While MotoGP riders will still have another day of testing at Sepang to put under the belts tomorrow, yesterday the Aspar riders Randy de Puniet, Aleix Espargaro for and Speed Master’s Mattia Pasini concluded their two day CRT test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia.

Despite the bitter cold temperatures, all three riders improved on the lap times they posted on Monday and once again de Puniet was the fastest of the small group of ART riders, lapping in 1.34.9 and dropping a full second from the previous day while Aleix Espargaro also shaved off a full second, but was still seven tenths adrift from his French team mate.

Mattia Pasini also came to grips with his Speed Master bike in the two day test, trying to master the complex electronics package of the Aprilia RSV4.

“Today the conditions were worse, the cold and wind have caused the track to have even less grip than yesterday, and it cost us more to catch up. Yet we improved our lap times, but I am convinced that we would have improved more if the conditions were better,” said De Puniet to the official website. “Today we continued working hard on the electronics, and also on managing the engine braking and the clutch. We’re leaving Valencia happy to have collected a good amount of information, and defined the next steps forward for the next tests at Jerez as well. The year has started great, I hope we continue in the same way. “

While Mattia Pasini said, “This was a shakedown test for us and we’re aware of the kind of work that we have to do. We’ve done what we set out to do: focusing on the electronics, getting to know the bike and its behavior with the Bridgestone tires and we also got to know one another as a team. From the data that we gathered at this test we can prepare the work plan for the next test and continue our learning process in regard to the category and the bike. There are several new things on which we have to work on but I am very pleased with this first contact with the bike and I think we’ve targeted the main objective of this test.”

Valencia MotoGP Day 2 lap times:

1. Randy De Puniet 1.34.9 (35 laps)
2. Aleix Espargaró 1.35.6 (46)
3. Mattia Pasini 1.36.7 (43)

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While most journos and fans are trying to follow what’s happening in Sepang, at sunny Valencia a couple of CRT and Moto3 teams for a total of six rider are already on track for a two day test; Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro with Aspar’s ART (Aprilia has brought a new chassis) and newly signed Mattia Pasini who took Anthony West’s place in MotoGP’s CRT Speed Master team after the Australian couldn’t find the funding.

We’ll follow up if they release statements or lap times, so check back with us later.

Update:

Lap times via Circuit Valencia Twitter feed: @RandydePuniet14 leads #MotoGP (CRT) test in Valencia, 1.35.3 (38 laps) @AleixEspargaro 2nd 1.36.7 and @MattiaPasini 3rd 1.37.8

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After Anthony West’s announcement that he would no longer be riding for Speed Master’s CRT team as he couldn’t find a sponsorship to fund his MotoGP ride, Speed Master officially announced that Mattia Pasini would be taking his place.

Apparently Pasini who just recently announced that he too was having the same problems in finding a sponsor and a ride (he was tipped to be riding for Moto2 team Stop and Go) has found the necessary funding, and being friends with Andrea Iannone, whose father Regalino owns the team and also being buddies with Valentino Rossi and his BFF, Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci who also works in Speed Master, probably also helped pave the way.

Pasini’s racing career has had its ups and downs, but Ducati’s Filippo Preziosi described him as a ‘natural talent’ after letting him test back in 2009, the Desmosedici for three days at the Mugello.

Press Release after the jump:

Continue reading: Mattia Pasini takes Anthony West's place in Speed Master's MotoGP team

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Early last December you saw the pics of Valentino Rossi and his friends having fun (they call it winter training) at the Biscia, his new motocross and flat track ranch near Tavullia, now you get to see the video.

Former Superbike rider, now turned superbike commentator for La7, Mauro Sanchini was in charge of the filming and you also get to see Mattia Pasini and Andrea Iannone in action.

Luckily for Rossi, the Regional Administrative Court recently ruled against several of his neighbours that wanted to stop construction of the track, because of the noise and the ecological impact that the track is having on the area.

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In the world of GP racing most riders are paid decent wages, some like the ‘aliens’ get stratospheric pay checks with sponsorship deals rounding out their bank accounts in some tax haven, while others have to struggle to find the money to sponsor their own ride and the situation over the past years has constantly gotten worse due to the global economic climate.

Such are the cases for Anthony West, who put out an ad in a newspaper to find sponsors, Mattia Pasini who was in Spain offering his services to Stop and Go but said he too needed money. 125cc/Moto2 rider Sergio Gadea on Twitter said he’s been offered several rides, but he ‘no tenga dinero,’ so no money no ride for the 2012 season, now Yonny Hernandez who should be in MotoGP and riding for Avintia Racing has revealed that he needs € 250,000 to complete his budget in order to race their CRT bike or his partecipation will be in doubt.

We understand the need that GP racing has to become less expensive, but should the riders really be shouldering that burden?

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Judging from his overall results from the last two seasons in Moto2, it seems that Mattia Pasini hasn’t adjusted to the category, but we know that the Italian is fighter and can battle with the best of them (his race against the late Marco Simoncelli in 2009 at a wet Mugello is just one example) however Pasini has yet to find a new ride for the 2012 season.

