At a brief press conference at the MotoGP Assen, current number one in the rankings Jorge Lorenzo has stated that he’s not worried about next year. Commenting on the silly season contract rumours, Lorenzo has stated that he’s focusing on finishing number one this year. From his serious expression, we know that this is his big aim and there’s no reason at this stage to say he won’t achieve it.

We know Lorenzo was pleased with his performance last weekend and just how pleased has buoyed him for the coming races at Assen. He says: “I was not happy with Mugello but I was happy with Silverstone. Being at the front at the start creates less work for me on the track and we’ve been working to our best for each track.” He’s looking forward to racing at Assen, and we know he’s already said it’s one of his favourite tracks.

With other technical information discussed, including improving tyre choice at the MotoGP to make them less unpredictable and the move to extra testing for rider safety, the journalists present really want to know about the Fiat Yamaha team dynamic. Lorenzo says: “I’m not worried about next year. It really doesn’t concern me at all. I want to get to the end of this year and be in that number one spot at the end.”

On reaching the top spot in the rankings, Lorenzo is clearly proud about his achievement: “I’ve been given this opportunity and I intend to take advantage of it.” But the key question on the Rossi-Lorenzo relationship comes from an English journalist: “If you could choose between Valentino Rossi staying in Yamaha or going to another team, which would you choose?” And Lorenzo, with a slight smile simply answers: “Rossi with me.”

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In a world of old and jaded journalists, it’s not easy to impress with a media strategy in the MotoGP. But that’s exactly what Jorge Lorenzo does and it’s not even a ‘media strategy’ but his own socialising on Twitter and Facebook that has many old hacks eyes open. After Lorenzo’s win on Sunday at the Silverstone MotoGP, one journalist heard him on the phone to Mark Webber, who had called to congratulate.

It seems Webber has an affinity with the Fiat Yamaha team, having also called Valentino Rossi to commiserate and offer advice after Rossi’s crash and injury. Lorenzo was overheard saying to Webber “see you on Twitter”. We’ve got our biggest sports stars chatting away with new technology, making things more interesting and accessible than television and print journos would have it.

Lorenzo’s frequent and well known use of Twitter also puts him in contrast with his absent teammate, Valentino Rossi, who enjoys his clever gags and contact with fans on a more traditional basis. We know that Rossi is loved by fans and media alike, but in return he’s not so keen on journalists themselves.

Lorenzo is also more reserved publicly but his use of Twitter makes it so easy for the Yamaha communications team to promote the rider and run their communication campaigns. It also gives Lorenzo the edge in terms of being a young rider who uses social media as part of his overall profile as sports celebrity. It puts him at the forefront of the new era of riders where the PR guy doesn’t have all the control over your contact with your fans.

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The major logistics operation behind the MotoGP teams is quite something to see and this week we travelled with the Fiat Yamaha team from Silverstone to Assen for the next stop on the 2010 MotoGP calendar. Some trivia from the trip is that Valentino Rossi’s dedicated truck driver is called Valentino himself!

Valentino (the driver) has known Rossi for about ten years and is the major logistics manager of the truck and all the equipment on board. The truck on a full load weighs a total of 32 tonnes, but Valentino is an experienced hand at this game. A qualified mechanic, he started his trade of trucking many years ago in the luxury boat race sector.

It is his job to pack up the pit-box, drive the truck and then set up again on arrival at the next destination. This particular trip involved a marathon in the traffic from Silverstone, only to miss the boat for the Netherlands, putting the start back by a day. The boat trip itself is a chance for the staff to relax, before more driving to get the MotoGP Assen.

On the road with Yamaha and Valentino

Continue reading: MotoGP Fiat Yamaha: on the road with Valentino

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It looks like Yamaha Racing will have to take out a help wanted ad to fill in for Valentino Rossi, because according to MCN, World Superbike rider Cal Crutchlow has declined a temporary move to replace Colin Edwards in Tech3.

From MCN’s article it seems 100% sure that it will be Colin Edwards who will be replacing injured Rossi in the Fiat Yamaha team for the Catalunya, Sachsenring and Laguna Seca rounds, which leaves a spot open in Herve Poncharal’s Tech3 team alongside Ben Spies, but Crutchlow after talks with Yamaha management in Milan on Monday, decided not to accept their tempting offer.

We’re wondering if Yamaha also asked former MotoGP rider James Toseland, who knows the M1, the tires, the tracks and the Tech3 squad?

