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MOTOGP »
Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi to split from crew chief Jerry Burgess
07 November 2013
"It was a very difficult decision for me" - Valentino Rossi.
Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi to split from crew chief Jerry Burgess <-- Click to enlarge [NEW FEATURE]
Valentino Rossi's 14-year partnership with legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess is to end at this weekend's Valencia MotoGP season finale.
Burgess is the most successful crew chief in motorcycle grand prix history and has been at Rossi's side since his 2000 premier-class debut.
But Rossi has decided that change is needed for 2014 - the final year of his existing Yamaha contract - and confirmed at Valencia on Thursday that the 60-year-old Australian will not be in his corner next season.
"I think that next year Jeremy will not be my chief mechanic," said Rossi. "It was a very difficult decision for me because I have a great history with Jeremy. He is not just my chief mechanic, he is like a part of the family. My 'father' for racing.
"But I decide for next year I need to change something to try to find new motivation and a new boost - to improve my level, my speed. I think that this is our last race together with Jerry, yes."
Burgess has won world titles with Rossi (7), Mick Doohan (5) and Wayne Gardner (1) and also worked with the likes of Randy Mamola, Ron Haslam and Freddie Spencer.
After starting his grand prix carer with Suzuki, Burgess had been a Honda employee for 21 years by the time he - alongside mechanics Bernard Anciau, Alex Briggs and Gary Coleman - made the high-risk move with Rossi to Yamaha for 2004.
Together Rossi, Burgess and Yamaha pulled off one of the biggest upsets in MotoGP, turning a bike that had claimed just one podium the previous season into Yamaha's first riders' title since 1992. Rossi went on to win the MotoGP crown from 2001-2005, then again in 2008 and 2009.
The Italian broke his leg during 2010 while his next team change, to Ducati in 2011, was to prove 'painful' for different reasons. Rossi took just three podiums in two years - the Desmosedici's handling problems remaining unresolved to this day - before cutting his loses for a race-winning return, accompanied by Burgess and his mechanics, to Yamaha in 2013.
Racing Numbers: Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana
Thursday, 7 November 2013
The biggest numbers this weekend will revolve around the championship battle between Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo, but there are plenty of other elements to watch out for as well…
111 - Jorge Lorenzo’s victory in Japan was the 111th time he has stood on the podium in GP racing; the same number of podiums that Max Biaggi achieved during his entire Grand Prix career. Only six riders have finished on the podium on more occasions than Lorenzo: Valentino Rossi (183), Giacomo Agostini (159), Angel Nieto (139), Dani Pedrosa (124), Phil Read (121) and Mike Hailwood (112).
107 - Bradley Smith has a total of 107 points with one race remaining of the 2013 season. This is the highest points total ever achieved by a British rider in his rookie season in MotoGP™; a record previously held by James Toseland, who scored 105 points in the 2008 season.
51 - Jorge Lorenzo’s victory in Japan marked the 51st time he had stood on the top step of the podium in his Grand Prix career. This is just one less Grand Prix victory than two-time premier class World Champion Phil Read achieved during his career.
32 - Dominique Aegerter’s eighth place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, after starting from the back of the grid, was the 32nd successive race at which he has finished in a points-scoring position. The last race at which he failed to score points was when he finished 18th at the opening race of last year in Qatar. The only rider in the 65-year history of Grand Prix racing who has had longer sequence of successive points-scoring finishes in the intermediate class is Luca Cadalora, with 34 in a row in the 250 class over the 1990-92 seasons.
20 - KTM riders have won the last 20 successive Moto3™ races. This is a new record for the longest sequence of successive wins in the 125/Moto3™ class by one manufacturer. The previous record was 19 successive wins by Honda across the 1990/91 seasons.
17 - Spanish riders have won the last 17 races across all three classes. This is a new record for the longest sequence of successive GP wins by one nation. The previous record was set by Spanish riders in the 2010 season, with 15 successive wins. The last non-Spanish GP winner was Scott Redding, in the Moto2™ class at Silverstone.
13 - Dani Pedrosa has had more success at Spanish circuits than any other rider in MotoGP™ history, with 13 wins (2 in 125cc, 4 in 250cc and 7 in MotoGP™), followed by Angel Nieto with 11 (4 in 50cc and 7 in 125cc).
