Here’s a full photo gallery of the new Yamaha M1 2009 that will be the star for MotoGP, to be ridden by Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. A new sponsor has appeared on the livery, with a Packard Bell logo featured.

Despite a worldwide economic downturn, sponsorship of this team shows stiff competition, with Rossi’s new Monster logo helmet, a result of the Rossi-Monster sponsorship deal.

Check out the YZR-M1 video from the press conference as we gear up for the MotoGP 2009.

Continue reading: Lorenzo's and Rossi's Yamaha M1: photo gallery

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Most of the Ducati fans are looking for news and nice pictures about the new 2009 Ducati models, and they might forget the award Troy Bayliss received. The Superbike and Ducati hero won the 2008 World Championship title in his last year riding in SBK competition but he won also the Superpole award.

Alfa Romeo, the 2008 HANNspreee FIM Superbike World Championship top sponsor gave the Alfa 159 Superpole Award to Troy Bayliss. The Alfa Romeo 159, 3.2L Sportwagon TI was given during a special ceremony after the Portimao round Superpole last Saturday. It was a nice present for the Ducati Xerox rider at his last Superpole for his career. Alfa Romeo is proud to have the calibre of Troy Bayliss in its ranks during the second year of Alfa Romeo’s sponsorship alongside FGSport and Ducati Corse.

Source | superbike

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Stoner is under fire from the local press in Australia due to the tobacco sponsorship deal, as already reported by TwoWheelsBlog. The campaign from anti-smoking groups against the Marlboro sponsorship is showing just how many traps there are for the young Australian in his international sports career.

I get the distinct impression that Stoner is missing a serious mentor who can pull him up and teach him a little about how to shrug off the pitfalls of his MotoGP campaign. After his little tantrum in front of BBC cameras after the Laguna Seca race, the young star has shown that he’s fraying a little at the edges of his psychological strength.

Perhaps he should take a leaf from Rossi’s book, the charismatic Italian rider who has taken the motorcycling world by storm and is known for his easy going style. Casey Stoner was nominated Young Australian of the Year after his world championship win, but it looks like keeping up standards for the title is not easy in the cut and thrust world of international MotoGP.

Continue reading: Casey Stoner needs psychological victory more than MotoGP points

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MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner has been targeted by anti-tobacco groups “Action on Smoking and Health”, “Smarter than Smoking” and “Young People and Tobacco”.
They have written to Stoner and Ducati calling to end the sponsorship deal with tobacco giant Philip Morris. They groups have dubbed Stoner as the “Marlboro Man”.

Stoner has responded by saying he understands their views, but he has also said: “At the same time I firmly believe that every adult human being should retain the right to make his or her own decisions in life, whether correct or not”.

Via | visordown

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