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Thursday, August 19, 2010

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Tim George Jr. Springfield Advance

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

Allen Crowe 100, August 22, 2010  
Location: Illinois State Fairgrounds

Richard Childress Racing

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Race Notes:

The Illinois State Fairgrounds ... Ah, the familiar sights, smells and sounds of Ferris wheels, corn dogs and roar of engines. Its dirt track season in the ARCA Racing season and Sunday marks the first of two scheduled races on dirt for the 57-year-old sanctioning body. The August 22 Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, marks Richard Childress Racing's first appearance at the half-mile dirt track. However, RCR development driver Tim George Jr. has one previous appearance at the track.

RCR History in ARS ... George Jr. has competed in the first 13 races of 2010 under the RCR banner and plans to complete the full 2010 season in the No. 31 RCR Development Chevrolet Impala.  Ty Dillon made one ARCA Racing Series start for RCR this season, driving to a second-place finish after starting on the pole at Iowa Speedway. Austin Dillon drove the No. 31 Chevrolet in four ARCA Racing Series starts over the last two seasons and Kevin Harvick raced in two ARCA events for RCR in 1999.

Twitter ... Follow Tim George Jr. on his official Twitter page - @TimGeorgeJr and follow RCR's Twitter page - @RCRracing.

ARCA Nation ... Cast your vote for Tim George Jr. in ARCA Nation's Most Post Popular Driver contest presented by National Speed Sport News by visiting the driver's ARCA Nation page - http://www.arcanation.com/rcr31.

Catch the Action ... Tune into the ARCA Racing Network at http://www.arcaracing.com for live timing and scoring and a live audio broadcast of the Allen Crowe 100 at 1 p.m. Central/ 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, August 22.

Tim George Jr.
No. 31 RCR Development Team Chevrolet

Race Notes and Quotes

This Week's RCR Chevrolet at Springfield ... Tim George Jr. will pilot chassis No. 167 from the Richard Childress Racing ARCA Racing Series stable in this weekend's Allen Crowe 100.  This chassis has served as a backup car for George for much of the 2010 season and will make its first paces in ARCA Racing Series competition on Sunday. In its previous life, this Chevrolet was raced in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2006 and 2007. 

Springfield Stats ... Tim George Jr. has one previous ARCA start at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, finishing 14th after starting 19th in 2009.  

Dirt Tracking ... Although George's racing roots are in the asphalt road racing ranks, his experience on dirt has been ramped up significantly this season through his association with Team Dillon Racing.  The New York, N.Y., native has run a limited schedule of both dirt and paved late model races throughout the Southeast for TDR in 2010.

Bill France Four Crown Includes Springfield ... The Allen Crowe 100 is the third of four races in the ARCA Racing Series' prestigious Bill France Four Crown. The complex slate of races at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway (August 7), New Jersey Motorsports Park (August 15), the Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 22), and Chicagoland Speedway (August 27) tests drivers and teams on four distinct types of tracks: a short track, a road course, a dirt track, and a speedway, respectively. The driver who accumulates the most points during these four races will earn the Bill France Four Crown, recognizing the driver's ability to perform well on a diverse combination of tracks.

Just One Week Ago ... Tim George Jr. started second and led 19 laps in Sunday's Garden State 150 presented by American Red Cross at New Jersey Motorsports Park, but finished 11th after contact with another competitor just nine laps shy of the finish caused the RCR development driver to run off course while he was leading. 

All about Points ... George is currently ninth in the ARCA Racing Series point standings just past the half-way point of the 20-race schedule.

TIM GEORGE JR. QUOTES: 

You've spent a lot of time this season with the guys at Team Dillon Racing, competing in short track dirt and asphalt late model events. Have those dirt races helped prepare you for dirt track racing in the ARCA Racing Series?

"Getting some experience with Team Dillon Racing in dirt late model stock cars has been helpful to my car control on asphalt. I believe it will help me with the two ARCA dirt races as well. There are some differences, as the ARCA car doesn't get as sideways as a 'pure' dirt car, but after running with a bunch of full-time dirt racers I should be more comfortable."

Dirt track racing adds to the diversity of the ARCA Racing Series schedule. How does racing at Springfield and DuQuoin prepare you for a fulltime motorsports career?

"The diversity of the ARCA schedule promotes driver adaptation. I feel l will use this skill set as I move forward with my career."

Patrick Sheltra Salvages Top-15 Finish At New Jersey Motorsports Park

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

(MILLVILLE, N.J.) - - ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards driver Patrick Sheltra finished 13^th in Sunday’s Garden State ARCA 150 presented by American Red Cross at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) but the finish was bittersweet for the 24-year old pilot after overcoming several obstacles in the 1,306 race held for the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). 

Sheltra, the Indiantown, Florida native returned to New Jersey Motorsports Park for the third time in his career hoping to earn another top-10 effort after placing seventh last September in the South Jersey Building Trades 150. 

After practicing ninth and eighth respectively in the two practice sessions Saturday leading up to Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying, the driver of the No. 60 Sheltra Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS felt confident about where he could place his automobile in time trials. Sheltra took to the 2.25-mile road course and posted a time of 84.183 seconds or 96.219 miles per hour, the third fastest of his group. Despite picking up from his fastest practice run, the avid hunter could only manage the 10^th fastest qualification lap overall, placing his Sheltra Motorsports machine on the outside of row number five. 

Still upbeat about the overall handling of his racecar, Sheltra was optimistic leaning into his fourth career road course race in a stock car. At the drop of the green flag, Sheltra in his typical “Mr. Showtime” fashion quickly became the center of attention after his black No. 60 began surging up the running order. 

Inside the first 10 laps of the event, Sheltra had climbed inside the top-five and locked fourth before an off-track excursion on lap 16 left the ARCA pro fighting for  his position inside the top-10. 

Approaching lap 25, Sheltra informed his team led by crew chief Jon Wolfe that his car was free-up off. Wolfe acknowledged his driver’s concern but instructing his driver to remain focused and the team would make an adjustment during the first round of pit stops. 

Green flag pit stops began on lap 27 with Sheltra expanding his fuel mileage and rising to a race-high second on the leader board before ducking down to pit road on lap 32 to the attention of his Mooresville, North Carolina based crew. A solid stop put the driver back on the track still contending on the lead lap.  

A few laps later, a caution flag flew allowing Sheltra to catch-up to the field hoping to make a gallant charge back towards the top-five. Unfortunately for the team, their day would take a dramatic return two laps after the restart. 

While just hovering outside the top-10, Sheltra informed Wolfe that he believed the rear shock had broken. Wolfe responded to his driver’s concern, advising him that his team would take a look at the problem on the next yellow. 

With 18 laps remaining the caution flag flew for an accident on the frontstretch which proved to be the opportunity the veteran team needed to bring their driver to pit road and make a further diagnosis about the shock issue. When pit road opened, Sheltra brought his Chevrolet bow-tie to the attention of his crew where further evaluation of the shock deemed a broken shock tower, which the team could not correctly repair under the yellow flag. 

Knowing the situation; Sheltra returned to racing action hoping to hang on for a solid finish. The NASCAR bound-driver though managed to hover safely inside the top-15 when the caution flag waived on a restart on lap 54 when pole sitter and then leader Justin Marks was turned by another competitor and plowed the inside wall. 

In the meantime, the Sheltra Motorsports team on pit road were creatively putting together a plan to hopefully repair their shock tower issue; not to mention hoping another yellow flag would waive allowing them to put their repair into affect. Luckily, the caution waived shortly after the impending restart which allowed the No. 60 to come to pit road for service. Quick work by the team allowed the repair to be made, with Sheltra restarting the final laps near the tail-end of the field. 

Sheltra thanked his crew for their efforts and said “it looks like its fixed boys, thanks!” Wolfe responded by saying, “it’s all up to you now buddy.” On the restart, Sheltra sliced and diced his way from his 14^th place starting position and quickly maneuvered back into the top-10 only to be stalled on the last lap when the engine gave way forcing Sheltra with the help of the No. 1 of Chad McCumbee to be pushed across the finish line in the 13^th position. 

The finish yielded the four-year ARCA team with their 11^th top-13 finish of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series season. The team was credited with completing 66 of the scheduled 67 circuits. 

“It’s tough to swallow,” said Sheltra. “We had a good car at the start; I think we easily proved that. I went off the track racing with some of the other lead cars and it put us back there inside the tail end of the top-10. We were going to be fine but then we had the shock problem. From that point, the car was an extreme handful to drive. I wasn’t going to give up though. Like always, they (the team) came through for me and our temporary fix worked. The car was solid; and I was sure that we were going to bring home another top-10 but then the motor gave up near turns seven and eight and that pretty much summed up our day, eventful.” 

Sheltra added, “I want to thank Chad (McCumbee) for pushing us to the line, I appreciated that. A huge thanks to my guys for never giving up. It wasn’t a great day but it could have been a whole lot worse too. We’ll chalk up this finish and go to Springfield next weekend and look for a victory trophy.” 

With his finish on Sunday afternoon, Sheltra unofficially controls fifth in the ARCA Racing Series championship chase, 95 markers in the arrear to nine-time ARCA champion and new leader Frank Kimmel. 50 credits keep Sheltra from moving into third now held by Tom Hessert. 20 credits separate Sheltra from fourth now held by Marks. 

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards is their annual trip to Illinois State Fairgrounds for the running of the Allen Crowe 100. The stop in Springfield, Illinois is the first of two dirt races for the 57-year old tour this season. Sheltra will make his fourth career start at the one-mile clay oval with hopes of landing his second career ARCA Racing Series victory next Sunday, August 22, 2010. In 2007 and 2009 respectively, Sheltra posted a track-best of third. Last year, Sheltra qualified fourth en-route to one of his eight top-10 finishes in his junior year of ARCA competition. 

Multiple cost-effective marketing partnership packages are still available for the 2010 ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR seasons for Patrick Sheltra. Let Sheltra Motorsports show you how to find victory lane in more ways than one! For additional information on how to be apart of our winning organization, please contact Brandon Hinson  (brandon@patricksheltra.com) or email marketing@patricksheltra.com.  

Exiting New Jersey, Sheltra has 80 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards starts to his credit with one career victory at Salem (Ind.) Speedway (April 2009). During his ARCA tenure, Sheltra has accumulated 16 top-fives and posted 32 top-10 finishes. A third place qualifying effort at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway (April 2009) and Michigan International Speedway (June 2010) is Sheltra’s best time trials effort to date. He has controlled the ARCA field seven times for 173 laps.

For the latest on Patrick Sheltra, Sheltra Motorsports and marketing partnership opportunities please visit PatrickSheltra.com. 

Join the official Patrick Sheltra fan page on Facebook by clicking here.

Tweet with Patrick Sheltra on Twitter (@patricksheltra) at twitter.com/patricksheltra.com. 

About Sheltra Motorsports:

Sheltra Motorsports (sheltramotorsports.com) is a three-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Patrick Sheltra, a 24-year old native of Indiantown, Florida competes in the UMP and WoO (Dirt) Series; while also running a full schedule in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards (No. 60) and a limited schedule in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The team is headquartered in Indiantown, Florida with additional operations in Richmond, Indiana and Mooresville, North Carolina.

TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports 

PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 239.214.1083

EMAIL:  chris@patricksheltra.com

Darrell Basham Happy with Top-20 Finish at New Jersey

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

(MILLVILLE, N.J.) - Darrell Basham was happy to complete the road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park, despite having transmission problems all weekend. Darrell Basham Racing enjoys racing every weekend in the ARCA RE/MAX series and competing at even the most uncommon races such as this road course. Anti-Monkey Butt Powder has been a huge factor in competing every weekend due to their endless support and sponsorship.

After the first practice, Basham changed tires and was able to pick up speed.  The second practice was going well until it came to a screeching halt when the transmission blew only hours before qualifying at New Jersey Motorsports Park. 

The young pit crew made up of University of Northwestern Ohio students put their schooling to work and had the car up and running to qualify in the top 25.

The positive momentum of getting a solid car at a road course gave Darrell the right attitude to run in the top 20 most of the afternoon.

Numerous cautions helped Basham stay on the track for the whole race. It was not until the last caution that the back-up transmission gave out leaving only high gears to finish the last 3 laps.

As things began to heat up in the final laps, Darrell took his time and was able to complete the race with a broken transmission. 

“I had a great weekend, but I’m ready to hit the dirt in Springfield next weekend,” said Basham. “We are excited to be racing at these unique tracks and it gives us the opportunity to try different set-ups each and every weekend.”

Finishing 18^th at a road course was a huge accomplishment and Darrell Basham Racing is hoping for an even better finish next weekend in Springfield Illinois.

Lyndsay Pollock

lnpollock@gmail.com

717-250-3120

PR/Communications

Darrell Basham Racing

Kimmel Takes Over ARCA Points Lead with 4th-Place Finish at NJMP

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

(MILLVILLE, N.J.) - Frank Kimmel is looking for his record-breaking 10^th ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards championship this season, and he took one giant leap in the right direction after securing the points lead Sunday afternoon at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP).  Kimmel and his Ansell/Menards team drove to a hard-fought fourth-place finish in the Garden State ARCA 150 presented by American Red Cross.  The finish was a career-best for the nine-time ARCA Champion at the 2.25 track. 

When the green flag dropped for 67 laps of road course racing action Kimmel was ready for the twists and turns that is road course racing.  He knew he had some work to do starting the race from the 14^th position.  Kimmel maintained position for the first several laps of competition until the first yellow of the day came out on lap seven. Crew Chief, Bill Kimmel Jr., began his road course strategy early, bringing his driver down pit road on lap nine during that caution period for a splash of gas. 

The Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion returned to the track for the restart on lap 10 in the 19^th position.  Kimmel quickly negotiated his way back through the field, gaining three positions by lap 11 and moving into 14th position by lap 14.  

Kimmel Jr's strategy call earlier in the race came into play when the leaders began making green flag pit stops on lap 26.  As the front runners came in for service, Kimmel continued to climb through the field, moving into third on lap 31. 

On lap 41, Kimmel Jr. called his Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion down pit road for four tires and fuel, but as Kimmel brought his car to a stop the yellow flag came out forcing the team to rejoin the field without servicing the car.  One lap later Kimmel came back down pit road under yellow so the Ansell/Menards crew could finish their work and rejoined the field for the restart in 12^th position. 

As the field went back to green it only took Kimmel one lap to claim 11^th, but contact with the 60 while racing side-by-side for 10th caused right front damage and a tire rub.  With a smoking tire and worried crew, Kimmel took over 10^th position and started knocking off his fastest laps of the race. 

A lap 50 caution came at the perfect time allowing Kimmel to bring his Ansell/Menards Ford down pit road to change four tires and pull out the right front fender.  Quick work by the Ansell/Menards team allowed Kimmel to rejoin the field, only losing one position, in 11^th place for the lap 58 restart. 

With only nine laps remaining Kimmel was ready for the restart, picking up four positions and moving into 6^th place after only one lap of green-flag racing.  On lap 60 he moved his Ansell/Menards Ford into 5^th and was looking to catch fourth when the final caution of the afternoon came out on lap 61. 

The field restarted for a final three lap shoot-out on lap 64.  With the leaders in his sights, Kimmel moved around the 25 of Mikey Kile to take fourth as the white flag flew on lap 66.  Kimmel came around a final time to take the checkered flag claiming a fourth-place finish along with the lead in the ARCA Racing Series championship point standings. 

"It was a great day for the Ansell/Menards team," said Kimmel.  "Our goal was a top-10 so to come out of here with a fourth-place finish at a road course, we are really happy.  The crew worked really hard.  I got more and more comfortable with the car all day and ran some of my fastest laps of the weekend during the race.  The Roush/Yates motors were really strong.  The G-Force transmission didn't skip a beat all weekend. Our Hawk Performance Breaks worked really well all day.   Everything just worked really well.  We had a pretty much flawless race." 

The Ansell/Menards team will look to defend their points lead next weekend at what is considered Kimmel's "break and butter" track on Sunday, August 22 as the ARCA Racing Series visits the dirt of the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. The 100-lap, 100-mile Allen Crowe 100 begins at 2:00 p.m. EST, with live timing and scoring and live audio coverage presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com.

Tracy Olszewski
Public Relations Acoount Manager
704.785.6196
tracy@goactiv8.com

Joey Coulter Leaves New Jersey with Second Place Finish and Four Crown Points Lead

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

(MILLVILLE, N.J.) – Heading into the second and final road course race of the season, second year ARCA racer Joey Coulter, prepared himself better than ever before for a top finish. The Miami Spring, FL native did just that, as he wheeled his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet through the left and right hand turns en route to a second place finish.

“Road courses are so technically different than any other track we race each year, and they make you posses a totally different driving ability,” commented Coulter. “Going into this race (NJMP) in 2009, I had never driven a road course in a stock car and it was an awakening on my part. Going out to Bondurant (School of High Performance Driving) earlier this year, the race at PBIR (Palm Beach International Raceway) and our test at VIR really helped me earn this second place finish this weekend.”

Spending a busy week on the road leading up to the Garden State ARCA 150 at NJMP on Sunday, Coulter further prepared for the event by studying track maps and notes he had amassed over the last year. The busy week kicked off Tuesday (8/10/10) with an autograph session at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, OH. On Wednesday (8/11/10), Coulter participated in a charity golf tournament as part of the Rip It Energy Fuel team in Conover, NC, before heading to New Jersey. Thursday and Friday (8/12-13/10) saw the 20 year old UNCC student traveling around downtown Philadelphia with the Rip It Energy Fuel Wild Ride Tour, signing autographs and handing out free samples.

Racing action at NJMP got underway Saturday (8/14/10) morning with the first of two practice sessions. Coulter Motorsports crew chief Harold Holly, devised a plan with Coulter, separating the changes they would make during the two sessions before sending him out. Coulter would take the track, pacing himself at first to regain shifting and braking points along the track. At practices end, he would turn the sixth fastest lap with a time of 85.192 seconds at 95.079 MPH.

After making some adjustments to the No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet, Coulter headed back on track for the second and final practice run of the day. After making several runs, he radioed Holly that the car “feels stuck to the track in the corners and I feel much more comfortable pushing it harder now.” Coulter would finish off the session with the fifth fastest time at 84.097 seconds at 96.317 MPH therefore placing him in the first qualifying group when Menards Pole qualifying began later in the afternoon.

For qualifying, ARCA sent groups of five cars out on track at a time, allowing them 10 minutes to complete their fastest lap. After all of the sessions were complete they would take the single fastest lap from each driver to form a qualifying order. Coulter, running in the first group, would lay down the eighth fastest time at 83.560 seconds at 96.936 MPH.

“My guys really did their homework, and prepared a great car this weekend,” said Coulter. “I was pleased with the way it handled throughout both practice sessions and our qualifying effort was right where we expected it to be. I am really excited for the race Sunday and can’t wait to get it underway.”

With a large rain cell quickly approaching, the 35 car ARCA field took the green flag to start the Garden State 150 at NJMP. Coulter wasted no time working his way to the front, and found himself in fifth before even completing the first lap. During a lap seven caution, he would radio to Holly that the car is “too free on the back end and I can’t whip it around. But I think I’ve got the braking thing finally figured out around this place.” Holly would plan for an air pressure adjustment whenever he brought Coulter to the pits for the first time.

On the lap ten restart, Coulter in the sixth position, would continue to try and work his way to the front. A three wide incident on lap 11 in the right-hander section of the course, forced Coulter to go off track and into the dirt. The front nose and valence section would be crushed in, but would not require pit road attention. Coulter would rejoin the field in the fourteenth spot.

He would once again set his sights to the front, and began slowly picking his way back through the field. On the lap 30 green flag pit stop, Coulter would find himself in ninth, coming to the pits for four fresh Hoosier tires, Sunoco gas and an air pressure adjustment. He would go back on track in the eighth position before a full course caution would be displayed on lap 39. Shortly before the caution, Coulter was once again crowded off the track and into the dirt. He jokingly radioed under caution to Holly that “we need to figure out how to get better traction on all of this dirt, since I keep getting on it today!” Holly would let Coulter know he was running the fourth fastest time on the track and the attitude of the car looked really good.

ARCA would wave the green flag on lap 43, and as a result of some competitors coming to the pits, Coulter would restart fourth. He immediately went back to work, passing the second and third place cars before the next completed lap. Racing side by side, Coulter would jostle between second and third before taking the lead in turn one on a lap 58 restart. He would hold the lead until being passed by eventual race winner Casey Roderick in an intense side-by-side battle through several turns on lap 60. Coulter would race the last seven laps in hot pursuit of Roderick, before bringing his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet across the finish in second place. Coulter, Roderick and Chris Buescher would all participate in a customary podium finish after the race, spraying champagne and receiving their trophies.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards visits the dirt of the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. on Sunday, August 22. The 100-lap, 100-mile Allen Crowe 100 begins at 2 p.m. Eastern, with live timing and scoring and live audio coverage presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com.

You can also get LIVE updates wherever Joey goes by following Joey on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joeycoulter

Please log onto www.LiftUpEllie.com to help support the Potvin family.

You can also vote for Joey Coulter as the most popular ARCA driver for 2010 at www.arcanation.com/joeycoulter

Please be sure to check out Joey’s official website at www.joeycoulter.com

Catch Joey’s LIVE radio show, 5 @ 5 with Joey Coulter, every Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST exclusively on www.RaceFanRadio.com

Also please be sure to support Joey’s sponsors at:

Rip It Energy Fuel: www.ripitenergy.com

Tempest Cycles: www.tempestcycles.com

MAD Industry: www.areumad.com

About Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF)

www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF) is a certified non-profit 501(c) 3 agency. DGF exists to prevent, provide for and ultimately cure spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses. To expedite specific cures, the Foundation assists in the funding of targeted research. DGF is also dedicated to injury prevention, with special emphasis on programs targeting children. The Foundation helps improve the quality of life for those already afflicted with injury or illness, by providing necessary equipment or special services. DGF is an official charity of the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and has a close affiliation with NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation. 

MEDIA CONTACT

Nic Moncher

Coulter Motorsports

Director of Public Relations

nic@joeycoulter.com

Goess Continues Streak of 7 Straight Top-10s at New Jersey Despite Accident, Blown Engine During Practice

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

(MILLVILLE, N.J.) - Craig Goess was determined to beat the road course when he arrived at New Jersey Motorsports Park. He was even more determined not to let the course beat him. Overcoming a myriad of obstacles this weekend, Goess fought his way to an eighth-place finish at the Millville, N.J. road course. 

The weekend of the ARCA Racing Series Garden State 150 presented by American Red Cross got off to a rough start for Goess and the No. 81 Greenville Toyota of N.C. In the first practice on Saturday morning, Goess hit the fence in the Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota.  

"It happened in the S-curves before I got up to the bridge," explained Goess. "I got a bit sideways, and as the elevation changed back down, the rear tire hit the rumble strip. I spun in a 180-degree angle, and there was no catching it at that point. I slid into the fence." 

The No. 81 ESR crew got right to work and brought out the back-up car for Goess to take out for the final practice of the weekend. 

"We took out the other car and ran two laps with it," said Goess. "Then, the motor blew out. Things were not going our way. I knew I was just going to have to go out there and work as hard as I could for qualifying." 

As the crew changed the engine in the back-up car, Goess looked to get back on the track for qualifying. He was prepared to do the best he could with a back-up car and engine. Goess had a solid qualifying effort and laid down a lap of 85.551 seconds (94.680 mph), good enough for a 17^th- place starting position. 

The green flag flew on the Garden State ARCA 150 by American Red Cross at 1 p.m. Sunday. Goess, starting in the 17^th position, aimed for consistency and a clean race. 

The 29-year-old battled to stay in the top-15 for most of the race. In only his third-career road course start, he looked to finish better than his 10^th-place finish at NJMP in 2009. Goess focused on hitting his marks on the road course and worked his way through the field. 

In the final laps of the race, Goess was able to climb into the top-10, passing Steve Arpin for the eighth position. 

"We were trying to have that final push at the end," said Goess. "I tried to pass two other cars but couldn't get into a situation to capitalize on any mistakes made by any of the leaders." 

Casey Roderick raced his way to the checkered flag and earned his first career ARCA Racing Series victory. Goess crossed the finish line eighth, increasing his streak to seven consecutive top-10 finishes. This season, Goess has six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. 

"We really didn't know what we had with a car and engine with only two laps on this track and a few laps from qualifying," said Goess. "We did the best that we could with what we had. Of course, I would have loved to drive the primary car for the whole weekend, but I am really proud of our guys. Everyone had a difficult weekend, and I think that we handled everything that was thrown on us. I think that the battle that we faced this weekend shows our teams perseverance to get back toward the top. After everything that went on this weekend, a top-10 finish is pretty good." 

Goess fell to second place in the ARCA Racing Series championship points standings to Frank Kimmel, who finished fourth in the race. Kimmel is now only 10 points ahead of Goess with seven races to go in the 2010 ARCA Racing Series season. 

Goess and the ARCA Racing Series will head to the one-mile dirt track at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 22. The Allen Crowe 100 is set to begin at 1 p.m. CDT with live scoring, timing and audio coverage at ARCARacing.com.

activ8 communications

Erin Sagester
Senior Manager
Social Media and Public Relations
704.664.5900
erin@goactiv8.com

Allgaier Motorsports, Brent Come Home 19th After Transmissions Woes at New Jersey

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

(MILLVILLE N.J.) – Headed to the 2.25 mile New Jersey Motorsports Park Robb Brent was excited about being considered a favorite to win and looking to bring home the famous “Lighting Bolt” trophy made here in Millville, NJ. Unfortunately, the transmission had other plans for Brent & the Allgaier Motorsports team as it broke on lap No.8. The team was able to put in a new transmission and Brent was able to run some fantastic lap times to bring the Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram- Charger home in 19^th position. Brent fell back to tenth in championship standings but the team isn’t letting it get them down. 

Saturday’s ARCA Racing Series practice was a success for the No. 36 team as Brent held the top spot for much of the hour and a half final practice at a speed of 97.268 MPH, but just as the checkered flag waved Justin Marks beat him for the top spot. Brent and Crew Chief Dave Leiner weren’t worried as they didn’t make it out in time to do a mock qualifying run. Qualifying at the 14 turn, Thunderbolt road course was done in groups of five and each group was given 10 minutes. The cars were grouped together according to practice speeds, and Brent was in group one. Lap No. 1 would be his fastest and give him the fourth fastest speed during the qualifying session with a speed of 97.840 MPH. Unfortunately, on Brent’s second lap he flat spotted all four tires and it was determined that it wouldn’t be safe to start the race on those tires. Because of the necessity to change all four Hoosier tires prior to the start of the event, Brent would be required to start at the tail due to the ARCA rule book. 

Under grey skies and with the threat of rain, the green flag waved. By turn number one the blue and black No. 36 had already picked up 4 positions and was charging toward the front. By lap No. 5 he had moved into the top fifteen and was maneuvering traffic perfectly when on lap No. 8 the day took a turn as Brent radioed to the team that the transmission had broken. The Allgaier Motorsports team quickly went to work once Brent brought the No. 36 behind the wall. 

“This is heartbreaking, this was my race,” said Robb Brent as he was still sitting in the car with his helmet on, waiting for the repairs to be made. 

The Allgaier Motorsports team was able to change transmissions in only 18 minutes to send Brent back on track only losing 13 laps total to the leaders. Not the day they had intended but once back on track the car was fast and Brent picked up six positions to come home in 19^th position and 12 laps down. 

 “It’s very unfortunate that we broke, but I am SO proud of these guys for the hard work and the speed at getting it fixed,” said Crew Chief Dave Leiner. “This is tough to swallow.  Robb is awesome on these road courses but we have some good race tracks left and I know we have good cars. We will be back in Victory Lane.” 

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards visits the one-mile dirt track at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. on Sunday, August 22. Practice begins at 10 a.m. EST, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell following at noon. The 100-lap, 100-mile Allen Crowe 100 begins at 2 p.m. EST, and live timing and scoring and live audio coverage for all three events will be presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com. 

Be sure to cast your vote for Robb Brent as the 2010 National Speed Sport News Most Popular Driver. Visit ARCANation.com and vote for Robb Brent today! 

Follow Allgaier Motorsports official twitter page @allgaiermtrspts for live updates from the track. Allgaier Motorsports will be giving away autographed items & race tickets to some of its twitter followers, be sure to follow! Follow driver Robb Brent, @robbbrent for updates and insight into his everyday life. 

For more on Allgaier Motorsports, please log onto www.allgaiermotorsports.com

For more on Robb Brent, please log onto www.robbbrentracing.com

Deana Cumbow
www.allgaiermotorsports.com

Dominating Weekend Cut Short for Marks at New Jersey

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

(MILLVILLE, N.J.) - Starting from the pole for Sunday’s Garden State ARCA 150 presented by American Red Cross after a dominating performance during Saturday’s dual practice sessions, Justin Marks appeared to be on his way to a perfect weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Justin’s diverse road racing background, paired with a quick racecar prepared by his Win-Tron Racing team was a seemingly unbeatable combination until bad luck came around for the second time in as many weeks, shortening the team's day unexpectedly. 

The Construct Corps Dodge Charger was quick right off the truck and the weekend began as the Lakeville, Minnesota-based team had planned. After a small setback during the first practice due to a tangle up with the No. 02 of Josh Williams, Marks went back to work during the second practice session to set the fastest time of the day’s dual sessions, with a 82.534 second lap. Consistent with the practice results, Justin easily covered the field during the afternoon’s qualifying session, sitting on the pole with a time of 82.355 seconds. 

“We came here wanting to get the pole and lead the most laps and win the race. I’m fortunate that the guys put together a really good race Construct Corps Charger, and it’s pretty easy to drive,” Marks commented after grabbing the pole award.

It was apparent from the drop of the green flag that Marks would continue his dominance on the 2.5-mile course, as he pulled out to a nearly five second lead within the first ten laps of the race. By lap seven, Justin had already sent the message to his crew that the car was handling perfectly and with no complaints over the radio, he eased the No. 32 skillfully through all the turns, easily keeping his competitors behind him.

Lap 28 rolled around and Justin pulled down pit road for the first round of pit stops, a little earlier than some of his competition but still in the lead and running strong. After four fresh Hoosiers and a full tank of Sunoco fuel, Marks went back to work on the field and reclaimed the lead just five laps later.

Just 11 laps later, the next full course caution came out and presented the Win-Tron crew with a prime opportunity to bring their driver back down pit road for four more tires and enough fuel to make it the rest of the way to the checkered flag. With 24 laps remaining, Justin would restart in the seventh position behind those who chose not to pit under the yellow. Determined to get back to the front of the field, Marks chose his lines wisely and began to pick off the cars ahead of him one by one.

Yet another caution flag was thrown on lap 50 for a spin on the front stretch and Justin found himself sitting in fourth position with a prime chance to gain some ground on the three cars ahead of him once the field went back to racing. Unfortunately, just as he was maneuvering the Construct Corps Dodge around the car in front of him on that first green flag lap, Marks was hit from behind by Chris Buescher and sent sailing off into the tire barrier inside of turn one.  The impact would damage the dominant car beyond repair, and Justin was relegated to a 20^th place finish.

“The day was turning out just the way we wanted it to; we had really awesome car the guys put together and I was just cruising along with no drama for the first half of the race. We didn’t get the greatest fuel mileage, so we had to pit a little earlier than some of the other guys and got shuffled back a little in the running order.

“I was just hitting my marks from there, slowly working my way back up until that last restart when the 17 car (Chris Buescher), had a better restart than I did. I pulled down to the inside going into turn one and as soon as I got on the brakes I felt him run into the back of me and shove me into the inside wall. Sometimes stuff like that just happens I guess,” a disappointed Marks

The incident would push Marks from third to fourth in the point standings, now 75 points behind leader Frank Kimmel. On a weekend where it appeared the Construct Corps team had the field covered, with a prime opportunity to gain points they had lost from a weekend of bad luck just eight days before at Berlin Raceway, they had to load up a torn up racecar 13 laps shy of the finish. 

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards rolls into the Illinois State Fairgrounds next weekend for the Allen Crowe 100. Motivation to get back on top of the championship point standings will push Win-Tron Racing and Justin through the remainder of the season, shaking the gremlins from the last two weeks.

“I think we just try to continue to do everything we can to win races, plain and simple,” Marks said.

For more on Justin Marks, visit www.justinmarksracing.com

For more on Construct Corps, visit www.constructcorps.com

For more on Win-Tron, visit www.win-tronracing.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WinTronRacing) 

About Justin Marks

California native Justin Marks began his love of racing after attending local races and the Indianapolis 500 with his father at the age of 14.  His racing career sprouted from local street stock racing and grew into a successful SCCA and Rolex Sports Car Series career. Marks finished 16^th in the 2001 Rolex Sports Car 24 Hours of Daytona in his first career professional race, and later collected a total of 12 wins in the SCCA and Rolex Sports Car Series combined. In 2009, he competed once again in the 24 Hours of Daytona and came home with a victory.

Marks moved on to ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series competition in 2007, where he competed in select races over the next two years. This season, Justin is competing full-time in the ARCA Racing Series with Win-Tron Racing in the No. 32 Construct Corps machine. For the latest news on Justin, please visit www.JustinMarksRacing.com.

About Win-Tron Racing

Based in Lakeville, Minnesota, Win-Tron Racing officially began in 2007 with one main goal in mind: to win races. Owned by a former successful racecar driver in Kevin Cywinski, and engineer Nate Thiesse, Win-Tron has successfully competed for wins in the ARCA Racing Series with the No. 32 machine since its first appearances in 2004 under a former name, Country Joe Racing. Though the organization has seen several different drivers behind the wheel of its entries, Win-Tron and driver Justin Marks are set to compete for the entire season in 2010, with hopes of capturing a team first ARCA championship. For more on Win-Tron Racing, visit www.Win-TronRacing.com.

About Construct Corps

We are a cutting edge temporary skilled labor provider to the construction industry.  We have the first centralized operations and recruiting system. With a database in excess of 120,000 workers from more than 9,000 zip codes, our partner contractors have the ability to take on projects nationwide.  Construct Corps is uniquely positioned as the company with the most qualified workers in the most locations with one point of contact.

Media Contact:
Kirby Johnson
Public Relations Manager
Win-Tron Racing
Driver Justin Marks
M: 608.289.8919
Kirby@Win-TronRacing.com

Hessert Tightens Championship Points Race

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

Tom Hessert, in the Cherry Hill Classic Cars Dodge, entered New Jersey Motorsports Park hoping to gain points in the season-long points battle.  After testing with his Cunningham Motorsports team at the track in July, Hessert was anxious to return to his “home” track, which is just 45 minutes from his home. 

After showing the way in the first of two practice sessions Saturday with an 83.846, Hessert posted the 4^th quickest speed in the final practice.  With a qualifying effort that put Tom in 3^rd in the starting lineup, Hessert was ready to race in front of many friends and family.  As he spoke before the race, he said, “The car is good-it drives very well.  I have a little road course experience, but I am drawing a lot from my dad’s experience (Tom Hessert Jr.).  Having my Dad to help me out has been a big help.  A good day for us would be a top-3; a great day would be a win.”

When the race began, Hessert started moving toward the front.  On lap 31, Hessert took the point, for 3 laps, before running out of fuel, prior to the first scheduled pit stop.  Tom explained, after the race, “Since it had been sprinkling during most of the race, we were trying to stretch the laps to our pit stop, in case the rain picked up and we needed to put rain tires on the car.”  After getting a push into the pits from the #1 car of Chad McCumbee, Tom got 4 tires and fuel, but lost a lap to the leaders, falling to 15^th. On lap 53, when the full course caution flag came out, Hessert claimed the Aaron’s “lucky dog” award, which is awarded to the first car not on the lead lap.  This gave Hessert the opportunity to race the leaders for the remaining laps, as he quickly moved through the field.  When the final caution came out, Tom was in the 7^th spot.  As the green flag flew for the final time for the final 3 laps, Hessert set his sights on the 6^th place car, picking up that spot.  In the final lap he also drove into the 5^th spot, also giving Frank Kimmel a fight for 4^th.

