MotoGP 2010 Thread

[Cap'n Jack]

The other one is the tighter chapel which I hope to god was only for the bikes.

I heard (or read) somewhere that the tighter Chapel is indeed only for the bikes, due to safety reasons, I believe.

 

[Neal]

Lorenzo has so far topped practice times and qualifying starts in 2 1/2 hours at Assen but it's Rossi and Ducati that are making the headlines. It's all adding up to an Italian super team, can you imagine the ferocity of the battles with Lorenzo if it happens!

Valentino Rossi poised to sign Ducati deal?

Rossi and Ducati details

Rossi and Ducati details

 

[Super T]

Theres lots of things that make sense with Rossi going to Ducati. The Fiat/Ferrari/Ducati links for one and his ever growing dislike of all things Lorenzo shaped. Seems like the little upstarts been getting the better of him recently, now I've got nothing but respect for Rossi but at least if he switches to a duke he can blame the machinery rather than being beaten on the same bike.

Would be good to see him see out his career as an italian rider on an italian bike, would give Luca di Montezemolo time to convince Mr Eccelstone to allow a third Ferrari onto the F1 grid.

 

[Rutter200_VR46]

Does anyone here watch British / World Superbikes? British Superbikes from Mallory Park and WSB from Misano this weekend. What about Ian Hutchinson's 5 wins from 5 at the TT?! Those guys are legends

 

[Neal]

I saw quite a bit of the TT coverage on ITV4 which is surprisingly good considering it's ITV. Ian Hutchinson's 5 out of 5 wins is an incredible achievement especially when you think of the other TT legends who never did that in their lifetime or haven't yet. The TT guys are so unassuming compared to the world circuit racers, a very different breed.

I only just about have time to follow and watch MotoGP so I'm ashamed to say I've not been watching WSB and BSB in recent years. It's highly unlikely I'll get to watch the MotoGP live today but I'll keep an eye out for BSB if I get to site down tomorrow.

On the Rossi move to Ducati I think he'll do it. There are quite a few good reasons but more than anything else I don't think he'll want to be in the same team as the current world champion (Lorenzo) and it looks like he's staying with Yamaha.

 

[Neal]

I’ve updated the first post with the results of Saturday’s race at Assen, not a particularly exiting race…it’s just not the same without Rossi!

No news yet on any rider team changes for next year but there is good news about Rossi’s recovery. According to the statement from him below he might be back in a less than 2 months, I’m keeping everything crossed.

A message from Valentino Rossi on his recovery

The Fiat Yamaha rider and current World Champion is recovering from his broken leg well, and says he aims to be back for the Brno round on August 15th if his rehabilitation continues without any problems.

Fiat Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi sent the following message today from his home in Italy. The reigning World Champion is currently convalescing after breaking his leg at the Italian MotoGP round three week's ago.

"Three weeks have passed since the accident and two since I was discharged from hospital, and I am very happy about how my recuperation is progressing. I am feeling a lot better and I'm starting to live a semi-normal life again, although for a completely ‘normal' life I will have to wait until I'm back on my bike! I am walking with crutches and for a few days I've been able to put my foot to the floor. Honestly, I didn't expect to feel this good just a few weeks after the incident, and I mean both physically and in my ‘spirit.'

"The rehabilitation is continuing as usual, both sitting in the hyperbaric chamber and with some exercises in the gym. Unfortunately my shoulder is still giving me some pain but I am working on the muscles to reduce the pain a bit. If the rehabilitation proceeds without trouble and if everything continues in this way, then my objective is to return at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno.

"I have started to leave the house and my good friends haven't left me on my own for even a minute, although I'm not used to spending so much time in Tavullia! I miss my bike, my team and the paddock a lot and this ‘new' sensation is pushing me to get better as quickly as possible.

"I'll speak to you, but more importantly see you, soon.

Ciao, Valentino Rossi."

 

[Neal]

Rossi's replacement has been decided, don't think anyone guessed it right!

Also Honda and Ducati confirm they are developing new bikes for 2012 rather than sticking with the current 800cc

But 125 2-strokes are being replaced by 250 4-strokes in 2012

Yoshikawa looking to 'develop' Yamaha in Catalunya

Wataru Yoshikawa is looking forward to making what will be only his second career MotoGP race having been offered to chance to ride Valentino Rossi's vacant FIAT Yamaha M1.

While the likes of Cal Crutchlow and Colin Edwards were originally mooted, the Yamaha test rider would turn out to be a surprise choice, with the team favouring the chance to keep developing the M1 in a racing environment.

While the Japanese rider admits he faces a steep learning curve around circuits he has not visited before, he is excited about the opportunity to ride the championship-leading bike in Spain.

