11 November 2009 10:11 The decision leaves Alex de Angelis facing an uncertain future
Only 17 bikes will contest the 2010 MotoGP world championship after the cash-strapped Scot Honda squad confirmed it has abandoned plans to race in the premier class next season.
The Italian team had missed several deadlines to order an RC212V machine off Honda for 2010 and it has finally decided to focus its effort entirely on the new Moto2 600cc world championship.
The decision leaves Alex de Angelis facing an uncertain future.
The Scot squad was his only chance of remaining in MotoGP after he was axed by the Gresini Honda squad earlier this season.
It was thought a deal was close to find a sponsor to keep the San Marino rider on the grid, but Cirano Mularoni said: "After the happiness for the conquest of the world championship in the 250cc class for me and for the whole team this is a great disappointment. There is no reward for all the work done over the years. Now we just have to concentrate on the project Moto2"
HRC boss Shuhei Nakamoto confirmed to MCN yesterday in Valencia that the initial ordering deadline for teams to secure an RC212V expired in Brno in late August.
Honda kept extending the deadline having agreed to expand its involvement to seven bikes next season.
But Nakamoto said: "We couldn't keep waiting. We had given them plenty of time."
Alex DeAngelis still hasn’t lost hope in finding a ride in MotoGP next season. DeAngelis finished eighth in the standings and was in negotiations with Scot Racing, but the team had to withdraw from the premier class, as the team and rider were unable to find sufficient backing in time to meet Honda’s deadline.
According to Italian motograndprix website, LCR Honda owner Lucio Cecchinello, could be interested in expanding his team to a two rider outfit and putting the Sammarinese rider on a second bike next to the already confirmed Randy DePuniet.
The only other alternative for DeAngelis, who wants to stay in grandprix racing is Moto2, where he has numerous offers including one from Sito Pons’ Kalex team.
UPDATED:
DeAngelis is out of luck, and will have to give up any hope of riding in MotoGP in 2010, because Lucio Cecchinello speaking to the Radio Television station of San Marino has said:
“I’m very sorry because Alex deserved to stay in MotoGP. Honda has told me that there isn’t enough time to prepare a new bike and above all we haven’t found the necessary financial coverage.”
American circuit officials make financial cut to boost attendance figures
Posted: 17 November 2009
2009 USGP: Lorenzo wins, Rossi crashes out
ORGANISERS OF the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP have lowered the ticket price for the 2010 event in a bid to boost attendance figures.
The race, which takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Aug. 27-29, has come in for a pricing restructure thanks to feedback over the last two years from race fans that have attended the annual event.
"This ticket plan will provide more opportunities for fans to attend this event and enjoy the exciting action and charismatic riders of MotoGP," said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief executive officer. "This new pricing and availability structure is based upon direct feedback we have received over the last two years from fans."
Depending on the type of ticket purchased, customers can expect a reductions of $10-25 per ticket over last year's prices. A three-day general admission ticket $60 (£35).
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Reigning seven time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will drive a Ferrari 430 sporstcar in this weekend's Vallelunga 6 Hours endurance race.
November 19, 2009
Rossi's entry in the event has been rumoured for some days, and now officially confirmed.
The Doctor will naturally race with the #46 and share driving duties with his friend and MotoGP helper Alessio 'Uccio' Salucci as well as fellow Italian Andrea Ceccato.
Practice will take place on Friday and Saturday morning, with qualifying on Saturday afternoon. The race will start at 9.30am on Sunday morning.
Rossi is no stranger to four-wheels, having taken part in sporadic tests for the Ferrari F1 team since 2004 and made countless rally appearances - including three WRC entries.
The 30-year-old has to wait until February before he can test his Yamaha MotoGP machine again.
WSB boss speaks out over return to litre bikes in MotoGP
18 November 2009
MUSCLES ARE being flexed between the two biggest motorcycle racing championships in the world, sparked by the talk MotoGP may be considering going back to 1000cc engines.