9 - All nine Grand prix races to have taken place in Spain this year have been won by Spaniards, but remarkably nobody has taken more than one win at home (Jerez: Pedrosa, Rabat, Viñales; Catalunya: Lorenzo, Espargaro, Salom and Aragon: Marquez, Terol, Rins).
5 - The top three riders in the Moto3™ class are covered by just five points. Since the current scoring system was introduced in 1993, this is the smallest points’ margin covering the top three riders when arriving at the final race of the year in any class of Grand Prix racing.
4 - The first four riders across the line in the Japanese MotoGP™ race were all from Spain. This was the first time in the 65-year history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing that Spanish riders have taken the top four places in the premier class. The last time that one nation took the top four places in a MotoGP™ race was at Mugello in 2005, when the first four riders across the line were from Italy: Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri.
Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi to split from crew chief Jerry Burgess
07 November 2013
"It was a very difficult decision for me" - Valentino Rossi.
Valencia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi to split from crew chief Jerry Burgess <-- Click to enlarge [NEW FEATURE]
Valentino Rossi's 14-year partnership with legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess is to end at this weekend's Valencia MotoGP season finale.
Burgess is the most successful crew chief in motorcycle grand prix history and has been at Rossi's side since his 2000 premier-class debut.
But Rossi has decided that change is needed for 2014 - the final year of his existing Yamaha contract - and confirmed at Valencia on Thursday that the 60-year-old Australian will not be in his corner next season.
"I think that next year Jeremy will not be my chief mechanic," said Rossi. "It was a very difficult decision for me because I have a great history with Jeremy. He is not just my chief mechanic, he is like a part of the family. My 'father' for racing.
"But I decide for next year I need to change something to try to find new motivation and a new boost - to improve my level, my speed. I think that this is our last race together with Jerry, yes."
Burgess has won world titles with Rossi (7), Mick Doohan (5) and Wayne Gardner (1) and also worked with the likes of Randy Mamola, Ron Haslam and Freddie Spencer.
After starting his grand prix carer with Suzuki, Burgess had been a Honda employee for 21 years by the time he - alongside mechanics Bernard Anciau, Alex Briggs and Gary Coleman - made the high-risk move with Rossi to Yamaha for 2004.
Together Rossi, Burgess and Yamaha pulled off one of the biggest upsets in MotoGP, turning a bike that had claimed just one podium the previous season into Yamaha's first riders' title since 1992. Rossi went on to win the MotoGP crown from 2001-2005, then again in 2008 and 2009.
The Italian broke his leg during 2010 while his next team change, to Ducati in 2011, was to prove 'painful' for different reasons. Rossi took just three podiums in two years - the Desmosedici's handling problems remaining unresolved to this day - before cutting his loses for a race-winning return, accompanied by Burgess and his mechanics, to Yamaha in 2013.
Racing Numbers: Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana
Thursday, 7 November 2013
The biggest numbers this weekend will revolve around the championship battle between Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo, but there are plenty of other elements to watch out for as well…
111 - Jorge Lorenzo’s victory in Japan was the 111th time he has stood on the podium in GP racing; the same number of podiums that Max Biaggi achieved during his entire Grand Prix career. Only six riders have finished on the podium on more occasions than Lorenzo: Valentino Rossi (183), Giacomo Agostini (159), Angel Nieto (139), Dani Pedrosa (124), Phil Read (121) and Mike Hailwood (112).
107 - Bradley Smith has a total of 107 points with one race remaining of the 2013 season. This is the highest points total ever achieved by a British rider in his rookie season in MotoGP™; a record previously held by James Toseland, who scored 105 points in the 2008 season.
51 - Jorge Lorenzo’s victory in Japan marked the 51st time he had stood on the top step of the podium in his Grand Prix career. This is just one less Grand Prix victory than two-time premier class World Champion Phil Read achieved during his career.
32 - Dominique Aegerter’s eighth place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, after starting from the back of the grid, was the 32nd successive race at which he has finished in a points-scoring position. The last race at which he failed to score points was when he finished 18th at the opening race of last year in Qatar. The only rider in the 65-year history of Grand Prix racing who has had longer sequence of successive points-scoring finishes in the intermediate class is Luca Cadalora, with 34 in a row in the 250 class over the 1990-92 seasons.
