lost the front but we feel confident of a good result this time around because our technical package has been improved and Jorge is much stronger and of course fully fit. It’s the home race for a lot of the guys in our team so we’re looking forward to a great weekend.”

Davide Brivio - “Excited by the challenge”
“Mugello is of course a great and important race for us, but each year it gets a bit harder to keep the winning record. Now we try for Valentino’s eighth in a row but it will be tough because everyone will be out to stop him – he is the man to beat there! It will be difficult but we’re excited by the challenge. After Le Mans we need to get back to the form we showed in Spain; we’re close to the lead but we need to keep the momentum going and try to get as many points as possible. Let’s hope for another Mugello party!”

Stoner: Expect the unexpected

Casey Stoner isn't underestimating the task ahead of him if he is to end Valentino Rossi's seven-race win streak at the Italian's home grand prix - and hand Ducati a long awaited Mugello victory on Sunday.

“We know Valentino is fast, he's won so many times here. Last year we gave it out best, but it wasn't good enough,” said Stoner, who lost out to Rossi by 2.2sec last season.

“Valentino is going to be very, very difficult to beat here. He's got a lot of pressure on him, but he normally performs very well at this circuit.

“I've never had a victory here but I've always been quite fast. We've usually had mixed fortunes; bad qualifying and good race, good race after bad qualifying. So we'll see what happens this year. I really enjoy this circuit.

“It depends what mood its in!” joked Stoner, when asked if Mugello suits the Ducati. “Sometimes we come here and don't have to touch the setting. Just fine tune it. Other times we've had to go upside-down and back-to-front just to be competitive with the front guys.

“But I believe we've got a more competitive package than we've had for the past two seasons and I'm quite confident that we can at least be competitive. Whether we can win the race or not is another thing.”

Stoner starts this weekend's race joint second with Rossi and just one point behind Jorge Lorenzo. Fourth placed Dani Pedrosa is a further eight points behind.

“After four races, compared with last year, we're the only rider in the top four who has actually improved in points,” highlighted Stoner.

“Everyone was saying at the start of the season it was between myself and Valentino but I've always said 'expect the unexpected'. No-one expected me to be up front in 2007 and we won the championship.

“Jorge was fast last year and now he has one year of confidence, Dani had problems with his knee and people discarded him but he's had three podiums. Everybody is riding really well at the moment so we've just got to try and step it up.”

Mugello is used frequently by Ducati for testing.(http://www.crash.ne)

Melandri pushing Kawasaki for new parts

Marco Melandri is hoping to further increase the pressure on Kawasaki to supply new 'go faster' parts for his privately run ZX-RR, after his stunning second place finish last time out at Le Mans.

Melandri's runner-up result in only his fourth grand prix for the Hayate Racing Team - formed to run the Italian after Kawasaki's factory withdraw - equaled the best ever MotoGP result by a factory-run ZX-RR.

It also placed Melandri fifth in the riders' championship, and his 43 points are the highest achieved by any Kawasaki rider after the opening four races of the season. Those 43 points have also put Kawasaki ahead of Suzuki in the constructors' championship and are more than Kawasaki had scored after nine rounds last season.

But despite such success, it seems Kawasaki still has no plans to up its support for Melandri and Hayate, which at present is limited to supplying and maintaining machinery.

Melandri's only option for improving performance is through set-up changes, but he hopes to keep increasing the pressure on the Japanese manufacturer and is keeping his fingers crossed for next month's post-Catalan Grand Prix test.

“The good point for us is that everybody else cannot test a lot, so they don't go forward like in the past,” said Marco. “And we can still maybe improve the bike just by set-up, but I'd really like to push Kawasaki to get some new parts for the bike by getting some more good results.

“We have the one day test coming up after the next race in Barcelona. I don't really expect to get any new parts, but I hope they [Kawasaki] are going to think about something good after the podium at the last race,” he confirmed.

Melandri's Le Mans second means only he and Alex Barros have finished on the podium on four-stroke machines from three different manufacturers since the introduction of the MotoGP formula at the start of 2002.

Last year, while struggling on a factory Ducati, it took Melandri until round twelve to reach 41 points and he hadn't been on the MotoGP podium since 2007.

“It was only my dream to get a podium this year, but when I saw the weather conditions before the race I knew it would be very tricky and that I had to use the situation to do my best,” he said of Le Mans. “I changed bike very early and it was very dangerous and scary because I almost went down at the same corner as Valentino. I was just focused and maybe had a little luck.”

Looking forward to this weekend's home Mugello round, Melandri believes a top ten finish is a realistic goal in the dry.

“I did my first 125 race in the Italian championship here. It is beautiful circuit and one of the best in the world,” he said of the circuit. “I've never been on the podium here in MotoGP so I'm a little disappointed with that but I just want to do a good race and have some nice fights. I hope to be in the top ten... We still need to improve one second to catch the leading guys. Every night I dream about doing that!” (http://www.crash.ne)

No replacement for Gibernau at Mugello

The Grupo Francesco Hernando MotoGP team will not replace the injured Sete Gibernau at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.

Gibernau fractured his left collarbone in a practice accident at Le Mans and will be out of action until at least round six, to be held at Barcelona on June 14.

The withdraw means that the Italian Grand Prix grid has been reduced to just 17 riders.

36-year-old Gibernau returned to MotoGP this season after two years in retirement, and had been approaching full strength in his left shoulder after ligament damage during pre-season training. (http://www.crash.ne)

Hayden hopes for Mugello progress

By Matt Beer

Monday, May 25th 2009, 14:13 GMT

Nicky Hayden is desperate to improve his form at this week's Italian Grand Prix so that the home crowd does not have to see a Ducati in the midfield.

The former world champion has made gradual progress with acclimatising to the Ducati GP9 after joining from Honda this year, but has been hampered by the repeated weather interruptions in practice sessions and a heavy accident in Qatar.

Hayden, who has yet to qualify or finish in the top ten this year, said he had been looking forward to racing a Ducati in Italy for the first time, but did not like the thought of struggling for the team at its most important race.

"It is going to be really nice for me to race at Mugello as a Ducati rider because I can remember from past seasons seeing all the fans dressed in red and cheering on their riders from the grandstand," he said.

"It is an honour and a privilege for me to now be a part of this team and this tradition. I hope with all my heart that I can be competitive because those fans don't deserve to see a Ducati at the back."

He hopes that Friday practice will run smoothly so he can be better prepared for qualifying than he has at this year's opening rounds.

