Racing News

Result, on a very wet track:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/ONQ7Sh0TjhU/2012_le_mans_moto3_warm_up_result_vinale.html

Hans Bartl Harald Bartol Darren Barton František Bartoš Günter Bartusch

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/hYNubZmNTAo/2012_moto3_championship_standings_after_.html

Gerhard Boll Jacques Bolle Pierre Bolle Maurice Bolwerk Gianfranco Bonera

Pol Espargaro has taken top spot in the final session of free practice for the Moto2 machines. The HP Pons rider held off a challenge by Marc VDS Racing's Scott Redding to hold on to 1st place, leaving Redding in 2nd, ahead of Claudio Corti. Marc Marquez ended the session in 4th, two tenths ahead of Thomas Luthi, who was the last rider to end within a second of Espargaro. Nico Terol had his first decent practice result of the season, ending up with the 6th fastest time.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/gfZ9rdXnxWU/2012_le_mans_moto2_fp3_result_espargaro_.html

Helmut Bradl Stefan Bradl Umberto Braga Stefan Brägger Vincent Braillard

After two days out on track, the excitement of the Stoner retirement is starting to die down, and people are starting to concentrate on the racing again, rather than the politics and everything else surrounding Stoner's announcement. Qualifying helps focus minds, of course, because something serious is at stake again, a spot on the grid.

And focus was exactly what was needed, in all three classes. After three dry – if rather cold – sessions of free practice for Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP, the rain started to fall around lunchtime, letting up towards the end of Moto3 qualifying, before sprinkling on and off for MotoGP and Moto2 (though it returned once again with a vengeance once qualifying was over).

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/cZrDWM4A1hk/2012_le_mans_motogp_saturday_round_up_a_.html

Takuma Aoki Hiroshi Aoyama Shuhei Aoyama Andre Luc Appietto Robin Appleyard

Caption Competition 13: Bernie and Sir Frank is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

What did Bernie Ecclestone have to say to Frank Williams at his 70th birthday party last weekend? Over to you.

Caption Competition 13: Bernie and Sir Frank is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/uqHJmEbl1OM/

Johnny Bengtsson Angelo Bergamonti Werner Bergold Jacques Bernard Adrian Bernetic

Casey Stoner's domination of the MotoGP class continues. The Australian took a clean sweep of free practice on Saturday morning, ending FP3 nearly half a second faster than the chasing pack. Stoner's time came despite crashing midway through the session, the Repsol Honda man running over the inside of the kerbs at the Chemin aux Boeufs esses and losing the front. Once back in the pits, he climbed aboard his second bike and immediately seized the fastest time.

The Monster Tech 3 Yamaha riders took 2nd and 3rd, Cal Crutchlow taking 2nd with a few minutes to go, Andrea Dovizioso coming just four thousandths short of his teammate and rival, but both satellite riders ending ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, though only just. The Factory Yamaha rider ended the session in 4th, but with Alvaro Bautista once again hot on his heels, just 15 thousandths behind him. Stoner's Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa struggled a little in 6th, while Valentino Rossi saw significant improvement from his Ducati to end in 7th, 0.8 behind Stoner, but three tenths behind the group running for 2nd. Rossi led a fleet of Ducatis, with Pramac's Hector Barbera in 8th, ahead of Nicky Hayden in 9th, and Karel Abraham rounding out the top 10.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/sTCS8hjRs6E/2012_le_mans_motogp_fp3_result_stoner_do.html

Jacques Bolle Pierre Bolle Maurice Bolwerk Gianfranco Bonera Bruno Bonhuil

Caption Competition 13: Bernie and Sir Frank is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

What did Bernie Ecclestone have to say to Frank Williams at his 70th birthday party last weekend? Over to you.

