Official Moto GP Site

Good start for Gresini pair at Sachsenring

Oh wow! a Moto GP fred. Hi Heat

Don't those Ducatti's Rock!

Well one does anyway

They sure do Onetoo

Shouldn't you be at home knitting ?

PMSL! errrrrm nope. And what would I knit anyway?

Someone told me next week's quali (Donnington) is on on Friday I don't like watching highlights) Allthough I don't know how true this is.

Rossi leaves it late to take pole

German MotoGP, Sachsenring Date: 18-19 July Saturday 18 July: Qualifying: 1150-1500, BBC Red Button/online Sunday 19 July: 125cc & 250 cc races 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online Race live: 1230-1400, BBC Two/online; MotoGP Extra, 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online

Valentino Rossi snatched pole position for Sunday's German MotoGP in the dying seconds of a rain-soaked qualifying session at Sachsenring.

His Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was second, with Ducati duo Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden third and fourth.

Six riders, including Hayden, fell in treacherous conditions, with Hayden's the most alarming spill of the lot.

As he flew off his bike he collided with Niccolo Canepa who was passing him, forcing both off into the gravel.


Hayden appeared to escape without serious injury but the Italian rider was taken away seemingly in some pain, although he should be fit to ride on Sunday.



"Conditions were really tough," said Rossi, who will start on pole at Sachsenring for the first time.

"There was a river running through the track at one point. So it's a really important pole. But I hope, like everyone, that we'll have nice weather tomorrow."

Lorenzo was carrying a shoulder injury from last week's race in California and said he was happy with his day's work.

"At the end it was very easy to crash so I didn't want to push too much or take too many chances, it was important to be careful," he said. "Second place is very good."

Stoner, who has been plagued by ill health in recent weeks, told BBC Sport he too was happy with his showing.

"I'm pretty happy to be upright to be honest," said the Australian.

"These guys (Rossi and Lorenzo) seem to be on rails, there were no mistakes for them but my bike was all over the shop.

"I said 'I want all my limbs intact' - front row is plenty for us, but these two guys' bikes don't seem to be moving an inch."

In qualifying for the 125cc race, Bradley Smith came second behind championship leader Julian Simon, with Marc Marquez in third place.

German MotoGP qualifying result:

1 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 1'32.520 2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 1'33.160 3 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1'33.759 4 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1'34.404 5 A de Angelis (SMR) Honda 1'34.490 6 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 1'34.564 7 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'34.607 8 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 1'34.725 9 L Capirossi (It) Suzuki 1'34.741 10 M Kallio (Fin) Ducati 1'34.771 11 A Dovizioso (It) Honda 1'34.892 12 C Vermeuluen (Aus) Suzuki 1'34.937 13 M Melandri (It) Kawasaki 1'34.938 14 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1'35.005 15 N Canepa (Ita) Pramac Racing 1'36.012 16 G Talmacsi (Hng) Scot Racing 1'36.055 17 T Elias (Spn) San Carlo Honda 1'36.531

125cc qualifying result:

1 J Simon (Spn) Aprilia 1'38.671secs 2 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 1'39.686 3 M Marquez (Spn) KTM 1'40.010

250cc qualifying result:

1 M Simoncelli (Ita) Gilera 1'32.962 2 H Barbera (Spn) Aprilia 1'33.105 3 A Bautista (Spn) Aprilia 1'34.246

Yay for Vale . Did anyone see the Nicky Hayden Canepa crash

BBC or Eurosport?? I was devastated when Eurosport lost the coverage.

Live here

Come on Vale.

Blimey that was close, Rossi 9/100th second in front

Well done Rossi . 101 career wins now . Hes just brilliance personified

Saturday now

quote:

Originally posted by Psycho Seal:
Well done Rossi . 101 career wins now . Hes just brilliance personified

well you know my feelings on that

question

what do the GREY helmets mean in the quali session times please? someone asked me and I've had a brain block

Elías explains ‘zero to hero’ Sachsenring performance

Spaniard goes from sixteenth to sixth in first third of German round.



Toni Eliás’ efforts in the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland went almost unnoticed as the action heated up at the front of the race, but by the end of the thirty laps he had put in a performance as impressive as anything that was occurring in the fight for the win.

The Spaniard had crashed in qualifying for the Sachsenring race, and was unable to clock a time that would give him anything higher than the last spot on the grid. That was in the wet, and with a dry track on Sunday Elías was able to overtake nine riders in the opening ten laps to turn his situation around.

”I was expecting a fight for a top ten finish, to be honest,” revealed the surprised San Carlo Honda Gresini rider, who came up through the field for sixth place. “I ended up doing much better than I could have imagined!”