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It was natural that after being released from the CTO hospital in Florence the Fiat Yamaha team would have Valentino Rossi give a long interview about his crash, the injury, prognosis and what he’ll be doing during his recovery and the future.

1. Vale, first question: how are you and are you still in pain?

VR: “The positive thing is that the worst is past and that the two operations went well, so everything is okay. Now I am expecting a difficult period, in which I have to be aware of the risk of infection and in which I must remain with the leg constantly elevated. Then there will come a second key period, when I will be able to start my rehabilitation and, with support on the leg, will be able to start to walk around with crutches.”


2. Dr. Buzzi talked about a rehabilitation period of about five or six m onths, what do you think?

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi Talks After his Release from Florentine Hospital

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On the occasion of the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca scheduled on July 25, 2010, Fiat Automobiles and the Fiat Yamaha Team have decided to involve all the fans of the Fiat Yamaha Team in an original and unique initiative to celebrate the manufacturing of the five hundred thousandth Fiat 500, that will be unveiled during the Red Bull US Grand Prix.

From June 1st, all the supporters of the Fiat Yamaha Team and its riders, will also get the chance to join the celebration for the success of the Fiat 500 by submitting their own picture on m1lagunaseca.fiatyamahateam website. The photos will be examined and used for an unprecedented web operation limited in time: the countdown to its start has been already launched.

So get your fav photo out and sent it to the team and we may see your face stickered on Valentino Rossi’s or Jorge Lorenzo’s bike.

Source | fiatontheweb

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After missing the Sepang2 tests due to a fracture at the base of first metacarpal and a displaced thumb during a motocross training accident on February 12th, Jorge Lorenzo is still in doubt for the final pre-season MotoGP test that is scheduled for March 18-19 in Qatar.

While Lorenzo has constantly kept his numerous fans up-to-date on how his recovery is going and that he’s undergoing extensive physiotherapy, and will make his decision about Qatar only on Monday, as he wrote on his Twitter page yesterday: Hello people! Another day of intensive physiotherapy. Probably on monday i’ll decide if i can go to Qatar test.

The first race of the 2010 MotoGP season takes place at Losail, Qatar on April 11th.

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The Yamaha decision to not have Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo exchange data in 2010 has sparked another comic from Luca Ruggeri , who has come up with this idea to help Jorge Lorenzo solve any problems he could have eventually have this year.

Source | motoblog

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The other day we saw a video of Jorge Lorenzo training in the rain and yesterday Lorenzo told fans from his Facebook page that he was heading out to have fun training with a motocross bike near Montmelò with best friend Ricky and Superbike riders Carlos and Davide Checa, unfortunately for Lorenzo he fell and injured his right hand.

The Fiat Yamaha rider fell in slow corner (30 km/h) and fractured the base of his first metacarpal and also displaced his thumb. Lorenzo was operated on by Doctor Augusto J. Casanovas who made an open reduction and osteosynthesis with a small titanium plate that will require hand protection.

The Spanish rider was released from the hospital this morning and is expected to have a recovery period between four to six weeks which will definitely count him out for the upcoming Sepang test that is scheduled for February 25-26th.

Lorenzo is expected to make a full recovery in time for the final pre-season test in Qatar that takes place March 18-19.

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You’re probably thinking this is another one of those Valentino Rossi fans that stickers everything he owns with Rossi’s number, well you’re both right and wrong. This pimped out lawn mower belongs to Alex Briggs, one of Rossi’s Aussie mechanics in the Fiat Yamaha team.

After seeing this, do you think that Rossi is going to even ponder the idea of switching to Ducati in 2011 without all of his loyal crew members?

Source | AlexBriggstwitter

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com

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The 2010 Fiat Yamaha Team launch will be presented at the Sepang circuit on February 4th, where the official unveiling of the new YZR-M1 will take place.

Fiat on the Web has given us this little teaser to tide us over until Thursday when we’ll see the real thing.

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It looks like our idea to translate Fiat on the Web’s interview with Valentino Rossi has caught on, because the website has now subtitled all the interviews not only in English, but also in Spanish. So you can check out the exlusive interview with Jorge Lorenzo, and after the jump with Davide Brivio (Rossi’s team manager), Gigi Soldano (the official photographer) and Laura Motta, the Yamaha race event coordinator.

Continue reading: Fiat Yamaha Interviews Now Subtitled

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