After the Flag now available

The latest episode of the MotoGP series with presenter Gavin Emmett looks back over the World Championship’s first visit to the Motorland Aragón circuit.

Round 13, the Gran Premio A-Style de Aragón, is put under the spotlight in the latest After the Flag with Gavin Emmett as a full review of the weekend’s action is featured. Casey Stoner’s first win of the season, a first podium of 2010 for Nicky Hayden, Jorge Lorenzo’s first time off the rostrum… There is plenty up for discussion so join Gavin for a topical review.

Click here to see the latest episode of After the Flag, or visit the iTunes store to download it for free.

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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Shoya Tomizawa dies of Misano injuries

Shoya Tomizawa has died as a result of injuries sustained in the Moto2 race on Sunday at Misano.

The Japanese - who made history by winning the first ever Moto2 Grand Prix at Qatar this year, then took pole and a podium at round two - fell from fourth place on lap 12 and was then hit at high speed by Alex de Angelis and Scott Redding.

The official statement from Dorna announcing the death was as follows:

"On Sunday 5th September during the Moto2 race at the Misano World Circuit, rider Shoya Tomizawa aged 19 suffered a serious crash and subsequent cranial, thoracic and abdominal trauma.

"Given the seriousness of his condition - especially for the thoracic and abdominal trauma - Tomizawa was immediately treated at the Misano World Circuit medical centre and put under artificial respiration.

"The rider was taken by ambulance to the Riccione hospital accompanied by two doctors - helicopter was not used in order to allow for the proper respiratory support to be administered. Despite various attempts to resuscitate him Shoya sadly succumbed to his injuries at 14.20.

"Everybody involved in MotoGP extends its deepest condolences to Shoya's family and friends at this tragic loss."

de Angelis walked away from the huge accident, while Redding received ten stitches for a back laceration. Neither rider had any chance to avoid Tomizawa, who was sixth in the world championship heading into the race.

2010 was Tomizawa's second season in grand prix racing, after finishing 17th in the 2009 250cc class.

Prior to last year, Tomizawa had been a wild-card rider at his home Motegi event in 2006 (125cc), 2007 (125cc) and 2008 (250cc).

Tomizawa was runner-up in the 125cc Japanese Championship in 2006 and the 250cc Japanese Championship in 2008.

The last time a rider was killed during a motorcycle grand prix was Daijiro Kato, in the MotoGP class, at Suzuka 2003.

Our thoughts are with Tomizawa's family and friends. 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Marco Melandri leaves MotoGP for Yamaha WSBK ride

Marco Melandri has confirmed that he will leave the San Carlo Honda Gresini team at the end of the 2010 MotoGP season and move to the World Superbike Championship with Yamaha.

Melandri has been a full time grand prix rider since 1998 in the 125cc class and has taken a total of 22 GP wins - 5 in MotoGP, 10 in 250cc and 7 in 125cc.

The Italian won the 250cc world championship in 2002 and moved to MotoGP with a factory Yamaha ride the following season.

Valentino Rossi's arrival saw the #33 switch to Tech 3 Yamaha for 2004, whom he left under something of a cloud before joining Honda Gresini in 2005, where he finished second to Rossi in the World Championship with two wins.

Melandri then won three races for the Gresini team in 2006, but no satellite rider has won since the start of the 800cc era in 2007, the year Melandri took his last two podiums for Gresini.

A dream move to the factory Ducati team for 2008 turned into a nightmare, but Melandri rebuilt his reputation with the Hayate-run Kawasaki in 2009, leading to a Gresini Honda return in 2010.

But Melandri is only ninth in the championship after twelve rounds and can't get the RC212V to work as he would like and he has now decided to make a fresh start in WSBK with the factory-backed 2009 title-winning Sterilgarda team.

“I'm very happy with this new challenge, it's a big change and I want to fight for world Superbike wins,” said 28-year-old Melandri. “It's nice to be back with Yamaha; I know many people there; I was very young when I rode with them before, now I'm much more mature.

"As the reigning 2009 champions The Yamaha Sterilgarda Team have proved to have a very competitive package and are one of the top teams in World Superbike. I realise Superbike is not easy and I know I have to work hard. I'm looking forward to feeling the adrenalin again and fighting for the championship.