The top five finishers were Casey Roderick, Joey Coulter, Chris Buescher, Frank Kimmel and Hessert.  The fifth place finish moves Tom to 3^rd in series championship points, just 45 out of the lead, with 7 races remaining.

After the race, Hessert said, “We had a real good day.  Running out of fuel before our pit stop cost us a few finishing spots, but we were able to capitalize on the bad luck that some of the front runners had today.  We are now 3^rd in points, after running some of the fastest laps of the race.  The team has built me a beautiful car for Chicago, where we are testing Thursday.  I can’t wait to race it.”  After the Chicago test, the Cunningham Motorsports team will head to Springfield, Illinois, for their next race at Illinois State Fairgrounds Sunday, August 22.  Practice for the Allen Crowe 100 will begin at 10:00am EST, with qualifying at 12:00pm and 100 laps of racing beginning at 2 pm EST.  Follow all of the live action at Arcaracing.com.

Follow Cunningham Motorsports on their official Twitter page: @cunningham-race

Armstrong Finishes 10th at New Jersey

August 18, 2010, 6 hours ago | Don Radebaugh

Dakoda Armstrong and the Ferrellgas #77 Cunningham Motorsports team tested at the 2.3 mile road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park in July, in preparation for the Garden State 150 presented by American Red Cross.  During the two practice sessions on Saturday for the race, the team struggled to get the Dodge to Armstrong’s liking, posting the 18^th time on the practice charts.  He was able to post the 7^th quickest qualifying time.

After starting 7^th, Armstrong picked off positions, racing to 5^th by lap 30.  During the first pit stop on lap 31, Dakoda brought the #22 in for 4 Hoosier tires and fuel.  The crew sent him back out on track, after the green flag stop, in 6^th.  Once again, Armstrong methodically moved forward, as high as 3^rd, ten laps later. The caution fell 2 more times. On lap 52 crew chief, Andrews brought the #22 down pit road for 4 tires.  With a pit road penalty for running over the air hose, when Armstrong overshot his pits, Dakoda had to start at the tail end of the longest line.  On the lap 58 restart, the #55 of Steve Arpin got into the #22, sending Armstrong spinning off course.  When no caution flag flew, Armstrong came back on track in 14^th.  With 7 laps remaining in the 67 lap event, Armstrong had his work cut out for him.  The final caution flag flew on lap 60, with Armstrong 13^th, at the back of the lead lap cars.  In the final run to the checkered flag, with 3 laps remaining in the 67 lap event, Armstrong picked up positions, one-by-one, to finish in 10^th.  A disappointed Armstrong said, “I wish we had another 10 laps.  It was a disappointing finish, but at least we were quick.”

Andrews was also disappointed with the finish, but was pleased with the weekend overall.  “We struggled in practice, but had a good qualifying run.  As the race went on, we got better and better.  Our car was a top-4 or 5 car, but getting spun with less than 10 laps to go, hurt our finish.  Dakoda did a nice job picking up the three positions on the final green flag run.   Armstrong is tied for 6^th in championship points, with Mikey Kile, 105 points behind leader, Frank Kimmel.

Next up for the Cunningham Motorsports team is the test at Chicagoland Speedway Thursday, prior to heading to Springfield, Illinois, for the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday.  The 100 lap event on the 1 mile dirt track will be Armstrong’s first experience in the stock cars on the dirt.  “The guys at the shop are giving me fast race cars everywhere we go.  The car will be good.  I will need to be a quick learner at the dirt track.  It should be fun.”  Practice for the one day event begins at 10:00am EST, with qualifying at 12:00pm EST.  The race will be covered with live timing and scoring provided at Arcaracing.com, with a 2:00pm EST start.

Follow Cunningham Motorsports on their official Twitter page: @cunningham_race

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Daytona International Speedway Top Stories

Bud-Harvick pairing signals shift in NASCAR marketing

August 17, 2010, 10:08:24 PM

In joining Richard Childress Racing next season, Budweiser will become the latest primary sponsor in the Sprint Cup to reduce its schedule. Parent company Anheuser-Busch, though, says it isn't scaling back on NASCAR.

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Road Racer X

Tuesday Conversation: Kenny Noyes

August 17, 2010, 5:18:17 PM | CJ

The home fans at next week’s Red Bull Indianapolis GP will have no shortage of American riders to cheer on, with three full-time riders in the MotoGP class and a pair of wildcards in Moto2. In addition, there’s Kenny Noyes, a Californian who now lives in Spain and is racing the Moto2 class full-time for the Jack & Jones by Antonio Banderas team. We caught up with Noyes by phone today, when he was at the Rome airport, awaiting his flight to the U.S. for his first home Grand Prix.

American Kenny Noyes is gearing up for his first home Grand Prix next week. • Andrew Northcott photo

Road Racer X: What are your thoughts on your first Grand Prix season so far?
Kenny Noyes: Well, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. There’s been some moments were awesome—much better than I’d have expected—and some races that have gone a lot worse. It’s been a fun ride, and a tough ride. The main thing is showing up at these tracks where I really don’t know what to expect—both me and the team. If the team had been going there for the past years and had a good idea what the bike needs—or if my teammate were having an easier time—things might be different. It’s like the AMA guys—they have the tracks wired after a few years, and it’s just a matter of the bike and the rider being good. You know what you’re looking for.

There’s no room for error or weakness in Grand Prix racing, but particularly in Moto2.
Yeah, it’s drastic. There’s some guys that are consistent, and they’re kind of the guys you’d expect—guys with more experience, guys on teams that have the championship wired. Racing a lot of times isn’t so much about being good or bad; it’s about knowing how to maximize your track time. We go into practice on Friday, and they come out swinging. We’re sometimes on our heels, and we get up to speed too late; a lot of places, I’ve been qualifying a lot worse than I finish. I’m learning the track as we go, but not fast enough, so we’ll be back in Saturday qualifying, which makes the race hard.

Noyes has gone from the Spanish domestic series to sharing pole-position press conferences with the likes of Jorge Lorenzo. • Andrew Northcott photo

I guess that knowledge goes in the bank for next year.
Yeah, for sure. At the track I know and that the team also knows—they coincide, because the team and I were both racing [separately] in the Spanish championship and have those tracks pretty well wired—we’ve been right up front. We haven’t gotten a podium, but in Catalunya, our pace was really good; if [Alex] Debon hadn’t had that first-lap incident, we’d have been close to a podium. The team’s pretty happy with the way I’m going, and I’m happy with the way they’re working. Next year, hopefully we’ll be together and do a second year, and I think we’ll be a lot more consistent.

I understand you have an opportunity to get some pre-race experience at Indy.
Yeah, I’m really excited about that. The circuit has been really cool with me and the American wildcard riders—giving us a chance to go out there and try and learn the track. I’m actually going to be riding a Kawasaki again, thanks to an American racer named Gene Burcham, who’s nice enough to let me ride his bike later this week. It just helps puts us a head of where we’d be on Friday, so we’re not playing catch-up. The promoter also has some cool activities planned; I’m going to swim with dolphins, and I’m a little more scared about that than the actual race! [laughs]

Are Roger Hayden and Jason DiSalvo also getting to ride the track?
Yeah, although they’re both exempt from the testing restrictions since they’re wildcard riders, so I’d imagine they’re both going to be there with their Moto2 bikes. For me and all the other championship regulars, we can’t test on Moto2 bikes.

Right, as Toni Elias was just reminded, when he had to sit out Friday practice at Brno after testing at Misano.
[Laughs] Yeah, they didn’t give him a very big punishment for it, but now they sent us all a letter saying the next one will be taken more seriously. Only the first guy got off easy.

Noyes has nothing but good things to say about his team's famous principle, the actor Antonio Banderas. • Andrew Northcott photo

How has Antonio Banderas been to work for?
Great. He called up after Le Mans [where Noyes qualified on pole] and said he was watching on his exercise bike at the gym, and he got all pumped up and overshot his heart rate! The cool thing is he understands racing, so he knows we’re going to be up and down. It’s not like having a celebrity boss who calls up and goes, “Hey, what are you guys doing?!” Obviously, we want to get him results, but everything he’s said has been positive.

Would you say that Le Mans pole position is your season highlight so far, or was it your ride from 28th to 7th in Barcelona?
Barcelona was definitely my best ride of the season so far. Le Mans was going really well, but I crashed on Lap 5 or so, so I didn’t get to show my true potential there. In Catalunya, I was looking at the sheets, and coming up through the field, my race pace would’ve been good enough to be on the podium. I got a good start, but they had that big melee in the first corner and I went off the track. Moto2 bikes are all the same, so coming back through the field and making up that many positions was awesome. That’s the highlight of the year; it’s unfortunate that it didn’t get that much screen time.

Well, the end of it was!
Yeah, that’s right! [laughs] At the end, I was catching Carmelo Morales, my rival from the Spanish championship, by about a half-second a lap. It was a point in the race where I was pretty winded from the comeback, but then I saw him ahead of me and was catching him. It was cool, because we’ve had a lot of battles, and catching him at the end of the race was awesome. I passed him four times on the last lap, and he was ahead of me towards the end. I thought, Man, the only place I’ve got left is the last corner, so I kind of pulled a Rossi on him there and passed him going into the home straight. I think he was just so frustrated by that that he ran into the back of me trying to draft past me. I didn’t even know anything happened, and I crossed the finish line and was celebrating, super-happy, when Fonsi Nieto came by and pointed at his head, gesturing like I was crazy; he didn’t see what happened and thought I had knocked Carmelo off. I looked back and saw all the carnage, but it wasn’t until I got back and saw it on TV that I realized what had happened.

Later this week, Noyes and his fellow American Moto2 riders will get to try out the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road race course for the first time. • Andrew Northcott photo

There’s no shortage of crashes in that class.
No, and that’s how I got knocked off in Brno. That’s the thing with kind of putting yourself in a hole when you qualify back past the fourth row or so. Your chances of trouble are a lot worse, and the guys further back are more desperate too. Anything can happen. Turn 1 can be pretty scary. It actually reminds me of dirt track—Turn 1 in short tracks, where everybody piles in there. The only difference is here, they don’t have restarts like they do in dirt track [laughs].

Are you looking forward to racing your first home Grand Prix?
Yeah, definitely. I really would have loved to have been at Laguna, but racing at the Brickyard—man, that’s a dream come true. I did my first race outside of California at Indianapolis, at the dirt track amateur nationals, so I’ve got some good memories there. I remember the first time I went to the museum at the Brickyard and checked out the track, and I was just amazed by it. To be going back there now in a world championship is a dream come true, for sure.

Brno Test Update From Yamaha’s Fiat and Monster Energy Tech 3 Teams

August 17, 2010, 3:55:44 PM | admin

Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi today completed a one-day test at Brno, alongside the rest of the MotoGP grid, to set themselves up for the final eight races of the season. The test was cut short when it began to rain in the mid afternoon but not before both Fiat Yamaha men had the chance to do some important work on their M1s.

Lorenzo picked up from where he left off the race winner once again topping the time sheets nearly half a second ahead of Casey Stoner. The championship leader tried a new engine upgrade and a new suspension setting for his M1 and also completed some laps on Yamaha’s 2011 prototype YZR-M1.

After struggling in yesterday’s race Rossi and his crew were keen to understand what had happened so they worked closely on their setting to do just that today, with the Italian completing more laps than nearly anyone else. Rossi also had the chance to try the new 2010 engine upgrade and finished the day fourth fastest.

The team now has a weekend off before flying to Indianapolis next week for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship.

Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 1st Time: 1′56.269 Laps: 44
“This was an important and interesting test for us, both for the rest of the season and looking towards next year. We had a lot to do but unfortunately the rain forced us to stop early. As well as the ‘new’ prototype machine for next year we also tried an engine upgrade and a new Ohlins suspension, but it’s too early to know if they will be better for our M1, which is already very competitive. We got quite a lot of information though so hopefully it will help the engineers to improve things even more.”

Valentino Rossi – Position: 4th Time: 1′57.129 Laps: 50
“I’m happier today because we worked hard to understand what happened during yesterday’s race and at the end we have a clearer picture. We worked a lot on the setting and we found out some things, which we hope will be useful over the rest of the season and help us to have some more good races. I tried a new engine for the 2010 bike and it’s not so different but there are some small things about it which I think can help; I hope we can use it soon.”

Positive test for Spies and Edwards in Brno
Less than 24 hours after a strong performance in the Czech Republic MotoGP race, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team was back hard at work for a one-day test session at the Brno circuit today.

Perfect conditions this morning allowed Texan Spies to complete 36 of his 42 laps on board a 2011 prototype model of Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1 machine.

Spies was delighted with the potential of the test bike and finished in sixth position on the timesheets having been able to give valuable feedback to engineers.

Spies ended with a best time of 1.57.575 to lap 0.5s quicker than he managed when finishing in an impressive fourth place in yest erday’s 22-lap race.

The 26-year-old though was unable to complete a further assessment of the new bike when rain brought an early end to proceedings shortly after 3pm.

Colin Edwards finished one place higher up in fifth place as he was able to spend 41 laps assessing different front-end geometry settings and a revised front tyre specification from Bridgestone.

Edwards, who equalled his best result of the season in yesterday’s race with seventh, set a best time of 1.57.512 to finish almost a second faster than his quickest race pace.

Colin Edwards 5th 1.57.512 – 41 laps
“We made a change with the set-up for the race yesterday and I didn’t really have a good feeling with the bike, so we reverted back to the setting I was happy with on Saturday just to try and understand why I wasn’t able to run the same pace. I’ve learned not to race the bike with a setting that we hadn’t tested but we thought it would be fine. I tested some different front-end geometry to try and make more progress with the better turning performance we found earlier in the weekend and we’ve got some more ideas for the future. I tried a new Bridgestone front and I was really happy with that so it was a good test. Although I wasn’t happy with the result I felt we made a breakthrough with the bike here and I’m really looking forward to challenging for my first top six finish of the season at the next race in Indianapolis.”

Ben Spies 6th 1.57.575 – 42 laps
“It was a good day. I can’t say too much about the new bike and honestly I’m not sure exactly what I rode. I just got on and rode what was given to me and I didn’t set any blistering lap times today but th at was not the objective. Today was all about giving feedback and getting some data on the new bike. The good thing is that I was pretty much on the pace of the bike I’ve been riding since February and that is a big positive because we’ve got plenty of time to work on that bike. We got lots of information so it was a productive day. It was a good weekend with my first front row start and a strong fourth place in the race and after today I’m heading to Indianapolis for another home race full of confidence. I love racing in front of my home fans and hopefully I’ll be able to get my best result of the season at Indy.”

Test Times
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1′56.269
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1′56.844
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1′56.944
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1′57.129
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1′57.512
6. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1′57.575
7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 1′57.691
8. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1′57.700
9. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1′57.991
10. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1′58.017
11. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1′58.070
12. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1′58.091
13. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 1′58.612
14. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 1′58.830
15. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 1′58.926
16. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1′59.454

Brno: Record Lap
J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2009, 1′56.670

Brno: Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2009, 1′56.145

Tonight on Pit Pass Radio: Taylor Knapp and More

August 17, 2010, 3:46:17 PM | admin

Advance, North Carolina (August 17, 2010) – Top talent and industry insiders from the motorcycle world give their uncut opinions and race stories. Get your weekly motorcycle news live from Pit Pass Moto Weekly. Pit Pass Moto Weekly is now heard in over 50 countries around the world.

7 pm to 9 pm Central – Motorcycle Radio streaming individual interviews from www.pitpassradio.com, or download the program from our archives to your ipod or mp3 player anytime.

Jason Anderson, Loretta Lynn’s 2010 Horizon Award Winner
Jason has been racing motocross since he was 6 years old. This year at Loretta’s, he looked to be on a roll winning his first two moto’s of the 250A pro sport that is until he had a DNF in the final moto due to a mechanical problem. In the 450A class, he also won his first two moto’s but unfortunately crashed 3 times on the first lap in the final race. He rode with incredible speed and finished 5th. It was enough to clinch the title and his amazing ride earned him the prestigious Horizon Award. Now Jason sets his sights on turning pro.
www.3twelve.net

Gregg Lynk, Owner and Engine Developer, Lynk’s Racing
Gregg started working with one of Suzuki’s amateur riders Greg Rand back in 1993. From there he went on to work with some local riders and eventually became the shop manager for Primal Impulse in Southern California. He learned a lot about engine development and took a roll as a mechanic with riders like Buddy Antunez and Branden Jesseman. Later he became the Team Manager for a few teams like Fun Bike Center and Fun Center Suzuki. Lynk has returned to his roots as an engine developer and started Lynk’s Racing. He now builds championship winning engines for top amateur riders like American Suzuki’s Tristen Miller.
www.lynksracing.com

Amy Pickholz, The Pickholtz Act
Amy has been working hard to see that the Pickholz Act be turned into legislation. As a result of her efforts HB687 has been passed in Louisiana and The Pickholtz Act is now Law. This legislation is monumental in Louisiana and it can have a big impact on the rest of the country. Amy is associated with the Motorcycle Awareness Campaign. MAC will be hosting their first leadership conference on August 28, 2010.
www.macorg.com

Taylor Knapp, AMA Pro Superbike Racer – Riders Discount
Taylor Knapp is coming off his best weekend of the season on his Riders Discount Suzuki with two fifth place finishes at the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Superbike Races. He is currently sitting in eighth place overall in the highly competitive superbike class. In 2009, Knapp raced a Buell in the Daytona and a Suzuki in the Superbike class, he finished eleventh overall in DSB and ninth overall in ASB. He was the 2008 GSXR Suzuki Cup Champion and also won a number of WERA Championships.
www.ridersdiscount.com

Derek Costella, Geico MiniMotoSX Champion – Monster Energy BBR
Costella is Mr MiniMoto, with more championships to his name than anyone else. He won Championships in 2006, 2007, a dual Championship in 2008 and in 2010 he became the first rider to win the World Final Championship. During the 2010 weekend he placed first in the 10 inch expert class and third in the 12 inch expert class. In addition to MiniMotoSX racing, Costella is also pretty impressive on a supermoto bike.
www.derekcostella.com

Crew at Pit Pass Radio
Scott Casber, Tony Wenck, Ed Kuhlenkamp, Jack DeLeon.

Pit Pass Moto Weekly is a syndicated motorcycle talk show heard across the U.S. on radio stations and around the world via the internet at www.pitpassradio.com. The show airs every Tuesday from 5-7 pm Pacific, 6-8 pm Mountain, 7-9 pm Central, and 8-10 pm Eastern at www.pitpassradio.com. Companies interested in advertising on the show or marketing partnerships can contact Ed Kuhlenkamp by clicking on the contact tab in the menu and make sure to list advertising in the email.

Interested in the Pit Pass community visit us – www.myspace.com/pitpassradio or visit our Facebook page.

MV Agusta at Volandia Aviation Museum (Pic)

August 17, 2010, 12:55:54 PM | admin

Varese, 17th August 2010 – A museum of sixty thousand square metres. There are no dusty paintings: there is the history of flight, a little walk from Malpensa airport. Volandia – furnished in the old sheds of Officine Caproni, with five theme sections, more than 30 aircraft and one thousand models in exhibition – tells the most fascinating challenge, and it will do it through the history of the aeronautical companies, intersecting symbolically and in facts with the history of MV Agusta motorcycles, which are exhibited in an area of the museum.

Courtesy MV Agusta

The district of Varese is the cradle where motorcycles and aircraft are celebrated. It is the historical premises of the Italian motorcycle and aeronautical industry, and even today in this territory the world’s leading industries operate. They are leaders in technology, quality of the products, know-how and exclusivity.

At the entrance of one of the biggest world museums, dedicated to aviation, in a devoted area of the VOLANDIA STORE, one feels hanging among past, present and future, two wheels and aircraft. The store offers much: books, gadgets, historical papers, including clothing and accessories with MV Agusta trademark, that might even be purchased after admiring the new models of the company of Varese. Brutale and F4, the dream of all motorcyclists, who cheer them as the most beautiful motorcycles in the world, a summary of technology, innovation and design.

The museums are open every day, excluding Mondays, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. For further information please visit the website: www.volandia.it.

SLIDESHOW: VIR, Evan Williams-Style—A Southern Gothic

August 17, 2010, 11:38:33 AM | admin

PHOTO BY EVAN WILLIAMS

◄ Back - Next ► Picture 1 of 38 The road to VIR.

TGI Monday Trivia Contest: Win Valentino Rossi Wine & Wroom Beanie

Monday, August 16, 2010, 11:24:10 PM | admin

Celebrate recent official announcements that Valentino Rossi and Ducati will team up in 2011 with this prize partnership: a bottle of Valentino Rossi wine from the Bar dello Sport in his hometown of Tavullia and a Wrooom beanie from Ducati’s annual snowy celebration in the Italian Dolomites. If you’re 21 or older, just answer the question below—which, in the spirit of how natural it seems that two Italian legends should join forces, we’ve made insanely easy.

Question: List the various engine displacements with which Valentino Rossi
has won a world championship.

To earn your chance to win, email your answers to contribute@roadracerx.com, subject-line “TGI Monday” (winner will be randomly drawn from all correct entries). Include your full name, address, and phone number, and watch for the winner to be announced Friday via our website, Facebook page, and Twitter. Entries close Thursday at midnight. Thanks, and good luck!

Speed Dating: August 16-22

Monday, August 16, 2010, 2:55:02 PM | Jesse Cecil

August 17

Shawn Higbee (US) was born on this date in 1970. Higbee has had a long career racing Buell and Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and he has served as a development and test rider for the Buell factory. He also raced at the Macau GP in 1997, finishing third. In 2010, Shawn began the season opener on the Bartels’ – Antelope Valley Buell 1125R, and despite a crash lap 1 crash that placed him in as low as 36th position, he navigated through the field and finished 8th. Higbee also rode for Team Zero/Agni at the Infineon round of the TTXGP electric motorcycle racing series, taking the win at the first race of its kind in North America.

Shawn Higbee • Brian J. Nelson photo

Bruce Penhall (US) was born on this date in 1960. Penhall won the World Speedway championship in 1981 and 1982. One of the most successful Americans to ever compete on the World Speedway circuit, Penhall retired after his 1982 championship. He went on to a moderately successful acting career, including regular appearances on the TV series CHiPs.

August 18

On this date in 1996, Valentino Rossi (IT) won his first world championship race, the 125cc Grand Prix at Brno, Czech Republic. Rossi would finish his rookie season ninth in points, the only time he has ever finished a Grand Prix season outside the top three. After missing four rounds due to a broken leg, Rossi currently sits fifth in the MotoGP standings, fourteen points behind rookie Andrea Dovizioso.

Paolo Casoli (IT) was born on this date in 1965. Casoli, who competed in 125 and 250cc Grand Prix racing throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, only scored one Grand Prix win, at the 1987 Portuguese 125cc round. He went on to success in the World Superbike Open championship, the predecessor to the World Supersport series, taking the title in 1997. He continued to compete in World Supersport until his retirement in 2002.

On this date in 2008, Toriano Wilson sustaining severe injuries in a Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup event at Virginia International Raceway. Wilson, from Bermuda, was struck by another racer after falling during the first lap. Wilson was airlifted to UNC Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries early the following day.

Toriano Wilson • Michael Troutman/Red Bull Photofiles

August 19

Tom Sykes (UK) was born on this date in 1985. Sykes currently rides for the factory Kawasaki Racing team in World Superbike in his second year campaigning the series. Prior to joining the World SBK paddock, Sykes competed in the British Superbike series for Rizla Suzuki, finishing the 2008 season fourth in points. Sykes is currently sixteenth in WSBK points, as Kawasaki struggles with the current iteration of the ZX-10R. However, he recently won both rounds of a BSB wildcard ride at Brands Hatch.

Tom Sykes • Graeme Brown photo

Malcolm Forbes (US) was born on this date in 1919. The publisher of Forbes magazine, Forbes was a vigorous motorcycle-rights activist and a collector of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Forbes was a key advocate in passing legislation to allow motorcycles on the restricted Garden State Parkway, and his international motorcycle trips brought extensive positive media coverage to the motorcycling community. Forbes died in 1990.

Bart Markel (US) was born on this date in 1935. A three-time AMA Grand National Champion, Markel was a dominant force in AMA flat track during the 1960s. Markel won twenty-eight Grand National races, including six in his 1962 championship season. He would win the title again in 1965 and 1966. Despite his flat track successes, Markel never won an AMA road racing event. Markel died in 2007.

Luigi Taveri (CH) was born on this date in 1929. From his rookie season in 1954 until his retirement in 1966, Taveri won thirty Grand Prix races as a factory rider for MV Agusta, MZ, Kreidler, and Honda. Taveri was a three-time world champion (1962, 1964, 1966) in the 125cc class, all with Honda. Taveri was also a three-time Isle of Man winner.

Happy birthday to Wilco Zeelenberg (NL), who was born on this date in 1966. Zeelenberg began his Grand Prix career in 1986 in the 80cc class, competing in the class until the end of the 1987 season. Zeelenberg then raced in the 250cc class until 1995, but only scored one win, at the 1990 German 250cc Grand Prix. More recently, Zeelenberg managed Yamaha’s World Supersport team until this year, when he took over as MotoGP racer Jorge Lorenzo’s team manager.

Wilco Zeelenberg (left) and Jorge Lorenzo • Courtesy Yamaha

August 22

Gianluca Nannelli (IT) was born on this date in 1973. Nannelli raced for the BE1 Triumph team in the World Supersport championship last year, before the partnership was ended by mutual agreement in September 2009. He has competed in World Supersport and World Superbike since 2003, and he was the 2003 Italian Supersport champion. Nannelli is currently racing Moto2 machinery in the Spanish national championship.

Trailblazers Hall of Fame Inductees

Monday, August 16, 2010, 2:17:37 PM | admin

The Trailblazers Motorcycle Club have announced its 2011 Hall of Fame Inductees. The club will induct Jerry Branch, Tim Hart, Paul Hunt, the Love Brothers, Joe Parkhurst, and Peter Starr at its 67th annual banquet in Carson, California on April 9, 2011.

Jerry Branch made his mark in the field of engine intake and exhaust flow, working through the years with the Harley-Davidson factory for many years, as well Offenhauser, Roush, Britten and many others.

Tim Hart was one of America’s early Motocross and Supercross stars, racing for the Yamaha factory and other brands in his career.

Paul Hunt was a pioneer American rider in off-road racing, one of the first to travel to Europe to test the waters in International competition.

The Love Brothers, Bill and Richard, worked as a team, building and tuning Triumph race bikes in the 1960s. Riders such as Dusty Coppage, Eddie Mulder and others rode their bikes to numerous victories.

Joe Parkhurst was the founder and Publisher of Cycle World Magazine, went on to co-found Saddleback Park and published numerous books during his illustrious career in the motorcycle sport.

Peter Starr is best known for his film “Take it to the Limit,” along with numerous other film projects to his credit in a career dedicated to documenting the motorcycle sport on film.

For more information about the Trailblazers Motorcycle Club or the banquet log onto: www.trailblazersmc.com.

TEAM-SPEAK: Brno MotoGP Test (Pics)

Monday, August 16, 2010, 1:13:51 PM | admin

New releases will be added at top as they arrive.

Fiat Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi today completed a one-day test at Brno, alongside the rest of the MotoGP grid, to set themselves up for the final eight races of the season. The test was cut short when it began to rain in the mid afternoon but not before both Fiat Yamaha men had the chance to do some important work on their M1s.

Lorenzo picked up from where he left off the race winner once again topping the time sheets nearly half a second ahead of Casey Stoner. The championship leader tried a new engine upgrade and a new suspension setting for his M1 and also completed some laps on Yamaha’s 2011 prototype YZR-M1.

After struggling in yesterday’s race Rossi and his crew were keen to understand what had happened so they worked closely on their setting to do just that today, with the Italian completing more laps than nearly anyone else. Rossi also had the chance to try the new 2010 engine upgrade and finished the day fourth fastest.

The team now has a weekend off before flying to Indianapolis next week for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship.

Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 1st Time: 1′56.269 Laps: 44
“This was an important and interesting test for us, both for the rest of the season and looking towards next year. We had a lot to do but unfortunately the rain forced us to stop early. As well as the ‘new’ prototype machine for next year we also tried an engine upgrade and a new Ohlins suspension, but it’s too early to know if they will be better for our M1, which is already very competitive. We got quite a lot of information though so hopefully it will help the engineers to improve things even more.”

Valentino Rossi – Position: 4th Time: 1′57.129 Laps: 50
“I’m happier today because we worked hard to understand what happened during yesterday’s race and at the end we have a clearer picture. We worked a lot on the setting and we found out some things, which we hope will be useful over the rest of the season and help us to have some more good races. I tried a new engine for the 2010 bike and it’s not so different but there are some small things about it which I think can help; I hope we can use it soon.”

San Carlo Honda Gresini

Team San Carlo Honda Gresini riders Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli were back on track at Brno today for a test session that got underway in good conditions this morning but was interrupted by a torrential downpour at around 3pm local time. Melandri was able to rack up a total of 42 laps with a best effort of 1´58″070, the Italian making a few small steps forward as he worked on general set-up and suspension, as well as gathering a lot of important data for future improvements to the bike’s performance in corner entry.

Marco Simoncelli • Courtesy Gresini

Melandri wasn’t completely satisfied with the test but he is confident the team have now found the right way forward. Another crash for Simoncelli set his programme back as he also worked on different set-up solutions and weight distribution to try and find a better balance for the front end. The rookie gathered plenty of information over forty laps and is confident he can use this to further improve his feeling with the Honda RC212V in the future. The best lap from ‘Super Sic’ (1´58″091) came after lunch and shortly before the heavy rainfall, which cut short the test just as he had started to show signs of improvement. The hard work continues at Indianapolis in ten days’ time.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3

Less than 24 hours after a strong performance in the Czech Republic MotoGP race, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team was back hard at work for a one-day test session at the Brno circuit today.

Perfect conditions this morning allowed Texan Spies to complete 36 of his 42 laps on board a 2011 prototype model of Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1 machine.

Spies was delighted with the potential of the test bike and finished in sixth position on the timesheets having been able to give valuable feedback to engineers.

Spies ended with a best time of 1.57.575 to lap 0.5s quicker than he managed when finishing in an impressive fourth place in yest erday’s 22-lap race.

The 26-year-old though was unable to complete a further assessment of the new bike when rain brought an early end to proceedings shortly after 3pm.

Colin Edwards finished one place higher up in fifth place as he was able to spend 41 laps assessing different front-end geometry settings and a revised front tyre specification from Bridgestone.

Edwards, who equalled his best result of the season in yesterday’s race with seventh, set a best time of 1.57.512 to finish almost a second faster than his quickest race pace.

Colin Edwards 5th 1.57.512 – 41 laps

“We made a change with the set-up for the race yesterday and I didn’t really have a good feeling with the bike, so we reverted back to the setting I was happy with on Saturday just to try and understand why I wasn’t able to run the same pace. I’ve learned not to race the bike with a setting that we hadn’t tested but we thought it would be fine. I tested some different front-end geometry to try and make more progress with the better turning performance we found earlier in the weekend and we’ve got some more ideas for the future. I tried a new Bridgestone front and I was really happy with that so it was a good test. Although I wasn’t happy with the result I felt we made a breakthrough with the bike here and I’m really looking forward to challenging for my first top six finish of the season at the next race in Indianapolis.”

Ben Spies 6th 1.57.575 – 42 laps

“It was a good day. I can’t say too much about the new bike and honestly I’m not sure exactly what I rode. I just got on and rode what was given to me and I didn’t set any blistering lap times today but th at was not the objective. Today was all about giving feedback and getting some data on the new bike. The good thing is that I was pretty much on the pace of the bike I’ve been riding since February and that is a big positive because we’ve got plenty of time to work on that bike. We got lots of information so it was a productive day. It was a good weekend with my first front row start and a strong fourth place in the race and after today I’m heading to Indianapolis for another home race full of confidence. I love racing in front of my home fans and hopefully I’ll be able to get my best result of the season at Indy.”

Ducati Marlboro

Bad weather at Brno afforded the MotoGP teams just half a day’s testing in the second and final official one-day post-GP session scheduled for the 2010 season.

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden both gave positive feedback about a new front fork they tried for the first time today, Stoner clocking the second fastest time of the day and Hayden tenth fastest as he took care not to force his injured left wrist. The American is confident he can be back to full fitness in time for his home race at Indianapolis on the 29th August.

CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team)
“We tried a new fork today and as far as we could tell the feeling is positive. Unfortunately we were only able to get a couple of hours in this morning because immediately after lunch it started to rain and we couldn’t complete the test. I hung about in the garage in case we got chance to go back out but the track stayed wet and there was no point. Our impressions of the fork are good but really the day was a bit of a waste.”

NICKY HAYDEN – (Ducati Marlboro Team)
“We got out there this morning and got a few hours of testing in because we really needed it. We had a few new settings we wanted to try as well as the new fork. The feedback was positive but at the moment but we need more tests. My hand was a little painful but honestly it wasn’t a major drama and I hope that with a week’s rest I can be fit for my home race.”

Circuit Record: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.670 – 166.716 Km/h
Best Pole: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.145 – 167.469 Km/h

Repsol Honda

Repsol Honda Team riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso took to the Brno race circuit again today to complete the scheduled day of MotoGP testing that traditionally follows the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. The day was cut short by rain shortly after 3pm, but the factory Honda riders still managed to amass some valuable mileage on their RC212V machines.

Andrea Dovizioso • Courtesy Repsol

Dovizioso took the chance to evaluate some new suspension components from Ohlins which are scheduled to be introduced from next year. The Italian also tried several adjustments to the existing Ohlins set-up with encouraging results, and then worked on the electronic settings on his RC212V. In addition, Dovizioso evaluated a modified version of the thumb operated rear brake he tried earlier in the season. His fastest lap time today was a respectable 1m 57.691s.

Fresh from his second place finish in yesterday’s race, Pedrosa spent time improving his race set-up before trialing his RC212V with a modified chassis, setting an encouraging lap time of 1m 56.944. Just before lunchtime he had a low-speed fall in turn seven, but he was able to return to the track to continue testing in the afternoon. The rain however prevented Pedrosa from trying the new Ohlins equipment.

With the final test day before the end of the season complete, the Repsol Honda Team will now begin preparations for the trans-Atlantic trip to the USA for the Indianapolis Grand Prix, which takes place on August 29.

Official Lap times

Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha 1:56.269
Casey Stoner Marlboro Ducati 1:56.844
Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda 1:56.944
Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha 1:57.129
Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech3 1:57.512
Ben Spies Yamaha Tech3 1:57.575
Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda 1:57.691
Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki 1:57.700
Nicky Hayden Marlboro Ducati 1:57.991
Hector Barbera Aspar MotoGP Team 1:58.017
Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda 1:58.070
Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda 1’58.091
Aleix Espargaro Pramac Ducati 1:58.612
Hiroshi Aoyama Interwetten Honda 1:58.830
Mika Kallio Pramac Ducati 1:58.926
Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki 1:59.454

Dani Pedrosa • Courtesy Repsol

DANI PEDROSA
“This morning we started with our race set-up from yesterday and made some improvements to the rear grip which could help us in the upcoming races. I had a crash with the race bike late in the morning and took an impact on my chest which might be painful tomorrow, but luckily I was able to get back on the bike this afternoon without any problems. I tested an updated chassis and the initial results were positive, but I had only five laps on it before the rain ended the day for us. We weren’t able to test the new Ohlins suspension which is a pity because these were new parts for next year, but overall it was a worthwhile test.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
“Today we tested the new Ohlins front forks and shock for next year and we will take a look at the data collected from those runs to verify the results. We also tested this year’s Ohlins components with modified settings, and the feeling was good so we’ll take those to the next race at Indianapolis. We made some adjustments to the front set-up which has improved the stability. Our plan was also to test some modifications to the electronic controls and we started this, but the rain interrupted us so we didn’t get through the full programme. Still, we did some valuable work today which should help us at the upcoming races.”

