Two Wheels

[wino]

MotoGP »
MotoGP Malaysia: Lorenzo has 'lost respect' for title rival Rossi
25 October 2015

“One thing is a contact, another thing is to pull a bike completely straight, look at the rider and pull the leg out to make him crash. This shouldn't be accepted' - Jorge Lorenzo.

MotoGP Malaysia: Lorenzo has 'lost respect' for title rival Rossi

Jorge Lorenzo says he has lost respect for Valentino Rossi after the MotoGP championship leader clashed with Marc Marquez in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

Rossi received three penalty points from Race Direction for 'irresponsible riding' after he forced Marquez wide before contact was made between the pair, with his Honda rival crashing out of the race after engaging in a fierce battle with the Italian on the previous three laps.

Lorenzo, who finished second behind Dani Pedrosa to close the gap to seven points in the championship with one race remaining, said: “I think not only me but a lot of people will have less respect for him as a sportsman. Unbelievable rider, maybe the greatest rider in history, but I think many people will change their opinion.

“He have in the past some similar actions but today was the worst one. I don't think this type of action is a good action coming from [someone] supposed to be a great champion like Valentino Rossi is, no?

“One thing is a contact, another thing is to pull a bike completely straight, look at the rider and pull the leg out to make him crash. This shouldn't be accepted in this sport.”

Lorenzo is the hot favourite to win his third premier class title following Sunday's developments but claims that should Rossi somehow emerge victorious and seal his his tenth world crown, the 36-year-old will not be a 'fair' champion.

“Valentino is starting in last position of the grid and maybe the conditions rain, or if it is dry maybe he will have a few more problems but he can be world champion and this is not the fair final of the championship, knowing what has happened today at this track,” said Lorenzo.

“If this happens [Rossi wins world title], for me it will not be a fair champion this time, in this year; he will be a fair champion in the rest of the championships, but not this one.”

However, asked if his attitude towards Rossi will change, Lorenzo said: “No, to me he didn't do anything. I'm just not sharing [the decision] that Race Direction make because in 2005 I made something quite similar but I crashed also and I got zero points and I got one race disqualification, so sometimes it is not the same, the decision they can take.”

Lorenzo, who explained that he left the podium celebrations following the race because he was physically drained and needed time to recover, was asked how he regarded his relationship with Marquez, who has been accused by Rossi of favouring the Majorcan for the title.

“He is one of the best, if not the best at this moment in MotoGP and [I have] a lot of respect, nothing more,” Lorenzo said.

 

[Wayne Kerr]

 

[wino]

 

[wino]

MotoGP DefCon 4: No Rossi At Valencia MotoGP?
by staff
Monday, October 26, 2015
A showdown may be looming with Valentino Rossi suggesting he won't race at Valencia.
image by THE Marco Guidetti


A dramatic showdown may be looming between Valentino Rossi and MotoGP after the Sepang round of the world championship. The next move either party takes could be an important one.

After being penalized by MotoGP race direction and that penalty--of having to start on the final row of the grid at Valencia was upheld by the FIM--Rossi suggested at Sepang that he won't race at Valencia, and that his run at the title is over.

The Valencia round of the championship is scheduled for November 8.

Yamaha's Lin Jarvis--basically the team principle for the factory Yamaha effort--scoffed at suggestions that Rossi would skip the final round of the championship.

The Yamaha MotoGP team is made up of multiple levels of legally binding contracts. Yamaha has a contract with Dorna to race the series with a specific number of riders, Yamaha has a contract with Rossi as a rider and representative of the team, specifying the number of races he will contest, PR appearances he will submit to, etc. Rossi, in turn, has contracts with various sponsors including Monster, AGV and Dainese. These contracts are based on his racing MotoGP events.

A good contractual attorney could put it in plain enough terms for a rider to understand that if he chooses not to uphold the terms of the contract that he could be sued for damages.

However, Valentino Rossi is not just any rider.

Because he is a global sporting superstar, Rossi is an integral part of the MotoGP machine. It's long been a viable question: which is the bigger entity--the whole of MotoGP or Valentino Rossi? There is compelling data, including the crash in TV ratings when Rossi broke his leg at Mugello in 2010, and the dismal spiral the series underwent when Rossi joined Ducati and spent two seasons floundering that suggests that MotoGP should be very careful when it comes to Valentino Rossi not appearing at racetracks.

