2011 World Superbike: Test Schedule

With less than two months to go before the start of the World Superbike Championship season, over the coming weeks the 2011 teams and riders will be making the most of the limited time available to conclude their test schedule and get ready for the opening round of the season in at Phillip Island, Australia, Feb. 27.

As per tradition, the first collective appearance of the year for Superbike will be at the Infront Motor Sports organized test session at the Algarve circuit in Portimao from Jan. 26 to 28.

Almost all the top official and privateer Superbike teams will be present in Portugal, with the notable exception of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, who have opted to focus their pre-season build-up on Australia, with two sessions at Eastern Creek from Jan. 26-28 and then Phillip Island from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.

But even in the next few weeks several Superbike teams will be in action in Europe and the Far East. Despite not being a part of the WSBK calendar, the Sepang circuit at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia will see the Paul Bird Motorsport and Pedercini Kawasaki Superbike teams on track for four days in total - Jan. 10 and 11, then Jan. 13 and 14.

Jan. 11 and 12 meanwhile will mark the first outing for Liberty Racing Ducati at Guadix in Spain.

Superbike and Supersport testing activity in Spain will then switch to the Motorland Aragon circuit at Alcaniz, a new entry on the 2011 calendar, where Ten Kate Honda continue their testing with Ruben Xaus and Jonathan Rea between Jan. 20 and 21.

The Dutch team then heads to Phillip Island for some more testing on Feb. 16 and 17, shortly before the official pre-season tests start at Phillip Island on Feb. 21 and 22.

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com

Kawasaki superbike team preseason test at Sepang next week

Big Kawasaki superbike team preseason test at Sepang next week

A total of 12 riders will be present at the four-day preseason test at the Sepang circuit

Showing that Kawasaki is serious about using its new ZX-10R to return to its former position as a major player in the World Superbike Championship, the majority of Kawasaki World Superbike and World Superstock riders will be participating in a massive four-day test at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia starting on January 10.
A total of 12 Kawasaki riders will be running at the test. These include Kawasaki World Superbike team riders Tom Sykes, Joan Lascorz, and Chris Vermeulen (who is still recovering from major reconstructive knee surgery). Former World Supersport stalwart (and now official Kawasaki test rider) Katsuaki Fujiwara, Kawasaki All-Japan Superbike JSB 1000 rider (and long-time Kawasaki racer) Akira Yanagawa, and Paul Bird Motorsports-sponsored (public) road racer Stuart Easton will also be astride superbikes, along with newly signed Pedercini Kawasaki rider Robby Rolfo. Former MotoGP rider Gabor Talmacsi will be riding with the Pedercini squad as part of a tryout for a World Superbike ride after failing to secure funding that would enable him to stay in MotoGP. Pedercini’s World Superstock riders Bryan Staring (former Australian Supersport champion and ASBK contender), Marco Bussolotti and Leandro Mercado (former AMA racer) will also be present to dial in their Superstock-spec machines, and the team will be giving a tryout for Czech rider Michal Salac.
It’s no secret that the Pedercini squad isn’t the most well-funded team in World Superbike, so it’s easily assumed that Kawasaki is helping pay for shipping all of the bikes to Malaysia for this test—not exactly an inexpensive proposition. As is renting the Sepang circuit for four days. Kawasaki has a lot riding on the new ZX-10R, and the factory obviously wants the teams to be as ready as possible for the 2011 season.

http://www.sportrider.com

John Hopkins to BSB a ‘done-deal’

The ex-MotoGP podium winner will join the British series in an effort to get back to international competition.

Crescent Racing team manager Jack Valentine has confirmed John Hopkins is certain to race in the British Superbike Championship this season, with an official announcement due shortly.

The former MotoGP rider has been heavily linked with a switch to the domestic Superbike series in recent weeks, but speculation has since become a 'done-deal', with Hopkins already in training ahead of the move.

Speaking to Crash.net, Valentine confirmed Hopkins is keen to join the BSB ranks in a bid to revive a career that has been blighted by injury over the last two seasons.

“The guy has raw talent and has been on podium in MotoGP, so he has more pedigree than anyone else on the BSB grid. That's why we started chatting to him. He is really focused and sees BSB as his stepping stone to get back to world level.”