"I felt that I needed a new challenge and the genuine opportunity to be back fighting for wins and podiums led me to make this choice. It will be a big change for me but I would like to thank Fausto and everybody else at Team San Carlo Honda Gresini for the opportunity they gave me this season."

"I would like to thank Marco for this season on behalf of myself, our sponsors and everybody who works with the team," said Fausto Gresini. "I'm glad that we were able to spend another season together because we are great friends and I hope that we can achieve the results that have eluded us so far in what remains of the championship.

"I encourage him to take on his next challenge with great determination and I am sure he can be as successful there as he was with us in 2005, 2006 and 2007."

Melandri's deal comes just minutes after present Yamaha Sterilgarda rider cal Crutchlow was confirmed as moving to MotoGP with Tech 3 next year. The future of James Toseland, Crutchlow's team-mate, is less clear. 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Scott Redding escapes serious injury

Scott Redding escaped serious injury during a huge crash in Sunday's Moto2 race at Misano, but was left devastated by the news that Shoya Tomizawa sustained fatal injuries in the incident.

Tomizawa fell from fourth place after running wide onto the back straight and was hit at high-speed by Alex de Angelis and then Redding, who were close behind and had no chance to avoid the stricken rider.

19-year-old Tomizawa died later in hospital.

Redding was also taken to the circuit medical centre, where he received ten stitches for a laceration to his back. de Angelis miraculously walked away from the huge accident.

"Scott's crash was a big one, so we are thankful that the only injury he sustained was a minor laceration on his back," said Redding's Marc VDS team manager Michael Bartholemy.

"We were deeply saddened by the news that Shoya Tomizawa succumbed to the injuries sustained. He was a respected rival and will be sorely missed in the paddock.

"Like everyone in the Marc VDS Racing Team, my thoughts are with his family and friends at this time." 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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MotoGP paddock united in Tomizawa grief

There was an overwhelming sadness at Misano as riders and teams expressed their sorrow at the tragic death on Sunday of Japanese rider Shoya Tomizawa.

The untimely passing away of Shoya Tomizawa on Sunday provoked an array of sad reactions from the MotoGP paddock, as the sport lost a talented rider and one of its most popular figures.

Nineteen year-old Tomizawa, the first rider ever to win a Moto2 race at the start of the season, was a highly charismatic, friendly and well-liked person and tributes to him were paid by those who had been fortunate to experience his fantastic persona.

Moto2 race winner at Misano on Sunday Toni Elías said: “All I feel is sadness right now and my victory today is irrelevant. I was talking and joking with Tomizawa only yesterday in the Clinica Mobile and to think that he is no longer with us is truly awful. Even today we were out there racing together when he was in front of me before this incredible tragedy. He has left an indelible mark on my life."

Elías Team Manager Fausto Gresini, who experienced the tragedy of losing a rider when Daijiro Kato passed away at Suzuka in 2003, stated: "Today is a very sad and very tough day, when racing doesn't feel like it should. I know just how hard it is to lose a rider in these circumstances and I know the pain that his family and all the guys on the team who worked with him are feeling right now. There is little more to say.”

MotoGP race winner Dani Pedrosa reflected: “There are no words to say how it feels after this victory - it feels like nothing. It’s so sad, terrible, and these things should never happen. As a person I can only say that he was a very funny boy, always happy and making jokes, and as a rider he earned respect from everybody in a very short time, he was fast and brave.”

Jorge Lorenzo said: "I don't have many words for the race on such a sad say. It's a huge pity because he was a good guy and a strong rider. I am so sad and I just want to say how sorry I am for his family and his friends. When this happens nothing else matters."

The Spaniard’s team-mate Valentino Rossi commented: "I'm so sorry for Shoya because he was a strong rider but above all he was very ‘sympatico.' He was very funny, always smiling and he always had nice things to say to everyone. He was also very young with a great career ahead of him so we are all very sad."

Ducati rider Casey Stoner said: “I am deeply saddened for Tomizawa, his family and everybody who worked with him. It is something truly terrible and it left me breathless, like a week ago (and the death of Peter Lenz). It was a pleasure to watch him ride and I was looking forward to see him have a great career."