Does MotoGP want to mention to Yamaha they will face action if they do not have Rossi on the grid at Valencia? Does Yamaha want to force Rossi to race? These are emotionally charged days for the nine-time champion; his fixation on Marquez at Sepang was something no one saw coming. The factor of emotional unpredictability in this situation should not be under-emphasized by the powerbrokers in MotoGP.

If forced by contract to ride at Valencia, would Rossi elevate the situation by quitting altogether?

ENDS

 

[wino]

 

[wino]

 

[wino]

 

[wino]

Mr. Rossi has done this so he can be 10 times world CHAMP for a few months. Unless it gets thrown out before Valencia.

MotoGP »
MotoGP: Valentino Rossi appeals Sepang penalty
31 October 2015

Valentino Rossi launches final appeal against penalty for clash with Marc Marquez at Sepang, to try and avoid back-of-grid start at MotoGP championship decider.

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi appeals Sepang penalty

Valentino Rossi has filed an appeal against his Sepang penalty to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to get his last place start for the Valencia title decider overturned - or, just as significantly, delayed.

With the initial appeal by Rossi's Yamaha team against the decision of Race Direction rejected by the FIM Stewards', the CAS move is the last remaining option for Rossi.

The Italian was handed three penalty points for triggering a clash with bitter rival Marc Marquez at Sepang. Four points are needed for a back of the grid start, but Rossi already had one penalty point for impeding title rival Jorge Lorenzo in qualifying at Misano.

Rossi heads into next weekend's Valencia decider with a seven point advantage over team-mate Lorenzo, but faces a difficult task to claim a tenth title if he starts from last on the grid.

But while Rossi is seeking "the annulment of the penalty, or at least a reduction from 3 points to 1" he only needs to delay the existing penalty to avoid starting last at Valencia.

As such, Rossi has also filed an "urgent application" for a "stay of execution of the decision". In other words, Rossi wants the three penalty points to be suspended while the CAS reaches its verdict. CAS expects to decide on whether this suspension will be granted by November 6, the date of Friday practice at Valencia.

Since Rossi's punishment involves penalty points rather than championship points, any decisions made by the CAS after the Valencia race are unlikely to have an impact on the 2015 title outcome.

For example if, after the season finale, the CAS upholds the three penalty points during its full judgement, Rossi would simply serve his last place start at the 2016 Qatar season opener (or whichever race followed the judgement).

“On the basis of Article 3.4.2, para 3 of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations, Mr Valentino Rossi has filed an Appeal against the decision taken by the Race Direction of the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix in Sepang, penultimate round of the FIM MotoGP Grand Prix World Championship, and confirmed by the FIM Stewards, to award 3 penalty points to Mr Rossi following an incident on Turn 14," read an FIM statement.

“In appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Mr Rossi seeks annulment or reduction of the penalty. He further requests stay of execution of the decision in accordance with Article R37 of the Code of Sports-Related Arbitration.

“The FIM will not comment any further at this time.”

In explaining its decision to punish Rossi, Race Direction stated at Sepang: "On 25th October 2015 during the MotoGP race of the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, you deliberately ran wide on Turn 14 in order to force another rider off line, resulting in contact causing the other rider to crash.

"This is considered to be irresponsible riding causing danger to other competitors and is therefore an infringement of Article 1.21.2 of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations.

"For the above motive, Race Direction has decided to impose on you the addition of 3 penalty points on your record."

Rossi has admitted forcing Marquez wide at Turn 14, saying he was being deliberately held up by the Spaniard during their no-holds-barred series of overtakes from lap 4 until the contact on lap 7.

That claim was rejected by Marquez, but taken into account as 'provocation' for Rossi's actions by Race Direction.

The Italian denied that he wanted the Honda rider to crash or that he had kicked out at the Spaniard, causing him to fall. Race Direction found the TV footage of Rossi's leg movement inconclusive and it was not part of his punishment.

The sanction of three penalty points was decided upon due to the precedent of Karel Hanika receiving five penalty points for a collision with Juanfran Guevara at Jerez.