20 - KTM riders have won the last 20 successive Moto3™ races. This is a new record for the longest sequence of successive wins in the 125/Moto3™ class by one manufacturer. The previous record was 19 successive wins by Honda across the 1990/91 seasons.
17 - Spanish riders have won the last 17 races across all three classes. This is a new record for the longest sequence of successive GP wins by one nation. The previous record was set by Spanish riders in the 2010 season, with 15 successive wins. The last non-Spanish GP winner was Scott Redding, in the Moto2™ class at Silverstone.
13 - Dani Pedrosa has had more success at Spanish circuits than any other rider in MotoGP™ history, with 13 wins (2 in 125cc, 4 in 250cc and 7 in MotoGP™), followed by Angel Nieto with 11 (4 in 50cc and 7 in 125cc).
9 - All nine Grand prix races to have taken place in Spain this year have been won by Spaniards, but remarkably nobody has taken more than one win at home (Jerez: Pedrosa, Rabat, Viñales; Catalunya: Lorenzo, Espargaro, Salom and Aragon: Marquez, Terol, Rins).
5 - The top three riders in the Moto3™ class are covered by just five points. Since the current scoring system was introduced in 1993, this is the smallest points’ margin covering the top three riders when arriving at the final race of the year in any class of Grand Prix racing.
4 - The first four riders across the line in the Japanese MotoGP™ race were all from Spain. This was the first time in the 65-year history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing that Spanish riders have taken the top four places in the premier class. The last time that one nation took the top four places in a MotoGP™ race was at Mugello in 2005, when the first four riders across the line were from Italy: Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri.
pics from the end of season Valecia tests. Plus a few unexpected images . . ..how many of you know who's who ?
WSBK »
Camier: 'The day after they decided to sign Laverty'
07 November 2013
WSBK »
Laverty signs with Fixi Crescent Suzuki
12 November 2013
'I will give everything I possibly can to bring Suzuki to the top of the podium again' - Eugene Laverty
Laverty signs with Fixi Crescent Suzuki <-- Click to enlarge [NEW FEATURE]
Eugene Laverty has been confirmed at Fixi Crescent Suzuki for the 2014 World Superbike Championship.
The Northern Irishman, who finished as the runner-up this season behind Tom Sykes, will ride the GSX-R1000 for the first time at the Jerez test later this month.
Laverty's confirmation in the team comes after British rider Leon Camier was told his services were not required next season.
British Superbike champion Alex Lowes has also been strongly linked to Fixi Crescent Suzuki after testing with the team alongside Camier in what had looked like Paul Denning's line-up for 2014.
However, Laverty – who turned down an option to move to MotoGP with Ducati – has now been unveiled as the team's lead rider after losing his ride in the factory Aprilia WSBK team to Marco Melandri.
“I'm delighted to join Crescent Suzuki for the 2014 season. I will try the GSX-R1000 for the first time at the end of this month to better understand our potential, and I am really excited to see what I can do with the bike,” said Laverty, who won nine races this year on his way to the championship runner-up spot.
“Thank you to Paul Denning and his team, and to Suzuki, for pushing so hard for this deal and for believing in me.
“I will give everything I possibly can to bring Suzuki to the top of the podium again.”
Team manager Denning said he was confident Laverty would obtain the 'maximum potential' from the GSX-R1000 next year.
“It is an exciting prospect for the Crescent Suzuki team to have secured the services of a rider of Eugene's calibre,” he said.
“He has shown regularly this season that he has the determination, ability and technique to secure superb results, even when things are against him.
“Eugene brings a different level of expectation to the team and it is now up to us to give him the tool for the job,” Denning added.
|We have made big steps this season with the GSX-R, and with further developments planned for 2014 I am convinced that Eugene will be able to get the maximum potential from the Suzuki.”
Laverty will be at the Motorcycle Live show on Saturday, November 23 at the NEC in Birmingham as a guest of Suzuki UK, where he will make his first official appearance as a Suzuki rider.
