In 2012 the 800cc MotoGP class will finally be put out to pasture and we’ll see the long awaited return of the 1000’s and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport Dorna has already organized the first testing dates for the new litre bikes.

Monday July 4th at the Mugello (which is being asphalted on request by the riders), immediately after the Gran Premio d’Italia, the new bikes will hit the race track and it won’t be the usual test riders putting the first official spin on them, but the official MotoGP contracted riders. It seems that Dorna has decided to waiver the testing ban that prohibits riders from testing outside regular testing schedules in order to allow the teams to get a head start on development with rider feedback.

The Italian sports daily is also reporting that a second test will probably be organized after the Brno GP, when teams stay over on Monday for official testing, but as it’s improbable that the manufacturers will be wasting money in bringing in big developments on the current machines, the riders will have more one on one time with their new bikes.

It will be also be interesting to see if Suter’s BMW S1000RR, Inmotec or even Norton will be showing up for any of these tests.

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Repsol Honda have announced that they will ride the next MotoGP in split garage. Dani Pedrosa using Bridgestone tyres and teammate Nicky Hayden on Michelin.

It all started during the Brno Grand Prix with grip problems and complaints about a “powerlessness” feeling on the bike. After talks with HRC President Masumi Hamane and the team sponsors by Dani, the decision came to switch tyre manufacturer for Dani.

Repsol Sporting Sponsering Director Arturo Sus commented:
“On behalf of Repsol, we’d like to thank Michelin for their understanding of the situation and the way that they handled it. Having said this, our role as the main sponsor of the Repsol Honda team is to push the team, factory and even the rider when we think we have to push to get results we expect to get from our investment in racing.

“For Repsol it was not good enough and we decided to push Honda to do anything to get Bridgestone. It was not easy for us, Honda and Michelin of course. A decision like this implies some other movements and we thought it was the right thing to do. We talked to Michelin after Brno to agree on the fact it was the best decision for everybody”.

Via | MotoGP

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After the excellent performance of Toni Elias in the Czech Grand Prix, the Alice Team is ready for the next race at Misano. Alice Team Technical Director Fabiano Sterlacchini is happy to be back on track after the podium from Toni Elias.

Toni says: “Now the bad period has passed and we can be trustful for this final part of the season. Misano is a really fun track where last year I conquered seventh position. Not bad as a result but now, thanks to the feeling found with my Ducati Desmosedici GP8, I am sure we can fight for better positions.

“Physically I am really good thanks to the time spent with my family during the summer break. The top ten in the Championship is not so far and I hope to conquer it as soon as possible.”

Let’s wait for Sunday to see the performance of Toni after the changes on the Ducati and the last podium at Brno. And I hope we also get some news from Toni, will he stay or leave the team and go to World Superbike?

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Are we going to a MotoGP with one single tyre brand like World Superbike? All present MotoGP riders came together last Saturday just before the Brno race day for a meeting, chaired by Dorna’s CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta with one single subject: corner speed.

Tech 3 Yamaha rider and collaborator with Michelin, Colin Edwards giving his opinion, said: “There are a couple of issues; we’ve got bikes reaching the safety road now and that’s because of the corner speed. Tyre development has outgrown the tracks that we use.” He also said: “We need to engineer something for better safety and also for a better show. I’m all for making it a bigger spectacle, but two guys out in front with a twelve second lead after six laps? It’s a joke to me.”

What will be the good solution to solve this corner speed problem and bring more safety for the rider at MotoGP? Again some technical changes to the bikes to reduce top speed and corner speed? Or only one singe tyre brand? And what about world’s best engineers and technicals?

Via | MotoGP

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After our video yesterday, here are some lovely paddock girls from the Brno track.

Continue reading: The Paddock Girls from Brno

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Good ride for Niccolo Canepa during the two day test session in Brno after the race. Niccolo performed a good 7th place during the test with Ducati and only 1.7 seconds slower than World Champion Casey Stoner. Casey rode again the fastest lap time followed by Valentino Rossi second and Loris Capirossi, third.

This performance from Niccolo could bring him very close to a contract with the Ducati satellite Alice Team, especially if Spanish rider Toni Elias leaves.

Nicky Hayden could sign up and would replace Marco (riding the green Kawasaki next year) in MotoGP and Max Biaggi will ride the Xerox Ducati in World Superbike. At the end of the season we will know the rider with Smrz in the Guandalini Team and what about newcomer Boulder Motorsport… two Americans?

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“Toni Elias will replace Troy Corser in the Yamaha Italia WSB Team next year, Toni will leave MotoGP and will perform in World Superbike 2009.” It’s sill a rumour, but it’s getting stronger day by day!

Possible, but only one single day after this news, Toni is giving his point of view and said he likes to stay at MotoGP.
Tony said: ” I want to be in MotoGP. We have some new parts that have let me really enjoy riding the Ducati now. I have a much better feeling with the rear of the motorcycle now. Now I am enjoying racing in MotoGP and I want to show what I can do”!

Toni’s podium at the latest MotoGP in Brno shows the changes on the bike and it stops the rumour about the Desmosedici telling the Ducati is only build for Stoner and no other rider can really ride the bike very well. On the latest 2 day test session, Casey Stoner was setting the fastest lap, Niccolo Canepa the 7th and Marco Melandri 10th.

Via | Visordown

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Valentino Rossi won the MotoGP at the Grand Prix in Brno by a misfortuned Stoner. Stoner was caught by surprise on the 5th lap when he lost the front of his Ducati Desmosedici. It was the first DNF for Stoner since his riding at the Ducati Marlboro Team for the 2007 season. But Ducati was on the podium by Tony Elias. The Ducati Alice Team rider, the satellite team from Ducati finished second. A proof that the Ducati is not only working for Stoner? Another podium for the Italian Loris Capirossi on the Rizla Suzuki.

Valentino Rossi is leading the MotoGP Championship by 50 points more then Casey Stoner.
Will it be the pressure from last race by Rossi on Stoner or is it the illness from Casey during the weekend or just the lost of the front as race-incident. We only knows Casey must work harder against a strong Valentino Rossi to win the Championship.

Next round of the MotoGP Championship is the “GP Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini” on August 30th.

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Bad luck for Nicky Hayden. The American Honda rider landed heavily from a jump during the X Games in Los Angeles. He damaged his heel. “The injury is to a weight-bearing part of the food and the doctors say that using too much pressure on the foot pegs could very easily give me some big problem,”says Nicky. Nicky insists he had the blessing from the HRC team to compete in the X Games and do the Supermoto event, riding a Honda CRF 450 Supermoto.

Nicky will miss the MotoGP race of Brno and the two-day test session. With 84 points, Nicky Hayden is holding the 8th position in the championship. James Toseland is 9th with 72 points.

Via | mcn

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During a World Superbike event there’s also some time for fun. At Brno a group of racers and the media were invited to take part in a ten pin bowling competition held in a huge shopping complex outside the centre of Brno. Riders against media? No, they played mixed, but where’s my invitation?!

Via | Alstare

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