"I'd really like to have some better results on the board and be going into the factory's home race with some more experience under our belts but we are making progress and now I hope we can make a good step on Friday so that we can build on it over the rest of the weekend," Hayden said.

Team boss Livio Suppo is optimistic about Ducati's Mugello prospects following a strong test at the track recently with retired Superbike legend Troy Bayliss and test rider Vitto Guareschi.

"It will be tough, like always, but I think we can do well - as the impressive lap times recorded by Troy and Vitto in the recent test demonstrated," said Suppo.

Ducati is seeking to end arch-rival Valentino Rossi's seven-year winning streak at its home circuit.(http://www.autosport.com)

Pedrosa in pole position at Grand Prix de France

Repsol Honda rider heads the grid at Le Mans after an exciting MotoGP qualifying session at Le Mans.

In-form Spaniard Dani Pedrosa snatched his first pole position of 2009 right at the death of Saturday afternoon’s MotoGP qualifying session at the Grand Prix de France as the riders got the chance to give it full gas on a dry track.

With Le Mans typically experiencing four seasons in a day morning rain gave way to afternoon sunshine, with provisional pole changing hands several times, before Pedrosa made it his own with a best effort of 1’33.974 on his final lap, to take first spot by a 0.005s margin.

The factory Honda rider who appears to be getting stronger every time he gets on his RC212V at present, following an injury plagued winter, will be joined on the front row by fellow Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro).

Valentino Rossi made improvements as the session went on, his final position of fourth being a significant step forward having lapped eleventh fastest on Saturday morning.

Rossi’s compatriot Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and his former team-mate Colin Edwards, who briefly held provisional pole in the session, will line up behind him on the grid.

The third row will feature Rizla Suzuki pair Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi who both qualified within a second of Pedrosa, at a track where Vermeulen took victory in 2007.

The top ten was rounded off by Italian competitor Marco Melandri (Hayate Racing) and home rider Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) who both bounced back from crashes in the hour-long session.

The weathermen have suggested that there is an 80% chance of rain on Sunday at the time of the fourth MotoGP race of the year.

GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE - MotoGP
Le Mans Dry Session

Qualifying Practice

Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Time Lap Total Gap Top Speed
1 3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'33.974 30 30 281.8
2 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'33.979 30 30 0.005 0.005 282.2
3 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'34.049 23 25 0.075 0.070 289.7
4 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'34.106 29 29 0.132 0.057 291.2
5 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'34.300 29 29 0.326 0.194 284.0
6 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'34.330 26 30 0.356 0.030 278.2
7 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'34.676 26 31 0.702 0.346 280.4
8 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'34.839 29 29 0.865 0.163 283.5
9 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'35.008 20 22 1.034 0.169 282.0
10 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1'35.399 19 26 1.425 0.391 290.3
11 24 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'35.431 23 27 1.457 0.032 281.3
12 52 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'35.524 30 30 1.550 0.093 278.4
13 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'35.682 27 27 1.708 0.158 279.3
14 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing DUCATI 1'35.741 8 22 1.767 0.059 278.3
15 72 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP HONDA 1'35.774 25 29 1.800 0.033 283.1
16 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'35.785 25 27 1.811 0.011 278.9
17 88 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing DUCATI 1'36.136 26 29 2.162 0.351 274.9
59 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando DUCATI
Fastest Lap: Lap: 30 Dani PEDROSA 1'33.974 160.32 Km/h
Circuit Record Lap:Valentino ROSSI 1'34.215 159.910 Km/h2008
Circuit Best Lap: Dani PEDROSA 1'32.647 162.617 Km/h 2008


Dry
Air: 18°
Ground: 22°
Humidity: 57%
Practice condition:
Time limit for protest expires 60' after publication of the results - Mr.

Super Six for Spies in Superpole

Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) powered to his sixth successive Superpole triumph at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa, equaling the long-standing record set by his fellow Texan Doug Polen (Ducati) in 1991. The session at Kyalami was one of the most exciting seen so far this season, with a two-way battle between the two Monza winners, Spies and Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox). The outcome was decided in the final seconds, when the Texan responded to his Italian rival with quickest time by just one-thousandth of a second, the smallest margin ever recorded in Superpole.

Third and fourth places on the front row went to Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox). The Italian, who also recorded the top speed of the day at 251.8 km/h on his RSV4, capitalized on his final run to jump up from seventh to third. For points leader Haga, fourth place can be considered an excellent result: the Japanese rider was almost eliminated in the second knock-out phase, but just managed to make the cut by a whisker from Shinya Nakano (Aprilia Racing).

The second row line-up saw an impressive performance from Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), who will be flanked by the best of the privateers, Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati), Hannspree Ten Kate team-mate Carlos Checa and Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike). South African rider Sheridan Morais put in a good performance for eleventh place on the Kawasaki ZX-10R machine vacated temporarily by Tamada, while Suzuki and BMW struggled, with Yukio Kagayama and Ruben Xaus down on the fourth row of the grid.

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'37.288
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'37.289
3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'37.466
4 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'37.544
5 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.634
6 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'37.677
7 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.940
8 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'38.241
9 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'37.935
10 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'37.988
11 132 Morais S. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'38.013
12 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.081
13 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'38.130
14 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'38.171
15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'38.194
16 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'38.733
17 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'38.766
18 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'38.779
19 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'38.880
20 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.001
21 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.831
22 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.852
23 17 Martin S. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'41.227
24 49 Whyte S. (RSA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'41.737

FP at Le Mans

Dovizioso fastest in rain affected MotoGP session

Friday, 15 May 2009
The MotoGP riders were unable to make the most of the reversion to hour-long practices at Le Mans as rain interrupted the first premier class free practice of the Le Mans weekend.

Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso was the fastest MotoGP rider on Friday at the Grand Prix de France as the rain returned at Le Mans and cut short the work that the teams could undertake on the first day.

Under cloudy skies rain began to fall just over half way through the first hour long premier class practice session since the rule change reversion to 60 minute sessions, at which point Dovizioso had set the fastest lap with a best effort of 1’36.136.

The second quickest rider in the curtailed practice was Australian former World Champion Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) with a time of 1’36.194 on the eighth of just ten laps, whilst in-form home rider Randy de Puniet was just behind the front two.

The 2007 Le Mans race-winner Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) also featured in the top five, both within half a second of Italian youngster Dovizioso.

Fiat Yamaha colleagues Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo were sixth and seventh fastest respectively, at the track where they completed a memorable one-two last year.

Rossi’s compatriot Marco Melandri (Hayate Racing) and Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) also featured in a top ten which was rounded off by The Doctor’s former team-mate Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).

