STONER & HAYDEN UPBEAT

MARLBORO Ducati men Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden were satisfied after the opening practice session at Jerez, praising the performance of their Desmosedici GP10 machines.

Stoner is naturally keen to get some points on the board after his crash from the lead in Qatar, and as he seeks a first win at Jerez, the Australian was brimming with positivity after his time of 1m 39.731s in FP1 topped the timesheet.

“I’m feeling a lot more confident than I ever have at this circuit. Immediately from the first lap on this bike I knew things were different to past years, and the bike felt so much more confident than it ever has,” he said. “I have a great feeling, the rear is a lot calmer, it’s not pumping all over the track, and things feel very good. Everybody else is going to be ready for a good fight this weekend and I think it’s going to be the first chance I’m going to have to fight for maybe a victory here.”

Not even a slide out with two minutes of the session remaining brought Stoner’s mood down, and he even took the positives from the minor fall.

“I’m not really too sure (what happened),” said Stoner when asked about the fall at Turn 9. “The lap before I went into that corner a little bit too fast, so I thought on the next lap I’d ease it off a little bit, and a similar thing happened to what did in Qatar. We just didn’t have enough weight on the front, so I think we might be getting a little bit of a wrong indication from the bike of what we need to do with it. I think this is actually a good thing to happen to us because now we’ve had the same thing happen twice and this is going to give us a lot better indication of how to improve the problem for tomorrow, and the rest of the season. So far we’re very happy with the situation we’re in.”

Meantime Hayden was looking to build on what was for him a superb display in Qatar where he took fourth place in the race. The third quickest lap in the opening practice at Jerez left the American in similarly high spirits at just 0.417 seconds off his team-mate.

“The session went well and I’m really happy right now because this is a big one for us,” he commented. “I was fast in Malaysia and Qatar (tests) but that was after a lot of testing at those tracks, experimenting with many different settings, but we’ve come here and been fast out of the gate, which was one of my goals for this season – to be on the pace on Fridays. We didn’t set the world on fire or break any track records so we’re not getting carried away but the bike is close and if we can get it a little better in the fast corners we should have a good package.”
Hayden added: “The team made one little change today that helped a lot and on my last exit I was able to stay in the 1’40s from the first lap to the last. It’s a good start and if we keep working in this way we can have a good weekend.”

Read more...

STONER & HAYDEN UPBEAT

MARLBORO Ducati men Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden were satisfied after the opening practice session at Jerez, praising the performance of their Desmosedici GP10 machines.

Stoner is naturally keen to get some points on the board after his crash from the lead in Qatar, and as he seeks a first win at Jerez, the Australian was brimming with positivity after his time of 1m 39.731s in FP1 topped the timesheet.

“I’m feeling a lot more confident than I ever have at this circuit. Immediately from the first lap on this bike I knew things were different to past years, and the bike felt so much more confident than it ever has,” he said. “I have a great feeling, the rear is a lot calmer, it’s not pumping all over the track, and things feel very good. Everybody else is going to be ready for a good fight this weekend and I think it’s going to be the first chance I’m going to have to fight for maybe a victory here.”

Not even a slide out with two minutes of the session remaining brought Stoner’s mood down, and he even took the positives from the minor fall.

“I’m not really too sure (what happened),” said Stoner when asked about the fall at Turn 9. “The lap before I went into that corner a little bit too fast, so I thought on the next lap I’d ease it off a little bit, and a similar thing happened to what did in Qatar. We just didn’t have enough weight on the front, so I think we might be getting a little bit of a wrong indication from the bike of what we need to do with it. I think this is actually a good thing to happen to us because now we’ve had the same thing happen twice and this is going to give us a lot better indication of how to improve the problem for tomorrow, and the rest of the season. So far we’re very happy with the situation we’re in.”

Meantime Hayden was looking to build on what was for him a superb display in Qatar where he took fourth place in the race. The third quickest lap in the opening practice at Jerez left the American in similarly high spirits at just 0.417 seconds off his team-mate.

“The session went well and I’m really happy right now because this is a big one for us,” he commented. “I was fast in Malaysia and Qatar (tests) but that was after a lot of testing at those tracks, experimenting with many different settings, but we’ve come here and been fast out of the gate, which was one of my goals for this season – to be on the pace on Fridays. We didn’t set the world on fire or break any track records so we’re not getting carried away but the bike is close and if we can get it a little better in the fast corners we should have a good package.”
Hayden added: “The team made one little change today that helped a lot and on my last exit I was able to stay in the 1’40s from the first lap to the last. It’s a good start and if we keep working in this way we can have a good weekend.”

Read more...

DEBON TOPS MOTO2 PRACTICE

SPANIARD Alex Debon, runner-up in the inaugural Moto2 grand prix at Qatar on April 11 has topped the practice time sheet in the new four-stroke class's first practice session at Jerez de la Frontera, with a best lap almost half a second better than Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi. Talmacsi was second, ahead of Spanish domiciled American Kenny Noyes while Qatar winner Shoya Tomizawa was 14th fastest, sandwiched between the vastly more experieinced Toni Elias and Alex De Angelis.

In just their second grand prix, the Moto2 bikes are just over a second off the 250GP lap record.

All competitors use control Honda CBR600 engines prepared by Swiss company Geo Technology.

Jerez de la Frontera, Friday, April 30, 2010
Moto2 class, First Free Practice
1, Alex Debon Aeroport de Castello – Ajo FTR 1m 44.419s
2, Gabor Talmacsi Fimmco Speed Up 1m 44.880s
3, Kenny Noyes Jack & Jones by A. Banderas Promoharris 1m 44.920s
4, Yuki Takahashi Tech 3 Racing TECH 3 1m 44.977s
5, Sergio Gadea Tenerife 40 Pons PONS KALEX 1m 45.162 s
6, Yonny Hernandez Blusens-STX BQR-MOTO2 1m 45.199s
7, Julian Simon Mapfre Aspar Team RSV 1m 45.229s
8, Claudio Corti Forward Racing SUTER 1m 45.351s
9, Thomas Luthi Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 MORIWAKI 1m 45.352s
10, Jules Cluzel Forward Racing SUTER 1m 45.384s
11, Roberto Rolfo Italtrans S.T.R. SUTER 1m 45.418s
12, Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing RSV 1m 45.493s
13 Toni Elias Gresini Racing Moto2 MORIWAKI 1m 45.517s
14, Shoya Tomizawa Technomag-CIP SUTER 1m 45.560s
15, Alex De Angelis RSM Team Scot FORCE GP210 1m 45.676s
16, Anthony West MZ Racing Team MZ-RE HONDA 1m 45.823s
17, Stefan Bradl Viessmann Kiefer Racing SUTER 1m 45.914s
18, Ratthapark Wilairot Thai Honda PTT Singha SAG BIMOTA 1m 45.924a
19, Axel Pons Tenerife 40 Pons PONS KALEX 1m 45.931s
20, Alex Baldolini Caretta Technology Race Dept I.C.P. 1m 45.951s
21, Fonsi Nieto Holiday Gym G22 MORIWAKI 1m 46.118s
22, Scott Redding Marc VDS Racing Team SUTER 1m 46.134s
23, Dominique Aegerter Technomag-CIP SUTER 1m 46.237s
24, Mike Di Meglio Mapfre Aspar Team RSV 1m 46.353s
25, Raffaele De Rosa Tech 3 Racing TECH 3 1m 46.463s
26, Simone Corsi JIR Moto2 MOTOBI 1m 46.548s
27, Andrea Iannone Fimmco Speed Up SPEED UP 1m 46.558s
28, Joan Olive Jack & Jones by A.Banderas PROMOHARRIS 1m 46.652s
29, Robertino Pietri Italtrans S.T.R. SUTER 1m 46.781s
30, Hector Faubel Marc VDS Racing Team SUTER 1m 46.863s
31, Niccolo Canepa Team Scot FORCE GP210 1m 46.934s
32, Lukas Pesek Matteoni CP Racing MORIWAKI 1m 46.940s
33, Mattia Pasini JIR Moto2 MOTOBI 1m 47.011s
34, Arne Tode Racing Team Germany SUTER 1m 47.016s
35, Bernat Martinez Maquinza-SAG Team BIMOTA 1m 47.178s
36, Vladimir Ivanov Gresini Racing Moto2 MORIWAKI 1m 47.296s
37, Amadeo Lladas Llados Racing Team AJR 1m 47.555s
38, Valentin Debise WTR San Marino Team ADV 1m 47.747s
39, Mashel AL Naimi Blusens-STX BQR-MOTO2 1m 48.195s
40, Yannick Guerra Holiday Gym G22 MORIWAKI 1m 48.318s
41, Vladimir Leonov Vector Kiefer Racing SUTER 1m 48.383s
42, Ivan Moreno Andalucia Cajasol MORIWAKI 1m 49.000s

New class, so no previous lap times. For comparison with the class it has replaced, here are the 250GP records for Jerez:

250GP Pole Record: Dani Pedrosa, Honda, 1m 42.868s – 154.80 km/h (2005).
2009 250GP Pole time: Alex Debon (Aprilia), 1m 43.028s – 154.40 km/h
250GP Lap record: Alvaro Bautisata (Aprilia), 1m 43.338s – 154.10 km/h (2009, lap 15 of 26).
2009 Podium:
1, Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda), 45m 08.805s – 152.832 km/h; 2, Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia), 45m 08.937s; 3, Marco Simoncelli (Gilera), 45m 11.511s

Read more...