Paginas Amarillas Aspar

The MotoGP riders were back on track at Brno today as the traditional post-Czech GP test took place, with two four hour sessions scheduled – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Conditions were perfect for the morning session and the first hour of the afternoon, until a downpour brought an early end to proceedings. Whilst not everybody tested 2011 material it was a vital opportunity to prepare for the second half of the 2010 season. Páginas Amarillas Aspar rider Héctor Barberá, who took an excellent ninth place in yesterday’s race, tested a carbon swingarm on his Ducati as well as working on sweetening power delivery of his engine in corner entry. The Spaniard was satisfied with the job done over 47 laps before the rain came.

Hector Barbera • Courtesy Aspar

Héctor Barberá 1.58.017 (47 laps):
“Even though it rained this afternoon we got through quite a lot of laps today. We tested the carbon swingarm as planned and the results were positive. We’re going to give it the benefit of any doubt at the next race and run it from the start. We did some back to back tests with the aluminium version in the afternoon and I was a second slower although it is hard to compare properly because we hardly did any laps before it rained. My opinion is that the carbon version feels more stiff and gives you more stability in the faster corners, as well as in corner entry. The aluminium version, on the other hand, is more consistent and performs virtually the same in any kind of corner. I got a good feeling from the carbon one so if we can get the bike set up around it I think it could be good for us.”

Yamaha Monday Wake-Up Call

Monday, August 16, 2010, 10:49:24 AM | Digger Barrett

MotoGP

Brno, Czech Republic

MotoGP

Pos. Num. Racer Team

1 99 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team

2 26 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team

3 27 Casey Stoner Ducati Team

4 11 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3

5 46 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team

6 69 Nicky Hayden Ducati Team

7 5 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3

8 33 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini

9 40 Hector Barbera Paginas Amarillas Aspar

10 14 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP

11 58 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini

12 41 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing Team

13 15 Alex De Angelis Interwetten Honda MotoGP

DNF 19 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP

DNF 36 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Team

DNF 4 Andrea Dovisioso Repsol Honda Team

DNF 65 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP

Jorge Lorenzo • Photo by Andrew Northcott

Moto2

Pos. Num. Racer Team

1 24 Toni Elias Gresini Racing Moto2

2 72 Yuki Takahashi Tech 3 Racing

3 29 Andrea Iannone Fimmco Speed Up

4 16 Jules Cluzel Forward Racing

5 60 Juilan Simon Mapfre Aspar Team

6 2 Gabor Talmacsi Fimmco Speed Up

7 6 Alex Debon Aeroport de Castello – Ajo

8 3 Simone Corsi JIR Moto2

9 65 Stefan Bradl Viessmann Kiefer Racing

10 48 Shoya Tomizawa Technomag-CIP

11 12 Thomas Luthi Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2

12 55 Hector Faubel Marc VDS Racing Team

13 10 Fonsi Nieto Holiday Gym G22

14 40 Sergio Gadea Tenerife 40 Pons

15 35 Raffaele De Rosa Tech 3 Racing

16 77 Dominique Aegerter Technomag-CIP

17 25 Alex Baldolini Caretta Technology Race Dept

18 8 Anthony West MZ Racing Team

19 19 Xavier Simeon Holiday Gym Racing

20 63 Mike Di Meglio Mapfre Aspar Team

21 14 Ratthapark Wilairot Thai Honda PTT Singha SAG

22 45 Scott Redding Marc VDS Racing Team

23 68 Yonny Hernandez Blusens-STX

24 4 Ricard Cardus Maquinza-SAG Team

25 80 Axel Pons Tenerife 40 Pons

26 71 Claudio Corti Forward Racing

27 61 Vladimir Ivanov Gresini Racing Moto2

28 59 Niccolo Canepa RSM Team Scot

29 39 Robertino Pietri Italtrans S.T.R.

30 95 Mashel Al Naimi Blusens-STX

31 5 Joan Olive Jack & Jones by A.Banderas

32 53 Valentin Debise WTR San Marino Team

33 88 Yannick Guerra Holiday Gym G22

DNF 44 Roberto Rolfo Italtrans S.T.R.

DNF 11 Yusuke Teshima JIR Moto2

DNF 52 Lukas Pesek Matteoni CP Racing

DNF 81 Patrik Vostarek Vector Kiefer Racing

DNF 9 Kenny Noyes Jack & Jones by A.Banderas

DNS 41 Arne Tode Racing Team Germany

Toni Elias • Photo by Andrew Northcott

125cc

Pos. Num. Racer Team

1 40 Nicolas Terol Bancaja Aspar Team

2 44 Pol Espargaro Tuenti Racing

3 12 Esteve Rabat Blusens-STX

4 94 Jonas Folger Ongetta Team

5 84 Jakub Kornfeil Racing Team Germany

6 38 Bradley Smith Bancaja Aspar Team

7 93 Marc Marquez Red Bull Ajo Motorsport

8 53 Jasper Iwema CBC Corse

9 71 Tomoyoshi Koyama Racing Team Germany

10 39 Luis Salom Stipa-Molenaar Racing GP

11 26 Adrian Martin Aeropsport de Castello – Ajo

12 23 Alberto Moncayo Andalucia Cajasol

13 78 Marcel Schrotter Interwetten Honda 125

14 69 Louis Rossi CBC Corse

15 63 Zulfahmi Khairuddin AirAsia – Sepang Int. Circuit

16 11 Sandro Cortese Avant Mitsubishi Ajo

17 35 Randy Krummenacher Stipa-Molenaar Racing GP

18 95 Alessandro Tonucci Junior GP Racing Team FMI

19 14 Johann Zarco WTR San Marino Team

20 50 Sturla Fagerhaug AirAsia – Sepang Int. Circuit

21 72 Marco Ravaioli Lambretta Reparto Corse

22 55 Isaac Vinales Lambretta Reparto Corse

23 87 Luca Marconi Ongetta Team

DNF 7 Efren Vazquez Tuenti Racing

DNF 15 Simone Grotzkyj Fontana Racing

DNF 48 Ladislav Chmelik Moto FGR

DNF 32 Lorenzo Savadori Matteoni CP Racing

DNF 92 Luigi Morciano Junior GP Racing Team FMI

DNF 5 Alexis Masbou Ongetta Team

DNS 99 Danny Webb Andalucia Cajasol

Nicolas Terol • Photo by Andrew Northcott

AMA Pro Road Racing

Virginia International Speedway

American Superbike Race 1

Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer

1 22 Tommy Hayden Suzuki

2 155 Ben Bostrom Yamaha

3 4 Josh Hayes Yamaha

4 72 Larry Pegram Ducati

5 44 Taylor Knapp Suzuki

6 45 Brett McCormick Suzuki

7 32 Eric Bostrom Suzuki

8 54 Jake Zemke Suzuki

9 18 Chris Ulrich Suzuki

10 101 Jordan Szoke Honda

11 48 Chris Clark Yamaha

12 64 Shane Narbonne Suzuki

13 63 Skip Salenius Yamaha

14 99 Geoff May Buell

15 21 John Hopkins Suzuki

16 9 Eric Haugo Suzuki

17 111 Kenny Rodriguez Yamaha

18 23 Aaron Yates Suzuki

Tommy Hayden • Photo by Brian J. Nelson

American Superbike Race 2

Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer

1 4 Josh Hayes Yamaha

2 155 Ben Bostrom Yamaha

3 22 Tommy Hayden Suzuki

4 45 Brett McCormick Suzuki

5 44 Taylor Knapp Suzuki

6 99 Geoff May Buell

7 18 Chris Ulrich Suzuki

8 54 Jake Zemke Suzuki

9 72 Larry Pegram Ducati

10 101 Jordan Szoke Honda

11 64 Shane Narbonne Suzuki

12 63 Skip Salenius Yamaha

13 111 Kenny Rodriguez Yamaha

14 9 Eric Haugo Suzuki

15 48 Chris Clark Yamaha

16 32 Eric Bostrom Suzuki

17 21 John Hopkins Suzuki

18 23 Aaron Yates Suzuki

Josh Hayes • Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Daytona SportBike Race 1

Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer

1 30 Bobby Fong Ducati

2 36 Martin Cardenas Suzuki

3 1 Danny Eslick Suzuki

4 6 Tommy Aquino Yamaha

5 15 Steve Rapp Ducati

6 60 Michael Beck Ducati

7 34 Michael Barnes Yamaha

8 133 Kyle Wyman Yamaha

9 7 Fernando Amantini Kawasaki

10 2 Dane Westby Yamaha

11 32 Santiago Villa Suzuki

12 38 Kris Turner Suzuki

13 120 Jodi Christie Honda

14 811 Michael Morgan Suzuki

15 55 Chris Fillmore Suzuki

16 13 Melissa Paris Yamaha

17 78 Reese Wacker Suzuki

18 461 Abe Stacey Suzuki

19 175 Sam Rozynski Yamaha

20 57 Cory West Suzuki

21 210 Paul Allison Yamaha

22 213 David White Kawasaki

23 54 P.J. Jacobsen Suzuki

24 119 Jeff Wood Yamaha

25 4 Clinton Seller Yamaha

26 47 Josh Day Yamaha

27 8 Josh Herrin Yamaha

Bobby Fong • Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Daytona SportBike Race 2

Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer

1 8 Josh Herrin Yamaha

2 15 Steve Rapp Ducati

3 1 Danny Eslick Suzuki

4 54 P.J. Jacobsen Suzuki

5 36 Martin Cardenas Suzuki

6 60 Michael Beck Ducati

7 57 Cory West Suzuki

8 210 Paul Allison Yamaha

9 6 Tommy Aquino Yamaha

10 7 Fernando Amantini Kawasaki

11 32 Santiago Villa Suzuki

12 120 Jodi Christie Honda

13 38 Kris Turner Suzuki

14 78 Reese Wacker Suzuki

15 811 Michael Morgan Suzuki

16 13 Melissa Paris Yamaha

17 2 Dane Westby Yamaha

18 461 Abe Stacey Suzuki

19 34 Michael Barnes Yamaha

20 119 Jeff Wood Yamaha

21 4 Clinton Seller Yamaha

22 133 Kyle Wyman Yamaha

23 47 Josh Day Yamaha

24 55 Chris Fillmore Suzuki

25 30 Bobby Fong Ducati

26 175 Sam Rozynski Yamaha

27 213 David White Kawasaki

Josh Herrin • Photo by Tom Riles

SuperSport Race 1

Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer

1 73 J.D. Beach Yamaha

2 25 Joey Pascarella Yamaha

3 75 Huntley Nash Yamaha

4 12 Tomas Puerta Yamaha

5 72 Miles Thornton Yamaha

6 24 Travis Wyman Yamaha

7 97 Nicholas Hansen Suzuki

8 40 Travis Ohge Yamaha

9 77 Eric Stump Yamaha

10 700 David Gaviria Kawasaki

11 82 Daniel Guevara Suzuki

12 21 Elena Myers Suzuki

13 5 Corey Alexander Suzuki

14 28 Ryan Kerr Kawasaki

15 52 Michael Corbino Yamaha

16 41 Matias Cassano Yamaha

17 54 James Cohrs Yamaha

18 3 Cody Wyman Suzuki

19 314 Charlie Long Suzuki

20 71 Hunter Propst Suzuki

21 39 Jordan Richardson Triumph

22 56 Austin Dehaven Yamaha

23 68 Dustin Dominguez Kawasaki

24 17 James Rispoli Suzuki

25 45 Antoine Richards Suzuki

J.D. Beach • Photo by Tom Riles

SuperSport Race 2

Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer

1 73 J.D. Beach Yamaha

2 75 Huntley Nash Yamaha

3 68 Dustin Dominguez Kawasaki

4 24 Travis Wyman Yamaha

5 72 Miles Thornton Yamaha

6 77 Eric Stump Yamaha

7 56 Austin Dehaven Yamaha

8 40 Travis Ohge Yamaha

9 21 Elena Myers Suzuki

10 5 Corey Alexander Suzuki

11 28 Ryan Kerr Kawasaki

12 700 David Gaviria Kawasaki

13 52 Michael Corbino Yamaha

14 41 Matias Cassano Yamaha

15 54 James Cohrs Yamaha

16 3 Cody Wyman Suzuki

17 314 Charlie Long Suzuki

18 82 Daniel Guevara Suzuki

19 97 Nicholas Hansen Suzuki

20 45 Antoine Richards Suzuki

21 12 Tomas Puerta Yamaha

22 25 Joey Pascarella Yamaha

23 17 James Rispoli Suzuki

24 71 Hunter Propst Suzuki

25 39 Jordan Richardson Triumph

RRX RACE REPORT: AMA Pro VIR American Superbike Race 2 (SPOILER ALERT)

Sunday, August 15, 2010, 4:52:10 PM | Laurel Allen

Tommy Hayden and Josh Hayes rocketed into the lead off the start, Hayes getting the upper hand and stretching the lead out several bike lengths while Ben Bostrom closed to within a few of Hayden. As the lead trio maintained their spacing, the rest of the field—led by Jordan Suzuki replacement rider Brett McCormick—fell more than five seconds behind.

As the race approached the halfway mark Bostrom began reeling in Hayden, passing him with eleven to go and setting off after Hayes, who now looked untouchable more than six seconds in front. Behind McCormick, Jake Zemke did what he could to keep Taylor Knapp from getting by, but ultimately lost that battle and was shuffled back in the pack as Knapp, Geoff May, and Chris Ulrich all passed. The top three maintained their places through the rest of the fairly uneventful race, the points momentum swinging back to Hayes, who was only a point ahead of Tommy following the latter’s Saturday win.

Hayden
“I felt pretty good about stepping up and going faster than I had all weekend there for the first five or six laps, but in the end we didn’t have the pace to go that fast, or cooked the tire a little bit and couldn’t keep up. That’s the biggest part of it really, we just weren’t fast enough.”

Bostrom:
“No problems at all, physically very strong. The bike was very easy to ride. I was hoping he’d come back actually. Yesterday we had a very easy race. My bike was capable of doing these laptimes yesterday but we didn’t have to. When the boys stepped it up today I got worried. They got great starts and took off, but that was the limit of my bike. It was the same bike as it’s a wonderful machine and it made my race a really good time. I wouldn’t change anything, the bike was fantastic. I felt it was a little bit of me and the bike and I just rode every single lap. I didn’t know if the boys were going to come back or not. Bar talking the boys about a little bigger motor, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was amazing. It was good, and Josh rode fantastic every single lap. Kept us real honest, I thought, ‘Oh my God, come back a little bit.’ But he obviously loves this place as well, it’s one of the funner tracks we go to. He rode fantastic. It was really fun today, I had a blast.”

“It felt cooler, that was a bummer. I really like the hot weather, it makes the bike slide around more like you threw marbles on the track. It was still loads of fun, just the way it was. It was good, I just like the heat.”

Hayes:
“I just feel like I woke up, I didn’t like get beat yesterday. Somewhere along the way I feel like I kind of got lost a little bit, just in my riding. I wasn’t riding my full potential and I was still capable of racing for the wins. I think our motorcycle has a lot to do with that, we have a really good motorcycle. I was just thinking about, what was my mindset last year? I was racing myself a lot more last year. These guys ride great, but I put an awful lot of pressure on myself to perform, so that’s what I tried to get back to this morning and today’s race was a race against myself. Keep myself pushing and focused on the right things instead of strategizing and wondering what these guys were doing around me and just focused on me and riding the best race that I could. With a lot of help from my crew, who made some very big improvements, it was small changes but big improvements. I looked into what we had last year a little bit and we were able to get back to a pace that we were able to do last year and maybe just a touch faster at the end of the race last year. I had a little more cushion and I could back it off. I definitely wasn’t going to take any big chances the second half of the race when I had the gap but I wanted to at least maintain my gap. I just focused on riding a smooth race and bringing it home.”

“That’s the nature of racing, that’s what champions are supposed to do. If you want to win this thing you have to race the level of your game, especially if your competition does. I feel like I’ve seen a lot out of Tommy this year, I think in years past I’ve seen quite a few where Tommy starts out real strong and then has a mid-season slump and then comes back real strong and I think this year through the middle he’s been so much more consistent. He’s riding like he doesn’t want to lose. It makes it a whole lot of fun and I’m really enjoying racing with him. He’s definitely raising the level of my game. We’re going faster than last year everywhere we go. Here at these tracks at the end of the season my game was pretty good last season and I’m still having to up my game to stay in front of him so he’s brought his up two-fold. Then you throw Ben in here who is riding really well. You know, none of us want to lose. Tommy and I have our own races to deal with and Ben is getting in here too and it’s like, ‘Man, you know.’ We’re having a lot of fun racing and it’ll definitely, if you’re not focused, it’ll knock you into focus so that you can get out to the front and get your business done.”

RRX RACE REPORT: AMA Pro VIR Daytona SportBike Race 2 (SPOILER ALERT)

Sunday, August 15, 2010, 2:52:28 PM | admin

Sunday’s Daytona SportBike race started with heartbreak for PJ Jacobsen and Bobby Fong, the two fast riders going down in the opening laps. Vesrah Suzuki’s Chris Fillmore was likewise out soon after, and Project 1 Atlanta’s Dane Westby appeared to head off-track twice. Among the riders still standing was yesterday’s crash victim Josh Herrin, who headed for the front of pack early in Race 2 along with Danny Eslick, Steve Rapp, and Cory West. But with just five laps turned, Herrin and others could be seen gesturing to flaggers and a red flag was soon shown for rain.

On the restart Graves Yamaha’s Herrin and Latus Racing’s Rapp made it a two-man contest at the front, dicing for the lead while GEICO Powersports RMR’s Eslick stalked them from third. M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Martin Cardenas and Vesrah Suzuki’s Cory West were running several bike-lengths behind, but with the leaders still entangled the trio was able to catch up and surround them, Eslick eventually taking over the lead. Mad position-swapping ensued, and as the white flag flew it intensified, a position-swapping ripple surging through the front five and spitting both Cardenas and West onto turf. Herrin and Steve attacked Eslick in the final corners and crossed the line first, second, and third, respectively.

Eslick:
“Got a good start, got off to a decent lead. I figured it’d be pretty close to the same deal as yesterday and then Josh was up in there. I knew Cory would be strong again today so there was quite a few of us up there. That little bit of drizzle was kind of sketchy. It was hard to tell if it’s coming down harder than what it was. We were just trying to be a little bit cautious there. I think it was a good call, to figure out what was going on. It turned out to be pretty good, it presented a good race after the restart. It was a lot of fun, there at the end it got pretty wild.”

Rapp:
“There wasn’t much different, yesterday I got run off the track on the second or third lap. After that I had to ride so hard the next 15 or so laps to catch up and then they had the red flag, but then I had ridden my tires so hard that I didn’t have much left even though we got a restart. I knew today would be better, we made a few changes to make the bike a little bit better. Did a tire change on it, and it seemed to do the trick.”

“It’s hard because you want to be in the lead and have clear track, but if you can’t, you don’t want to ride so hard that you’re wearing out your tires. When I was out in front I gave it my best shot, and then they started coming back by again and it’s like, ‘Well there’s no point, obviously I can’t get away so I’m going to ride with them for a little bit, see if they make a mistake.’ Luckily that last corner, I was hoping somebody was going to do that. It worked out pretty good, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to pass him anywhere else so it worked out pretty good.”

Herrin:
“Before the red flag, I lifted my hand. When I came in, everybody thought I was being cocky or something going into one. I heard a bunch of people were saying that. There were some drizzles in the back, I just immediately felt slippery so I just raised my hand. Even if I would have been in last place I still would have done it because I don’t want to put myself in danger. I don’t know about everyone else, but I didn’t want to.”

“It was just a strategy. I’ve gone into every race with a strategy and it’s ended up working out more than it hasn’t. Chuck helps me out a lot with that. The race was really good, every time somebody passed me it seemed like it was somebody different past the halfway point. Danny rode an awesome race, my bike was a little bit faster today so it was a little bit easier to get those extra points. Everybody was working really hard and it was a tough race.”

“When I was behind Steve that whole time I could never get by him, I tried everything coming out of that last corner but I just couldn’t get close enough in the draft to be able to pull out in time.”

“Going into turn one I got in super hot, I hadn’t been in a draft with all five of us like that, all race, so I got sucked in a little bit harder than I had the whole race. I thought I hit Martin, but I guess I hit Cory, and I tried to say sorry to him but I don’t think he was cooled down enough to take it. I don’t even remember where I passed Danny, oh the top of the hill, where I passed DiSalvo last year. I knew that if I got in there and just got alongside of him, if I got a little wide I’d still be able to make the corner and it worked out. Luckily I was able to practice on DiSalvo last year, so I knew the pass and what I needed to do. It was a close one, I almost ran a little too wide in the corner there.”

RRX RACE REPORT: AMA Pro VIR SuperSport Race 2 (SPOILER ALERT)

Sunday, August 15, 2010, 1:35:43 PM | admin

LTD Racing’s Huntley Nash sliced into the lead almost immediately off the start and was soon hotly pursued by Dustin Dominguez, with Rockwall Performance Yamaha’s JD Beach tucked in behind, but a red flag few just minutes later (the crashed rider was up and okay) and riders were called back to the pits.

After the restart it was Dominguez who took over the lead after playing the massive reshuffle of the first corner perfectly, but he was able to hold the position for only a couple of laps before Joey Pascarella and then Nash yanked it away. Meanwhile Beach, who’d lost a few positions off the line, began to making his charge, picking off riders until he too had put Dominguez behind him.

As the top four began to run away from the rest of the field, Beach took second from Pascarella and lined up on Nash. A couple laps were all it took for Beach to dispatch the LTD rider, and while Nash rode to stay out of Dominguez danger, Beach put his head down and headed for home.

Nash couldn’t make ground on Beach, but he could and did shake off Dominguez and was soon riding unchallenged. The three finished in that order, with Travis Wyman and Miles Thorton rounding out the top-five.

With today’s victory Beach has clinched the AMA Pro SuperSport East Championship.

Dominguez:
“Most of the time I’m in Texas and Oklahoma, doing the CMRA stuff. It’s pretty much where I’ve been my whole life, my Dad started out there. I’m actually leading the number one plate. I’ve been trying to do a little AMA racing, for fun I guess. Maybe one day I’ll do something and make a living doing it. For now I’m just going to try the best I can. I actually ran out of gas, me and my Dad were arguing if that was enough gas, I was like ‘It’s not going to be enough.’ About five laps to the end the fuel light started flashing. I was like ‘Man, I’m going to be so mad at him if it runs out.’ It actually studdering before the start finish line and I kind of shook it and made it half way around and then it ran out. IT’s definitely a change when you go to regional stuff you can run up front pretty easy, and you come out and these guys really, they’re on the gas, it’s difficult to keep up.”

Nash:
“I’ve been trying to be consistent the whole year and it’s working out pretty good. I’ve been on the bikes almost every day. The race started out pretty good, got the whole shot. I think yesterday was probably a little harder because I was trying to make up time. First with JD, and then I was trying to hold off Joey and then I was trying to make up ground on Joey. That took a lot out of me. Today started out a big three way battle for the lead, it was actually a lot of fun. Got up to the lead a couple of times, then I was leading for a couple of laps before JD got by. JD pulled a little gap and stayed there the whole race. I tried staying consistent in second and saw a point gap on third and didn’t want to throw it away or anything. Then I saw that my gap kept growing and I cooled off a little bit and finished the race.”

Beach:
“It was a little bit harder today. Racing was obviously a little bit harder so everyone was going to be going for it more. I just tried to stay consistent because I knew I had to finish ahead of the LTD team to wrap up the championship this weekend. So I just tried to stay consistent, stay safe and pick off the people I could to try to get to the front and then put in some good laps and get a gap so I had some cushion room in so if I made a mistake I’d be fine.”

“During practice and qualifying, me and my team worked real hard to get this bike working great all the way around the track. You’re not going to win the race with one corner. So we just get the thing working good, it might not e great in one turn but it’s all around good through the turns and on the straightaways, the brakes and stuff, so we just look for the whole package.”

“I didn’t think I was going to win the championship when the season started. I was riding good at the end of the season last year but I knew Huntley was going to be stepping it up this year. I wasn’t sure what division Joey was riding in. I knew Cameron, I was excited because I kind of got him the ride for Rockwall. After I got him the ride I realized that he was probably going to be kind of fast, so I kind of made a mistake there but I did what I knew how to do and rode consistent and rode to the best that I could. Not too crazy, but crazy enough to win, and it just ended up this way. If the team does go to New Jersey we’re going to be running SportBike.”

“Cameron is a tough competitor, he’s one of my best friends. It sucks that he wasn’t here but I’ve had some good luck on my side this year, from Atlanta where I got the double win because of red flags and getting hurt but not at crucial times of the season, so I’ve just been lucky. If Cameron was here, if anything, I would have still just pushed my hardest.”

It’s Official: Rossi and Ducati Sign Two-Year Agreement

Sunday, August 15, 2010, 1:15:37 PM | admin

Ducati and Valentino Rossi have signed a two year agreement for the nine-times World Champion to race with the “Rossa” of Borgo Panigale in the Ducati Marlboro Team from 2011.

The arrival of Valentino in Ducati opens a new and exciting chapter in the Italian factory’s sporting history and, indeed, of the whole MotoGP Championship. The opportunity of lining-up such an extraordinary rider and character is considered by Ducati to be a huge value to the whole Ducati MotoGP project.

“We are delighted to announce that Valentino Rossi will be with us from 2011,” commented Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding. “He is a paragon of excellence in the world of motorcycling, coherent with our Italian company which is a standard-bearer for “made in Italy” excellence. These are key values for success in technology, design and sportsmanship. In addition to the strong and passionate intent of both parties, this agreement has been made possible by the committed support of our shareholder Investindustrial and all the sponsors associated with the Ducati Marlboro Team, sponsors which have believed in this opportunity and share and support our choices.”

“Firstly, Valentino is a great fan of motorcycles and so it has always been a pleasure for me to listen his opinions,” said Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse General Director. “Until the Valencia GP he will remain a competitor, one so great that he has always given a special value to our victories, but as soon as he rides the Ducati for the first time, we will work together on every single detail that will develop a bike capable of showing his huge talent. Working with Valentino is one of the most exciting things for every Engineer and it’s good to know we will have this great opportunity next season.”

Rossi’s Handwritten Statement on Leaving Yamaha (Pic)

Sunday, August 15, 2010, 12:12:37 PM | admin

“It is very difficult to explain in just a few words what my relationship with Yamaha has been in these past seven years.

“Many things have changed since that far-off time in 2004, but especially ‘she’, my M1, has changed. At that time she was a poor middle-grid position MotoGP bike, derided by most of the riders and the MotoGP workers. Now, after having helped her to grow and improve, you can see her smiling in her garage, courted and admired, treated as the ‘top of the class’.

“The list of the people that made this transformation possible is very long, but I would like to thank anyway Masao Furusawa, Masahiko Nakajima and ‘my’ Hiroya Atsumi, as representatives of all the engineers that worked hard to change the face of our M1. Then Jeremy Burgess and all my guys in the garage, who took care of her with love on all the tracks of the world and also all the men and women that have worked in the Yamaha team during these years.

“Now the moment has come to look for new challenges; my work here at Yamaha is finished. Unfortunately even the most beautiful love stories finish, but they leave a lot of wonderful memories, like when my M1 and I kissed for the first time on the grass at Welkom, when she looked straight in my eyes and told me ‘I love you!’”

To view a JPEG file of Rossi’s handwritten manuscript (in Italian) please click here

Yamaha Officially Announces Rossi’s Departure

Sunday, August 15, 2010, 12:04:36 PM | admin

YAMAHA AND VALENTINO TO PART COMPANY AT END OF 2010

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. would like to announce that the partnership between Valentino Rossi and Yamaha will come to an end at the close of the season, when Valentino will move on to new challenges.

Yamaha and Valentino have enjoyed seven fantastic seasons of racing, during which time they have won four MotoGP World Championships together.

Valentino has played a huge part in the history of Yamaha and he will always remain an important part of Yamaha’s heritage. Yamaha is extremely grateful for Valentino’s contributions to its racing successes over the past seven years and it would like to wish him the very best in his future racing endeavours.

Yamaha will be putting all its efforts into ensuring a successful and happy end to the partnership over the remaining races.

Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, said “On behalf of the Yamaha Motor Group, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the amazing seven years that we have spent together. Valentino joined Yamaha in 2004 at a moment when Yamaha was struggling in road racing after eleven seasons without a championship victory. Valentino’s victory at his first GP race for Yamaha in South Africa in 2004 was an incredible moment and was just the first of many more race wins that have thrilled MotoGP fans and Yamaha fans around the world. His unsurpassed skills as a racer and a development rider enabled him to win four MotoGP world titles to date with us and helped Yamaha develop the YZR-M1 into the ‘the bike of reference’ for the MotoGP class.

“There have been so many wonderful experiences and victories and we are very proud to have been able to make history together. Whilst we regret Vale’s decision to move on, at the same time we fully respect his decision to search for a new challenge and we wish him the very best for 2011 and beyond.

“For the remaining eight races of 2010 Valentino will remain a Yamaha Factory rider. As such he will continue to benefit from our full support and we hope and expect to see some more race wins with him ‘in blue’ before the season is over!”

TEAM-SPEAK: Brno MotoGP, Sunday

Sunday, August 15, 2010, 11:26:04 AM | admin

New releases will be added at top as they’re received.

Tech 3

A strong weekend concluded in fine style for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team squad in Brno today with Ben Spies storming to a superb fourth position and Colin Edwards equalling his best result of the season.

Starting from the front row of the grid for the first time in his MotoGP career, Spies made a blistering start and led momentarily off the line before giving way to a typically fast starting Dani Pedrosa.

Spies swept by the Spaniard later on the first lap to engage in an exciting early battle with Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo. Despite launching a concerted effort to stay in contention at the front, Spies was unable to maintain his impressive early rhy thm.

Battling a small front-end grip issue, the Texan tenaciously fought to keep Casey Stoner at bay until the Australian relegated Spies to fourth position on lap nine. Spies dug deep again to try and keep himself in contention for a second rostrum of the campaign but he was unable to keep close to Stoner, the reigning World Superbike champion settling for a comfortable fourth position that moved him to within 25-points of fourth place in the overall rankings. He was once again leading non-factory rider and second best Yamaha as Jorge Lorenzo triumphed in emphatic fashion again.

Colin Edwards also made a brilliant start from the third row and he was involved in one of the few battles unfolding in front of a bumper crowd of 148,120.

The experienced 36-year-old fought tirelessly to close in on compatriot Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi before he too encountered some small front-end grip issues.

He settled for a seventh place that moved him into the top ten in the overall rankings and today’s 22-point haul – the second best of the season for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad – further consolidated the team’s position in fourth place in the Team World Championship classification.

Ben Spies 4th – 90 points
“I got a good start and was staying right with Jorge and Dani for a few laps and had a comfortable pace. But after about lap seven I starting having problems with the front that I hadn’t experienced all weekend. It’s a shame because while I know I definitely didn’t have anything to fight Jorge with because he is riding so well, maybe I could have stayed close to Dani. I’m not saying I’d have beaten him but I’d have been closer to put up a challenge. I had one second on Casey when I started having th e problems but I had to slow my pace quite a bit and that was a bit frustrating because it meant he caught me quite quickly. I couldn’t run his speed so when he passed me I didn’t worry about trying to run with him. I’m not upset though because without that small problem I could have easily battled for the podium. I’d have loved the podium to give me a big lift before going home to Indianapolis, but I’m really happy with my recent performances and once again I was the top satellite team rider and I can’t be unhappy with fourth place.”

Colin Edwards 7th – 57 points
“I gave it everything I had and I can’t be disappointed with the way I rode. I thought it was going to be a good race because I’d been strong all weekend and really happy with the new front-end geometry setting that had helped the bike turn much better. And when I got a good start I felt confident that I could challe nge for my first top six of the season. But in the race I didn’t have the same feeling with the front tyre and I don’t think I was the only one that had a small issue. When I tried to push a bit harder I had a moment and I lost contact with Valentino and Nicky in front of me. I took some risks to keep close to them but there was nothing I could do. Seventh is not a great result but it’s better than where I have been finishing and hopefully we can make some more progress in Indianapolis and be closer to the front.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager
“I am a happy man tonight because Ben and Colin were really strong all weekend and today was no exception. We scored a good amount of points that really helps us in the Team Championship and once again thanks to Ben and Colin we are the leading non-factory squad. I think Ben gave everything he had and at one stage early on we were thin king that he might be able to challenge for another podium. But he had some small issues that prevented him from staying close to Jorge and Dani and then Casey. He kept the pace he was comfortable at and it was another very strong result from Ben who can be proud of another impressive weekend. I’m also happy with Colin because he has been riding very well at the last two races and he helped Yamaha occupy an incredible four places in the top seven. We are really confident for the rest of the season that Ben and Colin can be consistently together in the top six. Now we look forward to another trip to America where both will be determined to put on a good show for the fans.”

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

Jake Gagne turned his weekend around with a brilliant victory in the second Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race of the Cardion AB Grand Prix of the Czech Republic and extends his Cup lead to 11 points with just the single Misano race remaining. The 16 year old Californian stole the lead from arch Cup rival Danny Kent going into the final ‘S’ bends and left the 16 year old Briton to fend off fellow countryman Harry Stafford for the rostrum places.

Saturday’s winner Kevin Calia headed a 16 man battle for the lead on lap 4 but had slipped back a few places when he crashed on lap 5. The 15 year old Italian remounted to finish 16th. Falling at the same corner on the same lap but in separate incidents were pole man Alejandro Pardo and 15 year old Italian Alessio Cappella who knocked off luckless 16 year old Japanese Daijiro Hiura.

Gagne had only qualified 16 after crashing early in qualifying and missing the second session but from the 4th row he made an incredible start. “I think I was about 5th going into the first corner and just raced from there. Yesterday the bike was tough to ride but we made some changes overnight and it was a whole lot better, the front wasn’t bottoming everywhere.”

He escaped a nasty looking collision with Kent early on but for the most part the fighting at the front was very well played. It was still typical Rookies action with at least one overtaking move at every corner and that took its toll on the lap times which were mostly a second or so off Saturday’s record pace. Lap record holder Daniel Ruiz was out of luck when the bike stopped with an electrical fault on lap 5.

“There was more wind than yesterday,” explained Gagne. “That was moving us around a bit but it was more to do with all the guys passing and re-passing. I tried to break away but it wasn’t possible so I just had to try and position myself on the last lap, I got into second for the slipstream up the hill and passed Danny (Kent) into the last corner.”

“I just didn’t know he was there,” explained Kent. “That’s one of my favourite moves and he played it on me, there was nothing I could do. It was a great race, very fair and we all enjoyed it. I wish I hadn’t given Jake the points going into the last race in Misano but I’m just going to have to do better there.” Kent trails Gagne by 11 points but as he is another 30 clear of Binder and Hiura only Kent and Gagne can now win the Cup.

Stafford’s 3rd completed a fine weekend for the 16 year old after 4th on Saturday. “That was a great race, I really tried to win it but just wasn’t in the right place coming up the hill. Then into the last corners I thought about trying to take second but just couldn’t get past and then even with a good run onto the straight there wasn’t enough room before the line. Still there’s Misano to come.”

Another with the ’still Misano to come’, feeling is 15 year old South African Brad Binder who was 4th. “I enjoyed the race, the bike was perfect, I just couldn’t get to the front at the right time.”

“Scottish 17 year old Taylor Mackenzie had a fine ride and made a play for the rostrum through the ‘S’ at the bottom of the final climb. “I tried, but then Harry spoilt my drive up the hill and Brad came past, Josh (Hook) got alongside but I managed to hold him off.” he concluded after crossing the line 5th.

Hook’s 6th seemed scant reward for the 17 year old Australian who came off the second row of the grid and led superbly for the first 2 laps. “I had a great start, that was the main thing. I got in front and tried to get away but it was so windy, such a head wind that it wasn’t possible. You needed the slipstream to do anything, that’s why no one got away. In the end I just wasn’t in the right place but it was a lot of fun.”

