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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 to show speed that he has. Hopefully, returning Gibernau who was not so impressive in 12th place, this time will not be the one to end Capirossi's resurrection.

Colin Edwards was also quick during the test, as we used from him, ending day three in 4th place. Honda returnee Toni Elias was constantly around 5th place in Sepang, obviously more suited to Honda than Ducati. Chris Vermeulen ended test in front of Jorge Lorenzo, while Andrea Dovizioso was the last rider inside lap record in Sepang. Mika Kallio was 9th, while Nicky Hayden continued adaptation to Ducati Desmosedici which proved to be quite demanding.

Day 3 Sepang test times:
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 2:01.043
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 2:01.137
3. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2:01.262
4. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 2:01.413
5. Toni Elias (SPA) Team San Carlo 2:01.560
6. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2:01.666
7. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 2:01.907
8. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda 2:01.955
9. Mika Kallio (FIN) Alice Team 2:02.386
10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 2:02.497
11. Alex De Angelis (RSM) Team San Carlo 2:02.523
12. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Grupo Francisco Hernando 2:02.727
13. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 2:03.418
14. Yuki Takahashi (JPN) Scot Racing Team 2:03.474
15. Niccolo Canepa (ITA) Alice Team 2:03.901
16. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 2:03.953
17. Yamaha Test Rider 1 (JPN) Yamaha Factory Racing 2:04.328
18. Yamaha Test Rider 2 (JPN) Yamaha Factory Racing 2:04.614

Sepang: Record Lap
Casey Stoner (Ducati) 2007, 2:02.108

Sepang: Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 2:00.605

Source:
http://www.highrevs.net

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 replace MotoGP-bound Chris Vermeulen.

The new partnership brought instant results and Toseland rebuilt his reputation by taking second to Troy Bayliss in the 2006 WSBK championship - then became Ten Kate's first, and so far only, premier-class champion the following season.

Toseland began a new stage in his career with a move to MotoGP with Tech 3 Yamaha for 2008, where he claimed six sixth-place finishes and eleventh in the world championship - although the highlight of his year was arguably qualifying a superb second on his Qatar debut.

ten Kate now expects to see substantial improvement from Toseland during his second season.

“Well for sure from James we can expect quite a big step up this year. I truly and strongly believe in him as a racer,” said the Dutchman, speaking exclusively to Crash.net. “Also the new single tyre rule will definitely be a step forward for James. It was unfortunate to see him crash out so hard in testing at Sepang the other week, but I strongly believe that he will make a step.”

It was current Suzuki MotoGP rider Vermeulen who launched Ten Kate's first World Superbike attack when, having won the World Supersport title, the Australian moved with the team to the premier class in 2005. Vermeulen finished runner-up to Troy Corser before accepting the offer of a GSV-R ride.

The highlight of Vermeulen's three seasons in MotoGP is a debut victory in the wet French Grand Prix at Le Mans in 2007, plus six further podiums and three pole positions. Vermeulen's best championship ranking is sixth in 2007, although his machinery has rarely been a match for the best in MotoGP.

“With Chris Vermeulen we are going to have to see,” said ten Kate. “He has already been in MotoGP for a couple of years now, so as a rider I can't see him making a big step. It probably depends more on if Suzuki will make a big step forward. Looking at the latest test results at Sepang, Capirossi was right up there, so we might also see a step forward for Chris.”

Source:
http://www.crash.net

Canepa gives Ducati, Desmosedici insight

by Peter McLaren

2009 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, 25 podiums and 14 poles - handing the young Australian the 2007 world championship and second place in the 2008 standings.

But the only non-Stoner victory is a wet/dry win for Loris Capirossi in the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix - while Toni Elias was the next best Ducati rider with two podiums and eleventh overall last year - making the 800cc Desmosedici the most 'mysterious' motorcycle on the MotoGP grid.

Even with the knowledge of computer data and technical understanding learnt as a mechanical engineering student, Canepa admits it is hard to pinpoint exactly how Stoner goes so much faster than every other Desmosedici rider.