The Australian’s team-mate Nicky Hayden added: “I am really sad, we have lost two riders in two weekends. My thoughts are with his family and his team but I think the whole paddock has been hit hard by this tragedy. At the end of the day we are all brothers here. We have lost a talented kid with a great personality. I loved his style, his determination and the smile he always wore.”

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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Nicky Hayden, Capirossi first lap clash at Misano

Loris Capirossi's 200th premier-class race ended at the first chicane in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, when the Rizla Suzuki rider was hit by Ducati's Nicky Hayden.

Both riders fell in the incident, which occurred as they accelerated out of the second apex.

Capirossi was out on the spot, while Hayden rejoined before also retiring due to gear lever damage.

While Hayden was unhurt, Capirossi suffered an injury to his right little finger and will require surgery in San Marino on Monday.

The Italian is hopeful that he will make the next round of the MotoGP championship at Aragon on September 17-19.

“I am very angry at what happened today because I was feeling very confident and the bike was good, so I thought we could have a competitive race," said Loris. "Now I have to have an operation and I hope I can be back for Aragon, but this is nothing compared to what happened in the other race."

Hayden, who had qualified just 14th, has not managed to complete a race at Misano since the venue returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2007.

The American, who has twice previously been the victim of first lap Misano accidents, felt it was simply a racing incident.

"This hasn't been a great track for me over the last couple of years. I got quite a good start and made up some positions but on the exit of turn two when I got on the gas and opened up for the next turn I touched with Loris, who was closing his line a little," said Nicky.

"I'm sorry but it was a racing incident that can happen at any time and when you start so far back you tend to cross lines. The shifter was damaged and I had to come back in." 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Monster Yamaha Tech 3 confirm Cal Crutchlow for 2011

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is delighted to announce the signing of British rider Cal Crutchlow to contest the MotoGP World Championship for the next two years.

Crutchlow will extend his successful collaboration with Yamaha having won the World Supersport championship at the first attempt in 2009 with five victories and ten pole positions. Crutchlow has demonstrated his world-class pedigree again in 2010 after a series of blisteringly fast performances in World Superbikes on board Yamaha's YZF-R1 machine. He has claimed five pole positions so far in 2010 but the highlight of his impressive campaign was undoubtedly a majestic double victory in his home race at Silverstone in early August.

Cal Crutchlow

“It is hard for me to explain how excited I am about the prospect of riding in MotoGP next season with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. Joining MotoGP is like a dream come true for me, and I want to thank Yamaha and Hervé Poncharal for giving me such a wonderful opportunity. Yamaha have been fantastic to me and without their incredible support I wouldn't be where I am today. And I'm really looking forward to working with the Tech 3 Team. They are a very professional team with a lot of experience and I'm sure they will be able to help me develop even more as a rider. I am under no illusions about how difficult this challenge will be. But I have always loved a challenge and I'm relishing this one. To think I will be racing against the likes of Valentino Rossi, who I grew up being a massive fan of, is a really exciting prospect and I can't wait for 2011.”

Hervé Poncharal – Team Manager

“I am delighted that a rider of Cal's calibre will ride for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. He has shown with his World Supersport success in 2009 and with a series of outstanding performances in World Superbikes this year what an exciting prospect he is for the future. I think he is ready to test himself against the very best in the world and I'm really looking forward to working with him. He is a very talented rider and he has an unbelievable desire to succeed. Ben has proven this year that with talent, hard work and determination you can make a successful switch from World Superbikes to MotoGP. I have no doubt that Cal has the potential to emulate Ben's success in the future. I am sure the combination of Cal, Yamaha and Tech 3 will be a strong one and I can't wait to start this exciting new adventure in our history.”

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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Dani Pedrosa takes sombre Misano win

Dani Pedrosa took his fourth victory of the season, and first ever back-to-back race wins, with a lights-to-flag triumph at Misano on Sunday.

But there were no celebrations as the news that Shoya Tomizawa had lost his life in the earlier Moto2 event was announced immediately after the finish of the MotoGP race.

Podiums flags were flown at half mast and there was no spraying of champagne as a mark of respect to the young Japanese, who won the first ever 600cc grand prix at Qatar this year.

