Stoner describes route to victory in Italy

Casey Stoner had a complicated race at the Gran Premio d’Italia Alice but he produced a ruthlessly professional display to take the upper hand in the title battle.

Giving Ducati their first ever Mugello win on Sunday Casey Stoner survived a last lap scare when he made a mistake at the Correntaio corner - in front of the fans of the Italian factory - and also overcame a clutch issue in the latter stages to win by one second and retake control in the championship.

Having made a decent start in the wet Stoner slipped back slightly before changing to slick tyres, then re-emerging from pit lane to surge towards the front of the race.

Ending Valentino Rossi’s seven-year Mugello winning streak and preventing a second successive 2009 Jorge Lorenzo win with his solid display, despite some technical issues which he explained afterwards, Stoner struck a key psychological blow in the Tuscan hills.

Describing the race, he stated, “At the beginning we started off really well and I had a good feeling with the bike, it was working well, but as soon as the dry patches started appearing our tyres started destroying themselves and there was no grip. I just tried to maintain the gap to the other riders until I could get onto the slicks and then I knew I wouldn’t have such a disadvantage.”

“Once I got onto the slicks I found a good feeling immediately and I was able to get to the front quite quickly, but then I started having a problem with the clutch,” Stoner continued, “The RPM was going up to the limiter and there was no forward momentum. I just tried adjusting it and I managed to get it hooked up again, but it was still difficult on the corners.”

The young Australian went on to add, “It was a really hard race and I just wanted to finish it. I just tried to stay smooth and keep the same lap times even if I couldn’t ride the way I wanted to. On the last lap I pushed in areas where I hadn’t done so all through the race, and I made a mistake so I was lucky to hold onto the victory. But I think the team did a great job and we are very grateful for this win.”

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BMW Sauber to launch new diffuser

BMW Sauber will run a new split-level diffuser at the Turkish Grand Prix in an effort to bounce back from their worst start to a Formula 1 season.

BMW hope the new design will help them improve on a haul of six points from the first six races of the season.

"We will use a multistage diffuser for the first time in Istanbul," confirmed BMW team principal Mario Theissen.

"Nobody in the team expected the season to pan out as it has so far, our results have been quite sobering."

Theissen added: "After taking a forward step in Spain, we were clearly off the pace in Monaco.

Championship leaders Brawn GP, along with Williams and Toyota, had a double-decker diffuser at the start of the season and BMW were among the teams calling for their design to be banned.

The diffuser is an an aerodynamic part at the rear of the car and the split-level design is thought to give an advantage of 0.5 seconds per lap.

BMW Sauber finished third in the 2008 constructers championship but Theissen admits they have been slow to respond to this season's rule changes, although he is confident they can bounce back.

"After three successful years, this phase is our first setback, but we can deal with it, we are all determined to get ourselves back among the frontrunners again."

"To regain our competitiveness we will have to ramp up our development speed significantly. In Istanbul we will have the next step of our development ready."

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk

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Vettel drives Toro Rosso to pick up Bandini trophy

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel journeyed to Italy on Sunday to receive the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in recognition of his outstanding performances last year with Toro Rosso. The award is given annually by the Italian village of Brisighella, in memory of local driver Bandini, who was killed at the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix.

During his first full Formula One season, Vettel clinched a stunning wet-weather victory at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix and finished eighth in the championship standings with 35 points.

Rather than being driven to the event, Vettel chose to drive himself, getting behind the wheel of the Toro Rosso Formula One car for the 12-kilometre journey from the Italian team’s factory in Faenza to Brisighella. With the roads remaining open, Vettel enjoyed the unusual experience of weaving in and out of normal traffic, with his police escort.

Once he arrived at the Italian village, local dignitaries and members of the Bandini family were on hand to present the trophy. Also in attendance was the mayor of Vettel’s home town in Germany, Heppenheim, who had an additional award for the driver - a pair of personalised road car number plates, which read HPSV1.

Previous recipients of the Bandini trophy include Felipe Massa, Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and Robert Kubica.

Source:
http://www.formula1.com
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Williams suspended from teams’ association

Williams have been temporarily suspended from the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA). It follows Monday’s confirmation that Williams have lodged a formal entry for next year’s championship, despite the ongoing dispute between the teams and the FIA over the 2010 regulations.

“FOTA’s decision, although regrettable, is understandable,” said team principal Frank Williams after the news emerged from a meeting of team bosses in London on Wednesday. “However, as a racing team and a company whose only business is Formula One, with obligations to our partners and our employees, submitting our entry to next year’s championship was unquestionable.

"In addition, we are legally obliged under our contract with FOM and the FIA to participate in the world championship until the end of 2012.”