“Hanika was a blatant 'Yes, I tried to hit the other rider, I wanted to hurt him'. This case was 'I did it by mistake' but the end result was still a crash," explained Race Director Mike Webb.

"It's my opinion on the way [Marquez] was riding, the lap time, my perception is that as many riders do he was trying to change the race. But I was very clear with him that he didn't break a rule. So Marquez has not been penalised.

"However we took into account when making the penalty on Rossi, that he certainly had some provocation. But, as I said to him, it doesn't matter what the provocation is. You can't react in a way that causes a rider to crash."

Rossi had accused Marquez of trying to help Lorenzo at the previous Phillip Island round, setting the scene for the Sepang showdown.

UPDATE: The CAS press release can be seen below:

"Italian MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the FIM Stewards' decision to impose 3 penalty points on his record following an incident with another rider during the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix race held on 25 October 2015.

"The FIM Race Direction found that Mr Rossi deliberately ran wide in order to force the other rider off line, resulting in contact causing the other rider to crash out of the race. For this breach of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations (the FIM Regulations), the FIM Race Direction imposed 3 penalty points on the rider's record.

"Mr Rossi immediately appealed such decision to the FIM Stewards who dismissed the appeal and confirmed the penalty imposed by the FIM Race Direction. Since Valentino Rossi already has 1 penalty point from an earlier incident, this decision brings him to a total of 4 penalty points. On the basis of the FIM Regulations, a rider with 4 penalty points must start the next race from last grid position.

"In his appeal to the CAS, Mr Rossi seeks the annulment of the penalty, or at least a reduction from 3 points to 1. Together with his appeal, Mr Rossi has filed an urgent application to stay the execution of the challenged decision in order not to lose his place on the starting grid at the next, and last, event of the season which will be held in Valencia/Spain on 6-8 November 2015.

"An arbitration procedure is in progress. A decision on Mr Rossi's request for a stay is expected to be issued no later than 6 November 2015."

The CAS is an independent organisation which settles disputes in sport. It is in no way connected to the FIM (or Dorna) and is granted "exclusive authority to impose a definitive settlement" by the MotoGP rules.


by Peter McLaren

 

[wino]

Stiffer speeding penalties for leading rideout
Published: 19 November 2009

Ken Clark was prosecuted for the speed of a following biker
Motorcyclists at the head of a group of riders will face stiffer penalties for speeding under a crown court ruling.

Being the lead rider in a group is an aggravating factor making you partly responsible for speeding offences of those behind you according to the decision.

The ruling can be applied in any future cases where two or more motorcyclists riding together are accused of speeding. The head rider might be only a few mph over the limit but could be given the same penalty as the worst offender behind.

Road traffic solicitor Robert Dobson said: “Any crown court decision can be stated in future cases. This is potentially a very dangerous judgement for motorcyclists.

"Riders in a group change position frequently.

“If you are riding at the front any group at excess speed, then the very fact you’re at the front is an aggravating factor.”

Ken Clark, 49, reached 85mph on his Yamaha R1 while leading a group of three riders on the 60mph A272 near Rogate, Sussex, last June.

The speed is within the usual threshold for a fixed penalty of three points and a £60 fine.

But Chichester Crown Court ruled he should receive the same penalty as a following rider accused of going 103mph.

Barrister notes on the ruling given to Clark after the hearing state: ‘Although his was the lesser speed, [the bench] found it an aggravating feature that he was the lead motorcyclist, was setting the pace and he knew that the other two motorcyclists would want to catch him up and would be speeding to do so.’

The court rejected Clark’s appeal against six points, a £100 fine and £250 court costs.

Clark said: “This should have been three points and a £60 fine but so far it’s cost me £2,500 including solicitors’ bills and I have six points on a licence which has been clean for the last 24 years.”

Clark’s solicitor, Philip Somarakis, said 103mph was the speed reached by a police officer on an unmarked bike while tailing Clark's two friends, but the prosecution accepted it was not possible to prove from video evidence that Clark himself had exceeded 85mph.

“The gist of the ruling is that to be a lead motorcyclist makes you somehow responsible for the actions of those behind you,” he added.