Caption Competition 13: Bernie and Sir Frank is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/uqHJmEbl1OM/

Arciso Artesiani Sandro Artusi Javier Arumi Sadao Asami Giuseppe Ascareggi

Miguel Oliveira topped the timesheets in the final session of free practice for the Moto3 class, just holding off Friday's fastest man Maverick Vinales. Romano Fenati, now with some time at the track under his belt, came up just short of Vinales, ending the session less than a tenth behind the Spaniard, while Alex Rins ended in 4th.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/fQivPPF7kxw/2012_le_mans_moto3_fp3_result_oliveira_e.html

Juan Bolart Gerhard Boll Jacques Bolle Pierre Bolle Maurice Bolwerk

The Hypermotard series is growing long in the tooth, and while everyone expects the Ducati’s smaller Superbike to get revamped in 2013, here is some evidence to suggest that the big news at EICMA this year will be an all-new Hypermotard model. Expected to have a water-cooled motor, best guesses would have the new Hypermotard using the 849cc Testastretta power plant, which would dovetail nicely with the supersport-sized Superbike getting an ~800cc variant of the …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/dqxx7LS9tjs/

Nobuatsu Aoki Takuma Aoki Hiroshi Aoyama Shuhei Aoyama Andre Luc Appietto

Maverick Vinales opened his account at Le Mans by topping the first session of free practice for the Moto3 class at Le Mans, knocking Miguel Olvieira from top spot in the final minutes of the session. Oliviera ended the session in 2nd, just holding off last week's winner Sandro Cortese. Romano Fenati was 4th fastest, but the young Italian star was already over a second off the pace of Vinales.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/KHz0LcLmSUc/2012_le_mans_moto3_fp1_result_vinales_le.html

Hans Braumandl Dieter Braun Georg Braun Walter Brehme Jack Brett

Press releases from the Moto2 and Moto3 teams after qualifying at Le Mans:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/UTzReybSzVw/2012_le_mans_moto2_and_moto3_saturday_pr.html

Alvaro Bautista Lenfranco Baviera Richard Bay Jean Michel Bayle Jean Pierre Bayle

Press releases from the Moto2 and Moto3 teams after the first day of practice at Le Mans:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/PtJZX8tUJvs/2012_le_mans_moto2_and_moto3_friday_pres.html

Umberto Braga Stefan Brägger Vincent Braillard Ernesto Brambilla Wolfgang Brand

On the morning after announcing his retirement from the sport, Casey Stoner is back to business. In the first session of free practice at Le Mans, the Australian set the fastest time early, then led for the remainder of the session, ending nearly six tenths ahead of his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa. Andrea Dovizioso put in a strong final few minutes to end FP1 in 3rd on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, while Ben Spies picked up the pace towards the end as well, finishing the first session of free practice in 4th. Pramac's Hector Barbera set the 5th fastest time, though he gained some speed by following Stoner around, but Barbera sneaked ahead of Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo. Cal Crutchlow finished the session in 7th, and was the last man to get within a second of Stoner.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/9i_F_BFbXNE/2012_le_mans_motogp_fp1_result_stoner_ta.html

Wolfgang Brand Alessanro Brannetti Reiner Bratenstein Hans Braumandl Dieter Braun

Maldonado: Now drivers can make a difference in F1 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

In the round-up: Pastor Maldonado says F1 is more like GP2 this year and the driver can make more of a difference.

Maldonado: Now drivers can make a difference in F1 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/dxm9cOj7f34/

Vincent Braillard Ernesto Brambilla Wolfgang Brand Alessanro Brannetti Reiner Bratenstein

Massa believes he is getting closer to Alonso is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Felipe Massa says the gap between himself and team mate Fernando Alonso has come down since the start of the season.

Massa believes he is getting closer to Alonso is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/WgHRjJfXxXo/

Fabio Barchitta Alan Barnett Lorenzo Baroni Jose Barresi Manliff Barrington

Massa believes he is getting closer to Alonso is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Felipe Massa says the gap between himself and team mate Fernando Alonso has come down since the start of the season.

Massa believes he is getting closer to Alonso is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/WgHRjJfXxXo/

Albert Bertholet Guy Bertin Franco Bertoni Juan Bertran Willi Bertsch

Press releases from the MotoGP teams after the first day of practice at Le Mans:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/qY6HycnmCes/2012_le_mans_motogp_friday_press_release.html

Dick Allen Rudy Allison Pedro Alvarez Luis Alvaro Emilio Alzamora

Who should Ferrari replace Felipe Massa with? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Felipe Massa’s poor start to the season has fuelled speculation he will be replaced by Ferrari at the end of the season, if not sooner.

