2010 Grand Prix motorcycle racing

[Jay Adgie]

Valentino Rossi dominates on home track

By Matthew Birt -MCN
MotoGP
04 June 2010 14:48


Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi made a brilliant start to his quest for a tenth home victory in Mugello today after he led a Yamaha domination of opening MotoGP practice.
Rossi, who is sporting a new Mohican haircut for his home race, produced a brilliant burst of speed in the final ten minutes to finish well clear of current world championship leader and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

Rossi didn’t take long to find his form at his beloved Mugello and in the early stages he was able to hold an advantage of over 0.7s under bright and sunny skies this afternoon.
Rossi eventually topped the timesheets with a best of 1.49.751 on his 23rd lap that Lorenzo couldn’t overhaul despite his own impressive late surge.

The Spaniard, who goes into the fourth race of the season on Sunday holding a slender nine-point lead over Rossi, posted a best time of 1.50.120 on his penultimate lap. But it was only good enough to finish 0.369s adrift of his closest title rival.
Loris Capirossi snatched third place with a lap of 1.50.359 in the final stages to prevent a Yamaha 1-2-3.
The veteran Italian though crashed immediately after logging his best time at the first corner. He walked away unhurt but denied Colin Edwards a top three by 0.413s.
The Texan clocked a best time of 1.50.772, but was over a second away from Rossi with Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa in fifth.

Reigning World Superbike champion Ben Spies produced a hugely impressive performance on his first experience of the fast and technical Mugello circuit.
The 25-year-old posted a best time of 1.51.004 to finish 0.231s behind Pedrosa as he looks to bounce back from successive non-finishes in Jerez and Le Mans.

Casey Stoner was the big shock of the day as he ended in a bitterly disappointing seventh position after another tough outing on Ducati’s factory GP10.
The Australian is using 2009 spec Ohlins front forks in a bid to solve a mystery front-end issue that has seen him crash out of the Qatar and Le Mans races.

But the session was only seven minutes old when Stoner was in the gravel again.
He lost control on the bumps in the hard braking zone for the final corner and ran off track.

Unable to scrub off enough speed, Stoner ploughed the gravel for a few metres before losing control.
Just seconds later and fellow Ducati Hector Barbera crashed in identical circumstances at the same corner.

 

[Jay Adgie]

Hutchinson clocks 130mph :eek:

By Gary Pinchin -MCN
TT & road races
04 June 2010 08:39


Ian Hutchinson joined the exclusive 130mph club when he clocked a 130.165mph lap in tonight’s practice session on his Padgetts Honda superbike – and then said he could have gone faster had it not been for a series of yellow flags around the course.
Uniquely, the sidecars practiced first tonight in order that the solos could test their electronic limiters to comply the new pit-lane speed restriction of 60kph.

But Hutchinson said: “I really didn’t think I’d done a 130mph lap. There were yellows everywhere for broken down outfits. There was a huge puddle of oil, but luckily it was off the line and then we got to Kates and the marshals were still clearing up the debris from an outfit that had gone into the field.”
To test the new pit lane speed limit, the riders started from the top of the pit lane and had to ride its entire length at 60kph before joining the course.

Despite that, and the on-course yellows, Hutchinson’s first lap was a128.303, bettered by Keith Amor on the HM Plant Honda at 128.691 and McAdoo Kawasaki’s Conor Cummins at 128.385mph. But by the second lap Hutchinson was in full flow and topped 130mph.
Cummins improved to 128.838 for second overall and Cameron Donald got the Relentless by TAS Suzuki wound up to 128.836mph for third, while Amor slipped to fourth overall.

Michael Rutter was fifth with a 127.564mph – his best-ever TT lap and on a superstock-spec bike. It was the same HM Plant Honda superstocker he’s been riding all week but shod with Dunlop slicks and decked out in Bathams and SMT livery (Honda boss Neil Tuxworth allowed Rutter to run the bike in the two superbike races, providing he came up with his own funding as the HM Plant budget didn’t extend to the two extra races).

For some reason, Rutter was also credited with the lap in superstock – which placed him fastest but he didn’t run the bike on superstock tyres all evening.
Sixth in superbike was Michael Dunlop, finally happy with the handling of the Uel Duncan/Robinson Concrete Honda for a 127.496mph lap.

