'Positive' Hayden hoping for test boost

Nicky Hayden is hoping that extra seat team made possible by Monday's Catalunya post-race test can help turn around a demoralising start to his Ducati career.

The 2006 world champion, who spent six years at Repsol Honda, has scored just 13 points from his first five rounds on a Desmosedici, compared with 90 points for team-mate and title leader Casey Stoner.

The American has been hit particularly hard by the decision to slash the amount of MotoGP tests, for financial reasons, while unpredictable weather at all but one event so far has also limited the seat time available.

“This obviously isn't an easy period for me but I have to think positive and continue to give it everything,” said Nicky, presently just 15th in the championship standings. “That is my way of dealing things and that is what I'll continue to do alongside my team.

“I'm looking forward to getting out there and racing again but I'm also looking forward to the test afterwards. I really need some testing and more time in the saddle.

“This year I'm really feeling the testing ban that has been brought in and I know it's the same for everybody but for me in particular I know I'd really benefit from some test time, so hopefully we can get some good work done in Barcelona that will help me take a step forward,” he explained.

Ducati MotoGP project director Livio Suppo was at pains to point out that the Italian factory remains committed to improving the fortunes of all its riders.

“On Tuesday after the [Mugello] race Vittoriano [Guareschi, test rider] was back on track for three days of testing at the same circuit with the objective of improving our bike for Casey and for the other riders who are at times struggling to find a comfortable set-up for the GP9,” he said.

“In Barcelona we'll have a few set-up and electronic updates to try in the day of testing on Monday after the race, so we'll have chance for our world championship riders to give us some feedback and direction for more useful development in the future,” Suppo added.

The next best Ducati rider in the world championship standings after Stoner is Pramac-backed rookie Mika Kallio, in 14th.

After Catalunya, the second and final opportunity for testing during the season will be after Brno.

Source: http://www.crash.net

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Doctors confirm Pedrosa’s condition

Dani Pedrosa today returned home to Barcelona where Doctor Xavier Mir, at the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus, confirmed that the Repsol Honda rider had not suffered any further injuries during his crash in yesterday’s Italian Grand Prix.

Pedrosa had started the race injured after a big rear wheel slide and subsequent shake from his bike in Saturday morning’s practice session caused the unlucky Spaniard to incur severe stretching in his right hip. The scans today also showed that the initial diagnosis at the circuit on Saturday had been correct and Pedrosa had pulled the gluteus medius muscle, which caused a small crack in the greater trochanter (thigh) bone where the muscle attaches.

The factory Honda rider will now rest up ahead of the Grand Prix of Catalunya in just under two week’s time. His physical condition will be assessed next week and Pedrosa is hoping to be fit for his home race.

Dani Pedrosa
“It’s a relief that the tests today didn’t show up anything new because I think I have enough to contend with already. The injury from Saturday is still quite painful obviously but with luck it will improve over the next week. The timing of this a real shame because I was feeling as though I was returning to something close to race fitness and could ride the bike as I wanted. Still, this is where we are so we’ll just get on with it and try to make a quick recovery. I really hope I can be fit for the next race because it’s a very important one for me and the team.”

Source: http://www.repsol.com

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Andrea Dovizioso gets fourth place on home soil

The Italian Honda Repsol rider Dovizioso finished 4th at the circuit of Mugello after an intense race after overtaking Capirossi on the final lap. Dani Pedrosa fell and could not finish the race, even though he made a great start. Casey Stoner won the race, Jorge Lorenzo was 2nd and Valentino Rossi 3rd.

Another GP in the rain and once again the riders had to change bikes in the middle of the race making this GP into another exciting spectacle. The big surprise at the start was Dani Pedrosa, from 8th on the grid he moved into the lead at the first corner. Andrea Dovizioso also got off to a good start and moved up to 3rd. But Casey Stoner soon took over at the front and began to get away from the rest of the field.

The track slowly dried out and all the riders went to the pits to change their bikes and ride on slicks. The leaders were the last ones to do so and Dovizioso took advantage of the changeover to move into the lead at the halfway mark. Dani Pedrosa fell soon after changing his bike, he was thrown off when coming out of a corner, but he escaped unhurt. At the end of the race Stoner was the winner and he was accompanied on the podium by the two other Yamaha riders, Lorenzo 2nd and Rossi 3rd. Andrea Dovizioso got an important 4th place by overtaking Capirossi on the final lap, rounding off a great performance on his home soil.

Source: http://www.repsol.com

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Pedrosa receives clearance for Catalonia

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa has confirmed his presence at the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya, less than two weeks after suffering a minor fracture to his right femur. The Spaniard undertook a final check-up at Barcelona’s Dexeus facility on Tuesday, with Doctors Xavier Mir and Manel Ribas giving him the all-clear to ride.

The participation of the 2008 racewinner was never in serious doubt, based on his past record of riding around injuries, the closeness of the title chase in front of him and the fact that the weekend’s race is one of his best chances of taking a first victory of the season. In a statement, Pedrosa also listed the desire to ride in front of his home fans as a key motivational factor.

