Riders, Teams & News

CASEY STONER
A bird´s eye view of Stoner´s Sachsenring lines
Sunday, 13 July 2008
From an aerial camera overlooking the scene of this weekend´s Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, motogp.com takes a look at how World Champion Casey Stoner approaches the Sachsenring.
Ducati Marlboro´s Casey Stoner is the poleman in Germany and the rider in-form in the premier class. In this video feature motogp.com watches the young Australian MotoGP title holder from a helicopter above the Sachsenring as he undertakes a lap of the famous German venue.


DANI PEDROSA
Pedrosa to attempt participation at Laguna Seca
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa will fly to the U.S.A on Wednesday, with the intention of riding this weekend.
Dani Pedrosa will be back onboard the Repsol Honda RC212V this weekend at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, despite a fractured left wrist and index finger and sprained right ankle. The Spaniard picked up the injuries in a crash at the last round of the MotoGP World Championship in Sachsenring.

Repsol Honda confirmed Pedrosa´s participation on Wednesday morning, revealing that he had been discharged from the Barcelona hospital where he had undergone a small arthroscopic operation on Tuesday afternoon, and would be flying straight to the U.S.A.

`In agreement with my doctor we have decided that I will fly to the US and I will do my best to ride this weekend,´ stated Pedrosa, after consulting surgeon Dr. Xavier Mir. `We know that it will not be easy and that we won´t know my exact situation until I get on the bike on Friday morning. This is a difficult time for me, of course, but my will is strong and if it is possible for me to ride the bike properly then I really want to ride.´

Pedrosa finished runner up in the 2006 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, but will have a hard task navigating the tricky changes required whilst still sore from his German tumble. The World Championship contender is adopting a `wait and see´ approach as to his goals for the weekend.

`Laguna is a physically demanding track when you are 100 per cent, so it will be tough with my injuries, but I know I can count on the support of the people around me to get me in the best possible shape. Laguna is what I call an ‘old school' circuit, with a lot of steep uphill and downhill sections. The fans are great there, very respectful of all the riders, so I would like to do my best for them. We will see what we can do. I would like to thank everyone around me and also my fans for their support over the last few days.


ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
Dovizioso fearful of factory improvement after fourth place
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Andrea Dovizioso took an amazing fourth place on his Laguna Seca debut, but explained afterwards that a repeat may not be so frequent after the summer break.
The first Honda and Michelin rider to cross the line at the Red Bull U.S Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso concluded a creditable first half of his rookie season with fourth place at Laguna Seca. The JiR Team Scot satellite team rider held off factory man and twice winner of the American round Nicky Hayden for another top five finish.

`It was a really difficult race, with a gap of 36 seconds between us and the leaders. When I realised that Hayden was running slower, I wanted to pass him, but Laguna is difficult to pass on and I spent four laps trying. Then I pushed to the maximum to pass Hayden and De Puniet, who are strong `brakers´ and who were difficult to pass,´ reviewed Dovizioso, who admitted feeling slightly apprehensive about what the second half of the season has in store for him.

`The problem is that we are a satellite team; the factory team have improved their package during the season and we couldn´t. So for that reason I am a little bit worried about the second part, when the gap will be bigger. We will have to work hard with Michelin, because they can help us,´ he explained, before reiterating his target for the end of the year.

`We are aiming for fifth or even fourth in the World Championship. I am happy to be there at the moment.´

Dovizioso has finished in the top five at the last five MotoGP races.


COLIN EDWARDS
Edwards to stay with Tech 3 Yamaha in 2009
Thursday, 17 July 2008
On the eve of his home race at Laguna Seca, Colin Edwards has announced that he will remain in MotoGP next season with the Tech 3 Yamaha team.
Speaking at the official Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix pre-event press conference on Thursday at Laguna Seca Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards confirmed that he will continue with the team in MotoGP in 2009.

The experience Texan rider has agreed a new one-year contract for next year after enjoying the best spell of his premier class career with Herve Poncharal´s satellite Yamaha squad.

