Capirossi has confidence in more aerodynamic GSV-R

Loris Capirossi is ready and raring for another season in the MotoGP World Championship, one that will see him riding a heavily redesigned Suzuki GSV-R for his second year with the Japanese factory. The Italian continues his preparations for the upcoming year alongside an almost complete lineup of premier class rivals next week at Sepang, and is eager to get back into action.

`I can´t wait to ride again!´ says Capirossi, whose last test was a private run at Phillip Island at the end of 2008. `Over the winter break I have been getting motivated, and physically I am in great shape.´

On the subject of shape, that of the GSV-R will be a different one to that of the bike that finished the most recent MotoGP season. Capirossi and teammate Chris Vermeulen have both taken part in wind tunnel testing in Japan in order to redefine the optimal form for the 2009 prototype, with the results used by engineers during the testing embargo.

`The aerodynamics, engine and chassis are all-new, and I am expecting a lot from them because of the hard work that has been going on in Japan. I´ve got high hopes because of this!´ says the veteran.

`In Sepang we will be focusing on the setup; we don´t care about the times at the moment. The goal is to be ready for the first race of the year, and to have the best season possible.´

Capirossi´s twentieth season in Grand Prix racing will begin on April 12th, at the opening round of the 2009 campaign in Qatar.

Source:
http://www.motogp.com
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Alonso pays tribute to Dennis

By Edd Straw and Matt Beer

Fernando Alonso has paid tribute to his former team boss Ron Dennis, after the Briton announced his intention to step down as McLaren team principal last week.

Although Alonso had a fractious relationship with Dennis during his season at McLaren in 2007, the double world champion said that didn't prevent him from respecting Dennis's achievements during his 28 years at the helm of the team.

"I think we are not best friends, but I think there is respect from each other," said Alonso at the launch of Renault's new R29.

"We didn't have a perfect end to our relationship but we know how much he has done for Formula One. When I was young I remember McLaren and I had great respect for him.

"There are not many people like Ron in Formula One anymore. Ron did it like in the old days: one guy developing and growing up with the team, making a Formula One team successful and winning championships."

Alonso had joined McLaren on a multi-year deal in 2007, but the two parties agreed to end the contract after just one season due to the poor relationship between them, allowing the Spaniard to return to Renault.

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Dennis to step down as team principal

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde

McLaren boss Ron Dennis will step down from his role of team principal before the start of the 2009 season, the Briton announced on Friday.

The 61-year-old, however, made it clear that he is not retiring, but will instead focus on other commitments related to the McLaren Group.

Dennis said he would still attend some races, but intends to pass on his team principal responsibilities to Martin Whitmarsh as of March 1 this year.

"First thing I am going to do is work harder, that is the first target," said Dennis during the launch of the new McLaren.

"I intend to raise my own game because I think everybody in our organisation at every level realises this is a tough period in which we are going to work and of course we are a very diverse organisation now.

"We have a clear intention for our production car programme which is really a challenge. Any product we bring to the market will certainly fall the other side of this financial period.

"I stress nothing to get too excited about but it is absolutely time for Martin to take over as team principal. As from March 1 he will adopt that responsibility. I will still go to races, not all of them, because I am passionate.

"I intend to work harder and will take on greater responsibility in the group. I will be full executive chairman. It is time and I have to say it is absolutely 100 percent my decision. It is what I want to do, but I do intend to work much harder.

"Don't see it as some sort of retirement, I want to work harder in other areas and having to plan those tasks around the GP calendar is disruptive to the process. It is a job that Martin will embrace and enjoy.

"It is a job over the years we have shared anyway, but it will be his decision to influence things at a grand prix circuit."

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Heidfeld wraps up BMW test

With strong winds persisting at the Valencia circuit in southern Spain, BMW Sauber F1 driver Nick Heidfeld brought the first test for the team's 2009 car to a close.

Heidfeld spent the morning going through system checks and the afternoon doing mechanical set-up testing.

"Although the test had to be interrupted once when the wind blew some debris on the track, I managed to do some long runs in the afternoon," Heidfeld said. "I finished the day with some race simulation starts on different tyre compounds."

This week the new BMW has covered 1,887km of testing. The team returns to testing on 10 February in Bahrain.

Source:
http://f1.gpupdate.net
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Raikkonen completes first rally

Kimi Raikkonen enjoyed a very respectable result on his rallying debut in sub-zero conditions.

Raikkonen was in action in the Arctic Lapland Rally which lasts three days in the north of Finland. It saw Raikkonen pitch up against other famous names including Mika Hakkinen.

Raikkonen finished the rally thirteenth overall, ahead of Hakkinen and just six and a half minutes off the eventual winner.

Source:
http://f1.gpupdate.net
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LG KF240

Specifications
LG KF240
Network2G
3G		GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
SizeDimensions
Weight
Display		94 x 47 x 16 mm (3.70 x 1.85 x 0.63 in)
91 gram
TFT, 256K colors
176 x 220 pixels, 2.0 inches (~141 ppi pixel density)
MemoryPhonebook
Call records
Internal
Card slot		Yes
40 dialed, 40 received, 40 missed calls
20 MB
microSD, up to 2 GB
DataGPRS
EDGE
3G
WLAN
Bluetooth
Infrared port
USB		Class 10



v2.0 with A2DP

2.0
FeaturesOS
CPU
Messaging
Alert
Browser
Radio
GPS
Games
Camera
Video
Colors
Java

SMS, MMS, Email
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
WAP 2.0/xHTML
FM radio

Yes
2 MP
Yes
Black
MIDP 2.0
- Loudspeaker
- Mini-SIM
- Downloadable wallpapers
- MP3 player
- MP4 player
- Organizer
- Voice memo
- Predictive text input
- Clock
- Calendar
- Alarm
Battery
Stand-by
Talk time		Standard battery, Li-Ion 800 mAh
Up to 200 h
Up to 3 h

Image: http://www.welectronics.com/gsm/lg
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Williams yet to decide on KERS debut

By Edd Straw and Simon Strang

Williams technical director Sam Michael has hinted that the team may opt not to begin the 2009 Formula One season with its flywheel-based Kinetic Energy Recovery System, and instead focus on ensuring that their new FW31 is reliable.

Williams are the only team not to have gone with a battery KERS device, but Michael says that while the new technology will be of benefit to them, optimising the new-for-'09 aerodynamic package is more important in the short term.

"It's very difficult to sign off KERS in time for Melbourne with all the other things we are trying to do," he said at the launch of the car in Portugal.

"We are trying to make sure that the cooling and gearbox and everything else on the car is working first, and we are also concentrating on making sure our mechanical and aerodynamic package is optimised before we try and get KERS on the car.

"Because if you get something wrong on the aerodynamics or you get something wrong mechanical, you can lose seconds.

"Whereas KERS, even when you have everything 100% reliable is worth two and a half or three tenths.

"It's important," he added, "and that two and a half or three tenths will be important during the season, but to start with it will be swamped by the aero and getting the setup of the car right around the slicks and making sure all the mechanicals don't break."

With a ban on in-season testing now implemented as the teams focus on reducing costs in Formula One, Michael has admitted that developing new components will be more difficult, but believes it will still be possible to evolve KERS effectively during the year.

"Reduced testing makes introducing any new component during the season difficult, but not impossible," he said. "We can use Fridays for this and obviously you have dynos and rigs in the factory to sign things off as well.

"Introducing KERS during the season, if you don't start with it won't be easy, but it's not impossible."

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