Who should Ferrari replace Felipe Massa with? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/PWNm8tCivVM/

Ellis Boyce Helmut Bradl Stefan Bradl Umberto Braga Stefan Brägger

Maverick Vinales opened his account at Le Mans by topping the first session of free practice for the Moto3 class at Le Mans, knocking Miguel Olvieira from top spot in the final minutes of the session. Oliviera ended the session in 2nd, just holding off last week's winner Sandro Cortese. Romano Fenati was 4th fastest, but the young Italian star was already over a second off the pace of Vinales.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/KHz0LcLmSUc/2012_le_mans_moto3_fp1_result_vinales_le.html

Carlos Bellon Carlo Bellotti Jean Pierre Beltoise Felice Benasedo Gert Bender

Who should Ferrari replace Felipe Massa with? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Felipe Massa’s poor start to the season has fuelled speculation he will be replaced by Ferrari at the end of the season, if not sooner.

Who should Ferrari replace Felipe Massa with? is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/PWNm8tCivVM/

Alvaro Bautista Lenfranco Baviera Richard Bay Jean Michel Bayle Jean Pierre Bayle

Results and summary of qualifying practice for the Moto3 class at Le Mans

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/KzOhe6D17P8/2012_le_mans_moto3_qualifying_practice_r.html

Rudy Allison Pedro Alvarez Luis Alvaro Emilio Alzamora Kunihiro Amano

Schumacher: Driving at Monaco is worth the risk is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Michael Schumacher admits Monaco does not match the safety standards set by other tracks, but says the satisfaction of driving there is worth the risk.

Schumacher: Driving at Monaco is worth the risk is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/l9AhzTBCFIc/

Felice Agostini Giacomo Agostini Jack Ahearn Mitsuo Akamatsu Takashi Akita

At the press conference at Le Mans, where Casey Stoner made the shock announcement of his retirement, Stoner answered questions from journalists present about his decision to retire at the end of the 2012 season. You can find his original statement in this story, but below is a transcript of what Stoner told journalists when they were given a chance to question the Australian about his retirement. Q: You said you are disappointed in things, would you …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/KM-oyj1Dvqc/

Juan Bordons Andrea Borgonovo Eduard Borisenko Juan Borja Sergio Boroncini

The first three races in the history of the new Moto3 class have given three different winners and, with round four just around the corner at Le Mans, any one of Sandro Cortese, Maverick Viñales or Romano Fenati could get their second win of the season. Or perhaps Spaniard Luis Salom will find that tiny thing he still needs to become part of the exclusive club of new “quarter litre” category winners.

With an intelligent victory at the first race in Qatar, Viñales started 2012 season as he finished 2011, winning in a very consistent way and becoming the favourite among the fastest contenders for the first Moto3 world championship season. But just as life was not easy in the 125 class, neither is it in Moto3, so Viñales’s sixth place finish in round two at Jerez proved once more the old saying that a winner one week can be mid-pack the next. Back in the front again fighting for victory one week later in Portugal, Viñales and his FTR Honda suffered clear problems of top speed against Sandro Cortese’s KTM on Estoril's main straight. At the end, victory was decided when both riders touched each other while accelerating at the start of the third sector of the track, with advantage for Cortese on the inside line. Viñales was far from happy with the episode, and he even tapped Cortese’s arm after the checkered flag. Maybe Cortese’s move was not such fair play, but Viñales’ action should not have gone unnoticed by Race Direction, but it did. Back on the track Viñales got his first ever win last year at Le Mans, a track with such strong braking points that top speed does not seem to be a crucial issue.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/IM1tmMxPKSg/2012_le_mans_moto3_preview_young_guns_re.html

Carlo Bellotti Jean Pierre Beltoise Felice Benasedo Gert Bender Ingemar Bengtsson