After the rain arrived a number of riders went back out on track towards the end of the session on slick tyres but they were unable to improve their times.

Despite the precipitation there were no crashes to report and the MotoGP stars will be back in action for another hour-long run on Saturday morning at 9.55am, before qualifying on Saturday afternoon at 1.55pm.

Dovizioso – 1st

"I'm happy today because we have started in the right way here at Le Mans," said Dovizioso. "I like this track and I was able to be fast right from the beginning of the session.

"Unfortunately it started raining in the middle of the practice and so we didn't do many laps - only 16 in total. This meant we couldn't test so many options on the machine but anyway, we were able to get some useful information and learn that we need to improve the set-up for corner entry.

"The lap times overall were not very fast today and I think they will come down by around two seconds - so today's lap time is not indicative for the weekend."

Casey Stoner – 2nd

"In the first part of the session it felt like we maybe had a problem with the rear tyre because the bike was pretty difficult to ride but we haven’t analyzed the data yet so we don’t know what really happened. We were in and out of the garage a few times before deciding on a complete change, swapping onto my other bike with a completely new tyre. I immediately had a better feeling but we still weren’t getting enough temperature into the tyre, which we think was because the rear setting was too stiff and we weren’t getting enough weight transfer to load the rear and make the tyre work. We changed the set-up but we only had time to do half a lap and then the rain came, which was effectively ‘game over’. It wasn’t much of a session for us because we only completed three proper laps so it would be useful if we could have a dry weekend to have more time to work on the setting. Unfortunately with the way the weather forecast is, I don’t think we’re going to get that!"

Randy DE PUNIET- 3rd

"It was a very short session but I feel confident as my first run out was pretty good," said de Puniet. "The machine was set up as we raced in Jerez with some little adjustments."

The Frenchman decided to stay out while many others pitted as the rain came, and was pleased to get some mileage on the wet track.

"This is Le Mans' typical weather so I am not surprised about that," said de Puniet. "Considering the weather was changing rapidly I stayed outside as long as possible but, at 20 minutes to go, the rain became heavier and I stopped my daily to-do list.

"We will try some engine mapping in tomorrow's session and keep our fingers crossed for the weather conditions."

Dani PEDROSA - fifth

"My physical condition is getting better all the time and I can bend my knee a lot more now - I've almost got full movement," he said.

"Still, I haven't been able to train physically at 100 per cent though, so my condition isn't perfect yet, but it's getting better all the time."

Valentino Rossi - 6th "We always seem to have bad luck with the weather here! The conditions weren't easy today, it was quite cold and the track wasn't so good, and then it rained and so we couldn't use all of the session. It was still useful to get some laps done in the dry though, even if we couldn't learn as much as we would have liked to today. Every lap has it's own small problems and during the first rain break we made some modifications to our setting and actually I was quite confident that we were on the right track. We hoped to get a few more laps before the end of the session once the rain stopped but unfortunately it started again and so we had no real chance to check our work. We know we're fast in the rain but I prefer it dry…the problem is that you never know with Le Mans, the weather seems to change every five minutes!"

Jorge Lorenzo - seventh

“It’s a pity about the rain because we needed the time today, but this is the situation so we have to deal with it. I just hope it doesn’t continue. At least we had some dry track time but the situation of the track wasn’t so good and I was quite slow. We need time at each circuit to learn how our bike works with the Bridgestone tyres and we didn’t really have enough time today, but we will keep trying tomorrow and hopefully we can improve our pace.”

Colin EDWARDS 10th

"It was a really weird day to be honest and I'm a bit confused," said Edwards. "My record proves that I like this track and we know the Yamaha is a really strong package in Le Mans, but right from the start nothing really seemed to work.

"It's obvious we've got a couple of small issues to solve for tomorrow because [works riders] Valentino [Rossi] and Jorge [Lorenzo] are not up near the top either. So out of the box nothing really seems to be working and that is very strange.

"From my side I just don't feel comfortable. Braking and corner entry I'm not that confident and I was running wide quite a lot. It felt like we had a lot of weight on the rear but I need to get my thinking head on tonight, sit down with my guys and figure something out.

"We'll check over some data with Yamaha too because right now I'm a little bit confused. But we've definitely got to do something to make it more comfortable."

James Toseland12th

"From the off we're not too far away but we need time to try things on the bike," said Toseland. "I'm sure the guys behind me are saying the same thing, but we still need to find a comfortable setting and it is a frustrating scenario when you only have one session on a Friday.

"We made the wheelbase longer to get a bit more stability from the bike and I did eight laps and we made some changes based on comments about the good and bad points. But then it started raining so I couldn't see if the changes were moving me in the right direction."

Nicky Hayden - 15th

"We thought we were going to have an hour today but it seems like the weather decided we should stick to 45 minutes! It was a shame about the rain because we obviously have a lot of work to do and we’re in a new situation, where me and Juan need to learn about each other, but we only got two runs in the dry. I constantly got a little faster, a little faster, and then I was really just getting going on my second run when it started to rain. For a while it looked like it couldn’t decide whether it wanted to rain or whether the sun was coming back out but unfortunately the conditions were never back to what we needed. I was planning to go out on the softer tyre and see how that felt but we didn’t get that chance. It’s early days to comment on the relationship with Juan but he clearly knows his stuff and we’ll see how we go."

Bridgestone announce

'white line' markings

Bridgestone officially introduced sidewall markings for its softer compound slick tyres during Friday free practice at Le Mans, after testing possible solutions during the previous Spanish Grand Prix.

From the French Grand Prix onwards, it has been decided that the softer slicks will be marked with a white stripe around the sidewall.

That means that fans watching trackside and on TV will, as in the case of Formula One - where Bridgestone has been the single tyre supplier since 2007 - be able to see instantly which type of rider is using which type of tyre.

Crash.net had asked Bridgestone if it was planning just such a move before the season began.

Surprisingly, there was “no plan to differentiate tyres in MotoGP as is done in Formula One” at that time, but Bridgestone's Hiroshi Yamada now believes it will be “well received”.

“We trialled tyre markings in Jerez with some different methods of tyre marking and after that weekend we decided to apply a white painted stripe to the tyre sidewalls,” he explained.

“This will allow spectators, photographers, TV crews and anyone watching MotoGP to distinguish between the harder and softer compound Bridgestone slick options.

“We have experience of doing this in Formula One, where Bridgestone is also the Official Tyre Supplier, and the feedback we have from that series has been very positive.