Camier: 'The day after they decided to sign Laverty'
07 November 2013
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Camier: 'The day after they decided to sign Laverty' <-- Click to enlarge [NEW FEATURE]
Leon Camier has spoken of his shock at being ousted from the Crescent Suzuki World Superbike team in favour of title runner-up Eugene Laverty.
Camier - a Crescent rider for the past two seasons - tested alongside BSB champion Alex Lowes at the end of October, in what looked like being the team's 2014 line-up.
"We verbally came to a ball park agreement, we got to the test and we were thinning out the details and we had a really good test," Camier told Kent Sports News.
"The day after they decided to sign Eugene Laverty and I was quite annoyed to be honest with you and that hurt."
Crescent confirmed Camier's departure yesterday (Wednesday) but is yet to officially name its 2014 riders.
WSBK »
Laverty signs with Fixi Crescent Suzuki
12 November 2013
'I will give everything I possibly can to bring Suzuki to the top of the podium again' - Eugene Laverty
Laverty signs with Fixi Crescent Suzuki <-- Click to enlarge [NEW FEATURE]
Eugene Laverty has been confirmed at Fixi Crescent Suzuki for the 2014 World Superbike Championship.
The Northern Irishman, who finished as the runner-up this season behind Tom Sykes, will ride the GSX-R1000 for the first time at the Jerez test later this month.
Laverty's confirmation in the team comes after British rider Leon Camier was told his services were not required next season.
British Superbike champion Alex Lowes has also been strongly linked to Fixi Crescent Suzuki after testing with the team alongside Camier in what had looked like Paul Denning's line-up for 2014.
However, Laverty – who turned down an option to move to MotoGP with Ducati – has now been unveiled as the team's lead rider after losing his ride in the factory Aprilia WSBK team to Marco Melandri.
“I'm delighted to join Crescent Suzuki for the 2014 season. I will try the GSX-R1000 for the first time at the end of this month to better understand our potential, and I am really excited to see what I can do with the bike,” said Laverty, who won nine races this year on his way to the championship runner-up spot.
“Thank you to Paul Denning and his team, and to Suzuki, for pushing so hard for this deal and for believing in me.
“I will give everything I possibly can to bring Suzuki to the top of the podium again.”
Team manager Denning said he was confident Laverty would obtain the 'maximum potential' from the GSX-R1000 next year.
“It is an exciting prospect for the Crescent Suzuki team to have secured the services of a rider of Eugene's calibre,” he said.
“He has shown regularly this season that he has the determination, ability and technique to secure superb results, even when things are against him.
“Eugene brings a different level of expectation to the team and it is now up to us to give him the tool for the job,” Denning added.
|We have made big steps this season with the GSX-R, and with further developments planned for 2014 I am convinced that Eugene will be able to get the maximum potential from the Suzuki.”
Laverty will be at the Motorcycle Live show on Saturday, November 23 at the NEC in Birmingham as a guest of Suzuki UK, where he will make his first official appearance as a Suzuki rider.
SouperPoll :: Something About Jerry
In an effort to jump-start his career, Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has split with his longtime crewchief Jeremy "Jerry" Burgess. This weekend at Valencia will be their last race together.
Question: Will a new crewchief bring Rossi that much closer to top level competitiveness?
Yes. It's just what the doctor ordered.
865 votes (12.3%)
No. Burgess isn't the problem.
6196 votes (87.7%)
Vote total: 7061
In an effort to jump-start his career, Yamaha's Valentino Rossi has split with his longtime crewchief Jeremy "Jerry" Burgess. This weekend at Valencia will be their last race together.
Question: Will a new crewchief bring Rossi that much closer to top level competitiveness?
Yes. It's just what the doctor ordered.
865 votes (12.3%)
No. Burgess isn't the problem.
6196 votes (87.7%)
Vote total: 7061
Dall'Igna: It's The People, Damn It
by staff
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Um, might want to go ahead and make a new bike.
The Ducati Desmosedici is universally regarded as the most recalcitrant Grand Prix prototype motorcycle of the last five seasons, as it hasn't won a MotoGP race since 2010.
Ducati struggled with grip problems on both ends of the bike when it used a carbon-fiber chassis with the engine as a stressed member from 2009-11. Not much improved when Ducati switched to a more traditional, Japanese-style alloy frame in 2012 after incessant demands from Valentino Rossi.