Though Suzuki has switched full factory support to rivals Relentless by TAS for 2011, Crescent will continue with the manufacturer for what is currently a single team entry. Even so, Valentine hasn't ruled out adding a second rider at some stage.

The deal will see Hopkins return to the Suzuki stable, the manufacturer with whom he raced during five of his seven seasons in MotoGP. In that time he racked up four podiums for the team (in 2007), statistics that will make the American an exciting addition to the BSB paddock this year.

An ill-fated move to Kawasaki in 2008 led to his departure from MotoGP at the end of that season, Hopkins landing in World Superbikes at Stiggy Honda for 2009. However, injury woes consigned him to just six race starts.

A return to MotoGP with the stillborn FB Corse project was mooted, but Hopkins would eventually sign to race in the AMA Superbike series. After a modest start - and more time out through injury -, Hopkins showed podium-winning form towards the end of the year.

Hopkins will be official announced with the team alongside a new title sponsor later in the month.

http://www.crash.net

Moto2 v 250cc v WSS

Best lap times for Moto2, 250cc and World Supersport compared.




The new four-stroke Moto2 grand prix class, which replaced the 250cc World Championship last season, beat one 250 and one World Supersport race lap record during 2010.

At Le Mans, home of the French Grand Prix, home star Jules Cluzel's Suter dipped 0.497sec under the 250cc lap record set by Marco Simoncelli. But only two other circuits saw Moto2 within one-second of the 250cc best (where available). 

Those circuits were Misano, where Alex de Angelis put his MotoBI within 0.437sec of the quarter-litre record, and Valencia, where Karel Abraham was registered as 0.952sec slower than Mika Kallio's 2007 250cc record.

Valencia was also the only track where Moto2 outpaced WSS. Abraham's FTR set a 1min 36.611sec on its way to victory in the November finale, beating the official WSS race lap record of 1min 36.865sec in the process.

The best race lap from the 2010 WSS event was a slightly slower 1min 37.049sec. Last year's Valencia WSS round was held in April, but air and track temperatures were only a few degrees different for the Moto2 race.

Moto2 was also close to WSS lap record pace at Assen and Misano.

The average difference between the Moto2 and 250cc race lap records was 1.698s (over 15 circuits) and 0.679s (over five circuits) between Moto2 and WSS.

Moto2 lap times should improve noticeably this season, due to predicted power increases from the Honda-supplied engines and further refinement of the inaugural chassis designs.

WSS uses production-based motorcycles, while 250cc consisted of prototype engine and chassis.

The full circuit-by-circuit breakdown can be seen below…

+ means Moto2 slower, - means Moto2 faster.

Losail
250cc race lap record: 1m 59.379s (Debon, 2008)
Moto2 race lap record: 2m 2.537s (Luthi)
Difference = +3.158s

Jerez
250cc race lap record: 1m 43.338s (Bautista, 2009)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 44.710s (Elias)
Difference = +1.372s

Le Mans
250cc race lap record: 1m 39.666s (Simoncelli, 2008)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 39.169s (Cluzel)
Difference = -0.497s

Mugello
250cc race lap record: 1m 53.669s (Bautista, 2008)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 55.647s (Iannone)
Difference = +1.978s

Silverstone (New track)
WSS race lap record: 2m 8.717s (Sofuoglu)
Moto2 race lap record: 2m 9.886s (Luthi)
Difference = +1.169s

Assen (Modified track for 2010)
WSS race lap record: 1m 38.608s (Sofuoglu)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 38.917s (Iannone)
Difference = +0.309s

Catalunya
250cc race lap record: 1m 45.925s (de Angelis, 2007)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 47.543s (Iannone)
Difference = +1.618s

Sachsenring
250cc race lap record: 1m 24.552s (Bautista, 2009)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 25.629s (Iannone)
Difference = +1.077s

Brno
250cc race lap record: 2m 2.299s (Lorenzo, 2007)
Moto2 race lap record: 2m 4.315s (Elias)
Difference = +2.016s

WSS race lap record: 2m 2.708s (Crutchlow, 2009)
Moto2 race lap record: 2m 4.315s (Elias)
Difference = +1.607s