Adding to the steep difficulty level of the race was the fact that Elías had been ill in the days prior to the race, in addition to the toughness of rival Marco Melandri. Both these factors coincided in a nervous moment for the Spanish star.

“Once I caught up with Marco I found it difficult to get past him and my stomach pains started,” he continued. “I thought, ‘please no, not now!’ I fought through the pain and over the last few laps we had a great battle, which I was able to win. I want to thank the team because they’ve been doing a great job and we are starting to see the fruit of our hard work.”

Elías is currently twelfth in the overall classification, level on points with teammate Alex de Angelis.

Elias had a brilliant race. Its suprising that hes only won one race.

Toseland vows to fight for ride



British MotoGP, Donington Park
Date: 25-26 July
Saturday 25 July: Qualifying: 1250-1600, BBC Red Button/online Sunday 26 July: 125cc and 250cc races: 1220-1435, BBC Red Button/online Race live: 1500-1630, BBC One/online, commentary on Radio Five Live ; MotoGP Extra, 1630-1700, BBC Red Button/online

C'mon James.We're behind ya

Thanks for that info Heat

Last lap push gives Pedrosa early Donington Free Practice advantage

quote:

Originally posted by onetoo:
C'mon James.We're behind ya

Thanks for that info Heat

Hi Onetoo

Are you gonna be watching this weekend ?

Sorry I couldn't answer your question about grey helmets in the qualifiers...the truth is out their

Hiya

You bet I am

Not a problem. I had a look too and couldn't find anything. I'll give it an extra carefull watch tomorrow

I shall be watching too... Cmon Vale . and the sooner JT gets replaced by Spies the better.

quote:

Originally posted by Psycho Seal:
I shall be watching too... Cmon Vale . and the sooner JT gets replaced by Spies the better.

Hi Seal
Just wanted to give you a hug, you must be so upset by Massas accident.
Hopefully he'll make a full recovery

Thanks Veggie. Im hoping he will be fine too. All my thoughts are with his family.

British Grand Prix qualifying result:

1 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 1'28.116
2 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 1'28.211
3 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 1'28.402
4 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1'28.446
5 A Dovizioso (It) Honda 1'28.778
6 C Edwards (US) Yamaha 1'28.865
7 M Melandri (It) Kawasaski 1'29.065
8 T Elias (Sp) Honda 1'29.175
9 J Toseland (GB) Yamaha 1'29.270
10 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 1'29.434
11 M Kallio (US) Ducati 1'29.599
12 A de Angelis (RSM) Honda 1'29.600
13 C Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 1'30.098
14 L Capirossi (It) Suzuki 1'30.153
15 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1'30.268
16 N Canepa (Ita) Pramac Racing Ducati 1'30.572
17 G Talmacsi (Hun) Scot Racing 1'31.193

lorenzo crashes... casey gets lapped.... if rossi had managed to stay on the bike it would have been pure brillinace oh well - well done Dovi

Dovizioso win “harder after Rossi crash”

Italian racewinner relied on series leader for early lines.
A maiden win for Andrea Dovizioso in the premier class could not have come at a better time for the Italian. Following three races without claiming World Championship points, a month in which speculation about his future has been debated and some tough times chasing a first podium as a Repsol Honda rider, the sophomore star gave an assured display when some of the more experienced names in MotoGP fell foul of the Donington Park conditions.

The first new MotoGP racewinner since last year’s Portuguese round (won by persistent 250cc rival Jorge Lorenzo) Dovizioso now has a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. However, whilst he may have looked confident when leading the British Grand Prix, things were still tough for ‘Dovi’ on Sunday afternoon.

“This race was very difficult. With these conditions the temperature of the tyres was too low, and the light rainfall for the whole race meant that it was probably the worst scenario for riding on this tyre. We couldn’t change the bikes either, so it was really difficult to manage,” said the Honda factory rider after an ecstatic celebration on the podium. He had led the race since lap nineteen, when reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi went in too hot on the Fogarty Esses, but the lack of a close rival actually made the final eleven laps harder for the eventual winner.

“Before Valentino crashed it was easy, because I just followed him; after that I needed to understand the track better,” he explained. “Wearing a light visor also meant that I couldn’t see clearly which lines were the driest.At the end Randy (De Puniet) and Colin (Edwards) were riding at 100% and catching me, which was difficult to manage. I think maybe for the last two laps I was pushing so hard that they couldn’t risk reaching me.”

And has the win changed Dovizioso’s goals for the year? Not exactly. Speaking pragmatically, he declared that “Today wasn’t a normal situation, so we still have to understand how we can use all the potential of the package. We still need to find some solutions.”

