It's official, MotoGP is switching to a 1,000cc capacity limit for the 2012 season and beyond. Why? The move will likely reduce costs, increase the marketing connection between MotoGP and road bikes and provide further separation with Moto2's 600cc capacity. In addition to the increase in maximum capacity from 800 to 1,000cc, engines will now be limited to a maximum of four cylinders and an 81mm bore.
John Hopkins to Return to MotoGP in 2010 with FB Corse
December 21, 2009
John Hopkins, whose last two teams—Kawasaki in MotoGP and Stiggy Honda in WSBK—both folded due to the world economic downturn, was without a ride for 2010 and rumoured to be considering racing for Pat Clark Motorsports in AMA, but fledgling MotoGP team FB Corse has now announced they’ve signed Hopkins for their inaugural season in 2010. Hopkins will begin testing in the new year, before joining his new team in Milan on January 21st for their official presentation.
For their MotoGP effort FB Corse will be using a proprietary chassis powered by an inline triple (the only in the series) said to be left over from BMW's short-lived MotoGP campaign. It's estimated that FB Corse's entry will have 10% less horsepower than the other bikes on the grid, however FIM regulations allow for a 15lb weight reduction for three-cylinder machines over their four and five-cylinder counterparts, meaning things might balance out. Still, it looks like Hopkins will have his work cut out for him.
2010 Ducati MotoGP bike in all its glory sitting in the Italian factory race shop.
Hayden Shows 2010 Ducati MotoGP Bike
Thursday, December 24, 2009
2010 Ducati MotoGP bike in all its glory sitting in the Italian factory race shop.
American MotoGP star and 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden slipped some of his iPhone photos of the 2010 Ducati MotoGP machine onto the internet via his personal website Home
Note what looks to be updated aero of the bodywork, something Hayden had said recently that they would be working on in the wind tunnel, as he’s been consistently down on top speed compared to his much smaller and lighter teammate Casey Stoner.
Hayden wrote the following on his site, complete with Nicky’s trademark slang: “'When I was going thru my phone I saw a few photos that I wanted to share with you guys. They pretty random but here's the run down: My favorite one is from when I was at Ducati headquarters last wk checking in with all the crew and checking out my 2010 weapon. Watching them test engines on the dyno was cool. I'm happy to report they're doing their homework.”
MotoGP Champ says no to driving with Jean Alesi in blue riband four-wheel endurance event
27 December 2009
REIGNING MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has turned down an offer to drive in the Le Mans 24 hour next June.
The Fiat Yamaha rider was asked if he's like to compete in the endurance car racing event by former Formula One driver Jean Alesi.
"The truth is that when Vale starts the season, he wants to solely concentrate on bikes. He will compete in rallies and speed events only after the end of the season," manager Davide Brivio told an Italian newspaper.
Rossi has competed in various rally and track events this year, driving a Ford Focus and a Ferrari GT racer.
Motorcycle superstar says he's sticking to two wheels
11 January 2010 Sorry folks: it ain't gonna happen
REIGNING MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will continue to race motorcycles for the forseeable future, turning his back on any chance of a career in Formula One, the star has told the Indian press.
The news quashes the rumours Rossi was planning a move to the four-wheel big time; it's likely he will pursue a career in rally cars or GT racing, once his motorcycle days are over.
"There are not many changes in a man's body between 22 and 34 so I still have some time left," the 30-year-old Italian told Indian media Monday.
"I would consider shifting to cars, probably rallying, after that before I finally decide to take it easy."
Rossi finished second in last year's Monza rally and impressed with a strong performance driving a Ferrari GT racer at the Vallelunga Six-Hour.
"When I finish with bikes, I might want to see some seasons in rallying. I know F1 would've been easier but by the time I finish MotoGP, I will be too old for F1."
Eyes of motorcycle racing world on Malaysia this week
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will be in the eyes of the motorcycle racing world this week with the first official MotoGP test of the year followed by the unveiling of the Petronas Yamaha MotoGP team for the new season at Sepang Circuit on Thursday.
The eagerly awaited first on-track action of the 2010 season takes place tomorrow with the participation of the MotoGP test riders. The following day, the 17 riders, who will contest in the championships, will check out their bikes.
The field will hope to get to grips with the evolving prototypes they will ride on in the coming season, starting in April.
Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi (pic)
and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, who was the runner-up last season, will work on the new version on their M1 bikes, which they first tested in the post-season at Valencia last November.
Rossi, who sealed the world championship title at Sepang last year, had commented on his satisfaction with the new throttle and speed of the 2010 machine after the test.
Rossi and Lorenzo will fly in tomorrow for the official team launch, which will be taking place at the Sepang Circuit for the first time. Another factory pairing in Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso will also be eager to see how their new bikes shape up.
Pedrosa targeted improved stability on the RC212V and Dovizioso is looking forward to seeing how electronic and chassis developments will adapt.
LCR Honda’s Randy de Puniet is also excited at the prospect of the new machine, which he expects to be closer to the factory prototype.
Ducati unveiled the Desmosedici GP10 earlier this month and factory riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden will enjoy the benefits of a redesigned engine. Rizla Suzuki will see how the GSV-R on which they have been working hard throughout the winter to make it more competitive than last season fares for MotoGP veteran Loris Capirossi and rookie lvaro Bautista.
Another experienced and rookie combination will be San Carlo Honda Gresinis’ Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli while 250cc world champion Hiroshi Aoyama will be astride a MotoGP bike for the first time on the RC212V of the Interwetten Honda MotoGP.
The 2010 season, which will be making stops in 18 countries, begins in Qatar on April 11. Malaysia will be host the 14th leg on Oct 10.