“Stoner brakes later and opens the throttle sooner!” smiled the Pramac rider. “I don't know exactly what Stoner does better than us. I know he uses a lot of rear brake, but so does Nicky [Hayden]. When you enter the corner the rear brake helps to close the line.”

One area where many GP9 riders are currently losing time is on corner exit, with the rear of the bike 'pumping' up and down as the power is applied. Canepa revealed that it was actually a much bigger problem on the 2008 machine and believes it is caused by opening the throttle too aggressively.

In contrast to suggestions that Stoner's success is down to pinning the throttle and letting the electronics sort it out, Canepa believes that careful use of the throttle is the key to extracting a good lap time from the Desmosedici.

“With the GP9 the pumping is better. With the GP8 it was a big problem,” stated the 20-year-old. “With the Ducati you have to be very slow with the throttle, if you open the throttle like this [quickly] the bike starts pumping and you think you are going faster - because the bike moves everywhere - but for the lap time it is not good! It is better to be smooth with the throttle, but it is difficult to get the exact balance right.”

Having played a role in development of the GP9 last season, Canepa is already familiar with the new carbon fibre chassis, which he says offers a distinct advantage in a championship where large technical improvements are hard to find.

“There is not a big difference between the GP8 and GP9 - the level in MotoGP is so high it is difficult to find a big gain - but there is a good advantage with the carbon chassis,” he explained. “Especially when you enter corners, it is more stable at the front and the GP8 usually wanted to go wide, but the GP9 holds the line. So the new chassis helps you turn and is more stable.”

Outside of Ducati's factory race team, Canepa highlighted the efforts of two people for the success of the Desmosedici project.

“Filippo Preziosi [Ducati Corse general manager] is a very, very, very good engineer. It helps everybody to work with him,” said Niccolo. “Also test rider Vittoriano Guareschi does a very good job. He is fast and he does a lot of kilometres with strange things on the bike sometimes! I think if the bike is so good it is also thanks to Vittoriano and especially, of course, to Felipe Preziosi.”

Canepa, the 2007 FIM Superstock 1000 champion for Ducati, has also worked as a test rider for the factory's road machines.

“I was also the test rider for the standard Ducatis, like the 1098,” he said. “I worked a lot with the development team at Ducati and what surprised me is that everybody gets to ride the bike! It is funny, but it is also very important. They want the opinion of a good rider, an engineer, but also a man on the street - everybody!”

Although Canepa never rode a 990cc MotoGP machine, raced between 2003 and 2006, he did test the road version - and set one of several Ducati 'records' with it...

“I did a lot of tests with the Desmosedici RR road bike. I was the first person to crash that bike... also the 1098... and the MotoGP bike with carbon chassis! I have lots of records at Ducati!” he joked.

As well as being Ducati's only home grown grand prix rider this season, Canepa stands out from his peers by balancing university with a MotoGP career.

“I am studying mechanical engineering, but it is very hard to find the time,” he confessed. “I am in my second year. I only have time in winter so I'm not sure when I will finish. Now I am testing and then when the racing starts it is impossible I think.

“This winter I went to university every day and then training in the afternoon, but the other guys study in the afternoon. I have to train a lot so I have no time to study. I don't know anybody else racing at this level who is also studying.”

And does studying engineering at such a high level provide any advantages on the race track?

“It helps me understand the data, but the main advantage probably comes from speaking with the other engineers about the bike, because we talk the same [technical] 'language',” said the Genova native.

Canepa, often the second fastest Ducati behind Stoner during test sessions last season, finished the first test of 2009, at Sepang, in 15th position and is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.

“I have a lot to learn and it is very difficult. It does not get any more difficult than MotoGP,” he said. “At the moment I am also still learning to use a thumb operated rear brake. My foot is too big for a normal brake lever! Size 44. I will also have to learn five circuits this year.”

And the most difficult part of MotoGP?

“The other riders!” he smiled.

Source:
http://www.crash.net

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 during testing at Sepang from February 5-7, Stoner complained of pain from the wrist and could only complete a handful of consecutive laps.