The GP13 also struggled to compete with Japanese rivals Yamaha and Honda, usually a second or more off the pace of those bikes. The factory Ducati sometimes even suffered the ignominy of occasionally being slower than Aprilia's Claiming Rules Team bike fielded by the Aspar team.
Yet despite all of this evidence, new Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall'Igna suggested Tuesday during a press briefing at Valencia that the Desmosedici's problem is not about parts and pieces. Not about design. Not about assembly. Not about engineering.
"It is not technical, it is human," Dall'Igna said when asked about the most serious problem in Ducati. "There is a big disconnect between those who work and those who work at home on the track. It should be absolutely restored the link. It is not permissible when it is developed a new piece for the motorcycle racing at home do not know if you have tried it on track and on track at home do not know if they are developing others.
"This is certainly the first problem to solve: the success of a company start from the organization."
And once Dall'Igna straightens the team's personnel disconnect, he insists all technical solutions are being considered, including scrapping Ducati's iconic desmodromic-valve engines.
"If this proves to be necessary to win, we will," Dall'Igna said.
ENDS
wtf !
anyone who can speak woglosih pls translate.
some spanish rider used this as a theme at Motegi. He got told off but I dont think he cared one bit. Gave me a giggle how dumb he could be.
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Cervera hails the MotoGP World Champion
Saturday, 16 November 2013
For yet another year, thousands of fans take to the streets of Marc Marquez' home town to congratulate the MotoGP rookie title winner.
The MotoGP World Championship concluded last weekend with the Valencian Grand Prix, and with a new title winner in Marc Marquez. His neighbours in Cervera, Lleida, took to the streets to celebrate upon the champion's return, decorating the town with the name and number of the Repsol rider to provide a hero's welcome.
As they did in 2010 for Marquez' winning the 125cc World Championship and last year for the star's Moto2 title triumph, fans banded together to make the homecoming an event to remember. Marquez –who debuted in Grand Prix racing with Repsol backing in 2008– was accompanied by his brother –and Moto3 Rookie of the Year– Alex at a press conference, before being paraded through the streets of Cervera in an open-top car.
The tour of the town concluded on a stage, where the Marquez brothers addressed their fans. Following a season full of success, in which he claimed the MotoGP World Championship title in his rookie year, Marc Marquez thanked his team, sponsors and especially his fans, for their unconditional support throughout an historic campaign.
"I'm very happy to be celebrating the title here, in my home town, with all of these fans who have come out despite the rain and snow," said Marquez. "It is really beautiful and an honour for a rider to receive this level of affection from the fans. A day like this is enjoyable for everyone; a title like this one should be celebrated well, because it is hard to achieve and it belongs to the people here in a small way too. I am very grateful for their support and I see more and more people with flags or the number 93 shirt at every race; it is something that really excites me. I also want to thank the team, who couldn't miss this party and who are the ones who made a season like this year's
Luthi fastest as Jerez test comes to an end
Moto2™ is powered by
Jerez Test: Moto2 Day 2
Friday, 15 November 2013
It was Interwetten Paddock Moto2 Racing’s Tom Luthi who ended the two-day Moto2™ test in Jerez on top as he edged Marc VDS Racing Team’s new signing Tito Rabat as well as Valencia podium sitter, Aspar Team Moto2’s Jordi Torres.
Luthi set a time of 1'42.046 on the final day, with Rabat 0.239 and Torres 0.645 seconds slower. Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Takaaki Nakagami made a good start to his stint with a new team, just 0.822s off the pace, ahead of Federal Oil Gresini’s new signing Xavier Simeon.
Torres’ teammate and Valencia victor Nico Terol was sixth quickest, as he edged out current World Supersport Champion and Speed Up signing Sam Lowes, who was the final man within one second of Luthi. Dynavolt Intact GP’s Sandro Cortese embarked on his second year in Moto2™ by ending the day in eighth, ahead of Marc VDS’ Mika Kallio and Maptaq SAG Zelos Team’s Louis Rossi.