MotoGP enjoying healthy audience figures

The 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship is turning out to be one of the most closely contested and unpredictable title battles in recent times, as reflected in recent viewing figures.


The excitement of this year’s MotoGP racing is having a highly positive effect on the sport’s viewing figures, with the British Grand Prix last weekend enjoying particularly strong numbers.

Figures provided on behalf of MotoGP commercial and media rights holders Dorna Sports make for impressive reading, as the MotoGP race at Donington Park saw record BBC audience figures which peaked at 2.9 million viewers and the UK’s national broadcaster reported an average audience share of 23%.

The BBC’s coverage of Andrea Dovizioso’s maiden MotoGP race win, which also saw a solid performance from home rider James Toseland in sixth place, brought in an average audience of 2.8m – a 50% increase on the BBC usual MotoGP audience and an increase on the previous best average audience record by a million viewers.

But if it ad been on Eurosport I know I wouldnt have been watching the BBC coverage .

Me either Seal. It's only because more peeps have access to it now. Eurosport's Comm's are way better than the BBC's

After British MotoGP

Rider standings
- Name Bike Nat Points
1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Ita 187
2 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Spa 162
3 Casey Stoner Ducati Aus 150
4 Dani Pedrosa Honda Spa 115
5 Colin Edwards Yamaha US 103
6 Andrea Dovizioso Honda Ita 94
7 Marco Melandri Kawasaki Ita 79
8 Randy de Puniet Honda Fra 74
9 Chris Vermeulen Suzuki Aus 67
10 Loris Capirossi Suzuki Ita 66
11 Alex de Angelis Honda Smr 60
12 James Toseland Yamaha GB 55
13 Nicky Hayden Ducati US 47
14 Toni Elias Honda Spa 47
15 Mika Kallio Ducati Fin 34
16 Niccolo Canepa Ducati Ita 28
17 Sette Gibernau Ducati Spa 12
18 Yuki Takahashi Honda Jpn 9
19 Gabor Talmacsi Honda Hun 5

Constructor standings
- Constructor Points
1 Yamaha 230
2 Honda 164
3 Ducati 156
4 Suzuki 89
5 Kawasaki 79

De Puniet suffers fractured ankle

BRNO - CZECH REPUBLIC

Saturday 15 August

Qualifying
1150-1500, BBC Red Button/online

Sunday 16 August

125 and 250cc race
0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online

Race
1230-1400, BBC Two/online

MotoGP Extra
1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online

2010 Calander

April 11 * Qatar Doha/Losail
April 25 Japan Motegi
May 2 Spain Jerez de la Frontera
May 16 France Le Mans
May 30 Italy Mugello
June 6 Great Britain Silverstone
June 26 ** Netherlands Assen
July 4 Catalunya Catalunya
July 18 Germany Sachsenring
July 25 *** United States Laguna Seca
August 15 Czech Rep. Brno
August 29 Indianapolis Indianapolis
September 12 San Marino Misano
September 19 Hungary Balatonring
October 10 Malaysia Sepang
October 17 Australia Phillip Island
October 31 Portugal Estoril
November 7 Valencia Ricardo Tormo - Valencia

* Night race
** Saturday race
*** Moto GP only - No 125s or 250s (or Moto2 or whatever there going to be caled next season )

Casey stoner is going to miss the next 3 races. and despite what the thinks I dont want him to die.

MotoGP riders enjoy Viennese adventure

Wednesday, 12 August 2009
As part of the build-up to the Cardion AB Czech Republic Grand Prix a number of World Championship riders called into neighbouring Austria’s capital city of Vienna on Wednesday.



An exciting gathering organised by Austrian national broadcasters ATV and witnessed by thousands of local fans saw a demonstration ride through the heart of the Vienna, on Wednesday, with Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha), Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro), James Toseland (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Gabor Talmacsi (Scot Racing) all taking part.

Although MotoGP has visited Vienna before this was the first time in history that the riders were allowed to take their prototype machines along the famous Ringstreet, the main boulevard in the city.

Local government welcomingly treated the event like a state visit, with the Austrian police riding ahead of the World Championship stars on a 5.2km loop through the city centre. The route commenced at the Burgtheater on Josef-Meinrad-Place, along Ringstreet, past several important buildings such as the State Opera House, the most famous historical museums and the Austrian Parliament and eventually returning to the Burgtheater.

The riders stopped for several minutes at the Parliament building so that press photographers and fans could take photos of them at such an iconic venue.