Niccolo Antonelli, the 14 year old Italian, had another fine ride. When the 7 man group separated he was left to make up a gap of well over a second on his own and he did so superbly, joining them for the closing stages. He got as high as 5th before finally crossing the line 7th which matches his performances in the first 3 races of this, his first Rookies season. Another first year Rookie, 14 year old German, Florian Alt was 8th after holding on to the lead group for the entire race.

Repsol Honda

Mixed fortunes awaited the Repsol Honda riders at Brno today as the 2010 MotoGP World Championship season entered its second half. A fast-starting Dani Pedrosa led from pole position and guided his RC212V to a strong second place at the chequered flag, while Andrea Dovizioso was unfortunate to fall early in the race as he battled to stay in contention with the frontrunners.

Pedrosa made one of his patented fast getaways from the front of the grid when the start lights went out and led through the first corner. Exercising caution on cold tyres, the 24-year-old Spaniard slipped back behind Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo into turn three, before re-passing Spies a lap later and latching onto the back of Lorenzo. Pedrosa and Lorenzo were clearly in a class of their own today and exchanged fastest laps in the early stages of the race, with Pedrosa closing right in, only for Lorenzo to stretch a small gap the next time round.

Try as he might thou gh, Pedrosa was unable to prevent Lorenzo from edging away in the second half of the race and finally crossed the line 5.494s behind his fellow countryman to secure 20 world championship points. It was a welcome return to the MotoGP rostrum for Pedrosa and was his fourth podium finish from the last five races, and his sixth in total this season. The result consolidates Pedrosa’s second place in the world championship, with the gap to Lorenzo now standing at 77 points.

Dovizioso started the race well and fought his was from sixth on the grid into fifth place on lap one. The Italian, who was fastest in this morning’s damp warm-up session, quickly fought his way past Casey Stoner for fourth and looked capable of staying with the leaders in the race’s early stages. However, with a strong wind blowing at Brno making for tricky riding conditions, Dovizioso was caught out in turn nine and lost the front end of his RC212V, sliding to a halt in the middle of t he track. Indeed the 24-year-old was fortunate not to be hit by the following riders as he scrambled to his feet.

Dovizioso remounted and continued for three more laps, but with a severely bent right handlebar it was impossible for the Italian to maintain race pace and he had to pull into the pits. Having missed out on championship points today, Dovizioso has slipped one place to fourth in the MotoGP standings.

The Repsol Honda Team remains at the Brno circuit tomorrow for a rare and precious day of official testing – the last such day permitted until after the end of the season in November. Once complete, the Team packs the crates and ships them to Indianapolis in the USA for the next race which takes place in two weekends’ time.

DANI PEDROSA – 2nd – World Championship position 2nd 158 points
“It’s good to be back on the podium after the crash at the last race at Laguna Seca so I’m happy about this. My start was good and I was in first place through the first corner but in the first left-hander I was a little bit too concerned about my tyre temperature and braked too early, which allowed Ben and Jorge to get past. When I was in second place behind Jorge again I was trying as hard as possible to stay close, which I could do for a few laps, but for some reason I wasn’t quite able to go as fast as yesterday – I had quite a lot of wheelspin and was struggling to get good drive out of the corners. I tried to adjust my riding to improve this but Jorge was gradually able to open the gap. So today wasn’t the best result for us, but still the podium is ok and we can build on this result. After the test tomorrow we go to Indianapolis and I was strong there las t year – despite the mistake in the race – so I’m confident we can be competitive again at the next race.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO – DNF – World Championship position 4th 115 points
“I recovered a couple of positions at the start and in the first few laps I didn’t want to lose contact with the riders in front so I was really pushing as hard as possible. Already in a few corners I had some warnings from the front and then it went in turn nine. It’s a pity – I made a mistake and it cost me dear because the 1m 58.0s pace that the lead bunch were running was one that I could also have maintained today. During the whole weekend we’ve been at the limit with the front end and today the strong wind made it worse. We needed a good result here so it’s disappointing. When I was in the middle of the track it was pretty scary because the riders behind were going either side of me, so actually I was lucky that the consequences weren’t worse. We have a test tomorrow and then we’ll have to try to bounce back well in Indianapolis.”

TOSHIYUKI YAMAJI – REPSOL HONDA TEAM MANAGER
“Dani was clearly pushing very hard for the victory and in the early laps he was exchanging fastest laps with Lorenzo and it looked like he might be able to challenge, but in the end he had to settle for second. We’d hoped for the victory of course, but today Lorenzo made a very good race and we have to say congratulations to him. On the other hand, this result simply means that the Repsol Honda Team must continue to work as hard as possible and to improve our performance for the next races. Today the conditions were quite windy and I think it could have been the wind that caught Andrea out at that moment and he was unlucky to fall. Without the crash he could have had a good race and a possible podium, so it’s unfortunate, but this can happen when you’re pushing hard. He’ll come back fighting next time.”

Rizla Suzuki

Loris Capirossi and Álvaro Bautista both crashed out of today’s Czech Republic Grand Prix at either end of the 22-lap race with both riders able to walk away uninjured from their respective incidents.

Capirossi got a poor start from 10th on the grid as another rider hit the left-hand-side of his bike on the first lap and knocked his clutch lever out of position. The Italian had to hit the lever to get it back into place, but the running repairs cost him time and he was relegated to last position. Capirossi quickly regained his composure and passed four riders in quick succession and looked like making a concerted attack through the field, but unfortunately he lost front grip on turn 12 and slid into the gravel with no hope of re-mounting and continuing the race.

Bautista battled heroically for the whole 22-laps as he fought against the pain caused by yesterday’s huge high-side and the other riders on track. Despite starting from the back of the grid he caught the battle for eighth position before the half-way point of the race. Bautista was fighting with the group and as the last lap arrived he was close enough to challenge Marco Simoncelli. He made a strong passing manoeuvre in the last corner and although he got past Simoncelli he lost the front of the bike and also slid into the gravel – as Capirossi had done earlier. Bautista was visibly disappointed with the outcome of the race after such a brave effort had proved fruitless in the end.

Today’s Brno Grand Prix was watched by nearly 150,000 people at trackside and they witnessed Jorge Lorenzo provide another commanding performance on his Yamaha to win his seventh race of the season and strengthen his grip at the top of the championship.

Rizla Suzuki will remain at Brno for a full day’s testing tomorrow as they try to unlock the potential of the Suzuki GSV-R and put today’s frustrations behind them. The next round of the MotoGP World Championship will require another crossing of the Atlantic, as the field prepares to line-up for the Indianapolis Grand Prix in America on Sunday 29th August.

Loris Capirossi:
“I am so upset by today’s race because I know I could have had a good result here. I got hit on the first lap by another rider and that pushed my clutch lever right up, so I had to hit it to get it into place and by the time I had done that I was last. I easily passed four riders and I felt my pace was very fast, but then in turn 12 of the second lap I lost the front and crashed. I don’t know what happened because I wasn’t braking and I didn’t turn in too quickly, I just lost grip and went into the gravel. I am sorry for the whole team because they are working so hard and getting nothing. This has not been the weekend we wanted or deserved, so we will need to start work again tomorrow in the test and see if we can start to turn things around – the potential was really good today.”

Álvaro Bautista:
“The crash was a big disappointment for me as I went to overtake Simoncelli, because at the beginning of race I didn’t know what my condition would be at the end and I was pleased that I felt strong enough to make the move. The first few laps were difficult because I’d only had about 40 minutes of dry practice all weekend and needed to get my reference points sorted out. The pain was horrible but I was able to start to push and in the middle of the race I was in the group challenging for eighth position, which was not too bad. After about half of the race my body started to tire and although I was pushing to the maximum, when I came up to other riders it was difficult to pass because I was at my physical limit. I would have liked to finish this race as this is now three consecutive races that I have failed to complete. The rest of the race was not too bad and compared to other riders my rhythm was good. I hope for the next race in America to make a complete weekend and continue with my progression in MotoGP.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“In sport you have to make your own luck, but it really feels like we need to go to a Church and have a word with someone who can maybe help us out a little bit! Absolutely nothing seemed to go right here at Brno and the most disappointing thing is that without question the bike and riders had the capability to challenge for a top-six position. Álvaro made a heroic effort, we have to remember that he was in great discomfort and had only spent about 45 minutes practice time in the dry compared to everyone else’s three hours. Once he found his rhythm the bike was working well, his speed was good and he’d clawed his way into contention for an excellent finish. His commitment to catching and passing Simoncelli on the last lap was obvious and he nearly made it happen, but asked a bit too much of the front tyre in the final left. It was extremely disappointing, but we have to respect a superb effort.

“Loris’s race should have been his best of the season, the bike felt right and after he was knocked back to last place he looked like he could pass other riders with ease. He said the bike and feedback from it was the best he’d felt all year.

“The result today doesn’t reflect anywhere near our potential and we’re going to work positively at the test tomorrow and set our sights on realising the true capability of the GSV-R, Loris and Álvaro for the rest of the season.”

Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceské Republicky Race Classification:

1. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 43’22.638: 2. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +5.494: 3. Casey Stoner (Ducati) +11.426: 4. Ben Spies (Yamaha) +13.723: 5. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +17.930: DNF. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP): DNF. ÁLVARO BAUTISTA (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP):

World Championship Classification:

1. Lorenzo 235: 2. Pedrosa 158: 3. Stoner 119: 4. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 115: 5. Rossi 101: 13. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) 36: 16: ÁLVARO BAUTISTA (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) 25:

Ducati Marlboro

Casey Stoner finished third today at Brno behind race winner Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa to extend his run of podium finishes to five and move himself up to third place in the MotoGP World Championship standings.

Nicky Hayden battled through the pain of a chipped radius bone, sustained in a crash at the end of qualifying practice yesterday afternoon, to cross the line in an impressive sixth place.

Overnight storms and light rain showers this morning had left the track damp for warm-up but the sun emerged in the afternoon to ensure the Czech Republic Grand Prix took place in ideal weather conditions, even though grip levels were lower than they had been for the past two days here.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will be back on track tomorrow for a demanding day of testing, with Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden both scheduled to try some technical updates.

CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) 3rd
“To be honest I can’t be completely happy with this result, even though it is always good to be on the podium. Towards the end of qualifying yesterday we thought we had found a good way forward with the setting but we needed to finalise it in the warm-up this morning and we didn’t get chance because of the rain. I was struggling with the front for the first few laps and lost too much ground on the two leaders. It looked like there were other guys having similar problems to me and I saw Dovi crash right in front of me. Things improved towards the end but I was too far from Dani and Jorge to trouble them. We have work to do but we’re not too far off and I am desperate to fight for victories again – for myself and for Ducati.”

NICKY HAYDEN – (Ducati Marlboro Team) 6th
“Taking everything into consideration I have to be happy with sixth place – our pace wasn’t bad and looking at the lap times I could have maybe been fighting for a higher position if I was fully fit. When Valentino passed me I managed to stay with him for a while but couldn’t hang on and just had to focus on keeping a pace that allowed me to bring some good points home. I want to thank the team because they made some changes to the bike to give me better grip in the left-hand corners and it worked. Once the race started and the adrenaline kicked in I couldn’t really feel the pain in my hand but I suddenly started to feel it as soon as I crossed the line. The thing I’m most worried aboutis if I can test tomorrow because it’s going to be a really important session for us.”

VITTORIANO GUARESCHI Team Manager
“This is another positive result for the team even though, to be honest, before we came here I was hoping for better considering our constant improvements over the past few races. Qualifying was more difficult than we expected and Nicky had to ride with an injury that we thought would make it impossible for him to finish sixth and to set such good lap times. Casey had made some good progress at the end of the session yesterday but the overnight rain affected the track conditions and he wasn’t as confident with the front, at least not at the start. Anyway, we’re back on the podium for the fifth race in a row.”

Circuit Record: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.670 – 166.716 Km/h
Best Pole: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.145 – 167.469 Km/h

Fiat Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo took an impressive seventh win of the season in Brno this afternoon with a clinical performance that saw him lead from the first lap to the chequered flag. In doing so he becomes only the third premier-class rider in history to finish in the top two at the opening ten races of the season. In stark contrast to his Fiat Yamaha team-mate’s good fortunes, Valentino Rossi ran into problems from the start and could only finish fifth.

Despite surrendering pole position for the first time in six races, some bold moves from the Spaniard around the first two turns saw him take the lead before the first split and he looked in imperious form on his Yamaha M1, with yesterday’s front-end troubles clearly a thing of the past. Dani Pedrosa kept close on his heels for the first few laps but every time his fellow countryman closed the gap a few tenths Lorenzo responded with renewed vigour and by the tenth lap he was a second clear. From then on he was unchallenged and he crossed the line 5.494 seconds clear of Pedrosa to take the 33rd win of his career and his 12th in MotoGP.

With the weather looking favourable following heavy rain this morning, Rossi was confident that he would be able to mount a strong challenge for honours this afternoon but it was not to be for the Italian today. He had felt strong all weekend despite sliding off yesterday but he never had the same confidence in the race and was unable to ride as he would have liked. He had dropped from fifth on the grid to eighth by the end of the first lap before rallying to pass Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden to move to fifth by lap six, but from then on he could make no further headway and rode a lonely race to the flag.

Another maximum-points haul for Lorenzo leaves the young Mallorcan 77 points clear of Pedrosa in the standings, with eight rounds remaining. Rossi holds on to fifth, 14 points behind Andrea Dovizioso. Tomorrow will see both Fiat Yamaha riders back out on track, weather permitting, for a one-day test before the bikes are shipped off to Indianapolis for the second US round of the season in two week’s time.

Jorge Lorenzo, Position: 1st   Time: 43′22.638
“After my problems yesterday and the crash I didn’t expect this today, I thought it would be much more of a struggle. Once I got to the front I expected Dani to come with me and I knew it was my moment and that I had to push as much as possible. I thought he would try to overtake me but I felt good, pushed hard and little by little I was able to lose him. I know I said I was riding for the championship now and that’s still true but when there’s the chance to win I have to take it! To take my seventh win in one season is fantastic, thank you to all of my team for such a good job after we had difficulties yesterday. Tomorrow we have an important test which we hope will help us in the last part of the championship and then we go to Indianapolis, a track that I love.”

Valentino Rossi, Position: 5th   Time: +17.930
“We are really disappointed tonight because we had hoped to do a good race and I was confident that I could challenge at the front today. It seemed everything was right and yesterday we had a good pace but today we just weren’t as fast and I couldn’t stay with the leaders. We are sad but tomorrow we will have the chance to test and try to understand what went wrong today, which will help us to be in better shape in Indianapolis. As for my future, you will know something at 6pm today.”

Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager
“A surprisingly good result because after the crash of yesterday and Dani’s speed in qualifying we had some doubts about today. Jorge really stuck his neck out to put in a great first half of the race and actually Dani couldn’t stay with him. The lap times were equal or even slower to yesterday so we didn’t make a huge change to the bike, so we really have to put this down to Jorge doing an excellent job and the others struggling a bit today. Well done to everyone for another great weekend.”

Davide Brivio, Team Manager
“Unfortunately during the race Valentino never felt good with the front and this made it very difficult for him in corner entry. Luckily we have a test tomorrow so this will give us the chance to really investigate what happened. We had a good pace throughout the weekend and we hoped to be able to stay with Lorenzo and Pedrosa but we weren’t able to today so we’re a little bit disappointed. Tomorrow will be a good opportunity for us to improve and work towards our target of a good end to the season.”

LCR Honda

Brno, 15 August: the LCR Honda MotoGP rider Randy De Puniet rode his Honda RC212V no. 14 to an impressive 10th place in today’s Czech GP at Brno race track. The tenth round of the season was run under blue skies with ambience temperature of 26°C despite some poor rain in this morning warm up session. The tough Frenchman, who received a painkiller injection ahead the 22-lap race, battled bravely with the injury he sustained during the German GP.

Just three weeks after the left leg surgery, De Puniet steadily improved his pace session by session and put in a strong performance today at the 5.403 Km race track starting from the 11th spot on the grid after yesterday remarkable qualifying. The 29-year-old was obviously in severe discomfort despite using painkilling therapy but demonstrated his vein once again climbing up to a sensational top ten finish in a physically demanding race. De Puniet is now holding the 8th place in the world standing with 75 points. The premier class Teams and riders will be back on track tomorrow for one day of testing but De Puniet won’t join his competitors and will continue with his recuperation in readiness for the next event at Indianapolis circuit on the 29th of August.

De Puniet – 10th
De Puniet: “This is simply great! I could not expect such a positive week end. Just three weeks after my injury I was back on my bike and could fight for the top ten. I want to thank the doctors, my family and my friends and of course the Team because they helped me to get this incredible result. I could also fight for the eight position but I lost some tenths behind Melandri but in this condition it was pretty hard to overtake the others. Then I passed Melandri and started to be faster and together with Barbera we caught Simoncelli. At 7 laps to go they both passed me as I was completely exhausted. I really dug deep in my reserves to finish this race and I am very happy about my performance. Now I will have almost 2 weeks to complete my recovery and hopefully we can obtain another positive result in Indianapolis”.

MotoGP

Jorge Lorenzo’s phenomenal 2010 form continued at the Cardion ab Grand Prix České republiky on Sunday where the Fiat Yamaha rider won his seventh race of the season. A front row start was converted into another 25 points by the Spaniard, who maintained his record of having finished inside the top two in every race so far.

The sun was shining brilliantly in stark contrast to the wet morning warm-up session and the dark clouds that had circled the track as just over 148,000 enthusiastic fans packed out the Brno circuit. Lorenzo quickly engaged himself in an early battle with rival Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) – who started from pole position – by taking the lead in the third corner.

There were two early fallers as Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) went down inside the opening three laps, the latter managing to avoid collisions with a number of oncoming bikes while stranded in the middle of the track coming out of turn nine. Dovizioso rejoined the back of the race but was forced to retire shortly after with a handlebar issue.

Lorenzo and Pedrosa exchanged fastest-lap times in the preliminary stages of the race as they set the pace but the championship leader gradually began to pull away from his compatriot, and the pair were also well ahead of Casey Stoner (Ducati Team) in third place. The riders became more separated as the race reached its finale, and Lorenzo cruised across the line 5.494s ahead of Pedrosa to extend his Championship lead over his fellow Spaniard to 77 points. The Repsol Honda rider was followed onto the podium by Australia’s Stoner, who finished third almost six seconds back and also moved into third in the Championship ahead of Dovizioso.

Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) placed fourth from his first MotoGP front row grid position having made an impressive start, with Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) fifth, just over four seconds off the rookie. American duo Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) and Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) were sixth and seventh respectively, with Marco Melandri (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team), Héctor Barberá (Páginas Amarillas Aspar) and the returning Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) completing the top ten just four weeks after breaking his leg in Germany.

A frustrating weekend was ended in heartbreaking fashion for Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) as the rookie slid out on the last corner of the final lap, having just passed Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) who took 11th.

Moto2

A controlled and well-measured ride from standings leader Toni Elías delivered the Spaniard’s fourth win of the 2010 campaign at Brno, which also marked the Gresini team’s 100th podium finish in the World Championship.
As opposed to the start of the earlier 125cc contest the Moto2 riders were met with sun as they lined up on the grid, and early in the race there were up to nine riders battling for the lead, amongst them pole man Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP) and Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing), who got off to a great start from the third row.

Arne Tode (Racing Team Germany) crashed out early on but there were few fallers, and Elías patiently monitored the situation at the head of the race, sidling up to Tomizawa. Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up) was also in the group vying for positions towards the front and the Italian moved into first position as halfway approached.

Iannone threatened to pull away as he has done more than once before this season, but Elías recovered a gap of over a second to overtake on lap 13 as Roberto Rolfo (Italtrans STR) became involved in the top-three battle. Unfortunately for the Italian a mechanical failure on the next lap ended his race prematurely after an impressive ride.

The experienced Elías started to pull away and Yuki Takahashi (Tech 3 Racing) passed Iannone to slot into second on the penultimate lap, a position he held to the finish line. The victorious Elías met the chequered flag with an advantage of 2.312s over the Japanese rider to take the 25 points, with Iannone third behind Takahashi by just over six-tenths of a second.

Cluzel and Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) completed the top five, with Gabor Talmacsi (Fimmco Speed Up) completing a solid weekend in sixth. Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Racing) placed 11th, which means Iannone now sits second in the Championship standings at seven points ahead of the Swiss rider. Elías’ lead at the top remains strong after nine rounds and he is now 55 points clear.

125cc

After a short delay to the start of the race when rain suddenly started to fall, a frantic changing of tyres by many teams on the grid to wet compounds, led to a fantastically intriguing encounter as the track dried throughout the course of the 19-lap race.

Terol’s choice of front and rear wets paid off for the Bancaja Aspar rider as he opened up a substantial lead early on over Tuenti Racing pair Efrén Vázquez and Pol Espargaró. The Aprilia rider’s display was made all the more impressive given that this was his first GP back from a vertebra injury having missed the previous round in Germany.

The real battle was for the remaining podium spots and a great contest began to unfold as Vázquez and Espargaró stuck close together. Esteve Rabat (Blusens-STX) was soon to enter the fray as well, whilst Championship leader Marc Márquez (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) put up a valiant effort to remain as close to the front as possible, having dislocated his shoulder earlier in the weekend.

Johann Zarco’s WTR San Marino Team made the decision to change the Frenchman’s tyres to slicks and although he rejoined the race at the back he set a number of fastest laps to show they were the correct choice of tyre, but was too far behind to make any difference to the points-scoring positions.

Rabat passed Vázquez with three laps to go to slot into third and Vázquez then crashed on the penultimate lap as he pushed to keep up.

The victory belonged to Terol however and he crossed the finish line 20.351s ahead of Espargaró for a resounding victory – his second of the season – with Rabat delighted to take third just two-tenths of a second behind. Jonas Folger (Team Ongetta) and home rider Jakub Kornfeil (Racing Team Germany) completed the top five, with pole holder Bradley Smith (Bancaja Aspar) having done well to recover an early loss in ground to place sixth. Márquez took valuable points with seventh as he rode a courageous race.

The result means Márquez’s lead at the top of the Championship has been cut to 15 points ahead of Espargaró, with Terol’s victory preserving his third spot and moving him back to within 23 points of the leader.

Tech 3 Moto2

The Tech 3 Racing Team enjoyed a double celebration in Brno this afternoon after Yuki Takahashi claimed a stunning second place and Raffaele de Rosa scored his first points in an entertaining Moto2 race.

Takahashi was one of the star performers in a 20-lap race run in warm conditions, a stark contrast to the cooler temperatures and grey skies that covered the Brno circuit for the earlier 125cc race.

Starting from fifth place on the grid, Takahashi fell to 12th on lap one but his brilliant podium assault kicked off on lap 11 when he dived underneath Alex Debon for fifth place. He’d lost contact with the top four but that didn’t deter the hard c harging Japanese rider. He quickly closed down over two seconds on Jules Cluzel and passed the Frenchman on lap 15 to claim third after Roberto Rolfo was unfortunate to retire from the top three with a technical issue.

Takahashi was 2.7s adrift of Andrea Iannone in second place but produced another incredible series of fast laps to catch and pass the Italian at the final corner on the penultimate lap. It was an extra special podium for Takahashi today with his parents viewing from trackside having made a rare trip from Japan to watch him in action. His second podium of the campaign moved him firmly back into the hunt for a top three world championship finish with Takahashi now only 27-points behind Thomas Luthi.

There was also cause for celebration on the other side of the jubilant Tech 3 Racing garage after de Rosa claimed a brilliant 15th – the first time he’s scored points in the ultra-competit ive Moto2 class.

Engaged in a thrilling fight for the majority of the race with Fonsi Nieto, Sergio Gadea and Dominique Aegerter, de Rosa had got to the front of the quartet on the penultimate lap. But he lost two places on an absorbing final lap after encountering a minor technical problem.

Yuki Takahashi 2nd 72-points
“This is a fantastic result for us and a great end to a weekend where we were really strong throughout. I didn’t panic at the start when I dropped from fifth to 12th because all weekend we’d worked hard on the set-up of the bike when the tyres were a little bit worn. So I knew I would be very strong in the second half of the race. I was in a very fast rhythm and I was easily able to catch and pass people in front of me. When I took Cluzel I was confident I could catch Iannone and take second, even though he was nearly three secon ds ahead and time was running out. This is our second podium in three races and now the bike is really competitive and this feels just as good as the win in Barcelona because I had to work so hard. The Tech 3 Racing Team has done a great job and now we are starting to get the rewards for our effort and I’m looking forward to a strong finish to the season.”

Raffaele de Rosa 15th – 1-point
“Finally I have scored some points and I’m really happy, but I still wanted more. I have to say a big thanks to my guys at Tech 3 Racing because it has been a difficult period, but they have stood by me and never given up and today the bike worked very well. I was riding a little bit cautiously today because I didn’t want another crash and perhaps if I was more aggressive I could have been even higher up. Unfortunately I had a small technical problem on the last lap and I lost two place s but this has given me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager
“What a ride by Yuki. He was phenomenal today because coming from so far back in such a competitive class is a great achievement. Once he was able to get into his pace it was obvious he was much faster than most guys in front of him. He made some fantastic overtakes and I think the fans really enjoyed watching him ride. I also want to congratulate Raffaele because he scored his first points and this is the first time both have been in the top 15. Hopefully this will give his confidence a big lift and we can see him consistently in the top 15 for the rest of the season. I want to thank his crew as well because they have worked unbelievably hard to help Raffaele score his first points and we can look forward to the second half of the season with great optimism.”

TEAM-SPEAK: AMA Pro at VIR, Saturday

Saturday, August 14, 2010, 4:42:00 PM | admin

New releases will be added at top as they’re received.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden raced to an exciting victory on Saturday at the eighth round of the AMA Pro Superbike Championship at VIR in Alton, Virginia, making it the fourth win of his 2010 season.

Hayden came into the round knowing that he needed to secure a win to chop down the nine-point gap between him and the series leader. And after his win, he is only one point shy of the leading the class in the race to the Championship.

“This feels good and I really feel like we needed this one,” Hayden said after the race. “I wanted to be in there and give it a good shot and my team has been working really hard.”

Hayden qualified third and started on the front row of the grid. After some slight changes to the bike setup after practice, he set out to put himself on the podium. Right off the start, Hayden took the lead and set the pace. He found himself in second and third a few times during the course of the race, but he was never far from the front of the pack.

On the last lap, he was in second and only a fraction-of-a-second behind the leader. As the finish line and the chequered flag came into view, he rolled on the power of the Suzuki GSX-R1000 and crossed the finish line first. He was so focused on fighting to the finish that he missed the turn after the finish line and ended up rolling through the grass of VIR’s infield during the cool down lap. But he kept the bike upright and rolled into the winner’s circle unsure of where he placed. As official word came down from the AMA, he and his Rockstar Makita Suzuki team celebrated at the podium.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d won because I quit looking at the finish line when I realised I was going too fast and wasn’t pointed the right way to make the turn at the end, so I wasn’t so happy at the end there,” Hayden said. “I was just concerned with keeping the bike upright in the grass. But now it feels good to be on the winning end of a close one. I feel like I had myself in the right position today.”

Vesrah Suzuki

Vesrah’s Cory West qualified in 5th place for the Daytona SportBike class at the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Nationals Presented by Foremost Insurance at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, VA and was looking for a good result in Race 1 on Saturday. After loosing touch with the lead group and running alone in 6th place, Cory was given a second chance due to a red flag and a 9-lap restart to the race. On the restart he was able to hang with the lead group and make his way to the front with less than 5 laps to go. Disaster struck just after taking the lead when Cory fell down in turn 4 ending the day in 20th position. Cory remains in 5th place in the championship point standings.

Chris Fillmore had a rough time on Saturday with a 4th row starting position and then having several mistakes that resulted in running off the track. Chris brought his bike home in 15th place and remains in 9th place in the standings.

Mark Junge – Team Owner Vesrah Suzuki
“Steak dinner to baloney sandwiches – I’m proud of Cory being able to get to the front of the field. We’ll be ready for Race 2 tomorrow and hopefully both Cory and Chris can run with the lead group.”

Cory West – Vesrah Suzuki #57
“We made good progress today with the bike and dropped a full second in qualifying ending up in 5th. I got a decent start in the race but got hit by anther rider and dropped back a few positions. Then when I got to turn 7 I lost the front and was on the ground but somehow managed to save it. After all that, I pretty much lost touch with the lead pack on the first lap. I rode alone in 6th and was really struggling with grip from the rear tire when the race got red flagged.

“We made a few changes to the rear shock before the restart and when we got going again the bike felt amazing. It was only a 9-lap sprint so I knew I needed to act fast. I was with the leaders from the start and slowly started picking guys off. I was really strong on the brakes and managed to overtake everyone and get to the lead with 3 laps to go. When I had clear track I felt like I could maybe pull away and win, but I ended up falling in turn 4.

“I’m pretty disappointed but happy I was leading when it happened. I know we can be there for tomorrow’s race so I am going to try again. I want to thank the Vesrah crew and our Penske and Traxxion Dynamics engineers for giving me such a good bike today. Hopefully I can repay them tomorrow for all of their hard work.”

Chris Fillmore – Vesrah Suzuki #55
“The weekend started well on Friday when I ended the day in 5th overall. Saturday started out a lot tougher when I was not able to put in any quicker times than Friday and I ended up starting on the 4th row. After the race started I was able to make my way into a solid 8th place before the race was red flagged. On the restart I ran off in turn 1 trying to catch the leaders, got back going only to run off once more heading into turn 7. 15th on the day and not thrilled with my mistakes. Tomorrow I am looking to correct that and get back on track.”

M4 Monster Energy Suzuki

Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas missed out on scoring his seventh AMA Pro Daytona SportBike victory of the season by just 0.001 seconds today at Virginia International Raceway.

Cardenas, in trademark fashion, lurked at the tail end of the lead group aboard his GSX-R600 for much of the once red flagged and restarted contest before making his move. The Colombian surged into the lead with just four laps remaining and put his head down as he charged to the checkered flag.

Martin was unable to shake his rivals, however, and a slingshot bid for the win brought his opponent directly alongside as the two crossed the stripe for the final time. With even the photo finish nearly impossible to decipher, Cardenas was ultimately judged to have finished as the runner-up by the narrowest of margins in what was possibly the closest finish in AMA Pro Road Racing history.

Despite falling just short of victory, the second-place result aids Cardenas’ title hopes as he closed the gap to the lead and moved into second place in the Daytona SportBike title fight. He now sits just nine points removed from the championship leader at 277 with five races remaining.

“My goal today was to try to win the race and get as many points as I could, but it wasn’t possible to win,” Cardenas said. “I got beat to the line, but it was a very good race with lots of good battles.
“My bike worked great today so I can’t complain. We’ll try tomorrow to be as good as today or a little bit better.”

John Hopkins demonstrated incredible speed in his first American Superbike race since recuperating from wrist surgery. The Californian clung onto the leading trio deep into the contest as they powered away from the rest of the pack before running off course and ultimately crashing out on lap 19 of 23.

Despite the mistake, Hopkins’ ability to immediately match the front-runners’ pace following such a long layoff was extremely impressive.

He said, “I got on the throttle and ran out of track. I laid it down before I hit the Airfence. It was my mistake, but to be honest, I’m still pretty excited about how the race went. I managed to run right at the front after not having ridden for three months. Coming straight back out and being that fast is very encouraging.

“We do have quite a bit of setup stuff we have to work through, but I know the team is going to keep working hard and they improved it considerably from this morning. If we make another step for tomorrow like we did for today’s race, we should be able to fight for the podium.”

Commenting on the condition of his surgically repaired right wrist, Hopkins said, “I feel good. The wrist is good. It’s about 70% right now, which is a lot better than 10%, which is where it was. I can twist the throttle and to be honest, I don’t even notice it when I’m out on the track. Three months ago, three doctors told me I had to retire and now I’m here running at the front in my first race back so I’m really, really grateful and happy to be back.”

Meanwhile, Chris Ulrich battled his way up from 13th early to claim another top-ten result at the flag. Ulrich piloted his GSX-R1000 to tenth place, his eleventh top ten result of the season. His consistent finishes see him ranked seventh in the 2010 AMA Superbike Championship with 150 points.

Team M4 Monster Energy Suzuki will look to improve upon Saturday’s strong performances as the VIR weekend concludes on Sunday.

LTD Racing

Alton, VA (August 14, 2010) – Huntley Nash led and earned third in the first AMA Pro SuperSport race from Virginia International Raceway on Saturday, finishing just ahead of his teammate Tomas Puerta in a spirited race at the picturesque circuit. Nash earned his ninth podium result of 2010 while Puerta has finished inside the top five in each of the nine AMA Pro SuperSport East races this season.

Nash got his patented great start and led early on. “We have been a little bit behind this weekend but everyone is working hard to make it up,” said Nash. “I just tried to get the best start that I could and ended up getting a pretty good one.  I got in the lead, but J.D. went back around on the outside.  I settled in from there, but about halfway through the race Joey got by me and he pulled away from the pack a little bit.  I looked back another time and Tomas was there.  I managed to hold on to third.  At one point, I tried to make a move back up into second but Joey was running strong.  It was a good race and we’re looking to improve for tomorrow.”

“Fourth place is good but I am tired of finishing fourth,” said Puerta, who has four fourth place finishes this year along with three podium placings. “I want to get on the podium. I wasn’t totally comfortable with the bike in the race but I was in fourth place and pretty close to Huntley in the final laps. A lapped rider slowed me up and, at that point, I decided to call off the chase and make sure I got fourth. We are working some on the bike for tomorrow and we’re hoping to get on the podium.”

Matias Cassano earned 16th place in the race and was the third Top Gun finisher. The racer from Argentina impressively finished on the lead lap in his first race at VIR – a tight, twisty circuit unkind to newcomers.

“We need to work on some stuff, to make the bikes a little quicker and pick up some more for tomorrow,” said LTD Racing’s Gary Medley. “It’s not so much speed as much as we’ll try to make the bikes handle a little better and maybe we’ll be a little closer for Sunday.”

AMA Pro

ALTON, Va. (August 14, 2010) – - Today saw three thrilling AMA Pro Road Racing races at the 2.25-mile Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., in the opening day of competition for the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Nationals presented by Foremost Insurance.  One was a runaway, one was a photo finish and the last was almost as close as the second one!

In the National Guard SuperBike race, it was Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Tommy Hayden who took his fourth AMA Pro SuperBike win of the season by 0.005 of a second over pole position winner Ben Bostrom.  Bostrom led on his Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha coming down to the line but in a mighty move, Hayden pulled out and just crossed the line, inches ahead of Bostrom.  The fun wasn’t over for Hayden who, in his successful attempt to win the race, was out of position at that very high speed part of the track and he used all of his considerable skills to wrestle his Suzuki under control after he found himself running wide off the track onto the grass.  He brought it back under control and took a critical victory in his pursuit of Josh Hayes and his Team Graves Yamaha team.

“We started coming to the finish and I had huge momentum when I pulled out,” Hayden commented on his pass for the win.  “The way I was pointing too, when I pulled out, I never even got pointed towards turn one I don’t think.  I started leaning a little and I just had the biggest front slide I think you can have without crashing.  I pretty much thought I was down and somehow I just stayed in the throttle and steered it back up and pointed out in the grass and hoped there was nothing out there I couldn’t see, any ditches or nothing coming up and just tried to ride it out.  It feels good, I really feel like I needed this one today.”

Hayes, by virtue of leading the most laps in today’s race, has a one point lead over Hayden in their close battle for the National Guard SuperBike Championship.  Hayes had led early in the race after taking the lead from a fast starting Hayden. Hayes took the lead on lap four and led until lap 10 when Ben Bostrom asserted himself into the mix by grabbing the lead from Hayes in turn one.  Hayes responded and took the lead right back the next lap and he led for the next nine laps until Bostrom moved ahead on lap 21 which enabled Hayden to get by Hayes as well. Bostrom led as the last lap began but Hayden made a big late braking move into turn one and took the lead but Bostrom was able to fight right back and retook the lead two corners later and looked a likely winner until Hayden made his great move heading down to the flag to take the win.

