Speed Master signs Pasini for MotoGP effort

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:08:16 +0000

The Speed Master Team have reached an agreement for Mattia Pasini to pilot their ART (Aprilia Racing Technology) CRT bike in the MotoGP™ class.

Behind the scenes at Ducati Corse

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:27:50 +0000

Take an exclusive look behind the scenes at the Ducati Corse factory in Bologna to see what engineers and designers have been developing for the 2012 campaign in this very special video.

Borsoi: "CRT is a big challenge, but we believe in it"

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:24:07 +0000

Gino Borsoi, Sporting Director of the Aspar Team, talked to motogp.com about the team’s objectives for the 2012 season, the development of their CRT prototypes and the introduction of the new format in the MotoGP™ World Championship.

Team Italia announces its Superstock riders for 2012

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:35:07 +0000

Team Italia has communicated the names of its federation-supported riders for the 2012 season, youngsters who will take part in the FIM Superstock Cup and the UEM Superstock 600 Championship. The first name on the list is Lorenzo Savadori (photo), 18 years of age from Cesena, who for the second successive year will take part in Superstock 1000, this time on a brand-new Ducati 1199 Panigale machine prepared by the Barni Racing team.

The Italian had a tough debut season in Superstock 1000, the former 125cc rider having to learn everything from scratch, but the 2008 Italian and European 125 GP champion now has an extra year's experience under his belt and is looking to do well.

"A big thanks to the FMI Italian federation and Barni Racing for their opportunity they've given me. The level of the category is high but I'm aiming to improve and at the same time I can't wait to try the new bike!"

Meanwhile in European Superstock 600, Riccardo Russo has been confirmed and he will be joined by 19-year-old Luca Vitali from Rimini, the son of the four-times Italian champion Maurizio Vitali and who did four STK600 rounds as a wildcard last year (Monza, Misano, Imola and Portimão), with the Forward Racing Junior Team. Both riders will be entered by Team Trasimeno on Yamaha YZF R6 machines.

BMW riders back on track at Valencia

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:05:11 +0000

BMW Motorrad riders Marco Melandri and Leon Haslam have been continuing their preparation for the season ahead with two days of testing at Valencia in Spain. Melandri and Haslam completed a total of 950 kilometres of testing on the 2012 race version of the RR in good conditions.

The team focused on verifying the latest developments it has made in recent weeks. The bikes were equipped with the latest version of the engine, as well as updated software for the BMW electronics and the riders tried new parts on several areas of the bike.

"It was good to be back on the bike after the winter," said Melandri. "The testing of the updated electronics was very encouraging. We checked if everything is working well before we go to Australia, and the result was good. Of course we still need to improve in some areas. In entering corners, I still need some more confidence on the bike in order so I am to push properly, but we are all working very hard and I am sure that we will find a solution at the next test in Australia. Phillip Island is not an easy track, so it is important to be confident with the bike to be able to go into the corners very fast. In the next two weeks I will keep in contact with the team and we will analyse the data from the test to prepare for Australia. In addition, I will do a lot of training."

Haslam was also happy with the testing work: "It was a long winter back home and I am definitely happy to be back on the bike. We were lucky with the conditions. It was a bit cold in the morning, but we were able to get most out of the two days. We got through everything that we needed to go through, so I am very positive. These two days were important. We have a lot of new things for this year and it was good to test before we go to Phillip Island. In addition, it was good to get a few laps under our belts and get up to speed again. We definitely made big steps and are much further ahead compared to last year. It really is a stronger package and we still have five more days to test in Australia to dial it all in. Next week I will go to Germany to meet the team there. Then I will fly back home, do some PR-Events and continue my training programme, and then we will be already heading to Australia."

Hayden working on fitness for Malaysia

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:05:49 +0000

Still not at 100 percent fitness, Nicky Hayden is preparing for his debut on the GP12 in Malaysia on January 31.

Two days testing at Valencia for Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:13:40 +0000

The DeltaFin Lorenzini Kawasaki Team is currently taking part in two days of testing at the Valencia circuit in Spain, with riders Kenan Sofuoglu and Sheridan Morais both putting in as many laps as possible to get an idea of the set-up and electronics package of their official ZX-6R machines.

MoTec electronics represent the main change for the Italian team this year, after they had formerly used EFI systems. Sofuoglu and Morais did 60 laps of the track each yesterday, mainly in the warmer part of the day as temperatures overall were pretty cold. Poor track conditions following recent Formula 1 testing also made things difficult for the riders.

Unofficial times recorded by the team indicate a 1 minute 37.6 seconds for Kenan Sofuoglu, with South African Sheridan Morais clocking a best time of 1'38.1. The team has one more day of testing today, during which it will aim to improve the times as well as concentrating on long-run race simulations.

Metcher puts pen to paper with RivaMoto

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:55:16 +0000

Last year's European Superstock 600 Champion Jed Metcher has officially put pen to paper in signing a one-year contract with the Russian RivaMoto team. The deal will see the 21 year-old Australian from Eltham, Victoria go head-to-head with some of the best riders in the upcoming World Supersport Championship. Metcher will join forces with two 38 year-old Russian riders, Oleg Pozdneev and Eduard Blokhin.

Team RivaMoto, who are currently based in Cartagena in Spain, but who will move to Bologna in Italy after round 1 at Phillip Island will have former 250/500cc racing star Jeremy McWilliams as team manager for the 2012 season.

"I am very excited about being involved with a developing team in the World Supersport championship. The idea of showing our sport on Russian soil is the underlying objective of the RivaMoto team but in the process my goal is to impress as much as possible in the Supersport class. It's an honor to work with Jeremy McWilliams and with his support I believe we have a chance to make an impact" said Metcher.