Gary Baldwin, former police motorcyclist and co-director of advanced riding school Rapid Training, said: “It's a dangerous precedent to suggest you are now responsible for someone who's in control of another vehicle.

"How do I control what they do? If someone is following me and I get in an overtake that they don't, they may go faster to catch up but that is their choice.”

To read how the prosecuting cop posted pictures on a swingers’ website showing him astride a police bike, get MCN, on sale now.

 

[wino]

MotoGP »
KTM’s MotoGP bike makes track debut
31 October 2015

“Thursday was a very emotional moment" - Pit Beirer.

KTM’s MotoGP bike makes track debut

KTM's RC16 MotoGP machine has made its track debut ahead of the company's entry in the 2017 world championship.

Test rider Alex Hoffmann carried out three days of testing at the Red Bull Ring, venue for next year's return of the Austrian Grand Prix.

The RC16 has been 'completely developed' in-house by KTM and the test went 'exactly according to plan'.

“Thursday was a very emotional moment, not only for me but also for the company, and I believe for many KTM fans in Austria and all over the world,” declared Motorsport Director Pit Beirer.

“This, and the start of the project on the racing circuit are just as important as any lap time. A very big thanks to Alex and the entire team for the excellent performance.

“The feedback and the fact that we were already able to put in very many laps without any problems gives us a lot of motivation for the next steps in this long journey towards our entry into MotoGP in 2017.”

The test comes 15 months after KTM, a race winner in the former 125 and 250cc class and frontrunner in the present Moto3 category, first announced its MotoGP entry.

“There was of course a great deal of tension and pressure on the team and the roll-out took place earlier and on a larger scale than originally planned,” revealed technical director Sebastian Risse.

“The fact that it all went as smoothly as it did, and the data that we have been able to gather makes us very optimistic about the further development of the KTM RC16. Although we are still far removed from the detailed work, these three days were a very positive and instructive test for us.”

Former MotoGP racer Hofmann added: “A big respect for what KTM has already achieved in this extremely short time. I think you can not only see it in my face, but also among all those who have worked here with such enthusiasm and professionalism.”

Another outing with Hofmann and new test rider Mika Kallio is planned for later this year.

 

[wino]

He might be the biggest thing in Moto but that move on Marquez could be his downfall , . . . . . . .

MotoGP »
MotoGP riders summoned by ‘Permanent Bureau’
2 November 2015

Dorna and FIM bosses summon MotoGP riders "to address the situation" following Sepang race...

MotoGP riders summoned by ‘Permanent Bureau’

Thursday's pre-event press conference for the Valencia MotoGP season finale has been cancelled!

In an unprecedented move, all MotoGP riders and team managers will instead be summoned to a meeting with the 'Permanent Bureau', comprising of FIM president Vito Ippolito and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, to discuss the ongoing fallout from the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Controversy continues to rage over the Sepang battle - and eventual collision - between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, plus the resulting penalty for the world championship leader.

Earlier this week Rossi lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, to try and avoid a back of the grid start for this weekend's title showdown with team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

Meanwhile, heated arguments continue as to what exactly happened during the contact and whether Rossi was justified in forcing Marquez wide. Honda released a statement earlier today defending Marquez against allegations he was trying to help Lorenzo by holding up the Italian, while turning the spotlight back onto what they believe was a kick by Rossi that caused the Spaniard to fall.

Rossi, Lorenzo, Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, Cal Crutchlow and Dani Petrucci had been due to attend Thursday's press conference.

However the FIM and Dorna clearly feel they need to sacrifice pre-event publicity - for what is probably MotoGP's biggest race since the 2006 Rossi vs. Hayden title showdown - in order to stop the situation spiraling out of control on- or off-track this weekend.

Naturally, questions about Sepang would have dominated Thursday's press conference, potentially inflaming the situation further.

But such questions will simply be asked during less formal group interviews with riders in the paddock - arranged by each team on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of a GP - assuming riders are not banned from speaking about Sepang.

Nevertheless, scrapping the Thursday press conference does mean that Rossi, Marquez and Lorenzo will not need to sit and listen to each other until at least Saturday's post-qualifying conference...