"I'm excited about riding the M1 in Spain this week, even if I'm very sorry for Valentino's injury. I have only ridden in a MotoGP race once, at Motegi in 2002, and this is the first time I have ridden at the Montmeló (Barcelona) track.

“We can see from the team's results this season that Yamaha did a good job with the winter development of the M1 and I am sure that these few races I will contest now will be extremely helpful for the future development of our bike."

 

[Super T]

No more 125's.
I suppose their days have been numbered for a while but will still be sad to see the grid of angry wasps go.

As for Rossi's recovery it's amazing what can be acheived with the right medical care and advice these days. Granted I was a bit more bashed up than Valentino but it was nearly a year before I could even climb back onto my bike after a bad accident 16 years ago. Coming back in august (8 weeks'ish after the crash) shows a massive amount of dedication to the sport, there's no way he'll win the championship even if he's competitive straight away which I doubt he will be, it's fairly clear from his press release that he's missing it already... Shame all sports stars don't show as much dedication.

 

[Neal]

It is amazing how fast bones can heal with the oxygen chamber treatment, it takes me months to get over a sprained ankle!

What happened to you Super T to be in a worse state than Rossi?


More Rossi Ducati news, shouldn't be too long before we find out what he's doing next year but there's a lot of uncertainty about Burgess

Rossi to Ducati? The Plotting Continues

Only Valentino Rossi knows the real status of his supposedly imminent move to Ducati for 2011. And the great man isn’t talking.

He is tucked away at home in Tavulia recovering from a broken leg with plenty of time to plot and plan his future.

The latest scenario involves Rossi stripping bare the Yamaha garage of key technical staff, led by his trusted crew chief Jeremy Burgess, to don the red shirts of Ducati. But Burgess—who claims 14 world titles as the most lauded technician in MotoGP—denies any request to move to Ducati with his star rider.

Burgess says that his primary hope is that both he and Rossi will remain at Yamaha until the great Italian’s bike career ends. The Burgess claims are counter to the strengthening indications that Rossi is close to signing a $20 million deal with Ducati with Burgess by his side.

Has Rossi asked Burgess to go to Ducati with him next year?

“Certainly not,” Burgess said yesterday. “I last spoke to Valentino by phone last Thursday night (June 24) and he made no mention of going to Ducati with him. We spoke about his leg injury, which is progressing very well, and his plans to be back racing.”

This is also counter to rumors, vehemently denied by Ducati manager Alessandro Cicognani, that the crew of current Ducati rider Casey Stoner have been told to leave and make way for Burgess and his boys.

However, none of this means that Rossi is not plotting a palace coup similar to the one he staged in 2003 when he defected from Honda to Yamaha and took Burgess and his crew with him.

There is no doubt that Rossi is at loggerheads with Yamaha management over a proposed salary cut that would assist in the retention of Jorge Lorenzo (with a pay raise). Rossi feels it is fairer that both he and Lorenzo should suffer in tough economic times.

Also no doubt that with current Ducati rider Casey Stoner hell bent of moving to Honda that Ducati will try whatever it takes to get Rossi. And the deal is on.

But perhaps Rossi needs to get his Ducati deal much closer to finalization before he gets to the details of garage staff.

A $20 million contract, which includes the PR and personal appearance demands of main sponsor Phillip Morris/Marlboro, will not be the work of a moment.

“It might be a month or so before anyone knows what Valentino is doing,” Burgess added. “But right now what I see myself doing is working with Valentino at Yamaha until he stops racing bikes. Before Valentino broke his leg I anticipated that he would either renew his contract here (Yamaha) or go to F1 in a third Ferrari if that is possible.

“I enjoy working at Yamaha and it has been the most enjoyable period of my career in Grand Prix racing. I see no reason for me—and I hope Valentino—to walk away from seven years of hard work at Yamaha.

“But I don’t know if anything has changed. And amongst all the rumors I haven’t seen Valentino quoted by anyone on his plans for next year. And the Ducati offer has been an annual rumor for the last few years.”

In combination, Rossi and Burgess have worked with Yamaha to transform the M1 into MotoGP’s most consistent winner, and that’s with or without Rossi at the controls.

The current surge by factory teammate Lorenzo to a dominant lead in the championship is evidence of that.

That success story is one that Burgess says he is reluctant to tear up despite the romantic glamour attached to the Italian dream team of Rossi and Ducati. But every man has his price, as both Rossi and Burgess well know.

For whatever it means the pragmatic and clever racing mind of Burgess is hugely admired at Yamaha with race team boss Lin Jarvis saying, “There will always be a place at Yamaha for Jeremy Burgess.”

Again with or without Rossi, it seems, if Burgess so desires.

So what happens if Rossi elects to go by himself to Ducati where he will have the undivided attention of Filippo Preziosi, Ducati’s engineering guru?

