On Monday morning Nicky Hayden underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on the right shoulder that he had injured in late December in a pre-season training accident. The 40 minute procedure was carried out in Fremont, California by Dr Arthur Ting who discovered and repaired a tear in the labrum.

Yesterday’s post-operation appointment confirmed that the surgery was successful, and the Ducati Team rider could return home to begin his recovery.

“It’s a setback, but all things considered, I’m pretty happy with how things went,” Hayden said. “It’s good that it was possible to do everything by ’scope, and the pain’s not too bad. The problem should be fixed now, and I look forward to being able to help out the team as soon as possible.”

If the convalescence proceeds as hoped, Hayden should be able to take part in the next winter test at Sepang, February 28-March 1.

Ducati team mate Valentino Rossi also underwent surgery on Monday to have a rod removed from the leg he broke at Mugello in 2010, and buddy ‘Uccio’ tweeted an update on Rossi’s conditions saying that his friend has a little pain where the stitches are but everything is okay and in a couple of days he’ll be able to put some weight on the leg.

0 comments

Yamaha Factory Racing has entered into partnership with sportswear manufacturer Saucony as a Premium Supplier of shoes to the Team for the 2012 season. The premium level training shoes will form part of the Factory Team’s 2012 uniform.

Saucony is an American manufacturer of high-end athletic shoes and sports apparel. The company specialises in shoes for running, trail running, racing and walking. Specific technology is incorporated into the footwear relevant to the sporting discipline.

“We are very pleased to have Saucony join us for 2012,” said Team Director Massimo Meregalli. “It’s fantastic to have a top brand on board with us whose reputation for excellence in their field mirrors that of Yamaha. We are always on the move during the season so good footwear is essential for the team, we couldn’t ask for better!”.

Morgan Guizzo, Sales & Marketing Manager at Sportlab Srl, added “We are proud and honoured to team up with such a successful, dynamic and technologically innovative group as Yamaha. Both brands share the same focus for outstanding products and winning performance. We are sure that this cooperation will bring excellent results”.

0 comments

During the three day test at Sepang, Repsol Honda and Yamaha engaged in some friendly bantering on Twitter, but apparently the Japanese team has decided take on that certain ‘belittling’ Valentino Rossi to set off some extra sparks between the fan factions (as if they needed something else to set them off) by posting this TwitPic of the two World Champion riders MotoGP stats from 2006 to 2011.

And the gloves are off … as the stats say it all.

Updated:

Valentino Rossi who is sitting at home recovering from his yesterday’s surgery was informed of the stats and hit back via his Twitter @ValeYellow46: with “eh eh,very easy compare the numbers between me and Stoner from 2006,when I won already 5 champs and 53 races mgp” and “more real compare the first 5 season of me with the first 5 of Stoner”

In just over an hour since Repsol Honda posted the stats they have now removed them after some backlash saying “exactly, it’s only pointing out the stats from the last 5 years, not belittling what VR46 has achieved before!” - “Ok ok… will remove… wasn’t belittling @ValeYellow46 achievements … just comparing” - “hope you’re right… it was only a comparison… not malicious!”

3 comments

Both Ducati riders underwent surgery today, Nicky Hayden on his injured left shoulder and Valentino Rossi to remove a pin from his right leg, the same leg he fractured during practice at Mugello in 2010.

Rossi’s surgery which was already programmed took place at the Cervesi Hospital in Cattolica and he was operated on by Dr. Giannicola Lucidi, and Dr. Marco Trono surgeons from the Rimini Hospital and also present was Dr. Giuseppe Porcellini, who performed Rossi’s shoulder surgery last season.

“The surgery went well, and he’s all right, I saw him this morning - surgery started at 10am and and was completed by 11am and Valentino woke up well. Valentino chose Cattolica because he feels comfortable here and it’s near his home,” said Dr. Lucidi.

Rossi will leave the hospital later this evening and will have to observe a rest period of four to five days before beginning rehabilitation, and should not have any problems taking part in the upcoming Sepang II tests at the end of this month.