“Following the events that occurred at the Malaysian Grand Prix and further developments over the following week and given the exceptional circumstances, the Permanent Bureau of the FIM MotoGP World Championship, comprising of Messrs Vito Ippolito, FIM President, and Carmelo Ezpeleta, Chief Executive Officer of Dorna Sports, will summon all MotoGP riders and their respective team managers to address the situation on Thursday 5th November at 15.30 Local Time,” said an FIM statement.

“Given these circumstances, the pre-event press conference scheduled at 17.00 will be cancelled.”

Rossi leads Lorenzo by seven points heading into this weekend.

A decision on whether Rossi's Sepang penalty should be suspended will be made by the CAS no later than Friday, which may also have been a factor in the timing of the meeting.

 

[wino]

MotoGP »
MotoGP: Honda believes data shows Rossi 'kick' Marquez
2 November 2015

“[Marquez's] front brake lever suddenly received an impact that locked the front tyre, which is the reason for his crash. We believe that this pressure was a result of Rossi's kick.”

MotoGP: Honda believes data shows Rossi 'kick' Marquez

Honda has issued a detailed response to the events and accusations surrounding its star rider Marc Marquez, following the Spaniard's battle with MotoGP championship leader Valentino Rossi at Sepang.

Rossi, frustrated at Marquez's constant attacks for third place early in the Malaysian race, looked across and deliberately forced the Honda rider wide on lap 7 of 20.

With the edge of the track approaching, contact was made between the pair - including some leg movement from Rossi - which ended with Marquez on the ground.

“I didn't expect that he would take off the leg and push my handlebars and my front brake," Marquez said.

Rossi denied kicking Marquez, saying his foot came off the footpeg after they made contact and when Marquez was already falling. TV images were inconclusive and Race Direction only punished Rossi for forcing Marquez off line, "resulting in contact causing the other rider to crash".

The nine time world champion received three penalty points, a decision he is now appealing to avoid starting this Sunday's Valencia title decider - against team-mate Jorge Lorenzo - from the back of the grid.

The Sepang battle between Rossi and outgoing double champion Marquez had been brewing since Thursday, when Rossi sensationally accused Marquez of helping Lorenzo at the previous Australian race. The Doctor added that Marquez held a grudge over their earlier clashes in Argentina and Assen, describing him as 'angry and thinking like a child'.

Rossi's claim that Marquez was again trying to slow him down at Sepang was taken into account as 'provocation', although Race Direction made clear Marquez did not break any rules.

The controversy over the incident shows no sign of abating, prompting Honda to release the following Q&A with HRC vice president Shuhei Nakamoto.

Nakamoto insists there was nothing unusual in the way Marquez was racing Rossi, compares it to Rossi's battle with Lorenzo at Motegi 2010, claims the result of a 'kick' from Rossi can be seen on Marquez's data and is disappointed Rossi was not punished during the race...

“First of all, we would like to state that we believe it is very important to speak about the facts, not about assumptions. A fact is a fact and there is only one interpretation. Assumptions can be translated in different ways, depending on which side you are. For the good of our sport, we would like everybody to just consider the facts that occurred and these are clearly the following:

– Marc Marquez won the Australian GP, overtaking Jorge Lorenzo on the last lap, and therefore taking away 5 points from him in the Championship.

– On Thursday prior to the Malaysian GP in the Pre-Event Press Conference, Valentino Rossi accused Marc of racing against him in Phillip Island to help Jorge Lorenzo.

– In the Malaysian GP, Rossi intentionally pushed Marc out of the racing line which caused him to crash. Race Direction gave him a penalty for this action, confirmed by FIM.

As a matter of fact, the aforementioned topics are the only facts we can consider and comment upon, any other discussion would be based on assumptions. To speak about assumptions would only increase the negative atmosphere we are facing in this moment, but will not change the reality of what happened.”

What is your opinion regarding the current situation after the Malaysian GP?

“We as HRC are very regretful this situation has been created. First of all, we would like to underline that Marc has been subject to an accusation with no evidence, after the Phillip Island race. Clearly there are no grounds to support that he wanted to help any rider in the Championship battle, considering he pushed to win the race and did so. After reviewing the images further, you can clearly see Valentino and Marc shaking hands after the chequered flag in Australia, acknowledging a great and fair battle.”

Do you believe the battle in the Malaysian GP between Marc and Valentino is a result of Valentino's accusation?