Could it be that Yamaha will offer Burgess an extension of his crew chief contract to supervise the race program of America’s Ben Spies who will fill any 2011 vacancy in the factory team?

“Jerry has an incredible track record and logically I think any rider would benefit from his experience. Ben would be no exception,” Jarvis said.

Burgess has worked on the world championship campaigns of Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, and Rossi. Even so, logic also demands that a Rossi-Burgess spilt is difficult to contemplate.

And Rossi, even at 31, has time on his side to consider all the options of Yamaha, Ducati, or Ferrari.

He is a seven-time MotoGP world champion and winner of a record 78 premier class races, and despite his current injury lay-off, there is no sign that he has lost his winning powers.

Yamaha boss Jarvis continues to insist his wants to retain Rossi and Lorenzo, but with Stoner apparently in Honda’s clutches then Rossi is Ducati’s only option, backed by Marlboro’s bottomless pit of money.

“We have always said that we won’t enter into a financial battle for our riders,” Jarvis said. “If other companies such as Phillip Morris or whatever come in with a huge offer, I don’t think we could match it.”

Ducati poaching Rossi with mega money could be a blessing in disguise for Yamaha. It would free up budget to satisfy Lorenzo, who deserves a substantial pay rise—he is number one in the market right now—and it would allow Spies to move into the factory squad next year.

Lorenzo, 23, and Spies, 25, on M1s with the backing of Yamaha’s strong technical team is a tasty proposition that would ease the short term pain of losing the legendary Rossi, who will turn 32 next February.

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-rossi-to-ducati-the-plotting-continues/

 

[Super T]

Ducati have certainly got the money to throw around with the Phillip Morris group backing them, maybe Jeremy Burgess is holding out for a better deal although I wouldn't label him as a money motivated man, more an old school engineer who enjoys his work, I'm sure he's well compensated for his time though.

Maybe Rossi and his team are still negotiating terms and personel and want to wait before getting other parties (Burgess and Co) involved in talks, perhaps Jeremy Burgess is happy to stay with the corporate might of Yamaha, Ducati are certainly not a one man in his shed outfit but they're certainly not as big as the Japanese manufacturers, who knows? Thats half the fun of the annual contract merry-go-round, it does seem to have started earlier this year though.

It is amazing how fast bones can heal with the oxygen chamber treatment, it takes me months to get over a sprained ankle!

What happened to you Super T to be in a worse state than Rossi?

Managed to get myself tangled up in a motorway incident where everyone moved across because of a car pulling off the shoulder from a standstill instead of building up speed first! Everyone was forced to move across to the right so the last thing I remember is grabbing a handful of front brake and seeing my speedo needle drop through 90mph as my front wheel was shoved from underneath me. Woke up three days later with 34 broken bones (sounds impressive but most of it was in my left hand and foot)... Needless to say the bike I was clambering over a year after that wasn't the same one, that one ended up in lots of little chunks!

 

[Neal]

^ chuffing hell! Hats off to you for getting back on a bike after that. I think the highest speed I ever came off at was 50ish but never broke anything (touch wood) although skin takes a long time to grow back.

It does seem to have started early this year but it's all good fun.

 

[Super T]

So, Lorenzo's picking up a nice healthy lead in Rossi's absence. Lorenzo's already stated that this years title won't hold much value with Rossi out of action for such a big chunk of it but who knows, a couple of months in his oxygen tent and Rossi could make it difficult for him.

Some... interesting crashes this weekend including the stand in for Alex Pons trying to lob his moto 2 bike over the catch fencing right before the finish line, I've always liked the idea of being a motorsports photographer but after watching two of them cowering in the two foot gap between concrete and catch fences as the bike somersaulted towards them I'm not so keen!

 

[Neal]

Lorenzo really is proving to be pretty amazing in Rossi's absence and has gone up in my estimations by quite a bit. It’s easy to dismiss his form with Rossi gone but Pedrosa and Stoner are still in the aliens league and he’s not letting them get a look in. Saying that I do agree this years title has been devalued by Rossi’s break () so it will be a bit hollow if/when Lorenzo wins it. I must admit I’m really missing Rossi ever though there has been some great battles so will be glad to see him back, Stoner made a pretty spectacular return after his time off last year so hopefully Rossi can do the same.

 

[Neal]

He's not called the doctor for nothing! He might be back on 18th July

Rossi 'positive' after test

Valentino Rossi undecided on shock Germany return

 

[Dragonistic]

Managed to get myself tangled up in a motorway incident where everyone moved across because of a car pulling off the shoulder from a standstill instead of building up speed first! Everyone was forced to move across to the right so the last thing I remember is grabbing a handful of front brake and seeing my speedo needle drop through 90mph as my front wheel was shoved from underneath me. Woke up three days later with 34 broken bones (sounds impressive but most of it was in my left hand and foot)... Needless to say the bike I was clambering over a year after that wasn't the same one, that one ended up in lots of little chunks!

