The Wrooom - MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2009 got underway in the best manner possible on Monday 12th January with a welcome cocktail party for the world’s media at the Hotel Spinale, before the focus turned to both work and play in the opening Wrooom press conference at Madonna di Campiglio this morning. Both Casey Stoner and his new team-mate Nicky...
Stoner edges Rossi in final day of Sepang test
Casey Stoner finished Sepang test in top spot, edging Valentino Rossi for just 0.094 seconds, showing once again the duo will once again fight for championship top spot in 2009. Strong third place on last day and top performance during the test was shown by Loris Capirossi, who once again demonstrated that improved machinery was everything he needs...
ten Kate 'strongly believes in Toseland'
James Toseland's World Superbike team manager, Ronald ten Kate, 'strongly believes' in the Englishman and expects to see a big step from him in MotoGP this year.Despite winning the 2004 World Superbike Championship, Toseland was dropped by Ducati after finishing fifth in 2005 and looked short of options - before being picked up by Ten Kate Honda to...
Canepa gives Ducati, Desmosedici insight
by Peter McLaren2009 MotoGP rookie and former Ducati test rider Niccolo Canepa has provided an insight into riding the Desmosedici grand prix machine, plus a glimpse of life inside the Ducati factory and the challenges he faces in balancing university with MotoGP.During the past two seasons, Casey Stoner has taken the 800cc Desmosedici to 16 wins,...
Ducati dismiss Stoner surgery speculation
Ducati Marlboro MotoGP project director Livio Suppo has dismissed speculation that star rider Casey Stoner will need further surgery on his left wrist.The 2007 MotoGP world champion underwent a bone graft operation after last season's Valencia season finale, in order to mend an unhealed scaphoid break from 2003.However, upon making his return to action...
Melandri to make second Speedcar Series appearance
Former MotoGP World Championship runner-up Marco Melandri has been keeping himself busy whilst awaiting the resolution of his premier class future, and the Italian will be back behind the wheel of a Speedcar this weekend as his four-wheel experience continues to increase. The Italian will take part in round four of the Speedcar Series at the Dubai...
Sepang test report
The first test of the 2009 MotoGP season was successfully concluded today with all 17 riders in attendance using Bridgestone tyres under the single tyre ruling that has come into effect for this season.After three days of uninterrupted running in the Malaysian heat, Ducati Team’s Casey Stoner finished fastest, followed closely by Fiat Yamaha’s Valentino...
Melandri to start 2009 season in one-rider Kawasaki team
Kawasaki have announced that after constructive talks between themselves, Dorna and additional third parties, a new one-rider team will participate in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.The decision was made after negotiations which followed Kawasaki’s January 2009 announcement to suspend its factory supported MotoGP activities, due to the global economic...
Elias fit and ready for Qatar test
Preparing for his fifth season in the premier class, Toni Elias has been working as hard as ever on his physical fitness ahead of the Official MotoGP Night Test in Qatar.Making his final preparations for the 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship Toni Elias this week invited motogp.com to join him for some cycling and motocross training sessions close...
Kubica is Poland's richest sportsman
BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica is, according to Super Express, Poland's richest sportsman.The Polish tabloid revealed that the country's only Grand Prix driver so far earned just under three million euros in 2008, placing Kubica firmly at the top of Poland's equivalent of The Times Richlist in the UK.Kubica topped the list, well ahead of Manchester...
Williams's Parr expects another team to go
By Pablo ElizaldeWilliams's CEO Adam Parr believes another Formula One team will leave the sport before the start of the 2009 season."I had expected one or two teams to pull out of Formula One imminently," Parr told Reuters in an interview."And I also said that it was not necessarily going to be just independent teams that were involved."I believe...
Ecclestone: Branson wants Honda deal
By Jonathan NobleBritish businessman Richard Branson is keen on taking over the Honda Formula One team, according to the sport's commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone.After intense speculation about Branson's involvement in a late bid to buy the Brackley-based outfit, Ecclestone confirmed on Thursday night that he has contacted Branson's Virgin Group...
Honda deny discussing bail-out
By Jonathan NobleHonda have made it clear that suggestions their Formula One team could receive a government bail-out are totally incorrect.A story in The Guardian this morning suggested that Honda Racing were in talks with the British government to receive a share of the £2.3 billion bail-out of the car industry that was announced by Lord Mandelson...
Victory Vegas JackPot (2007)
SpecificationsModel Type Cruiser BASE MSRP(US) $17,499.00 Engine: Engine Type V Twin Cylinders 2 Engine Stroke 4-Stroke Cooling Air / Oil...
Fukui to retire, Honda F1 future unclear
Honda Motor Co has announced that Takeo Fukui is to retire as president and chief executive officer in June. He will be replaced by Takanobu Ito. The 55-year-old joined Honda in 1978 and worked in R&D for much of his career, heading Honda R&D in the Americas from 1998 onwards. He went on to become head of Honda R&D in 2003 and stayed in...
Two bidders for Honda
It seems that the plans for a management buyout at Honda were almost completed when a new bidder arrived on the scene, which has thrown the whole process into some confusion. The new bidder is believed to be very serious and to have the kind of brand that will benefit from F1 - and benefit the sport as well. The fact no-one is saying anything publicly...
