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Multiple battles to be contested at final 2009 MotoGP round at Valencia
Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana, Tuesday 3 November - Valentino Rossi may have sealed the 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship at Sepang, but there are still scores to be settled involving Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, and a host of other riders in the final round of the season.
A ninth world title was wrapped up by Rossi in Malaysia, leaving the remainder of the MotoGP class to decide the final standings beyond first place for the 2009 season at the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana.
Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo pushed him the closest for the title this year, and now the 22 year-old looks primed to secure second spot in his second season in the premier class. With a 25-point margin between him and Stoner in third, it would take a non-point scoring finish from the Spaniard and a race win for the Ducati Marlboro man to dislodge Lorenzo from the runner-up position.
Far likelier for Stoner, who comes into round 17 in a rich vein of form having won his last two races at Sepang and Phillip Island, is third place to round off a season interrupted by illness. Speculation will linger as to how the final standings could have looked had the 2007 World Champion not missed Brno, Indianapolis and Misano due to fatigue, but the focus is now on preventing Pedrosa from regaining third place. With victory last year and second the season before, the 24 year-old Australian has a strong pedigree at Valencia.
Repsol Honda’s Pedrosa is 11 points adrift in fourth, and needs a strong showing at a track where he won in 2007 and finished second last time out.
The competition for fifth place is still very much alive, with just six points the difference between Andrea Dovizioso and Colin Edwards. The Italian’s crash at Sepang was not largely capitalised on by Edwards, whose 13th-placed classification means that the fight for fifth will now go down to the wire at Valencia.
Seventh place, meanwhile, is still to be decided upon between no less than six candidates. Marco Melandri (Hayate Racing), Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki), Alex de Angelis and Toni Elías (both San Carlo Honda Gresini), Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) and Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) are all separated by just seven points from positions seven to 12.
All have top-ten finishes at Valencia within the past two seasons, with Melandri’s fourth in 2007 the most notable recent result from the pack. Nicky Hayden, at a further eight points adrift of De Puniet, has an outside chance of challenging for seventh if he manages his second podium of the year and other results go his way.
Also riding at Valencia will be American star Ben Spies, who will take to the track as a wildcard for Yamaha in preparation for his first full MotoGP season with Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in 2010. In the Pramac Racing team another rider who is coming into MotoGP full-time next season will be making an additional guest appearance this weekend, as Aleix Espargaró again substitutes the injured Niccolò Canepa.
Last 250cc GP Championship to be Decided
After prevailing in his epic battle with Marco Simoncelli at Sepang, Hiroshi Aoyama is within touching distance of being named the 2009 250cc World Champion in the final race of the season – and indeed the final 250cc contest in the 60-year history of Grand Prix racing before the introduction of the new Moto2 class next year.
Simoncelli had narrowed the gap at the top of the standings to just 12 points prior to Malaysia, but an enthralling ‘head-to-head’ was won by Aoyama who now heads to Spain with a 21-point cushion.
Should Simoncelli win his seventh race of the campaign at Valencia – thus surpassing his total from 2008 when he won the title – Aoyama would need to finish no lower than eleventh to still take the crown.
The Scot Honda rider has a chequered history at the circuit however, with last year’s fifth place being his best-ever finish. Prior to that, Aoyama has placed sixth and tenth and registered two DNFs, whereas Simoncelli won last year’s race having already secured the title.
Héctor Barberá in third place could mathematically catch Simoncelli in second, but would need to finish second or higher at Valencia and hope for a poor result for the Metis Gilera man. Barberá has a strong record at the track, having finished inside the top five on five occasions in the 250cc and 125cc classes.
Álvaro Bautista’s title hopes ended with his second crash in three races at Sepang, and Valencia is the only one of the three Spanish circuits on the calendar at which he has not tasted a GP victory. Fourth in the championship is safe for the Mapfre Aspar man, who could take third with a good display if Barberá falters.
Mattia Pasini in fifth is 21 points ahead of Thomas Luthi, who leads a pack which also comprises Raffaele de Rosa, Mike di Meglio, Héctor Faubel and Álex Debón. Those five riders are separated by just six points in the battle for sixth spot.
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LIVIO SUPPO LEAVES THE DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM. NEW MANAGEMENT OF THE 2010 SQUAD IS ANNOUNCED
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 5 November 2009 – The last race of the 2009 MotoGP season will also be the last race in Ducati Marlboro Team colours for Livio Suppo, Ducati's MotoGP project manager. The Italian manager will leave Ducati to embark on a new professional adventure.