Sounds like a bad fall, though I do notice that you say your needle drops through 90mph with plenty of traffic around it sounds and anyone from the UK will know what that means. If you'd have been doing 70 to begin with I'm sure you'd have had a much better chance. That said though you were speeding that idiot pulling out was doing something far more dangerous, all the more reason why you should stick closer to the limits especially on 2 wheels though you may be skilled enough to do that speed other people as we know are not always the greatest drivers. Hopefully you've learnt that lessons now though, I know from my own falls that my biggest fear is wet conditions which I previously underestimated though I was lucky to only be doing 45 ish max on my highest speed fall and walked away with just bruises.

Speed kills though it is not always the cause of the accident.

 

[Super T]

Nearly spat my coffee out when I heard the news he was back on a bike already!!!

Wonder if Lorenzos getting worried yet, his 'easy' championship just got a little pressure added to it? :0

Speed kills though it is not always the cause of the accident.

Yep, I was still young, stupid and invincible... I have no doubt that without the gear I was wearing i.e. full leathers, proper gloves, boots, back protector etc I wouldn't be here typing this post, I'm lucky to be alive and to be here to tell the tale. I do still push my luck now and then but three figure speedo readings are reserved for track days now, they are regular and easy enough to get involved with these days. Although it has pushed up my insurance premiums, a few small and another rather larger incident means my company aren't too happy when I call them to tell them I'm off on another one.

 

[spyrrari]

Vale

He never ever seems to stop amazing me...👍




spy.

 

[Neal]

Vale

He never ever seems to stop amazing me...👍




spy.

Unbelievable isn't it!

Will you be watching the race on Sunday or warming up for the final in the pub?

 

[spyrrari]

Unbelievable isn't it!

Will you be watching the race on Sunday or warming up for the final in the pub?

...

You meen the F1?...next Motogp race is the 18th of July.

Sure will watch the F1 before the final,but not in a pub.....

Final i will watch on the biggest square in Amsterdam with 100.000 other orange nutters.......


spy.

 

[Neal]

...

You meen the F1?...next Motogp race is the 18th of July.

Sure will watch the F1 before the final,but not in a pub.....

Final i will watch on the biggest square in Amsterdam with 100.000 other orange nutters.......


spy.

Err...yeah...I definitely didn't mean the MotoGP especially after putting the date of the next race in the first post

That sounds awesome, wish I was there. Good luck for Sunday, hopefully Kuyt will have a great game 👍

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Not sure if it's been reported here yet, but it's confirmed that Casey Stoner is Honda-bound next season.

 

[Neal]

Not sure if it's been reported here yet, but it's confirmed that Casey Stoner is Honda-bound next season.

It hadn't, thanks for letting us know 👍

So then, I wonder what the odds on Rossi going to Ducati are now!

Obviously there are loads of news stories about it but here's a few below.

Official: Casey Stoner to leave Ducati

Casey Stoner grateful to Ducati

Honda confirm Casey Stoner signing

 

[Super T]

3 Repsol Hondas on the grid next year? A third bike for each team would bring the numbers up nicely on the grid, not sure how many of the teams could afford that though?

Oh the joys of the mid season contract merry-go-round.

 

[Rutter200_VR46]

Rumour is that Valentino will be on track tomorrow at brno on james toeslands R1. He will use this test to see if he is fit enough for germany next weekend

 

[niky]

No freaking way? So soon?

 

[Rutter200_VR46]

So Valentino did about 46 laps today, best lap a 1.59.135. Compare that with Cal Crutchlows pole lap a 1.58.0xx if i remember. Waiting on the decision for this weekend.....

 

[Super T]

Personally I'd be amazed if he rides in Germany, the risk of further (more serious) injury from something that would normally be a minor off must be too great at this stage in his recovery? Mind you, we've seen riders being lifted on and off the bike before.

Fingers crossed nothing goes wrong.

 

[Rutter200_VR46]

The decision has been delayed until Wednesday

 

[Neal]

Apparently he's having x-rays today and consulting the doctors before making his decision. I really do think it's increadible that he can ride a bike this soon after a broken leg but other riders have got on a bike in worse shape, Yukio Kagayama and Mick Doohan spring to mind but it was a crash Doohan had wihile his leg was repairing that ended his career. I can picture the video clip of that crash and it still turns my stomach! Talking about Dooham and stomach turning stories he used to have a metal frame around his leg with screws that he had turn to straighten his bones! He did this without painkillers as he said they dulled his senses

I wouldn't risk messing myself up more by getting on a bike so soon but then I'm not a world champion racer!

 

[niky]

His season's over already, he might as well take it easy and try to get back in shape... allow the bones to knit and strengthen more before adding stress to them.