Ian Lougher was seventh on 125.670, just ahead of John McGuinness who stopped after his first lap for some suspension alterations.
Guy Martin only posted 15h fastest time with the Wilson Craig Honda plagued by a misfire.
Ignoring Rutter’sa superbike time that was also accredited to the superstock laps, Michael Dunlop set the pace in Superstock with a 127.11mph on the Hunts Motorcycles Honda.
And in Supersport Keith Amor jumped on the Kojak Racing Honda to set the pace with a 124.797, marginally quicker than Hutchinson’s 124.685.

David Johnson continues to impress in the Newcomers. He clocked two successive 118mph laps tonight for 37th overall on the superbike and Stephen Thompson did 117mph. British Supersport rider Dan Cooper was the best Newcomer on a 600 with 113mph on the PRF Suzuki.
Tomorrow night (Friday) is the final practice session ahead of Saturday’s six-lap Superbike TT race.

 

[Jay Adgie]

Here's a preview of this years event through itv's player..... http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=148949

I'll put up the link again tomorrow after the qualifying..

 

[Jay Adgie]

Valentino Rossi breaks right leg in massive crash

By Matthew Birt -MCN
05 June 2010 10:47


Valentino Rossi’s 2010 MotoGP world title hopes disappeared today when he suffered a broken right leg in a huge high-side crash during final practice for his home race at the Mugello circuit in Italy this morning.
The reigning world champion was viciously thrown from his factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine at the fast entry to the Biondetti chicane shortly before the approach to the final corner.
Rossi couldn’t even attempt to get to his feet as he immediately clutched his right leg in pain. TV pictures showed the 31-year-old grimacing in pain before he was carried away on a stretcher for further checks in the circuit medical centre.

It has been confirmed that the nine-times world champion has suffered a broken right tibia which means he will certainly miss the first British MotoGP race at Silverstone since 1986 later this month. And with so many races coming in quick succession with Silverstone closely followed by Assen and Catalunya, Rossi's title hopes appear in tatters.

The Fiat Yamaha rider was lying in third place on the timesheets when he crashed with a best time of 1.49.923 leaving him 0.251s off the pace of team-mate and world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo.
Rossi was already struggling for full fitness because of a slow recovery from a damaged right shoulder he suffered in a motocross training accident in April.

 

[Trebor901]

Seeing the video he is lucky to come out of this crash at all, he was either pushing over the limit or there was a bike problem because the back of the bike just started to go on entry to the corner then he high sided, massive crash and a huge blow for Moto GP. Been debating whether to go to Silverstone Moto GP for the past couple of days but seeing as there is no Rossi its pointless.

 

[Jay Adgie]

I think it's going to be a good couple of months before his fit enough to ride...:frown:

Its amazing that the last race he missed was back in 1996, 230 odd races unbelievable...:eek:

 

[Ross Balfour]

Heard in qually today in the amount of GPs he consistenly raced in, he could of rode from London to Toyko and back

 

[Jay Adgie]

Here's the first race of the week, the superbike TT....... http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=149277

There's some cracking on-bike footage.....

 

[Jay Adgie]

Dani Pedrosa eases to dominant win

By Matthew Birt -MCN
MotoGP
06 June 2010 15:59


Dani Pedrosa made the ninth win of his MotoGP career look easy as the Spaniard cruised to a start-to-finish success in Mugello this afternoon.
Pedrosa is never more of a dangerous threat than when he is able to make a breakaway from the field.
And today’s 23-lap race was no exception as Pedrosa took full advantage of Valentino Rossi’s injury absence to ease to his first victory since he won the last round of 2009 at the Valencia circuit.
With Lorenzo and Stoner behind him on the first lap, Pedrosa effortlessly pulled away and he only needed five laps to open up a lead of over 1.7s in front of a crowd of 76,814 fans.

Most were still reeling from the blow that home hero Rossi is sidelined for at least two months after he broke his right leg in practice yesterday.
And any hopes that a pulsating race would help them forget were quickly ruined thanks to a typically fast start from the Repsol Honda rider.

