Even if Moto2 rider Dominque Aergerter is a native of Switzerland, (snow, ice, the Alps), apparently he never tried his hand at ice racing, and before Christmas, the Technomag-CIP rider got into the saddle of a 500cc bike with no brakes and learned to power-slide sideways.

Aegerter was so enthusiastic about ice racing that he signed up to compete in the 11th round of Eisspeedwayrennen (Swiss league) that takes place in Flims on January 14th.

Source | domi-aegi.ch via motorsport-aktuell.com

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Sito Pons’s El Tenerife 40 Pons Moto2 team were in Germany last week to undergo wind tunnel testing on their Kalex bike at Volkswagen’s technical development center.

Pons who is 180 cm tall and similar in build to his team mate Aleix Espargaro, tried out different aerodynamic positions at 180 km/h, and the findings will now be developed by Kalex in time to be tested for the February Moto2 tests.

“I want to thank Kalex for giving me the opportunity to let me test in the wind tunnel for them. It was a great experience,” said Pons. “I think the data we gathered will help us to make the bike next year even better than this year’s, so we can fight for the top spots. I’ve been training to get ready for February and to test on track all the development work they’ve been doing in Germany. “

Continue reading: Wind tunnel testing for El Tenerife 40 Pons Moto2 team

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Is there no end to the effect that the Valentino Rossi-Ducati partnership will have on the world of the MotoGP? In rumours coming from London, it is said that Dorna could sell the MotoGP championship as it looks to cash in on the Rossi-Ducati partnership in the twilight years of the biggest drawing card the championship has ever seen - the career of the champion Italian rider.

The rumours state that Dorna, owned by Bridgepoint financier group, could look to sell the MotoGP series in the first half of next year after a four-year ownership of the sport. It originally acquired the MotoGP from CVC group for a sum reportedly around 450 million euros. The CVC group now owns the Formula 1 racing series.

In some ways, while the news seems almost unbelievable, if there were to be any sale it would make sense for it to happen in the near future: after the introduction of the Moto2 and Moto3 classes and the move to 1000cc engines from 2012. Incredibly though, one of the main reasons cited for the possible sale is that Dorna could profit handsomely from the new Rossi-Ducati team by selling now, making a healthy sale and whoever the new owners might be will be left with a couple of years of Rossi still on the grid, before the sport comes to a slight halt (if the tone of the reports is to be credited).

Continue reading: Valentino Rossi in Ducati to cause Dorna to sell MotoGP?

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Valentin Debise is another Moto2 rider that has gotten an early Christmas gift this year, because he’s been confirmed with Luca Boscoscuro’s Speed Up team for the 2011 season.

Debise secured a ride with the Italian team after the Moto2 testing at Jerez last month. The former 2008 French 125cc champion debuted in the 250cc World Championship in 2009 with Moto CIP Honda and in the inaugural 2010 Moto2 championship raced under the WTR San Marino Team banner with an ADV AT02 and didn’t pick up a single point during the season.

“Racing for the Speed Up Team is a springboard for better results next season” said the 18 year old Debise. “This year my main objective was clearly to pick experience with Moto2, I couldn’t have expected to win or to fight for the top positions. I still have a lot to learn, but I know with Speed Up I’ll have the means to fight at the top of the series and grow as a rider during the season”.

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Raffaele de Rosa through his personal website has officially confirmed that he’ll be in Pablo Nieto’s Moto2 G22 Racing Team for the 2011 season.

The 23-year old Napolitan rider who raced for Herve Poncharal’s Moto2 Tech3 team in 2010, will be fielded alongside Fonsie Nieto, will be riding a Moriwaki bike, that he already tried out in the recent Valencia tests and confirms that the Moriwaki MD600 is much easier and smoother to ride than the Mistral 610.

“This season wasn’t very good, but I never stopped believing in my abilities. I’m looking to the future with optimism, and I’m ready to write an important chapter of my career.” said De Rosa, whose best result was a 6th place at Estoril. “I was struck by how easier it was to ride (Moriwaki) than my previous bike, it’s more balanced while the engine seems to be better developed. I can’t wait to develop it in the upcoming tests.”