Indianapolis
250cc race lap record: 1m 44.720s (Simoncelli, 2009)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 46.580s (Simon)
Difference = +1.860s

Misano
250cc race lap record: 1m 38.993s (Simoncelli, 2008)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 39.430s (de Angelis)
Difference = +0.437s

WSS race lap record: 1m 38.868s (Crutchlow, 2009)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 39.430s (de Angelis)
Difference = +0.562s

Motegi
250cc race lap record: 1m 51.412s (Bautista, 2008)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 53.653s (Simon)
Difference = +2.241s

Sepang
250cc race lap record: 2m 7.597s (Aoyama, 2009)
Moto2 race lap record: 2m 8.691s (Simon)
Difference = +1.094s

Phillip Island
250cc race lap record: 1m 32.710s (Bautista, 2008)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 34.771s (Iannone)
Difference = +2.061s

Estoril
250cc race lap record: 1m 40.521s (Bautista, 2007)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 45.456s (Redding)*
Difference = +4.935s

* Wet track throughout practice and qualifying.

Valencia
250cc race lap record: 1m 35.659s (Kallio, 2007)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 36.611s (Abraham)
Difference = +0.952s

WSS race lap record: 1m 36.865s (Crutchlow, 2009)
Moto2 race lap record: 1m 36.611s (Abraham)
Difference = -0.254s

http://www.crash.net

MotoGP 2011: The new season

In less than one month’s time the first Official MotoGP Test of the year takes place at Sepang as the fight for the final 800cc title gets underway. Here, motogp.com previews the forthcoming season.

The 2010 campaign is still fresh in the memory but already the focus has turned to 2011. With the first Official Test in preparation for the new season coming immediately after the final round of the year in Valencia back in November, the excitement at the final 800cc season before the introduction of a 1000c engine capacity limit in 2012 is merely adding to the anticipation that the 2011 season will be one to savour.

Looking at the leading contenders for the 2011 MotoGP title the defending World Champion Jorge Lorenzo will be at the forefront, as he aims to underline his status as the new dominant force. Having been so consistent in 2010 and finishing 16 of the 18 rounds on the podium on his M1, the factory Yamaha rider displayed a level of maturity that was vastly improved in comparison to his previous premier class campaigns.

As Lorenzo opts for continuity with Yamaha two of his chief rivals ride with new teams in 2011. Casey Stoner becomes a factory HRC rider and his display in the Valencia Test hinted at what was an immediate affinity with the RC212V, whilst Valentino Rossi has filled the Australian’s seat at Ducati as an all-Italian match-up adds to the fascinating grid. Rossi may not have enjoyed as comfortable an introduction to his new machine as Stoner did to the Honda, but such is the nine-time World Champion’s proven track record he can be expected to be pushing hard on the Desmosedici come March 20th at Losail.

Along with Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa will hope to benefit from the stability of remaining with the same set-up in 2011, and for the 2010 runner-up it will be his sixth season on the factory Honda team. Having been Lorenzo’s longest challenger until injury struck towards the end of 2010, Pedrosa’s sights will be firmly set on a first premier class title.

As much as the ‘top four’ continue to be spoken of in one bracket, the gap behind them is being closed all the time and there are a number of riders who will not only be confident of breaking into that elite, but who have proven they have the ability to run at the front.

Andrea Dovizioso enjoyed his best premier class season to date in 2010 and will remain on the factory Honda team, Ben Spies was Rookie of the Year and earned a factory Yamaha ride as well as serving notice of his talent in what was his debut year, and of course Nicky Hayden is a former World Champion who displayed a much-improved feeling on the Desmosedici in his second season with Ducati. Marco Simoncelli was also highly impressive in his first campaign in the MotoGP class, and in 2011 will ride a factory supported RC212V on the San Carlo Honda Gresini team.

Colin Edwards has a wealth of MotoGP experience and will continue with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, whilst Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet are both seasoned campaigners and will compete to adjust quickest to the Desmosedici of the Pramac Racing team. Returning for their second seasons respectively and eager to make progress will be Héctor Barberá (Paginas Amarillas Aspar), Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini).

Great interest will also be stoked by the introduction of three new riders to the category. Toni Elías, winner of the inaugural Moto2 World Championship, makes his return to the premier class with LCR Honda whilst rookies Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Karel Abraham (Cardion ab Motoracing) make the move from superbikes and Moto2 respectively.