“We honestly don't think this is the case. We all know Marc races at 100% all the time, it's one of the reasons we all love him and he has so many fans around the world. Marc always pushes to the maximum to achieve the best result possible. He had a great battle in his career with many riders, and nobody complained about that. In Malaysia, we know that Marc was struggling at the beginning of the race with the full tank, as has happened several times this season. Also in Sepang he made a mistake at the beginning of the race and this allowed Jorge to pass him. Then Valentino arrived and they began to fight for third place. The passes were extreme, but safe, from both riders. Two of the greatest champions we've seen battling together on track”

Is it possible that Marc slowed down Valentino in those laps?

“The lap times they were doing were quite fast, clearly showing that there was no intention from Marc to slow down Valentino. In addition, after Marc crashed and Valentino had an open track in front of him, his lap times were no faster then during the battle with Marc. We believe, they were both pushing to the maximum. Both wanted third place and to try and catch up with Dani and Jorge, but of course this battle opened up a gap to the front two. This is racing and when you have two talents such as Marc and Valentino you can see a wonderful battle as we saw.”

Do you believe Valentino kicked Marc's bike?

“It is clear that Valentino intentionally pushed Marc towards the outside of the track, which is out of the rules, therefore Marc had no other option other than to run wide. The data from Marc's bike shows that even though he was picking up the bike trying to avoid contact with Valentino, his front brake lever suddenly received an impact that locked the front tyre, which is the reason for his crash. We believe that this pressure was a result of Rossi's kick. The data acquisition from Marc's bike is available if anybody from Dorna, the FIM or media want to check.”

Do you believe Marc is telling the truth when he says he wasn't trying to slow down Valentino in Sepang?

“I know Marc well. He is a good guy, with strong and honest values. Marc was just trying to defend his position, as any rider would do, and we believe him 100%.”

What is your position on how Race Direction acted?

“We respect the decision of Race Direction and don't want to pass judgement if the penalty they administered was right or wrong. However, we do believe there was enough evidence to allow them to take a decision during the race, it was not necessary to wait until the end.”

What do you think of Valentino's appeal to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) against Race Direction and FIM's decision?

“This is in his rights. We will respect the CAS decision.”

People say that it's unfair that Marc battled with Valentino, as Marc is not fighting for the Championship, while Valentino is.

“This is racing! There were no comments or concerns after Dani fought with Valentino in Aragon and beat him, and also in Phillip Island with Iannone – nobody accused Andrea of trying to help one competitor more than the other. It's been a difficult season and in Sepang Marc simply wanted to take the best result possible for him and his team, it's not in his nature to settle for fourth place when there is a chance to fight for third. We should also look back to Motegi 2010 when Valentino was out of the race for the title but had a great battle with his teammate Jorge. After the race, when Jorge complained about Valentino being too aggressive and with no meaning as he was out of the Championship, Valentino commented: “I said to Yamaha, what do you expect from me, to arrive behind? If I know this I will stay at home.” We totally agree with Valentino's approach and will always support our riders to achieve the best results possible.”

What is your opinion of Valentino in this moment?

“Valentino is the greatest ever champion of our sport. We believe he has done a great job this year, and if he wins the Championship he truly deserves it, as he has been consistent and very fast all year. The fact that he is 36 years old increases the respect for such a great champion. Having said that, we don't understand his accusation related to the Phillip Island race and his manoeuvre in Sepang. We hope that Valentino will think it over and understand his mistake.”

What is your target for Valencia?

“As always, our target is to win! Our hope is that Marc and Dani can fight for the win. If they can finish first and second – it doesn't matter for us which order – then we will be very happy. First of all, because we want to finish this season with the 4th win in a row, second because if they both are in front of Jorge and Valentino, their result will have no influence in the battle for the title and – finally – we hope everybody will understand that Honda riders race for the win and the pure competition, for nothing else.”

 

[wino]

MotoGP »
MotoGP: Yamaha responds to Honda, Repsol 'kick' comments
3 November 2015

"Both press releases included words that accuse Valentino Rossi of kicking Marc Marquez's bike that is something not proven by the investigation of the Race Direction."