DEBON TOPS MOTO2 PRACTICE

SPANIARD Alex Debon, runner-up in the inaugural Moto2 grand prix at Qatar on April 11 has topped the practice time sheet in the new four-stroke class's first practice session at Jerez de la Frontera, with a best lap almost half a second better than Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi. Talmacsi was second, ahead of Spanish domiciled American Kenny Noyes while Qatar winner Shoya Tomizawa was 14th fastest, sandwiched between the vastly more experieinced Toni Elias and Alex De Angelis.

In just their second grand prix, the Moto2 bikes are just over a second off the 250GP lap record.

All competitors use control Honda CBR600 engines prepared by Swiss company Geo Technology.

Jerez de la Frontera, Friday, April 30, 2010
Moto2 class, First Free Practice
1, Alex Debon Aeroport de Castello – Ajo FTR 1m 44.419s
2, Gabor Talmacsi Fimmco Speed Up 1m 44.880s
3, Kenny Noyes Jack & Jones by A. Banderas Promoharris 1m 44.920s
4, Yuki Takahashi Tech 3 Racing TECH 3 1m 44.977s
5, Sergio Gadea Tenerife 40 Pons PONS KALEX 1m 45.162 s
6, Yonny Hernandez Blusens-STX BQR-MOTO2 1m 45.199s
7, Julian Simon Mapfre Aspar Team RSV 1m 45.229s
8, Claudio Corti Forward Racing SUTER 1m 45.351s
9, Thomas Luthi Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2 MORIWAKI 1m 45.352s
10, Jules Cluzel Forward Racing SUTER 1m 45.384s
11, Roberto Rolfo Italtrans S.T.R. SUTER 1m 45.418s
12, Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing RSV 1m 45.493s
13 Toni Elias Gresini Racing Moto2 MORIWAKI 1m 45.517s
14, Shoya Tomizawa Technomag-CIP SUTER 1m 45.560s
15, Alex De Angelis RSM Team Scot FORCE GP210 1m 45.676s
16, Anthony West MZ Racing Team MZ-RE HONDA 1m 45.823s
17, Stefan Bradl Viessmann Kiefer Racing SUTER 1m 45.914s
18, Ratthapark Wilairot Thai Honda PTT Singha SAG BIMOTA 1m 45.924a
19, Axel Pons Tenerife 40 Pons PONS KALEX 1m 45.931s
20, Alex Baldolini Caretta Technology Race Dept I.C.P. 1m 45.951s
21, Fonsi Nieto Holiday Gym G22 MORIWAKI 1m 46.118s
22, Scott Redding Marc VDS Racing Team SUTER 1m 46.134s
23, Dominique Aegerter Technomag-CIP SUTER 1m 46.237s
24, Mike Di Meglio Mapfre Aspar Team RSV 1m 46.353s
25, Raffaele De Rosa Tech 3 Racing TECH 3 1m 46.463s
26, Simone Corsi JIR Moto2 MOTOBI 1m 46.548s
27, Andrea Iannone Fimmco Speed Up SPEED UP 1m 46.558s
28, Joan Olive Jack & Jones by A.Banderas PROMOHARRIS 1m 46.652s
29, Robertino Pietri Italtrans S.T.R. SUTER 1m 46.781s
30, Hector Faubel Marc VDS Racing Team SUTER 1m 46.863s
31, Niccolo Canepa Team Scot FORCE GP210 1m 46.934s
32, Lukas Pesek Matteoni CP Racing MORIWAKI 1m 46.940s
33, Mattia Pasini JIR Moto2 MOTOBI 1m 47.011s
34, Arne Tode Racing Team Germany SUTER 1m 47.016s
35, Bernat Martinez Maquinza-SAG Team BIMOTA 1m 47.178s
36, Vladimir Ivanov Gresini Racing Moto2 MORIWAKI 1m 47.296s
37, Amadeo Lladas Llados Racing Team AJR 1m 47.555s
38, Valentin Debise WTR San Marino Team ADV 1m 47.747s
39, Mashel AL Naimi Blusens-STX BQR-MOTO2 1m 48.195s
40, Yannick Guerra Holiday Gym G22 MORIWAKI 1m 48.318s
41, Vladimir Leonov Vector Kiefer Racing SUTER 1m 48.383s
42, Ivan Moreno Andalucia Cajasol MORIWAKI 1m 49.000s

New class, so no previous lap times. For comparison with the class it has replaced, here are the 250GP records for Jerez:

250GP Pole Record: Dani Pedrosa, Honda, 1m 42.868s – 154.80 km/h (2005).
2009 250GP Pole time: Alex Debon (Aprilia), 1m 43.028s – 154.40 km/h
250GP Lap record: Alvaro Bautisata (Aprilia), 1m 43.338s – 154.10 km/h (2009, lap 15 of 26).
2009 Podium:
1, Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda), 45m 08.805s – 152.832 km/h; 2, Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia), 45m 08.937s; 3, Marco Simoncelli (Gilera), 45m 11.511s

Read more...

STONER UNDER RECORD IN FIRST PRACTICE!

IN THE first hour long free practice session at Spain's Jerez circuit, Australian Marlboro Ducati rider Casey Stoner blasted around under Valentino Rossi's one year old lap record!

The Ducati Marlboro rider set the pace in the first practice of the Gran Premio bwin de España, ahead of Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo and Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden.

Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa was fourth fastest, trying a new chassis, while multi winner at Jerez, Valentino Rossi, riding with a shoulder injury, was fifth, ahead of Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi. That made it four brands in the top six.

With another free practice session to go before Saturday afternoon's qualifying, lap times could take a hammering.

Full Friday free practice times from the Spanish MotoGP, round two of the 2010 world championship:

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 39.731s

2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 39.875s

3. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 40.148s

4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1m 40.200s

5. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 40.359s

6. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki 1m 40.716s

7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 40.913s

8. Hector Barbera SPA Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati 1m 41.034s

9. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki 1m 41.093s

10. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 41.190s

11. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 41.200s

12. Andrea Dovisioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 41.277s

13 Randy De Puniet FRA LCR Honda 1m 41.293s

14. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing Ducati 1m 41.297s

15. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 41.533s

16. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing Ducati 1m 41.742s

17. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda 1m 41.837s

2009 Pole position: Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha 1m 38.933s

Fastest race lap: Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha 1m 39.818s (2009)

MotoGP News in Brief

FORMER World 250 Champion, the mop-headed Italian Marco Simoncelli has a new fairing on his San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda V4 after doing wind tunnel tests in Japan with Honda Racing Corporation in a bid to improve the Italian’s top speed on his bike. Simoncelli says the modifications that were made to ensure he has a more comfortable, faster ride, including the small indentations on either side of his handlebars which allow him to now tuck his body in more effectively. Wags say if he cut his hair he could go one size smaller on his AGV helmet, and that may also reduce drag…

WHILE another former World 250 Champion made some great strides on the new chassis for his Repsol Honda V4, Dani Pedrosa’s team-mate Andrea Dovizioso was struggling in the first session at Jerez. He said he had quite a few problems entering the turns due to the difficulties he is having making his machine turn correctly when releasing the brakes. However, with all the pre-season tests and the data collected from the first session at Jerez, Dovizioso is confident that he can turn the situation around and recover the feelings that led him to be among the fastest in his class at the start of the world championship in Qatar. There his Honda could be seen ‘hobby-horsing’ as it entered the corners.

SAN Carlo Gressini Honda rider Marco Melandri was a bit more upbeat after the first session at Jerez, saying changes to the settings of his Ohlins forks had given him much more confidence in the front-end of the bike…

RIZLA Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi says the reason he is closer to the front-runners so far at Jerez is because he “took a big risk” and made a big change to the Suzuki’s chassis set-up. Meantime, over in the Monster Energy Tech 3 camp, Colin Edwards was ‘stiffening up” the suspension on his Yamaha while fellow Texan Ben Spies was content to figure out where the track went and what the fastest way around it was. It was noticed that Spies did not follow anyone, but was content to work it out for himself. He says he thinks he will be able to put some faster laps together in the second session.

Read more...

STONER UNDER RECORD IN FIRST PRACTICE!

IN THE first hour long free practice session at Spain's Jerez circuit, Australian Marlboro Ducati rider Casey Stoner blasted around under Valentino Rossi's one year old lap record!

The Ducati Marlboro rider set the pace in the first practice of the Gran Premio bwin de España, ahead of Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo and Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden.

Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa was fourth fastest, trying a new chassis, while multi winner at Jerez, Valentino Rossi, riding with a shoulder injury, was fifth, ahead of Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi. That made it four brands in the top six.

With another free practice session to go before Saturday afternoon's qualifying, lap times could take a hammering.