Both Spanish and Italian media sources are reporting that the former Ioda Racing rider is currently in talks with Spanish Moto2 Stop & Go team and may be fielded next to recently signed Angel Rodriguez.

Naturally the problem is finding the funds and Pasini is trying to find some personal financial backing, however in this period of economic difficulties it won’t be an easy task as sponsors are cutting back on their sporting budgets, but the Italian has hopes to be in Valencia with a new team when Moto2 official testing resumes in February.

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Shoulder surgery must be the latest in thing for GP riders, because Moto2 Ioda Racing Project rider Mattia Pasini, also underwent shoulder surgery yesterday after riding in his dad’s minimoto charity event on Sunday.

The Italian was operated on by Dr. Porcellini, the same surgeon that did Valentino Rossi’s shoulder job, at the Civil Hospital in Cattolica. Pasini injured his right shoulder during pre-season Moto2 testing, and the surgery was needed to remove small bone fragments that were hampering the movements of the shoulder ligaments and also rebuild the cartilage that was partially worn away by arthrosis.

Pasini will have the stitches removed in fifteen days and then undergo the usual rehab training.

Source | sportmediaset.it

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Moto2 teams are becoming difficult to follow with a whirlwind of riders coming and going, injuries and replacements and last but not least, riders being fired.

After Lukas Pesek being axed from Matteoni Racing and being temporarily replaced by Santiago Hernandez, we now have Arne Tode being dropped from Racing Team Germany before the Motorland Aragon GP. Tode was axed because of lack of results and because he was injured at Brno.

The former IDM Supersport champion injured his left shoulder and arm at Brno and refused to undergo surgery preferring to race at Indianapolis and then had to pull out of Misano, leaving the team stranded just hours before the start of the racing weekend. Tode is being replaced by 19-year old Kazuki Watanabe, who currently races in the All Japan Supersport championship.

Continue reading: Moto2 Aragon: Injuries, replacements and riders fired

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What to Italian GP riders do in their spare time on a hot summer night on the Riviera Romagnola? They race against each on karts.

Valentino Rossi, Marco Simoncelli, Andrea Iannone and Mattia Pasini and a batch friends, including Gianfranco Guareschi, Vittoriano Guareschi, who’ll soon be Rossi’s team manager in Ducati, Aldo Drudi, renowned designer, headed to the new Jeepers Kart track at Cattolica for a little fun and games and naturally when the word got out fans and photographers showed up.

They also celebrated Rossi’s win with a mini podium and some beer and soft drink spraying and naturally a mini trophy.

You can see some pics here.

Source | ilrestodelcarlino via gpone.com

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After his acrimonious separation from Gianluca Montiron’s Moto2 JiR Racing team (they’re now talking throught their lawyers), Mattia Pasini was left without a ride, but the talented Italian has been working with the Italtrans S.T.R. team and after the Motorland Aragon Moto2 test at the beginning of July, Pasini once again tested with the team on Monday at the Misano World Circuit.

Pasini is preparing for Gran Premio Aperol di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini GP that takes place September 3rd - 5th, which he will ride as a wildcard, but he may also get a chance to race for the team in this weekend’s Brno race if the team can get approval from Dorna for a third bike entry. Pasini’s best time in the two hour test was 1’42.6.

Source | motogp.com

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That Mattia Pasini was profoundly unhappy with his MotoBI/TSR chassis Moto2 bike and that he was on the outs with Gianluca Montiron of JiR (Japan Italy Racing) was a well known fact, but in the past few days the rumors that the Italian would be leaving were getting stronger and today JiR officially announced that the two will be going separate ways and Pasini will not be taking part in this weekend’s Catalunya GP.

Pasini will be temporarily replaced by 27 year old Yusuke Teshima, TSR’s test rider and last year’s ST600 champion in Japan, while Montiron will be looking for a more permanent replacement to finish the season alongside Simone Corsi.

Mattia Pasini ’s best result this year was a sixth place at Losail, Qatar, followed by four DNF’s and a 14th spot at Assen.

Source | bikeracing.it

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The other day we reported that Mattia Pasini was very unhappy with his Moto2 team and that the Italia rider publically aired his grievances on Italia 1 (6.698.000 viewers watched the MotoGP race) with JIR Moto2 team owner Gianluca Montiron retorting that if Pasini doesn’t like where he is, he can go race in another series.

This sparring between Pasini and Montiron obviously did not go unoticed by the Ducati management. Last year Pasini tested for Borgo Panigale twice, once after the Brno GP and at the Mugello where Filippo Preziosi, Ducati’s General Director and genius behind the Desmosedici, went out of his way to praise the young Italian’s natural talent and determination, even if Pramac Ducati ended up picking Aleix Espargaro to replace Niccolò Canepa in 2010.

Italian website RacerGP.com is reporting that Pasini may end up in Ducati in the World Superbike championship and as a Ducati MotoGP test rider with Franco Battaini and that negotiations will be taking place in the coming days.

As they say only time will tell and we may just see Pasini as a wildcard in a Superbike round, just like Marco Simoncelli with Aprilia last year.

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