Thursday, February 26, 2009

British Eurosport Keeps MotoGP Coverage


Final proof that there is in fact a God, and that we do not live in some cruel and meaningless void, comes this morning with news that - as predicted earlier in the week by MCN - a deal has been struck to return a big fat chunk of MotoGP coverage to the thoroughly deserving British Eurosport.

There is a small degree of sacrifice in that they won't be screening the main MotoGP race itself *live* on race weekends - this is presumably a sop so that the BBC can retain a special status of partial exclusivity on what is largely perceived as the "main event".
Strangely enough, I don't mind that too much.
Of far more importance to me - and, it turns out, many others - is that the wholesale descruction of decent coverage of the entire weekend as far as 125cc and 250cc classes are concerned has been avoided (it still astonishes me that the BBC could have thought they could get away with treating 125cc with such utter contempt given the presence of hugely popular British young guns Scott Redding, Danny Webb, Bradley Smith and Matt Hoyle in the class) - and we should now not have to worry about being able to watch live coverage of a host of the practice and qualifying sessions.

UPDATE: Toby Moody and Julian Ryder will remain as the commentary team - although Randy Mamola is no longer on the crew.

And if you're one of the people who's been complaining to the Beeb, pestering them and taking part in forum discussions and protest messages over all this then pat yourself on the back, because it's without a shadow of a doubt that it's *punter power* that's at the root of the change of heart.
Well done! Top stuff!

And, to be fair, a genuine thank you DORNA for seeing sense.



Friday, February 20, 2009

Maxtra Forced Into Name Change


John Surtees' Maxtra 125GP Team looks set to change its name, following on reports that the name is owned by a French company, who must have taken a 9 month lunch break and a long nap before noticing, as it was announced ages ago at last year's Chinese GP, and are only now claiming it...
It is pretty much certain the team would become "Haojue" - the name of their Chinese bike-manufacturing backer.

Team Director Garry Taylor is denying rumours of the resignation of Jan Witteveen however.



Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Taylor Happy With Valencia Test


Maxtra team boss Garry Taylor has declared himself happy with the Valencia test...

"This was a good shakedown test for the whole team," he said. "This is the first time Michael and Matt have ridden since November last year and it was good to see them both so fit and keen to get on with the development programme.
"It was also the first time out for the complete Maxtra 125 GP team and even the new truck worked out well on its maiden voyage! We have a clear direction where we need to make improvements and the whole project is on track for its debut race at Qatar in April."


Sunday, February 15, 2009

Matt Hoyle at Valencia Test

British 125GP rookie escaped injury in a crash on the final day of testing in Valencia as he on the new Maxtra machine.
The 17-year-old former Red Bull Rookie star knocked a massive three seconds off his previous best time as he ended with a best time of 1.45.5 as he completed 55 laps.
Despite the huge improvement though, Hoyle was still four seconds adrift of the fastest pace, set by Lorenzo Savadori.
Hoyle’s big improvement though did see him lap to within 0.5s of Austrian team-mate Michael Ranseder.
The new Chinese Maxtra machine, spearheaded by British motorsport legend John Surtees, will make its debut in Qatar on April 12.

Lap Times Valencia Test 125cc
1 Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia 1.41.5
2 Pol Espargaró Derbi 1.41.8
3 Efrén Vázquez Derbi 1.42.7
4 Johann Zarco Aprilia- 1.43.1
5 Marco Ravaioli Aprilia 1.43.8
6 Luca Vitali Aprilia 1.44.2
7 Jordi Dalmau Honda 1.44.8
8 Glenn Scott Honda 1.44.9
9 Michael Ranseder Maxtra 1.45.0
10 Matthew Hoyle Maxtra 1.45.5

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Is this Scott’s 2010 Moto2 bike?


Blusens are the first team to unveil a 600cc "Moto2" bike, designed and built for the new four-stroke 600cc class which replaces 250cc - and therefore a genuine contender for Scott's 2010 ride, assuming that he does move up from 125cc at the end of this year as is the expectation.
Read the full MCN article here...


Sunday, February 8, 2009

2009 125cc Provisional Entry List

This was originally released by the FIM in mid December, and is subject to a further confirmation / ratification.
Already we know for instance that Pere Tutusaus will not be competing in the class after all...

5. ALEXIS MASBOU, FRA, LONCIN RACING
7. DOMINIQUE AEGERTER, SWI, AJO INTERWETTEN
8. LORENZO ZANETTI, ITA, WWC
11. SANDRO CORTESE, GER, AJO INTERWETTEN
12. ESTEVE RABAT, SPA, BLUSENS APRILIA
16. CAMERON BEAUBIER, USA , RED BULL KTM 125
17. STEFAN BRADL, GER, KIEFER RACING
18. NICOLAS TEROL, SPA, JACK & JONES PONS WRB
24. SIMONE CORSI, ITA, JACK & JONES PONS WRB
27. STEFANO BIANCO, ITA, CBC CORSE
29. ANDREA IANNONE, ITA, WWC
30. PERE TUTUSAUS, SPA, MATTEONI RACING
32. LORENZO SAVADORI, ITA, FONTANA RACING
33. SERGIO GADEA, SPA, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
34. RANDY KRUMMENACHER, SWI, DEGRAAF GRAND PRIX
38. BRADLEY SMITH, GBR, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
44. POL ESPARGARO, SPA, BELSON DERBI
45. SCOTT REDDING , GBR, BLUSENS APRILIA
60. JULIAN SIMON, SPA, BANCAJA ASPAR TEAM 125cc
66. MATTHEW HOYLE, GBR, MAXTRA TEAM
71. TOMOYOSHI KOYAMA, JPN, LONCIN RACING
72. MARCO RAVAIOLI, ITA, CBC CORSE
73. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI, JPN, WWC
81. JASPER IWEMA, NED, KIEFER RACING
88. MICHAEL RANSEDER, AUT, MAXTRA TEAM
93. MARC MARQUEZ, SPA, RED BULL KTM 125
94. JONAS FOLGER, GER, WWC
99. DANNY WEBB, GBR, DEGRAAF GRAND PRIX


Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Valencia 125cc Test, January 31st - February 1st


Times - Day 1 (*rain)
1 Julian Simon Aprilia  1.53.082
2 Esteve Rabat  Aprilia  1.53.696
3 Scott Redding Aprilia 1.54.217
4 Luca Vitali Aprila 1.55.535
5 Joan Zarco Aprilia 1.57.106
6 Marc Marquez KTM 2.01.194
7 Cameron Beaubier KTM 2.01.841


Times - Day 2
1 Julian Simon Aprilia 1.41.839
2 Sergio Gadea Aprilia1.41.968
3 Bradley Smith Aprilia 1.42.258
4 Scott Redding Aprilia  1.42.290
5 Marc Marquez KTM 1.42.409
6 Cameron Beaubier KTM 1.43.580
7 Esteve Rabat Aprilia 1.44.593
8 Johan Zarco Aprilia  1.45.844
9 Luca Vitali Aprilia 1.46.615