Full Friday free practice times from the Spanish MotoGP, round two of the 2010 world championship:

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 39.731s

2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 39.875s

3. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 40.148s

4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1m 40.200s

5. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 40.359s

6. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki 1m 40.716s

7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 40.913s

8. Hector Barbera SPA Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati 1m 41.034s

9. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki 1m 41.093s

10. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 41.190s

11. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 41.200s

12. Andrea Dovisioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 41.277s

13 Randy De Puniet FRA LCR Honda 1m 41.293s

14. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing Ducati 1m 41.297s

15. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 41.533s

16. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing Ducati 1m 41.742s

17. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda 1m 41.837s

2009 Pole position: Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha 1m 38.933s

Fastest race lap: Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha 1m 39.818s (2009)

MotoGP News in Brief

FORMER World 250 Champion, the mop-headed Italian Marco Simoncelli has a new fairing on his San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda V4 after doing wind tunnel tests in Japan with Honda Racing Corporation in a bid to improve the Italian’s top speed on his bike. Simoncelli says the modifications that were made to ensure he has a more comfortable, faster ride, including the small indentations on either side of his handlebars which allow him to now tuck his body in more effectively. Wags say if he cut his hair he could go one size smaller on his AGV helmet, and that may also reduce drag…

WHILE another former World 250 Champion made some great strides on the new chassis for his Repsol Honda V4, Dani Pedrosa’s team-mate Andrea Dovizioso was struggling in the first session at Jerez. He said he had quite a few problems entering the turns due to the difficulties he is having making his machine turn correctly when releasing the brakes. However, with all the pre-season tests and the data collected from the first session at Jerez, Dovizioso is confident that he can turn the situation around and recover the feelings that led him to be among the fastest in his class at the start of the world championship in Qatar. There his Honda could be seen ‘hobby-horsing’ as it entered the corners.

SAN Carlo Gressini Honda rider Marco Melandri was a bit more upbeat after the first session at Jerez, saying changes to the settings of his Ohlins forks had given him much more confidence in the front-end of the bike…

RIZLA Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi says the reason he is closer to the front-runners so far at Jerez is because he “took a big risk” and made a big change to the Suzuki’s chassis set-up. Meantime, over in the Monster Energy Tech 3 camp, Colin Edwards was ‘stiffening up” the suspension on his Yamaha while fellow Texan Ben Spies was content to figure out where the track went and what the fastest way around it was. It was noticed that Spies did not follow anyone, but was content to work it out for himself. He says he thinks he will be able to put some faster laps together in the second session.

Read more...

JEREZ: 125 FIRST SESSION

Already, after just the first free practice session, the fastest 125 riders are down close to the lap record!

1 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Tuenti Racing DERBI 1m 47.327s
2 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Red Bull Ajo Motorsport DERBI 1:47.448
3 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Tuenti Racing DERBI 1:47.574
4 Sandro CORTESE GER Avant Mitsubishi Ajo DERBI 1:48.418
5 Nicolas TEROL SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1:48.592
6 Esteve RABAT SPA Blusens-STX APRILIA 1:49.050
7 Bradley SMITH GBR Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1:49.270
8 Alberto MONCAYO SPA Andalucia Cajasol APRILIA 1:49.340
9 Jasper IWEMA NED CBC Corse APRILIA 1:49.449
10 Danny WEBB GBR Andalucia Cajasol APRILIA 1:49.615
11 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN Racing Team Germany APRILIA 1:49.810
12 Jonas FOLGER GER Ongetta Team APRILIA 1:50.205
13 Alexis MASBOU FRA Ongetta Team APRILIA 1:50.269
14 Louis ROSSI FRA CBC Corse APRILIA 1:50.277
15 Adrian MARTIN SPA Aeroport de Castello - Ajo APRILIA 1:50.348
16 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Stipa-Molenaar Racing APRILIA 1:50.555
17 Lorenzo SAVADORI ITA Matteoni CP Racing APRILIA 1:50.746
18 Johann ZARCO FRA WTR San Marino Team APRILIA 1:50.765
19 Jakub KORNFEIL CZE Racing Team Germany APRILIA 1 :51.020
20 Marcel SCHROTTER GER Interwetten Honda 125 HONDA 1:51.361
21 Luca MARCONI ITA Ongetta Team APRILIA 1:51.374
22 Isaac VIÑALES SPA Catalunya Racing Team APRILIA 1:51.639
23 Joan PERELLO SPA SAG Castrol HONDA 1:51.643
24 Luis SALOM SPA Lambretta Reparto Corse LAMBRETTA 1:51.831
25 Riccardo MORETTI ITA Fontana Racing APRILIA 1:52.072
26 Sturla FAGERHAUG NOR AirAsia - Sepang Int. Circuit APRILIA 1:52.088
27 Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN MAL Empowerment Worldwiderace T APRILIA 1:52.599
28 Michael VAN DER MARK NED Team Sachsenring APRILIA 1:53.146
29 Johnny ROSELL SPA SAG Castrol HONDA 1:53.199
30 Marco RAVAIOLI ITA Lambretta Reparto Corse LAMBRETTA 1:53.270
31 Quentin JACQUET FRA Stipa-Molenaar Racing GP APRILIA 1:53.367

125 Lap Record: 1m 47.057s - 148.731 km/h (Julian Simon, 2009)
125 Pole Record: 1m 46.937s -148.898 km/h (Mattia Pasini, 2006)

Read more...

JEREZ: 125 FIRST SESSION

Already, after just the first free practice session, the fastest 125 riders are down close to the lap record!

1 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Tuenti Racing DERBI 1m 47.327s
2 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Red Bull Ajo Motorsport DERBI 1:47.448
3 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Tuenti Racing DERBI 1:47.574
4 Sandro CORTESE GER Avant Mitsubishi Ajo DERBI 1:48.418
5 Nicolas TEROL SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1:48.592
6 Esteve RABAT SPA Blusens-STX APRILIA 1:49.050
7 Bradley SMITH GBR Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 1:49.270
8 Alberto MONCAYO SPA Andalucia Cajasol APRILIA 1:49.340
9 Jasper IWEMA NED CBC Corse APRILIA 1:49.449
10 Danny WEBB GBR Andalucia Cajasol APRILIA 1:49.615
11 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN Racing Team Germany APRILIA 1:49.810
12 Jonas FOLGER GER Ongetta Team APRILIA 1:50.205
13 Alexis MASBOU FRA Ongetta Team APRILIA 1:50.269
14 Louis ROSSI FRA CBC Corse APRILIA 1:50.277
15 Adrian MARTIN SPA Aeroport de Castello - Ajo APRILIA 1:50.348
16 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Stipa-Molenaar Racing APRILIA 1:50.555
17 Lorenzo SAVADORI ITA Matteoni CP Racing APRILIA 1:50.746
18 Johann ZARCO FRA WTR San Marino Team APRILIA 1:50.765
19 Jakub KORNFEIL CZE Racing Team Germany APRILIA 1 :51.020
20 Marcel SCHROTTER GER Interwetten Honda 125 HONDA 1:51.361
21 Luca MARCONI ITA Ongetta Team APRILIA 1:51.374
22 Isaac VIÑALES SPA Catalunya Racing Team APRILIA 1:51.639
23 Joan PERELLO SPA SAG Castrol HONDA 1:51.643
24 Luis SALOM SPA Lambretta Reparto Corse LAMBRETTA 1:51.831
25 Riccardo MORETTI ITA Fontana Racing APRILIA 1:52.072
26 Sturla FAGERHAUG NOR AirAsia - Sepang Int. Circuit APRILIA 1:52.088
27 Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN MAL Empowerment Worldwiderace T APRILIA 1:52.599
28 Michael VAN DER MARK NED Team Sachsenring APRILIA 1:53.146
29 Johnny ROSELL SPA SAG Castrol HONDA 1:53.199
30 Marco RAVAIOLI ITA Lambretta Reparto Corse LAMBRETTA 1:53.270
31 Quentin JACQUET FRA Stipa-Molenaar Racing GP APRILIA 1:53.367

125 Lap Record: 1m 47.057s - 148.731 km/h (Julian Simon, 2009)
125 Pole Record: 1m 46.937s -148.898 km/h (Mattia Pasini, 2006)

Read more...

MOTOGP SITUATION REPORT

AS the first free practice session was set to get underway, it is time to take stock of the likely top four riders.

First the Fiat Yamaha men, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. The postponment of the Japanese GP at Motegi has given Lorenzo an extra week to let his injured hand heal. Given his late charge at Losail to runner-up, you'd have to say he will be looking good at Jerez. He was in pain for two days after Qatar but the break should mean he'll be good to go in Spain, although he will not want to repeat last year's result. He crashed out of the race.

Meantime, Rossi crashed a motocross bike in training just after the Qatar race and the shoulder injury he sustained was worse than he admitted. He over-rotated his right shoulder and stretched ligaments. In addition he has a small crack in the top of the humerus. So last year's race winner is carrying an injury.

Then there's Casey Stoner on the Marlboro Ducati. The brilliant Aussie has never won a race at Jerez in any class, 125, 250 or MotoGP. In fact, his third place last year was his first ever podium at the place. With no points in the championship after crashing out of the lead at Losail, Stoner says he is actually looking forward to Jerez, which in the past has been a race he has run under 'damage limitation.' This year's revised closer firing order V4 engine is making life easier and he says he "won't waste time swerving all over the place."

Which brings us to 2008 race winner Dani Pedrosa. The Spaniard is looking forward to trying a new frame to try to overcome stability problems. Seems like Honda has finally built a bike that other riders can actually fit on, and the result is that Pedrosa is not comfortable on it! His Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovisioso meantime wants a more tractable engine and word is HRC will test a new engine on Monday, after the race, but no one is sure if or when it would get used because of the six-engine rule. IN a throw-back to their very first premier class GP engines (the old 500 four-stroke fours raced by Mike Hailwood), Honda has built an engine that has lots of top-end power and not even the new electronics package can alter that...

