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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Aspar riders Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro concluded the first day of testing at Valencia of their ART (Aprilia Racing Tecnology) bikes, based on the Aprilia RSV4, which now has a updated electronics package, a new fairing and carbon disk brakes and a new chassis (so Ducati won’t complain) that will better suited to the Bridgestone tires.

Both riders seemed happy with the bike, especially de Puniet who was able to make the comparison with the first version he rode during the Valencia post season test.

Randy De Puniet 1.35.30 (38 laps):

“The grip of the bike has considerably evolved compared to the one that I rode at the end of last year. This is the first test after several months and I am very happy. I can see that there has been a lot of hard work done over winter to make the bike grow. This first contact was very positive, I believe that tomorrow will continue to improve as the range is large. Today we worked mainly on traction control and on braking points. Tomorrow we will focus more on the chassis of the bike. It’s still early but we’re seeing that the bike has huge potential and offers a number of options and can evolve . I am very encouraged by this new adventure, I think there is a lot of work ahead, and although it is early my aim is to be the CRT reference ride and get as close to the factory bikes as much as possible. “

Aleix Espargaró 1.36.70 (47 laps):

“I am very happy because I enjoyed very much, is the first time I’ve ridden the CRT, I expected a lot of power and that’s precisely what I found. On the other hand I did not expect such a flexible and manageable chassis, I was pleasantly surprised. I must admit that the first impression on this new bike has been great. There had been some difficulties with the new tires, and personally I found a bike that has a lot of grip. Today I met everyone on my team, and they gave me a warm welcome which is very important to me. Today we worked mainly on electronics, traction control and the antispin. From eleven to four pm we improved a lot, I think they’ve found a good base. Tomorrow we’ll work more on the chassis. “

Source | asparteam@facebook.com

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Randy de Puniet spends more time in Down Under with Australian girlfriend/model, the delightful Lauren Vickers than he does in his home country and instead of shipping his recently acquired Ducati Diavel to ride around the streets of Sydney he’s gotten Deus Australia to build him a custom motorcycle.

de Puniet’s requirements were brief, a middleweight twin and an orange, black and white paint job. So Deus came un with a Kawasaki W650, lowered it at both ends, custom fitted a SR500 tank, with the speedometer in the centre front and a vintage style headlight supports the tachometer. They took off the old air box added K&N filters and a custom 2-into-2 exhaust system and low profile fenders to give it a more vintage look and voilà un moto très fantastique, that will certainly turn a head or two.

Source | deuscustoms.com via visordown.com

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‘Aspar’ Martinez has confirmed today via the team’s official Facebook page that he’ll be fielding Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro in MotoGP in 2012.

The team will be using CRT Aprilia powered bikes (today at Jerez, de Puniet was using a different frame confirmed by a couple of spy shots that you can see here).

Jorge Martinez ‘Aspar’: “We are really happy because we are facing a new challenge and we believe that the future of MotoGP is CRT, so we’re the first to join this initiative. Also this year we will continue to grow, in our first two seasons in MotoGP we had one rider and now we will have two, Randy De Puniet and Aleix Espargaró. I’m glad that Randy is back with the team, he was with us in 2005 and we had a very good relationship. Aleix was also with us in 2009 but only for two races, and it is pleasure to have him with us. We are convinced that this new challenge will be very successful, with our two riders and with Aprilia as our engine supplier . We wanted to use the Noale marque in this new project because of the wonderful relationship that unites us, and for their proven quality in lower classes. Our goal this year is to be the best CRT and prepare to go a step further in 2013. “

Continue reading: Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro to ride for Aspar Team Aprilia

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The 2012 silly season isn’t over, but it is mostly concentrated on how many CRTs there will be and who will be riding what, even if we already know several names like Colin Edwards with MGN Forward, James Ellison with Paul Bird (but that team hasn’t been confirmed yet) Anthony West with Speed Master and Danilo Petrucci with Ioda Racing, but veteran rider Randy de Puniet is still looking for a ride and rumors of where he is going are rampant.

After Italian sources had him as a Ducati test rider (which would be pretty useless now that the testing rules have been relaxed) or on call as a replacement rider (which is a good idea and it worked out well for Rizla Suzuki who had John Hopkins), the latest rumor has the French rider testing the Aprilia RSV4 yesterday at Valencia (image here) with Alex Hofmann and he’s now linked to ride for Aspar Martinez’ CRT team and it seems that despite previous comments saying he’d rather stay home, he has finally realized that a CRT bike is his only viable option if he really wants to race next season.

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Randy de Puniet looks like he’s been left out in the cold regarding a MotoGP ride for the 2012 season. The French rider was rumored to be heading to LCR Honda, but newly crowned Moto2 champion Stefan Bradl has taken precedence over the veteran GP rider.