Caterham Moto Racing’s Johann Zarco just missed out on a top ten spot, as he finished ahead of Italtrans Racing Team’s Julian Simon and his new teammate Franco Morbidelli. Marcel Schrotter continued to get to grips with the Mistral 610 in the Tech3 outfit closely followed by team companion Alex Mariñelarena, who just managed to oust Pons’ new boy and Moto3™ World Champion Maverick Viñales.
Viñales will be pleased he is just over two seconds off Luthi, whilst he also beat AMA Superbike Champion Josh Herrin who continues to adapt to the prototype class. Behind the American, Viñales’ teammate Luis Salom will hope to edge closer to his compatriot at the following tests, whilst AGR’s Jonas Folger will also look for a similar leap in his adaptation to the intermediate class.
Further down the grid, Gresini’s Lorenzo Baldassarri got more time on the Suter machine after his step up to Moto2™, whilst other newcomer Alessandro Nocco on the Speed Up has now had more time to adapt and prepare himself over the winter.
Miller once again on top in Jerez testing
Jerez Test: Moto3 Day 2
Friday, 15 November 2013
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jack Miller has made the ideal start to his career as a factory KTM rider by once again topping the timesheets in the two-day test at the Circuito de Jerez ahead of returning teammate Danny Kent.
Team boss Aki Ajo will be extremely pleased, as his rookie signing Karel Hanika - one of the most exciting prospects this season after his Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup title win - completed the top three, just under half a second off Miller’s top time of 1'47.290.
Niklas Ajo was not far behind the Czech youngster on his KTM machine, whilst Interwetten Paddock Moto3's Philipp Oettl was able to hold off Mahindra Racing’s new signing Arthur Sissis and established rider Miguel Oliveira. Sissis’ time was a 1'48.574, over half a second ahead of Oliveira, which the ambitious Indian manufacturer will no doubt hope to see improve over winter testing.
Saturday, 16 November 2013
For yet another year, thousands of fans take to the streets of Marc Marquez' home town to congratulate the MotoGP rookie title winner.
The MotoGP World Championship concluded last weekend with the Valencian Grand Prix, and with a new title winner in Marc Marquez. His neighbours in Cervera, Lleida, took to the streets to celebrate upon the champion's return, decorating the town with the name and number of the Repsol rider to provide a hero's welcome.
As they did in 2010 for Marquez' winning the 125cc World Championship and last year for the star's Moto2 title triumph, fans banded together to make the homecoming an event to remember. Marquez –who debuted in Grand Prix racing with Repsol backing in 2008– was accompanied by his brother –and Moto3 Rookie of the Year– Alex at a press conference, before being paraded through the streets of Cervera in an open-top car.
The tour of the town concluded on a stage, where the Marquez brothers addressed their fans. Following a season full of success, in which he claimed the MotoGP World Championship title in his rookie year, Marc Marquez thanked his team, sponsors and especially his fans, for their unconditional support throughout an historic campaign.
"I'm very happy to be celebrating the title here, in my home town, with all of these fans who have come out despite the rain and snow," said Marquez. "It is really beautiful and an honour for a rider to receive this level of affection from the fans. A day like this is enjoyable for everyone; a title like this one should be celebrated well, because it is hard to achieve and it belongs to the people here in a small way too. I am very grateful for their support and I see more and more people with flags or the number 93 shirt at every race; it is something that really excites me. I also want to thank the team, who couldn't miss this party and who are the ones who made a season like this year's
Luthi fastest as Jerez test comes to an end
Moto2™ is powered by
Jerez Test: Moto2 Day 2
Friday, 15 November 2013
It was Interwetten Paddock Moto2 Racing’s Tom Luthi who ended the two-day Moto2™ test in Jerez on top as he edged Marc VDS Racing Team’s new signing Tito Rabat as well as Valencia podium sitter, Aspar Team Moto2’s Jordi Torres.
Luthi set a time of 1'42.046 on the final day, with Rabat 0.239 and Torres 0.645 seconds slower. Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Takaaki Nakagami made a good start to his stint with a new team, just 0.822s off the pace, ahead of Federal Oil Gresini’s new signing Xavier Simeon.