Pedrosa had converted pole into the race lead at turn one and was one-second clear by lap three of 28.

World championship leader Jorge Lorenzo dropped from second to third at the start, but re-passed Ducati's Casey Stoner later in the opening lap and remaining in second for the rest of the race.

Pedrosa's lead over Lorenzo topped five seconds through the middle stages before he backed off to a 1.900sec victory at the chequered flag.

Lorenzo's title lead over Pedrosa has now been reduced from 68 to 63 points with six rounds to go.

After the race, Pedrosa spoke of his deep sadness at the loss of Tomizawa, whose death comes just one week after Peter Lenz was killed in a support race at Indianapolis.

The fight for third was closer than the lead, with local legend Valentino Rossi - who overtook Stoner on lap eleven - facing an assault from countryman Andrea Dovizioso with ten laps to go.

Pedrosa's team-mate remained glued to the #46 until the penultimate lap, when Rossi built a one-second lead over the Honda rider - enough to prevent a last lap lunge.

Stoner's pace dropped off markedly in the second half of the race and the Ducati rider took the flag twelve seconds behind Dovizioso, but almost ten ahead of top satellite rider Ben Spies.

The Texan, second at Indianapolis last weekend, was only tenth at the end of lap one, but moved through the field to claim sixth from Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Colin Edwards just before the midway mark.

Alvaro Bautista progressed all the way from 16th on the grid to eighth, three seconds behind Edwards, with Hector Barbera getting the better of Marco Melandri for ninth in the closing stages.

Randy de Puniet had been forced wide by a Barbera pass earlier in the race and finished in 13th place, ahead of only Melandri's San Carlo Honda Gresini team-mate Marco Simoncelli, who suffered a mishap while running sixth early in the race and finished last.

Loris Capirossi's 200th premier-class start ended at the first chicane when he was hit by Nicky Hayden, bringing them both down.

A furious Capirossi was out on the spot, while Hayden (taken out by Alex de Angelis at the same point last year) re-joined, pitted for repairs, and eventually retired as well.

Round 13 of the championship will be held at the new Aragon circuit, in Spain, on September 19.

San Marino Grand Prix:

1. Pedrosa

2. Lorenzo

3. Rossi

4. Dovizioso

5. Stoner

6. Spies

7. Edwards

8. Bautista

9. Barbera

10. Melandri

11. Espargaro

12. Aoyama

13. de Puniet

14. Simoncelli 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/race+report/

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Toni Elías wins amid tragedy at Misano

The Moto2 Championship leader won his sixth race of the season in a race which was overshadowed by tragedy after Shoya Tomizawa passed away due to injuries sustained in a crash.

Toni Elías won from pole position at Misano on Sunday in the Moto2 Gran Premio Aperol di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini to extend his Championship lead to 83 points, achieving his sixth victory of the season and his fourth in a row. Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) moved into second place in the standings with second position in the race, whilst Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki) made a return to the podium. However, the day was overshadowed by the tragic death of Shoya Tomizawa who passed away due to injuries sustained in a crash during the race.

Andrea Iannone led from the off but a jump start meant the Fimmco Speed Up rider had to take a Ride Through penalty early on, and that allowed the trio of Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing), Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) and Tomizawa to enjoy running at the front.

Pole starter Elías was not far off however and after just six laps the Gresini Racing man assumed the lead, with Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) keeping tabs on him. There was then a pivotal moment in the race when the chasing trio of Tomizawa, Redding and Alex de Angelis (JiR Moto2) were involved in a big crash as the Japanese rider fell and was struck by oncoming bikes, and he and Redding were stretchered off and required medical attention at the Clinica Mobile. Tomizawa was transported to hospital in nearby Riccione but tragically succumbed to his injuries and sadly passed away. Redding escaped serious injury in the incident.

As the battle continued at the front Simón went through on Corsi to move into second, whilst wild card Mattia Pasini and Sergio Gadea’s races ended early with crashes. Yuki Takahashi (Tech 3 Racing) was another faller as he pushed hard to maintain fifth position.