Of the rest, Nicky Hayden will be looking to do better than his fourth place finish at Losail on the Marlboro Ducati while Ben Spies is a dark horse. This is a track the Texan has not yet raced at, but given his prodigious ability to learn new circuits and go fast all at the same time, he will be one to keep an eye on.

Finally, Loris Capirossi has won at Jerez in the MotoGP class, but that was on the 990 days when he was racing a Ducati. Whether Suzuki can get its V4 competitive seems unlikely, but if it is half a chance, Capirossi will get the very best out of it.

Read more...

MOTOGP SITUATION REPORT

AS the first free practice session was set to get underway, it is time to take stock of the likely top four riders.

First the Fiat Yamaha men, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. The postponment of the Japanese GP at Motegi has given Lorenzo an extra week to let his injured hand heal. Given his late charge at Losail to runner-up, you'd have to say he will be looking good at Jerez. He was in pain for two days after Qatar but the break should mean he'll be good to go in Spain, although he will not want to repeat last year's result. He crashed out of the race.

Meantime, Rossi crashed a motocross bike in training just after the Qatar race and the shoulder injury he sustained was worse than he admitted. He over-rotated his right shoulder and stretched ligaments. In addition he has a small crack in the top of the humerus. So last year's race winner is carrying an injury.

Then there's Casey Stoner on the Marlboro Ducati. The brilliant Aussie has never won a race at Jerez in any class, 125, 250 or MotoGP. In fact, his third place last year was his first ever podium at the place. With no points in the championship after crashing out of the lead at Losail, Stoner says he is actually looking forward to Jerez, which in the past has been a race he has run under 'damage limitation.' This year's revised closer firing order V4 engine is making life easier and he says he "won't waste time swerving all over the place."

Which brings us to 2008 race winner Dani Pedrosa. The Spaniard is looking forward to trying a new frame to try to overcome stability problems. Seems like Honda has finally built a bike that other riders can actually fit on, and the result is that Pedrosa is not comfortable on it! His Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovisioso meantime wants a more tractable engine and word is HRC will test a new engine on Monday, after the race, but no one is sure if or when it would get used because of the six-engine rule. IN a throw-back to their very first premier class GP engines (the old 500 four-stroke fours raced by Mike Hailwood), Honda has built an engine that has lots of top-end power and not even the new electronics package can alter that...

Of the rest, Nicky Hayden will be looking to do better than his fourth place finish at Losail on the Marlboro Ducati while Ben Spies is a dark horse. This is a track the Texan has not yet raced at, but given his prodigious ability to learn new circuits and go fast all at the same time, he will be one to keep an eye on.

Finally, Loris Capirossi has won at Jerez in the MotoGP class, but that was on the 990 days when he was racing a Ducati. Whether Suzuki can get its V4 competitive seems unlikely, but if it is half a chance, Capirossi will get the very best out of it.

Read more...

BMW CHANGES

THERE have ben a few changes at BMW Group Australia recently, which will also have an effect in the New Zealand market.

BMW Group Australia has appointed Tony Sesto to the position of BMW Motorrad Manager. Effective May 3, 2010, Sesto will head up BMW Motorrad overseeing the Australia and New Zealand markets from BMW headquarters located in Melbourne.

Sesto was formerly the National Sales Manager of Honda Motorcycles in Australia and arrives with a wealth of experience spanning his ten year tenure there.

BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis, welcomed the appointment,

"We're extremely confident Tony will add significant value to the BMW Motorrad business and will continue to grow sales and defy the market trend. It's certainly a very exciting time for BMW Motorrad with the unprecedented market reaction to the S 1000 RR," Mr Yallouridis said.

Despite the Australian market declining by over 12 percent versus the same period last year, BMW Motorrad sales are up 6.3 per cent. Key performers in the range include the Learner Approved Motrocycles (LAMS) BMW G 650 GS, the K 1300 series and the S 1000 RR.

In addition, BMW Group Australia has appointed Piers Scott to the position of PR & Corporate Communications Manager, effective mid-May.

Scott, 33, was previously the Corporate Communications Manager for BMW Group New Zealand and will relocate with his family to Melbourne to take up the new position.

With PR experience spanning more than 10 years, both as a consultant and in-house corporate communications manager, not only does Scott bring with him a vast knowledge of the automotive industry, he also arrives with experience within the finance, mining and public sectors.

BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis, welcomed the move.

"Piers has been extremely effective working across the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands in New Zealand as well as bringing a wealth of experience from other industry sectors," Mr Yallouridis said.

Source: BMW Group Australia.

Read more...

BMW CHANGES

THERE have ben a few changes at BMW Group Australia recently, which will also have an effect in the New Zealand market.

BMW Group Australia has appointed Tony Sesto to the position of BMW Motorrad Manager. Effective May 3, 2010, Sesto will head up BMW Motorrad overseeing the Australia and New Zealand markets from BMW headquarters located in Melbourne.

Sesto was formerly the National Sales Manager of Honda Motorcycles in Australia and arrives with a wealth of experience spanning his ten year tenure there.

BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis, welcomed the appointment,

"We're extremely confident Tony will add significant value to the BMW Motorrad business and will continue to grow sales and defy the market trend. It's certainly a very exciting time for BMW Motorrad with the unprecedented market reaction to the S 1000 RR," Mr Yallouridis said.

Despite the Australian market declining by over 12 percent versus the same period last year, BMW Motorrad sales are up 6.3 per cent. Key performers in the range include the Learner Approved Motrocycles (LAMS) BMW G 650 GS, the K 1300 series and the S 1000 RR.

In addition, BMW Group Australia has appointed Piers Scott to the position of PR & Corporate Communications Manager, effective mid-May.

Scott, 33, was previously the Corporate Communications Manager for BMW Group New Zealand and will relocate with his family to Melbourne to take up the new position.

With PR experience spanning more than 10 years, both as a consultant and in-house corporate communications manager, not only does Scott bring with him a vast knowledge of the automotive industry, he also arrives with experience within the finance, mining and public sectors.

BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis, welcomed the move.

"Piers has been extremely effective working across the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands in New Zealand as well as bringing a wealth of experience from other industry sectors," Mr Yallouridis said.

Source: BMW Group Australia.

Read more...

ENFIELD GOES UPMARKET...

IN INDIA, Royal Enfield's marketing initiative to woo potential customers through its `Log Out" campaign targeted at corporates is paying dividends. The Chennai-based manufacturer (an Eicher Motors subsidiary) aims to pitch the riding experience as a team-building exercise over weekends. And the company reports that having ridden an Enfield, many a corporate rider has sold off his existing two-wheeler and upgraded (?) to an Enfield bike.

ZeroOne Technologies, a Chennai-based technology solutions provider, 'logged out' for its fifth anniversary on April 25. A few company staffers, some of them astride a Thunderbird for the first time, rode from Chennai to Yellagiri.

It's a campaign with a difference because it allows riders to set out on a trip even if they are riding other motorcycles. Shaji Koshy, divisional general manager, sales and marketing, Royal Enfield, reveals just why: "While our 'Ride On' campaign has it that every participant rides an Enfield bike, the Log Out campaign has no such restrictions. In fact, it is during the ride that many non-Enfield riders are converted into Bulleteers. En route they get to know the Enfield bike better – some are initially intimidated by the size of the motorcycle but once they ride it, they find out that it is easy to handle. For our company, this is a major marketing initiative."

We are not sure what these 'corporates' would make of Kiwi Rider magazine's test photos of the new 500 Classic. Check: http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2010/03/stretch-ing-royal-enfield.html
Royal Enfield has also earmarked exports as a growth area and says its 500cc motorcycle that meets Euro 3 emission norms is a major draw abroad. The Indian bike maker, which sells around 2300 bikes in the overseas market every year, has now targeted sales of 10,000 units per annum in the export market alone.

Read more...

ENFIELD GOES UPMARKET...

IN INDIA, Royal Enfield's marketing initiative to woo potential customers through its `Log Out" campaign targeted at corporates is paying dividends. The Chennai-based manufacturer (an Eicher Motors subsidiary) aims to pitch the riding experience as a team-building exercise over weekends. And the company reports that having ridden an Enfield, many a corporate rider has sold off his existing two-wheeler and upgraded (?) to an Enfield bike.

ZeroOne Technologies, a Chennai-based technology solutions provider, 'logged out' for its fifth anniversary on April 25. A few company staffers, some of them astride a Thunderbird for the first time, rode from Chennai to Yellagiri.

It's a campaign with a difference because it allows riders to set out on a trip even if they are riding other motorcycles. Shaji Koshy, divisional general manager, sales and marketing, Royal Enfield, reveals just why: "While our 'Ride On' campaign has it that every participant rides an Enfield bike, the Log Out campaign has no such restrictions. In fact, it is during the ride that many non-Enfield riders are converted into Bulleteers. En route they get to know the Enfield bike better – some are initially intimidated by the size of the motorcycle but once they ride it, they find out that it is easy to handle. For our company, this is a major marketing initiative."

We are not sure what these 'corporates' would make of Kiwi Rider magazine's test photos of the new 500 Classic. Check: http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2010/03/stretch-ing-royal-enfield.html
Royal Enfield has also earmarked exports as a growth area and says its 500cc motorcycle that meets Euro 3 emission norms is a major draw abroad. The Indian bike maker, which sells around 2300 bikes in the overseas market every year, has now targeted sales of 10,000 units per annum in the export market alone.