Torres’ teammate and Valencia victor Nico Terol was sixth quickest, as he edged out current World Supersport Champion and Speed Up signing Sam Lowes, who was the final man within one second of Luthi. Dynavolt Intact GP’s Sandro Cortese embarked on his second year in Moto2™ by ending the day in eighth, ahead of Marc VDS’ Mika Kallio and Maptaq SAG Zelos Team’s Louis Rossi.
Caterham Moto Racing’s Johann Zarco just missed out on a top ten spot, as he finished ahead of Italtrans Racing Team’s Julian Simon and his new teammate Franco Morbidelli. Marcel Schrotter continued to get to grips with the Mistral 610 in the Tech3 outfit closely followed by team companion Alex Mariñelarena, who just managed to oust Pons’ new boy and Moto3™ World Champion Maverick Viñales.
Viñales will be pleased he is just over two seconds off Luthi, whilst he also beat AMA Superbike Champion Josh Herrin who continues to adapt to the prototype class. Behind the American, Viñales’ teammate Luis Salom will hope to edge closer to his compatriot at the following tests, whilst AGR’s Jonas Folger will also look for a similar leap in his adaptation to the intermediate class.
Further down the grid, Gresini’s Lorenzo Baldassarri got more time on the Suter machine after his step up to Moto2™, whilst other newcomer Alessandro Nocco on the Speed Up has now had more time to adapt and prepare himself over the winter.
Miller once again on top in Jerez testing
Jerez Test: Moto3 Day 2
Friday, 15 November 2013
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jack Miller has made the ideal start to his career as a factory KTM rider by once again topping the timesheets in the two-day test at the Circuito de Jerez ahead of returning teammate Danny Kent.
Team boss Aki Ajo will be extremely pleased, as his rookie signing Karel Hanika - one of the most exciting prospects this season after his Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup title win - completed the top three, just under half a second off Miller’s top time of 1'47.290.
Niklas Ajo was not far behind the Czech youngster on his KTM machine, whilst Interwetten Paddock Moto3's Philipp Oettl was able to hold off Mahindra Racing’s new signing Arthur Sissis and established rider Miguel Oliveira. Sissis’ time was a 1'48.574, over half a second ahead of Oliveira, which the ambitious Indian manufacturer will no doubt hope to see improve over winter testing.
LoL...what's that? KMZ, Ural or Jawa?
no idea bud, but i rekon they should drink less vodka and spend more time on the spanners
Yep.
When I was 16 yrs, I've tried to build a 'chopper' from an old 50ccm bike...
Somehow I messed up the 'fork' and front wheel and the outcome was the same as the video.
I hope you learn't you lesson young man ! 
WSBK »
MV Agusta WSBK debut official
15 November 2013
"Our official return to racing is a very ambitious and important step for us” - Giovanni Castiglioni, MV Agusta.
MV Agusta WSBK debut official
15 November 2013
"Our official return to racing is a very ambitious and important step for us” - Giovanni Castiglioni, MV Agusta.
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MV Agusta WSBK debut official
More than 37 years after its last world championship race win, with Giacomo Agostini in 1976, MV Agusta will make its official comeback to top level racing in the 2014 World Superbike Championship.
The iconic Italian brand, which has a record of 37 Riders' and 38 Manufacturers' titles, has finally confirmed its WSBK intentions, in partnership with Yakhnich Motorsport.
"Our official return to racing is a very ambitious and important step for us,” said Giovanni Castiglioni, MV Agusta President. “Racing has always been my dad's greatest passion and this drove the brand to victory in many disciplines of motorcycle racing, from 500cc GP to Paris-Dakar and to the first Superbike World Championship titles won with Ducati.
“His dream was to see MV back to racing and I am so proud to be the one doing so."
Starting from 2014, MV Agusta will take on the challenge of both the WSBK and World Supersport series, recent won by Yakhnich (using Yamaha machinery) in only their second season in the series.
"We worked very hard to achieve the great results of 2013. The partnership with MV Agusta opens a whole new set of opportunities,” said Alexander Yakhnich, Yakhnich Motorsport president. “We are truly happy of the agreement and we look forward to further success."
MV Agusta took podiums in WSS with ParkinGO this year.
Rider line-up for 'Yakhnich Motorsport MV Agusta Reparto Corse' will be revealed by the end of November.
Javier Alonso, WSBK Executive Director, recognised the official presence of MV as being significant for the series as a whole.