Jed Metcher's goals for the season will be a top 8 finish in the championship. In 2011 he scored 7 podiums in 10 races, two thirds, four seconds and one win at Aragon in Spain. "With the current direction of motorsport I cannot afford to have an up-and-down season" he added.

With only about 5 weeks to go before the opening round at Phillip Island, Metcher and his new RivaMoto team will have some time to iron out any bugs in the Yamaha YZF-R6 with a two day test in early February in Almeria, another two days at Jerez, then a four day test in Cartagena before the official test on the Monday and Tuesday on the week building up to the first round on Metcher's home soil.

"I have raced before in front of the big crowds at the 2008 MotoGP as a 125GP wildcard. I am looking forward to racing in World Supersport in 2012 in front of my home crowd mainly because I have the advantage of the track knowledge and it will be a great way to start off the season on a high"!

James Ellison on his return to MotoGP

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:53:17 +0000

James Ellison is set to make a return to MotoGP™ for the 2012 season, aboard a CRT bike on the Paul Bird Motorsport team. motogp.com caught up with the British rider to talk about his reappearance in the premier class this time around.

Class is in session for the LCR Team

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:45:48 +0000

The technical crew that will follow Moto2 Champion Stefan Bradl into his MotoGP™ debut flew to Japan to learn from HRC engineers how to "tame" the new Honda RC213V.

Red Devils name returns for Petricca's Superbike team

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:53:23 +0000

The new World Superbike team run by Andrea Petricca is set to line up in the 2012 championship with a new name as Ducati Roma has now changed to the Red Devils Roma Team. The change was made because of the Rome manager's fondness for a name that was important at the start of his career and his debut on the bike racing scene.

"Red Devils is a name that is familiar from the start of my career," declared Petricca, "and it brings to mind riders like Aldeo Presciutti who raced and won under this name. We decided to change so as also to be able to carry the name of our city around the world in an important season that will see us take part in one of the most prestigious championships in the world."

Rider Niccolò Canepa and the Red Devils Roma team will be at Vallelunga this weekend for a final two days of testing before leaving for Australia.

KTM power for 2012 European Junior Cup

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:34:32 +0000

The new KTM 690 Duke has been chosen as the competition motorcycle for the 2012 European Junior Cup, the entry level class to the FIM Superbike World Championship.

With low weight, premium cycle parts and a punchy power output the new 690 Duke holds true to the KTM motto of 'Ready to Race' and will provide the talented young 14-19 year old racers with an ideal platform to start their international careers. The series will also be rebranded as the 'KTM European Junior Cup' to reflect this new partnership.

Pirelli have also joined Infront Motor Sports in supporting the European Junior Cup champions award. This means that the 2012 champion will receive a total package worth 23,000 Euro towards a ride in the European Superstock 600 championship.

For more information on the 2012 KTM European Junior Cup please visit www.europeanjuniorcup.com

David Johnson to join Superbike grid at Phillip Island

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:07:32 +0000

South Australian David Johnson will make a one-off wildcard appearance in the opening round of the 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island, this February 24-26. The 28-year-old will compete on a BMW S 1000 RR under the Rossair AEP Racing Team banner. The S 1000 RR is a full blown ex-British Superbike machine, which Johnson (photo 2Snap) will ride for the first time at a Phillip Island test session on January 30.

"My primary goal at the world supers is to try and get into the points in both races," said Johnson, "and I'd love to be the first Aussie home, too. I'm familiar with the S 1000 RR, I've assembled a strong team to help me out, and I know Phillip Island like the back of my hand, so I am confident of making a strong impression. Troy Corser and Steve Martin, who are real BMW experts, have also offered to help me out over the weekend, which will be a great help."

Johnson was a former junior BMX champion before he started motorcycle racing at the age of 17 in 2000 on a 125 GP bike before graduating to larger capacity four-strokes, first in Australia and then overseas. Other than a two-year period racing in the Netherlands, Johnson has raced in the UK since 2002, with his best finish a fifth place in 2005 Superstock. Last year was a difficult one as he battled problems on a number of fronts, including injuries.

Edwards speaks ahead of Sepang

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:43:51 +0000

Colin Edwards is busy preparing for the 2012 MotoGP™ season which will see him aboard the new NGM Mobile Forward Racing team CRT bike. The Texan spoke with motogp.com ahead of the first test of the season at Sepang (January 31 through February 2) regarding his new ride.

Baldolini in Supersport with Power Team by Suriano

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:43:22 +0000

The Power Team by Suriano has signed an agreement with Alex Baldolini for the Italian rider to take part in the Supersport World Championship season on a second Triumph Daytona 675. Baldolini, who will team up with Vittorio Iannuzzo, raced in Moto2 until last season, scoring a best finish of second place. Despite being only 26 years of age, Baldolini already has a long international career to his name, competing in 125 and 250 from 2002 to 2009, before switching to Moto2. Now the Italian has decided to accept the challenge offered by Power Team by Suriano.

Technical director Antonio Suriano declared: "I am pleased to be able to count on the services of such a talented and experienced rider as Alex, who in my opinion still has a wide margin for inmprovement. I'm sure that once he gets used to the category, he will be one of the top contenders. For our part we will try and maximise our resources to ensure that he can fight for the top positions as soon as possible in a championship that looks to be particularly competitive and tough, given the high number of top riders on the grid".

Alex Baldolini added: "My aim is to give a turning-point to my career. I know I can score some good results and I'm counting on doing that this year on a Supersport machine. For sure as soon as possible I'll have to get used to the category, where unlike Moto2 electronics are used and the engines are more powerful, but at the same time the chassis and frame are production bike. I'm convinced the season will be one of improvement and I want to score some good results. For this reason I'd like to thank the team for their faith in me".