In Ducati since 1999, Suppo was involved in this challenging and ambitious project from the very beginning, contributing with his intuition, perseverance and enthusiasm to the world title victory of 2007 and to the many podiums and successes that have characterised the life of the Ducati Desmosedici from its debut in 2003 up until today.
“Livio has meant a great deal to Ducati and also to me personally; he has been a loyal and valuable colleague but above all a great friend,” commented Claudio Domenicali, General Director of Ducati. “We are very sorry that he has decided to leave the company but, in light of his correctness, professionalism and the great contribution he has made to the growth and success of the MotoGP project and the Ducati brand, we can only offer him our very best wishes as he takes on a new professional challenge. This is, however, also one of those moments in which we can rethink our organization in order to further improve, and this is what we have done in defining the 2010 team’s direction. The management of the Ducati Marlboro Team will be entrusted to, and reinforced by, two new managerial figures. Alessandro Cicognani, currently marketing manager for the Ducati Corse Division, will be responsible for the MotoGP project and alongside him, Vittoriano Guareschi, already the test rider for Ducati, will undertake the role of Team Manager, bringing to the squad a wealth of knowledge and experience that he has gained through being a professional rider and, most recently, a test rider.”
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Tom Sykes to Join Chris Vermeulen at Team Kawasaki for the 2010 Superbike Championship
10/21 -
Following on the recent announcement that Chris Vermeulen will race a factory-backed Kawasaki in next season's World Superbike Championship, team owner Paul Bird has today announced that it will be Yorkshireman Tom Sykes who will partner the Australian aboard the works Ninja ZX-10Rs.
Having been awarded the official contract to run the works Kawasaki team in WSB at the end of last year, the Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team has enjoyed their first year association with the factory this season despite riders Broc Parkes and in particular, Makoto Tamada suffering an injury-ravaged season.
Parkes has been a regular points scorer throughout the season and with on-going development work over winter, the team expects to be challenging for podiums and race wins in 2010.
Whereas Vermeulen, the 2003 World Supersport Champion and winner of the 2007 French MotoGP, is linking up with maverick Cumbrian businessman Bird for the first time, it will be Sykes' second spell with the team having raced in British Superbikes in 2007 whereby he was a regular podium finisher.
During his WSB career, 27-year-old Vermeulen, from Brisbane, has racked up ten race victories and was runner-up in the 2005 World Superbike Championship and 24-year-old Sykes, from Huddersfield, made his full-time WSB debut this season, scoring a best result of 4th at Assen to add to his wild card podium at Donington in 2008.
The team will also be announcing further details in due course of a new title sponsor which will back the team for the next two years.
Chris Vermeulen: "I'm very happy and excited about this. I spoke with Kawasaki and they told me they were prepared to put in large amounts of resources and attention into winning the World Superbike Championship. That is what I want, to challenge and to win races. I know Paul from my time racing in the UK, and I know that he runs a great outfit, and I'm really looking forward to working with the team."
Tom Sykes: "The team has big plans for World Superbikes next year so I'm really looking forward to being part of them. The big factor for me was that I have worked with the team before and know how good they are, they're one of the best teams I've ridden for and I'll have the same crew chief as I had in my rookie season in BSB. I've learned a hell of a lot this year and the intention is to put that experience to good use and I've every confidence that the package will be very competitive in 2010."
Paul Bird, Team Owner: "I'm absolutely delighted that we have managed to sign both Chris and Tom, as they are both fantastic riders and I know they'll do a great job for us next season. Chris has proved how competitive he is on a Superbike as his results demonstrate and I've always rated Tom highly, that's why I handed him his first proper Superbike ride back in 2007. The team has made huge strides forward this year and we can now put into practice what we have learned and I fully expect us to be challenging at the sharp end in 2010. I'd like to take this opportunity to say a special thanks to both Broc and Makoto for their hard work, professionalism and dedication during the past season and myself and the whole team wishes them both well for the future."
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Seeley Wins Irish Superbike Championship
Team Suzuki Press Office - October 20. - 2009 British Superstock Champion Alastair Seeley added the Irish Superbike title to his list of achievements at the weekend's end-of-season Sunflower Trophy Races in Northern Ireland.