The Fiat Yamaha Team unveiled its new 2010 livery today, on the morning of the first MotoGP test of the pre-season in Sepang, Malaysia. The championship-winning team will field the same line-up as last year with World Champion Valentino Rossi and runner-up Jorge Lorenzo once again spearheading its attack.
The two-day test begins today, 4th February, the first of three pre-season tests before the first race at Qatar on 11th April.
The Fiat Yamaha Team held a press conference at the Sepang International Circuit. Lin Jarvis, Davide Brivio and Wilco Zeelenberg, Lorenzo's new team manager, will be joined by Shigeto Kitagawa and Masahiko Nakajima at the press conference before the riders have their turn - Rossi and Lorenzo at 1900 and then Yamaha Tech 3 riders Colin Edwards and Ben Spies at 1930.
Speaking about the forthcoming season Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said "2009 was the most successful year for Yamaha's racing activities for many years. It will be difficult to repeat such a performance but we are intending to try! We are fortunate to have the same fantastic rider line-up with Valentino and Jorge and we are looking forward to getting started with our work on track.
"Of course, Yamaha has not been able to escape the difficulties caused by the global economic situation but MotoGP forms an important part of the company's recovery plan. The MotoGP program is a very important brand image promotion activity and the racing requires us to demonstrate all of our company's power in engineering, organizational and passion if we are to be successful at the top level.
"We are extremely fortunate to have retained all of our existing loyal sponsors and even to have added a few more to the team. Our title sponsor Fiat is with us for a fourth year and Petronas, Packard Bell and Yamalube will continue as major sponsors of the team. We have two new sponsors in the form of Yamaha Indonesia, who join us with the aim of promoting their activities in Indonesia, the most important market for Yamaha at the moment, and Iveco. We have also retained all of our existing technical sponsors and suppliers.
"Last but not least I would like to say welcome back to all of our team staff and also to extend a warm welcome to our two new team members; Wilco Zeelenberg joins from the successful Yamaha Supersport team as Jorge's new team manager and Davide Marelli comes in as his new data technician."
MotoGP Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo Undergoes Surgery
Friday, 12 February 2010 MotoGP Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo Undergoes Surgery
After crashing while practicing near his home in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, MotoGP star Jorge Lorenzo underwent successful surgery in his right hand.
After the wreck, the Fiat Yamaha teammate of Valentino Rossi was taking to the Capio Hospital General de Catalunya, where doctors found a facture at the base of his finger and a displaced thumb.
According to Fiat Yamaha, Dr. Augusto J. Casanovas made an open reduction and osteosynthesis with a small titanium plate. Lorenzo will require hand protection for four to six weeks.
Lorenzo, 22, was practicing on a motocross track near Montmeló, and fell during a slow corner going approximately 30kmh. Lorenzo is returning home to Barecelona today (Friday), and will recuperate.
Fiat Yamaha said Lorenzo will not participate in the next Sepang test slatted for the end of the month, but is expected to make a full recovery for pre-season test at Qatar in March.
During the first series of pre-season testing, Lorenzo posted the fifth fastest time on the first day, and the third fastest time on the second day, just O.36 seconds slower than Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner and 0.755 seconds slower than defending MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo finished the '09 MotoGP Championship in second place
Wednesday February 24, 2010 Lorenzo is out, Rossi to test bike at Sepang
KUALA LUMPUR: Motor racing fans hoping to watch Fiat Yamaha Racing Team’s Jorge Lorenzo in action at the second MotoGP pre-season test at the Se****pang International Circuit (SIC) will be disappointed.
The rider will not be taking part in the three-day Sepang test beginning today as he is still recovering from surgery in his right hand following an accident while training in Barcelona on Feb 11.
SIC chief executive officer Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali said in a statement here yesterday that only the team’s key rider, Valentino Rossi, would participate in the Sepang test.
Rossi was the fastest among the premier class riders in the first test on Feb 4 and 5.
After the second test here, the teams and their riders will start the final test at the Losail Circuit in Qatar on March 18-19 before the new season begins on April 11 at the same circuit.
Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi smashed his own pole record by almost three tenths of a second during the last day of pre-season testing in Sepang, Malaysia last week, proving that he and the new YZR-M1 are on track for the MotoGP season opener next month.
The Italian rider posted a best lap time of 2’00.271 beating the Sepang best lap time of 2:00.518 which he himself recorded last year.
Rossi spent the final day of the test trying electronic packages and a new tire for Bridgeston. He also had time to do a few laps on the Japanese test team's bike, providing them with important feedback for the future development of the M1.
The 31-year-old rider set his best lap of 2'00.271 on his 12th of 39 laps, with Casey Stoner second once again in a time of 2'00.512. It was a good day for Yamaha, with Tech 3 riders Colin Edwards and Ben Spies fourth and fifth respectively.
“I'm really happy to have beaten my pole record,” said Rossi. “It's a good feeling to be this fast in testing. I did this with an old tire but we also got the chance to try a very good new tire from Bridgestone today, which I hope we will use from the first race.”
“Our bike is in great shape. We need to do a bit more work on the electronics but in general everything is better, especially the rear grip and the engine. Yamaha have been very clever to develop this new bike whilst keeping the best parts of the old one, I'm very happy about it.”
“Now we go to Qatar and then we will see our level because it is not one of mine or Yamaha's best tracks! But we're in great shape and this is very important at this stage of the season. I'm really looking forward to it,” Rossi added.
The next and final pre-season test comes at Qatar on March 18, by which time Rossi's injured team-mate Jorge Lorenzo hopes to have made a full recovery and to be back in action.
__________________
Rick
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Fiat Yamaha unveils 2010 MotoGP livery
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