Source | ilrestodelcarlino.it

0 comments

After the three-day test at Sepang, everyone was more or less happy with their new bikes and Casey Stoner left Malaysia on the top of the charts with a best lap of 1’59.607, despite problems with chatter, however the reigning World Champion had something to say regarding the last minute and unexpected decision by the FIM, MSMA and Dorna last December to increase the weight of the bikes.

In a Q&A interview released by Repsol Honda, the Australian was specifically asked if he felt the 4kg difference between the bike used at Sepang and that used at Valencia and answered:

Yes, and it is rather frustrating. We already had the bike developed and then they decided to change the regulations, so we had to add 4kg to the weight of our bike. This is a disadvantage for us, because the bike was already developed with a specific weight in mind, and now we have to add more. This affects the bike. It isn’t something that you notice much in your general riding, but unfortunately you do feel it quite a bit mid-corner. We have to try to adapt a little more and overcome this, but it is disappointing that the decision was made so late on.

According to the Italian media, Stoner was actually much more critical about the weight increase, “This world doesn’t have clear rules. They talk about cost saving measures and at Christmas the Federation increased the minimum weight from 153 kg to 157 kg to benefit someone. Now we have to re-think about re-balancing the bike and this will surely cost money that even the privateers will have to pay. It doesn’t make sense.”

Who is Stoner refering to when he talks about benefiting someone? Is it the CRT teams who use slightly heavier production based engines (who can’t worry someone like Stoner nor Honda) than the prototypes, or is it as someone insinuated, another jab at Ducati and Rossi?

1 comment

Nicky Hayden thought he had escaped surgery after breaking his shoulder when he crashed during a pre-season training accident at the end of December, instead after experiencing some serious shoulder pain during the three day test at Sepang that hampered his testing of the new Ducati GP12, the American rider decided to check out his condition and flew directly to Fremont, California, for a thorough examination at Doctor Arthur Ting’s clinic.

There, tests revealed damage to cartilage in the American’s shoulder, as well as to muscles in his back. Tomorrow the Ducati Team rider will undergo an operation in order to have his condition evaluated more thoroughly, and to treat his injuries.

“Of course another operation before the season is never a good thing,” Hayden said, “but I’m actually happy that I tried to ride at Malaysia, because it helped me to discover that the problem with the shoulder was bigger than we thought. After seeing the scans, it was clear why I couldn’t ride well. Setbacks are a part of life and a part of MotoGP, so we’ll deal with it and do everything possible to get back on the bike in good condition as soon as possible. Ducati and the team are putting maximum effort into this championship, and that helps me to keep my spirits high and to be confident heading into the season.”

Having to undergo surgery will mean that Hayden will not be able to be present at Jerez in two weeks time for a Ducati private test. The next official MotoGP test is scheduled from February 28th to March 1st at Sepang.

0 comments

After the three day test at Sepang, the general consensus on the CRT bikes present wasn’t good - they were massively slow - despite the fact that they will be future of MotoGP racing.

Colin Edwards who is riding the Suter-BMW prototype for NGM Forward Racing Team was the fastest rider of that small group of bikes, seemed satisfied with the progress and improvement, in what was his second test on the bike. The Texas Tornado managed to lower the lap times from a 2.08.240 in the first session to a ‘respectable’ 2.04.722 on the final day (he was still 5.115 seconds from Sepang leader Casey Stoner), having issues with chatter due to the new Bridgestone tires, something that the Repsol Honda riders also complained about.

Here’s what Edwards has to say after the Malaysian test:

“After the first day we obviously realized we had some major issues with some chatter that we have been working hard. The electronics, since Jerez have been developed and have come a long way and I’m really happy with it. The Bosh guys have been working hard, when I ask for something they make it happen.

It was a little difficult coming here after what happened with Marco on the race. My first lap around obviously, I slowed up on turn eleven and kind of paid my respects to Marco real quietly and got on with the job and getting the bike better and develop it. I honestly thought 2.02, 2.03s were possible with three days, but I did not expect we were going to encounter chatter. At the end of the day we did 2.04 but there is easily a 2.03 or mid 2.02 if we don’t have chatter and that really what I have to work on the next test. We just have to come back and solve the problems.

Continue reading: Colin Edwards: " We had major issues with chatter"

0 comments