“Now four races into our first season as MotoGP's Official Tyre Supplier, we have implemented a system that lets us transfer this experience to our MotoGP tyres, and I hope it will be just as well received in this paddock,” he added.

A green line around the tyre sidewall is used to distinguish the softer compound in Formula One.


GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE

Le Mans Dry Session
MotoGP
Free Practice Nr. 1

1 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'36.136 14 16 282.6
2 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'36.194 8 10 0.058 0.058 287.8
3 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1'36.293 8 15 0.157 0.099 285.4
4 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'36.301 12 16 0.165 0.008 274.5
5 3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'36.476 10 17 0.340 0.175 274.2
6 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'36.751 14 18 0.615 0.275 285.9
7 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'37.024 12 19 0.888 0.273 265.9
8 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'37.024 13 17 0.888 281.8
9 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'37.224 14 17 1.088 0.200 280.4
10 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'37.269 15 18 1.133 0.045 269.1
11 24 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'37.270 15 18 1.134 0.001 266.4
12 52 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'37.738 8 16 1.602 0.468 264.0
13 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing DUCATI 1'37.800 16 19 1.664 0.062 271.0
14 59 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando DUCATI 1'37.875 8 18 1.739 0.075 279.3
15 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'38.032 14 21 1.896 0.157 279.5
16 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'38.323 7 17 2.187 0.291 268.1
17 72 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP HONDA 1'38.639 12 18 2.503 0.316 275.0
18 88 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing DUCATI 1'39.116 15 18 2.980 0.477 258.3

Fastest Lap: Lap: 14 Andrea DOVIZIOSO 1'36.136 156.715 Km/h
Circuit Record Lap: Valentino ROSSI 1'34.215 159.910 Km/h
Circuit Best Lap: 2008 Dani PEDROSA 1'32.647 162.617 Km/h

Oo la la! Rossi woos Paris ahead of Le Mans

Valentino Rossi revs up through Paris streets


It wasn’t quite a romantic stroll, by the Seine but there was definitely something memorable about MotoGP World Champion, Fiat Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi’s first blast past the Eiffel tower and Champs-Élysées with an YZF-R1. The Italian was taking in the tourist hot-spots of Paris ahead of pushing for his 99th career victory this weekend at Le Mans.

Rossi was the draw for hundreds of MotoGP fans and curious onlookers as the 30 year old carefully steered a special edition Monster Energy- livered R1 by the Arc de Triomphe, through nearby streets to a press conference and then – despite the rain – managed a burn-out in front of the French capital’s famous sky-line form.

“It was quite slippery out there with the rain, but I managed to do a little burn-out by the Eiffel Tower,” said Rossi who leads the current MotoGP standings by 11 points on his YZR-M1 and won the Grand Prix of Spain at Jerez two weeks ago he said. “It’s my first time to the Eiffel Tower so I was pleased to do that, we all had some fun out there. I’m looking forward to this weekend at Le Mans now.”

Success at the short and twisty circuit of Le Mans on Sunday could set-up a momentous weekend a fortnight later with the chance to reach 100 triumphs in front of his tifosi at Mugello.




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Yamaha Racing Communications

Fabrizio leads the way in opening Kyalami qualifying

Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox) continued his recent run of positive form as he powered to the provisional pole in the opening qualifying session for the sixth round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship at Kyalami. The 24-year-old Italian, who dominated the pre-season testing session here last December, set a new official benchmark of 1 minute 38.103 seconds around the 4.246 km circuit.

Second place went to Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), the British rider four-tenths of a second behind Fabrizio, with his Honda CBR machine showing major signs of a renaissance in the last couple of races. Texan rookie sensation Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) moved up from 14th to third in the last few minutes of the session, while Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing Honda) was back on form with the final provisional front row slot.

Shinya Nakano was next up for Aprilia, followed by points leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), whose arm is still swollen following last Sunday's incident at Monza. Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati), Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike), Max Biaggi (Aprilia) and Ruben Xaus (BMW) make up the top 10, while South African champion Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team) caused a few eyebrows to be raised at one point as he was running in an impressive third place before ending the session in twelfth. Suzuki Alstare riders Yukio Kagayama and Fonsi Nieto, in for the injured Max Neukirchner, struggled today, finishing in 15th and 22nd position respectively.

Laconi taken to hospital after crash

Friday, 15 May 2009 17:32

During the first lap of the morning's free practice session, Regis Laconi (Ducati DFX) crashed in the section between Turn 11 and Turn 12. Unfortunately in the crash the French rider, despite not hitting any obstacle, suffered a severe trauma to the cervical vertebrae. Transported by helicopter to the nearby Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg,

Laconi suffered two broken cervical vertebrae (C3 and C5), severe concussion and a contusion of the lung. A CT scan for eventual neurological damage, proved to be negative and for the moment he is in an induced coma and in a stable condition. After consultation with Dr. Maurizio Zorzi, the South African neuro-surgeon who was called from Pretoria to check on the patient's condition, it was decided not to operate immediately and to postpone any eventual intervention for a few days.

Barring complications, a further three weeks will be required before a clear clinical picture of the situation can be made, during which the French rider will have to remain totally immobile.

Kyalami Superbike - Free Practice 1st Session

Friday, 15 May 2009 13:42

1 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'40.067
2 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.102
3 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.119
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.137
5 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'40.322
6 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'40.498
7 132 Morais S. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'40.502
8 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'40.514
9 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'40.531
10 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'40.599
11 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'40.623
12 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'40.652
13 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'40.738
14 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.801
15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'41.099
16 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'41.317
17 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'41.324
18 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'41.713
19 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'41.783
20 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'42.073
21 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'42.389
22 49 Whyte S. (RSA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'42.400
23 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'42.496
24 17 Martin S. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'42.775

Kyalami Superbike - Qualifying 1st Session

Friday, 15 May 2009 16:15
1 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'38.103
2 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.506
3 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'38.600
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.865
5 56 Nakano S. (JPN) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'38.998
6 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'39.055
7 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'39.230
8 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'39.258
9 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'39.284
10 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 1'39.357
11 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.370
12 132 Morais S. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'39.388
13 36 Lavilla G. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 1'39.389
14 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'39.470
15 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.475
16 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.788
17 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'39.961
18 25 Salom D. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'40.105
19 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1'40.192
20 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'40.304
21 33 Hill T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'40.308
22 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'40.544
23 49 Whyte S. (RSA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'41.737
24 17 Martin S. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'42.015