Ferrari tested new pit system in Bahrain
Ferrari appears on schedule to bring back its controversial 'traffic lights' pitstop system for the 2009 season.The Italian team abandoned the unique automated system late last season following several incidents, including at the Singapore grand prix where Felipe Massa dragged the fuel hose down the pitlane.Team manager Luca Baldisserri, however, said...
Renault in talks with Indian sponsor
Renault is in talks to replace the outgoing title sponsor ING with an Indian multinational, an official has told the Indian news agency PTI.In the wake of the Dutch bank ING's decision to withdraw from the sport at the end of the season, a senior official of Renault India said negotiations for its replacement are already taking place.PTI said a possible...
Honda: search for a ‘serious buyer’ continues
Amidst widespread media speculation, Honda revealed on Monday they are yet to find a serious buyer for their Formula One team. The Japanese car maker put the team up for sale in December, after announcing they were to withdraw from the sport in light of difficult economic conditions in the global auto market.Although a bid from the Virgin Group and...
BMW Sauber upbeat after Bahrain test
BMW Sauber are in a confident mood for the season ahead after enjoying a productive test in Bahrain this week. Driver Nick Heidfeld and tester Christian Klien completed over 2,300 kilometres in the F1.09 during the four-day session at the Sakhir track.“The long test in Bahrain was very productive,” said technical director Willy Rampf. “We could work...
USF1 team to launch later today
Four years of intense preparation will culminate later today with the launch of the new USF1 team. Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, the men behind America's first F1 team in more than two decades, will today reveal their plans for the new outfit, launching on American-based Speed TV. "We have spent time putting together the right infrastructure,"...
Kimi reiterates: Ferrari will be my last team
Kimi Raikkonen has reiterated his desire to end his F1 career with Ferrari. The 2007 World Champion is currently contracted to the Italian stable until the end of the 2010 season, with some rumours claiming that could be his final year in F1. However, Raikkonen says he may yet continue - but only if he stays on at Ferrari. "We'll see whether in...
Virgin On The Ridiculous
By Andrew T. DaviesThere's some odd things going on down at Brackley right now. As the hour approaches when the Honda Racing team need to announce a financially solvent new owner, there are rumours and counter-rumours.Will Honda sell to the management team, will they sell to Virgin, will they sell to an as yet unnamed third party, or will they - as...
Vermeulen sure of Suzuki progress
Chris Vermeulen believes the new Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP machine is 'consistently faster' than the underperforming 2008 version, leaving him encouraged for the season ahead.Suzuki was the biggest surprise of the recent Sepang test, when Loris Capirossi posted a top three lap time over all three days - plus a race simulation around 18sec faster than he...
Honda RS250RW
Technical SpecificationsOverall Length (mm) 1,960 Overall width (mm) 640 Overall height (mm) 1,090 Wheelbase (mm) 1,350 Road Clearance (mm) 110 Weight (kg) Over 100 Engine Type Liquid-cooled, Two-stroke, Case reed valve, V-2 Displacement (cc) 250 Max Power...
Honda RC212V (2007)
SpecificationsOverall Length (mm) 2,060 Overall width (mm) 645 Overall height (mm) 1,125 Wheelbase (mm) 1,450 Road Clearance (mm) 125 Weight (kg) Over 148 Engine Type Liquid-cooled, Four-stroke, DOHC 4 valve, V-4 Displacement (cc) 800 Max Power (PS) Over 210...
Cecchinello gives views on cost reduction and previews Qatar
Lucio Cecchinello spoke to motogp.com on Thursday, giving his views on recent cost reduction moves in MotoGP, reflecting on the first test of the year, explaining the philosophy behind the rev limitation of his team’s new satellite spec RC212V and previewing the forthcoming test trip to Qatar. As the boss of an independent team in the premier class...
Hayden’s Ducati prospects evauated by US media
Since the switch to 800cc machinery in the premier class at the beginning of the 2007 season Nicky Hayden’s legion of supporters across the globe have been frustrated to see him struggling for consistency in MotoGP, the American finishing eighth that year and sixth last season as he failed to repeat his 2006 success. However, towards the end of his...
Aprilia RSV4 (2009)
SpecificationsEngine65° cc longitudinal V-four, liquid cooled, double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder.Bore and stroke78 x 52.3 mm.Displacement 998.9ccCompression ratio 12.8:1Max power at crank180 HP (132 kW) at 12,500 rpmMax torque at crank 115 Nm at 10,000 rpmFuel...
Senna signs for Honda?
According to our sources Bruno Senna has now signed for the Honda Racing F1 team - and an announcement that the team will be going ahead will be made soon. The team is expected to use Mercedes-Benz engines and Senna will be partnered by Jenson Button. Backing for the team - the name of which has yet to be announced - is expected to come from one or...
Saving the German Grand Prix
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Rhine-Neckar region of Germany, which represents the interests of more than 65.000 member companies, has written to its members urging them to buy tickets for the German Grand Prix in 2010, in order to save the race. The city of Hockenheim says that it cannot go on subsidizing the event and and with no help...
Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Toyota testing again in Bahrain
Although they found their running in Bahrain thwarted by sandstorms last week, Ferrari Toyota and BMW Sauber are back testing at the Sakhir circuit on Monday. The trio of teams plan to be in action for four days, as they make the most of journeying to the Middle East and continue their preparations for the 2009 season.Kimi Raikkonen is scheduled to...