Behind the riveting battle for the win, Larry Pegram on his Foremost Insurance Ducati finished fourth after dueling with Jake Zemke on the National Guard Jordan Suzuki, Zemke’s Jordan Suzuki teammate Brett McCormick, Taylor Knapp on the RidersDiscount.com Suzuki and a front row starting Eric Bostrom on his Cycle World Attack Performance Suzuki.  Knapp actually finished fifth ahead of McCormick, Bostrom and Zemke.

John Hopkins made his return to the series today and he rode his M4 Monster Energy Suzuki extremely well, running in a solid fourth place for most of the race until he went down in turn four near the end of the race.  Another rider making a comeback this weekend was Jordan Suzuki rider Aaron Yates and he practiced and qualified his regular #23 Jordan Suzuki on the outside of the second row.  Yates elected not to start today’s race, his recovery is obviously going well but he wasn’t absolutely sure he would bring his best to the race, which was run in very hot and humid conditions.  Overall, it was another exciting race in a season that has seen five different winners in SuperBike.  Tommy Hayden continues to respond to Josh Hayes’ every move in the championship battle and this fight is going right down to the wire.  Round two of the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Nationals Presented by Foremost Insurance will be tomorrow at 2:45 p.m. local time and can be seen on SPEED in a set of same-day delayed broadcasts tonight, Saturday, August 14, 2010 beginning at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).

Daytona SportBike Photo Finish

The AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL race was even more exciting and came down to an even closer finish.  After seeing Danny Eslick take the pole position, Eslick was joined on the front row by his championship rival Josh Herrin along with six time 2010 Daytona SportBike winner Martin Cardenas and Tommy Aquino.

At the start, a fast starting P.J. Jacobson shot into the lead on his Celtic Racing Suzuki, ahead of Eslick’s GEICO Powersports Suzuki, Aquino and his Team Graves Yamaha, Martin Cardenas’ M4 Monster Energy Suzuki and Clinton Seller, Steve Rapp and Bobby Fong.  The big surprise was that Josh Herrin was hit by another rider diving into turn one and essentially, Herrin’s day was done.  Back on the track Eslick, Jacobson, Aquino, Cardenas and Fong put on quite a show.  Right behind this group was Steve Rapp on his Team Latus Motors Ducati and also Cory West on the Vesrah Suzuki.  On lap 15 David White, riding Grant Smith’s Memory Racing Kawasaki fell in turn four and the race had to be red flagged to remove his stricken motorcycle.

At the restart, Eslick got a great start and led into turn one.  Now there were six bikes running together and Cory West was a man in a hurry and  a couple laps later, West made a major move and passed Cardenas for the lead but it was short lived as he fell before the end of the very same lap, letting Cardenas and the rest back by.

Bobby Fong had made a couple of major moves of his own and rode his DNA Energy Drink Ducati from tenth to the lead on a couple of occasions as he and Eslick had a quite the battle along with Cardenas who was right there. One would lead and then another, it was anybody’s race.  As the race wound down, Eslick was pushed back to third and watched as Bobby Fong and Cardenas went at it.  Cardenas had the advantage and coming out to the last corner, he looked a sure winner but Fong moved to the outside as the two neared the flag and they went over the line virtually side by side.

It took a photo review by AMA Pro Road Racing Race Director David McGrath to determine that Fong had indeed won by the absolute slimmest of margins to take his very first AMA Pro Daytona SportBike victory.  Fong had been knocking on the door for the last few races and after his heartbreaking fall while leading at the last round at Laguna Seca, this was a popular win for him and the CNR Motorsports team.  Josh Herrin’s misfortune enabled Eslick to take the points lead and allowed Cardenas to move into second in points ahead of Herrin.

“It feels awesome,” said Fong.  “We’ve been working at it all year long to get to the top of the box.  With this class, you don’t know, a person in fifteenth place could win it’s so close and the guys are just so awesome out here.”

Tomorrow’s race will give Herrin a chance to make up some valuable points after losing ground today.  Tommy Aquino took fourth ahead of a determined Steve Rapp and sixth was Fong’s Ducati teammate, Michael Beck.  Race two of the VIR doubleheader weekend tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. local time.  Today’s Daytona SportBike race can be seen on SPEED in a set of same-day delayed broadcasts tonight, Saturday, August 14, 2010 beginning at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).

SuperSport Standout

In SuperSport, J.D. Beach took his Rockwall Engineering Yamaha to a dominant win over Joey Pascarella on his DNA Energy Drink Yamaha and Huntley Nash on his LTD Racing Yamaha. Beach took his sixth win of the season by over 13 seconds and extended his AMA SuperSport Young Gun East Division points lead over his sidelined teammate Cameron Beaubier and today’s fourth place finisher, Tomas Puerta, Huntley Nash’s LTD Racing Yamaha teammate. While Beach was able to again ride off into the distance, Pascarella had to battle his way through Puerta and then had a long battle with Nash to claim second place.

“My bike is my baby, I take good care of that thing,” said Beach.  “We got that thing set up real good, it’s a great bike, the team’s great. All I have to do is get on it, twist the throttle and go.”

DNA Energy / CNR Motorsports

West Coast Supersport championship qualified second after being a tenth of a second off of pole.  Joey got off to a good start and had a great battle with two other supersport riders at VIR.  After finally passing he formed a nice gap and secured a second place finish.  This is Joey’s first podium as a DNA Energy / CNR Motorsports rider.  “Today I shredded the gnar, and I am really happy to be back on the podium”, says Pascarella.

In Daytona Sportbike Race One, Fong and Beck both jolted to the front of the pack after starting in the 3rd row.  Bobby jumped out front right away battling for top position, as Beck worked his way through the field.  Before the red flag Fong was in second and Beck was running a strong 6th place.

After the restart Fong went back to work battling Cardenas and Eslick for top spot in the race.  Beck didn’t get the restart that he wanted, though he was able to work his way between multiple riders to regain 6th place.  While Beck was working his way through the pack Fong was showing his race maturity and progression by constantly applying pressure to Eslick and Cardenas.  “The race was mint.  I can’t believe I finally won my first AMA Pro Race,” says Fong.

The closest finish in AMA Daytona Sportbike determined the outcome of the race this season.

Today has been absolutely unbelievable no words can explain how team and myself feel at this moment.  Fong, Beck, Pascarella, and the team have worked really hard throughout the season to achieve the results that we have today”, says Robbie.

“We started this year knowing what we wanted to achieve as a small team and today all three of my riders have really raised the bar for my team and my crew.  There is no other way to celebrate my birthday than having two of our three riders on the podium.  Bobby has really grown as a rider this season we knew we were going to win a race we just didn’t know it was going to be this soon.  We are looking forward to more solid results from this weekend”, says Crozier.

RRX RACE REPORT: VIR AMA Pro American Superbike (SPOILER ALERT)

Saturday, August 14, 2010, 4:14:25 PM | admin

Tommy Hayden launched into the lead of American Superbike Race 1 thanks to an excellent start, but championship leader Josh Hayes and Laguna Seca winner Ben Bostrom were both by quickly, with newly returned M4 Monster Energy rider John Hopkins bringing up the back of the front four-rider pack.

Graves Yamaha’s Hayes looked dominant but had his hands full with challenges from Pat Clark Yamaha’s Bostrom within a couple of laps, meanwhile Hopkins was riding strong—as strong as we’ve seen him since his 2010 return to AMA—in fourth, several seconds ahead of fifth-place National Guard Jordan Suzuki Jake Zemke. And with Aaron Yates having decided to sit out his planned return at VIR, the Jordan Suzuki off Zemke’s rear wheel was again in the hands of Brett McCormick.

Bostrom took over the lead with twelve laps to go (brother Eric Bostrom—who started on the front row after qualifying fourth yesterday was circulating in seventh aboard the Cycle World Attack Performance Suzuki) but could not break away from championship contenders Hayes and Hayden, who were separated by just four points heading into the first event.

The top three continued to swap position as the laps clicked down; when the white flag flew it was Bostrom, Hayden, and Hayes, who’d fallen back a bit. It was another rush to the finish, though, Tommy drafting by Bostrom right at the line (a high-speed pass that carried him straight off the track) and Hayes coming in third. The victory left Hayden just a single point behind Hayes in overall standings.

Courtesy AMA Pro

Josh Hayes
“I don’t think the sun helped me. I think Tommy ran a soft rear, and if he did I’m sure the sun helped him a lot because we needed some sunlight for that to happen. I’m not sure what Ben ran either. It didn’t really affect my race a whole lot. I ran a pretty smooth, consistent race. I tried to ride smart. I put myself in all the right places. The race went how I thought it might go down today, except for the little end part, I didn’t like that so much but that’s racing right? Good hard racing, it’s great for TV, it’s great for the fans, it’s great for us. We like racing and really had a lot of fun. Hopefully we can do a little better tomorrow.”

“My bike was good, I really didn’t have any problems. It moved around a little bit, but I was trying hard. I actually kind of slowed down a little bit in the middle. Just enough, you know, I thought I was covering all the right spots and making them ride my race rather than being able to ride their own. I tried to be tough in the right spots on the race track but ride smooth and not make mistakes in places where it’s easy to fall down. We got to racing a little bit because I left the door a little bit too open. That’s what racing’s all about.”

Ben Bostrom
“Honestly, the bike was incredible. I have to thank my team for that. It was kind of my saving grace to cruise and save a lot of energy through the corners. It definitely had a great corner speed. Good choice on tires, the Dunlops were fantastic across the board. Huge thanks to the Pat Clark Motorsports for putting together an amazing machine again. I know they worked all night because Ben requested a motor change. I liked one chassis better than the other for some reason, because that’s just how they are. The boys got her done so I gotta thank them. Tommy did a great job nipping us at the line. I do want to make a small suggestion. The starter, actually made me sit up and move my head, chop out the throttle because that guy was going to take my head off with that flag, he just had no idea what he was doing. He was just standing there so I had to make an evasive move and if you lose by this much, that’s what it takes. I was very scared for Tommy there, he rode off the track there at Mach speed I don’t know how he saved it. Very talented. Good job to Josh Hayes as well. The boys are right there for the championship and they provide quite the show and they’d both be great champions. Should be good, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Same thing, just try to go out there and win and put on a good show.”

“I figured I had a bit of speed so I decided I better just chill out. The boys were passing us in the same two spots each lap so I thought ‘That’s getting old so I’ll chill and let them fight it out for a little bit and then when I see the lap two board I’ll go to the front.’ It almost worked. A plan doesn’t always go to plan but it was very close this time.”

Tommy Hayden
“My bike is running really well. We definitely have a fast bike so most of it stems from that really when you’re drag racing to the finish line. Just tried to get a good run, try to be smooth, not wheelie, get through the gears. Tried to get a run really about half way up the straight I didn’t think I was real close but man, once I got in his draft I really sucked up super quick. I thought, you know man it’s gonna be close. We started coming to the finish and I had huge momentum when I pulled out. The way I was pointing too, when I pulled out, I never even got pointed towards turn one I don’t think. I started leaning a little and I just had the biggest front slide I think you can have without crashing. I pretty much thought I was down and somehow I just stayed in the throttle and steered it back up and pointed out in the grass and hoped there was nothing out there I couldn’t see, any ditches or nothing coming up and just tried to ride it out. It feels good, I really feel like I needed this one today. The guys have been working hard. I wanted to be in there and put up a fight today and I feel like I did that and luckily I came out on the winning end of a close one. I’ve been on the other end a couple times this year and this sure feels a lot better.”

RRX RACE REPORT: VIR AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Race 1 (SPOILER ALERT)

Saturday, August 14, 2010, 3:10:18 PM | admin

SportBike Race 1 was over almost immediately for championship points leader Josh Herrin, whose bad start was compounded when another rider made contact with him as the tight pack headed into the first turn, spitting Herrin offsides. A few turns later Steve Rapp ran wide, reentering toward the back of the pack, while Herrin retired to the pits. With two of the class’ strongest riders out or trailing, the battle was left to GEICO Powersports RMR’s Danny Eslick, M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Martin Cardenas, DNA Energy CNR’s Bobby Fong, Graves Yamaha’s Tommy Aquino, and Celtic Racing’s PJ Jacobsen, who made up the front five after the first several laps had shaken out.

Jacobsen was in the red dust just a lap later, ending an impressive run for the 17-year-old rider. Aquino, too, was looking as competitive as he has this season, even taking over the lead with authority for a couple laps before ceding it to a hard-charging Eslick and Fong. Said charging came to an abrupt stop on lap 14 of 23, when rider David White crashed, his bike ended up in the middle of the asphalt and necessitating a red flag (White himself was okay).

On the restart it was Eslick back into the lead with Aquino, Fong, and Cardenas falling into line behind, the front pack dicing through the final laps until Cardenas and Fong hit the line in a photo-finish whose victor wasn’t obvious even on stopped film. The AMA Pro results screen flashed “verifying results” while the podium announcer stalled; finally Fong was announced as the winner with Cardenas and Eslick in second and third, respectively.

Courtesy AMA Pro

Danny Eslick
“I got a good start from pole. I guess I got a good launch, but PJ came around the outside like we were standing still in turn one, he was riding good. I think he led a couple laps there, Tommy may have come by, Bobby… there was so much passing going on that I don’t remember who or in what order. I got back by PJ, ran around in that front little group for a little bit. After the red flag, same thing, kind of got back to a pretty good start. Got rolling and got back in the rhythm of things. I felt good, I definitely felt like I had something for them. I think we did, it’s just getting it at the right time. Steve came by and I kinda made a little bit of a mistake with just a couple laps to go. I didn’t realize there was another three or four guys there. It scared the crap out of me, I wasn’t ready for them to be there. It took me a minute to get going and get by Rapp there. Kinda stuffed him, it wasn’t the cleanest move that I would have liked to have done but it got me on the podium and I need every point that I can so I can’t really say too much.”

Martin Cardenas
“No, The beginning, I, like the third lap or something I saw Josh. We were lapping him so I knew he was out of the race. He’s leading the championship also so my goal today was try to win the race and try to get as many points as I could. Today it wasn’t possible. Bobby beat me at the line. It was a very good race. Good battles with Danny, Bobby and also Aquino. My bike worked great today, I can’t complain. We’ll try tomorrow to be as good as today or a little bit better.”

“I just wanted to see if he was very close so I could go to the inside to be on the right line, but it wasn’t enough.”

Bobby Fong
“It feels awesome, we’ve been working at it all year long to get to the top of the box. With this class, you don’t know, a person in fifteenth place could win it’s so close and the guys are just so awesome out here. The bike held up for the whole race.”

“It’s pretty intense, you have to go as fast as you can but try not to make that many mistakes because everybody’s hungry to win and everybody’s hungry to get on the box. So you just gotta keep your focus the whole race, not give an inch up and protect your line. It all plays out sometimes, sometimes it don’t.”

RRX RACE REPORT: VIR AMA Pro SuperSport Race 1 (SPOILER ALERT)

Saturday, August 14, 2010, 1:59:33 PM | Laurel Allen

As Rockwall Performance Yamaha’s JD Beach launched into the lead of VIR’s SuperSport Race 1, LTD Racing’s Huntley Nash shook off his fifth-place start to take over the runner-up position with an aggressive Joey Pascarella latched onto his back wheel. Pascarella (CNR DNA Energy Drink Ducati) clearly had the speed to take on the front-runners, and after finally getting past Nash with about ten to go he was able to turn times nearly a second faster and was soon running essentially unchallenged.

The top three finished in that order after a fairly uneventful race—especially for this class—with Tomas Puerta and Miles Thorton rounding out the top five. One of the class’ most competitive riders, Cameron Beaubier, is sitting out the VIR round due to wrist and shoulder injuries incurred in a motocross crash just over a week ago.

It was Beach’s sixth win of the year, and he celebrating by offering the pressroom the following definition of “rippin’ a skid”: “I like going into the turn, grabbing a whole bunch of brakes, and listening to the tires squeal.”

Huntley Nash:
“I wasn’t really sure how great of a start I was going to get because we got new leathers and they’re huge on me. I just tried to get the best start that I could and ended up getting a pretty good one. I got up in the lead for about two seconds and then J.D. went back around on the outside. Kind of settled in from there, about halfway through the race Joey got by and saw that he pulled away from the pack a little bit. I looked back another time and Tomas was there. I just managed to hold on to third. At one point I tried to make a move back up into second but Joey was running strong. It was a good race.”

Joey Pascarella
“I got a good jump. The drag to the first turn wasn’t too good for me, I got passed by a lot of people. I saw Dominguez took out a whole bunch of people, that was pretty crazy, I don’t know what he was thinking. Once I saw that J.D. got the lead I knew that it would be hard for me to win because he and I had been going the same speed all weekend. Once I saw him get in the lead I just figured I’d ride my race and if I’d catch him I’d catch him. Tried to get around Huntley and Tomas but they were riding really strong. I got around Tomas first and then had a hard time getting around Huntley, he’s really good on the brakes. That’s pretty much the only way you can pass here is on the brakes. I just worked him until he made a mistake. I actually got him done going into Turn one. I was kind of surprised about that, but I got him there. I pulled a little bit of a gap and just rode smart. On the last lap actually, I was just cruising and my pit board didn’t say how far he was behind me and he passed me going into Turn one and I was like, ‘Nah, this isn’t cool.’ He blew by and went wide into Turn one and I just went up the inside of him. I’m pretty sure we were touching through that whole turn. It broke my front fairing actually, it was pretty sweet. I held it together for second.”

JD Beach
“I came around and my plan was the same as Mid-Ohio, just get a good start, put my head down and put in some good laps. I did some good lap times, come around and seeing my pit board and that the gap started going up just a little bit at a time so I just kept on trying to put in some good laps. Once I knew I had a pretty good lead, I just did what I do and ripped some big skids and just had fun. This is what I love to do so it’s not hard to focus at all.”

“Once I know I have a gap, I kind of back it off a little bit and just do laptimes that I know I’m not going to crash doing, or at least I hope I don’t crash doing them. If I was battling, who cares about the bike, I’m going to go for it. But if I have a gap, I don’t have to push it hard.”

“My bike is my baby, I take good care of that thing. We got that thing set up real good, it’s a great bike, the team’s great. All I have to do is get on it, twist the throttle and go.”

TEAM-SPEAK: Brno MotoGP, Saturday (Pics)

Saturday, August 14, 2010, 11:35:51 AM | admin

New releases will be added at top as they’re received.

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

Kevin Calia rode and absolutely perfect 14 laps to win his first Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race. The 15 year old Italian lead all but the first one and a half laps and left 16 year old Japanese Daijiro Hiura to snatch 2nd place from 16 year old Briton Danny Kent at the final corner.

It was an extremely rare Rookies race in that Calia managed to open up almost a 1 second lead after 2 laps and though Kent and the chasing pack tried everything possible they could not make any significant attack on the Italian.

Calia had been quick through practice and was confident, starting from 3rd on the grid. “When I woke up this morning I believed that I could win the race, but not like this, not going away and saying good-bye to the others. I kept thinking that they would catch me, that is what normally happens in our races, I just kept pushing as hard as I could and they never did.”

“I’m so happy with the way the bike is working I’m not going to change anything for tomorrow. I guess the others might and the race could be closer but I still think I can win it, if it’s a close race or another one like this I don’t mind, it is winning that is important not how.”

Hiura was happy with second. “It just wasn’t possible to catch Kevin today, we tried but he was too fast. I enjoyed the race, we had another great battle and the only trouble I had was a bit of sliding at the rear so we might change the suspension a bit for tomorrow. We only need a small change to make it right and I really want to win tomorrow.”

Similarly with thoughts of some bike changes and a victory on Sunday, Kent was pleased to have closed the points battle on Jake Gagne to just 6 after the 16 year old Californian finished back in 8th. “My dad was giving me pit boards to tell me where Jake was so I knew I was gaining some points on him and that’s important. It was great, a lot of close clean battling and I have to congratulate Kevin on riding a perfect race.”

“We will need to change the bike set-up a bit for tomorrow, I think it was good for one fast lap but it was too hard on the rear tyre and it started sliding around a lot. I also had an engine misfire towards the end, it started above 12,000 and I had to change up early, normally you rev it past 13 so it was losing out on the straights. On the last lap coming up the hill it was terrible. I didn’t realise that Daijiro was so close though, he got inside me and I looked across but there was nothing I could do about it, he took the line. Then I got hit by someone, Harry (Stafford) I think, on the run in to the line.”

Calia was gifted the lead after pole man 16 year old Italian Alejandro Pardo high-sided from first in the stadium section on lap 2 but from there it was all Calia with up to 10 men battling behind for a chance to get on the podium. One of those who looked a strong candidate was 15 year old Italian/Nigerian Alessio Cappella but he was flicked into the air with 2 laps to go and only just saved the situation so that he could finish 6th.

16 year old Briton Harry Stafford was in the midst of the pack and made a well timed play for a rostrum place with 2 laps to go but just lost out the final 2 corners. “Dani Ruiz and I had worked together to get to the front and then on the last lap I thought about passing Daijiro but thought I’d probably take him out so it came down to the last corner and I got a good drive out but then Daijiro swerved, Danny Kent swerved and we hit. It was a fun race though I really enjoyed it.”

Not having so much fun was 16 year old Californian Jake Gagne, “It was a bit of a problem after missing so much practice when I crashed yesterday. The front end was chattering and bottoming out everywhere so there was nothing more I could do, I just rode to get as many points as I could and we’ll change the bike for tomorrow and hope to get on the podium.”

Race 2 in Brno starts tomorrow, Sunday at 15.30 CET.

Official Race 1 Results

1. Kevin Calia (ITA) 31 minutes 24.166 seconds (144.526 kph)
2. Daijiro Hiura (JPN) +1.537
3. Danny Kent (GBR+1.599
4. Harry Stafford (GBR) +1.626
5. Daniel Ruiz (ESP) +1.679
6. Alessio Cappella (ITA) +2.076
7. Brad Binder (RSA) +2.523
8. Jacob Gagne (USA) +2.894
9. Florian Alt (GER) +2.951
10. Xavier Figueras (ESP) +3.024

Pramac Racing

Unfortunate qualifying session for Pramac Racing Team riders that conquered the thirteenth and sixteenth position on the starting grid respectively with Kallio and Espargarò. The overnight rain in Brno has not allowed the Team to identify the best setting to be developed during qualifying session in the second free practice. Both riders have had some stability problems at the beginning of the qualification into slow curves entrance, that on this track are frequents. In particular Aleix has had some grip problems on the rear tyre that enabled him to be very fast in the curve entrance. Mika instead had partially solved the problems he had yesterday during the first free practice reducing his best lap time of almost one second. His fastest lap time is very close to the top ten. Tomorrow he will certainly battle for an important position. The Grand Prix of Czech Republic will start tomorrow at 2 pm local time.

Espargaro • Courtesy Pramac

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Technical Director
“We started the qualifying session with the best setting developed yesterday morning during the first free practice. The feedbacks were quite positive but we also encountered some problems in almost all sectors. In qualifying we have changed some positive characteristics identified in both free practice and once we mounted soft tyres the lap times were significantly lowered. We think that we have found a good technical package that we will try tomorrow morning during the warm up. We’ll start from the back, but we aim to achieve a good result in tomorrow’s race.”

Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – 13th fastest lap time in 1′58 .182
“For just a few tenths of a second I was not able to enter in the top ten, I missed the ninth position for only two tenths, which it had happened often in recent times. At the beginning of the qualification I had some problems with the rear wheel and I could not get a good time. Once I put soft tyres I lowered my lap times and I had reduced the gap from the others riders. I had my best lap time at the end of qualifying session by taking a ride to the limit. Tomorrow morning we will turn again with this type of setting to try to further improve my lap time. I aspire to obtain a position in the top ten in tomorrow’s race. ”

Aleix Espargarò – Pramac Racing Team – 16th fastest lap time in 1′58 .700
“Unfortunately I had a little bit of problems in the curve entrance, I had to brake much more than the other riders to follow the best lines. My gap from the others riders is mainly due to this problem. I was not able to improve my lap time in the last two exit from the box with soft tyres, in fact, I registered my fastest lap time at the twelfth lap on twenty-one. Tomorrow morning during warm up we will make various technical modifications with the hope that I can be more competitive in the race.”

Ducati Marlboro

Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden will start from second and third row respectively in the Czech Republic Grand Prix tomorrow after the today qualifying practice that saw the Australian finish just 0.003 seconds outside the front row and the American suffer a crash just as the session reached its climax, hurting his left wrist as a result.

Stoner • Courtesy Ducati Marlboro

Stoner has struggled to find the ideal set-up for his Desmosedici GP10 at this circuit but rode around his problems to challenge for pole position in an exciting finish to the session, which saw the top three riders separated by mere thousandths of a second before Dani Pedrosa emerged to secure pole by three tenths. Hayden had been impressive throughout the session in race trim but a crash in turn three when he was chasing a qualifying time on a soft tyre limits him to a third-row start and the painful prospect of 22 laps with a chipped radius (wrist) bone tomorrow.

CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) 4th (1’56.868)
“This morning went a lot better than we found quite a good solution and I was happy with the lap times considering the track was still a little damp after the storms last night. We hoped we could make progress in qualifying this afternoon but at the beginning every setting we tried seemed to go in the wrong direction. When we got the front working better we encountered a problem with the rear and vice-versa and we spent a lot of time coming in and out of the garage. It wasn’t until the last half hour that we found something better and on my second-last exit I tried to push harder but ran off the track a little bit and destroyed the lap time. I decided to come in and have another go on a fresh tyre and if it wasn’t for another rider in my way going into the last two corners I could have been on the front row. I’m disappointed in that respect but relatively happy with our pace in general. A few people are having problems with the front so it will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow, hopefully we can hang at the front.”

Hayden • Courtesy Ducati Marlboro

NICKY HAYDEN – (Ducati Marlboro Team) 8th (1’57.635)
“We started out well and on my first exit on a hard tyre I was able to improve my lap time quite a lot. We got into the 1’57s quite quickly and I thought we were in good shape to have a shot at a good grid position. Unfortunately my first flying lap on the softer tyre ended in turn three – I just lost the front quite early on entry, I don’t know why. I know people always see ‘I did nothing different!’ but honestly, even looking at the data, the brake pressure and speed was the same as my previous runs. We need to have a look at that and understand it tonight. Luckily it wasn’t too heavy and everything on my body is fine other than my left hand. It must have got caught under the bike because it’s very sore and even though we tried to go back out I couldn’t change direction. We’ve had it checked out by x-ray which showed we chunk off the tip of the radius, which isn’t good, but my scaphoid is okay and that’s the main thing because I have a screw in there and it’s not damaged. Just walking around the paddock it’s not too painful but we’ll have to wait and see how it goes over 22 laps on the bike tomorrow.”

Circuit Record: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.670 – 166.716 Km/h
Best Pole: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.145 – 167.469 Km/h

2010 Pole: Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1′56. 508 – 166.9 km/h

LCR Honda

Brno, 14 August: Qualifying for the Czech Repulic Grand Prix was run in hot conditions today with ambience temperature of 25°C despite cloudy skies and fog welcomed the premier class riders this morning. Just after 25 days LCR Honda MotoGP racer Randy De Puniet again dug deep into his reserves to overcome the pain recording an incredible 11th fastest time of the day (1’58.089).

Battling pain and displaying great determination the Frenchman improved his pace session by session getting the 14th place in this morning second free practice. The 29-year-old received a pain-killing injection prior to this afternoon’s 60-minute session struggling to get the most out of his machine on qualifiers and he bravely qualified as the best HRC satellite rider ahead of Simoncelli and Melandri. Tomorrow’s 22 lap race will get underway at 14:00 local time with Pedrosa, Spies and Lorenzo on the front row.

De Puniet – 11th – 1’58.089
De Puniet: “Well… it is awesome to qualify 11th just after 25 days after my operation. I am only 1 tenth to the third row and this is incredible considering my physical condition. Yesterday I focused on easing my body back into the demands of riding my machine and today we experienced three mid-long run (8 to 10 laps) with good results. I know that the race will be tough but if I can keep this pace I could ride for a top ten finish. Many riders crashed this morning and it also happened to me but luckily I escaped unhurt from the incident. I am delighted because my leg is improving day by day even if I will need a painkiller injection to finish tomorrow’s 22 laps”.

STIPA Molenaar

The STIPA-Molenaar Racing GP team captured during the qualifying for the Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky a decent second and third row. Randy Krummenacher rode his fastest lap in the last minute and demanded his Aprilia RSA to a seventh starting position. Luis Salom revenge after a moderate session on Saturday morning with an excellent tenth time in qualifying.

Krummenacher • Courtesy STIPA

The Saturday morning session had a delay of half an hour because of persistent low-hanging fog. Randy Krummenacher rode an excellent training and clocked the third time. Luis Salom could not find his rhythm and had trouble riding fast laps. The Spaniard had hoped too more than the final seventeenth place.

The qualifying session was run under sunny weather. After a brilliant third place in the morning practice went Randy Krummenacher for a spot on the front row. Unfortunately crashed the Swiss rider in the last ten minutes of the session with a high-sider of his machine. Fortunately he got his Aprilia back to the garage where the mechanics were able to repair the machine in a record time. Krummenacher then rode a strong final lap and improved his best time and moved from the ninth to seventh place. The fastest man in the STIPA-Molenaar Racing GP Team therefore starts tomorrow from the second row.

Salom • Courtesy STIPA

Luis Salom drove in the first ten minutes of qualifying outset a faster time than the Friday workout. The Spaniard was maintained constant throughout the session in the top 10. Salom was in the tenth place and will hold for the second time this season starting from this position.

Randy Krummenacher (7th, 2:08.974):
“I’m not happy that I crashed out in the last part of the session. My rhythm was good and I was able to improve my lap time every lap. After the third spot in free practice I wanted a place on the front row. I need to give the engineers a huge compliment. Thanks to them I could still improve form the ninth to a seventh place. I love the performance of the team! My race pace is good and I expect tomorrow to fight for a top five position. “

Luis Salom (10th, 2:09.496):
“The free training was unsatisfactory. I wanted to be at least in the top 10, but I think I pushed too much. The qualifying session went much better and the changes we have made to the suspension worked out well. Soon I improved my lap time from the Friday and so I came right in the top 10. In the final lap of qualifying, I was hold up so I could not improve my time. But a tenth starting spot is a good position for the race. ”

Rizla Suzuki

Rizla Suzuki’s Loris Capirossi will start tomorrow’s Czech Republic Grand Prix from the front of the fourth row after qualifying in 10th place, whilst team-mate Álvaro Bautista will start from 17th place after a crash in this morning’s practice forced him to miss this afternoon’s qualifying session.

Courtesy Rizla

Capirossi (1’57.981, 25 laps) continued to improve throughout today’s practice and qualifying sessions and is certain that he can be competitive in tomorrow’s 22-lap race. He worked with the team to find an electronics package that he was happy with for the 5,403m Brno circuit and is convinced that the progress that has been made throughout the last two days will help him in tomorrow’s race.

Bautista missed the qualifying this afternoon because the Spaniard was still in the Brno hospital when the session started. He suffered a 140km/h high-side in this morning’s practice session and early indications showed that he might have a severe spinal injury. Bautista was taken straight to the hospital, but further examinations and a CT scan showed no fractures and just some heavy bruising to his back. Bautista will take to the track in tomorrow’s warm-up session and if he shows no ill effects he will be able to start from 17th on the grid, due to him posting a time in the practice session better than the qualification maximum from this afternoon.

Today’s qualifying was held in dry conditions with track temperatures getting up to 38ºC. Dani Pedrosa recorded the fastest time of the day to give him his third pole-position of the season.

Tomorrow’s race is the 10th round of the season and both Rizla Suzuki racers will be looking to line-up on the grid as the lights change to go at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).

Loris Capirossi:
“We have worked hard today and although we went back a bit this morning it has been a good day. We did quite a lot of work on the engine management side of things and the team did a good job there. We tried two different settings this morning, but ran with just one this afternoon and it worked quite well. The time is not the best because I feel we could go quicker and I know I can go quicker, so I am optimistic for tomorrow and I am sure we can be competitive if the weather is good.”

Álvaro Bautista:
“Fortunately there is nothing broken, so this is the most important thing and tomorrow I will try and do the race. The crash was because as I entered turn three I lost rear grip and I couldn’t do anything about it. I did a big jump in the air and I could do nothing to save it. Tomorrow morning I hope I feel much better and I will try to race because I need to do as many kilometres as I can.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“The best news from the qualifying session didn’t even come from the race-track, it was the report back from the hospital that Álvaro’s CT scan had shown no broken or damaged vertebrae and apart from severe bruising he’s fine and will attempt to race tomorrow. After the bad luck he’s had with injuries this year it’s nice to have the roll-of-the-dice for once and that he won’t be forced to miss the next few races is a big boost.

“Loris has been building steadily over the weekend and I think there is still more to come from him and the bike here at Brno. The front of the fourth row isn’t too bad a place to start and I’m sure that irrespective of conditions Loris will be giving it everything tomorrow afternoon.”

Cardion AB Grand Ceské Republicky Qualifying Practice Classification:

1. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1’56.508: 2. Ben Spies (Yamaha) +0.338: 3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +0.357: 4. Casey Stoner (Ducati) 0.360: 5. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +0.551: 10. LORIS CAPIROSSI (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.473: 17. ÁLVARO BAUTISTA:

Fiat Yamaha

An extraordinary qualifying session in Brno today left Jorge Lorenzo in third and Valentino Rossi in fifth for tomorrow’s Czech Grand Prix. The Fiat Yamaha riders were luckily unhurt despite both crashing out within moments of one another on their final flying laps.

Heavy storms overnight had changed the nature of the track and Lorenzo was not feeling quite as comfortable with his front-end set-up as he would have liked this afternoon, losing time in the latter half of the circuit. Despite this he was still sitting in second position when he headed out for his final run, with his sights set on a tenth front row of the season. He looked on course to improve his time when he made a small mistake at turn eleven and was sent flying across the gravel trap, luckily getting up straight away unhurt. The championship leader had done a good enough job to hold on to third on the grid and he will line up next to fellow Yamaha rider Ben Spies tomorrow, who took his first front-row in MotoGP, with Dani Pedrosa on pole.

At his third race back after injury, World Champion Rossi was looking to return to the front row for the first time and he looked like he might do just that as he steadily improved his times over the course of the session, feeling good with the set-up of his M1. On the first flying lap of his final run he was just a fraction off provisional pole time and pushing hard when he made a small mistake at turn 13 and lost the front end, sliding harmlessly off track and luckily doing no further damage to either his leg or shoulder. The Italian was disappointed to remain on the second row but he is confident of a strong showing tomorrow when the race gets underway at 1400 CET.

Jorge Lorenzo, Position: 3rd   Time: 1′56.865   Laps: 20
“This wasn’t the best practice session of the year for us. We made some modifications that didn’t work and it was especially a problem in the front, which was closing on me a lot. I wasn’t fast and I was having to take too many risks. Then I made a mistake and the bike went flying! I really hope the engine is okay for tomorrow, luckily I am not hurt and I was able to get up straight away. We are still on the front row and we can’t always be on top! I think tomorrow will be a tough race but we will see how we can improve our setting and see what happens.”

Valentino Rossi, Position: 5th   Time: 1′57.059   Laps: 23
“I’m okay and I haven’t made any of my injuries worse, so this is the most important thing. I was pushing hard and trying to make my best flying lap and I just lost the front, so maybe we’re still missing a bit of grip. I was really angry when I crashed because I think it was possible to get second or even the pole position! Apart from the mistake though I’m very happy because I feel confident on the bike and I enjoyed riding today; I think for tomorrow I can be competitive. Warm-up is going to be important because we need to try to slightly improve my feeling with the front. We also need to wait to see what the weather does!”

Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager
“We’ve had better qualifying sessions but it’s not too bad, this track always changes a lot after it rains and we just need to adjust things a bit more. At the beginning Jorge was looking okay and his speed was good but he didn’t feel the same as he’d felt yesterday with the bike; he had less grip in the front and we made some adjustments but things weren’t perfect. The crash was unlucky; he lost the front although it wasn’t totally clear what happened. Anyway he is okay so we’re not worried and now we will try to improve his confidence in the front tomorrow.”

