Spies satisfied, Lorenzo frustrated after Qatar Test

The biggest threat on the track this evening for Yamaha Factory Racing riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies was not other riders but fiercely strong winds blowing across the Losail Circuit in Qatar. The final pre-season MotoGP Test session before next weekend's opening race was a battle against the elements.

American rider Spies built steadily up the timesheets, slotting in as second fastest rider just before the midway point of the session. He took his last opportunity before the race weekend to work through some further geometry settings with Crew Chief Tom Houseworth as they hunted down extra grip on the track, wrapping up at the end in third, 0.613 seconds from the front.

Spies' team mate Lorenzo struggled to make a significant step forward from yesterday's session, hampered by the winds the Mallorcan was unable to find the best set up for the conditions. He finished the session with an extended run to check on fuel consumption, ending the final Test of the winter off-season in seventh position on the timesheet.

Ben Spies, 3rd, 1'56.294:
"It's been a good Test, I'm happy with it. We tried a few different things today and improved the bike some more. We've now got a couple of days to look over the data ready for the four-day weekend, there'll be plenty more riding opportunities before Sunday. I was pretty confident coming here after Sepang, hopefully we can make the bike even better before the race. Last year we saw that the M1 worked well at every track, it's Yamaha's strong point and I think it's the same this year."

Jorge Lorenzo, 7th, 1'56.707:
"Today wasn't the best day for me. It was not because my riding is bad, I always admit when it is, we struggled with the set up of the bike during the session and unfortunately we didn't make a step forward. The wind was tough but that was a problem for everyone. We also tried a different swing arm today but it didn't make an improvement. We will work over the next few days to be ready to improve in the next sessions on Thursday."

Wilco Zeelenberg, Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager:
"Today was a very windy day in Qatar, compared to yesterday we struggled a little bit with the feeling and the balance of the bike because of it. We made a long run at the end even though we hadn't found a perfect feeling to see what our fuel consumption was and also gather some more electronic information. The bike set up wasn't perfect for it but it was necessary to do."

Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director:
"We are satisfied with Ben's bike set up, he was consistently quite fast. Ben didn't push 100% which makes us confident for the race weekend. We didn't try a really long run but managed to maintain a consistent fast pace with a used tyre. We didn't make as big a step forward today on Jorge's side as we would have liked however we completed a useful longer run to gather some valuable data. We're confident that we have enough sessions before Sunday's race for both riders to find an optimum and competitive set up."
Yamaha Factory Racing press release

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Repsol Honda geared up for first race weekend in Qatar

Casey Stoner, the fastest rider of the last Qatar pre-season test can boast the biggest numbers of victories at this track. The Australian has won the MotoGP race here three times in 2007, 2008 and 2009, plus the 250 once in 2005.

Dani Pedrosa, fast and consistent during the whole winter test, is ready to face the Qatar race - where he has enjoyed two podiums at MotoGP level in 2007 and 2008, and also in 250 in 2004. He is confident that he and his machine are in good shape to have a strong start to the season.

After good results in the pre-season, Andrea Dovizioso is looking forward to the first race of the Championship. Andrea has good memories of this track, finishing on the podium in all 3 classes. In 2010 he finished third after a very strong race and in 2008, on a Honda satellite bike, he finished fourth overtaking Valentino Rossi on the last lap of his debut MotoGP race.

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda
"I'm really looking forward to starting the season. We've been here for many days already and it's time to start racing. Our expectations for the race are high after the results of the winter test. I think we did a good job, the bike was competitive in Sepang and when we have changed circuits, it kept the same level, so I'm very happy about that. We start this season with a competitive bike. The RCV212V hasn't changed so much from the one we had for the second half of last season and I feel confident. Anyway, we need to be concentrate very hard because the race weekend will be very demanding with four days of testing. Our rivals will improve and we will see how the conditions are. I’m expecting very windy as it's been during testing. Both the bike and I are in a good shape and I hope we can take this occasion to start the season strongly. I am very sorry for what is going on in Japan. I have been with Honda since the beginning of my career and I have many Japanese friends. My thoughts are with them and I really hope the situation will get better soon for all of Japan".

Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda
“Racing in Qatar is special because it’s the first round of the season and we race at night. I have good memories at this track, like my first race in MotoGP when I finished 4th or last year's podium. I look forward to start racing after a very positive winter preparation. Casey and Dani have raised the level, but compared to last year I feel more competitive. Here in Losail, the bike slides a lot and it’s important to find the specific setting for this track. The race will be long and physically demanding, but I am looking forward to starting the Championship. Concerning the decision taken yesterday to postpone the GP of Japan, I agree with it. The extent of the damage made by the earthquake and the tsunami, are so big that it was not thinkable to have a GP there in few weeks. The priority of the country in this moment is to take care of the people and recover from the situation. I feel very close to the Japanese people”.

Casey Stoner, Repsol Honda
"In this difficult time with the events in Japan, it is hard to go racing and this tragedy is at the front of all our minds. That said, it's what we do, so we must concentrate to the best of our abilities to bring home a good result for Honda and all it's employees. After a strong winter testing period, I'm very happy with the set-up we have found on the bike and I go into this race weekend looking for a good result. When the flag drops, we will see the true pace of all our competitors and know where we stand and I can't wait. Usually, I feel comfortable here at the Losail circuit and I hope that this year - my first with the Repsol Honda Team, we can achieve a good result".

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Galliani rules out Pato transfer

Adriano Galliani locked down Alexandre Pato and claimed Milan’s Scudetto showdown with Napoli is “very important, but not decisive.”

The Rossoneri are still top of the Serie A table and go head-to-head with second-placed Napoli on Monday night.

