Webb awaiting first test with all-new Aprilia RSA

DeGraaf Grand Prix Aprilia’s Danny Webb is raring to go ahead of his first test of 2009, which takes place from this Sunday in Portugal. The Briton has a new version of the factory Aprilia RSA at his disposal and, after a handful of laps at the official team presentation at Assen, has high hopes for the machine.

“The new RSA is totally different. My team had said as much but I didn’t believe it, but the first time that we started the engine it just sounded a million times better,” enthuses Webb. “We did a few laps on it at Assen, but it was windy so we will really have to wait until the test in Portugal to see what it’s like.”

It won’t just be the bike that is brand new either, as Webb is joined by Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher in the Dutch team. He notes that he and Krummenacher get on well, also saying that he is a ‘different character’ to former colleague Stevie Bonsey –who moves on from the team for 2009.

“I think that we can pick up the pace despite not having tested much,” continues Webb. “We’ve got Portugal, then Jerez and then Qatar to work on things, and to be honest the people who have done testing already haven’t been able to ride so much because of the weather. We’ll just have to get learning the bike as soon as possible, and then see where we are.

“We’ve got a bike that can win races, so that has to be our aim. We’re looking at fighting for the top five and podiums at every race, making a title challenge.”

Brits back on track

All our 125cc Brits will be back on track this Sunday in Estoril. The Portuguese track will see most of the 125cc and 250cc big names together for the first time in 2009. Weather forecasts promise perfect conditions with three sunny days and warm temperatures around 25°C.

More Photos From The Molenaar Launch

Danny Webb @ Molenaar Racing Presentation

"I want the first DeGraaf Grand Prix Team by thanking once again the confidence in me to speak and give me the chance to this great team in 2009 to drive. We have a good season where we have shown very quickly to some circuits and that a winning team can be. I voted for this season really feel that we can fight the world. We have a fantastic team with the right people and this year we have a factory Aprilia RSA. We work very closely together in the team and it gives me a real family feeling. Hans Spaan as chief mechanic, Damion Bailey as suspension specialist engineers and my personal Rob van de Braak and Rick Vert eyes I feel that I am the best team in the world have! Especially with the attendant Marlon Flute dots on the i put. I see no reason not some Grand Prix 'to win and hopefully the world to the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team to!"

Molenaar Presents 2009 Squad

The Molenaar Racing Team presented their 2009 line-up at a slightly damp Assen today; that's Britain's Danny Webb alongside Randy Krummenacher.
We'll aim to share any quotes and interviews - and any other photos - as and when we can get hold of them but for now here's a pic of Danny from today's event.

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.

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.

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."

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

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...

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

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