Davide Brivio, Team Manager
“It was a good session until the crash! It’s a pity because he was fast and he was going to improve his time and now we’re only in fifth. But we’ve worked well and our setting is at a good level – we have room for some small improvements before the race but we feel like we’re in good shape and Valentino didn’t hurt himself, so we’re looking forward to racing.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3

Ben Spies stormed to his maiden MotoGP front row start in Brno today, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider coming within seconds of claiming a stunning pole position at the end of a dramatic qualifying session.

The Texan needed less than a quarter of the session to establish himself in the top six as he continued to make significant progress with the set-up of his YZR-M1 machine in preparation for tomorrow’s 22-lap race.

Spies began to demonstrate his fast pace shortly after the halfway stage when he moved into fourth position. His challenge for a landmark career first pole position began to gather serious momentum though when he surged into second place with a lap of 1.57.166 that put him just 0.005s behind Spaniard Dani Pedrosa.

He first moved to the top of the timesheets with 16 minutes remaining, an impressive lap of 1.57.140 on the softer compound Bridgestone rear tyre moving him 0.021s clear of the field.

The reigning World Superbike champion though wasn’t finished and he produced another blistering lap in the final five minutes of 1.56.846 to put him back ahead of Pedrosa by a margin of just 0.013s.

But with a remarkable first pole position beckoning, Pedrosa produced a decisive late attack, the triple world champion clocking a best of 1.56.508 with just 40 seconds remaining to drop Spies into second spot.

Spies though was thrilled after securing his first front row start and is brimming with confidence that he can mount a serious challenge for a second pod ium finish in what has so far been a fantastic first full season in MotoGP for the 26-year-old.

Fellow American Colin Edwards also had something to cheer this afternoon as he enjoyed his second best qualifying session of the campaign.

The experienced Texan had joined Spies in the top three earlier in the session as he lapped comfortably in the low 1.58 bracket in full race trim.

Profiting from the improved turning performance created by a revised front-end geometry setting, Edwards looked destined to secure a place on the second row for only the second time in 2010.

But despite his best efforts, he was unable to utilise the performance of his final two soft compound rear Bridgestone tyres and had to settle for seventh place. His best time of 1.57.222 was just 0.105s away from the second row and Edwards is confident he can score h is first ever top six finish at Brno tomorrow.

Ben Spies 2nd 1.56.846 – 24 laps
“My goal was to be on the second row and I didn’t think the front row was possible, let alone a pole position, so I’m really happy. From the start of the weekend every change we have made to the bike has been better and that doesn’t usually happen. I had a decent pace so I was confident I could have a good qualifying. When we put the second soft tyre in I got into first position and I thought people would go faster. I did a really good time at the end but when I saw I was still up there I thought, ‘I could do this.’ Dani did a good job and I didn’t have those last three tenths anyway and the time I set was a good time for me. It would have been nice to have a pole position but at this point just being on the middle of the front row is a great result for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 T eam and myself. I’ll try and get a good start and if I can latch onto those guys for the first six or seven laps I can put together a good race. I’ve struggled in the first few laps in some races but here I’ve been able to get into a fast rhythm pretty quick, so I’m looking forward to it. This is just qualifying but it gives you confidence for the race. I’ve had a podium in my first full season and a front row is another box ticked and that’s very satisfying for me.”

Colin Edwards 7th 1.57.222 – 24 laps
“That’s my best qualifying for a few races and it was looking really good for a while when I got myself into the top three after I used the first soft tyre. Unfortunately I just couldn’t quite get the best out of the last two soft tyres I had at the end of the session. You have to push so hard to get a good time that you wear the front tyre a lot. It is only a small dro p because the Bridgestone front is awesome, but it was enough to make the bike not feel as balanced and I struggled to get the bike turned. I just didn’t have the confidence to push as hard as I wanted with a new rear tyre and used front. But I know when the grip is the same on the front and the rear that we’ve got a really competitive package. I’m really happy with the bike and the new front-end geometry setting is helping me a lot. I can just ride with more confidence and comfort and the bike turns much better with more weight on the front. We’ve finally got the chassis working pretty good and I’m riding good, so I’ll hopefully get my first top six at this track. It has been a bogey track for me in the past but I’m confident I can get my best result here. Congratulations to Ben too for his first front row. He’s been riding awesome and it is great for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team.”

Repsol Honda

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa took his third pole position of the 2010 season in emphatic style today in a gripping and action packed qualifying session at Brno. With just two minutes to go, the 24-year-old Spaniard banged in a lap that was an impressive 0.338s clear of his nearest rival in a session that, up until that point, had been extremely close at the top. His factory Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso was also at the sharp end of the qualifying contest and came within 0.3s of his second front-row start in succession, the Italian eventually settling for the second row and sixth quickest time today, with a gap of 0.609s to Pedrosa.

Pedrosa was fastest in both of today’s MotoGP track sessions and has been on impressive form since arriving at the Brno circuit. Working on race set-up this afternoon, he spent most of the second half of the session in top spot despite the best efforts of his rivals to dislodge him. Twice in the last 20 minu tes Ben Spies snuck ahead by fractions of a second, only to be demoted once again almost immediately by Pedrosa. In the final moments, attempts first by Jorge Lorenzo and then Valentino Rossi ended in the gravel trap before Pedrosa put pole clearly out of their reach.

This was Pedrosa’s 16th MotoGP pole position, and his 34th in all Grand Prix classes. For some time now, the Spaniard’s total of GP pole positions has kept pace with his total number of Grand Prix victories, and with 33 GP wins to his name, Pedrosa will be hoping to level those statistics once again with another victory in tomorrow’s 22-lap race. Dovizioso and his crew will use tomorrow’s 20-minute warm-up session to target some handling improvements at the rear of his RC212V, after which the Italian will look to make a strong start and get away with the leading bunch.

After overnight thunderstorms at Brno last night, thick fog engulfed the MotoGP paddock this morning and t he practice sessions were delayed by 25 minutes until visibility reached an acceptable level. With the weather forecast still in doubt for tomorrow, all eyes will be on the skies as the 14.00 start time for second half of the 2010 World Championship approaches.

DANI PEDROSA – Pole Position – 1m 56.508s
“It was a great qualifying session and to be back on pole position is fantastic after such a long time – the last time was in Italy at the beginning of June. We’ve done a very good job so far this weekend and we have established a good pace for the race, but we still need to keep a clear mind, stay focused, and try to be ready for any conditions because the weather forecast for tomorrow is very uncertain. Anyway, the team did a very good job today and I hope if it’s dry we can have a strong race and go for the victory. I won’t really be approaching the race tomorrow with a particular strategy. In this championship you have to find your own limit because there are a lot of riders going fast and you can only concentrate on your own performance and do the best you can. So I really hope to do a great job tomorrow and at least to be back on the podium.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO – 6th – 1m 57.117s +0.609s
“We had a good pace today, and compared to last year here we have found more speed, whereas for some of our rivals this is not the case. This proves that our machine package has improved a lot from last year. Our lap time was quite good this afternoon but we still have to work to improve our pace because Dani is quite a lot quicker and in the race he is usually very strong. In particular we need to work on the rear end because the machine is pumping and moving a bit too much. I think we are all at the limit with the front end as the accidents of Valentino, Jorge and Nicky show. I tried the hard option Bridgestone tyres today which we didn’t have the chance to test yesterday. It was important to do this in order to be ready for all weather possibilities tomorrow, but I think we have to use the soft option tyres for the race.”

TOSHIYUKI YAMAJI – REPSOL HONDA TEAM MANAGER
“This was a powerful display by Dani and his crew today and it’s great to see a Repsol Honda back on pole position. Dani has been strong all weekend and he did well to steer clear of trouble this afternoon and put his RC212V on pole while some of his rivals hit trouble. We will pay close attention to the weather conditions tomorrow of course, but I think Dani has a good chance to fight for victory in the race. Andrea made progress too today and the second row start means he also has the opportunity to get away at the front tomorrow. With a few adjustments to machine settings he can fight for the podium too.”

Honda Road Racerhead #33: August 13, 2010

Friday, August 13, 2010, 6:27:53 PM | CJ

It still hasn’t truly warmed up yet this year where I live here in Long Beach, but the summer break is over in MotoGP and AMA Pro Road Racing, both of which were last on track three weeks ago at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, and which are back in action this week—the former at Brno in the Czech Republic, and the latter at VIR. Technically, this was just a short post-break break for our domestic series, whose real vacation came during the long pause between Road America and Mid-Ohio, and it was a short one even for the Grand Prix series.

Typically dominant today, Jorge Lorenz is on his way to a historic weekend in Brno. • Andrew Northcott photo

It’s also true that the two championships are in very different places this weekend, and I don’t just mean geographically (though there is a bit of a difference between Prague and Danville): MotoGP (which has a full eighteen rounds and only started in mid-April) is just entering its second half, while AMA Pro (which only has ten rounds and launched back in early March) is putting on its next-to-next-to-last event of the year.

The next MotoGP round is back here in the U.S. at Indianapolis, and while AMA Pro won’t be piggybacking at that one, it was announced at today’s VIR riders meeting that the series will be supporting the Miller Motorsports Park World Superbike race next year. Though Utah’s SBK race was teamed with AMA Pro when it debuted in 2008, the track and American series haven’t seen eye to eye since DMG really began running the show last year, so the fact that they’re pairing up again is a result of the improved attitude in Daytona Beach of late. Meanwhile, word on the street is that Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca might get Moto2 and 125cc GP as support classes next year, and while that supposedly wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of AMA Pro as a support class in Monterey, I can’t imagine how that many classes could realistically be accommodated.

Randy de Puniet is back on track just one month after breaking his leg, one-upping none other than Valentino Rossi. • Andrew Northcott photo

Meanwhile, the two U.S. MotoGP rounds are expected to run consecutively next year, enabling the Europe-based teams to only make the transatlantic trip one time if they so desire. Typically, the factor that prevents something like this from happening is concern about one American event robbing spectators from the other (since fans would theoretically be less inclined to attend both when they’re closer on the calendar and the financial hit can’t be spread out). Realistically, though, the number of people who make it to both U.S. races has to be relatively small, since they’re so far apart geographically (well over 2,000 miles, which is more than the distance between Brno and Jerez—the two European rounds that are furthest apart). Besides, the fact that Laguna and Indy will run consecutively doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be on back-to-back weekends; in fact, there’s a good chance they could be scheduled on either end of the summer break.

On the Moto2 topic, I’m really looking forward to seeing Roger Hayden in his wildcard appearance in two weeks, but also the American debut of fellow gringo Kenny Noyes, plus the return to action of Jason DiSalvo. All will be entered in the middle class at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, and there’s no reason to think that any of the couldn’t have a very respectable performance.

Valentino Rossi should have a big announcement on Sunday. • Andrew Northcott photo

Speaking of DiSalvo, the New Yorker is the answer to this week’s TGI Monday contest, in which we asked readers to tell us which racer Elena Myers got her hand-me-down bike from this year. Among those who knew that Elena got Jason’s bike was our winner Shirley Kirkendall, who takes the Joe Rocket Corona Extra Racing leather jacket off Senior Editor Laurel Allen’s back (well, out of her closet, anyway). Tune in Monday for a new contest and prize.

Returning to the subject of Grand Prix support classes, the official announcement for Moto3—the 250cc four-stroke division that will replace the 125s in 2012—is expected to come this weekend at Brno. That’s the same year that the premier division is set to swap 800cc engines for 1000s, so no matter what your thoughts on the changes, things will be a lot different.

Of course they’ll be a lot different next year as well, at least in terms of the various teams’ rider lineups, and the big news everyone has been looking forward to—Valentino Rossi confirming his switch from Yamaha to Ducati—is supposed to come in Brno on Sunday night. While that move is more or less known, the specifics—personal sponsors, graphics and livery—are still rather mysterious, and they’re likely to remain so for a good while to come. Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden (seventh- and fifth-quickest today, respectively), both had to drop Red Bull when they signed with the Gatorade-sponsored Ducati squad, but one doubts that Vale would have to similarly dump Monster. On the other hand, with the increased profile of Italian IT company Tim as a sponsor at Ducati, it’s hard to imagine Fastweb continuing with The Doctor. Time will tell.

Casey Stoner checked out X Games with EJ on his summer break.

Rossi passed on Ibiza frivolity this break to stay home and continue focusing on his recovery (“Anyway, Tavullia’s sort of like they say about Majorca,” he joked at Laguna. “Everyone wants to come there in the summer”), so there’s every reason to think he should be competitive on Sunday. In today’s single session, he was third-quickest—six tenths behind dominant teammate Jorge Lorenzo but only six hundredths off of Dani Pedrosa.

If Lorenzo is quickest tomorrow, he’ll be the first Yamaha rider ever to take the premier-class pole at six consecutive races, though the predicted inclement weather could have a say in the matter. And if he finishes first or second on Sunday, he’ll be only the third rider in history to make the top two in the first ten premier-class races of the season (Giacomo Agostini and Mick Doohan being the others).

Fifth-fastest rider today, Nicky Hayden hopes for a good result on Sunday and a good test on Monday. • Andrew Northcott photo

As noted above, Nicky was fifth-quickest today, just behind Andrea Dovizioso, which was good for best Ducati and top American. Colin Edwards—who recently made it three out of three for U.S. MotoGP riders on Twitter—was sixth-best, and his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 cohort Ben Spies was ninth-quickest. That’s surprising considering World SBK races at Brno, but the sprinkles that started falling at the end of the session caught many riders out. On the other hand, Brno didn’t exactly go swimmingly for Spies last year, as Michel Fabrizio cleaned him out in a squirrelly maneuver, though Big Ben did win Race 2.

If Ben and company want to familiarize themselves with the upcoming Motorland Aragon circuit (a new addition to the series) without suffering the penalty that Toni Elias did for riding at Misano recently (the Spaniard was fined and excluded from today’s Moto2 practice session), they can do so with MotoGP 2010, the new video game for iPhones. (It also includes the other seventeen tracks.) Released this week, the game is available through Apple’s App Store.

Has Kevin Schwantz been taking scooter lessons from Andrew Wheeler? • Andrew Northcott photo

Based on the world’s premier motorcycling championship series, MotoGP 2010 is the newest 3D racing game that delivers the excitement, speed and realism of the 2010 season complete with all the riders, tracks and enhancements that make MotoGP the ultimate in two-wheel racing.

Today also marks the return of Randy de Puniet who, like Rossi, is recovering from a broken tibia-fibula, his incurred at the Sachsenring round. While the Frenchman’s injury hasn’t gotten the attention of Valentino’s, the fact of the matter is that his return comes in just four weeks—one less than that of #46. In addition, Randy’s injury is to his left leg, which means he has to use the damaged limb for gear-changes (Rossi’s was to his right, and many riders don’t even use the rear brake on the track; Rossi hasn’t even opted for a thumb-brake lever). Yes, de Puniet was only sixteenth-quickest today (ahead of just Alex de Angelis), but you can’t question his toughness.

Ben Spies didn't have a great showing today, but he's confident he's found the right direction for the bike setup. • Andrew Northcott photo

By comparison, Aaron Yates’ return today from a tib-fib fracture comes an eternity after his Auto Club Speedway crash over four months ago. The Georgian’s resilience isn’t in doubt, so it just goes to show the unpredictable nature of injuries and our bodies’ reaction to them–though I do wonder if the hyperbaric chamber played a role in the quick comebacks of the GP riders. At any rate, it’s nice to have Yates back in the saddle, and the same goes for John Hopkins, who returns this weekend following having his lower arm and wrist rebuilt around the same time that Aaron commenced his recovery. Hopefully, Blake Young will be back soon as well.

In today’s American Superbike practice session, Hopper was already fifth-quickest, less than a second off of fast-man Ben Bostrom, while Yates was down in thirteenth. Meanwhile, title contenders Tommy Hayden and Josh Hayes were second- and third-best, respectively. In the afternoon preliminary qualifying session, Hayes jumped to the top, with B-Boz separating him from Hayden. Josh and Tommy were still only six tenths apart, setting up what should be a pair of good battles on Sunday (at the moment, Tommy is just nine points behind Josh, with six races remaining). Both of these guys are hungry for their first Superbike title, a setup that bodes well for climactic month or so.

Colin's on Twitter! • Andrew Northcott photo

The only title fight that’s closer is that in Daytona SportBike, where Josh Herrin leads defending champ Danny Eslick by a single point, while Martin Cardenas lurks a further eleven points back. This trio is the same one that fought over last year’s crown, and in Virginia, Herrin has the momentum, going quickest in preliminary qualifying today (Steve Rapp was best in the morning practice).

Finally, farewell to Rob Gette, who lost his life last weekend in a crash during the WERA event that was held at VIR, where his loss is no doubt affecting the mood of the AMA Pro race this weekend. Rob leaves behind a wife and a 4-year-old son.

R.I.P., Rob Gette.

TEAM-SPEAK: Brno MotoGP, Friday (Pics)

Friday, August 13, 2010, 6:03:53 PM | admin

New releases will be added at top as they arrive.

Tuenti Racing Derbi (125)

Pol Espargaró has marked the fourth best lap and Efrén Vázquez the ninth quickest circulation in the first day of qualification at the Grand Prix of Czech Republic; taking place at the Brno circuit for the championship’s traditional mid-August fixture in eastern Europe.

The two riders of Tuenti Racing Derbi encountered a few technical problems that caused them to lose valuable minutes at the beginning of the session. Espargaró took almost half an hour to reach and attack the efforts of Nico Terol, meanwhile Efrén Vázquez, at his fiftieth grand prix, still needs to improve the first two splits of the lap so as to not lose his excellent speed in the final third.

4th POL ESPARGARÓ

“We had a problem with the engine in the first part of the session and we lost quite a bit of time but luckily we were able to fix it and could then set some decent times. Nico is again very strong and it is pretty hard for the rest of us at the moment, however this is only the first day and I’m optimistic for the rest of the weekend. Tomorrow we will keep working to gain back the ground we have lost, but we also have to be alert to the weather forecast that says it will rain and that could affect our plans.”

9th EFRÉN VÁZQUEZ

“I am losing too much in the first two sections and I’m not recovering enough in the last split; because of this I am lower in the classification and also distant with my times. We will keep working on the set-up of the bike to make a forward step at a circuit that is fast and technical and not easy to refine the configuration. I really want to start the second half of the season with a good result and place a good memory on my fiftieth grand prix.”

Bancaja Aspar (125)

Twenty-six days after contesting the German Grand Prix the 125cc riders were back on track at Brno this afternoon, raring to go after their summer break. The top four in the championship resumed their battle with Nico Terol, Bradley Smith, Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró the only riders to break the 2′09 barrier. Bancaja Aspar rider Terol made a remarkable return from injury, having missed the last race at Sachsenring, dominating the opening session.

Nico Terol • Courtesy Aspar

Just a month and nine days after suffering a nasty back injury in Barcelona the Spaniard was back on board his Aprilia RSA today and looked as though he’d never been away. Nico moved to the top of the time sheets early in the session and progressively improved his lap times before a late surge saw him shave eighth tenths off his best effort and leave his team-mate Smith half a second adrift. The British teenager was on Nico’s case for the majority of the session despite encountering a problem that he was able to resolve in the latter stages.

1st Nico Terol 2.08.010 (21 laps):
“It is annoying that I have gone two races without scoring points because of a stupid crash, especially because I was up there fighting for the championship. My rivals are very fast and none of us can afford to take our eye off the ball. As far as today is concerned I felt good from the start. I have spent the time at home working hard with my physio to make sure I’m at my best possible level and I have come back with renewed energy. I had my doubts, of course, but I was looking forward to it and I was confident I’d feel good on the bike. It took me a little time at the start to get into the right position but once I got on track I didn’t think about anything but riding. I saw Marc’s crash and I hope he’s okay. Even though I opened the gap at the end I’m sure that if it wasn’t for the crash he would have been close.”

Bradley Smith • Courtesy Aspar

2nd Bradley Smith 2.08.517 (22 laps):
“Today was a good day because I set a personal best lap time around this circuit, so for a first session after a three-week break I am satisfied with that. Obviously we have to improve – Nico has come back in great shape and looks really fast, so I’m very pleased for him, but our objective is to close the gap over the course of the weekend. To be honest we didn’t try too many things today because our base setting is good but we have some changes to make and we know what direction we need to go in so I’m confident. We’re looking for a little more rear grip but other than that I’m happy.”

MotoGP

Jorge Lorenzo picked up where he left off as the MotoGP class returned to action at Brno following a three-week summer break. The World Championship leader set the quickest lap of the first practice at the Cardion ab Grand Prix České republiky with a best time of 1’57.215 on his Fiat Yamaha M1, in a session that saw light rain fall in the final 10 minutes.

After finishing well ahead of his rivals a cautious Lorenzo remarked, “I am happy to be riding here in Brno again. It’s always difficult to go back to work after the holidays and this track is so different to Laguna, so wide and much longer; it took me a few more laps than usual to get going! Once I found my rhythm this was a good session and I felt happy on my bike, with a good setting to start from. We tried both rear tyres and we need more time to choose, because unfortunately it rained a bit at the end and we had to stop early. We’ll have to wait and see how the track is tomorrow but we hope for it to be dry so we can continue with what we started on today.”

Just over half-a-second off Lorenzo’s pace was Dani Pedrosa, as the Repsol Honda man set about mounting another challenge to the dominance of his compatriot. Pedrosa, who was leading the last round at Laguna Seca until he crashed out, will aim for a step up in pace to enable him to once more push Lorenzo for the win here in round ten.

Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) completed the top three as the reigning World Champion timed in at just six-hundredths of a second off Pedrosa, displaying further progress on his way back to full fitness. Close on his tail was fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), who was the fourth and final rider under the 1’58” bar in the hour-long session.

Nicky Hayden was the highest placing Ducati on his factory machine at just over a full second off the top time, with Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Casey Stoner (Ducati Team) and Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) completing the top eight on the timesheet. Rookie Simoncelli experienced the only crash of the session early on, which did little to dent his confidence.

Making his return to action less than four weeks after suffering a broken left leg at Sachsenring was Randy de Puniet, with the LCR Honda rider 16th at just under three seconds off Lorenzo, however a near-highside early in the session caused him severe pain in his pinned tibia.

Moto2

A fast lap three minutes from the end of the first practice session at Brno handed Fonsi Nieto top spot on the timesheet on Friday afternoon, as the Spaniard beat home rider Karel Abraham to the top time by a margin of just two-thousandths of a second.

The Cardion ab Motoracing rider had been in prime position for more than half the session with his effort of 2’04.877, but a crash for Abraham at turn 13 with 25 minutes remaining ended his session early. The Czech rider’s time remained fastest until Nieto edged in front on his 18th of 20 laps.

Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP) experienced a crash early in the session but the Japanese rider was back on his bike and undaunted as he set the third best lap of the hour, placing him a tenth of a second ahead of Gabor Talmacsi (Fimmco Speed Up).

Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar), Yuki Takahashi (Tech3 Racing), Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) and Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up) completed the top eight, with the Championship’s current second-placed rider Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Racing) in 15th.

The session was controversially sat out by Championship leader Toni Elías (Gresini Racing Moto2). The Spaniard was disqualified from taking part in the practice by Race Direction following his testing infringement by riding at Misano last weekend, and will return to the track for the second practice session on Saturday morning.

125cc

Nico Terol’s return from injury could not have gone much better as the Spaniard set the fastest time in the first practice at Brno with a fast lap of 2’08.010. the Bancaja Aspar rider, who missed the last round at Sachsenring due to the injuries he sustained in a crash at Catalunya, was strong in the practice hour as he improved his time by half-a-second towards the end.

That placed him an impressive 0.507s ahead of team-mate Bradley Smith who with a solid penultimate lap rose to second on the timesheet, ahead of Championship leader Marc Márquez. The Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider had a crash at the very end which resulted in a dislocation of the left shoulder, however the youngster will ride with the injury tomorrow.

Pol Espargaró (Tuenti Racing), Esteve Rabat (Blusens-STX) and Danny Webb (Andalucia Cajasol) completed the top six, with the British rider avoiding a nasty high side halfway through by managing to control his Aprilia machine admirably before going down gently when he ran off at turn ten.

Randy Krummenacher (Stipa-Molenaar Racing), Sandro Cortese (Avant Mitsubishi Ajo), Efrén Vázquez (Tuenti Racing) and Johann Zarco (WTR San Marino Team) were all inside the top ten.

Rizla Suzuki

Rizla Suzuki’s Álvaro Bautista recorded the 10th fastest time around the 5,403m Brno circuit in the Czech Republic during today’s first practice session.

Alvaro Bautista • Courtesy Rizla Suzuki

Bautista (1’59.204, 18 laps) only used the harder compound rear tyre during the first three-quarters of the hour-long session and produced competitive lap-times. He was just about to test the softer option, but his plans were thwarted as rain began to fall and forced Bautista and most other riders to end the session early.

Loris Capirossi (P11, 1’59.216, 18 laps) was only 0.012 seconds behind his team-mate as he made a solid start to this weekend’s event. He too only used the harder compound tyres and is convinced with the softer version – and some adjustments to the electronic settings of the Suzuki GSV-R – he will be able to go significantly quicker over the weekend and move up the time-sheets.

Today’s practice was held in overcast conditions that produced light rain towards the end of the session. The quickest time of the day was set by Jorge Lorenzo on his Factory Yamaha.

Rizla Suzuki has one more practice session tomorrow morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon. Sunday’s 22-lap race is round 10 of the Championship and gets going at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).

Álvaro Bautista:

“It is good to get back to work after a short holiday and the first practice was not too bad for us. I started with the hard rear tyre and I didn’t feel like I had much grip and it felt like I lost traction a few times. We are working to improve this problem and in the last 15 minutes of the session we were going to test the softer tyre, but it started to rain so I couldn’t compare the different tyres. Tomorrow I hope we have good weather so I can test the soft rear and improve the grip to the back of the bike.”

Loris Capirossi • Courtesy Rizla Suzuki

Loris Capirossi:

“I think we’ve worked well today to check the two bikes to see which one works the best around here. One certainly has a better feeling, but we still need to work on the electronics side of things, because I don’t feel very comfortable with the throttle connection. Overall it hasn’t been too bad and I think the track is good for us and we can improve quite easily tomorrow to get much better times than we did today.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“Both guys started on the harder rear tyre option, which seemed to work reasonably well at the start of the session, but became more difficult as conditions cooled off. Unfortunately neither Álvaro nor Loris got to use the softer rear, which the majority of the field were using to make better lap-times. We are not quite where we want to be, but we are also not too far away. We’re hoping for consistent conditions tomorrow so that the guys can get the absolute best out of the bikes and settings in preparation for Sunday’s race.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3

The second half of the 2010 MotoGP campaign got underway in impressive fashion today for Monster Yamaha Tech 3 duo Colin Edwards and Ben Spies.

Refreshed after a short two-week summer break, Edwards was immediately able to set a fast pace on board his Yamaha YZR-M1 machine as he tried an experimental front-end geometry setting in today’s opening practice session at the Brno circuit.

Edwards was a permanent fixture in the top six throughout as he took full advantage of the improved turning performance from the revised front setting.

Making solid progress with the extra confidence created by the changes as the session wore on, Edwards clocked a best time of 1.58.497 to finish top non-factory rider in sixth position as he edged out former world champion Casey Stoner. The 36-year-old had been as high as fourth at the halfway stage.

Spies declared himself satisfied with his afternoon’s work as a best lap of 1.58.970 secured him the ninth fastest time.

Earlier bright sunshine had quickly given way to cloudier conditions when the session commenced and Spies’ hopes of lowering his lap times were thwarted when light rain started to fall in the final 15 minutes.

The short rain shower fell at the worst moment for the 26-year-old, who was poised to undertake a series of laps on a new front-end geometry setting he was convinced would help him move further up the leaderboard.

Spies, who won one World Superbike race at the technical and challenging Czech Republic circuit last season, had been as high as sixth place and is confident with more time on the revised front-end setting that he can be challenging for a top six result in Sunday’s 22-lap race.

Colin Edwards 6th 1.58.497 – 17 laps

“I felt pretty good immediately and I feel like we should be in for a strong weekend if we can build on the momentum from today. A lot this season we have started on the back foot a bit and spent the whole weekend playing catch-up. But we’ve got a platform to build on and that’s mainly down to a new front-end setting we tried. Thanks to my guys at Monster Yamaha Tech 3 because they came up with this experimental setting and it worked really well. We put more weight on the front and I like it better than what I started the session on. Now the bike holds the turn a lot better and I’m not running wide. We’ve put more force t hrough the front tyre to help it turn and I’m sure we can make another step tomorrow if we get dry conditions. I’ve never had a top six here before, so after this start I’m hoping to put that right on Sunday.”

Ben Spies 9th 1.58.970 – 20 laps

“We started with the setting from Laguna Seca and I just couldn’t quite reach the pace of where I needed to be. But I know there is definite room for improvement. The first bike I just couldn’t get working like I needed and we’d got quite a bit different front-end setting in the second bike. Right when I started my out lap on the second bike though I could see sprinkles of rain. I was trying to get round as quick as I could to at least get one fast lap in to try and compare the different front set-up and I’m pretty sure we’ve found something with that direction. The second bike should make it easier for me to roll through the middl e of the corner because I was having to hold the brake a bit too much on the other bike to help it turn. I’m pretty frustrated because that bit of rain stopped me from getting in a few laps to properly try it and get some data. I wasn’t fussed about bettering my time, I just wanted to feel the difference. But I’m 90 per cent sure that the second bike set-up is the way we need to go.”

Bridgestone

Automotodrom Brno, Friday 13 August 2010
Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Hard, Extra Hard. Rear: Medium, Hard

Fiat Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo continued his strong form during the first hour-long free practice session at Brno, setting the fastest time by more than half a second. Having assessed both front and rear tyre compound options during the session, his best time came on the harder variants. Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi finished second and third fastest, but both set their best times using the softer rear slick.

The session was brought to a temporary halt when light rain started to fall in the last fifteen minutes of the scheduled hour. Many riders were using the practice to compare the performance of Bridgestone’s harder and softer option slick tyres and this halt interrupted their respective programmes. As the shower ceased, Hector Barbera, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden and Loris Capirossi ventured back out in the closing minutes of the session and the track remained dry enough for them all to continue using slick tyres.

The weather forecast over the next two days is mixed, suggesting a damp track tomorrow morning for the second free practice after overnight rain, followed by a fine qualifying session but a return to rain for Sunday’s race.

Tohru Ubukata – Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyre Development Department
“This session was cut short by the rain shower so many riders will have to continue their tyre compound comparisons tomorrow, mainly with regards rear tyre choice. Front tyre choice will be easier as all today favoured the harder front, but we saw amongst the top three that both the harder and the softer rear provide a similar level of performance. The conditions cooled towards the end of the session because of the shower, but the times are still half a second off last year’s record, set by Jorge on our tyres, so there is more to come this weekend if the weather remains good. This is uncertain however, so we are prepared with our soft compound wets.”

Top ten from free practice (Friday 13:55 – 14:55 GMT+1)
Pos Rider Team Practice Time Gap Tyres
1 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1m57.215s Bridgestone slicks
2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1m57.756s +0.541s Bridgestone slicks
3 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1m57.821s +0.606s Bridgestone slicks
4 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 1m57.873s +0.658s Bridgestone slicks
5 Nicky Hayden Ducati Team 1m58.286s +1.071s Bridgestone slicks
6 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech3 1m58.497s +1.282s Bridgestone slicks
7 Casey Stoner Ducati Team 1m58.532s +1.317s Bridgestone slicks
8 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m58.840s +1.625s Bridgestone slicks
9 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech3 1m58.970s +1.755s Bridgestone slicks
10 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m59.204s +1.989s Bridgestone slicks

Weather: Dry, light shower, dry. Ambient 26-25°C; Track 38-33°C (Bridgestone measurement)

Repsol Honda

Repsol Honda Team riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso were quickly up to speed at the Brno circuit today as the first practice session took place in preparation for Sunday’s Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. Pedrosa spent significant chunks of the hour-long session in top spot and eventually finished in a competitive second place behind championship leader Jorge Lorenzo. Dovizioso was just 0.1s behind his team-mate in fourth place, and both the factory Honda riders were satisfied with the work they put in today at the 5.403km (3.357-mile) circuit.

With rain forecast to arrive at Brno – the Czech Republic’s second largest city – at some stage over the weekend, it was important for the MotoGP riders to make good use of today’s largely dry practice session. Indeed with ten minutes to go in the hour-long session a few spots began to fall, effectively ending the practice as the riders ducked into the pits. But before the rain cam e, Pedrosa and Dovizioso had looked in confident form as they began to fine-tune their Honda RC212Vs to match the fast and undulating curves of the Brno circuit.

Pedrosa’s RC212V recorded the fastest speed through the speed trap today (300.2 km/h), with Dovizioso second (297.0 km/h) and fellow Honda rider Marco Melandri third (296.1 km/h). A further practice and qualifying session will take place tomorrow, with Sunday’s 22-lap Grand Prix of the Czech Republic scheduled to begin at 14.00.

DANI PEDROSA – 2nd – 1m 57.756s +0.541s
“This was the first session after the summer break and I took it quite easy just to get into the rhythm and to get used to the bike again. Things went smoothly this afternoon and this was a pretty good start to our weekend. It was a pity that the session was interrupted at the end by the spitting rain, which was affecting the back side of the circuit the most, but before that came the feeling with the machine was quite good. Also because of the rain we couldn’t get through all the Bridgestone tyre testing we had planned, but it’s not a big deal. Tomorrow we will keep working on all areas of set-up and so far our direction seems on the right track.”

ANDREA DOVIZIOSO – 4th – 1m 57.873s +0.658s
“It was a good start for us and I’m reasonably happy with the job we did today – even though the lap times are not so indicative at this stage because they will come down quite a lot tomorrow if it stays dry. We didn’t have time to finish the full programme of work we had scheduled today because of the rain in the last ten minutes of the session. So we still need to do some more testing on the Bridgestone tyre options, and we’ll also make some set-up changes to get a bit more stability on the brakes. I hope that tomorrow we can have two try sessions because the forecast is uncertain, but anyway I’m confident for this race weekend.”

TOSHIYUKI YAMAJI – REPSOL HONDA TEAM MANAGER
“Both Dani and Andrea had a good session and we can certainly use this practice as a solid base for the rest of the weekend. In fact we lost a few minutes at the end of the hour, but this was the same for all teams and we’re confident that both Dani and Andrea can be competitive in qualifying tomorrow. We’re starting the second half the 2010 MotoGP season this weekend and the motivation in the Repsol Honda Team is very high to get the best possible results on Sunday and for the rest of the year.”

2011 MMP World SBK Race to Include AMA Pro

Friday, August 13, 2010, 5:58:22 PM | admin

TOOELE VALLEY, UTAH (August 13, 2010) — AMA Pro Racing will return to the Miller Motorsports Park schedule in 2011 and will join the FIM Superbike World Championship presented by HANNspree on Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30, 2011.

This event will mark the return of AMA Pro Racing to Miller Motorsports Park for the first time since 2008. They will be joined on the schedule by the third annual Lucas Oil Superbike Challenge.

The AMA Pro Racing series will complement the Utah USA Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship presented by HANNspree, which will be making its fourth appearance in Utah.

“AMA Pro Racing was one of the highlights of Miller Motorsports Park’s schedule when the track opened in 2006,” said John Larson, general manager of Miller Motorsports Park. “We are very pleased to welcome them back, and we look forward to renewing old acquaintances with our AMA friends. We are particularly excited about having the new Vance & Hines XR1200 series here, since Utah is a hotbed of Harley-Davidson enthusiasts.”