As Elías continued to lead comfortably the impressive Lüthi reeled in Corsi and passed him having been over six seconds adrift at one stage, and also having started from 15th on the grid. Iannone’s day was then capped off with a mechanical fault that forced his retirement as he sought a points-scoring finish further back whilst Xavier Simeon crashed when flying high in seventh.

Elías crossed 1.969s clear of Simón with Lüthi securing his fifth podium of the campaign in third, and Elías now stands on 211 points in the Championship with Simón moving up to second on 128 and Lüthi remaining in third on 124.

Corsi took fourth, with Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing), Cluzel, Gabor Talmacsi (Fimmco Speed Up), Dominique Aegerter (Technomag-CIP), Claudio Corti (Forward Racing) and Roberto Rolfo (Italtrans STR) completing the top ten.

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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Huge accident overshadows Toni Elias Misano win

Toni Elias has increased his Moto2 title lead to a mighty 83 points after his sixth victory of the season at Misano on Sunday, in a race overshadowed by a huge accident involving Shoya Tomizawa, Scott Redding and Alex de Angelis.

Fourth place Tomizawa, winner of the first ever Moto2 event at Qatar, spun off the back off his Technomag-CIP Suter after running wide coming onto the fast back straight. The Japanese was then hit flat out by both Redding and de Angelis, who were following closely behind and had no time to react.

Bikes and bodies were thrown in all directions by the 130mph plus accident, with de Angelis - making his Moto2 return with JiR - amazingly able to walk away, while Redding and an apparently unconscious Tomizawa were quickly scooped up and carried away on a stretcher.

The race was not stopped.

The initial reports are that both Redding and Tomizawa do not have life threatening injuries. Tomizawa has been transported from the medical centre to a local hospital with Redding expected to follow soon.

Elias, meanwhile, had been third on lap one and took the lead for the first on lap six of 26.

After the Tomizawa accident blew apart the lead group, Elias and his Gresini Moriwaki built a safe lead of several seconds over Aspar Suter's Julian Simon, the rider Elias also beat last Sunday at Indianapolis.

Simone Corsi looked set to claim his third podium of the year for JiR, in his and the team's home event, but his pace plummeted in the closing stages and he was overtaken by Thomas Luthi, who came form outside the top ten to claim his first rostrum since round seven in Catalunya.

Andrea Iannone, who began the seventh second in the points, was given a jump start penalty while leading on lap two - then retired on the penalty lap with technical problems having worked his way from the back of the field to 15th.

As a result, Simon is now second in the championship behind Elias. Luthi is third with Iannone dropping to fourth.

Former JiR rider Mattia Pasini fell from eighth place on lap nine of the race on his Moto2 comeback with Italtrans Suter.

Race results - Misano:

1. Elias (Moriwaki) 26 laps

2. Simon (Suter) +1.969s

3. Luthi (Moriwaki) +11.917s

4. Corsi (Motobi) +15.409s

5. Bradl (Suter) +16.219s

6. Cluzel (Suter) +16.676s

7. Talmacsi (Speed Up) +16.852s

8. Aegerter (Suter) +18.330s

9. Corti (Suter) +20.650s

10. Rolfo (Suter) +29.678s

Redding (Suter) DNF 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/race+report/

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Dani Pedrosa ready for back-to-back 'challenge'

Dani Pedrosa will try to claim his first ever back-to-back MotoGP race wins from pole position in Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix at Misano.

Winner of his third race of the season last Sunday at Indianapolis, Pedrosa took his fourth pole of the 2010 campaign by 0.308sec from world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo.

Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa starts round twelve 68 points from Fiat Yamaha rider Lorenzo, who will line-up alongside him on the grid.

“I'm happy to be on pole position because we were strong throughout practice and things have gone according to plan so far this weekend," said Pedrosa, who has been 1-2-1 in the three track sessions so far at Misano.

"We are doing a very good job at the moment, improving at every round and now we have the chance to have another good race. I've never won two MotoGP races in a row and this is a good challenge for me - I really want to go for it.

"Today went well especially because this was a very tight qualifying session and, as I said yesterday, it was crucial to be on the first row of the grid to have the best chance of getting through the first corners cleanly, because they are very tight.

"It's a quite a tricky circuit and tomorrow it will be important not to make any mistakes - particularly on the brakes - in order to keep a high pace for the whole race distance. I think it will be very difficult to make a gap, but we'll wait and see what the strategy is for the race.