A look back at Kyalami - the last 3 editions

2000 - The new Honda VTR1000 twin won on its first appearance in race 1 at Kyalami. It was not difficult to predict though, as Colin Edwards (photo) had recorded amazing lap times during the winter in all of the circuits he tested. The race was a three-man affair involving Edwards, Haga and Fogarty. Edwards led from the start, but on the penultimate lap Haga was able to go in front, Edwards reacted and on the last lap went back into the lead to win, with Fogarty in third, very close, but unable to attack because he was still suffering from an accident in testing and his shoulder was not at 100%. At the second start the task for Fogarty was even harder, because he remained trapped behind Aoki while Haga, Edwards, Corser and Chili pulled away from the rest. Fogarty quickly set after the leaders, was even able to pass Corser, but after ten laps fell and was out of the race. In the second part of the race Haga improved his pace and Edwards gave up, to secure a safe second, also because Chili had already dropped his pace in third and Corser was further behind on fourth. The Japanese rider won, but he was later disqualified after he failed a drugs test. The Haga affair would be a season-long dispute in the courts, more or less like the Slight affair back in 1994.
2001 - Ben Bostrom took pole at Kyalami, but in race 1 Edwards was out on his own; Bayliss stayed with him for half of the race, then gave up the fight, leaving the American to cruise to the end. Third was Corser and fourth Bostrom, who in race 2 took the lead immediately at the start, while Edwards had to pass Bayliss and Corser before starting to chase him. Colin had another pace in Kyalami, caught Ben and managed to pass him, but suffered a mechanical failure soon afterwards and Bostrom won unchallenged, since Bayliss was not able to catch him and Corser was too far seconds behind. Edwards' failure put the spotlight on Honda's poor reliability in the first two races: the American had lost a win and his team-mate Okada suffered three failures in four races (he was still at zero points after a clash with Laconi in Valencia that completed the series of retirements).

2002 - At Kyalami there were few changes in the finishing order from what the Championship had shown so far, as it was a two-man duel between Bayliss and Edwards. In race 1 Bayliss won from Edwards and Xaus, in race 2 from...Xaus and Edwards. All three were on Michelin rubber in a year where the tyre war was crucial for performance: the Dunlop riders were not so far behind, but not in a condition to fight for the win. Haga was a clear example: the Japanese rider twice started well and was even able to take the lead, Bayliss had only to wait for the Dunlops to wear out and then passed Haga, who wasn't a problem anymore for the rest of the races.

WSBK riders step into the lion's den at Kyalami

Thursday, 14 May 2009 17:16

The sixth round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship kicked off today with a series of PR and media activities for a dozen top riders at Kyalami in the build-up to the South African Round this weekend. This morning Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), Broc Parkes (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike) met up in front of the famous landmark statue in Nelson Mandela Square in downtown Sandton, one of Johannesburg's suburbs, for a photo shoot before being taken on a wildlife tour at a nearby Lion Park.

The riders had the opportunity to meet and interact with lion cubs and giraffes before heading back to the circuit for their afternoon activities.

Later in the pre-race press conference held in the circuit, Fabrizio, Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare, replacing the injured Max Neukirchner), Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda), Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad), national champion Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team, replacing Makoto Tamada) and Shaun Whyte from Zimbabwe (substitute rider for David Checa in the Yamaha France GMT 94 IPONE team) were introduced to national and international media by Stephen Watson, CEO of Gauteng Motorsport Company and SBK Director Paolo Ciabatti.

Ben Spies: "The season so far has had its ups and downs but so far it's been more good than bad. I feel sure it's going to be another good weekend, we had a really good test here, at that point only the second time for me on the bike, but now we have a much better motorcycle and set-up. Everybody is riding really good and every weekend is really tough."

Michel Fabrizio: "The tests were the first time out for everyone, now we have already done five races, for sure it'll be a lot more difficult this weekend. I really like this circuit, hopefully we can have a good weekend as well here like last weekend."

Max Biaggi: "Since December we have improved a lot, here it was just the second test. Now we have really stepped up. Temperature conditions will be much different now so I will put my head down and try to do my best."

Ryuichi Kiyonari: "I did a good test here last year. I know which is the programme on my bike for this circuit and I try to do the same results as I did at Monza or better here."

Ruben Xaus: "I like Kyalami, the last time I raced here I was in the points. The BMW bike was new when I tested here, things are coming on. There is always too short a time to get the bikes ready, but I'm looking forward to a good result."

Fonsi Nieto: "For me everything is new, track and bike, not the team however I know them from last year. It's not the best moment for coming back but I'm happy to be here in Kyalami."

Sheridan Morais: "To come in with a team of this stature is a good thing. You can only do the best you can. Our national times aren't too far off the times in testing so that's where we're going to be this weekend."

Shaun Whyte: "It's a dream come true to be in World Superbikes and I'm grateful for this opportunity to be able to race with these guys. I'm hoping I can do something to keep the honour of the Zimbabwe flag up."

LAP RECORDS: modified circuit

SCHEDULE: The South African Round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship takes place from Friday 15 thru Sunday 17 May. Superbike and Supersport free practice and qualifying are held on the first two days, with Superpole scheduled for Saturday at 15.00. The two 24-lap (101.904 km) Superbike races are scheduled to run on Sunday at 12.00 and 15.30, with the 23-lap (97.658 km) Supersport race at 13.25 local time.

ABOUT THE KYALAMI CIRCUIT: The track is situated on the plateau surrounding South Africa's biggest city Johannesburg, and it has always been the scene for some spectacular racing, with a prestigious list of winners over the years. In the five editions held there from 1998 to 2002, Colin Edwards is the most successful rider with three wins to his name, following by Pierfrancesco Chili, Carl Fogarty and Troy Bayliss, the last winner, on 2 each and one for Ben Bostrom. The layout of the track, measuring 4.246 metres, is technically challenging. It has 11 left-hand curves and 6 right, and a difference in elevation between the various sections, that makes it difficult for riders and forces them to remain fully-focussed throughout the entirety of the lap.

TV SCHEDULE: Eurosport (pan-European): Sunday 17 May, Superpole - 11.30 (delayed), SBK race 1 - 12.00 (live), Supersport - 17.30 (delayed), SBK race 2 - 17.45 (delayed). British Eurosport (UK): Sunday 17 May, Superbike race 1 & 2, Supersport - 10.30 (live)

Sete Gibernau #59

Sete Gibernau

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grupo Francisco Hernando

Sete Gibernau Bultó
Sete Gibernau riding one of Fausto Gresin Fausto Gresini's Hondas in 2005
Nationality	Spain Spain Spanish
Date of birth	December 15, 1972 (1972-12-15) (age 36)
Place of birth	Barcelona
MotoGP Record
Current team
Bike number	59
List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions	0
Race starts	174
Wins	9
Podium finishes	30
Pole position	13
Fastest lap	8
Points	1342
2009 championship position	15th (8 pts)

Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó (born December 15,1972 in Barcelona) is a Spanish MotoGP rider, currently residing in Switzerland. He retired from racing in 2006 but has returned to MotoGP in the 2009 season.