Earlier this month, Visordown reported the news MotoGP big-shot Carmelo Ezpeleta was seeking a return to 1000cc engines in the blue riband racing class. Read the story here.
WSB boss Paolo Flammini doesn't like the proposal and has been talking to an Italian journalist on the Italian website GPOne.com about the idea. Judging by his tone, Flammini doesn't sound like he's about to back down anytime soon:
He said: "I will continue to repeat my earlier point of view. We have had assurances from the President of the FIM, Vito Ippolito, that these new rules would not be approved. So far, he has been true to his word, and I hope that this will continue to be the same in the future.
"We are ready to take whatever action is necessary to defend the contract we have with the FIM, which, let us not forget, also covers the 600cc class based on production bikes."
Sounds like an impending court scrap's in the offing.
Motorcycle phenomenon proves he's as good on four wheels as he is on two
Posted: 23 November 2009
NINE-TIME World Champion Valentino Rossi placed an impressive third in class at the weekend's 6-Hour Vallelunga endurance car race, when the Italian swapped his Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike for a Ferrari 430GT.
Mechanical issues dropped the charismatic racer down the field after problems with the motorcycle star's car forced several unscheduled pit-stops.
Rossi, who entered the race with best friend Alessio 'Uccio' Salucci and Andrea Ceccato, finished 11th overall.
Rizla Suzuki make progress in Portuguese three-day test
23 November 2009
Alvaro Bautista
MOTOGP ROOKIE Álvaro Bautista and Factory test rider Nobuatsu Aoki reckon they’ve had a good first outing on the 2010 Suzuki bike proper after three days of track action at the Estoril circuit in Portugal.
Bautista spent the three days and 200 laps getting used to the bike, managing an eventual best 1m 38.5, a time comparable to the Rizla Suzuki racers when they came to Portugal for the Grand Prix last month – despite cooler, lower grip conditions at the test. Bautista was able to ride the GSV-R in a number of conditions over the three days with rain on day one, overcast skies on the second day and sunny, but cool conditions on the final day. He also tested some new engine components, aerodynamic parts and Akrapovic exhaust systems on day three and was able to confirm team-mate Loris Capirossi’s conclusions from the recent Valencian test.
Aoki continued with the fundamental test programme that regular racer Capirossi had begun during the test at Valencia, following the final race of the season earlier this month.
Team Manager Paul Denning said: “Suzuki is very pleased to have been able to complete this test for two reasons - firstly to give Álvaro essential additional seat-time on the GSV-R and secondly to give Nobu the chance to do some important testing on a GP track outside of Japan. This has allowed him to test some fundamental changes in readiness for the ‘real world’ conditions of next year’s race season and Nobu did a very detailed and committed job at the test. Nobody in Suzuki or in the team is under any illusions regarding the amount of additional performance needed out of the GSV-R for 2010 and whilst the test items have not been night-and-day differences, they will certainly help the overall package be a lot stronger when we get the new bike at Sepang in February.
“Álvaro has been very impressive over the three days and has completed 212 laps with absolutely no errors. His pace at the end of the test is very respectable, especially considering that there were only two bikes out there on track and with cooler conditions and no rubber being laid down the conditions were not as good as they were at the race weekend last month. He has gelled really well with the whole team and is taking a very calm approach – the mechanics also like him because each of his runs is so long, a minimum of around 12 laps, so they get the chance to have a rest!
“It is now a long time until Loris and Álvaro get to test again, we really wish Loris could have been here in Estoril, but the regulations are what they are and we are grateful to have had this opportunity to point us in the right direction as Suzuki strives to become competitive in 2010."