Czech 250cc rider Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) and three 125cc competitors - Spaniard Marc Marquez (Red Bull KTM), Austrian Michael Ranseder (CBC Corse) and Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher (Degraaf Grand Prix) – were also present at the event, which included interviews with ATV presenters Mark Michael Nanseck and Rudi Moser. There were then further interviews with additional media and autograph sessions with the fans.

Ahead of the closest race to his home nation of Hungary, Talmacsi stated, “This kind of event is fantastic because you feel the support from the fans and there are a lot of Hungarians because it’s very close. We also did a big promotion in my country, on Monday, so I expect a lot of fans in Brno. I like the track so much, it is good for my riding style but in MotoGP this is my first time there. Of course I’ll try my best and now I have more feeling with the motorcycle and I feel stronger personally.”

Former World Champion Hayden, who is popular with the public wherever he goes, added, “It was a great opportunity for the fans to get close to the bikes and to the riders, and hopefully for us to show them a bit of our sport. Perhaps we can get a new audience that have not seen our bikes before and I think it’s a good build up for the weekend. Last year I missed the race but Brno is a great track, fast, flowing and a lot of long straight aways so I am looking forward to the weekend now.”

Meanwhile, giving his thoughts on the championship battle on the return to action, after the summer break, Lorenzo commented, “Dani (Pedrosa) is currently more than 70 points behind but you can not rule him out, because in this championship a thousand and one different things could happen. It looks like there are two riders with a real chance, especially Valentino (Rossi), but mathematically you can’t rule any of the top guys out.”

After the event the riders headed across the border to begin their final preparations for the first round since the short summer pause, with the action at the Cardion AB Czech Republic Grand Prix in Brno set to begin on Friday afternoon

Rossi on pole in Czech Republic despite crash

A rare qualifying crash for the MotoGP World Champion at Brno did not prevent him from securing pole position for Sunday’s eleventh race of the 2009 season.

MotoGP qualifying video


Valentino Rossi survived a late crash during qualifying at the Cardian ab Czech Republic Grand Prix to take his fifth pole position of the season, in clear and sunny conditions at the undulating Brno track.

At one of his favourite venues on the calendar Rossi took his Yamaha M1 round the circuit in 1’56.145 on the 21st of his 23 laps after a battle for supremacy with his team-mate and closest World Championship rival Jorge Lorenzo – who trails him by 25 points in the standings and was 0.05s behind the Italian in this session.

Lorenzo has looked good throughout the weekend and will be confident of pushing Rossi hard in Sunday’s race. Perhaps the Spaniard will take heart from Rossi’s late crash as he keeps the pressure on from the other side of the Fiat Yamaha pit-box.

In the absence of Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa could be the biggest threat to Rossi and Lorenzo, with the talented Repsol Honda rider having qualified in third place, just under four tenths down on Rossi.

Toni Elías, meanwhile, reacted well to the news that he will not be riding for the San Carlo Honda Gresini team next year, placing himself at the front of the second row on his RC212V.

With Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) qualifying in fifth to seventh respectively the top seven was dominated by Yamaha and Honda.

De Angelis will be joined on the third row by Ducati’s Nicky Hayden and Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi, who survived a scary moment to qualify ninth. There was a crash for temporary factory Ducati stand-in Mika Kallio who placed tenth, whilst Randy de Puniet ran off track at one stage and qualified 13th

Czech MotoGP qualifying result:

1 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 1min 56.145 sec
2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 1min 56.195 sec
3 D Pedrosa (Sp) Repsol Honda 1min 56.528 sec
4 T Elias (Sp) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 56.817 sec
5 C Edwards (US) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 56.954 sec
6 A Dovizioso (It) Repsol Honda 1min 57.108 sec
7 A de Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 57.775 sec
8 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1min 57.803 sec
9 L Capirossi (It) Rizla Suzuki 1min 57.811 sec
10 M Kallio (Fin) Ducati 1min 57.994 sec
11 C Vermeulen (Aus) Rizla Suzuki 1min 58.087 sec
12 N Canepa (It) Pramac Racing 1min 58.208 sec
13 R de Puniet (Fr) LCR Honda MotoGP 1min 58.298 sec
14 J Toseland (GB) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 58.331 sec
15 M Melandri (It) Hayate Racing Team 1min 58.477 sec
16 M Fabrizio (It) Pramac Racing 1min 58.680 sec
17 G Talmacsi (Hng) Scot Racing Team MotoGP 1min 58.749 sec

125cc qualifying result:

1 A Iannone (Italy) Aprilia 2 mins 8.171 secs
2 N Terol (Spain) Aprilia 2:08.484
3 S Cortese (Germany) Derbi 2:08.507

a rare qualifying crash... its not actually that rare with Vale

Hey Seal, does he have many pins and things holding him together like some of the riders ?