Read more...

FACTORY DUCATIS ON THE PACE!

Test - MisanoThursday Apr 29 2010Test - Misano

THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM LEAVES MISANO IN A POSITIVE STATE OF MIND

Misano (Italy), Thursday 28th April: Warm conditions at the Misano World Circuit allowed the Ducati Xerox squad to carry out two day’s worth of work on track, with positive results. Despite battling against 'flu and a high fever,strong>Noriyuki Haga rode alongside his team-mate Michel Fabrizio and both demonstrated a fast pace.

On track together with the Aprilia, BMW and Yamana factory teams, the two Ducati Xerox riders and their technicians concentrated above all on making modifications to the 1198 bikes in order to improve feeling and refine set-ups in preparation for the next race at Monza, May 7-8.

Noriyuki’s physical condition unfortunately worsened and after making two exits in the late morning, during which it was evident that his weakness was preventing him from pushing, the Japanese rider decided to finish up early, at lunchtime. Work continued for Michel however, and he spent the afternoon working on race pace and testing some different settings dedicated to the qualifying tyres, to better prepare for the Superpole sessions.

At the end of the tests, the team returned home satisfied with the work achieved. Michel made more than 150 laps over the two days, recording a great (unofficial) time of 1m 35.7s with the race tyre, followed by a 1m 35.2s on a qualifier, while Noriyuki, unwell, registered a best time yesterday of 1m 36.6s on a race tyre.

Michel Fabrizio
“We’ve worked really hard, my best time of 1m 35.2s on a qualifier was good but I’m more satisfied with the 1m 35.7s that I set on a race tyre and the fact I was able to lap consistently fast. My technicians made various changes to the suspension settings of my 1198 and I didn’t have any real problems. At Monza we absolutely must do well, we need to make good points in order to make up lost ground. We’ll see.”

Noriyuki Haga
“Yesterday everything was going well, lap times were better than they were during last year’s racing, but of course track temperatures were lower too of course which helped. The feeling I had with the tyres was good and we also identified a better suspension setting, as well as trying some engine settings too. Now we have to see how those solutions work at Monza. Everyone knows that Monza has many long straights where we have difficulty with top speed but I plan to open the gas and give it my all.”

Ernesto Marinelli – Team Manager
“We’re going through a very difficult phase, perhaps the most difficult that I remember, but the important thing is to react and never give up, and in this respect the whole team is very strong. This test has been very important and the problems regarding lack of feeling (the hardest kind to fix), that both riders were citing at Assen, seem to have been resolved or at least greatly reduced. It’s a pity that Noriyuki was affected by the 'flu, but Michel’s solid test is certainly an important base from which to start at Monza, where we’ll give 200%.”

Read more...

FACTORY DUCATIS ON THE PACE!

Test - MisanoThursday Apr 29 2010Test - Misano

THE DUCATI XEROX TEAM LEAVES MISANO IN A POSITIVE STATE OF MIND

Misano (Italy), Thursday 28th April: Warm conditions at the Misano World Circuit allowed the Ducati Xerox squad to carry out two day’s worth of work on track, with positive results. Despite battling against 'flu and a high fever,strong>Noriyuki Haga rode alongside his team-mate Michel Fabrizio and both demonstrated a fast pace.

On track together with the Aprilia, BMW and Yamana factory teams, the two Ducati Xerox riders and their technicians concentrated above all on making modifications to the 1198 bikes in order to improve feeling and refine set-ups in preparation for the next race at Monza, May 7-8.

Noriyuki’s physical condition unfortunately worsened and after making two exits in the late morning, during which it was evident that his weakness was preventing him from pushing, the Japanese rider decided to finish up early, at lunchtime. Work continued for Michel however, and he spent the afternoon working on race pace and testing some different settings dedicated to the qualifying tyres, to better prepare for the Superpole sessions.

At the end of the tests, the team returned home satisfied with the work achieved. Michel made more than 150 laps over the two days, recording a great (unofficial) time of 1m 35.7s with the race tyre, followed by a 1m 35.2s on a qualifier, while Noriyuki, unwell, registered a best time yesterday of 1m 36.6s on a race tyre.

Michel Fabrizio
“We’ve worked really hard, my best time of 1m 35.2s on a qualifier was good but I’m more satisfied with the 1m 35.7s that I set on a race tyre and the fact I was able to lap consistently fast. My technicians made various changes to the suspension settings of my 1198 and I didn’t have any real problems. At Monza we absolutely must do well, we need to make good points in order to make up lost ground. We’ll see.”

Noriyuki Haga
“Yesterday everything was going well, lap times were better than they were during last year’s racing, but of course track temperatures were lower too of course which helped. The feeling I had with the tyres was good and we also identified a better suspension setting, as well as trying some engine settings too. Now we have to see how those solutions work at Monza. Everyone knows that Monza has many long straights where we have difficulty with top speed but I plan to open the gas and give it my all.”

Ernesto Marinelli – Team Manager
“We’re going through a very difficult phase, perhaps the most difficult that I remember, but the important thing is to react and never give up, and in this respect the whole team is very strong. This test has been very important and the problems regarding lack of feeling (the hardest kind to fix), that both riders were citing at Assen, seem to have been resolved or at least greatly reduced. It’s a pity that Noriyuki was affected by the 'flu, but Michel’s solid test is certainly an important base from which to start at Monza, where we’ll give 200%.”

Read more...

YAMAHA R1 HAS SUCCESSFUL MISANO TEST

Latest from the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team

The Yamaha Sterilgarda world Superbike Team wrapped up a successful two day test in Misano this afternoon, fresh from James Toseland’s two podiums in Assen. Riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland spent the two days testing further changes to their 2010 R1 race-bikes as they prepare for the next round of the championship at the legendary Monza circuit next week. Toseland spent the first day focussing on the electronics, and ended the day second fastest on unofficial timing (no transponders) with a 1m 36.0s, only 0.1 sec behind the fastest time of the test, having completed 69 laps. Team mate Crutchlow was working on a general bike set-up, putting in 87 laps on the first day and ending it just behind Toseland, third fastest with an unofficial time of 1m 36.0s.

(The fastest Superbike lap at Misano is a 1m 35.435s set by Czech racer Jakub Smrz on the Guandalini Racing Ducati 1198R in Superpole 2009. The fastest race lap is 1m 37.135s recorded by Noriyuki Haga on the Xerox Ducati 1198R in running third in race two, 2009).

Day two saw Crutchlow working through a different set up to the previous day, finding advantages with each. He finished the second day of testing in third having put in a sub-lap record 1:35.7 lap on race tyres. Team-mate Toseland spent the day working on race pace and durability, using a qualifier towards the end to put in a 1:35.6 and take the second fastest slot of the day yet again.

James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda world Superbike Team “We’ve achieved a lot, and ended up second today. Fabrizio did a really good low 1:35 second lap on a qualifier but I think on race tyres there were definitely consistent 35s to be had for us as well. The fastest race time last year was a 37 so it shows how much everyone has improved, we’re 1.3 seconds under the lap record. Misano is definitely suited to the Ducati, it’s their strongest track I think, however I did ten laps in the low 36s which is great for race pace and the important thing is we’ve moved forward on durability for race pace which is key.”

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team “It’s been quite a progressive two days, we’ve worked through two completely different set ups and found pros and cons to both. I think we’ve found a clear direction to work in which we now need to fine tune. I was pleased with the pace we had, we were consistently in the top three without using a qualifier tyre, so we’re good with race tyres which is important. I have to keep working and hopefully it has put us in a good set for Monza.”

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda world Superbike Team Manager “We’ve had a really good test here at Misano. We tried some different things in both electronics and bike set up with both riders and in the end we learnt some valuable information and we made improvements. We will use these steps to bring upgrades in both electronics and chassis set up. Misano has been invaluable in finally providing us with some structured testing time to really develop a solid base for the rest of the season. Whilst we have made steps at each round including the new linkage for James in Assen, this has been our first real opportunity to make the next step. We now head forward with a more competitive package for the season and are confident this will benefit us from the next race in Monza”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© Copyright Yamaha 2010

Read more...

YAMAHA R1 HAS SUCCESSFUL MISANO TEST

Latest from the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team

The Yamaha Sterilgarda world Superbike Team wrapped up a successful two day test in Misano this afternoon, fresh from James Toseland’s two podiums in Assen. Riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland spent the two days testing further changes to their 2010 R1 race-bikes as they prepare for the next round of the championship at the legendary Monza circuit next week. Toseland spent the first day focussing on the electronics, and ended the day second fastest on unofficial timing (no transponders) with a 1m 36.0s, only 0.1 sec behind the fastest time of the test, having completed 69 laps. Team mate Crutchlow was working on a general bike set-up, putting in 87 laps on the first day and ending it just behind Toseland, third fastest with an unofficial time of 1m 36.0s.

(The fastest Superbike lap at Misano is a 1m 35.435s set by Czech racer Jakub Smrz on the Guandalini Racing Ducati 1198R in Superpole 2009. The fastest race lap is 1m 37.135s recorded by Noriyuki Haga on the Xerox Ducati 1198R in running third in race two, 2009).