The 34-year-old has already scored two podium finishes, four top five finishes and one pole position in 2008. He has also been on the front row four times and currently sits in the top five in the general standings.

Next year will be Edwards´ fifth season with Yamaha in MotoGP. During his time in Grand Prix to date he has been one of the most consistent performers in the championship, scoring points in all but ten of his 94 MotoGP races.

A delighted Edwards stated, `It is no secret that I had agreed with Yamaha to finish my MotoGP career at the end of 2008 and continue my racing career with them in America. But as soon as I began working with the Tech 3 team I instantly formed a great relationship with my guys. A big part of me wanting to stay is down to them, particularly Herve Poncharal and my crew chief Gary Reynders, but it has been a real team effort.´

`I´d like to say a big personal thanks to Masao Furusawa, Lin Jarvis and Bob Starr. Across Japan, Europe and America, their support has been essential in securing this new deal,´ continued Edwards. `I believe I still have a lot to offer MotoGP, and I can assure the staff and management at Tech 3 and Yamaha that I will be giving it my all to produce the results all of us deserve, starting this weekend at Laguna Seca.´

Edwards´ renowned testing skills proved invaluable during the 2008 pre-season, as he played a key role in the development of the latest generation YZR-M1 machine, which has already won four of the opening ten MotoGP races this season.

Tech 3 boss Poncharal commented, `It was very important for us because the team has been working so well. Colin did an incredible job during the winter to develop the Yamaha bike and the Michelin tyres and not only that, he has been brilliant with the team. We have the feeling that he has been here forever, although it is really only half a season.´

`We are having the best season I can remember, Colin and James (Toseland) are both doing excellent jobs, Colin fits really well in the team, he loves working with Gary (Reynders) and with the whole team.´

The French team manager added, `I think his original plan was to retire at the end of ´08, but even after his first few tests with us he said he would like to stay in MotoGP a bit more if he could do that with Tech 3 and Yamaha, so I am really pleased that half way through the year we have Colin clear with us for next year.´

Meanwhile, Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing stated, `We are very happy to have been able to secure Colin as a Yamaha rider for 2009. We have been working to improve the quality of the total Yamaha package in the MotoGP class and in 2008 we have achieved the best combined results to date for many years.´

`Colin´s contribution to the improvement of results in Tech 3 has been very important for the team and for the overall factory results.´


CHRIS VERMEULEN
Vermeulen and Lorenzo at San Francisco Hard Rock Cafe on Tuesday
Monday, 14 July 2008
MotoGP riders Chris Vermeulen and Jorge Lorenzo will be signing autographs at the Hard Rock Cafe from 11.30am.
In a promotional event for the upcoming Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, MotoGP riders Jorge Lorenzo and Chris Vermeulen will be paying a visit to San Francisco´s Hard Rock Cafe on Tuesday morning. The duo will be on-hand at the famous restaurant, located near the city´s Fisherman´s Wharf area on Pier 39, from 11.30am for an autograph session.

Fans and media alike are invited to come and meet Lorenzo and Vermeulen, who are passing through the Californian city on the way to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca –scene of this weekend´s eleventh round of the MotoGP World Championship.


ANTHONY WEST
Kawasaki: `West needs to work hard to justify his place in MotoGP´
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Kawasaki Competition Manager Michael Bartholemy has warned that an improvement in form is needed from Anthony West.
Whilst the riders on form and at the head of the MotoGP World Championship classification will be making the most of the summer break to relax and recuperate, those who have struggled over the opening eleven races of the season will not have such a luxury.

Such is the case of Anthony West, the Kawasaki rider whose first full season with `Team Green´ has not reached the heights of his sterling 2007 debut. The Australian has yet to crack the standings top ten in 2008, and the team´s Competition Manager Michael Bartholemy has made it clear that a lot of convincing is needed if West is to stay in the series he struggled to join for so many years.

`I know Anthony is disappointed with his performance this weekend, but it´s difficult to identify exactly where his problem is at the moment,´ said Bartholemy after seeing his charge finish one lap down at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.