The Official MotoGP Test at Sepang on February 1st will give further indications as to the progress of each individual rider and team, and you can follow the pre-season on motogp.com.

http://www.motogp.com

The Bikes of 2010: Yamaha YZF-R1

After a winter of development the official Yamaha YZF-R1 entries pumped out an impressive 228bhp at the crank, at a giddy 15,000 revs, with a much nicer engine character compared to 2009, and a cleaner power band.
A new design of exhaust, lighter but also more free flowing, and some intake mods gave the increase in power. The Akrapovic pipe was a 4-2-1-2 unit, complicated, but keeping the road bike's twin exhaust exit design intact. A new camshaft came along to match these changes, to make the bike better at the very top.

A narrower radiator compared to 2009, a new design of rear seat/tank unit that is also the rear sub-frame and a carbon fibre tank, acting as a stressed member, were other main changes.

The winter development was not translated to results very early in the year, and there was a rush to get back to some 2009 parts and settings. Tyre life was an issue sometimes, the opposite of what should happen with their particular bike, with its cross-plane firing order. When settings matched to tyre choices, competitiveness was at hand.

The Marelli system used in 2010 was much like the 2009 version, with improved maps, but the same basic ECUs. Yamaha were enthusiastic Öhlins users, running a TTX40 rear shock (RSP40) and the TRVP25 front forks. Race distance was the issue for the Yamaha, but with Crutchlow scoring six poles it clearly had pace to spare, while Brembo brakes took care of scrubbing off speed.


http://www.worldsbk.com

MotoGP safe until 2016, says Phillip Island boss

Phillip Island boss Andrew Westacott has said MotoGP will remain at the coastal track for the next few years despite the series' ringmaster Carmelo Ezpeleta threatening the circuit with the removal of FIM homologation.

Last year's race was a virtual washout with most of practice cancelled by race director Paul Butler. Riders called for as change in the schedule to hold the meeting earlier in the calendar even though it is once again to be held late on in 2011.

The circuit's boss Andrew Westacott has said there is no risk of Phillip Island being pulled from the schedule as their contract states races are to be held in September or October until 2016.

“Dorna has asked us to review the matter and those discussions are ongoing. But the timeslot and the preferred option for us it to have it in September/October. As most motorsport fans will know, the vagaries of the weather mean that there’s no guarantees of a good day or bad at Phillip Island," he said.

http://www.bikesportnews.com

Moto GP / Ducati 'don’t need a Yamaha copy'

"We just need to improve the bike, not make a copy of the Yamaha."

Ducati may be aiming to help Valentino Rossi replicate his Yamaha success with its Desmosedici, but the Italian factory insists it doesn't need to build a copy of the M1.

After a 15th place on Rossi's Ducati debut during testing at Valencia, Ducati confessed changes will be needed to allow the seven time MotoGP champion to ride as he would like.

But despite so many team members moving with Rossi from Yamaha, team manager Vittoriano Guareschi insists that there is no pressure to change the Ducati design philosophy.

"The [new team members from Yamaha] are settling in well. After so many years at Yamaha they appreciate the soul of our brand," Guareschi told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Jerry [Rossi's crew chief] is reassuring. In general there is peace of mind: we just need to improve the bike, not make a copy of the Yamaha.

"We're going in the direction indicated by Valentino for 2011.

"The times [during testing at Valencia] were not very encouraging, it must be said, but after seeing the condition of his shoulder, we felt reassured. Our bike requires strong physical input and Valentino wasn't fit enough in Valencia.”

Rossi has since undergone surgery for the shoulder injury and will be present for the unveiling of the 2011 Ducati at the upcoming Wrooom press ski meeting. Rossi's first ride in Ducati red will then take place at Sepang, Malaysia, from February 1-3.

http://www.crash.net

Moto2: 2010 season review

The inaugural season of the intermediate category is charted as the achievement of World Champion Toni Elías, the battle for runner-up spot between Julián Simón and Andrea Iannone, and the numerous fantastic races which took place are all reviewed, as is the impact that Shoya Tomizawa had on the World Championship.