Day two saw Crutchlow working through a different set up to the previous day, finding advantages with each. He finished the second day of testing in third having put in a sub-lap record 1:35.7 lap on race tyres. Team-mate Toseland spent the day working on race pace and durability, using a qualifier towards the end to put in a 1:35.6 and take the second fastest slot of the day yet again.

James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda world Superbike Team “We’ve achieved a lot, and ended up second today. Fabrizio did a really good low 1:35 second lap on a qualifier but I think on race tyres there were definitely consistent 35s to be had for us as well. The fastest race time last year was a 37 so it shows how much everyone has improved, we’re 1.3 seconds under the lap record. Misano is definitely suited to the Ducati, it’s their strongest track I think, however I did ten laps in the low 36s which is great for race pace and the important thing is we’ve moved forward on durability for race pace which is key.”

Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team “It’s been quite a progressive two days, we’ve worked through two completely different set ups and found pros and cons to both. I think we’ve found a clear direction to work in which we now need to fine tune. I was pleased with the pace we had, we were consistently in the top three without using a qualifier tyre, so we’re good with race tyres which is important. I have to keep working and hopefully it has put us in a good set for Monza.”

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda world Superbike Team Manager “We’ve had a really good test here at Misano. We tried some different things in both electronics and bike set up with both riders and in the end we learnt some valuable information and we made improvements. We will use these steps to bring upgrades in both electronics and chassis set up. Misano has been invaluable in finally providing us with some structured testing time to really develop a solid base for the rest of the season. Whilst we have made steps at each round including the new linkage for James in Assen, this has been our first real opportunity to make the next step. We now head forward with a more competitive package for the season and are confident this will benefit us from the next race in Monza”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© Copyright Yamaha 2010

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NEW SILVERSTONE LAYOUT FOR MOTOGP

Silverstone launches new Grand Prix circuit
Thursday, 29 April 2010, from MotoGP.com

The track will host the fifth round of the 2010 MotoGP calendar, the AirAsia British Grand Prix, and on Thursday, Silverstone Circuits Limited unveiled the new circuit, showing off the new section of track that the MotoGP World Championship riders will experience when the AirAsia British Grand Prix takes place from June 18-20.

Amongst those present at the circuit for the ceremony was former World Championship rider Ron Haslam, father of current HANNspree Superbike World Championship points leader Leon Haslam.

Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, said: “This new Grand Prix track combined with the redevelopment of Stowe Circuit and facilities, that was also completed this year, are a very exciting part of our overall redevelopment plan.”

“Work has already started on a new pit and paddock complex that will be completed in 2011 and we feel we are well on the way to being one of the best motorsport facilities in the world for competitors, organisers and spectators alike. 2010 is an extremely important year for the circuit with Formula One being re-joined by MotoGP and Superbikes on our calendar. It is going to be exciting to watch those races played out on this stunning new circuit.”

Read more...

NEW SILVERSTONE LAYOUT FOR MOTOGP

Silverstone launches new Grand Prix circuit
Thursday, 29 April 2010, from MotoGP.com

The track will host the fifth round of the 2010 MotoGP calendar, the AirAsia British Grand Prix, and on Thursday, Silverstone Circuits Limited unveiled the new circuit, showing off the new section of track that the MotoGP World Championship riders will experience when the AirAsia British Grand Prix takes place from June 18-20.

Amongst those present at the circuit for the ceremony was former World Championship rider Ron Haslam, father of current HANNspree Superbike World Championship points leader Leon Haslam.

Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, said: “This new Grand Prix track combined with the redevelopment of Stowe Circuit and facilities, that was also completed this year, are a very exciting part of our overall redevelopment plan.”

“Work has already started on a new pit and paddock complex that will be completed in 2011 and we feel we are well on the way to being one of the best motorsport facilities in the world for competitors, organisers and spectators alike. 2010 is an extremely important year for the circuit with Formula One being re-joined by MotoGP and Superbikes on our calendar. It is going to be exciting to watch those races played out on this stunning new circuit.”

Read more...

ROSSI BRUISED, BUT READY

Bruised Rossi faces Spanish Armada at Jerez

from MotoGP.com

The traditional pre-event press conference was attended by Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa and Héctor Barberá on Thursday, ahead of the Gran Premio bwin de España.

Jerez Pre-event press conference

The 2010 MotoGP World Championship resumes this weekend at Jerez, with the Gran Premio bwin de España now the second race of the season following the postponement of last weekend's race in Japan, due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Valentino Rossi arrives at Jerez leading the Championship standings after a victory in Qatar that surprised even The Doctor himself. Rossi has won six times in the premier class at Jerez, but is unsure of a repeat performance this weekend after injuring his shoulder in a bruising motocross crash the week after returning from Qatar. The postponement of the Japanese Grand Prix played into the Italian's hands, giving him an extra week to recover from the crash before facing his Championship rivals once again.

"Unfortunately the shoulder is still a problem and there is some pain," said Rossi during the pre-event press conference. "Normally this injury takes three weeks to heal and it's two weeks since it happened now, so I really need another seven days to be fully fit again. I was very lucky that Motegi was postponed as it has given me an extra week to work on the shoulder and it has improved very much, but we will only find out how much tomorrow.”

"This is one of the best races of the season," continued the Italian. "There's always a big crowd and the track is one of the best of the year."

To succeed on Sunday, Rossi will have to overcome not just his shoulder injury, but also two riders determined to give the crowd a 'home win' this weekend. Currently second in the Championship, Jorge Lorenzo crashed out of a podium position last year after qualifying on pole, but is back this year to try and deny his Fiat Yamaha team-mate his second win of the season. Lorenzo is another rider who has benefitted from the postponed Japanese race, as he is also recovering from an injury, sustained during pre-season in a training crash.

"The extra week means the hand feels much better now and it's nice to be here at Jerez," declared Lorenzo. "This race is very special for Spanish riders, although I haven't had such good results in MotoGP. I hope this year things can change."

Dani Pedrosa is a former race winner at Jerez, but has struggled to get to grips with the 2010 Repsol Honda during pre-season testing and the first race. Pedrosa will test a revised frame this weekend at Jerez, designed to increase stiffness and improve stability.

“Jerez is a special race for the Spanish people and the Spanish riders," declared Pedrosa at the Thursday press conference. "I need to take some of this energy and push, even if things aren't perfect with the bike, and focus on the race and a fast lap time."

The first practice session of the Gran Premio bwin de España in the MotoGP class begins at 1.55pm local time on Friday

more at: www.MotoGP.com

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ROSSI BRUISED, BUT READY

Bruised Rossi faces Spanish Armada at Jerez

from MotoGP.com

The traditional pre-event press conference was attended by Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa and Héctor Barberá on Thursday, ahead of the Gran Premio bwin de España.

Jerez Pre-event press conference

The 2010 MotoGP World Championship resumes this weekend at Jerez, with the Gran Premio bwin de España now the second race of the season following the postponement of last weekend's race in Japan, due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Valentino Rossi arrives at Jerez leading the Championship standings after a victory in Qatar that surprised even The Doctor himself. Rossi has won six times in the premier class at Jerez, but is unsure of a repeat performance this weekend after injuring his shoulder in a bruising motocross crash the week after returning from Qatar. The postponement of the Japanese Grand Prix played into the Italian's hands, giving him an extra week to recover from the crash before facing his Championship rivals once again.

"Unfortunately the shoulder is still a problem and there is some pain," said Rossi during the pre-event press conference. "Normally this injury takes three weeks to heal and it's two weeks since it happened now, so I really need another seven days to be fully fit again. I was very lucky that Motegi was postponed as it has given me an extra week to work on the shoulder and it has improved very much, but we will only find out how much tomorrow.”

"This is one of the best races of the season," continued the Italian. "There's always a big crowd and the track is one of the best of the year."

To succeed on Sunday, Rossi will have to overcome not just his shoulder injury, but also two riders determined to give the crowd a 'home win' this weekend. Currently second in the Championship, Jorge Lorenzo crashed out of a podium position last year after qualifying on pole, but is back this year to try and deny his Fiat Yamaha team-mate his second win of the season. Lorenzo is another rider who has benefitted from the postponed Japanese race, as he is also recovering from an injury, sustained during pre-season in a training crash.

"The extra week means the hand feels much better now and it's nice to be here at Jerez," declared Lorenzo. "This race is very special for Spanish riders, although I haven't had such good results in MotoGP. I hope this year things can change."

Dani Pedrosa is a former race winner at Jerez, but has struggled to get to grips with the 2010 Repsol Honda during pre-season testing and the first race. Pedrosa will test a revised frame this weekend at Jerez, designed to increase stiffness and improve stability.

“Jerez is a special race for the Spanish people and the Spanish riders," declared Pedrosa at the Thursday press conference. "I need to take some of this energy and push, even if things aren't perfect with the bike, and focus on the race and a fast lap time."

The first practice session of the Gran Premio bwin de España in the MotoGP class begins at 1.55pm local time on Friday

more at: www.MotoGP.com

Read more...

STONER & HAYDEN READY

Stoner and Hayden more than ready for Jerez
from MotoGP.com

The Ducati Marlboro riders have similar agendas for this weekend’s Gran Premio bt win de España. Stoner’s aim is to secure some points after round one, whilst Hayden wants to build on his impressive opening race.


The second round of the MotoGP World Championship takes place on Spanish soil on Sunday, with the Jerez circuit welcoming the paddock to Europe following the postponement of the Grand Prix of Japan until October 3rd due to the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland.