Valentino Rossi has mentioned Stoner, followed by Gibernau as his hardest rivals ever. Gibernau was known for his wet-weather abilities and was occasionally referred to as rainmaster. However despite his flair, he was all too often let down by an apparently temperamental nature. In-race setbacks could disproportionately affect his competitiveness, both negatively and positively. His career started slowly until he found his motivation and his intermittent flair became consistent. Then he was the principal challenger for Rossi's crown until 2005. 2006 brought a series of emotional, technical, and injury set-backs, apparently sapping his motivation. It culminated in a major mid-season no-fault racing incident which effectively eliminated him from the championship.

The Ducati Marlboro team replaced him with Casey Stoner for 2007. He turned down offers from Kawasaki, Sito Pons and Ilmor team and decided to retire from all forms of motorcycle racing. In 2008 he announced his return to MotoGP for the 2009 season. He is arguably one of the best riders in MotoGP never to have won the title.

Biography

Gibernau's grandfather was Francisco Xavier "Paco" Bultó, who founded the Bultaco motorcycle company after Montesa pulled out of Observed Trials in 1956. During Gibernau's youth, Bultaco was run by his uncle, Don Paco Bultó.

After trying many different bike categories, in particular those built by his uncle, Seté finally turned to high-speed racing in 1996. Then World Champion Wayne Rainey supported him in the Open Ducados competition, and he ran for one year with a Yamaha TZ250. He moved up to 500 cc machines with the team for 1997, and in 1998 replaced injured Takuma Aoki on a two cylinder Honda. His breakthrough came when he replaced the injured Mick Doohan at Honda during 1999, helping him to 5th overall. Gibernau failed to perform well for the team in 2000.

1990 - 2000

1990 - Debut in the "Gilera Cup" Championship.

1991 - Junior Champion in the Spanish and Catalan Championship.

1992 - European Championship, 250cc class.

1993 - Third classified in the Spanish Championship, 250cc class, Yamaha; took part to the Spanish GP race as a wild card in the 250cc class.

1994 - Fifth classified in the Spanish Championship, 250cc class.

1995 - Third classified in the Spanish Championship, 250cc class.

1996 - Twenty-first classified in the World Championship, 250cc class, Team Yamaha Rainey.

1997 - Thirteenth classified in the World Championship, 500cc class, Team Yamaha Rainey.

1998 - Eleventh classified in the World Championship, 500cc class, Honda Factory Team.

1999 - Fifth classified in the World Championship, 500cc class, Honda HRC Team.

2000 - Fifteenth classified in the World Championship, 500cc class, Honda Repsol Team.

2001/2 - Suzuki

Gibernau joined Suzuki for 2001, a season in which he took his maiden victory in the rain interrupted race at Valencia. 2002 proved to be a highly inauspicious year for both Gibernau and Suzuki in general with only Akira Ryo taking a podium at the season opening race in Suzuka.

However, in the year's last race, Seté turned in an incredible performance, turning in fastest lap after fastest lap and making up tremendous ground on Rossi before finally crashing out in the last few laps. This was a sign of things to come.

2003 MotoGP season

For 2003 he joined Fausto Gresini's Movistar Honda team for 2003. Tragically, his Japanese team-mate Daijiro Kato died (in accident) in the season-opening race at Suzuka, Japan and this tragedy seemed to inspire the notoriously temperamental and spiritual Gibernau. With Kato's #74 on the bike alongside his traditional #15, Seté managed not only to win the next round in Welkom but also challenge Valentino Rossi for the championship throughout the year. 2003 was Gibernau's most consistent season, winning 4 races including the Dutch TT, to gain a total of 277 points - the second highest ever total not to win the title (behind Casey Stoner with 280 in 2008). Valentino Rossi has described 2003 in his career as "...the year of Gibernau, it was hard until the end...".

Sete vs Rossi Ger 2003

2004 MotoGP season

There was much anticipation surrounding the 2004 championship as Valentino Rossi had made surprising move to Yamaha and Gibernau's pre season and early season speed would indicate he was in perfect position to seize the title. Gibernau finished on the podium in the first 3 races, winning 2 of them and had gained the perfect start to 2004 with Rossi at times struggling to come to terms with his new bike. However, a run of victories went Rossi's way after the French round and didn't abate until Rio de Janeiro where one of the two most surprising incidents of Gibernau and Rossi's rivalries occurred.

Gibernau and Rossi were level on points, and Gibernau had the edge on Rossi for most of the weekend. Despite Kenny Roberts, Jr. taking pole, Gibernau was showing formidable race speed. Despite a poor start Gibernau carved through the field passing his rivals and Rossi seemingly with ease - until he crashed out, losing the front into the second last turn. Rossi, seeking to capitalise, pushed harder but he too then crashed out at the very same corner as Gibernau only a few laps later. Gibernau again crashed out in Germany, this time Rossi stayed aboard but could only manage 4th, moving 13 points ahead of Gibernau in the championship. Rossi then put in a consistent run of podium finishes to take out the championship, despite Gibernau winning at Brno and Losail

At the 2004 Qatar race their previously good-natured rivalry spilled over, as Rossi accused Gibernau of pressuring officials to disqualify his qualifying result for allegedly later tampering with the track patch from which he started, to get better grip off an unusually dusty surface. However, it was Gibernau's team, not Seté himself, who had noticed the track alteration and they asked race organisers to investigate. The security cameras' tapes showed Rossi's team tampering with the track, doing extended burn-outs (spinning tyres) on his starting zone which embedded rubber across it and provided better grip. Race organisers moved Rossi to the back of the grid. The media reported that Rossi put a curse on his rival that weekend; Gibernau never won another race.