“I didn’t want to miss this important date for anything in the world,” he said. “On the one hand I wanted to ride because missing this race would mean losing too much ground in the standings, and also because I wanted to race in front of my fans, friends and family.”

Pedrosa has been resting up following his Mugello ordeal, with his right leg immobilised and a cocktail of anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants to ease the pain.

Source: http://www.motogp.com

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Barcelona awaits as MotoGP hits Catalunya

Having ended Valentino Rossi’s seven year winning streak at Mugello last time out Casey Stoner heads to the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya as the standings leader with his Italian triumph being his first victory since the opening round in Qatar. The Australian Ducati Marlboro rider was the winner of an epic Barcelona race in 2007 and will look to repeat that success at a track where he finished third last year.

Second in the general classification and the only other rider with two wins to his name thus far in 2009, Jorge Lorenzo is out to set the record straight at his home GP. The man from Mallorca trails Stoner by four points and will be keen to perform well in his first race in MotoGP in front of the Catalan crowd, having missed out last year due to concussion after a Friday practice crash.

Rossi, meanwhile, trails Stoner by nine points and will aim to close that gap at one of his strongest circuits. The Italian Fiat Yamaha star has never finished off the podium at Montmeló in the premier class, with five wins to his name there, three second places (two of which have come in the last two seasons) and one third place from his MotoGP Catalunya debut in 2000.

Last year’s race-winner and home favourite Dani Pedrosa, who grew up a short drive from the track, has victories to his name in all three Grand Prix classes at this venue but he faces a late fitness test to see if he is ready to participate. The Repsol Honda rider damaged his right thigh when he severely stretched his hip in Mugello in practice and then crashed out of the race to make matters worse.

Pedrosa’s team-mate Andrea Dovizioso, meanwhile, lies just one point behind the Spaniard in the championship having missed the podium by fractions of a second at the last two rounds. He will be keen to add to his solitary MotoGP podium to date as soon as possible and as a former 250cc Barcelona race-winner he will fancy his chances this weekend at a circuit when he was fourth in 2008.

Also in the overall top ten at present the likes of Marco Melandri (Hayate Racing), Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki), Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) and Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) will all be fighting for good points to keep their 2009 campaigns on the right tracks.

It is also a key Grand Prix for Catalan pair Toni Elías (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and Sete Gibernau (Grupo Francisco Hernando) as they both try to bounce back from recent operations and climb up the general standings, Gibernau having missed the round five trip to Italy due to a shoulder injury.

Source: http://www.motogp.com

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Stoner aims to build on Italian win

The winner of a superb Barcelona race in 2007 en route to his World Championship triumph and the victor of the most recent MotoGP race at Mugello - a first win for Ducati at their home track – Casey Stoner has every reason to be confident as he arrives in Catalunya for round six.

However, approaching the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya as the standings leader, Stoner was typically understated as he previewed what promises to be another intriguing weekend at the Montmeló track.

Giving his general perspective on the title race having taken 90 points from the opening five rounds, four more than his current closest rival Jorge Lorenzo, Stoner stated, “This championship is extremely difficult and competitive and even a victory like the one at Mugello, wonderful as it was, needs to be put behind us so that we can turn our focus to the next race.”

“Being leader of the championship at this stage means absolutely nothing. My rivals are very clever, mature and capable of winning races so we have to stay focused, do our best to be competing for the top step of the podium again and if that’s not possible then make sure we are bringing home the maximum number of points.”

On the qualities of the Barcelona venue, the Australian added, “It was one of my favourite circuits until they re-laid it. Even though they put a completely new surface down a few years ago it has never been the same as it was before and the fact they race F1 there hasn’t helped the situation in terms of the bumps and potholes. The layout is nice though. The first part isn’t too difficult but the middle and end parts of the lap are technical and demanding, especially the fast pair of right-handers coming onto the start-finish straight.”

Stoner and his Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden will be honoured by the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday morning with the unveiling of their plaques on ‘Champions Avenue’ - adding their names to those of Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Dani Pedrosa, amongst others - in celebration of their respective 2007 and 2006 MotoGP titles.

Source: http://www.motogp.com

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Perez 'anxious' about Kaka verdict

Florentino Perez says Kaka “was born to play for Real Madrid,” but also admits he’s “anxious” about Milan’s decision on Monday.

The offer, said to be around £65m, has been made for the Brazilian and President Perez cannot wait to sign him after several years of trying.

“Kaka is one of those players who was born to play for Real Madrid,” Perez told Spanish television programme Punto Pelota.

“In many things he reminds me of [Zinedine] Zidane.”

Rossoneri patron Silvio Berlusconi has declared a decision will be made on Sunday evening and announced on Monday, so Perez isn’t counting his chickens yet.

“Has Kaka already signed? I am anxiously awaiting what could happen on Monday.”

Meanwhile, Kaka is in Uruguay for Brazil’s World Cup qualifier and caused shockwaves when he agreed to sign a Real Madrid shirt presented to him by a fan.

“He was very nice about it,” supporter Elenice Salustio told globoesporte. “He saw it was a Real shirt and signed his autograph next to the club badge.”

Having said that, Kaka also signed Milan jerseys and other items outside the team hotel.

Source:
http://www.acmilan-online.com

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