"We're glad to announce the official return of MV Agusta to the WSBK series,” he said. “The Italian brand is not only globally important but has an iconic and successful racing history, so welcome back and all the best to both the Manufacturer and the Team for the upcoming season."
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WSBK adopts MotoGP qualifying, penalty points
15 November 2013
WSBK adopts MotoGP qualifying, penalty points
The Superbike Commission has announced changes to the WSBK Sporting and Disciplinary rules, 'to have a set of regulations as similar as possible' for both WSBK and MotoGP.
The main changes will see WSBK adopt the MotoGP-style practice and qualifying system, where the top ten riders after third practice are granted automatic access to the second and final part of qualifying.
The other riders fight over the last two places in Q2, during qualifying one. Both qualifying sessions are 15 minutes in length.
WSBK will also follow MotoGP's lead by introducing licence penalty points. This was a new measure for MotoGP this season, which allowed Race Direction to sanction a rider with between 1 and 10 penalty points.
Points accumulate during the season with punishments given if 4 points (back of grid start), 7 points (pit lane start) and 10 points (disqualification) are reached.
However unlike MotoGP 2013, the WSBK statement declares that points will not be annulled for the start of each season, but instead “last for a period of one [calendar] year”. The statement adds that this change will also apply to grand prix for 2014.
The change is to address the kind of situation seen at the Valencia MotoGP finale, where Jorge Lorenzo aggressively defended his race lead and was investigated by Race Direction. However since it was the final round, the application of any post-race penalty points would have been meaningless.
Other changes to bring WSBK in-line with MotoGP include practice (testing) restrictions for contracted riders and teams
Some items remain pending and the SBK Commission will meet on 10 December, in Madrid, to finalise the FIM Superbike & Supersport World Championship and Superstock 1000cc Cup Regulations for 2014.
A clarification of the technical rules - “taking into consideration that the 2015 SBK Rules should last for a long period of time in order to give stability to the series” - will also be made.
Spain’s Prime Minister congratulates Champions
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro and Maverick Viñales travelled to Madrid on Thursday as the three Spanish World Champions of the MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes of the World Championship received congratulations from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Praising the riders for their ‘hard work and dedication’ in a season that saw Spaniards clinch all three World Championship titles for their respective Repsol Honda Team, Tuenti HP 40 and Team Calvo outfits, Rajoy labelled the trio as ‘absolutely unbeatable’.
“Many millions of happy Spanish people dedicate their free time on Sundays to see how you win,” Rajoy commented to Marquez, Espargaro and Viñales, adding that the achievements are ‘an incentive and an example for all’.
The Prime Minister also thanked the teams and managers in question for their efforts in achieving such success. “It is a matter of equipment,” he added. “Nobody can do anything alone, in any facet of life – something I am sure these Champions know very well.”
Espargaro wrapped up his Moto2™ title two weeks before the end of the 2013 season, at Motegi in Japan, whereas Marquez and Viñales sealed their individual MotoGP™ and Moto3™ honours in the Valencia finale of 10 November.
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Marc Marquez, Pol Espargaro and Maverick Viñales travelled to Madrid on Thursday as the three Spanish World Champions of the MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ classes of the World Championship received congratulations from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Praising the riders for their ‘hard work and dedication’ in a season that saw Spaniards clinch all three World Championship titles for their respective Repsol Honda Team, Tuenti HP 40 and Team Calvo outfits, Rajoy labelled the trio as ‘absolutely unbeatable’.
“Many millions of happy Spanish people dedicate their free time on Sundays to see how you win,” Rajoy commented to Marquez, Espargaro and Viñales, adding that the achievements are ‘an incentive and an example for all’.
The Prime Minister also thanked the teams and managers in question for their efforts in achieving such success. “It is a matter of equipment,” he added. “Nobody can do anything alone, in any facet of life – something I am sure these Champions know very well.”
Espargaro wrapped up his Moto2™ title two weeks before the end of the 2013 season, at Motegi in Japan, whereas Marquez and Viñales sealed their individual MotoGP™ and Moto3™ honours in the Valencia finale of 10 November.
Yep, 'young man'..that was a good one. I'll read your new posts here now.
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