"Hopefully we can get through the first corners cleanly, and then we will simply need to push very hard to win. We have a good opportunity.”

On the other side of the factory Honda garage, team-mate Andrea Dovizioso had a less fruitful qualifying session and will start his second home grand prix of the season from eighth place.

“We made a big change to the set-up of the bike in terms of weight distribution to get a better feeling with the front end, but it didn't work for us," said Dovi. "I was struggling a lot with the front and at the end of the session I almost crashed - like in Brno. It is very difficult to improve your lap time when you don't have the confidence with the front.

"Now we have to decide whether to keep going in this set-up direction with something more radical or go back to what we had before. I'm disappointed to have qualified this far back for my home race, so we have some work to do tonight to find a setting that can improve things for warm-up and in the race. We've made it quite tough for ourselves, but we'll aim to get a good start and make up as many positions as possible early on.” 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Jorge Lorenzo confident of challenging Pedrosa

MotoGP World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo believes Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix won't see a repeat of Dani Pedrosa's Indianapolis walkover.

Pedrosa dominated in America last weekend, while Lorenzo took home a season's worst third behind Ben spies, but the Fiat Yamaha star was much happier with the set-up of his factory M1 by the end of day two than he had been on Friday and expects to deliver a victory challenge.

"We have improved in every practice here and after the troubles of yesterday I'm happy about this session," said Lorenzo. "I have a good pace now and I'm feeling confident about a good race.

"Unfortunately we couldn't profit as much as we might have with the softer tyre at the end of the session and our bike isn't the fastest here, but we have good corner speed so I hope we will be able to stay with the leaders.

"I am feeling excited and motivated for tomorrow's race."

"Second place is only one better than yesterday but in terms of bike feeling and behaviour it's a huge jump for us," stated team manager Wilco Zeelenberg. "Dani did a great lap, we were consistent but Jorge couldn't use the soft tyre like he wanted to so we couldn't get any closer to him. But tomorrow is 28 laps not just one and we feel that we are in form for another strong challenge."

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Valentino Rossi just misses Misano front row

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi came within 0.073sec of claiming his first front row start, since his return from a broken leg five races ago, at Misano on Saturday.

The Italian, riding in front of his home fans for the final time as a Yamaha rider, felt that traffic cost him a top three start, and is now concentrating on making the correct rear tyre choice for the race.

"The front row would have been good for the race of tomorrow but I just missed out today. I think I had the potential today but unfortunately with the last tyre I found some traffic at the end," he said.

"The rear tyre is going to be very important for tomorrow's race and we still have a decision to make; at the moment we are thinking more of the hard one but we need to wait and see the weather.

"I am feeling better here than in Indy because it's much cooler; I am still suffering a bit with my shoulder in the hard right braking zones but it's not too bad. Anyway it's fantastic to be here in Italy with all of these fans and I'm excited about tomorrow. "

"We are very close to the first row and it was a possibility for us today. Unfortunately Valentino found some traffic, as usual many riders tried to get in his draft and he couldn't use the full potential of the softer tyre, but fourth is not so bad," added team manager Davide Brivio. 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Hector Barbera re-signs with Aspar for 2011

Hector Barbera has signed a new contract with Aspar to remain with the team for the 2011 MotoGP season.

Barbera and Aspar both moved up to the premier-class this season, with the Spaniard - runner-up in last year's 250cc World Championship - the top satellite Desmosedici rider with twelfth in the championship after eleven rounds.

The Spaniard, who had a reputation for being somewhat erratic in the lower classes, has been remarkably mistake-free in MotoGP - scoring points in all but one round, Laguna Seca, where he was sidelined by a technical problem.

The news of Barbera's new contract follows previous confirmation that Aspar will continue with Ducati machinery next year, which will be the last of the 800cc era.

"Even though this is a learning year Hector is doing a very good job in MotoGP, considering the quality of the field," said team principal Jorge Martinez 'Aspar'. "With the pace he has set he would have been in the top five two years ago and it is hard to find another rider with the same level of performance and potential.