`He needs to work hard now to justify his place in MotoGP. The Kawasaki Racing Team is here to secure results, and he needs to convince us he can be a part of that. We will speak to him during the summer break to see if we can find some way of improving his form ahead of the next race.´

Previous measures taken to bring West up to speed with the Ninja ZX-RR have included an uprooting to Belgium from Austria to be closer to Bartholemy and the team, and an intensive test in Japan after the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya in order to find a solution to a rear grip problem.
Kawasaki´s other regular rider, John Hopkins, is expected to return to action at Brno next month.


RANDY DE PUNIET
Sixth placed De Puniet reviews American visit
Sunday, 20 July 2008
LCR Honda´s exciting French MotoGP star Randy de Puniet reviews the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix after gaining ten valuable World Championship points at Laguna Seca.

After our worst Friday since the beginning of the season we finally gained a very positive result. We struggled a bit with rear grip over the last two days but at the end the bike set-up was good and I was able to race as I like. My start was not perfect but I knew I had the potential to race up there. I was behind (James) Toseland for many laps and tried to pass him three times without success. On lap twelve I passed him pushing to close the gap with (Andrea) Dovizioso and (Nicky) Hayden. I was not able to pass them so I decided to keep my position to get this positive result for me and the team.´


ALEX DE ANGELIS
De Angelis not getting carried away after positive Friday
Friday, 11 July 2008
Despite recording the second fastest time on Friday in Sachsenring, Alex de Angelis was both confident and pragmatic in equal measures.
The second fastest rider at the Sachsenring circuit during Friday free practice, Alex de Angelis was taking a realistic approach to matters ahead of qualifying for the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland.

The San Carlo Honda Gresini rider could explain in retrospect the circumstances that permitted his leading the Casey Stoner-chasing contingent on the opening day of action, but was keeping his feet on the ground after some recent inconsistency.

`We knew that we could perform well at this track as it suits my style and the characteristics of my bike. We still lack a bit of power but it's not that crucial here, that´s why the gap with the fastest is smaller than at other tracks,´ said De Angelis after clocking a 1´21.993 lap in the afternoon session.

`However I never thought I could get that lap time and end up so high,´ he added.

Frank in his expectations for the coming two days, a mixture of ambition and honesty was expressed by the MotoGP rookie, who has yet to qualify on the first three rows for a premier class race.

`We still have to test some more tyres. Bridgestone is doing a great job ; they had some trouble here in the past but they seem determined to not repeat their past mistakes. We´re very confident for tomorrow as we still a few things to try tomorrow and which could prove useful. Of course we´re not aiming for a win but we want to have a great race,´ signalled the San Marino rider, on the podium for the past three Sachsenring visits in the 250cc class.


JOHN HOPKINS
Hopkins´ goal to return at Brno after successful surgery
Tuesday, 08 July 2008
Kawasaki´s injured Anglo-American star John Hopkins underwent surgery in L.A. on Monday and is expected to require six to eight weeks of recovery time.
Following his 230km/h crash at the A-Style TT Assen and the full assessment of his injuries by trusted orthopaedic specialist Dr. Arthur Ting, John Hopkins underwent knee and ankle surgery on Monday and has been told he will need three weeks of complete rest on his damaged leg before an extensive rehabilitation programme can commence.

It had already been confirmed that Hopkins would miss the trips to Laguna Seca and Sachsenring, after he was diagnosed as having sustained a fracture to the bottom of his left tibia, reopened a previous fracture also in the left tibia and fractured the lateral malleolus, at the top of his left ankle.

Further examination by Dr. Ting also revealed a tibial plateau fracture just below the knee, and damage to the meniscus (cartilage), which was causing Hopkins´ knee joint to lock. Surgery took place on Monday to reset the bones in the ankle and repair and reattached the meniscus in the knee.

As a result of the operation Hopkins will not be able to bear any weight on his damaged left leg for three weeks, after which he will undergo extensive rehab, with a full recovery from his injuries expected to take from six to eight weeks in total – meaning that returning to action at Brno in the Czech Republic after the summer break is an optimistic but achievable goal.