Below are the press release previews from the MotoGP teams ahead of this weekend's French Grand Prix at Le Mans:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/8NKUWkZ0j1g/2012_le_mans_motogp_press_release_previe.html

Ellis Boyce Helmut Bradl Stefan Bradl Umberto Braga Stefan Brägger

On the morning after announcing his retirement from the sport, Casey Stoner is back to business. In the first session of free practice at Le Mans, the Australian set the fastest time early, then led for the remainder of the session, ending nearly six tenths ahead of his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa. Andrea Dovizioso put in a strong final few minutes to end FP1 in 3rd on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, while Ben Spies picked up the pace towards the end as well, finishing the first session of free practice in 4th. Pramac's Hector Barbera set the 5th fastest time, though he gained some speed by following Stoner around, but Barbera sneaked ahead of Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo. Cal Crutchlow finished the session in 7th, and was the last man to get within a second of Stoner.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/9i_F_BFbXNE/2012_le_mans_motogp_fp1_result_stoner_ta.html

Ken Armstrong Reg Armstrong Arciso Artesiani Sandro Artusi Javier Arumi

Thomas Luthi put in a fast lap at the end of the first session of practice to top the Moto2 timesheets on Friday morning. The Interwetten Paddock rider nipped ahead Marc Marquez in the final minutes of FP1 to set the fastest time. Simone Corsi finished the practice in 2nd, after occupying top spot for a portion of the session and swapping places with Marc Marquez, who ended in 3rd. The two Marc VDS Racing men took 4th and 5th, Scott Redding just a fraction faster than his teammate Mika Kallio.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/5T6sqwISAoQ/2012_le_mans_moto2_fp1_result_luthi_lead.html

Lorenzo Baroni Jose Barresi Manliff Barrington Alex Barros Geoff Barry

On the morning after announcing his retirement from the sport, Casey Stoner is back to business. In the first session of free practice at Le Mans, the Australian set the fastest time early, then led for the remainder of the session, ending nearly six tenths ahead of his Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa. Andrea Dovizioso put in a strong final few minutes to end FP1 in 3rd on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, while Ben Spies picked up the pace towards the end as well, finishing the first session of free practice in 4th. Pramac's Hector Barbera set the 5th fastest time, though he gained some speed by following Stoner around, but Barbera sneaked ahead of Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo. Cal Crutchlow finished the session in 7th, and was the last man to get within a second of Stoner.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/9i_F_BFbXNE/2012_le_mans_motogp_fp1_result_stoner_ta.html

Manliff Barrington Alex Barros Geoff Barry Hans Bartl Harald Bartol

Scott Redding ended the second session of free practice for the Moto2 class at Le Mans at the top of the timesheets, dominating the middle part of the session, leading by around half a second for much of it. A late charge saw Tom Luthi close right in on Redding, getting within a tenth of the Marc VDS Racing rider's time. Simone Corsi ended in 3rd, half a second behind Redding, and just ahead of Redding's teammate Mika Kallio. Marc Marquez and Aleix Espargaro finished 4th and 5th respectively, but like Kallio, were nipping at Corsi's heels.

The session, like all of the practices on the first day at Le Mans, was run under dry circumstances, though a few spots of rain appeared towards the end of FP2. This caused Redding to decide to sit out the last 10 minutes or so of practice, though it did not appear to slow anyone down, the track remaining unaffected. Rain is forecast for Saturday afternoon, but so far, race day looks like being dry.

Results:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/-KD75XTj9jw/2012_le_mans_moto2_fp2_result_redding_ed.html

Adrian Bosshard Christian Boudinot Roy Boughey  Dennis Boulom Christian Bourgeois

Below are the press release previews from the MotoGP teams ahead of this weekend's French Grand Prix at Le Mans:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/8NKUWkZ0j1g/2012_le_mans_motogp_press_release_previe.html