The Andalusian circuit has not traditionally favoured the characteristics of the Desmosedici but a podium for Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner in 2009 and the hard work carried out on the GP10 this winter by the Ducati MotoGP Team, Filippo Preziosi and his technicians in Borgo Panigale, should allow the Australian and his team-mate Nicky Hayden to look ahead to the weekend with more confidence.

Stoner is secure in the developments and is looking forward to being able to challenge in Sunday’s race. He said: “It is pretty unusual for a GP to be postponed but like last year in Qatar it is the kind of thing we can't predict or control so we just have to look ahead to Jerez and the job that awaits us there. In the past it hasn't been one of the more favourable circuits for us but we made some steps forward last year and finished on the podium.”

“We start from zero this time around though and on Friday we'll be working hard to find a set-up for the race. You need good handling for this track but also good stability and I think the direction we've taken with development of the GP10 should allow us to be competitive on Sunday,” concluded the Australian.

Hayden is keen to use what he gained from his fourth place in Qatar to make another step up this weekend, at a track at which he finished on the podium in 2006.

“We were all ready for a flyaway race and instead we’re going to Jerez for the first GP in Europe, where the paddock is all set up ‘properly’ with the motorhomes, hospitality units and all those fans!” said Hayden. “The atmosphere at Jerez is always awesome. Nothing really springs to mind about the track itself… there are no huge straights – mainly sections that flow into one another. At this time of year the track can be a little cold in the morning and then it tends to get warm in the afternoon, so we will have to be ready for any kind of condition.”

The American rider concluded by stating his aim for the race, adding: “Our target is to try to stay at the level we set ourselves in the first race and build on what we did out there. I know I have a good bike and a team that is fully behind me so I can’t wait to get back on track.”

Read more...

STONER & HAYDEN READY

Stoner and Hayden more than ready for Jerez
from MotoGP.com

The Ducati Marlboro riders have similar agendas for this weekend’s Gran Premio bt win de España. Stoner’s aim is to secure some points after round one, whilst Hayden wants to build on his impressive opening race.


The second round of the MotoGP World Championship takes place on Spanish soil on Sunday, with the Jerez circuit welcoming the paddock to Europe following the postponement of the Grand Prix of Japan until October 3rd due to the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland.

The Andalusian circuit has not traditionally favoured the characteristics of the Desmosedici but a podium for Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner in 2009 and the hard work carried out on the GP10 this winter by the Ducati MotoGP Team, Filippo Preziosi and his technicians in Borgo Panigale, should allow the Australian and his team-mate Nicky Hayden to look ahead to the weekend with more confidence.

Stoner is secure in the developments and is looking forward to being able to challenge in Sunday’s race. He said: “It is pretty unusual for a GP to be postponed but like last year in Qatar it is the kind of thing we can't predict or control so we just have to look ahead to Jerez and the job that awaits us there. In the past it hasn't been one of the more favourable circuits for us but we made some steps forward last year and finished on the podium.”

“We start from zero this time around though and on Friday we'll be working hard to find a set-up for the race. You need good handling for this track but also good stability and I think the direction we've taken with development of the GP10 should allow us to be competitive on Sunday,” concluded the Australian.

Hayden is keen to use what he gained from his fourth place in Qatar to make another step up this weekend, at a track at which he finished on the podium in 2006.

“We were all ready for a flyaway race and instead we’re going to Jerez for the first GP in Europe, where the paddock is all set up ‘properly’ with the motorhomes, hospitality units and all those fans!” said Hayden. “The atmosphere at Jerez is always awesome. Nothing really springs to mind about the track itself… there are no huge straights – mainly sections that flow into one another. At this time of year the track can be a little cold in the morning and then it tends to get warm in the afternoon, so we will have to be ready for any kind of condition.”

The American rider concluded by stating his aim for the race, adding: “Our target is to try to stay at the level we set ourselves in the first race and build on what we did out there. I know I have a good bike and a team that is fully behind me so I can’t wait to get back on track.”

Read more...

REITWAGEN TEAM IN TROUBLE

Resch and the S1000RR at Phillip Island

THOSE watching the Sky television broadcasts from round four of the HANNspress Superbike World Championship at Assen in the Netherlands last night may have noticed the grid was a little thinner than usual - not that it hurt the action any!

Missing were the Reitwagen BMWs of Australian Andrew Pitt and Roland Resch of Austria, the team managed by Andreas Werth.

It is no secret that the Reitwagen team missed most of the pre-season testing while waiting for bikes. Also, the delay in a competitive electronics package saw the team running bikes that were in almost a Superstock level of trim - almost stock engines with slightly upgraded chassis.

With these problems not looking to be resolved in time for Assen, and with problematic financial issues, it was decided that the team would not compete this weekend.

Explaining their non-appearance at Assen, Pitt issued this statement:

“Obviously I’m disappointed, I’m a spectator here at Assen and I love this circuit. I found out we were not racing here during the week. I was hoping for a finish closer to the top 10.

“I’m told there is some financial restructuring going on and that there is no point racing until the bike can be further developed, so the aim is to make a comeback at Monza.”

Read more...

REITWAGEN TEAM IN TROUBLE

Resch and the S1000RR at Phillip Island

THOSE watching the Sky television broadcasts from round four of the HANNspress Superbike World Championship at Assen in the Netherlands last night may have noticed the grid was a little thinner than usual - not that it hurt the action any!

Missing were the Reitwagen BMWs of Australian Andrew Pitt and Roland Resch of Austria, the team managed by Andreas Werth.

It is no secret that the Reitwagen team missed most of the pre-season testing while waiting for bikes. Also, the delay in a competitive electronics package saw the team running bikes that were in almost a Superstock level of trim - almost stock engines with slightly upgraded chassis.

With these problems not looking to be resolved in time for Assen, and with problematic financial issues, it was decided that the team would not compete this weekend.

Explaining their non-appearance at Assen, Pitt issued this statement:

“Obviously I’m disappointed, I’m a spectator here at Assen and I love this circuit. I found out we were not racing here during the week. I was hoping for a finish closer to the top 10.

“I’m told there is some financial restructuring going on and that there is no point racing until the bike can be further developed, so the aim is to make a comeback at Monza.”

Read more...

HONDA'S DOUBLE WIN AT ASSEN

ULSTERMAN Jonathan Rea gave the HANNspree-backed Ten Kate Honda team a much needed boost at round four of the HANNspree Superbike World Championship at Assen on Sunday, starting from pole, winning both races and establishing a new class lap record into the bargain.

As a result of his efforts, he jumped to third in the championship table and was the fifth man to win a SWC race this year.

The race action was stunning and the big news was the further improved pace of the BMW S1000RR. Aussie Troy Corser holeshot both races and was involved in racing that would have reminded him of his Australian 250 Production Championship days, except that 1000cc Superbikes are considerably faster than an RGV250 Suzuki.

In the end, Corser scored a pair of fifth place finishes, which does not do justice to his efforts on the transverse in-line four cylinder German bike. The racing was so close that in the first 22 lap affair, Corser was just 2.7 seconds off race winner Rea at the end and in race two, 4.1 seconds separated the first five.

James Toseland proved last year's championship winning Yamaha YZF-R1 is getting back to competitive form with 2-3 placings - impressive when he was coming from tenth on the grid each time.

With the factory Ducati team qualifying poorly and not figuring in either race, it was privateers Jakub Smrz and Carlos Checa who flew the Ducati flag, Smrz in the thick of the race one action until midway through when he was jumped by Leon Camier (Aprilia), Checa and Max Biaggi (Aprilia).

Race two was a nail-biter.

The first lap saw Haga run wide in the first turn, then Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) tagged the rear wheel of Tom Sykes' Kawasaki sending them both down and out. Both walked away.

Again Corser blasted the BMW into the lead off the start but this time Rea sliced past early while Leon Haslam (Suzuki) sat in fourth. He had been slowed in the first 22-lap bash by a slowly deflating front tyre but was back at his storming best for the second race, passing the Aprilia of Leon Camier early on then taking Corser just as Rea made another bid for the lead.

Corser hit back to regain second spot on lap six then retake the lead from Rea. The order then was Corser-Rea-Haslam-Camier-Toseland-Biaggi-Checa-Smrz - the eight of them nose-tail.

Mid-race, Haslam made his move, outbraking Corser then Rea on successive laps to head the freight train for three laps before Rea came by. The pair of them swapped the lead three times in a lap, Rea finally getting a gap and edging away to his second win of the weekend while Haslam left Corser in the clutches of Toseland, Camier and Biaggi.

Corser could not quite get to the fourth place he scored in Valencia at the previous round but this weekend's two fifth places were even more impressive rides, particularly when added to the fact that he topped combined qualifying, and was third fastest in Superpole on Saturday.

At the end, Toseland had enough left to secure third, his second podium of the weekend while Camier crashed spectacularly with three laps to go, handing team-mate Biaggi an extra two points in the championship in the process.

At the end of both races, the podium was made up entirely of British riders, an unusual situation but one we may see more of as this championship develops.

Talking about the Championship, Haslam continues to lead on the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Biaggi maintains the runner-up spot he took after his double win at Portimao and Rea's Assen double moves him up to third, ahead of Carlos Checa. Others to make up ground are Toseland (from sixth to fifth) while Corser moved from ninth to seventh.

