Press Releases

Replacement Regulations for 250cc Class as from 2011 (Moto2)

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Hervé Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of M. Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), in a meeting held yesterday in Barcelona, unanimously decided to introduce the following amendments (see attached pdf file) to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations – application as from 2011.

Replacement Regulation for 250cc Class from 2011 (Moto2)
Technical Regulations: Continue »

Kawasaki’s John Hopkins was in a buoyant mood and looking forward to a period of rest and recuperation after undergoing successful surgery at the Fremont Surgery Centre in California on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Anglo-American underwent a surgical procedure to remove the metal plates from his left ankle and left foot, inserted following his high-speed crash during practice for this year’s Dutch TT at Assen in June.

Surgeons, led by the world renowned Doctor Arthur Ting, also performed keyhole surgery to clean up scar tissue and cartilage damage in Hopkins’ left knee, which he injured in the same Assen crash.

Doctor Ting also took the opportunity during the operation to remove a metal plate from the Kawasaki pilot’s left hand, the result of a previous injury, to leave Hopkins hardware free for the first time in three years.

Hopkins remained in the Fremont Surgery Centre overnight following the operation, but will return home to San Diego following a 24-hour post surgical evaluation today, Friday 5th December.

The Kawasaki pilot will now require four weeks of rest and recuperation, with only mild rehabilitation exercise, before resuming his full training and conditioning programme ahead of the 2009 MotoGP season. Continue »

The FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) is pleased to announce that the Italian company AXO Sport Spa, motorcycle clothing manufacturer, was chosen by the FIM Executive Board as provider of official FIM gear for all the FIM delegates and officials. This agreement, valid until 2011, includes the following main points:

As clothing provider of the FIM, AXO Sport Spa is assigned by the FIM all necessary clothing to its delegates and officials on duty during FIM World Championship and Prize events. AXO Sport will benefit from all the FIM events and from the new FIM communication platform.

- FIM President Vito Ippolito stated: “I am very pleased that the FIM has now been able to finalise a deal of this nature. It is the first time that the FIM reached an agreement with an accessories manufacturer. This will definitely help to make our delegates and officials easier to identify, and improve the image of the FIM by making it much more professional and providing it with high quality products Continue »

SPEED™ opened the last three categories of its Third Annual SPEED Performance Awards for online fan voting Monday, highlighted by the Racer Magazine Rookie of the Year Award.

Candidates for the award include stock car rookies Joey Logano and Scott Speed, F1 newcomer Sebastien Vettel, MotoGP rookie Jorge Lorenzo and second-generation IRL shoe Graham Rahal.

Other categories open for fan voting on SPEEDtv.com include Best Rivalry, Best Comeback, Temper Temper, Biggest Upset, Best Finish, Biggest Hit, Best Move and the Oops Award. To vote, fans can visit www.SPEEDtv.com (keyword: Performance).

In addition to the fan-selected SPEED Performance Awards, SPEED will once again present the Mario Andretti Trophy, created by bronze artist Elie Hazak, to the SPEED Performer of the Year. Nominations are made and voted on by a panel of SPEED personalities, producers, former trophy winners and Andretti. All of the awards will be part of a one-hour SPEED Performance Awards special to air in February.

SPEED is the nation’s first and foremost cable television network dedicated to motor sports and the passion for everything automotive. From racing to restoration, motorcycles to movies, SPEED delivers quality programming from the track to the garage. Now available in more than 78 million homes in North America, SPEED is among the fastest-growing sports cable networks in the country and, the home to NASCAR on SPEED and an industry leader in interactive TV, video on demand, mobile initiatives and broadband services. For more information, please visit SPEEDtv.com, the online motor sports authority.