Bryan Miller, assistant general manager of Miller Motorsports Park, said, “With the return of AMA Pro Racing, we will host the most competitive motorcycle race weekend in North America in 2011; the best in the world with SBK, the best in the U.S. with AMA Pro Racing and the best semi-pro race with the Lucas Oil Superbike Challenge. This competition is the cornerstone of the new Memorial Day tradition we are working to build for America’s motorcycling community.”

“We are delighted to be returning to Miller Motorsports Park,” said AMA Pro Chief Operating Officer and Managing Member, David Atlas. “Our riders have indicated that racing at Miller Motorsports Park was very important and we were delighted that we could come to an agreement with the Miller family and the track to combine the best of AMA Pro road racing with the World Superbike Championship to create a real celebration of motorcycle racing.”

As was the case this year, the Memorial Day weekend event will be one of the biggest sporting events in the state of Utah since the 2002 Winter Olympics. This year’s event included a welcome ceremony with Governor Gary R. Herbert at the Utah State Capitol, a street party at the Gateway Mall, a major classic-rock concert featuring Foreigner, Styx and Kansas at the track, and three days of racing and entertainment for families.

“This year’s event was the most successful event in the track’s history,” said Larson. “We look forward to making our 2011 event even bigger and better.”

Information on ticket prices and event details, including a major concert, for the 2011 World Superbike/AMA Pro Racing weekend will be announced in the near future.

For more information on the FIM Superbike World Championship, visit their Web site at www.WorldSBK.com. For more information on AMA Pro Racing, visit their Web site at www.AMAProRacing.com. For more information on the 2011 World Superbike/AMA Pro Racing weekend at Miller Motorsports Park, visit www.SBKUSA.com. For general information regarding Miller Motorsports Park, call 435-277-RACE (7223) or visit www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com.

Downtown Indy Motorcycle Area Expands for GP

Thursday, August 12, 2010, 5:31:34 PM | admin

INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010 – Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts can enjoy an even larger area to celebrate the two-wheeled lifestyle during Motorcycles on Meridian on Aug. 27-28, as the popular annual event in downtown Indianapolis during Red Bull Indianapolis GP race weekend is expanding.

Motorcycles on Meridian will take place from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 and Saturday, Aug. 28 on Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis. Meridian will be open to motorcycle traffic only from Monument Circle to South Street, a larger area than in the first two years of the event. Riders must enter Meridian at Monument Circle and head south, parking their bikes on the Circle and Meridian.

The event is free and open to everyone, riders and non-riders, to experience the motorcycle culture of Indianapolis. All parking garages in the area will be open and accessible to automobile traffic.

Motorcycles on Meridian is being organized by the Red Bull Indianapolis GP Local Organizing Committee – a group comprised of members from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, ABATE of Indiana, Department of Public Works, the Indiana War Memorial, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and multiple merchants located on South Meridian Street.

ABATE of Indiana will assist motorcyclists with parking and also provide safe rides home for riders if necessary.
Enthusiasts also can enjoy the Red Bull culture through a variety of activities in the unique Red Bull interactive area or at bars and restaurants in the vibrant Wholesale District.

***

Yamaha stars on stage at IMS: Yamaha MotoGP superstars Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Ben Spies and Colin Edwards will participate in a rider chat at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi and current MotoGP points leader Lorenzo are teammates on the Fiat Yamaha Team. Texas residents Spies and Edwards are teammates on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team.

Rossi captured the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP in 2008, with Lorenzo winning in 2009.

The chat is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP ticket holders.

***

Cycle World Seminar: An American motorcycle racing legend and two rising American stars will be the featured guests at the Cycle World Seminar from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27 on the SPEED Stage located on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield.

1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz and current Moto2 riders Roger Lee Hayden and Kenny Noyes will be among the guests.
Cycle World editors, including renowned longtime Technical Editor Kevin Cameron, also will participate in the seminar.

The seminar is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP ticket holders.

***

Schwantz to lead Ride for Kids: Motorcycle riders can enjoy a special thrill and raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation by participating in the Lap of Champions supported by Ride for Kids during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

American motorcycle racing legend Kevin Schwantz, the 1993 500cc World Champion, will lead the ride, which takes place at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 on the 16-turn, 2.621-mile circuit at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway upon which the worldwide stars of MotoGP are competing the same weekend.

Three different levels of support, each granting increasing levels of access and other perks, are available for participants who want to ride their motorcycles around the IMS course with Schwantz during the Lap of Champions. Riders can register at www.rideforkids.org or purchase ride tickets at the Cycle World/Ride for Kids booth at the Vendor Marketplace in Gasoline Alley at IMS.

The national Ride for Kids program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation promote childhood brain tumor research and provide family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships.

***

Fan shuttles on Race Day: The Town of Speedway is facilitating roundtrip bus service for 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP fans on Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29 at two convenient locations, one in downtown Indianapolis and one at Indianapolis International Airport.

Service in air-conditioned shuttles will be provided by the Free Enterprise System, Inc. Tickets are $22 per person for one-way or round-trip service.

Tickets can be ordered in advance at www.motogpparking.com or www.freeenterprisesystem.com until 5 p.m. (ET) Friday, Aug. 27. All advance orders will be held for will-call pickup between 8-11 a.m. Race Day at the customer’s selected location.

On-site purchases also will be available from 8-11 a.m. on Race Day at each location, with credit card, debit card or cash accepted.

Service to the track will start at 8:30 a.m. at both locations with runs every 45 minutes. The five service times are 8:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Return service will take place for two hours after the end of the final race, with all shuttles leaving from the staging area at 1200 Main Street and Gilman Street in Speedway.

Handicapped-accessible vehicles will be available on all routes. Specific route details:

Downtown South (Yellow Route)
•Location: The Free Enterprise System, 1220 S. West St., Indianapolis (Corner of West and Morris Streets).
•Parking: $5 per car, cash only.

Indianapolis International Airport (Blue Route)
•Location: Ground Transportation Lobby, Zone 1 at the airport
•Parking: $10 per car, fifth floor of airport garage. Fans must show race ticket stub to cashier upon exit to receive this special rate.

For more information, call (888) 209-0226.

***

IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event.

Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29.

Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.

General admission tickets provide access to the grounds, viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit and selected grandstands, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.

Former F1 Drivers Take Ron Haslam School at Silverstone (Pic)

Thursday, August 12, 2010, 4:53:15 PM | admin

The Honda Ron Haslam Race School, based at Silverstone, provides guests with an introduction to high performance bikes, along with expert tuition from race experienced instructors.

Derek Warwick and Martin Brundle with Ron Haslam at the Ron Haslam Race School at Silverstone. • Courtesy Silverstone

Taking to the International Circuit, at the Home of British Motor Racing, former Formula One drivers Martin Brundle and Derek Warwick accepted an invitation to train on the new Honda CBR600RR ABS with world-class GP rider ‘Rocket’ Ron Haslam.

With Brundle and Warwick already bike licence holders, they signed-up for one of the Ron Haslam Race School’s Premier training courses. Learning how to improve their skills on a bike and understand the finer points of riding, the F1 pairing came away with not just an education on how to be better and safer riders, but also a greater admiration for bike racers.

Martin Brundle commented, “It was a tremendous day. I expected to leave Silverstone with ten times more confidence and riding twice as fast. I actually left as a better and safer rider and with a lot more respect for how bikes can bite you if you don’t respect them. Talking to Ron, I learned how much you have to use your body to control the bike. I learned how to sit properly and move on a motorbike and the dynamics of bike riding. I like riding a bike because it makes me feel more like when I was racing. Ron was brilliant and I kept thinking ‘This is Ron Haslam – I’m right behind Ron Haslam!”

When asked for his thoughts on the Ron Haslam course, Derek Warwick said, “It was the most fantastic day of my life! My admiration for bike racers has always been high but this experience has taken me to another level. Anybody who rides a bike on the road should do a course like this. Today has taught me how to be a better rider. Without Ron in front we’d definitely have crashed. I always wanted to feel the back hopping under hard braking – wait until I tell my mates!”

Ron Haslam made his Grand Prix debut at Silverstone in 1977, riding a 500cc Suzuki in the British Grand Prix. He finished third behind Randy Mamola and Eddie Lawson at the British Grand Prix in 1984. After taking on the task of training two former Formula One drivers and helping them fine-tune their skills on two wheels, Ron Haslam said, “I believe I stretched them! I was proud to have Martin and Derek at the Race School; it’s great to have sporting personalities here and for them to have such an enthusiasm for bikes. They were very quick, had a natural talent and we took them to their limits in the wet conditions. They enjoyed it so much, I understand they want to come back and have another go under dry conditions, which would give them yet another set of skills.”

Together with Honda, the Ron Haslam Race School has developed a programme that offers courses ranging from introductory through to more advanced levels. The School has six more dates available this year and to book your place at the Honda Ron Haslam Race School, visit www.haslamraceschool.com, or call 01332 883 323.

For further information about Silverstone, including experiences, events and ticket details, visit www.silverstone.co.uk, or call 0844 3728 200.

Isle of Man TT to be Featured by HD Theater

Thursday, August 12, 2010, 4:47:40 PM | admin

(Silver Spring, Md.) – The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is the world’s oldest motorcycle race, where racers circumnavigate the Isle of Man on its death-defying 37-mile course of bends, bumps, jumps, stone walls, manhole covers and telegraph poles, traversing villages and climbing a mountain of farmland and cliffs. Known as one of the most challenging motorcycle races on Earth due to its epic road course, the Isle of Man TT grabs the world’s attention every year. Now, for the first time ever, high definition cameras have been installed on the bikes, enabling viewers to take every pulse-pounding turn right there with the racers.

These onboard cameras join last year’s HD cameras that cover every nook and cranny of the Isle of Man’s spectacular course, including the famed “super slo-mo” camera that provides stunning shots from the most picturesque jumps. All the action will be brought to the United States exclusively through HD Theater’s 9-part coverage, ISLE OF MAN TT 2010, starting on Monday, August 23 at 9 PM ET.

First held in 1907, the Isle of Man TT’s 37-mile circuit is the longest of its kind in the world with races lasting three, four or six laps. Each lap includes 250 turns, of which 240 are blind and taken in excess of 100 mph. Because the course is so challenging, organizers fill the field by invitation only with elite racers who are willing to take on the Isle of Man TT and who have proven they possess the skills necessary to compete. These extremely talented professionals have managed to set records as high as a lap average of 130 mph and a top speed approaching 210 mph. On par with some of the Tour de France’s most
treacherous stages, racers careen across sloping country roads and down small village streets at spectacular speeds, bringing them within inches of curbs, stone walls, and screaming fans. Each year, more than 60,000 spectators flock to the 221-square-mile island, located in the Irish Sea, joining 80,000 locals gripped by the event.

HD Theater’s ISLE OF MAN TT 2010 coverage will be centered around the five solo and two sidecar races for conventional bikes: the PokerStars Superbike TT, the Monster Energy Supersports 1 and 2 races, the Royal London 360 Superstock class, the Dainese Senior TT, and the Sure Sidecar Races, in which a rider and his partner pair up and work in tandem to keep their balance while taking turns driving at blistering speeds. There will also be a close look at the TT Zero electric bike class, as these innovative machines are pushed to their limits and riders take up the mountain course challenge with a £10,000
(nearly $15,000) prize on the line for the first bike in this class to average 100+ mph in one lap.

American racer Mark Miller competed in the Zero TT, riding a Team MotoCzysz E1pc, one of the most advanced electric racing bikes in the world.

The U.S. is represented by five racers among the pool of contestants worldwide, including:

• Brandon Cretu – Felton, Pennsylvania. 2010 was Cretu’s first time riding in the Isle of Man TT, and he raced in both 600 Supersport classes. Of his experience, Cretu said, “It was an honor to be invited to race at this prestigious event as the only American newcomer, and the experience only made me want more when it was all said and done.”

• C.R. Gitterre – Charlotte, North Carolina. Gitterre competed in all five solo classes aboard his GEICO Powersports-sponsored Suzuki bikes. This was his second trip to the Isle of Man TT and first year using his own equipment. “It is the single most challenging track in the world,” Gittere said of the race. “It really is special for me to be invited to represent America in this historic event.”
• Mark Miller – Calabasas, California. Miller has driven in the Isle of Man TT five times and currently holds the fastest lap time ever by an American. Miller competed in the Senior, Superbike, Superstock, and Zero classes at this year’s competition. The racer says that he has fallen in love both with and on the island after meeting his wife there in 2006.

• Jimmy Moore – Portland, Oregon. 2-time AMA Superstock Champion Jimmy Moore competed in all five solo classes of the TT this year and battled to the last lap of the final race to vie for the top privateer award, ultimately taking home the highest finish ever for an American in the Senior TT.

• Jimmy Vanderhaar – Louisville, Kentucky. Vanderhaar has competed at the TT for two years in both Supersport classes. “Racing at the Isle of Man is the experience of a lifetime,” he said. “It was a great honor to be one of the few riders representing the USA.”

ISLE OF MAN TT 2010 was produced by North One Television for HD Theater. For North One Television, Neil Duncanson is executive producer. For HD Theater, Bob Scanlon is executive producer and vice president of development.

About HD Theater:
The first 24-hour high-definition network in the U.S. to broadcast all of its content in brilliant 1080i and 5.1 digital surround sound, HD Theater offers compelling real-world and motorized content from a wide range of categories including adventure, technology, nature and world culture – all designed to provide viewers with the highest-quality television experience available. As one of the most widely-distributed high-definition networks available in the U.S., HD Theater brings its programming to life in a kaleidoscope of dazzling color, sound and sights. For more information, visit www.dhd.discovery.com.

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SLIDESHOW: Umbrella Girls of the Week—Electrifying!

Thursday, August 12, 2010, 2:39:20 PM | admin

BRAMMO GIRLS • COURTESY BRAMMO

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Backmarker: Current Events

Thursday, August 12, 2010, 9:00:36 AM | Mark Gardiner

Over the last few weeks, I’ve mentioned NASCAR’s struggle to maintain attendance figures, and in a separate entry, the transition in the U.S. economy—which used to be driven by consumer spending over a broad middle class and is increasingly dominated by the richest 10% (or even 1%) of the population.

When the script for “The Third Man” needed a few seconds’ padding, director Orson Welles extemporized, “In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.” It became the film's most quoted line. • Courtesy MV Agusta

The other morning, while doing my usual aimless wander through the news, I came across a New York Times article that suggested NASCAR’s problems may be even worse than I thought, and immediately thereafter I saw a piece originating with the Wall Street Journal suggesting that the richest 5% of the population now spend as much as the “poorest” 80%.

The NYT reported that “Other sports leagues have been hurt the past two years. But Nascar—with its heavier reliance on working-class fans, low fuel prices and the beleaguered auto industry—has suffered disproportionately, racing industry executives say.” Go ahead and replace the phrase “Nascar” with “motorcycle racing” in this paragraph; it’ll still be true.

“It was a good candy bar when it was right,” Humpy Wheeler told the Times. That’s almost a Freudian slip, in that he describes NASCAR as a tasty but fundamentally unnecessary treat (and an unhealthy one, but that’s another story).

I point this out not by way of saying I told you so, but rather to make this clear: most American industries, including the American motorcycle industry in general and the motorcycle racing industry in particular cannot ignore the growing inequity in the economy. I’m not saying this because I’m an expatriate Canadian and therefore basically some whining, wealth-redistributing socialist; I’m saying it because if we don’t address it, almost all of us are going to be out of business. The richest 10% of the population will not support our sport. You think we can’t draw a decent crowd or make decent money running motorcycle racing teams/series? Try running a string of polo ponies.

Current Events II
I suppose I’ve been pretty critical of the state of the electric-motorcycle racing scene over the last few months. That said, I have the feeling that the electric OEMs are making continued progress. The great-looking Brammo Empulse promises to be a game-changer if it reaches the market and lives up to even most of its hype. It was a bummer that the prototype failed to do so at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and I’ve read that Zero will earmark a recent investment for the development of a proprietary motor. While there have been many great manufacturers of customer-engine ICE motorcycles—from Brough Superior to Bimota—no one is going to become the e-bike industry’s next Honda without complete control of their motor R&D, manufacture, and supply.

It was interesting that Michael Lock, the highly regarded CEO of Ducati North America, left Cupertino for Oslo, Norway, where he’ll be working with the very cool (literally and figuratively) company that makes the TH!NK EV. Lock will be working under Richard Canny, a name you may not recognize if you’re strictly a moto guy, but he was previously Ford’s worldwide director of strategy. Remember Ford? The U.S. auto company that didn’t need to be bailed out? We’re still a long way from EVs taking over the roads, but when guys like Lock and Canny leave respected brands in the motorcycle and car industries for the EV sector it, uh, makes you think.

Next week, I’ll finally get to spend a day with my friend Harry Mallin’s production Enertia. I rode the prototype of this bike a couple of years ago, and I’m eager to see how the proddy version stacks up. Expect a full report in an upcoming Backmarker.

Current Events III
I note that the Castiglioni family has taken over MV Agusta… again. Harley-Davidson has transferred the ownership of the brand, thus ending its flirtation with Italian sport bikes… again (remember Aermacchi?). Giovanni Castiglioni first acquired the MV trademark in the early ’90s, then sold it to Proton for about 70 million euros. After a few years, Proton sold it back to an Italian investment firm for 1 euro (plus assumption of debt).

That was the price Harley got this time. What goes around comes around, I guess.

My winter project is to turn this deceptively endearing motorcycle into one that's deceptively quick. If you have experience building a fast Hinckley Triumph, please contact me. • Mark Gardiner photo

Future Considerations
As I write this, the heat index in Kansas City is about 105, and it’s hard to believe that winter’s coming. But it is, and in a strange homesick-Canadian way, I’m looking forward to it. Like all ice-bound motorcyclists, I’ve got a project in mind. I’ve come to like my heavily corroded, $1 Triumph Bonneville, and as you’d suspect, I’d like to make it (a lot) better than it is. I have recurring fantasies about using it to embarrass sport bike riders at Deals Gap and baffle people in track-day A groups, or maybe riding it to an AHRMA Battle of the Twins race, pulling the lights off it and racing it in true clubman style; that’d make a great feature story.

I’d love some help in this, and the good news is, I’ll be writing about it—which generates exposure for anyone pitching in. The bad news is, I’ve got no budget, but that’s probably no surprise (I’m well into that poorest 80%!).

What’s involved? Well, I’d like to push it as far as I can, but for starters, there are handling issues. How good can we make the stock fork? Is it worth working on it, or should I replace it? What about shocks? Anyone have just the right pair of fully adjustable remote-res units in your catalog? Should we try to make the stock wheel setup work, or should should I go to a 17-inch front for a better rubber choice, and while I’m at it go for better brakes?

Then there’s the motor… Is there a reader out there who’s tried the Wiseco high-comp big-bore kit? Different cams? I’m not sure if I want to go that way or just blueprint, balance, flow, and tune the stock motor. And of course I’ll need freer-flowing exhausts with better clearance. You get the idea….

This is a cool project that’s right for the times. If you’ve got ideas, parts, tuning talent… contact me at markegardiner@yahoo.com and let’s get some wheels turning (other than the ones in my head).

Moto Moments Wallpaper: Cal Crutchlow

Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 4:46:04 PM | admin

Freshen up that desktop with a shot of World Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow at speed in Brno, Czech Republic, by shooters Wheeler & Brown.

IMPORTANT: Click the thumbnail below (whichever is the appropriate size for your monitor) and use the expanded photo, not the thumbnail, as your wallpaper. Widescreen, full screen, and horizontal/vertical iPhone wallpapers—now higher resolution to accommodate iPhone 4s—available.

Click for Widescreen Wallpaper (16:10)

Click for Fullscreen Wallpaper (4:3)

Click for Fullscreen Wallpaper (5:4)

Click for Horizontal iPhone/Mobile Wallpaper

Click for Vertical iPhone/Mobile Wallpaper

Between the Races: Kevin Schwantz

Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 4:28:10 PM | Jeff Feathers

The 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix will feature a special addition to the Moto2 grid that’s had American fans excited for weeks: wildcard entry Roger Lee Hayden, aboard the Kevin Schwantz-managed American Honda Ride for Kids entry. With Schwantz, Hayden, and American Honda involved—and Kevin Erion and his team manning the wrenches—the team has high expectations, but they know they’ll have their work cut out for them in the ultra-competitive Moto2 class. The teams’s two tests with Roger have gone well (in the 115-degree heat of the first test in California, Hayden was only a second off Josh Hayes’ Superbike times), so we caught up with world-champ Schwantz to get a sense of what he expects come race-day.

Kevin Schwantz • Photo by Andrew Northcott

RRX: How did the deal with Roger Hayden riding the Moto2 bike at Indy come about?
KS: I’d been in contact with Ray Plumb a long time ago working on stuff for the [Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School] and he’d said he wanted to put together a wildcard entry for Moto2 at Indianapolis. Once it started rolling, we had to start figuring out who would be a good rider—do we get a young kid and get him some experience, or should we choose somebody who’s still under the 28-year-old age limit who could possibly run at the front? We went back and forth with that for quite some time—there were a bunch of young kids that I have worked with for the Red Bull Rookies Cup, and maybe there was somebody who might have matured enough—but once we came up with the name Roger Lee Hayden, we never really had any other ideas. We thought the fact that Roger had experience riding Hondas made him the perfect fit.

It was always Ray’s intention to use Erion to set up the bike and run the team. My role as manager of the team is to work with Roger and make sure everything is right with the team and for the team [so that] when we get to Indy we’ll know exactly what we need. Kevin Erion is experienced enough and there’s a whole lot more mechanical stuff that he has put together. So hopefully with all the personnel and testing that we’ve managed to put in place, we’ll have a Roger Lee who’s coming off a World Superbike he’s not that happy with and will be really ready to give a strong-handling 600 a go.

Roger Lee Hayden • Photo by Wheeler/Brown

Can you talk about the sponsorship with Ride for Kids?
It’s the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, the foundation that Mike Traynor started, and he unfortunately passed away just a year ago so his logo is on the tail section of the bike and then we’ve got Ride for Kids logos on the bike as well. Any of the sales of our t-shirts and gear throughout the weekend, all the proceeds go to benefit the Ride for Kids Foundation.

Talk a bit more about your responsibilities as team manager.
Well you know, it’s been pretty easy for me, probably easier than a typical team manager’s job would be like because Kevin Erion has so much experience. He’s got a good staff of guys and he knows the companies. Kevin is making my job really easy; it seems like I get the phone calls when it’s about who we need to contact at Dorna to pay for entry fees, what’s our garage going to be like…. The logistic side of things is where I come into play, because I have such a good relationship with the guys at Dorna to get what we need to get done.

What are your expectations in terms of actual performance at Indy?
You know, when we started this, we thought top-ten and we’d be happy with that, but the more work we do and the more we look at Roger and how well he’s riding—he did a good job on the Honda MotoGP bike at Laguna, a bike he’s never seen before—I think we’ve got a kid who’s motivated and a strong team. By the time we get all the testing done that we have scheduled, I think we’d be happy if we can get into the top five, but I still think we won’t have our heads hung low if it’s top ten. That Moto2 class, if you’ve been keeping tabs on it at all, the difference between first and twentieth in qualifying is less than a second. We’re all going to have to do our best to give Rog the best piece of equipment so he can go out and perform, and I hope with this testing that we’re doing, he’s going to be ready. I think if I can watch him, I can help him and coach him and we can get him there.

The new, ultra-competitive Moto2 class is anything but easy. • Photo by Andrew Northcott

You think Roger is extra hungry because of the season he’s having in World Superbike?
Absolutely. There’s not a doubt in my mind that the fact that the factory took Yanagawa—a 40-year-old test rider—and put him on the bike, I’m sure it’s going to make Roger that much more motivated.

What’s it like seeing your old #34 on the bike?
It is pretty special, especially with Roger Lee riding that bike. Roger did the Springfield TT with his two brothers and I sponsored him and he ran the number 34. I think I had to pay some contingency because he ended up finishing third and he told me that he almost won that race, too. Roger’s had some good history racing with the number 34 as well. Hopefully on the Moto2 bike he’ll do as good of a job as my good friend Aldo Drudi has done with the design of the bike. Its going to make us proud no matter where we finish.

Monster Flat Track Theater: The AMA Calistoga Half Mile National

Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 3:52:03 PM | admin

Monster Flat Track Theater: The AMA Calistoga Half Mile National

Monster Flat Track Theater: The AMA Calistoga Half Mile National

TEAM-SPEAK: AMA Pro at VIR (Preview)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 11:17:54 AM | admin

New releases will be added at top as they’re received.

Virginia International Raceway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 9, 2010) – The close fought AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike Championship battle will be rejoined at the classic Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA this weekend, August 13-15, 2010. The 2.25 mile, 18 turn road course will be the site of the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Nationals Presented by Foremost Insurance where championship contenders Josh Hayes, Tommy Hayden, Jake Zemke and Larry Pegram will take to the track for the doubleheader race weekend.

Leading the charge will be four time 2010 race winner Josh Hayes on his Team Graves Yamaha. Hayes won both ends of the doubleheader at VIR in 2009 and is coming off a close second place finish at the recent Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca round. Hayes has notched up wins at Infineon Raceway, Road America and Mid-Ohio and he is excited about returning to the track where he ran so well last year. “I like my chances at VIR, I won there last year and with the way my Yamaha is running this year, I feel pretty good about the upcoming weekend.”

Right on Hayes’ tail is Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Tommy Hayden. Hayden took his first ever AMA Pro SuperBike win earlier this year at Auto Club Speedway and he added two more wins to his growing career total, one at Road America and another at Mid-Ohio. In the case of the last two wins, Haydenwas able to match Hayes’ victories at Road America and Mid-Ohio, preventing Hayes from extending his slim points lead. Right now, the difference is only nine points, 311 for Hayes and 302 for Hayden.

After winning the first two races of the 2010 season, Jake Zemke has consistently added to his points total with a series of strong results. Zemke took second place at Auto Club Speedway and added a pair of third place finishes, three fourth place finishes, a fifth and four sixth place finishes to keep his National Guard Jordan Suzuki in the thick of the championship fight. Zemke started on the front row and finished fourth at VIR last year when he ran in the Daytona SportBike class. Now he is a force to be reckoned with every time the SuperBikes take to the track.

Another rider with a victory this year is Foremost Insurance Ducati rider Larry Pegram who took a popular win at Auto Club Speedway earlier this year. And Pegram was leading in the second race when he suffered an unfortunate fall while headed for what could have been a weekend sweep of the Auto Club Speedway races. After a couple of results that didn’t meet his expectations, Pegram got back on track when he returned to California with two strong third place finishes at Infineon Raceway and then he took a couple of fourth place finishes at Road America followed by a fourth and a third place finish at his home track in Ohio. At the most recent race, Pegram rode another typically solid race to fourth place at Laguna Seca. Pegram’s longtime sponsor Foremost Insurance is the Presenting Sponsor at this weekend’s VIR event and you can count on Pegram racing in his usual determined manner with his unique and popular Foremost Insurance Ducati.

Due to his steady improving form which culminated with a win at the most recent race at Laguna Seca, Ben Bostrom and the new Pat Clark Motorsports Yamaha team have put themselves into the championship frame. Bostrom, the 2009 Daytona 200 race winner and the brother of Eric Bostrom, will be ready to resume his steady march to the front after strong showings at Infineon (two seconds), a second and a fourth at Mid-Ohio and his win at Laguna. Ben had surgery on his left thumb after Laguna but he doesn’t anticipate any problems this weekend.

Two riders making welcome returns to the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike series this weekend at VIR will be M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider John Hopkins. Hopkins underwent surgery earlier this year and is back for his first race since Road Atlanta in April. Hopkins has been ably represented by Jake Holden who posted a number of good results while substituting for the popular Hopkins. The other rider making his return after a fall suffered while testing at VIR is Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Blake Young. Young took his first two SuperBike wins this year at Road Atlanta. That was a special weekend for Young as he took pole position and won both races on the demanding Georgia track. Young was at the recent race at Laguna and was raring to get back on his lightning fast Suzuki.

Seventh and eighth in the AMA Pro SuperBike points this year are two riders that are having nice solid years and are both quietly riding well and showing excellent form. M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Chris Ulrich has put together a very solid year. Ulrich has shown excellent consistency and has posted a solid run of results with only one finish outside the top ten until the last race at Laguna Seca where he uncharacteristically went out after two laps. Ulrich is seventh in points with 150. Right behind Ulrich in the points with 141 is Taylor Knapp on his RidersDiscount.com Suzuki. Knapp and his close knit team have done a nice, steady job and Knapp has responded by taking seven finishes of tenth or better.

The action at the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Nationals Presented by Foremost Insurance begins on Friday, August 13th with practice and first round qualifying. Round one of the doubleheader race weekend will be on Saturday, August 14th and more races including the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 race will be on Sunday, August 15th. Check all the weekend activities at the beautiful Virginia International Raceway including the popular Pit Lane Fan Walk and AMA Pro Autograph sessions as well as the Second Annual MRO VIR Food Drive to Benefit God’s Storehouse in Danville, VA. For more info contact gracingfuelministry@yahoo.com. God’s Storehouse can be contacted via their website godsstorehouse.org or by calling 434-793-3663. Motor Racing Outreach’s website is go2mro.com. Please visit www.virclub.com for ticket and event information and www.amaproracing.com for series information.

Jordan Motorsports

CHICAGO, IL (August 10, 2010) – Michael Jordan Motorsports’ (MJM) Aaron Yates will be back in action at this weekend’s round eight of the 2010 AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike Championship held at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, VA. Yates broke his leg in a practice crash during round two in Fontana, CA and has been on the mend since late March.

“I’m excited about riding and really looking forward to getting back out there,” Yates said. “It’s been a while and I’ve been getting a little bit bored sitting around the house. I went down to one crutch a couple of weeks ago and have been getting around with no crutches at all for about the last week. I’m feeling pretty good and figured that if I can walk, I can ride. At least I can get out there in practice and see how it goes. It will be good to be out there at VIR with the guys on the team, my sponsors, and my fans.”

Yates’ replacement rider, 18-year-old Brett McCormick, will also be racing this weekend at VIR. McCormick, who sits ninth in the championship points race, will be riding the #45 Jordan Suzuki at VIR, as Yates will be back on the #23 bike.

Practice at the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Superbike Nationals at VIR begins this Friday, August 13^th. The two AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike races at VIR are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

AMA Pro Daytona SportBike

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 10, 2010) – Josh Herrin, currently the 2010 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike by AMSOIL championship points leader, will be heading back to a track where he won convincingly in 2009.  The Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Nationals Presented by Foremost Insurance will take place this weekend at the picturesque Virginia International Raceway.  The doubleheader Daytona SportBike races will be run this weekend, August 13 through 15 at the 2.25 mile natural terrain road course in Alton, Va.

Herrin won both races last year on his Team Graves Yamaha but had to withstand a late-race charge from his championship rival this year, Danny Eslick.  Eslick, who rides the GEICO Powersports Suzuki, is just one point behind Herrin in his bid to repeat as Daytona SportBike Champion, and he loves the Virginia track.

“It is like a couple of our tracks where you have to be aggressive to make passes and I like that type of race track,” said Eslick. “The track has a nice rhythm to it and that suits me just fine.”

Herrin has four wins and Eslick two but it is M4 Monster Energy Suzuki rider Marin Cardenas that holds the honor of having the most race victories in 2010 with six.  But if not for two DNF’s, Cardenas could be a long way out front but he is only 12 points behind Herrin and there is plenty of racing left in the 2010 season.

One could say that any series with a tightly contested three-way championship battle would be fortunate but in fact, with a little bit of luck, 2007 Daytona 200 winner Steve Rapp and his tidy Team Latus Motors Ducati team could also be right in the hunt. Rapp is only 37 points behind Cardenas and only 49 behind points leader Herrin and the way his Ducati has been running, anything is possible.  Rapp has been knocking on the door for a win and he has finished second three times including the last race at Laguna Seca. He has finished third on three other occasions giving him six podium finishes in twelve races.

Joining Rapp on another Ducati is Bobby Fong.  Fong has really raised his game in the last few races and looked a sure winner at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca until an unfortunate fall dashed the hopes of Fong and his DNA Energy Drink Ducati team.  Fong took a pair of sixth place finishes at VIR last year and with his current form, he could be a major threat this year.  Fong’s teammate, Michael Beck, took ninth at Laguna and the CNR Motorsports team is on the move and the direction is up.

Vesrah Suzuki rider Cory West has put together a nice solid season, West has had 11 top ten finishes out of 12 races.  He had a great weekend at Road Atlanta where he finished second and third in the weekend’s two races and he took a fourth place finish later at Road America.  VIR should suit West just fine.

A rider who has led the field from pole three times this year and is coming off of a strong run at Laguna Seca is Herrin’s Team Graves Yamaha teammate Tommy Aquino. Aquino can deliver a very quick lap and when he puts together a complete race, he will be in victory lane, his speed is evident and his natural ability is clear, keep your eye on the number six Yamaha, he will be near or at the front all weekend.

Last year’s AMA Pro SuperSport race winner will be back this year in the Daytona SportBike class, Josh Day, who took the pole position and won last year in dominant fashion will be riding the Toyota Lucas Oil Yamaha for the Four Feathers Racing team.  One of the Wyman brothers, Kyle Wyman, will be riding double duty this weekend as he races his Harv’s Harley-Davidson RevisionMusic.com Yamaha in the Daytona SportBike class and also his Harv’s Harley-Davidson XR1200 in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 class on Sunday.

The action begins on Friday, August 13th with practice and first round qualifying. Saturday, August 14th will see final qualifying and the first of two races in the three road racing classes and Sunday, August 15th will have the second round of races and also the Vance & Hines XR1200 race.  There will be Fan Walks both Saturday and Sunday and the AMA Pro Autograph session on Sunday.  Also look for  the Second Annual MRO VIR Food Drive to Benefit God’s Storehouse in Danville, VA.  For more info contact gracingfuelministry@yahoo.com. God’s Storehouse can be contacted via their website godsstorehouse.org or by calling 434-793-3663. Motor Racing Outreach’s website is go2mro.com.  Please visit www.virclub.com for ticket and event information and www.amaproracing.com for series information.

DNA Energy Drink/CnR Motosports

Alton, Va- The DNA Energy Drink/CnR Motosports team is ready for redemption. The team is prepared for Round 8 at Virginia International Raceway. Regular schedule will resume for the team at the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Superbike Nationals this coming weekend August 13-15.

After some bad luck at Laguna the last round, the team is ready to put their bikes back up front and are hoping for strong finishes from all three riders. At the last round Super Sport rider Joey Pascarella had a crash early at the start of the race but was able to bring the bike back in to get worked on during a red flag. Although Joey had to restart last on the grid and was one lap down, he went back out stronger than ever. Joey would’ve finished 4th, if it hadn’t taken so long for the corner workers to help Joey get the gravel out of his belly pan. But on a positive note Joey was able to find the confidence in his bike and himself. “I really feel comfortable with my bike now and a podium finish is right around the corner,” states Pascarella.

Another rider looking to redeem himself is the #30 rider Bobby Fong. After leading 15 0f the 23 laps at the famed Laguna Seca Raceway, Bobby unfortunately crashed out of the lead. “Bobby just took off right from the start and rode his heart out,” says Mark Crozier, Team Manager. “Crashing happens and we all know Bobby really enjoys the feeling of being out front, we expect to see him out there again at VIR.

Bobby had the best lap time of the race with a 1.27.586. Teammate and fellow rider in the AMA Pro Sportbike class #60 Michael Beck finished a solid 9th place. “I really want to break into the top 5 and battle with these lead guys,” declares Beck. I am now getting the hang of my Ducati 848 and my crew has been working extra hard to make sure the bike is ready for this coming weekend.

Virginia International Raceway

Watch the exciting new Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XR1200 bike series at VIRginia International Raceway during the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro SuperBike Nationals presented by Foremost Insurance this weekend August 13-15. There will be plenty of dramatic action of the track with this and AMA Pro Racing along with custom bikes, special vending, fireworks, food & 2 nights of live music along with a great vendor row and a variety of foods.  It’s great family entertainment with the special stunt shows, go-karting, a free kids zone for little ones and even airbrush tattoos! There’s free parking with free admission for kids 15 and under, too! Camping is also available at the gate (for an extra charge). Order your tickets today online as www.VIRnow.com or call 434.822.7700! See you there!