2005 MotoGP season

Tensions between Gibernau and Rossi came to a head at the first race of 2005 at Jerez. Gibernau led most of the race with Rossi a close second. On the second-last lap, Rossi attacked and passed Gibernau to take the lead and then opened a gap on Gibernau. However, Rossi made a mistake and was re-passed by Gibernau with one lap remaining. On the final corner, Rossi made an aggressive pass on Gibernau to take the lead and win the race. During the pass, Gibernau and Rossi came into contact and Gibernau was unable to complete the turn and ran wide into the gravel; he did not fall and was able to continue on and finish second. The pass was controversial amongst observers; some considered it overly aggressive or even dirty racing while others felt it was a brilliant racing move. The Spanish crowd booed and whistled at Rossi after the race. Gibernau was unimpressed with Rossi's move but neither he nor his Gresini team lodged a formal protest.

Subsequently, Seté did not have a strong season, finishing the championship in 8th overall. Meanwhile team-mate Marco Melandri finished ahead of Gibernau in the 2005 championship. But 2005 did bring some joy to Gibernau as he easily took out both BMW awards.

Sete Vs Rossi Jerez 2005

2006 MotoGP season

Gibernau replaced Carlos Checa at the factory Ducati team, showing prodigious speed with his new team for 2006 in pre season testing.

Gibernau retired from the opening race at Jerez after qualifying in 2nd place, due to electronics issues on his Ducati. Seté took some time to come to terms with the booming Ducati Desmosedici. He did have a run of point scoring finishes in the early races of the season, at times proved to be faster than his experienced team mate Loris Capirossi. He managed to silence his doubters by taking pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, ahead of home-town favourites, Capirossi and Rossi. He finished fifth in the race, despite completing the race with a bleeding left foot, after his left boot protector fell off during the race.

The remains of Gibernau's motorcycle after his crash at Barcelona in 2006.

The seventh round at Catalunya in Barcelona shaped the rest of Gibernau's season and the rest of his career, in an extraordinary crash described later by race commentators as "Terrifying" and "I have never been so scared in my life, commentating a race". In the crowded first corner, a fast right-hander, Gibernau's teammate Capirossi moved left around traffic across Seté's faster line (over 124 mph (198 km/h) at the point of the accident, according to the datalogger) and collected his front brake lever, locking Seté's front wheel and flipping his bike end over end. It only narrowly missed landing on the unconscious Seté. In the resulting group crash, 6 riders went into the gravel, 5 bikes were wrecked, 3 riders were taken to hospital, and race organisers stopped the race. Seté's ambulance itself then had an accident on the way to hospital, hitting a bus just 50 metres from the hospital entrance, although he did not suffer any further injury. It was later confirmed that he had concussion and had broken a bone in his hand and re-broken the collar bone broken at Assen, necessitating the removal and replacement of the metal plate.

Caduta MotoGp Barcellona 2006

The injuries came at a bad time - Catalunya was the first of 5 races in 6 weeks. Gibernau missed the following two races at Assen and Donnington Park. Despite feeling weak, he raced in the German and USA races and was never far behind his fitter teammate on identical machinery: on the Sachsenring he finished only 3 places behind Capirossi, and at Laguna Seca he finished only 2 places behind. But within 3 days of returning to Barcelona was back in hospital: the titanium plate in his collar bone had weakened, causing complications. He missed the round at Brno in the Czech Republic.

His fitness improved and he managed a commendable 5th place at Sepang in Malaysia on Sunday 10 September, and had a podium 3rd snatched from him in a "last-gasp effort" by Rossi at Philip Island in Australia. After another 4th place at the Japanese Grand prix, Seté was fastest in the first ever 800 cc test at Motegi. In the second-last round of the season Seté was riding in 5th place when Casey Stoner crashed in front of him too close to avoid and brought Seté down with him. Gibernau suffered a broken fifth metacarpal in his hand and had apparently re-bent one of the titanium plates in his collar bone.

Retirement

Gibernau lost his ride at the end of 2006, when Ducati announced 17 October 2006 that Casey Stoner would replace him on the new-for-2007 800 cc bike alongside Capirossi. Kawasaki offered him a place, but Gibernau decided instead to retire from all motorcycle racing, saying at a press conference on 8 November 2006: "If I had accepted the offers to continue just for the sake of carrying on then it wouldn't have made me happy, especially if it was just for money."

Return to MotoGP (2009)

Gibernau returned to action, testing the Desmosedici GP9 at the Mugello circuit, alongside official test rider Vittoriano Guareschi, in a three day run starting on 17 June 2008. There was speculation that he could replace the uncompetitive Marco Melandri aboard the second Factory Ducati for the later races in the 2008 season. Despite positive results Ducati MotoGP Project Director Livio Suppo was unwilling to confirm any definite future for Gibernau with the team.[16] Sete again tested the Desmosedici GP8 and GP9 on a three day test beginning on 1 July 2008 at the Mugello circuit. He recorded a best time of 1´50.5 on board the GP8 on race tyres, just a few tenths off this year's race record at Mugello set by Casey Stoner. He clocked a 1´48.9 on 30 July at Mugello on qualifying tyres which would have placed him 7th on the starting grid for the 2008 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix.

After a few months of speculation, on 23rd Oct at Valencia, it was officially confirmed that he would return to race in 2009 on Onde 2000 Ducati, a Ducati satellite team run by Angel Nieto. The squad is backed by Onde 2000, a Spanish building concern. With number 15 taken by Alex de Angelis, a new figure has been used for Gibernau's comeback campaign. Gibernau chose 59, in reference to the year in which his grandfather's Bultaco company produced their first bike.

He began testing for the new team at Valencia. Gibernau's quickest lap was a 1´34.451 riding the Onde 2000 Ducati GP8, that placed him a modest 14th on the 18-rider timesheets, almost 2sec from fastest man Casey Stoner (using the GP9 Ducati). At Jerez, in his first official test since return to motogp, he ranked 9th among 14 riders, notably faster than Niccolo Canepa on Alice Ducati and Vitto Guareschi on the factory Ducati.

Gibernau admitted that, at 35, among the current crop of young motogp stars - "I´m going to have to work very hard and I´m ready for that...". He admitted he was not back in MotoGP to win races, but rather to enjoy himself on the bike. Gibernau acknowledged the bikes had changed a lot in the two years he had been absent from the sport. He noted that the Ducati was now very competitive with lot of potential. "Cornering speed is extremely quick and compared to 2006 there's a lot more electronics. You must trust it almost with your eyes closed, and I still can't do it. I think the rider should do certain things, while instead you must let the bike do it."