De Puniet also had a great test at Valencia on the Suzuki 800cc machine, but the Japanese manufacturer is almost certain to withdraw from the championship next season, leaving him without a ride and after having previously admitted that he isn’t interested in riding a Moto2 nor a CRT bike and doesn’t want to head to World Superbikes unless he has a very competitive team, this obviously doesn’t leave many options.

However the latest rumor coming from Italy is that Ducati is still interested in keeping the talented French rider, but in another capacity - as a test rider - de Puniet would help in the development work of the new GP12 and being much faster than both Franco Battaini or Vitto Guareschi (and often faster that the factory riders) could wring out more from the 1000cc bike before handing it over to Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden. De Puniet’s role wouldn’t only be as a test rider but he’d also be on call as a replacement rider for any Ducati rider who could unfortunately skip a race due to injury.

Source | racergp.com

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We don’t know about you guys, but when we saw Alvaro Bautista go down, Valentino Rossi get trapped in the middle before sliding out together with Nicky Hayden and Randy de Puniet on the first lap, we held our breathe and offered a prayer to a more forgiving racing god that nothing serious had happened, and luckily none of the riders were injured, with Hayden picking up just some bruising to his right hand and nothing else.

An apologetic Alvaro Bautista, who will be testing his 800cc Suzuki on Tuesday - there has been no further news on Suzuki’s future in MotoGP - said “It has been a bad way to end the year, because before the race I was expecting to be fighting for the podium! In all conditions we had been fast this weekend and I thought we would have a good race today. In the first corner we all arrived together and I was between Andrea and Valentino. Unfortunately Andrea hit my front wheel with his rear tyre and I couldn’t do anything to save the crash. The worst thing was that I hit three other riders and they crashed as well, I am sorry for them and also sorry for the team and all the fans. This year has been very tough, it didn’t start very well when I broke my left femur and although we did a good job – especially in the middle of the season when I was totally fit, both mentally and physically - we haven’t finished with that many good results. I got more and more confident in the bike as the season went on and the work we have done has been amazing, we have come such a long way. Thanks to Suzuki for all they have done and thanks to my team, they work 100% in all races and I think everybody has been able to see the improvement on the track. Thanks also to everybody that has supported me and Rizla Suzuki in 2011, and now we will have to see what happens for next year.”

The last race of the season for Ducati riders Nicky Hayden and Valentino was just like their entire 2011 season, horrible and complicated. Both riders will be testing the GP12 on Tuesday and Wednesday and hopefully they’ll get the bike right and that the full and convential twin spar aluminium frame they’ll supposedly be testing will help solve their chronic front end problems.

“I felt some riders coming up the inside really fast as we approached Turn 1. Then something happened and it was just the domino effect - race over in the first corner. I’m okay other than my hand being pretty sore. It’s unfortunate. One of our bike’s strengths is generating heat in the tyres, and that’s what you need on a cold, wet track like this. Already on the warm-up lap, the bike felt good. It’s easy to say now, but I honestly feel like we could have put up a decent fight today and had some fun,” said Nicky Hayden.

Continue reading: Classic first turn crash and domino effect stops Bautista, Rossi, Hayden and de Puniet at Valencia

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When Loris Capirossi clipped Toni Elias with just seven laps to go in the Aragon race, the plucky Italian who will be retiring after 22 seasons in GP racing, went down heavily hitting his already injured right shoulder and now may have to miss at least one of the last four races of his career.

The Italian is also expected to do some laps on every manufacturer’s bike (Ducati and Yamaha have already said yes) as a goodbye gift when the paddock hits Valencia for the final race of the season in November.

Capirossi dislocated his shoulder (the same that needs surgery) and sustained a concussion and a contusion to his elbow. With this new injury Capirex’s partecipation at Motogi is now in doubt.

“There’s little to say. I crashed on my ‘famous’ right shoulder and suffered another dislocation as a result. It hurts a lot, even with the pain-killer I received. After the Misano race, I wanted to try to at least finish the race, but instead things went like they did. At this point, my presence in Japan is in serious doubt, but I still hope to recover in time.” said Capirossi.

Randy de Puniet showed some flashes of brilliant riding this weekend with his Pramac Ducati, but the French rider who was 10th on the starting grid got caught up in Karel Abraham’s big crash on the first lap which left him behind and losing precious time from the rest of the field, even Valentino Rossi who was starting in the pitlane and with a 10 second penalty was able to get past him on the first lap.

“Once again I have to say that I’m disappointed after a race. I could have been in the top five or six positions, but instead I finished the race in twelfth place,” said de Puniet. “When Abraham crashed, I couldn’t do anything but go off, and after that I was able to make up a lot of seconds and some positions. I had almost caught the group in front and was pushing really hard when I made a mistake and lost everything I had gained. We’re not very fortunate, that’s for sure.”

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It looks like Colin Edwards doesn’t want to retire at the end of this MotoGP season and still wants to ride, but as he’s kind of getting long in the tooth for the very youngish MotoGP grid, and despite some good performances including a 3rd place podium at Silverstone a week after collarbone surgery, the 37-year old Texan could make a return to World Superbikes next year and try to take on oldies, but goldies Superbike leaders Carlos Checa (38) and Max Biaggi (40).