From a press release issued by SPEED Channel

Direct link to Speed Performance Awards

The final MotoGP tests of 2008 took place at the end of last week with eight teams enjoying a two-day test at Circuito de Jerez in Southern Spain and two teams testing at Australia’s Philip Island Circuit over three days. Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi ended the Jerez test as the fastest rider, setting a time of 1’ 39.429s on the second day, edging out the Dani Pedrosa’s first day fastest time of 1’ 39.525s. The test took place over 26-27 November and fourteen riders took to the track over the course of the two days. On the final day, Pedrosa was second fastest to Rossi, whilst the third to sixth fastest riders, Jorge Lorenzo, Toni Elias, Alex De Angelis and Nicky Hayden, were separated by just 0.06s, illustrating the very close level of competition, even for those riders who have changed teams from the 2008 season.

Bridgestone brought the softest compounds proposed for the 2009 season, with two compounds available for each rider. It was the second opportunity for riders to evaluate the 2009 specification tyres, following the post race test in Valencia at the end of October. In particular, Bridgestone was assessing the tyre working range, with Spain providing weather at the cooler end of the spectrum and Australia conditions at the hotter end. Overnight rain meant that no running took place in Jerez on Thursday morning, although significant amounts of running took place during the rest of the test. At Philip Island, the Suzuki and Kawasaki teams tested, with harder tyres than those used in Jerez. Rain was also experienced here, limiting running, but it was far warmer than in Jerez. MotoGP now enters the test ban period with the next official MotoGP test scheduled for Sepang, Malaysia, 5-7 February.

Q+A with Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport – Manager Motorcycle Race Tyre Development
Continue »

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is on its way to Phillip Island in Australia to participate in its final test of 2008, as it further evaluates new parts and components for next season’s Suzuki GSV-R.

Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen will be visiting the 4,448m Australian circuit as part of a private test – along with Kawasaki’s MotoGP team – while the remainder of the MotoGP paddock will be at Jerez in Spain. The Team has chosen to visit Phillip Island as it is a circuit which highlights any lack of engine performance or rear grip and any improvements found at the fast Australian track will certainly help at other venues on the MotoGP calendar.

The two Rizla Suzuki regulars will be joined by Factory Test Rider Nobuatsu Aoki for the three day test, where the experienced Japanese racer will be on-hand to assist with the assessment of prototype chassis and engine parts for the 2009 machine.

The trio of Rizla Suzuki riders will take to the track on Wednesday 26th November for the first of a busy three-day period which will see the team planning to make improvements and a good direction in readiness for its attack on the 2009 MotoGP World Championship. Continue »

Texas Racing Legend Colin Edwards Set To Sign Autographs and Greet Fans at Cycle World International Motorcycle Show Presented by Toyota in Houston this Saturday, November 22.

The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows® presented by Toyota rolls its 13-city nationwide tour into the Reliant Center in Houston, Texas this Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 23. This motorcycle extravaganza is an all access pass to the world of motorcycling with hundreds of the latest street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers, scooters and ATVs for both new and experienced riders.

Catch A Chat with Colin Edwards!

This is a great opportunity to see and talk with local Texas racing legend Colin Edwards. Edwards burst onto the international racing scene in 1995 racing in the World Superbike Championship for Yamaha. He is a two time World Superbike Champion, winning the title in 2000 and 2002. Since 2003, he has been racing in the elite MotoGP class, returning to Yamaha in 2005. He will continue to race with Yamaha through 2009 looking to rack up more podium finishes and find that elusive first MotoGP race win.

Mark These Times on Saturday at the Houston International Motorcycle Show:

Saturday, November 22

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Colin Edwards Q&A Session with Arai’s Bruce Porter and Show Spokesperson Robert Pandya in The Hub
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Colin Edwards Autograph Session in Yamaha display- FREE posters while supplies last!

This plus the new ’09 models, great vintage displays, awesome Customs, demo rides and a Kane Friesen sportbike stunt show.

Show Hours: Friday, November 21, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, November 22, 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 23, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location:
Reliant Center
One Reliant Park
Houston, TX 77054

From a press release issued by Cycle World International Motorcycle Show Presented by Toyota.