Valentino Rossi said he is looking forward to renewing his rivalry with the former foe... “I am sorry I didn't see Sete on the track when we tested in Valencia because I think it's quite a big emotion for us to be together on the track again after all our great battles. I am happy to see him back. We spoke a little bit in the summer when he was thinking about coming back and I’m looking forward to racing him again.” Gibernau suggested he might try to rebuild his relationship with Rossi, after falling out with the Italian in the final years of their battles. "With Vale I enjoyed myself both on and off the track. Then life changes, but the experience is still positive. I did some fantastic races against a guy considered perhaps the strongest rider of all times. That for me is cause of pride. The relationship on a personal level was excellent for a while, then it changed, but I have big respect for Valentino. Perhaps now a good relationship can be rebuild again."

Personal life

Presently residing in Switzerland, Gibernau is well educated, he speaks fluent Spanish, Catalan, Italian and English; plus some French and German. His hobbies include cycling and water skiing.

Gibernau's ex-wife is the Spanish supermodel Esther Cañadas. She was always supportive of Gibernau and could often be seen in the pit garage during races, cheering him on. He formerly rode with a number 15 good luck charm, but rode with a charm given to him by Cañadas when they became a couple. However after one year as a married couple they announced their separation in mid 2008.

Like most riders, he has his superstitions - he always puts his right boot on first.

Maybe we will get to see Bayliss and Rossi on the same track after all, after Rossi’s attempt to go to WSBK for 1 race begins GP9 testing at Mugello

Troy Bayliss completed his first day of testing on board the Desmosedici GP9 at Mugello today alongside regular factory test rider Vittoriano Guareschi.

It was a first outing for the Australian on a MotoGP bike since the final round of 2006, when he followed up his second World Superbike title by competing in the final Grand Prix of the season at Valencia, scoring a sensational one-two for Ducati with victory ahead of his team-mate Loris Capirossi.

Today was also Bayliss' first taste of an 800cc MotoGP machine and his first track action of any sort since ending the 2008 WSBK title-winning season, and his legendary racing career, with a double race victory at Portimao.

"This is literally the first time I've ridden a motorcycle since we unveiled the 1198 after the end of last season at Portimao", said the Australian rider. "It was nice to shake off a bit of rust and with Mugello being such a physical circuit it was a good workout!"

"The last time I rode a GP machine was at Valencia, which was the 990cc, but the 800cc isn't exactly lacking power and I just spent today getting a feel for it. I can't wait to get back out there tomorrow and on Thursday and hopefully by the end of the session I'll be able to give some useful feedback to Filippo (Preziosi)."

motogp.com

Maybe we will get to see Bayliss and Rossi on the same track after all, after Rossi’s attempt to go to WSBK for 1 race to go head to head with Bayliss at Qatar failed.
Maybe now that Bayliss is testing for Ducati he will do a guest appetence as a wild card in one of the race?
I personally hope so. I think it will be good.
Also it is obvious the Ducati needs all the help it could get and it is good to see they are doing positives step to try and help all their riders. And that they recruiting one of the best riders for the job.
So good luck to Ducati (and of course to my beloved Nicky- I want to see you smiling again)

WSBK : Nieto to replace Neukirchner

From: moto-live.com

With Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Max Neukirchner out of action for a while, there will be a familiar face in the Kyalami garage this coming weekend.

Former team member Fonsi Nieto will be taking Max's place in South Africa, joining up once again with Yukio Kagayama.

Fonsi raced for the team last year and so knows the crew very well, but he has no experience of the GSX-R1000 K9 and will be starting the first day of practice completely afresh.

“Firstly, I want to wish Max all the best for a quick recovery. His crash at Monza was not his fault and he is lucky that the injuries are not worse than they are”, commented the Spaniard. “I am very grateful to Francis Batta for giving me this opportunity to ride for the team again and I will do my best to repay his faith in me. Although I know the team, I do not know the bike because it is a completely new and different bike to last year's model. So, I will have to learn the bike and learn the track at the same time and that is not so easy, but I will do my best for sure.”

Ducati pushes to help struggling riders

By Matt Beer at:http://www.autosport.com

Monday, May 11th 2009, 12:02 GMT

Ducati is to reshuffle its engineers, change its electronics and recruit Troy Bayliss for testing as it tries to get all its riders on the pace.

While Casey Stoner took victory in Qatar, and Pramac Racing's rookie Mika Kallio has impressed greatly, second factory rider Nicky Hayden, Kallio's team-mate Niccolo Canepa and returnee Sete Gibernau (with the new Hernando team) have all struggled for form.

To address this, Hayden's former engineer Cristhian Pupulin has moved to a new role analysing data from all five bikes, with Juan Martinez returning to Ducati after a period at Kawasaki to take his place leading Hayden's crew.

In an additional measure, Ducati's triple World Superbike champion Bayliss is to join test rider Vittoriano Guareschi at Mugello this week to work on developments, and changes have been made to the bike's electronics for this weekend's Le Mans race to try and make the bike more consistent and help the new riders adapt.

Stoner has often been Ducati's only competitive rider since the start of the 800cc era in 2007, and team boss Livio Suppo said this situation had to change.

"After the race at Jerez, which was fantastic for Casey but very difficult for Nicky, we had a few meetings to analyse our technical and organisational structure, with the goal of improving the all-round performances of our riders," he said.

"We came to the conclusion that after starting the season with not all of the Ducati riders able to match their positive form in winter testing, maybe this is the right time to introduce some new technical ideas in terms of the electronics as well as boosting our track presence in order to provide all of the Ducati riders with better support.

"The GP9 is still a very young machine and for the first time in MotoGP we have five bikes on the grid. For these two reasons we have decided that we need to concentrate more on co-ordinating all the data that we gather at each race in order to provide more direction for development.

"As well as changing the structure of the team we have some electronic updates and Cristhian Pupulin will be able to completely dedicate his time to the important role of co-ordination, which we need to continue to develop the GP9."

Hayden also hopes the changes will help him get up to speed.

"I think it should help me and all the Ducati riders," he said.

"I believe that with Cristhian more freed up from some of the normal work as crew chief he can use his expertise more and focus on really working on the issues I am having with the bike and help give us a better direction and give more info to the factory.

"So to fill his spot we will bring in Juan, who has put up some solid results in MotoGP. He has already worked in Ducati and speaks good English and Italian so he was a good match."

The American praised Ducati's support, and admitted that the onus was now on him to raise his level.

"I can't say I don't have enough good manpower behind me and it has been encouraging to see Ducati trying everything and working so hard to help get me in a situation to deliver," said Hayden.

"The team is very important in our sport but it is really up to the rider to do his part and make the difference, so I hope I can step up and do my part soon."

And to that I say well done to Ducati, realizing they need all the riders up front not just their star rider (unlike a different team that i will not name now- ok, ill give a hint, Nicky's former team....)