"As well as being a good rider, as he has shown on the track, he is an even better person and he has a very similar view of this world to us. His potential and youth, combined with the fact he is from Valencia, is also a fundamental part of our project.

"Ducati have supported us ever since we began this project and they agree that Hector is an excellent rider with a long career ahead. So after announcing that we will be continuing with the Italian factory next year we were keen to confirm that we'll be sticking with Hector too.

"It is a subject that has been on the table practically since the start of the season but we decided to make it public here in Misano considering the good form he has shown in recent races."

Barbera is naturally delighted to secure a second season in MotoGP and is hoping to benefit from Valentino Rossi's arrival at the factory team.

"I am really pleased that we will continue to take this project forward. I was calm and confident that I would stay for another year but once the contracts are signed and sealed that helps you to concentrate better and focus purely on racing," he said.

"I want to thank Jorge again for his continued support and for the opportunity to race for him again. We are doing our job well, the team is helping me a lot and you know when you are part of a winning team.

"This is the most difficult project I have ever been involved with because MotoGP is the highest level but I am satisfied that we are working in the right direction. Now we head to some circuits where I went well last year so we're looking to end the season on a high.

"I am also sure that Valentino's move to Ducati will bring a lot of experience and improve the bike." 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Dani Pedrosa fastest in warm up

The pole holder was the quickest round the Misano track ahead of this afternoon’s Gran Premio Aperol di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini.

Dani Pedrosa pipped Jorge Lorenzo to the top time in warm up at Misano on Sunday morning, as the Repsol Honda rider underlined his strength going into this afternoon’s race. A final lap of the session of 1’34.654 left Pedrosa 0.149s clear of his rival.

The Fiat Yamaha rider was second ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), with Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) and Casey Stoner (Ducati Team) completing the top five. Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) was sixth as he continued his courageous weekend’s work with his leg still recovering, and he will start from the same position on the grid.

Marco Melandri (San Carlo Honda Gresini) had a crash towards the end when he slid out, and the Italian walked away unharmed from the fall. This afternoon’s MotoGP race is due to get underway at 2pm local time.

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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Valentino Rossi's Misano helmet

As is traditional, MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi unveiled a special helmet design on Saturday morning at Misano, his second home event of the season.

The helmet features a clock on the top, with the time set to the start of whichever track session he is riding in.

"The helmet is a joke about my timekeeping - we have put a big clock on the top of it with a different helmet showing the right time for each session so I make sure that I arrive on time!" he said. 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Marco Melandri to Sterilgarda Yamaha?

Italian website GPOne.com says a deal has been done for Marco Melandri to ride for the Sterilgarda Yamaha team in World Superbike next season.

Melandri, enduring a disappointing return to Honda Gresini in MotoGP this year, had been tipped to join BMW's World Superbike team.

Melandri has been a MotoGP rider since 2003 and ridden for Yamaha, Honda, Ducati and Kawasaki.

The Italian has won five races and taken 20 podiums in the premier-class, with a best championship finish of second in 2005.

Sterilgarda Yamaha took Ben Spies to the 2009 WSBK crown and has won two races this season with Cal Crutchlow.

Crutchlow looks set to take Spies' place at Tech 3 next year, when the Texan will move to the factory Yamaha MotoGP team. 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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First session throws up issues for Jorge Lorenzo

The World Championship leader was third fastest in FP1 at Misano and was not overly satisfied with how his session went, but is targeting a range of improvements on his bike ahead of qualifying on Saturday.

Jorge Lorenzo was not satisfied with third position in the first practice of the Gran Premio Aperol di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini at Misano on Friday, as he struggled to find a comfortable set-up on his Fiat Yamaha M1 machine.

The Spaniard, who felt the physical demands of the previous round at Indianapolis keenly, lacked a secure feeling on board his prototype in the opening run in San Marino. The task ahead of him was underlined by the pace of Dani Pedrosa, who as the fastest rider was 0.672s ahead of Lorenzo on the timesheet.

"Today was quite difficult for us, more so than we expected,” said Lorenzo, who leads Pedrosa by 68 points in the standings going into this round. “It's not my physical condition, I feel completely recovered from the hard weekend in Indianapolis, but we really struggled today and I didn't have enough confidence in my bike or in the tyres.”