MotoGP: Yamaha responds to Honda, Repsol 'kick' comments

Valentino Rossi's Movistar Yamaha team has issued the following statement, in response to accusations from Repsol and Honda that the Italian kicked Marc Marquez's bike during their Malaysian MotoGP clash.

Both a race day Repsol press release and Monday's statement by HRC vice president Shuhei Nakamoto spoke of the kick being made, as did Marquez himself.

Yamaha point out that a kick was "not proven" by Race Direction (which said TV images were inconclusive) and therefore they "reject the wording used".

Rossi denied kicking Marquez, saying "He touched me with the handlebar on my left leg and it is for that reason he crashed... when I lose the foot on the footpeg Marquez is already down."

Race Direction's official verdict on the incident declared that Rossi: "Deliberately ran wide on Turn 14 in order to force another rider off line, resulting in contact causing the other rider to crash" - but did not mention a kick or that Rossi wanted Marquez to fall.

Either Rossi or team-mate Jorge Lorenzo will be crowned 2015 MotoGP champion this weekend at Valencia. However the aftermath of Sepang is far from over with Rossi appealing his three penalty points to try and avoid starting at the back of the grid.

Dorna and the FIM have summoned all the MotoGP riders to a meeting on Thursday regarding "the events that occurred at the Malaysian Grand Prix and further developments over the following week", cancelling the usual pre-event press conference.

The full Yamaha statement can be seen below:

"We refer to the press release issued by Repsol Media Service on Sunday 25th October 2015, titled “Pedrosa wins and Marquez crashes after unsportsmanlike kick from Rossi”, as well as the press release issued by Honda Racing Corporation on Monday 2nd November, titled “Q&A with Shuhei Nakamoto, HRC Executive Vice President”.

"Yamaha would like to express its disagreement with the words that have been used to report on the incident between riders Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez.

"Both press releases included words that accuse Valentino Rossi of kicking Marc Marquez's bike that is something not proven by the investigation of the Race Direction.

"We therefore reject the wording used in the said published statements that do not correspond with the findings of the Race Direction.

"Yamaha has no wish to enter into further discussion regarding this unfortunate affair and our desire is to conclude the 2015 MotoGP season in the best possible way.

"We go to Valencia with the clear intention of trying our best to win what we hope will be a memorable final race with all riders and teams competing in an exemplary sportsmanlike manner befitting the top category of motorcycle racing."

 

[wino]

Ryder Notes: Lap of the Gods
by julian ryder on the ground in valencia
Saturday, November 07, 2015
No comment.
image by heff dillon
Talk to any rider who's been around for a while and they'll tell you that the perfect lap is impossible. They will have come near it a couple of times in a whole career, but no more.

Well, today Jorge Lorenzo had one of those rare moments. It didn't look special; in fact it looked pedestrian - neat, yes; quick, no. In fact it was a thing of rare beauty; precise, controlled and very, very fast. Nearly half a second faster than the rest, and the rest were headed by Marc Marquez.

Valencia is a circuit on which a gap of half a second has to be considered in the same way as an advantage of nearly twice the size when comparing with most tracks.

Jorge's pace radically altered the thinking about what could happen tomorrow. Most people thought the Hondas would lead, leaving Jorge in third. That would have meant Valentino Rossi having to finish sixth or better to win the championship. But if Jorge could split the Hondas, Rossi's task becomes much more difficult. He then has to get on the rostrum.
What is possible from the back of the grid? Well the last time it happened, in Qatar in 2004, he overtook around 15 riders on the first lap. Losail is a very different track from Valencia, but it is still possible to envisage a top-six finish for Valentino.

What is more difficult to calculate is how the Hondas will fare.

If, as suspected, temperatures drop then their front tyres won't suffer quite as badly but all riders are aware that conservation of both front and rear tyres will be an issue.

So much will depend on the start - at both ends of the field. If Lorenzo gets away then can the Hondas overhaul him? Will Rossi get a clean run through the pack and avoid the usual mantraps at Valencia's second and fourth corners? Frankly, anyone who says they know what's going to happen is deluded or a charlatan. It is easy to convince yourself of any of the scenarios above. Of course Jorge could run away; of course the Hondas could force Jorge back to third; of course one of the Yamahas could end up on the floor. What does not seem likely is anyone other than the factory Yamaha and Honda riders being in contention. Ianonne threatened to get among them but didn't come up with the goods today, so it's coming down to a classic confrontation.