The Relentless Suzuki rider, on a run of 12 successive Irish Superbike wins, brought a 45.5 point lead into the final two races at Bishopscourt. In race one, Seeley shadowed his team-mate Ian Lowry across the line to take second place and 20 points to secure the title, before winning race two to end the season the way he knows best - on the top step of the podium, which was a phenomenal achievement for both Relentless Suzuki and Seeley, taking into account that the Carrickfergus man missed 12 races during 2009 due to British Championship commitments.
Seeley will now join team-mate Ian Lowry in an end of season holiday race in Perth, Western Australia at the beginning of November: a prize offered as part of the ISB champions' package for 2009.
Seeley also claimed an international win at the North West 200 back in May and the Mondello Masters title just last month - increasing his win tally in Relentless Suzuki colours to 27 in 2009.
Alastair Seeley: "It's been a dream year for me in Relentless Suzuki colours and a lot of credit must go to the team. You only understand how professional the set-up really is at TAS Racing when you become part of it, and I have a lot to be thankful for. I've ridden really well this year and gained a new focus in my racing.
"I always said, in the right team with the right package I can be a top rider in British Championship and we've proved that this year. To win the Irish Superbike title and the trip to Australia is a nice wee bonus at the end of the year. I'm sure Ian and I can have some fun and maybe try out some water-sports and other things we couldn't do at home during the winter months.
"Thanks again to everyone in the team for their support and a special thank you to Ian Glen at Beacon for helping me get this ride and Leigh and Davy Laptop for helping me find my feet on the Superbike - much appreciated lads."
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Aprilia World Superbike's Shinya Nakano
Announces Retirement
October 29, 2009 - "To everyone who have supported me, I send this news on a short notice, but I have decided to retire from racing at the end of this season.
I've concentrated on treatment after breaking my collarbone during Round 3 in Spain and straining my neck in Round 11 in Germany, but by missing a few races, I've been a burden to my team as well as to others involved. If feel that as a professional rider, it's time to stop racing if I'm not in a perfect condition to do so. I've given this a lot of thought the past few weeks, and I've come to this decision through my own will.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the motorcycle manufacturers who believed in my potential and offered me contracts, to the sponsors supporting the race, and to the fans that have always supported me.
Because of your support, I've been able to ride professionally for 13 years and participate in the World Championships for 11 years, and I have had many precious experiences.
From now on, if I can use such experiences to good use, I would like to keep contributing to the motorcycle world.
I am looking forward to seeing you all in racing circuits in the near future, under different circumstances from now on.
Thank you very much for your support." - Shinya Nakano
Team Graves Yamaha to Join Yamaha Champions Riding School for Test Days
TOOELE VALLEY, UTAH (October 29, 2009) — Team Graves Yamaha announced today they will be joining the Yamaha Champions Riding School at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for special testing sessions during the November 9-10 Pro School as well as the December 2-4 Riding School. This is a rare opportunity for a casual rider to be present at a professional race team testing session with Team Graves Yamaha riders participating in the events.
“We are excited to get the chance to join the Yamaha Champions Riding School for our test sessions,” said Road Race Team Manager Tom Halverson. “We gain so much value from our testing, and having the chance to partner with such a great school just adds to improving our race team’s ability to reach their goals of a championship in 2010.”
Students enjoy being able to ride with professional riders and hear what they have to say. Getting an entire race team makes it an even better experience.
“We have had some great champions join us at the Yamaha Champions Riding School so far and received great response from our students about this,” said Nick Ienatsch, lead instructor for the school. “World Superbike Champions Ben Spies and Scott Russell, AMA Pro Racing Superbike Champions Josh Hayes and Ben Bostrom, and Graves Yamaha’s two-time AMA Supermoto Lites Champion Brandon Currie have all been a part of the school, but having the Team Graves Yamaha riders out testing and interacting with our students will be a special opportunity for sure.”
This event will not be open to the general public, but the 15 riding school students will have a front-row seat for the test session as well as the chance to interact with the riders and team.
To reserve your space at the November 9-10 Pro School or the December 2-4 Riding School, log on to YamahaChampionsRidingSchool and follow the links on the right to the registration page. Questions can be directed to school manager Daniel Short via email at DShort @MillerMotorsportsPark.comor by calling (435) 277-8799.
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