Hopkins has already battled back from a painful injury this season after he ruptured his groin in winter testing and he now faces another hard slog as he attempts to turn his difficult debut season with Kawasaki around.

Michael Bartholemy, Kawasaki´s Competition Manager, commented, `I am sorry for John, as I know he was looking forward to racing in front of his home crowd at Laguna Seca, where he always enjoys a lot of support. But it´s just not possible; he has had surgery to fix the injuries he sustained at Assen, and now he needs sufficient recovery time to ensure that he´s fully fit before he makes his racing return.´

`Obviously we are hoping that this return will come in the Czech Republic Grand Prix,´ continued Bartholemy, `but we will be monitoring John´s recovery very closely and we have no intention of putting him back on the bike before he´s ready. If this means he doesn´t race at Brno, then that´s how it will be, because we don´t want to risk making things worse by allowing him to return before he is fully recovered.´

The `Team Green´ boss added, `Now we know the full extent of John's injuries we are looking at the possibility of running a replacement rider at Laguna Seca. We will make a further announcement about this ahead of this weekend´s German Grand Prix.


MARCO MELANDRI
Melandri in talks with Kawasaki and Gresini for 2009
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Marco Melandri will not ride for Ducati Marlboro next season and is in discussions with Kawasaki and his former team San Carlo Honda Gresini about a 2009 ride.
Speaking to motogp.com in the Sachsenring paddock at the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland Marco Melandri´s manager Alberto Vergani has confirmed, as widely anticipated, that the Italian rider will not stay with Ducati Marlboro beyond the 2008 season and is already in talks with other teams about his future.

The former World Championship runner-up and 250cc World Champion has endured a highly frustrating campaign to date, failing to adapt to the factory Desmosedici GP8, accumulating just 32 points and managing just one top ten finish in the opening nine races, following his winter ´07-08 move to Ducati.

Melandri´s contract with the team for 2009 has been annulled by mutual consent, meaning the rider is free to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Despite numerous rumours that the 25 year-old could be replaced mid-season due to his poor performances – and the reappearance of former rider Sete Gibernau in private tests with Ducati – Melandri´s agent and manager Vergani insists he is determined to see out the season with his current employees.

`We have broken the contract for the ´09 season and now we are looking at the possibilities for the future,´ Vergani stated. `From Marco´s side I know he wants to finish the current season as well as possible. If Ducati wants to stop Marco´s season it is a question for Ducati, not for Marco.´

Vergani also confirmed that Melandri is considering a return to the Honda Gresini set-up which he left at the end of last season and has also talked to Kawasaki who offered him a ride at Sachsenring and Laguna Seca as a replacement for the injured John Hopkins.

`At the moment we are talking with Gresini to go back to Fausto´s team and to Kawasaki, because they were already offering Hopkins´ bike to Marco for these two races. So these are the two real options,´ Vergani said.


TONI ELIAS
Tough morning for Toni
Friday, 06 June 2008
As motogp.com follows home rider Toni Elias on day one at the Catalunya circuit the Alice Team man runs into problems in the opening free practice session.

The first session of the Gran Premio Cinzano de Catalunya weekend sees Toni Elias find the going tough as he crashes early in the practice run. Nonetheless he still has time for a quick word with motogp.com and looks forward to improving the situation on Friday afternoon.


JORGE LORENZO
Ten days of rest for Lorenzo after suffering toe fractures
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Jorge Lorenzo will be spending the first few days of his summer break recovering from three clean toe fractures, picked up in his first lap crash at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.
Analysis at the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona, where Lorenzo has unfortunately been a frequent visitor in his rookie season in MotoGP, revealed fractures of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal of the Fiat Yamaha rider´s left foot. The breaks were suffered without dislocation, and Lorenzo´s ankle was not reinjured in the crash.

Ten days of limited movement have been prescribed by Dr. Xavier Mir, with the goal of complete mobility in time for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship in Brno. Lorenzo will have a cast on his foot during that time, with a weight-relieving splint attached afterwards to allow him to walk thereafter.