With Rossi watching from his hospital bed in Florence, only seven laps had been completed in sunny and warm conditions when Pedrosa had stretched his lead to a massive 4.962s.
That advantage was close to eight seconds by the 15th lap with series leader Lorenzo and Pedrosa’s team-mate Dovizioso engaged in their own battle for second.

The home crowd were briefly roused out of their slumber when 2009 British GP winner Dovizioso took second from the Fiat Yamaha rider on lap four at the first corner.
But Lorenzo struck back at the same spot just two laps later and he held onto claim a 20-point haul that kept his healthy lead in the overall standings to 25-points over Pedrosa.

Dovizioso had no problem in securing his third podium in the opening four races with the battle for second way clear of an exciting scrap for fourth spot.
Aussie Stoner faded quickly from his promising start and he lost fourth place to a fast charging Marco Melandri on the eighth lap.

Stoner fought his way back into fourth on lap 10 but then he slipped down to sixth with Melandri and LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet moving by on lap 13.
Stoner wasn’t finished though and he produced a brilliant final lap to pass Melandri and de Puniet and claim his best result of the season after a nightmare start to 2010.
San Carlo Gresini Honda rider Melandri held off the determined threat from de Puniet to secure fifth place.

The intense battle for fourth between Stoner, Melandri and de Puniet helped Texan Ben Spies recover ground and get himself into the tussle in the final third of the race.
Spies had been as high as fourth in the early stages after a brilliant start but he dropped down to seventh before settling into a consistent pace.
Despite his best efforts though he was unable to get close for an attack and he ended in seventh ahead of Aleix Espargaro.

American Nicky Hayden’s promising start to the 2010 campaign ended in disappointing fashion this afternoon. The 2006 world champion had been fourth in every race prior to today but he got a disastrous start and crashed out of sixth on lap seven in front of a mass gathering of Ducati fans.
Mika Kallio also crashed out of the race unhurt.

26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 170.4 42'28.066
99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 170.2 +4.014
4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 170.0 +6.196
27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 168.7 +25.703
33 Marco MELANDRI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 168.7 +25.735
14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 168.7 +25.965
11 Ben SPIES USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 168.5 +28.806
41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 167.8 +40.172
58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 167.7 +41.394
65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 167.7 +42.107
7 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP Honda 167.6 +43.095
40 Hector BARBERA SPA Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati 167.6 +43.363
5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 165.6 +1'14.393
19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 165.0 +1'24.389

Not Classified

36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Team Ducati 166.7 15 Laps
69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 167.4 18 Laps

 

[Christopher Aponte]

man I'm beginning to hate it that I cannot even watch the race on tv anymore......

 

[Jay Adgie]

Here's some action from the sidecar race..... http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=149392

 

[Nigel Atkins]

man I'm beginning to hate it that I cannot even watch the race on tv anymore......

have you not got a racing-underground account?

its invite only now and i have none left, but i`m sure someone could spare one for you.

 

[Jay Adgie]

The best race of the week so far, the supersport 600's some awesome close racing...... http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=149654

 

[Gregory Degreef]

thx for sharing but the video is only available in UK ... :/

 

[Jay Adgie]

Sry Greg thought anyone would be able to whatch it, thats a shame....:frown:

 

[Jay Adgie]

Here's the superstock race, another cracker..... But u.k only i'm afraid....:frown: http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=149946

 

[Jay Adgie]

TT On-Bike 2010 - John McGuinness - Superbike Practice
:eek:

 

[Ondrej Kapal]

Did you see that finish line?! Is Morales alright ? He couldnt stand up and then cameras didnt show him... I dont know what happened next...

Anyway, Karel Abraham is 4th ! Great job!

 

[Trebor901]

no info yet

 

[Ross Balfour]

Terrifying crash, I think he is Ok, he is conscious anyway. Great race, once again Moto2 upstages MotoGP for me, that race had everything. It;s got to the stage where I look forward to the Moto2 race more than the MotoGP race. Iannone was unlucky as the signpost of his penalty sucked, it should of been:

#29 Iannone:
P1--->P2
Would make it clearer than a +1?