Mikey Avila’s Hagerstown Report

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 4:30:24 PM | admin

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Kurtis Roberts, Danny Walker, Henry Wiles, and More on Tonight’s PitPass Radio

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 4:14:49 PM | admin

Advance, North Carolina (August 10, 2010) – Top talent and industry insiders from the motorcycle world give their uncut opinions and race stories. Get your weekly motorcycle news live from Pit Pass Moto Weekly. Pit Pass Moto Weekly is now heard in over 50 countries around the world.

7 pm to 9 pm Central – Motorcycle Radio streaming individual interviews from www.pitpassradio.com, or download the program from our archives to your ipod or mp3 player anytime.

Kurtis Roberts, Road Racer – RidersDiscount.com
Kurtis, a former MotoGP racer, proved he still has what it takes to run at the front in AMA when he rode on a Rider’s Discount bike last month at Mid-Ohio. His last full season of racing a motorcycle was in 2007. Kurtis qualified tenth at Mid-Ohio and finished tenth on the second day of racing after high-siding in race one. He is a three-time AMA Champion with two Formula Xtreme titles in 1999 and 2000 and as well as a Supersport title in 2000. He has over 25 superbike podiums in his career. Kurtis is the youngest of three brothers in the Robert’s family and the son of famous motorcycle racer Kenny Roberts.
www.ridersdiscount.com

Danny Walker, Owner – American Supercamp
Danny has been busy between teaching his American Supercamp schools, working with AMA Superbike riders and traveling over to Europe with his Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup rider. He will be announcing at the upcoming Suzuki White Lightning AMA Superbike Race at VIRginia International Raceway this weekend.
www.americansupercamp.com

James Bury, Owner – Risk Racing
It was six years ago that James started Risk Racing as a part time effort, today it is a full-time business with a number of successful products including his ride on ramp, hole shot gate, and lock and load, moto transport system. He recently released a palm protector and new fusion grips. Like all of his products there are some very valuable (yet subtle) innovations in his new products. Risk Racing sponsors a number of motocross and supercross riders
www.riskracing.com

Robbie Reynard, Owner – Reynard Raceway
Robbie is a long time professional motocross racer and a former World SX Champion. He is also credited as being the youngest rider to win an outdoor national along with being the youngest rider to win an Arenacross championship. His career was plagued with injuries along the way but he still kept plugging away as a pro with impressive results since turning pro in 1993. He recently became the owner of one of Oklahoma’s premier motocross facilities. Robbie will be using his years of racing experiences and a lifetime of commitment to the sport of motocross to keep Reynard Raceway the “hot spot” in South Central motocross region. This past week we saw Robbie make his return to the amateur ranks at Loretta Lynn’s where he crushed the competition in the +25 class sweeping all three moto’s and finished a respectable 4th overall in the 450A Pro Sport class.
www.reynardraceway.com

Henry Wiles, Pro Dirt Track Racer
Henry has three dirt track national wins to his credit already this season. He is leading the singles class. He is fifth (5th) in the combined standings and sixth (6th) in the twins standings. Henry Wiles has 12 amateur titles and has been racing since he was four. He has been dominating in the singles in Peoria and Springfield the last few years on his Monster energy Kawasaki. He rides motocross and ice races when he is not riding a dirt tracker.
www.henrywiles.com

Tuesday Conversation: Tommy Hayden

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 3:47:02 PM | Jeff Feathers

Tommy Hayden’s been a fixture in the AMA Pro paddock for more than fourteen years and has two Supersport crowns to his name. This season’s been a landmark one for the Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider, however, who scored the first Superbike win of his career at Round 3 and is currently in a battle with frontrunner Josh Hayes for the 2010 AMA Pro American Superbike crown. We caught up with Tommy after the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Red Bull USGP event to get his take on the final push for the #1 plate—which starts now, with this weekend’s Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Superbike Nationals at Virginia International Raceway.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Tommy Hayden • Photo by Nelson/Riles

RRX: Talk a bit about Laguna and how things went over the weekend.
TH: Laguna was a little bit of a struggle all weekend. Things didn’t go really smooth for me. We were second-fastest in one or two sessions and we were always decent on time, but there were a couple of issues I was fighting and I never got really comfortable on the track. I could do some fast laps here and there but consistently, I didn’t have a good rhythm and I knew the race was going to be kind of tough. We made a few changes and I stayed close for a while, but after practice and qualifying, I ran the laps that I thought I could do. You always hope that when you get in the race you can turn it up, but it doesn’t always work. That was the case at Laguna—I pretty much did the laps that I’d been doing in practice, but it wasn’t enough to match Ben [Bostrom] and Josh [Hayes]. Ben in particular was riding really well and had things under control pretty much all weekend.

When you’re at a race like Laguna, does the world focus add anything to the race for you?
For me, not really. I mean in the position where I’m now in the championship, and that’s the only thing on my mind. I want to do the best I can do. Yeah, there are a few more people there, but I’m not trying to impress someone to get a GP ride or nothing like that. I doesn’t mean any more to me than any of the other ones.

What were you thinking when race day arrived and you were a little bit behind?
I definitely wanted to win, and I didn’t want to be off the podium. I had some changes I wanted to make for the warm-up to find some more speed, but we had bad weather and it was canceled, so we were stuck with what we had. I just wanted to get a good start and get in there. I wanted to step up and try to find a little speed somewhere. I didn’t want to leave anything out there, but it didn’t work out for me.

Is it hard to stay in the mindset that while you might not win, you still need to stay at the front?
You know, not when you’ve got Josh Hayes there. I feel like if I don’t win the way it’s been this year, he’s probably going to. Thinking like that, I don’t have a choice to win because he’s won a lot of races this year. When he’s the guy behind you, there’s no playing it conservative. It’s coming down to who can win more races. He’s shown he’s going to be consistent, and I think I’ve shown that, [and] there are some other guys who can step in and spoil the in-betweens. I definitely have my hands full, but I hope it goes down to the end.

Photo by Riles/Nelson

Do you feel like you’re proving to people that you are a championship contender?
I think so. The only thing I felt about last year is that I needed to win those really close races that I didn’t win. I’ve done a better job of that this year, but I feel like I could have done better at some other ones. I’ve got three second-places this year, all by less than a tenth of a second. You know, it still could have been a little bit better, but it’s always coulda, woulda, shoulda and I’m learning every time, and I feel like things are coming together. I was second most of the championship last year and I felt like since Mat [Mladin] was gone, it was going to be kind of the same battles without him. I felt pretty confident coming into the year that if I could just step it up a little bit in a few areas I would at least be in contention for it, like I am now. My team has stepped up and I feel like I have a little bit too, and that’s given us that little bit more than we’ve had before, and it’s going pretty good.

When Josh was on that streak where he won three races in a row….
I felt like I had to win and break it. I feel like I rode like that and that was my mindset coming into Race 2 at Mid Ohio. I wasn’t thinking win or crash, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to, no matter what, do the best I could do. I didn’t want to coulda, woulda shoulda after that, and I really had a lot of pressure on myself to make sure it didn’t happen.

How do you put an end to someone else’s momentum?
That’s just sporting in general; confidence is key no matter what you do in any sport. I didn’t feel like I had lost a lot of confidence because I knew what I’d done wrong and I knew that with a few changes I could make up the gap. I’m confident in my team and my abilities. Josh is a tough competitor and so are the other guys we’re racing against, but I do feel like with a few changes we can at least put up a fight. I expect that of myself every weekend, and sometimes you’re going to get the wrong end of the deal and not get it done. The team I have and my experience and what I feel I’m capable of, I need to be there every week, especially now the rest of the year. Anything less than that is unacceptable.

With such a small margin separating you two, will it be back and forth the rest of the year?
It’s hard to say. There are a couple of tracks coming up that I like, and Josh goes well at some of these tracks. He put a strong run in toward the end of last season. It’s hard to say; I know it’s going to be tight and I don’t expect it to be easy. I don’t think he expects it to be easy and it’s going to come down to—I’ve been saying this for a while now and I still agree—who can win the most races and not make any mistakes. Consistency is a little bit of it but the way our points system is, I don’t see anyone making big mistakes, so you’re going to have to win.

Photo by Riles/Nelson

Is it hard going into races thinking you can’t give an inch?
Sometimes it takes the fun out of it a little bit [laughs], but in the end, sometimes—depending how you look at it—that’s where some of the fun comes from. So it’s kind of a double-edged sword. I enjoy it and that’s what you race for and this is the position I want to be in. It was like this when I was going for the 600 Supersport championships and that’s the way it is. Everything means more and you’ve got to do your best every week.

You mentioned the 600 Supersport championships. Would the Superbike championship mean more?
It’s hard to say. Now looking back, yeah maybe, but that first 600 championship was pretty special for me, just because at the time that was the only class I was riding and it was Kawasaki’s number-one focus. It was the 600, but I had been after it for a long time and it meant a lot. Obviously Superbike is a different deal—it’s more prestigious, if you want to say that—and it will be special, I can tell you that, but that’s a long way ahead [laughs]. There’s a lot of work to be done between now and then and I’m just going to take it race by race and see where we’re at.

Looking ahead to VIR, what are your expectations?
In the past I’ve done well there—I’ve won some Supersport races and I think some Superstock races. I like that track and it’s always pretty good to me, so I’m looking forward to it. After you come off a bad race, you always look forward to getting back out and doing better.

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TEAM-SPEAK: Brno MotoGP, Preview

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 12:32:54 PM | admin

New releases will be added at top as they’re received.

JiR

After the break the JiR Team is getting ready for this week’s GP from the Czech Republic, in Brno. The summer period has given riders the time to rest, but not the technicians and mechanics who took advantage of the break to analyze data and develop new solutions that will be tested in the second part of the season on the two MotoBI machines. The objective is to continue and further improve the already good performances we’ve enjoyed this year. Already at the Sachsenring Simone Corsi scored excellent times during practice and the race. JiR Team will be looking to build on this still further.

In the meantime Corsi is really excited for the Czech race, aware of the potential he has and anxious to make amends for the mistake he made in Germany that put him out of the race.

Simone Corsi: “I have made a good preparation for this race. The three week break has been very useful to think back on how the first part of the season went. Our development is at a good point and I’m making some little mistakes, but I’ve learnt from them and it won’t happen again. I kept my body in shape with some work at the gym, but I also continued riding thanks to the riding courses we held in Castelletto di Branduzzo, where I was the teacher!

“The season has a long way to go yet and there is nothing between most of the riders – it’s very close. We need to regain our concentration and start fighting again for the first positions, which is the place where I think I deserve to be.”

Also, TSR’s test rider Yusuke Teshima will take part in the GP of the Czech Republic on the second machine of Team JiR, taking the chance of continuing his own experience and most importantly the machine’s further development.

Pramac Racing

After a short summer break, the engine will return to warm up for next weekend. Sunday will take place on Brno’s circuit, the tenth stage of the 2010 World Championship, the first of the second half of the season until now with high and low result for the green Pramac Racing Team riders. Aleix Espargarò and Mika Kallio, have in fact achieved six top ten positions in nine races of this season. Aleix scored an eighth, a ninth and a two tenths places, while Mika has the best Team season result, a seventh place with the addition of a ninth place conquered in the last Grand Prix raced in the United States of America. But both riders have in mind to improve their results in the second half of the season and thanks to the summer break that has allowed to recover energy, they will give the maximum to give to the Team an high level results. Sunday will be a very important day for Brno’s circuit that will host the thirty-fifth top class Grand Prix. But a particular interest is given also for the sixtieth anniversary of motorcycle racing on this circuit that is halfway between

Mika • Courtesy Pramac

Vienna and Prague. On this circuit, the Pramac Racing has had good results in past with a third and fourth place with Biaggi and Tamada in 2004 and the conquest of the second-last podium of his history with Elias in 2008, that after a fantastic comeback, has got the second place of the podium. Last year things did not go very well with Canepa who finished the race in twelfth position, while Fabrizio, the substitute of Kallio that was loan to the Ducati officer, has retired after just six laps from the start. The hope is that Mika will obtain an important result on this that is one of his favorite tracks, having won here in the past three podiums. Aleix his part, with 261.4 km / h, has established in 2007 the maximum speed record in the 250cc class on this track. It will be from this track that the young Spaniard will start to gain important positions that only bad luck and a little of inexperience had refusing him to gain in the last three races.

Paolo Campinoti – Team Principal Pramac Racing Team
“In the last Grand Prix lucky was not on our side, I am referring in particular to what happened to Aleix in the last three races. In Barcelona he had accumulated too much pressure before the start, the desire to conquer a great result in front of his fans did not allow him to remain focused on the race that he had ended few laps from the start. In Germany, the other unlucky race when he found De Puniet’s bike in front of him lying on the asphalt. Fortunately he had no fractures. Laguna Seca, last race marked by little luck, was betrayed by the white line that demarcates the asphalt with less than three laps from the finish line. My biggest regret is especially for the last race because it was the first Grand Prix of the season with both Pramac Racing riders where in the top ten. But now it’s time to look ahead to the next Czech Republic Grand Prix. On Brno track we have got the second-last podium of our history in the 2008 with the Spaniard Elias, who finished second after a fantastic comeback. In the past we have got another podium with Biaggi in 2004 that ended the race in third position followed by his teammate Tamada. The ambition of this weekend is to see again Aleix finish the race in the top ten as we had used to see him before Barcelona’s Grand Prix. Another ambition to see Mika finish the race in a good position because he has found speed and feeling with his bike, he had good results in the past on this track and I hope he can be able to repeat them on Sunday. ”

Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team
“The United States Grand Prix was very important for me for two reasons, first of all because I have regained a place in the top ten, second because I realized that I have acquired a good feeling with my bike that will allow me to be fast in all the Grand Prix of the second part of the season. There are nine more races until the end of the Championship, I’ll give my best to conquer a good placement in all the race to repay the trust that the team has always placed in me despite negative results. I consider Brno one of the most technical circuits of the Championship, I really like this track where I have got good results in the past. Here I have gain three consecutive podium, two second places in the 125cc category in 2005 and 2006 and a third place in 2007 in my rookie season in the 250cc category. Last year I had ran this race in the Ducati Team as Stoner’s substitute, I had start the race form the tenth place on the starting grid, but with two laps to go, while I was eighth, I was involved in an accident and I went off the track. “

Aleix Espargarò – Pramac Racing Team
“The summer break we had, helped me to take off a bit of disappointing feeling for the last three Grands Prix in which, also for the bad luck I had, I could not see the checkered flag. I hope that Sunday I’ll already return to gain an important position, I need it for my Team but also for myself as I have always fought and believed in me. I never had a particular affection for Brno’s track, I was able to run here only four times in the past, one in 125cc and three in 250cc, gaining a tenth place as best result in 2008 in the 250cc category. It ’s time to regain what I have lost in recent races. My season will restart from here. ”

Gresini Moto2

Team Gresini´s two riders are hoping that the Czech Republic Grand Prix this weekend can see them pick up where they left off in Germany before the summer break. Toni Elias is looking to build on victory at Sachsenring whilst Vladimir Ivanov is targeting another points finish. The Spaniard is in particularly confident mood thanks to an excellent track record at Brno, where he has been on the podium for the past two seasons in MotoGP, and the fact that in the last race he was back in perfect harmony with his Moriwaki MD600 for the first time in several races. His rediscovered confidence and his love of the track should help Toni as he looks to consolidate his position as the Moto2 World Championship leader into the second half of the season. Before traveling to the Czech Republic the team completed a short test with Toni Elias at Misano to complete some work on aerodynamic updates and general set-up of his Moriwaki MD600.

Toni Elias “The win at Sachsenring ended a pretty bad run for us and I have got my confidence back with the bike. The team have helped me a lot and I am more determined and motivated to do well now than ever. I allowed myself a little holiday during the break and then focused on my training to make sure I don´t lose focus at what is a very important moment in my career. We have also been to Misano to test some updates, which we will refine at Brno – a circuit where I have enjoyed podium finishes in MotoGP for the past two seasons. I head to the Czech Republic with my focus on the job – I want to win and strengthen my position in the championship. ”

Vladimir Ivanov “It has been nice to have the memory of scoring my first points at Sachsenring with me over the summer holidays. I have continued to train hard and allowed myself to have a little fun too. I competed in a car drifting race and had a great time – it is my favourite hobby! I like Brno and I know it well so I hope I can repeat my performance from Germany, that would represent another success for me.”

Fausto Gresini “The team have not stopped working throughout the summer break and recently completed a test at Misano, working on aerodynamics and set-up, in order to give Toni Elias an even more competitive bike. At Brno we’ll see if the changes have the positive effect that we were able to see at Misano. We think so but it will be the Czech circuit that confirms it or not.. Toni has always been strong at Brno and we hope that continues in Moto2. The result in Germany was a big help because it has restored confidence within the team after a few disappointing races. Now we head into the second half of the season and it will be crucial to stay focused and not lose sight of our objectives.”

Fiat Yamaha

After a well-earned two-week summer break, the Fiat Yamaha Team will reform at Brno in the Czech Republic this weekend as the second half of the 18-race MotoGP season gets underway. Jorge Lorenzo lands in eastern Europe as the runaway championship leader and his team-mate Valentino Rossi is hoping to be back to his best after the time off has given him further opportunity to recover from the broken leg and injured shoulder he sustained earlier in the season.
Lorenzo has won an incredible six out of nine races so far this season and come second in the remainder and he signed off the for the summer break in the best possible frame of mind, having won commandingly at Laguna Seca last time out. The 23-year-old has spent time fitness training and relaxing in the Dominican Republic during the holidays and is looking forward to getting back to the business of racing this weekend. He has three wins at Brno to his name, one in 125cc and two in 250cc, but he has had little luck there in MotoGP and last year he crashed out when sparring for the lead with Rossi, something he will be hoping to forget this time around.

Brno is an historic track for World Champion Rossi as it was there that he took the first of his 104 Grand Prix wins, in the 125cc class in 1996. Since then he has gone on to take a further six wins at the track, five of them in MotoGP and including the last two years. The 31-year-old Italian made a sensational return to the podium at Laguna Seca only seven weeks after breaking his leg but he was not yet back to peak physical condition. A two -week holiday has given the nine-time champion another chance to work on his strength and fitness and he hopes to be in much better shape at this race and ready to mount a challenge for race wins over the remaining half of the season.

A Grand Prix was first held on the Brno road circuit in 1965 and since then over 40 World Championship races have been contested there. Today the modern track retains much of the character of the original road circuit, with its winding chicanes and dramatic elevation changes and it is a favourite track with the riders, often bringing as it does fast and close racing.

Jorge Lorenzo
“TARGETING A FIRST BRNO MOTOGP PODIUM”
“The holidays were perfect. Ten days in the Caribbean for rest and fun, charging the batteries for the second half of the season. I needed it because the calendar has been busy in the last month and now I can focus on the rest of the season. We are going to Brno, a track I like and where I’ve won three times, but never in MotoGP. I haven’t even got a podium here and this is my challenge, my first podium in the second part of the season and in Brno. Czech Republic is a nice country, with amazing people at the race and also the track is impressive, fast and with some good hills. After the race I will stay in Brno to try something new on the bike, something to improve our bike until the end of championship. Good place to restart!”

Valentino Rossi
“AIMING FOR A GOOD SECOND HALF!”
“I’ve had a good break and it’s helped me a lot to have this time to work on my physical condition. I’m feeling good about my leg and my shoulder and I hope that this weekend I’ll be feeling much stronger. Brno is a great track for me and it’s always special because it’s the first place I ever won at. Last year I had a great race, this year will be harder because I’m not completely fit yet but I am looking forward to getting back on the bike. We have half the season still to go and our aim is to have a good second half!”

Wilco Zeelenberg
“THINKING ABOUT THE PODIUM AND POINTS”
“We already had a bit of a look at what happened last year and we’ve watched the race together. Jorge likes the track very much and he was in good shape, fighting with Valentino, but the crash was his mistake because he pushed a bit too far. This year however things are very different and he has a big cushion in the championship so he can relax, think about the podium and taking the maximum points he can in order to keep a comfortable lead.”

Davide Brivio
“WE ARE AHEAD OF OURSELVES!”
“We are about to start the second part of season and we are quite excited about it. Valentino has been working hard on his recovery and, although he won’t be at 100% yet at Brno, we are ahead of ourselves because after the initial injury we thought he wouldn’t be back until this race. It has been very important to be back in the last two races to get back to race pace. Now we will work towards a great end of the season, waiting to see Valentino fighting again for the victories. Brno will be the first real step of his recovery”

MotoGP

Refreshed and ready to take on the second half of the 2010 season the MotoGP riders and teams are back in action this weekend at Brno for the Cardion ab Grand Prix České republiky, where the chase to catch Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo recommences.

After nine of the 18 rounds of the season the Fiat Yamaha rider is 72 points clear at the top of the standings, thanks to his superb form of having taken six wins and three second places so far. Another top-two finish would make Lorenzo only the third rider in GP racing’s 62-year history to place either first or second in the opening ten races of a season, the others being Giacomo Agostini and Mick Doohan. To maintain his fantastic form Lorenzo will need to win at a circuit he has not yet triumphed at in the premier class, after crashing last year when battling team-mate Valentino Rossi for the race lead. He does have a fine record in the smaller classes there however.

Dani Pedrosa is the closest to Lorenzo in the standings at present and the Repsol Honda rider has a point to prove following his crash at Laguna Seca in the previous round. The Spaniard enjoyed a consistent run leading up to the summer interval and was leading the race in the U.S. when he fell, and has twice finished on the podium at Brno including second place last year – his best premier class Brno result.

In third place at 23 points off his team-mate is Andrea Dovizioso, who is eager to rediscover his early-season podium form, whilst the resurgent Casey Stoner (Ducati Team) is hot on the Italian’s tail. Stoner did not race at Brno last season but has tasted victory there (in 2007), something he is still yet to do in 2010 but a result that appears to be moving ever closer after four successive podium finishes in the last four rounds.

Brno has been a very fruitful hunting ground for Valentino Rossi who has five premier class wins there (it was also the site of his first 125cc win), and the Italian has been victorious at the Czech track for the last two years. A podium last time out at Laguna in only his second race back from injury moved him back up to fifth, where he sits a single point ahead of Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team). Another American rider, Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) is also closing in on the top five and Brno offers a familiar circuit for the rookie, who has previously ridden there in WSBK.

Set to make an extremely speedy and very welcome return to action from his broken leg is Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda). Pending medical clearance the Frenchman intends to ride again just four weeks after his crash at Sachsenring – last year he rode to tenth place at Brno having broken his ankle just three weeks before the race.

San Carlo Honda Gresini pair Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli are closely matched in ninth and tenth in the standings, whilst Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) will follow up his best result of 2010 so far with an attempt to place higher than seventh. Héctor Barberá (Páginas Amarillas Aspar), Rizla Suzuki pair Loris Capirossi and Álvaro Bautista, and Pramac racing duo Mika Kallio and Aleix Espargaró will all aim for improvements, and Alex de Angelis (Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team) is set to continue in place of the injured Hiroshi Aoyama.

Moto2

The Moto2 class returns to the fore after four weeks off, with Championship leader Toni Elías ready to defend his 42-point lead at the top of the standings. The Gresini Racing rider has strong form at the Czech circuit where he has won once (in the 125cc class) and been on the podium twice in the former 250cc class. Elías also placed on the podium in his last two seasons in the premier class in 2008 and 2009, and will be a strong favourite to secure a fourth win of the 2010 campaign having signed off for the mid-season break with victory last time out in Germany.

One of the main rivals to Elías’ attempts to further stretch his lead will be Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2), who currently sits second behind Elías in the standings. Four weeks off will have allowed the Swiss rider ample time to continue recovering from his collarbone injury, and he will be going for what seems an imminent first win of the campaign having been on the podium four times already.

Italian Andrea Iannone (Fimmco Speed Up) is just four points behind Lüthi and with two wins this season and second place in the last round at Sachsenring under his belt will be a main challenger in Brno.

Only a single point separates Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) and Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP) in fourth and fifth, whilst Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) and Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing) will also have their sights set on podium finishes as they target solid results and advancements in the standings.

A strong home result will be the aim for Karel Abraham (Cardio ab Racing) who has impressed in the two previous rounds with top-five finishes, whilst Xavier Simeon (Holiday Gym Racing) will be the sole Moto2 wildcard entry for this round.

125cc

The dominant Marc Márquez (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) will go for a phenomenal sixth straight win in the 125cc class. The 17 year-old Spaniard has not been off the top step of the podium since he secured his first World Championship win at Mugello at the start of June, and he holds a 26-point lead at the top of the standings going into the Cardion ab Grand Prix Czech Republic.

His closest rival at the moment is Pol Espargaró, and the Tuenti Racing rider will be desperate to bounce back from the crash at Sachsenring which ended his battle for the race victory with Márquez. Espargaró’s best previous finish at Brno is the fifth place he took last year, but only victory will satisfy his desire to close the gap on his rival.

Making his return to action after sitting out Germany due to the injuries sustained in a fall at Catalunya is Nico Terol, and the Bancaja Aspar rider is still third in the Championship. Presently 39 points off Márquez with 118, Terol will discover his true level of fitness and have one eye on the eight rounds that remain after Brno as he sets about recovering points. He won at the track last season.

His team-mate Bradley Smith, on 105 points, is still in search of his first win of 2010. Further back and separated by a single point are the two remaining podium finishers in Germany, Tomoyoshi Koyama (Racing Team Germany) and Sandro Cortese (Avant Mitsubishi Ajo), and both will fancy their chances of follow-up top-three results in Brno.

Joining the permanent 125cc entry list from this round is Josep Rodrigues who replaces Michael van der Mark on the Lambretta Reparto Corse team. Wildcard riders in round nine will be Ladislav Chmelik (Moto FGR), Andrea Touskova (Moto 82), Luigi Morciano and Alessandro Tonucci (both Junior GP Racing FMI).

The first practice session of the Cardion ab Grand Prix České republiky is the 125cc class, which starts at 12.40pm local time on Friday.

Marlboro Ducati

The Ducati Marlboro Team travels to the Czech Republic this week following a brief summer break that now gives way to the second half of the MotoGP World Championship, starting out at the spectacular Brno circuit.

After taking four podium finishes in as many races Casey Stoner picks up on a positive, if not entirely satisfactory, run of form whilst Nicky Hayden will also be looking to get full potential out of the Desmosedici at a circuit where it has always been well suited.

The Ducati Marlboro Team have celebrated victory at Brno on two occasions, as well as two further podiums and two pole positions. The team will stay at the circuit on the day following the Grand Prix for the second and final post-race test session of 2010.

CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team
“Brno is one of my favourite circuits – I have liked it since I raced there for the first time back in 2002. It is long and flowing, with a lot of direction changes and plenty of opportunities to overtake. It is the kind of circuit that lends itself to spectacular races and I can’t wait to race there again – I wasn’t fit to ride last year and I missed it. I want to make up for that this weekend so we’ll be looking to find a good set-up for the bike, improve by a couple of tenths compared to the rest and be fighting for the win.”

NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati Marlboro Team
“It is nice to be back after a couple of weeks off and Brno is a nice circuit to come back with. I think all the riders like it because it’s fast, open and flowing – very different to the last couple of tracks we’ve been to, Sachsenring and Laguna, which are tight and have a lot of second gear corners. We’re heading into the second half of a season that started out with some decent results but we need to take another step forward now. It is not easy because the level of competition is so high in this championship but I think you always have to look to improve. We have a day of testing after the race and I hope that can serve to set us up for an improved second half of the season.”

VITTORIANO GUARESCHI, Team Manager
“We go to Brno on the back of an excellent team result at Laguna Seca and with the objective of improving on it with both riders. Casey has always been very fast here and Nicky scored a decent sixth place last year. In the past the circuit has generally suited the characteristics of our bikes so it will be important to find a good set-up for this weekend – for the race, obviously, but also for the test so that we can build a strong base to work from over the second half of the season.”

THE TRACK
The Brno circuit snakes its way around the hills that border the Czech Republic’s second city and is one of the jewels in the crown of motorcycle racing. Built in 1987 to replace the old and dangerous road circuit that had previously hosted Grand Prix racing, the ‘new’ track retains some of the original characteristics and for this reason it is much to the liking of the riders. With track width reaching 15m in some places, its fast and mixed layout features fast direction changes, chicanes and elevation changes. The extra width rewards a precise racing line and those continual elevation changes, with several downhill braking areas, require a perfect bike set-up, a talented rider and good tyre life. Engine performance is also an important factor, with the long straights giving the MotoGP machines chance to really stretch their legs.

BRNO CIRCUIT RECORDS
Circuit Record: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.670 – 166.716 Km/h
Best Pole: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.145 – 167.469 Km/h
Circuit Length: 5.403km
MotoGP Race 2010: 22 laps (118.866 km)
MotoGP Schedule 2010: 14:00 Local Time
Number of laps: 22
Race distance: 118.866

PODIUM 2009: 1st Valentino Rossi, 2nd Dani Pedrosa, 3rd Toni Elias
POLE 2009: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha – 2009), 1’56.145 – 167.469 Km/h

Marc VDS Racing

Scott Redding and Hector Faubel are both looking for a strong start to the second half of their 2010 championship campaigns, as this weekend’s Czech Republic Grand Prix at the Autodrom Brno brings to an end a three-week summer break for the Marc VDS Racing Team.

Redding looked all set for a top five finish last time out at Sachsenring, until a mechanical problem brought the British teenager’s race to a premature end.  The Marc VDS rider finished in the points in the 125 class on his last two visits to the Brno circuit, a feat he will be looking to repeat this weekend in the new four-stroke Moto2 category.

Faubel was the unfortunate victim of a first corner crash in Germany, but the 27-year-old Spaniard rejoined the race and eventually fought his way back to 25th position at the chequered flag. Brno is a circuit at which Faubel has enjoyed success in the past; the Marc VDS rider won the 125cc race back in 2007 on his way to second position in the championship. A repeat performance this weekend may be a little too optimistic, but Faubel is determined to kickstart his season with a strong result in the ninth round of the Moto2 World Championship at Brno.

The Autodrom Brno replaced the old 14km road circuit that in 1982 was deemed too dangerous for Grand Prix racing. The new track stands just 10km from the old and was opened in 1987. The circuit is located in a natural amphitheatre, making for fantastic viewing, with the 5.403km track changing in elevation as it winds its way through the forested hills just outside the city of Brno.

Both Redding and Faubel will use the latest revision of the Suter MMX chassis this weekend at Brno, where the increased stiffness of the new frame is predicted to offer significant advantages around the fast and flowing circuit.

Scott Redding #45:
“It’s only been three weeks, but I feel like I’ve been off the bike forever and I can’t wait to get back on track this weekend. I like the Brno circuit, but it is very physically demanding and there’s no let up over a lap. We’ll be running the new chassis this weekend. We tested it briefly at Aragon, but it will be interesting to see what advantages it offers at Brno. I’m looking forward to the weekend ahead and I hope we can start the second half of the season with a good result.”

Hector Faubel #55:
“Brno is one of my favourite circuits and I had one of the best races of my life there a few years ago. I’m not happy with the results I’ve had so far this season and I need to race every one of the remaining rounds as if it was my last in a bid to improve my results. This is important for me, and it’s also important for the team.”

Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
“We had two difficult races before the summer break, with Hector the innocent victim of two first corner crashes and Scott forced to retire with mechanical issues. This weekend we need good results from both riders, to get the second half of the season off to the best start possible. Both riders will switch to the latest version of the Suter chassis this weekend, as Brno is a circuit at which the latest version should offer some advantages in terms of turning and holding a line through the faster corners, of which there are many at Brno.”

San Carlo Honda Gresini

As has been tradition for a number of years the Czech Republic Grand Prix signals the end of the summer holidays and a return to work for the MotoGP paddock, which pitches up at Brno this week after a short break following the USGP at Laguna Seca. Marco Melandri is hoping the extra weekend off has served to put him in better physical shape, having recovered mobility in his injured shoulder and the strength to muscle his Honda RC212V around the track. Brno will be another opportunity for Melandri and his team-mate Marco Simoncelli to continue to improve their feeling with the new electronic package provided to Team San Carlo Honda Gresini by HRC at Laguna Seca. “Super Sic” crashed three times over the weekend in California but the rookie also showed constant improvement and he is hopeful of taking another step forward on more familiar territory, at a circuit where he won the 250cc race last season. The Czech track has been a fixture on the calendar since 1993, having been opened in 1987 on a section of the old 14km road circuit – an event that was dominated by Italian legend Giacomo Agostini, a seven-time 500cc race winner there.

Marco Melandri  “I expected to do better at Laguna Seca but unfortunately I was forced to accept that physically I wasn´t up to it. My shoulder wasn´t painful during the race but after ten laps I was exhausted. I had no feeling on the way into the corners and I couldn´t ride as fast as I´d hoped. Since then I took a short holiday near the sea but I´ve continued with constant physiotherapy in the hope that I can be back to full fitness for Brno. I like the circuit and if I have recovered as well as I hope and I can stay strong over race distance then I should be fighting near the front. I am not happy with the current situation because I don´t like to be making up the numbers in MotoGP!”

Marco Simoncelli “The crash at Laguna left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. To be honest after practice and qualifying I thought I could do really well but I struggled more than I expected in the race and then I crashed, which wasn´t good. Whenever that happens you head home with your tail between your legs but I took a short break in Sardinia and then began to prepare myself for this weekend because it is going to be a very important Grand Prix for me. Brno is a circuit I like a lot and I have always had good races there – especially the last two years, finishing third in 2008 and winning last year [in the 250cc class]. The Czech Republic has been kind to me in the past so I hope I can be strong again this weekend. We have more confidence now with the electronics package given to us by Honda in America so we should get more performance out of the bike. ”

Fausto Gresini “Brno has always been a good Grand Prix for us and I hope that tradition continues this season. The circuit is well suited to the characteristics of our bike and with the experience we gathered of the new electronics package given to us by HRC in America we should be able to take another step forward. We struggled a little at Laguna but with the continued support of Honda in the Czech Republic I´m sure we will be able to improve the feeling and make the most of the undoubted potential of such a fundamental technical aspect of the RC212V. We should also have Melandri in better physical shape at Brno, ready to fight for the positions he´s been close to in recent weeks. Simoncelli will be looking to make up for the disappointment of the race at Laguna Seca, even though he made progress in practice. Brno signals the start of the second half of the championship and I am confident that we can start picking up the results that have escaped us so far. On paper the top results are within our grasp – we have been close to them already and maybe just need a little more luck.”

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Pro Italia Announces 23rd Annual Café Desmo

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 12:14:56 PM | admin

Glendale, CA – August 9, 2010 – Pro Italia announced today that the 23rd annual Café Desmo will be held over the August 20-22 weekend and will include an Italian bike show followed by a bike ride up Angeles Crest for a picnic and rock concert. The proceeds from Café Desmo will benefit a fund to help rebuild Angeles Crest.

Café Desmo started 23 years ago as a small anniversary party, and it has grown to be one of the largest Italian bike shows in Southern California. Café Desmo has become a summer tradition at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains and gives enthusiasts a chance to show off their beautiful Italian motorcycles.

Bill Nation, the dealer/principal of Pro Italia, said “last year’s event surpassed everyone’s expectations with more than 200 bikes shown and nearly 1,000 attendees. This year we decided to make it even bigger and to raise funds to help rebuild the Angeles National Forest after last summer’s devastating wildfires.”

Café Desmo will be held August 20-22 as a weekend full of events: a Friday evening cocktail party, a Saturday night club concert/bike gathering and a Sunday morning bike show followed by a ride up Angeles Crest for a picnic and an outdoor concert. Musicians playing at the outdoor concert at Newcombs Ranch will be announced soon- all of whom ride Italian bikes.

Additional information about Café Desmo can be found on the Pro Italia web site at www.ProItalia.com and on the Pro Italia Facebook page.

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