Only Valentino or Jorge can become champion tomorrow.

Whoever does will deserve it.

ENDS

 

[wino]

I dont fucking like Lorenzo. never have from his Fortuna days ( let alone his chup chup days ) but you cannot deny the way he can deat the pressure and did the job congrats to him for winning the 2015 championship. He won fair and square ( prick ) Rossi lost it at SEPANG . . . . ... but he made the choice in the heat of the moment.

SPECUTAL MENTIONS


DANNY KENT congrats to ya. you rode a great season and deserved the championship.
BRADLY SMITH .. ..well done ya pommie fella
LORIS BAZ fuck you u dead cunt
Alex Rins . . . . what will the new bike be like
Quattaro. ... .. settle . .. . ..

 

[wino]

GGGrrrrrr hope it's not true. the Italian media and sites have much stronger stories/reports .. . . . .

Stoner poised for shock Ducati return in 2016
Share
Section: Racing Post: Alex Gobert
Dual world champion tipped for test and wildcard role.


Source: Supplied.

Australia’s two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner is in line to make a shock return to Ducati in 2016, as a development rider with the potential for wildcard race appearances.

Stoner won his first – and Ducati’s lone – MotoGP title in 2007, but defected to Honda in 2011 where he won his second title. The 30-year-old has been associated with the Japanese powerhouse since.

However news broke during Wednesday’s Valencia test that Stoner could be announced as Ducati factory test rider once his contract expires at the end of this year, which would also likely lead to a surprise racing return next season.

“I can only say that Casey is a hero of Ducati fans and he won so many races and was a world champion for Ducati in 2007,” Ducati sporting director Paulo Ciabatti commented. “He obviously moved to Honda, but is still in the heart of Ducati fans and the people at Ducati.

“We will see what the future brings, but we know that his contract with Honda will expire at the end of this year and obviously if there’s a chance to do something together we would love to do it. That’s all that I can say at the moment.”

Currently a Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) test rider, Stoner put his hand up to stand in for Dani Pedrosa earlier this year at Circuit of the Americas in Texas when the Spaniard was injured, but the idea was quashed by Honda officials. He did race at the Suzuka 8 Hours in July, crashing out of the lead when the throttle stuck on his factory CBR1000RR.

 

[Michael Cheika]

I dont fucking like Lorenzo.

me neither

 

[wino]

 

[wino]

"Muzzy's" Changing Hands?
by staff
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Muzzy's tested a single-sided swingarm ZX7 in the winter of 1996.
image by dean adams


After working as a crewchief for riders like Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey at Kawasaki and Honda, Rob Muzzy started his own exhaust system and race part business in the late 1980s. Hall of Fame tuner Muzzy ran the Kawasaki Superbike team in the 1990s, culminating with the WSBK title in 1993. An ex-rider (Muzzy raced dirt track in the 1950s and 60s) Muzzy was hugely competitive and driven to win, along with being endlessly quotable.

After he and Kawasaki split, Muzzy went on to race in the NHRA Pro Stock ranks with both Kawasaki and Buell.

For the past few weeks rumors have been rife that Muzzy would like to retire and is in the process of selling his business. Phone messages and email requesting status have not been returned.

ENDS

 

[wino]

'02 AMA and '06 World Champ Hayden On CBR1000RR
by mao tung
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
The 2002 AMA Superbike champion (RC51) sits on the 2015 CBR1000RR Superbike at ten Kate HQ.
image thanks, stephen booth


These are romantic days for Nicky Hayden fans.

The 2006 world champion wrapped up his MotoGP career at Valencia in his signature "let's get to work' style. He did allow his induction into the MotoGP Legends club to upset the cut sheet for an hour or so but then it was on to business for the affable and pragmatic rider.

He left Spain for ten Kate Honda's HQ where he sat on the bike he will test in a few weeks at Aragon. The team measured Hayden in order to customize the bike for his form.

Hayden last rode a Superbike in world championship racing --other than his abbreviated run at the Suzuka 8 Hours--when he raced the 2002 Laguna Seca WSBK event.

ENDS