Edwards was poised to make the switch last season and was negotiating with Ducati Xerox until the Italian manufacturer decided to pull out their factory effort, while this time the American is in talks with the BMW Motorrad team, even though there may be other options as he revealed to GPWeek.

While the highly popular Edwards hopes to stay on with Yamaha Tech3 for another year, team owner Herve Poncharal has been inundated with requests from riders to take over Edwards M1. Current Moto2 points leader Stefan Bradl has been eyed by Yamaha’s head honcho Lin Jarvis very early on (unless the German rider ends up on Honda and with an all German team under Lucio Cecchinello’s watch) which could be an option as Yamaha would directly foot Bradl’s contract. English rider Bradley Smith could make the vertical move from Poncharal’s Moto2 team and team up with Cal Crutchlow which would make it popular with British fans and the BBC, as could Eugene Laverty.

The Northern Irishman had talks with the French manager at Brno, after losing his 2012 WSBK ride when Yamaha made their shock pullout announcement and is recorded as saying he’s “optimistic” about a MotoGP ride. Randy de Puniet is also rumored to make the switch to World Superbikes, and he’s always been on Poncharal’s wishlist, with the manager’s eye on the marketing appeal of a French rider in a French team to pull in more sponsors.

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To the more casual MotoGP fan, Randy de Puniet’s performances this season have been more than sub par, even if everyone initally expected that his riding style would suit the Ducati, but it may also be do to the fact that the only one rider has been able to constantly wring out something from that temperamental machine and he’s not even on it this year, be it that de Puniet has just had some really rotten luck this season.

De Puniet wants to stay in MotoGP, but will Pramac’s Paolo Campinoti want to keep him and will he want to continue paying the French rider’s handsome salary? De Puniet’s manager, Eric Mahe is currently making the rounds of the other satellite teams, but at the present there are not that many options open, however one thing is clear in de Puniet’s mind, that he’s not going to a Moto2 or a CRT team and he’s not be going to World Superbikes (he’s been linked to Kawasaki) unless he’s got a very competitive ride, he’d rather stay at home.

“If I go to SBKs it will be to ride in front, not in 8th or 9th. Otherwise I’ll stay at home waiting to be called in as a replacement rider, but what is crystal clear is that I will not ride for a CRT or in Moto2.”

Source | depuniet.com via motosblog.fr

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The Brno GP will be another tough weekend for Pramac Ducati team. Their garage will still look like a clinic for the walking wounded, because both Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet are still carrying previous injuries that will no doubt hamper their performances in the Czech Republic, and with another two races (Indy and Misano) in the next three weeks, their physical situation won’t have time to improve.

Capirossi, who should finally get around in announcing whether he’ll be retiring at the end of this season, has still persistant shoulder problems that he picked up at Assen after a qualifying crash that ruled him out of both the Mugello and Sachsenring rounds, but he was able to ride at Laguna Seca despite now admitting that he’ll need shoulder surgery.

“Unfortunately, the shoulder problem is persisting. The doctor said I should undergo surgery, but I’ll only consider that after the championship. For now I’m undergoing therapy every day. For Brno I hope to continue improving my physical condition,” said the feisty MotoGP veteran. “I’ve rested during this two-week break, which I really needed. I want to ride well and to finally have a good result. The Czech track is one of my favorites, so hopefully I’ll manage that.”

Team mate de Puniet isn’t in much better shape. The French rider who is rumored to make the move to World Superbikes next year, suffered a crash during the Laguna Seca qualifying session picking up fractures to two of his vertebrae that ruled him out of the race, however he’s now confirmed that he didn’t sustain any pelvic fractures, but still has persistant pain.

Continue reading: Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet still carrying injuries

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When Randy de Puniet climbed on board the Ducati Desmosedici for the first tests everyone was saying how well his loose riding style seemed suited for the beast from Borgo Panigale; which statistically has overwhelmed more riders than we can count (including a certain 9 times World Champion), but even the French rider hasn’t gelled with the machine.

De Puniet has crashed out five times in nine races so far this season (he and Marco Simoncelli are gunning for that dubious record) his previous injuries have hampered him and now he’s picked up a more serious one at Laguna Seca, but it seems that the Pramac Ducati rider may not be in MotoGP next season and may be heading to new and ‘greener’ pastures.

According to the lowdown from our French cousins at Motosblog, de Puniet has been offered a Kawasaki to ride in the World Superbikes championship in lieu of the constantly injured Chris Vermeulen. De Puniet debuted in MotoGP in 2006 with Kawasaki, spending two seasons with them and his best result was a 2nd place in 2007 at a very wet Motegi.

Whether de Puniet will go to WSBK’s remains to be seen but judging from the results that MotoGP refugees have been having in the series (Checa, Biaggi, Melandri) it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to think about it.

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