“This match will be very important, but not decisive,” insisted the Milan Vice-President.

Galliani also commented on reports that young striker Pato would be sacrificed over the summer transfer market to bring in reinforcements.

“The Brazilian is essential for Milan and will absolutely remain here,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

There has been a hat-trick of home defeats for Italian sides in the first leg of the Champions League ties, but the former Lega Calcio chief is keeping calm.

“It will be difficult for all three teams, but we must not all is lost already.”

Milan lost 1-0 to Tottenham and Inter fell by the same scoreline to Bayern Munich, while Roma were defeated 3-2 by Shakhtar Donetsk.

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Cassano: 'Cavani like Ibrahimovic? It's a joke!'

Antonio Cassano laughs off comparisons between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani. “Let’s not joke around. Ibra is on another level.”

Monday’s big match sees leaders Milan welcome second place Napoli in a Scudetto clash and Cassano gave a long interview to the Corriere dello Sport in preparation.

“Are we under pressure from Napoli? No, here at Milan the only pressure is our blood pressure,” smiled the striker.

“I don’t care what Inter and Napoli want. I do not fear anybody. This Milan is not afraid and it shouldn’t be, as it is the strongest team, without doubt.”

When asked who was the better player right now between Ibrahimovic and top scorer Cavani, Cassano had no hesitation.

“Let’s not joke around, what kind of a question is that? Cavani is a good player, but he reminds me of Igor Protti at Bari. He needs to be more consistent. Ibrahimovic is on another level.

“The best I ever played with was Ronaldo, followed by Zinedine Zidane, then Ibra and Francesco Totti on a par.”

There are reports Cassano will be dropped for Monday’s game in favour of Alexandre Pato, who scored a sensational goal against Chievo.

“Pato is the absolute best and I told him that. Only Leo Messi is better and the two together would be incredible to watch. I immediately got along with Ibrahimovic, as me and Zlatan are two totally crazy guys, so we are similar. Pato is more of a little boy and quite shy.”

Cassano joined Milan during the January transfer window after two months frozen out of Sampdoria following a blazing row with President Riccardo Garrone.

“Looking back to what happened four months ago, I would pay out of my own pocket to avoid the mistake I made with Garrone. He was the person who showed me the most affection in the football world and he really didn’t deserve what I did to him.”

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Hamsik: 'AC Milan are not unbeatable'

Marek Hamsik is fired up for the Scudetto duel with on Monday, even if he plays down Napoli’s title chances. “Milan are not at all unbeatable.”

The second placed side pay visit to the Serie A leaders and only three points separate them going into the game

“There’s no point denying it, a large chunk of the Scudetto is in the balance on Monday night,” Hamsik told the Corriere dello Sport.

“However, we are certainly not there to gamble with the title. Milan are in front, we are three points behind, so they are the ones with more to lose. Of course, if we should win at San Siro, then there would be 11 games to go and we’d be on level terms...

“In that case, the Scudetto odds would be on Milan and Inter. As for Napoli, I’d be happy with third of fourth place.

“The Rossoneri may be favourites for Monday’s match, but they are not at all uneatable. In our last meeting at the San Paolo we played well despite going through half the game with 10 men and could even have equalised.”

Much has been said in the media about the duel between Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the Capocannoniere title.

“This season Cavani has been the best player in Serie A, but if Ibra has won the title wherever he went over the last seven years, there must be a reason,” noted Hamsik.

The Partenopei are still smarting after their 2-1 defeat at Villarreal signalled the end of the Europa League course.

“We were defeated by a great squad, but did not deserve to go out of the competition. We proved we can play in such important games and thanks to that will now be even more aware of our capabilities.”

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Rosberg fastest on rain-hit final day

Nico Rosberg put his Mercedes at the top of the timesheets as pre-season running for the 2011 season came to an end at the Ciruit de Catalunya on Saturday. The German driver put in a late effort to narrowly beat the FW33 of Pastor Maldonado, who had been the pace-setter for much of the afternoon session in Barcelona.

After most of the field packed up to prepare for the first race in Melbourne last night, McLaren, Ferrari, Williams and Mercedes were the four teams who remained on-track for a final day of testing in Spain. Hispania Racing was set to debut its new F111 today, but had to cancel its plans when key car components were not allowed through Spanish customs.

Heavy overnight rain had drenched the surroundings of Montmeló ahead of the final day of running, with torrential conditions failing to ease off during the early hours. As the session officially got underway, surface water made any true running impossible, with only installation laps taking place during the first few hours.

Lewis Hamilton was the only man to complete a flying lap before the lunch break, with the McLaren driver posting a time of 1:57.765 during a sequence of laps in his MP4-26. It was not until the middle of the afternoon until the Briton improved however, taking over ten seconds off his previous best lap-time, setting a 1:47.304 to move further ahead as the rain continued to fall.

Hamilton was eventually joined by two of the other three drivers out on track today, with Maldonado climbing to the top of the timesheets. After a string of laps the GP2 graduate consolidated his position with an effort of 1:46.157. Rosberg quickly joined the pair on the timing screens in his newly-updated MGP-W02, circulating exactly 1.6 seconds slower than Maldonado.

Rosberg took over from team-mate Michael Schumacher for the afternoon session, and went on to edge out Maldonado in a last gasp effort. Despite the conditions masking drivers' pace even further today, Mercedes will leave Barcelona in a more positive mood than it arrived, with its drivers topping the timesheets on the final two days of running.

With the pre-season testing period now over, all attentions will turn towards the Australian Grand Prix in a fortnight's time. HRT will once again arrive at the opening race with no prior running of its car, with the outfit's 2011 challenger set to be driven for the first time during Friday practice in Melbourne.

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