With 18 races to go, the title chase is wide open, although Haslam will be keen to retain his lead after the May 9 round at Monza. Last year Fabrizio won the first race there after Ben Spies' Yamaha ran out of fuel, and then the Italian Ducati rider finished second in race two after Yamaha made no mistakes with the fuel.

Ducati will be desperate for some good results from the works team on May 9 but with Haga sixth in the title chase, 63 points off Haslam's lead, he has a big job to do.

Assen was a troubled time for the official Xerox Ducati team. Haga was only 10th in the frst race and retired in the second with a bad engine vibration and while Fabrizio scored in each race, 13th and 12th was not what the team was looking for.

Is it a coincidence that since Davide Tardozzi left the works Ducati squad to manage BMW's effort, the relative fortunes of the two teams have changed?

One thing is certain: BMW is not leaving any stone unturned in its efforts to get the four cylinder S1000RR onto the podium. The new electronics have been a big help, but Corser said that towards the end of the first race it was spinning up the rerar tyre again. With its speed, and some more elctronic work, perhaps Monza will be a happy hunting ground...

2010 WSB The Netherlands - Assen 25/04/2010
Race 1 - 22 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 35'38.483
2 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 0'01.106
3 Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 0'01.249
4 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 0'01.548
5 Troy Corser BMW AUS 0'02.738
6 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 0'02.813
7 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0'06.296
8 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 0'12.022
9 Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 0'12.146
10 Noriyuki Haga Ducati JPN 0'19.753
11 Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 0'22.204
12 Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 0'22.282
13 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 0'22.780
14 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 0'23.364
15 Luca Scassa Ducati ITA 0'37.097

Fastest Lap: Carlos Checa 1m 36.413s - 169.600 km/h

Race 2 - 22 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 35'43.137
2 Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 0'01.942
3 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 0'03.928
4 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 0'04.067
5 Troy Corser BMW AUS 0'04.176
6 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 0'04.525
7 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0'04.682
8 Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 0'07.698
9 Max Neukirchner Honda GER 0'09.903
10 Ruben Xaus BMW ESP 0'11.465
11 Luca Scassa Ducati ITA 0'15.489
12 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 0'23.604
13 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 0'29.085
14 Chris Vermeulen Kawasaki AUS 0'35.401
15 Matteo Baiocco Kawasaki ITA 0'44.330

Fastest lap: Rea, 1m 36.312s - 169.773 km/h


Rider Championship Standings
1. Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 148
2. Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 128
3. Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 110
4. Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 103
5. James Toseland Yamaha GBR 86
6. Noriyuki Haga Ducati JPN 85
7. Troy Corser BMW AUS 68
8. Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 55
9. Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 53
10. Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 49
11. Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 48
12. Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 48
13. Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 38
14. Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 26
15. Ruben Xaus BMW ESP 25


Manufacturer Points
1. Suzuki 148
2. Aprilia 134
3. Ducati 130
4. Honda 111
5. Yamaha 93
6. BMW 69
7. Kawasaki 19

Read more...

HONDA'S DOUBLE WIN AT ASSEN

ULSTERMAN Jonathan Rea gave the HANNspree-backed Ten Kate Honda team a much needed boost at round four of the HANNspree Superbike World Championship at Assen on Sunday, starting from pole, winning both races and establishing a new class lap record into the bargain.

As a result of his efforts, he jumped to third in the championship table and was the fifth man to win a SWC race this year.

The race action was stunning and the big news was the further improved pace of the BMW S1000RR. Aussie Troy Corser holeshot both races and was involved in racing that would have reminded him of his Australian 250 Production Championship days, except that 1000cc Superbikes are considerably faster than an RGV250 Suzuki.

In the end, Corser scored a pair of fifth place finishes, which does not do justice to his efforts on the transverse in-line four cylinder German bike. The racing was so close that in the first 22 lap affair, Corser was just 2.7 seconds off race winner Rea at the end and in race two, 4.1 seconds separated the first five.

James Toseland proved last year's championship winning Yamaha YZF-R1 is getting back to competitive form with 2-3 placings - impressive when he was coming from tenth on the grid each time.

With the factory Ducati team qualifying poorly and not figuring in either race, it was privateers Jakub Smrz and Carlos Checa who flew the Ducati flag, Smrz in the thick of the race one action until midway through when he was jumped by Leon Camier (Aprilia), Checa and Max Biaggi (Aprilia).

Race two was a nail-biter.

The first lap saw Haga run wide in the first turn, then Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) tagged the rear wheel of Tom Sykes' Kawasaki sending them both down and out. Both walked away.

Again Corser blasted the BMW into the lead off the start but this time Rea sliced past early while Leon Haslam (Suzuki) sat in fourth. He had been slowed in the first 22-lap bash by a slowly deflating front tyre but was back at his storming best for the second race, passing the Aprilia of Leon Camier early on then taking Corser just as Rea made another bid for the lead.

Corser hit back to regain second spot on lap six then retake the lead from Rea. The order then was Corser-Rea-Haslam-Camier-Toseland-Biaggi-Checa-Smrz - the eight of them nose-tail.

Mid-race, Haslam made his move, outbraking Corser then Rea on successive laps to head the freight train for three laps before Rea came by. The pair of them swapped the lead three times in a lap, Rea finally getting a gap and edging away to his second win of the weekend while Haslam left Corser in the clutches of Toseland, Camier and Biaggi.

Corser could not quite get to the fourth place he scored in Valencia at the previous round but this weekend's two fifth places were even more impressive rides, particularly when added to the fact that he topped combined qualifying, and was third fastest in Superpole on Saturday.

At the end, Toseland had enough left to secure third, his second podium of the weekend while Camier crashed spectacularly with three laps to go, handing team-mate Biaggi an extra two points in the championship in the process.

At the end of both races, the podium was made up entirely of British riders, an unusual situation but one we may see more of as this championship develops.

Talking about the Championship, Haslam continues to lead on the Suzuki GSX-R1000, Biaggi maintains the runner-up spot he took after his double win at Portimao and Rea's Assen double moves him up to third, ahead of Carlos Checa. Others to make up ground are Toseland (from sixth to fifth) while Corser moved from ninth to seventh.

With 18 races to go, the title chase is wide open, although Haslam will be keen to retain his lead after the May 9 round at Monza. Last year Fabrizio won the first race there after Ben Spies' Yamaha ran out of fuel, and then the Italian Ducati rider finished second in race two after Yamaha made no mistakes with the fuel.

Ducati will be desperate for some good results from the works team on May 9 but with Haga sixth in the title chase, 63 points off Haslam's lead, he has a big job to do.

Assen was a troubled time for the official Xerox Ducati team. Haga was only 10th in the frst race and retired in the second with a bad engine vibration and while Fabrizio scored in each race, 13th and 12th was not what the team was looking for.

Is it a coincidence that since Davide Tardozzi left the works Ducati squad to manage BMW's effort, the relative fortunes of the two teams have changed?

One thing is certain: BMW is not leaving any stone unturned in its efforts to get the four cylinder S1000RR onto the podium. The new electronics have been a big help, but Corser said that towards the end of the first race it was spinning up the rerar tyre again. With its speed, and some more elctronic work, perhaps Monza will be a happy hunting ground...

2010 WSB The Netherlands - Assen 25/04/2010
Race 1 - 22 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 35'38.483
2 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 0'01.106
3 Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 0'01.249
4 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 0'01.548
5 Troy Corser BMW AUS 0'02.738
6 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 0'02.813
7 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0'06.296
8 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 0'12.022
9 Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 0'12.146
10 Noriyuki Haga Ducati JPN 0'19.753
11 Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 0'22.204
12 Tom Sykes Kawasaki GBR 0'22.282
13 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 0'22.780
14 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 0'23.364
15 Luca Scassa Ducati ITA 0'37.097

Fastest Lap: Carlos Checa 1m 36.413s - 169.600 km/h

Race 2 - 22 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 35'43.137
2 Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 0'01.942
3 James Toseland Yamaha GBR 0'03.928
4 Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 0'04.067
5 Troy Corser BMW AUS 0'04.176
6 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 0'04.525
7 Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 0'04.682
8 Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 0'07.698
9 Max Neukirchner Honda GER 0'09.903
10 Ruben Xaus BMW ESP 0'11.465
11 Luca Scassa Ducati ITA 0'15.489
12 Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 0'23.604
13 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 0'29.085
14 Chris Vermeulen Kawasaki AUS 0'35.401
15 Matteo Baiocco Kawasaki ITA 0'44.330

Fastest lap: Rea, 1m 36.312s - 169.773 km/h


Rider Championship Standings
1. Leon Haslam Suzuki GBR 148
2. Max Biaggi Aprilia ITA 128
3. Jonathan Rea Honda GBR 110
4. Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 103
5. James Toseland Yamaha GBR 86
6. Noriyuki Haga Ducati JPN 85
7. Troy Corser BMW AUS 68
8. Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki FRA 55
9. Michel Fabrizio Ducati ITA 53
10. Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 49
11. Leon Camier Aprilia GBR 48
12. Shane Byrne Ducati GBR 48
13. Jakub Smrz Ducati CZE 38
14. Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati ITA 26
15. Ruben Xaus BMW ESP 25


Manufacturer Points
1. Suzuki 148
2. Aprilia 134
3. Ducati 130
4. Honda 111
5. Yamaha 93
6. BMW 69
7. Kawasaki 19

Read more...