Teams have until this Friday (May 29) to submit their entries for 2010, but several have suggested they will not do so unless the FIA modifies plans to introduce an optional £40 million budget cap in exchange for more technical freedom.

During last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix all ten teams wrote to the FIA, requesting that the existing 2009 technical rules be retained for next season to allow more time for the future framing of the Formula One regulations to be considered.

Source:
http://www.formula1.com
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Cagiva Navigator 1000 (2005)

Technical Specifications
Engine
Engine type
Bore x Stroke
Displacement
Max power
Max torque
Valves
Gearbox
Final drive

Liquid cooled, l-twin, 4-stroke
98 mm x 66 mm
342 cm3 (cc)
97 hp (72.3 kW) @ 8400 rpm
88 Nm (64.9 ft. lbs) @ 7000 rpm
4 valves per cylinder
6-Speed
Chain
Dimensions
Overall length
Overall width
Seat height
Wheelbase
Ground clearance
Dry weight
Fuel capacity
Tyre (front)
Tyre (rear)
Suspension (front)
Suspension (rear)
Brake (front)
Brake (rear)

2168 mm
825 mm
850 mm
1530 mm (60.2 inches)
180 mm
210 kg (463 pounds)
20 l (5.3 gallon US)
100/90-19
140/80-17
45 mm telescopic hydraulic fork
Proggresive type with single hydraulic shock
single 296 mm disc with 4-piston calipers
single 240 mm disc with 2-piston calipers

Image:
http://www.scenicreflections.com

Source:
http://www.fixya.com
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BMW R 1200 CL (2003)

Technical Specifications
Engine
Engine type
Bore x Stroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Max power
Max torque
Valves
Gearbox
Final drive

4-stroke, 2 cylinder opposed Boxer air/oil cooled
101 mm x 73 mm
1170 cm3 (cc)
10:1
61 hp (45.5 kW) @ 5000 rpm
98 Nm (72.3 ft. lbs) @ 3000 rpm
4 valves per cylinder
6-Speed
Cardan
Dimensions
Overall length
Overall width
Seat height
Wheelbase
Dry weight
Fuel capacity
Tyre (front)
Tyre (rear)
Suspension (front)
Suspension (rear)


Brake (front)
Brake (rear)

2415 mm (95.1 inches)
853 mm (33.6 inches)
745 mm (29.3 inches)
1650 mm (65 inches)
305 kg (672.4 pounds)
17,5 l (4.6 gallon US)
100/90-18
170/80-15
Motorrad telelever, ctanchion diameter mm, central strut.
145 mm wheel travel
Die cast aluminium single sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Monolever, WAD strut, spring preload
adjustable to continuously variable levels by
means of hydraulic handwheel. 100 mm wheel travel
dual 305 mm discs with 4-piston calipers
single 285 mm disc with 2-piston calipers

Source:
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za
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Button 'shows Schumacher traits'

Championship leader Jenson Button is showing some of the same character traits as Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, says team chief Ross Brawn.

In 2004 Brawn and Button's team-mate Rubens Barrichello were at Ferrari when Schumacher won the first five races. In 2009 Button has won five out of six.

"Rubens has had his occasions when he beat Michael and he was a pretty strong reference," said Brawn.

"The fact Jenson's won these races with Rubens in the team sets the standard."

Brawn said the way Button had handled his latest win in Monaco was reminiscent of seven-time champion Schumacher in his prime.

"There was a bit in the race where Jenson was coming up to a group that were racing each other and we were talking on the pit wall and saying maybe he should ease the pace back a bit and not get mixed up in it," he said.

"And he came on the radio almost simultaneously and said 'Look guys, I don't want to get involved in that, what's going on in front, I'm going to ease back a bit'.

"So he's gaining in that mental capacity to do things as well as driving the car."

Button's 16-point lead over team-mate Barrichello means he is sure to be championship leader for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 21 June.

And having already won in Monaco, where he now lives, Button admitted he would get even more satisfaction from racing on his real home soil.

"I always love the British Grand Prix, it's obviously my proper home grand prix," he said.

"Turning up there leading the championship, it's going to be a nice feeling and hopefully I'll put on a good show in front of the home crowd."

Button signed a one-year deal with the Brawn team on considerably reduced terms after the demise of the old Honda team during the close season.

But such has been his instant impact that Brawn chief executive officer Nick Fry is keen to tie him down on a longer-term deal.

"Jenson's been with us a long time, and we've had failures and we've had successes," he said.

"My objective, and our objective, is to have him for the rest of his career, and nothing's changed on that front.

"It's mutual that he would like to stay with the team, and after five race wins, we should be able to get something together."

Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk

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