The 21 year-old has commented that he was `in pain and angry that another crash had halted progression,´ but that he would be making the most of his layup to get back to fitness and indulge in one of his interests.

`Luckily I have time to recover before Brno, even if I won´t have any holiday. Right now I´m going to enjoy the Tour de France on television,´ said Lorenzo.


VALENTINO ROSSI
Free video highlights of Rossi-Stoner battle
Friday, 25 July 2008
motogp.com has put together a compilation of the best moments from the superb fight for victory between Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.
The 2008 edition of the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca will be remembered by fans for many years to come after a nail-biting battle for glory between standings leader Valentino Rossi and World Champion Casey Stoner. In the early stages Rossi set about preventing Stoner from building up a lead at the front after the Aussie had won three races in succession in previous rounds and dominated practice and qualifying in California.

The Italian had to do everything in his power to stop Stoner and his dash through the gravel at the bottom of `the Corkscrew´ was a heart-stopping moment which he rode out to stay ahead of the title holder. Eventually of course Stoner yielded with a mistake which saw him run off and track and crash with eight laps remaining, only to remount and cross the line thirteen seconds behind an ecstatic Rossi.


SYLVAIN GUINTOLI

I started well, but then, in one of the first turns, I touched the rear tyre of another rider and I went off track losing too much time. I tried to comeback but I couldn´t maintain this morning´s pace. Maybe because of the different temperature the rear tyre didn´t give me the same confidence I had during warm up. We will check what happened. I am not happy because we could have had a really good race.´


JAMES TOSELAND
`Play it again, James´: Toseland´s Catalunya set
Sunday, 08 June 2008
Tech 3 Yamaha´s James Toseland gave a special musical performance at the Circuit de Catalunya on Saturday evening.


SHINYA NAKANO
Nakano and Aoyama anticipate challenges on familiar ground
Wednesday, 04 June 2008
Former Barcelona resident Shinya Nakano is back in the Catalan capital for this weekend´s Catalunya race, which is on home turf for his 250cc compatriot Hiroshi Aoyama who still lives locally.
For many Spanish and Catalan riders in the World Championship this weekend´s visit to Catalunya is their home race, while for those who have spent time in the CEV and the Red Bull MotoGP Academy it is also a return to well-known ground.

For San Carlo Honda Gresini´s Shinya Nakano, meanwhile, the Catalunya date brings him back to the city he lived in from 2003 to 2006, originally moving to Barcelona when he joined Luis d´Antin´s Yamaha team. The popular Japanese rider left the Mediterranean coast for Clermont Ferrand in France to live close to his personal trainer in 2007 and now resides near Gresini HQ in Misano, Italy, but still has close ties with Barcelona.

At the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya launch event on Tuesday, Nakano told motogp.com, `I am happy to be here in Barcelona because I was living here for a while, so I know the city and I have some friends here. They will be coming to see the race so I am very excited.´

`The feeling is getting better and better,´ the 30 year-old continued. `I was happy to keep up good lap times in Mugello. The result was ninth, still not what we want but my best so far this year and I will be aiming for the top six this weekend.´

For Nakano´s compatriot Hiroshi Aoyama Barcelona has been his European base since 2004, when he undertook his first full World Championship campaign under the management of Alberto Puig in the Telefonica Movistar Honda team.

The Red Bull KTM 250 rider commented, `I have been living here for a few years too and I have some friends here so it is like a second home for me. This will be the fifth year I have ridden at Catalunya and some of my friends will be coming watch. I like the track and I want to have a good race.´


LORIS CAPIROSSI
Capirossi happy with Suzuki and looking forward to new GSV-R
Friday, 11 July 2008
Returning to action this weekend at the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland Rizla Suzuki´s Loris Capirossi is in good spirits and is anticipating the arrival of updated GSV-R machinery in the coming weeks.


NICKY HAYDEN
Hayden special edition helmet unveiled
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Repsol Honda´s Nicky Hayden will be riding at his home race this weekend at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca with a special edition helmet.

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