Hector Barberá Fabio Barchitta Alan Barnett Lorenzo Baroni Jose Barresi

In a shocking turn of events, Casey Stoner announced at the Thursday press conference for the French GP that he would be retiring at the end of the 2012 MotoGP season. The news is a turn of events, as the Australian denied such rumors at Estoril, saying he would quit motorcycle racing when he no longer enjoyed it, though not any time soon. Citing his disappointed with the direction MotoGP is currently headed, Stoner main …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/3NRn1y3hSd8/

Günter Bartusch Eric Bataille Franco Battaini Gerhard Bauer Manfred Baumann

Cheating in motorsports is as old as the sport itself. Whenever powered vehicles gather together to race each other, then someone, somewhere, will try to gain an advantage, either within the rules or, if that is not successful, outside of the rules. In all classes, and at all times, teams, engineers and riders have all tried to cheat in one way or another. Even the imposition of a spec engine in the Moto2 class hasn't prevented teams trying to cheat, and the paddock is awash with rumors regarding which teams are cheating and which teams are not.

The finger of blame is inevitably pointed at the most successful riders, and in recent months, it has been pointed mainly at Catalunya CX rider Marc Marquez. Marquez has a number of strikes against him, making him a popular target for rumors of cheating; firstly, Marquez is Spanish, and as Moto2 is a Spanish-run series, the non-Spanish teams are all fervently convinced that Spanish teams are not monitored as closely as they are. Secondly, Marquez has the backing of Repsol, one of the more powerful sponsors in the paddock, exerting influence not just over Marquez' Monlau Competicion team, but also over the much more important factory Repsol Honda team; the power of Repsol, the gossips suggest, exerts undue influence on the policing process. Thirdly, and most obviously, Marquez is fast, almost suspiciously so. The Spaniard's bike is always one of the fastest through the speed traps, and accelerates hardest off the corners. His team put it down to hard work at finding exactly the right set up for Marquez to excel. One of the lighter Moto2 riders on a well-prepared bike, ridden by a fast and talented rider? That, Marquez' supporters argue, is reason enough for him to be fastest.

To find out more about the situation, and what Dorna and the scrutineers are doing to address these concerns, I spoke to Race Director – and formerly Technical Director – Mike Webb at Estoril. I passed on the concerns that others had expressed to me about cheating in Moto2, and he explained to me exactly what Dorna are doing to monitor the bikes and ensure that cheating is kept to an absolute minimum, and that if it is happening, it does not pay. Here is what Webb had to say:

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/TfwXk4Var2A/mike_webb_on_cheating_in_moto2_if_anyone.html

Stu Avant Rex Avery Masao Azuma Jan Bäckstrom Chris Baert

The Confederate X132 Hellcat is the latest creation from the boutique southern motorcycle brand, and continues the Hellcat lineage’s custom-roadster aesthetic. Like any machine produced by Confederate, the real beauty of the new Hellcat comes down to the bike’s detail finishes, which for the X132 includes a motor casing that was built out of two pieces of billet 6061 aircraft grade aluminum. Officially spec’d with “sufficient” power and torque figures, the  2,163cc v-twin motor on the X132 is more …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/u0olJjXu_tM/

Junya Arai Toshiyuki Arakaki Fernando Aranda Takeishi Araoka Adrian Araujo

Cheating in motorsports is as old as the sport itself. Whenever powered vehicles gather together to race each other, then someone, somewhere, will try to gain an advantage, either within the rules or, if that is not successful, outside of the rules. In all classes, and at all times, teams, engineers and riders have all tried to cheat in one way or another. Even the imposition of a spec engine in the Moto2 class hasn't prevented teams trying to cheat, and the paddock is awash with rumors regarding which teams are cheating and which teams are not.

The finger of blame is inevitably pointed at the most successful riders, and in recent months, it has been pointed mainly at Catalunya CX rider Marc Marquez. Marquez has a number of strikes against him, making him a popular target for rumors of cheating; firstly, Marquez is Spanish, and as Moto2 is a Spanish-run series, the non-Spanish teams are all fervently convinced that Spanish teams are not monitored as closely as they are. Secondly, Marquez has the backing of Repsol, one of the more powerful sponsors in the paddock, exerting influence not just over Marquez' Monlau Competicion team, but also over the much more important factory Repsol Honda team; the power of Repsol, the gossips suggest, exerts undue influence on the policing process. Thirdly, and most obviously, Marquez is fast, almost suspiciously so. The Spaniard's bike is always one of the fastest through the speed traps, and accelerates hardest off the corners. His team put it down to hard work at finding exactly the right set up for Marquez to excel. One of the lighter Moto2 riders on a well-prepared bike, ridden by a fast and talented rider? That, Marquez' supporters argue, is reason enough for him to be fastest.