But the pain had little impact on his ultimate lap time, with the young Australian fastest of all on days two and three to leave Malaysia 0.094sec ahead of reigning six time champion Valentino Rossi.

”Nobody has spoken about another operation,” the official MotoGP website quotes Suppo as saying. “The doctors said that the surgery went ok, so now it's a question of doing exercises to increase mobility in his wrist. Everything should be under control. In Sepang he was able to ride the bike, like the doctors said, and he was unbelievably fast.

”He will have to work hard on his wrist. It won't be easy for him, but he has the character to do it. We have to wait and see what happens in Qatar [the next test]; hopefully the circuit is less physically demanding for the riders and better for him than Sepang.”

Stoner, who has claimed all but one of Ducati's 17 800cc victories, was 1.3sec faster than the next best Desmosedici rider (Mika Kallio) at Sepang, with new team-mate Nicky Hayden 1.454sec behind in tenth position.

”Nicky wasn't as fast as Casey in Sepang, but you have to remember that Casey joined us in 2006,” said Suppo. “Sepang is a special circuit, and Nicky was as fast as Casey in T1 and T2. I spoke to him after the test, and I really believe that he has a great attitude to us working together.”

The second test of 2009 takes place at Qatar from March 1-3.

Source:
http://www.crash.net

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 Autodrome on February 27th-28th, having already competed in the championship’s third event of the season. Melandri came close to winning race two at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar before a gearbox problem caused him to drop down the field.

The winner of that race, Vitantonio Liuzzi, will once again be racing against Melandri, as will the likes of Gianni Morbidelli, Johnny Herbert and Jean Alesi.

Unlike the Qatar races, the Dubai event takes place by day, and with no prior experience of the track for Melandri.

Source:
http://www.motogp.com

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 Rossi and Suzuki Team’s Loris Capirossi. With every machine equipped with the same tyres, the top five riders were separated by just 0.5seconds.

As per the new single tyre supplier regulations, Bridgestone brought two compounds of its slick tyre to the test - medium and hard. Each rider was supplied with a total of ten sets of tyres during the course of the three days, as well as an additional three tyres (one front and two rears) for Bridgestone’s testing purposes.

On the opening day of the test every rider was allocated two medium sets and two hard sets of tyres. A further three sets of tyres were provided per additional day with each rider selecting his combination of compounds.

The test gave Bridgestone an excellent opportunity to continue working closely with all this year’s teams and riders and also to introduce two different specifications of extra hard compound rear tyre, under development for races later in the season such as the Sachsenring and Phillip Island. Each rider was offered one of each specification, along with an additional hard compound front tyre for the testing runs, and the performance of each closely monitored.

Tohru Ubukata – Bridgestone Motorsport – Manager Motorcycle Race Tyre Development
“The test has been very successful for us as all the teams responded positively to the performance and durability of our tyres, and we have gathered some valuable data relating to our extra hard compound rear tyres. This will allow us to determine the best way to develop these for races later in the season. The test has also given us a lot of information that will allow us to ensure we select the correct tyre compound choices for future hot races.”

Hiroshi Yamada – Bridgestone Motorsport – Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit
“We are very pleased with the performance of our tyres following the first test of this season. Of course we have good relationships with many teams from previous years, but there are also new teams that we have recently started working with and the test has allowed us to continue to build these relationships. I’d like to thank all the teams and riders for their cooperation in this first test of the year as we look forward to the first race in Qatar. We have had very positive feedback from all the teams over the last three days and the times at the front are very close which is exciting for competition this year.”

Source:
http://www.bridgestonemotorsport.com

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 downturn.

The rider for the new MotoGP team will be the Italian 26 year-old Marco Melandri. The team will be equipped with Kawasaki motorcycles and supporting materials.

That Kawasaki has arrived at this new team approach is the result of both the need for a significant reduction of MotoGP racing investments and the simultaneous necessity to come to a constructive solution for all related parties.

The new team will disclose more details about its 2009 season plans shortly.