He added: “We have some small problems in braking, corner speed and acceleration so I don't feel like I can ride how I want to at the moment.”

Lorenzo is still confident that Saturday’s second session provides enough time in which to bridge the gap and prepare for a strong qualifying. “We are still third so it's not too bad but we have some time to make up if we are to match Pedrosa,” he said. “I have great confidence that my team will find the right way to improve and I hope we will be in better shape tomorrow."

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/

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Dani Pedrosa won’t back off after best Friday

Fresh from his victory in Indianapolis five days ago, Dani Pedrosa picked up where he left off and topped the timesheets during Friday practice at Misano.

Improving with every exit from the pits, the 24-year-old Spaniard's fastest lap time was an impressive 0.612s quicker than the rest of the field - led by his Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso - a hefty margin which sent an ominous sign to his rivals for victory this weekend.

“It's been really a good start here in Misano compared to last year and I'm very happy about that," said Pedrosa, who finally broke his two wins in a season barrier last weekend.

"We are coming from a strong result at the last race and it's important to keep the momentum going, which we have done so far. But we need to remain very concentrated and focused because we still have some areas to improve, and I'm sure our rivals will also go quicker tomorrow.

"Our pace has been quite fast today and Andrea is close to the front as well, so this is a good sign for the team. Here the grid positions are very important again because the first corner is close to the start and it's a tight bend.

"Because of this we need to make sure we have a good pace tomorrow so that we can qualify well, and also so that we are ready for another long and tough race.

"I can say this was one of my best Friday practices, but I'm not going to relax at all," he warned.

Dovizioso was also on fast form today at the circuit where he made his motorcycle racing debut back in 2000.

The 24-year-old Italian was born and lives just 70kms from the Misano track and took inspiration from his home support to get his weekend off to a strong start.

Near the top of the timing screens throughout, his best time came on his final lap of the session, Dovizioso stopping the clock at 1m 35.384s to edge ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi in third and fourth.

“I'm happy with the work done during this session and I'm satisfied to be second," said Dovizioso. "Six tenths from Dani is quite a big gap but I think we have the opportunity to close this. At the end I was able to improve my lap times with the tyres I used for the whole session, so I'm confident we can move forward tomorrow.

"I think everyone was struggling for grip today and it was easy to lose the front, but we found a set-up solution that was effective to help with this so we'll continue working in that direction tomorrow.

"Tyre selection for the race will be very important, and both the harder and softer option Bridgestones look like possible choices at the moment. I think there are many riders who can be strong this weekend so we have to work hard tomorrow and do a good job in qualifying.” 

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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Jorge Lorenzo playing catch-up after 'difficult' start

Despite finishing third in Friday practice for the Misano MotoGP round, championship leader Jorge Lorenzo struggled for confidence on his factory Yamaha.

The Spaniard, who holds a 68 point lead of Dani Pedrosa after his worst result of the season – third – last Sunday at Indianapolis, was unable to find a comfortable balance for his M1 and lacked grip from the Bridgestone tyres, especially in the rear.

Lorenzo finished the session a sizeable 0.672sedc behind Pedrosa, whose Repsol Honda team-mate Andrea Dovizioso was a fraction quicker than Lorenzo in second place.

"Today was quite difficult for us, more so than we expected," said Lorenzo, who struggled with the intense heat last Sunday at Indy. "It's not my physical condition, I feel completely recovered from the hard weekend in Indianapolis, but we really struggled today and I didn't have enough confidence in my bike or in the tyres.

"We have some small problems in braking, corner speed and acceleration so I don't feel like I can ride how I want to at the moment. We are still third so it's not too bad, but we have some time to make up if we are to match Pedrosa," he admitted.

"This first practice hasn't been so positive for us. We couldn't find a good feeling or the right balance and we didn't have enough grip," confirmed team manager Wilco Zeelenberg. "There was a small problem at most corners, either the front was too deep or we didn't have enough rear grip, so we need to make a big improvement tomorrow.

"We've got some good ideas to find the right solutions but of course we need to take care at the same time not to create problems in other areas by making too many changes. Anyway, it's only the first day and we will work hard now to give Jorge the right package tomorrow."

Source: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/

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