To find out more about the situation, and what Dorna and the scrutineers are doing to address these concerns, I spoke to Race Director – and formerly Technical Director – Mike Webb at Estoril. I passed on the concerns that others had expressed to me about cheating in Moto2, and he explained to me exactly what Dorna are doing to monitor the bikes and ensure that cheating is kept to an absolute minimum, and that if it is happening, it does not pay. Here is what Webb had to say:

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/TfwXk4Var2A/mike_webb_on_cheating_in_moto2_if_anyone.html

Duilio Agostini Felice Agostini Giacomo Agostini Jack Ahearn Mitsuo Akamatsu

As it should be, what was probably the last Portuguese Grand Prix for the foreseeable future left no one indifferent. Torrential storms became almost a tradition at Estoril, so nobody expected this edition to be any different after seeing clouds quickly come and go over the track from Thursday to Sunday. It would hardly have been a surprise to feel the rain start to fall at any given moment of the weekend, but thankfully, it held off.

Media attention was focused since early Thursday on rumours of Casey Stoner’s retirement published by Spanish magazine Solo Moto a few days earlier, but that turned out to be much ado about nothing, even more so after Stoner’s magnificent victory on Sunday against Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa.

But leaving aside MotoGP, with its high tech prototype bikes, and riders so close to perfection that it is almost impossible to overtake, the Moto2 and Moto3 classes gave the real action at Estoril with two thrilling races decided in the last few corners.

Waiting for Le Mans

Round four at the hard braking –or heart breaking – track of Le Mans for the French Grand Prix this weekend will see a new chapter added to the 2012 volume of the toughest Moto2 fights, featuring Marc Marquez, Thomas Luthi, Pol Espargaró and Andrea Iannone, the fastest men right now in Moto2.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/w9UBA_EFVCk/2012_le_mans_moto2_preview_the_drums_of_.html

Jean François Balde Mike Baldinger Alex Baldolini Mike Baldwin Brian Ball

Force India expect more from Barcelona upgrade is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley says there is more performance to come from the upgrade package introduced last weekend.

Force India expect more from Barcelona upgrade is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/6F7CKvLnbcM/

Kousuke Akiyoshi Raffaele Alberti Josef Albisser Pierluigi Aldrovanti Alejandro Aleman

At the start of the pre-event press conference at Le Mans, Casey Stoner made the following statement:

"Afternoon everyone.

"Basically, this has come after a long time of thinking, a lot of time talking with my family and my wife. This has been coming for a couple of years now, but at the end of this 2012 season, I will be not racing in the 2013 championship. I will be finishing my career at the end of this season in MotoGP and go forward with something different with my life.

"After so many years of doing the sport which I love, and which myself and my family made so many sacrifices for, after so many years of trying to get to where we have gotten to and this point. This sport has changed a lot, and it's changed to the point that I'm not enjoying it, I don't have the passion for it. So at this time, it's better if I retire now. There's a lot of things that have disappointed me and also a lot of things that I have loved about this sport, but unfortunately, the balance has gone in the wrong direction, and so basically I won't be continuing any more. It would be nice if I can stay that I will stay for just one more year, but then when does it stop? So we decided to finish everything as we are now."

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/MJakV95o6PA/casey_stoner_s_statement_on_his_retireme.html

Hartmut Bischoff Gastone Biscia Norman Black Kenny Blake John Blanchard

Maldonado: Now the driver can make the difference in F1 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

In the round-up: Pastor Maldonado says F1 is more like GP2 this year and the driver can make more of a difference.