Looking back on the 2010 season of the Moto2 category evokes a range of memories and emotions, none more so than the lasting image of Shoya Tomizawa’s smile in the MotoGP paddock. The Japanese rider, an excellent talent and much admired personality, was one of the protagonists of the debut campaign of the 600cc 4-stroke category up until his untimely and tragic death as a result of injuries sustained in a crash at the Misano round in September.

The Technomag-CIP rider wrote his name into the history books of the World Championship when he won the first ever Moto2 race in Qatar back in April, as the season got off to an exciting start under the Losail floodlights.

It was to be a dominant season’s display from Toni Elíashowever, who with seven victories throughout the year – and a further podium finish – took his first World Championship title on the Moriwaki machine of the Gresini Racing team.

After Tomizawa’s win in Qatar, Elías secured back-to-back victories at Jerez and Le Mans as he made clear his title intentions early on.

Julián Simón – who went without a win all season but was consistently on the podium, eight times in total – and Andrea Iannone battled behind Elías for much of the season for the runner-up spot, finishing the year separated by just two points. The Italian rider won three races, taking victory from pole at Mugello and Assen in the first half of the season, missing out on victory at Catalunya due to a Ride Through penalty and later returning to the top step at Aragón.

Pivotal in the Championship however was Elías’ superb run of four consecutive wins at Sachsenring, Brno, Indianapolis and Misano, after which he held an 83-point lead at the top of the standings. The win in Germany was particularly impressive, Elías having dropped as low as 11th after the opening lap and as far back as five seconds from race leader Iannone at the halfway point of the race.

Another win at Motegi set Elías up for a title-sealing ride inMalaysia, where fourth was enough for him to take the Moto2 Championship in a race which Roberto Rolfo won.

Joining Elías, Tomizawa, Iannone and Rolfo on the list of race winners in 2010 were Frenchman Jules Cluzel who tasted success at Silverstone, Yuki Takahashi who won atCatalunya, Alex de Angelis at Phillip Island, Stefan Bradl inPortugal and Karel Abraham at Valencia.

Thomas Lüthi ended the season fourth in the standings having enjoyed five visits to the podium, whilst British youngster Scott Redding put in a highly impressive second half of the season, twice stepping onto the rostrum.

http://www.motogp.com

Stoner will be main danger, say Ducati

Former MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has come under pressure from within and outside his new Honda team even before he has turned a wheel in anger.

While Honda chiefs have said publicly 2010 was unacceptable, Stoner's compatriot and MotoGP kingmaker Jerry Burgess expects Honda to be the team to topple this year.

Burgess, the South Australian crew chief instrumental in the world titles of Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi, says Stoner could stand in the way of Rossi's ambitions with Ducati.

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Stoner moved to Ducati after a debut season in the premier class with Honda in 2006 and immediately won the 2007 world title.

But a combination of poor form and illness prevented him from producing his best form last season.

He has now switched back to Honda while Rossi took up his spot after leaving Yamaha, where he collected four world titles.

Burgess, who has followed Rossi to Ducati, says Honda will be a major stumbling block, despite not having won a world crown since 2006.

He points to Stoner, compatriot Dani Pedrosa and the Italian pair of Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli, who will also be on factory bikes.

"We know Casey is fast and the Honda is a well sorted bike and it's putting pressure on Dani," Burgess told motorcyclenews.com.

"I know Honda is gearing up for a big push and everybody can see that from the people they have hired and that's not only the riders.

"I guess everybody other than Yamaha is hoping for a change next season."

Yamaha will start with new world champion Jorge Lorenzo joining American star Ben Spies, who replaces Rossi.

"I think they (Yamaha) are in good shape. It is an opportunity for a change and they are in good shape in terms of riders," Burgess said.

Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto, meanwhile, says 2010 was disappointing, despite the fact Pedrosa won four races, because the team could not properly challenge Yamaha.

However Pedrosa was out of action for some time after breaking his collarbone in the Japanese Grand Prix.

"If Dani didn't have his accident in Motegi I believe we could have taken the fight until the last Grand Prix," Nakamoto said.

"Unfortunately that happened and this year's final result I am so disappointed with.

"The overall package of rider and machine, I am happy to show that Honda is growing and getting better.

"Our base was competitive enough to fight this year and I hope next year we can show better results," he said.