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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 racer Ratthapark Wilairot, who currently rides for Thai Honda PTT Singha Team has been involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident in his home province of Chonburi.

The popular Thai is currently in an intensive care unit in Bangkok, after the motorcycle on which he was riding pillion crashed, killing his friend.

According to a report from stayontheblack.com Ratthapark is however awake and able to speak. Doctors will issue a statement tomorrow on his condition.

More news when we get it.

Source | stayontheblack.com

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MotoGP rider Mika Kallio dropped out of the final two races of the season due to lingering shoulder problems, has found a ride in Moto2 for 2011 with Marc VDS Racing Team.

Kallio will be replacing Hector Faubel and will be paired up with Scott Redding and will debut in today’s Moto2 test at the Valencia circuit and also revealed that his new team is also thinking of moving to MotoGP in the future.

“I had quite a few options in Moto2 for next year, but with Marc VDS I know I’ve found the right team for me. Their results in the second half of the season show clearly that they are one of the top teams on the grid and with them I know I can make good results next year,” said Kallio. “I’m sure there are some people who think this is a step backwards for me career wise, but I disagree. I think it is a great opportunity for me and I know that with this team I can be back at the front once again. The fact that the Marc VDS Racing Team are committed to stepping up to the MotoGP class in the future is also a very positive thing for me, as I still feel I have unfinished business there. Now I just need to get a feel for the Suter MMX, starting tomorrow morning (today) with my first test aboard the bike.”

Continue reading: Moto2: Mika Kallio signs with Marc VDS Racing

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After receiving several offers from Moto2 teams, 2010 Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu has decided to stick with Tecnomag-CIP Moto2 team next season.

The Turkish rider was called in to replace the late Shoya Tomizawa who tragically died at Misano, for the last two rounds of the season. His impressive performance at Estoril caught the attention of all the Moto2 team managers, but is was Technomag-CIP Alain Bronec who got him. Sofuoglu will be fielded alonside Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter, who who will continue to race for the Swiss team for a second season.

Sofuoglu qualified 5th in today’s Moto2 qualifying session at Valencia and was just three tenths off Toni Elias’ pole position.

Source | technomag-cipmoto2

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Tuenti Racing who currently runs Pol Espargaro (Aleix’s younger brother) and Efren Vazquez in the 125cc championship, will be expanding and also field a new Moto2 team in 2011, with Espargaro as their rider.

The Spanish team has teamed up with HP to undertake this new project, but at the present the team has yet to announce which chassis they’ll be using, but according to the Spanish press, they’ll be ready to debut in the post season tests at Valencia, where Espargaro will ride a Moto2 for the first time, however the team does not appear on the provisional Moto2 entry list.

Espargaro is currently third in the 125cc standings and just seventeen points from leader, Marc Marquez.

Source | motoworld.es

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Max Neukirchner during this year’s silly season was first linked to a new German backed MotoGP team and then to ride with Pramac Ducati with both rumors denied by Neukirchner and his manager.

However, the German rider on his personal website, is now reporting that Thursday evening he closed a deal with MZ Racing and will be riding for the Martin Wimmer’s Moto2 team in 2011.

Apparantly there will also be some sort of restructuring in the team with Marco Nicotari of Pro Ride Racing (the same Pro Ride who hired Makoto Tamada and were supposed to debut in WSBK this year, but never made it) taking over the technical management.

MZ Racing has already been accepted on the 2011 Moto2 provisional entry list (entered with the new name of MZ Motor) with two riders, but we’ll have to wait for the official press release confirming Neukirchner and see if Anthony West will still be with the team next season.

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Kenan Sofuoglu, this year’s World Supersport champion is ready for his Moto2 debut this weekend at Estoril with Technomag CIP.

The Turk tested the team’s Suter MMX bike at Albacete last Monday, along with regular team rider Dominique Aegerter and this was the second time that the two times Supersport champion was on a Moto2, after a testing a Kalex chassis bike last November in Valencia.

Sofuoglu will be replacing the late Shoya Tomizawa, and will be using his own lucky racing # 54, but will be riding with a different livery from the team’s usual red and white.

Source | motosblog.fr

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