Thailand Falls In Love With Jorge Lorenzo
27 November 2009 - Fiat Yamaha
The MotoGP World Championship 2009 runner-up Jorge Lorenzo was given a hero’s welcome by a huge crowd today on the first day of a visit to South East Asia. In a country where half a million motorcycles are sold but where the stars of the sport rarely visit, the Spaniard paid an early morning visit to the Yamaha Motor Thailand factory in Bangkok before spending the afternoon at the capital city’s most important dealership, the Yamaha Rider's Club.
This morning he was welcomed by the factory President Frank Nagashima and Chief Operating Officer Praphan Phornthanavasit, before being given a tour of each of the departments, where no fewer than 3,000 people work – mainly on production of the country’s biggest selling motorcycle, the 115cc Yamaha Fino. In the afternoon the double 250cc World Champion conducted a series of interviews with the local press before putting on his race leathers to test ride a Yamaha YZF-R1, decorated in Fiat Yamaha livery and with his now famous number 99 on the front. It was Lorenzo’s first time on a motorcycle since undergoing an operation on his left collarbone on the 16th November in Barcelona, but he was in strong enough shape to leave onlookers impressed at his ability on two wheels. The crowning glory was a burnout in front of 800 people.
Jorge Lorenzo
"It is incredible to see so many happy people here in Bangkok, where they don’t get to see this kind of event very often. Motorcycling is not one of the most popular sports here but it is certainly one of the most important businesses. To be able to come here and give the people at Yamaha a boost gives me a lot of pride. Tomorrow we’ll head to Indonesia and I’m sure we’ll find out even more about the secrets of this great brand.”
MOTOGP superstar Valentino Rossi took second place in the 2009 Monza Rally, at the weekend.
The nine-time World Motorcycle Champion, driving a Ford Focus WRC, lead the race for a time but lost the lead after spinning out of the event.
Citroen ace Rinaldo Capello took top spot on the podium, as well as winning the Master Show finale event by defeating rival Alessandro Perico's Citroen C4 WRC.
MotoGP racers Marco Simoncelli and Loris Capirossi also raced in the event; Simoncelli placed seventh, while Rizla Suzuki star Capirossi managed a lowly 15th.
Vito Ippolito president of the FIM, motorcycle racing's governing body, says 1000cc engines are the future for MotoGP, and denies it leading to conflict with the World Superbike Championship.
Earlier this year Carmelo Ezpeleta, the MotoGP rights holder had proposed using production-based 1000cc engines from 2012 onward, and it now seems likely a modified version of this plan will be adopted, where production-derived engines would be eligible but not mandatory.
Ippolito believes that moving back to a 1000cc motor will be welcomed by the MotoGP teams, since the change from 990cc to 800cc engines in 2007 hasn’t produced the desired effect of lower costs and reduced cornering speeds.
"MotoGP manufacturers want 1000cc engines, so that's the way now," Ippolito said.
"The 800cc formula hasn't worked because power is more or less the same [as 990cc], but cornering speed has increased. And costs have increased too."
In response to superbike promoter Infront Motor Sports angry reaction to Ezpeleta's initial suggestion of a 1000cc MotoGP formula, Ippolito says even if some of the engines had production origins, MotoGP bikes would remain prototype racing machines, thus creating adequate separation between the two series.
"The difference is the rule about homologation: a bike is or isn't homologable," Ippolito explained. "The discussion starts and ends here. It doesn't matter whether the engine is 1000, 1200, or 750cc - MotoGP can't be homologated, so it can have whatever engine it wants, since the discriminating factor is another one."
Ippolito also feels the two racing series cater for different audiences and will be able happily co-exist whatever regulations are in place.
"We are satisfied with both series, because they meet the requests of the fans," said Ippolito. "SBK offers the opportunity of racing and showing off to people who have less resources, while MotoGP is the global image of motorcycle racing.
"So we need both, but it's important to keep a difference between the two: someone who watches Superbikes watches his own bike racing. MotoGP is different, and someone who watches it wants to see something else."
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The decision leaves Alex de Angelis facing an uncertain future 
Valentino Rossi to race Ferrari
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