Maldonado: Now the driver can make the difference in F1 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/dxm9cOj7f34/

Ismael Bonilla Steve Bonsey Paul Bordes Juan Bordons Andrea Borgonovo

John Hopkins is to return to racing at the Miller Motorsports Park round of World Superbikes on May 28th. After crashing heavily in the disastrous conditions at Monza two weeks' ago, where he broke a bone in his foot and damaged his hip, Hopkins has been pronounced fit enough to attempt to race at Miller, the home round for the Californian.

Hopkins had originally hoped to return at Last weekend's Donington WSBK round, but the injuries the American suffered were simply too severe to allow him to race: Hopper's hip injury restricted movement too much for him to ride a bike competitively. Hopkins flew home to California, where he was seen by specialists to assess the damage. Fortunately, no long-term damage to the hip was found, and Hopkins was given the all clear to race in Utah, though he will have to undergo a series of painkilling injections to be able to participate.

At Donington Park, Hopkins was replaced by Peter Hickman, who until then had been competing in the BSB championship with MSS Kawasaki. But Hickman's acceptance of the ride was not taken well by his BSB team, and Hickman was sacked on the Monday after the Donington Park round of WSBK.

Below is the press release announcing Hopkins' return from the FIXI Crescent Suzuki squad:

HOPKINS RETURNS AT MILLER PARK WSB

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/-wKlEcijobs/hopkins_to_make_wsbk_return_at_miller_mo.html

Felice Agostini Giacomo Agostini Jack Ahearn Mitsuo Akamatsu Takashi Akita

Donington Park is renowned for giving fans exciting races. 48,500 of them turned up over the weekend to brave the cold wind and watch the most exciting racing Superbike races of the year. Crashes, surprises, upsets and spills were the order of the day while history was made and old enmities revisited.

The weekend started on Thursday with a white water rafting experience at Hole Pierpoint watersports centre. Leon Haslam, Chaz Davies, Eugene Laverty and Sam Lowes all messed about in a dinghy while facing the artificial rapids. Every one of the racers fell in at some point and Sam Lowes may have ingested the local water and contracted food poisoning that ravaged his insides and threatened to ruin his weekend.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/bDpiAAcs56M/2012_donington_world_superbikes_an_excit.html

Carlo Bellotti Jean Pierre Beltoise Felice Benasedo Gert Bender Ingemar Bengtsson

Superpole 1 was, for the first time in a while, a dry Superpole, meaning three sessions, with 12 going through from the first one, and 8 qualifying for the last.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/0zvIrNjSjxs/2012_donington_world_superbikes_superpol.html

Carlo Bandirola Alain Barbaroux Hector Barberá Fabio Barchitta Alan Barnett

BMW have been waiting for a win in World Superbikes for a long time. Ever since they entered the series in 2009, the German factory has been edging ever closer to podiums and a victory, but they have always proved elusive. At Donington, they finally got what they had been waiting for for so long, and more: Not only did Marco Melandri become the first ever rider to win a World Superbike race on a BMW, but his teammate Leon Haslam finished 2nd, making it a historic 1-2. The duo could even have repeated the feat in the second race at the British track, if not for some rather excessively enthusiastic riding on the part of the two leaders and Johnny Rea.

After the victory, BMW issued a press release containing an interview with Melandri and Haslam, talking about their historic result at Donington. It is reproduced below:

After the first one-two: Double-interview with Marco Melandri and Leon Haslam.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/fSBhyQTvDLE/bmw_wsbk_press_release_marco_melandri_an.html

Toshiyuki Arakaki Fernando Aranda Takeishi Araoka Adrian Araujo Gilbert Argo

Kobayashi expects more from Sauber in Monaco is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Kamui Kobayashi says Sauber’s new aerodynamic package introduced in Spain is “definitely a step forward” and aims to improve on fifth in Monaco.

Kobayashi expects more from Sauber in Monaco is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

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Willi Bertsch Paul Berwick Kees Besseling Max Biaggi Pier Paolo Bianchi

During the second AMA Pro Supersport qualifying session at Sears Point, #422 Genki Hagata had a moment that every motorcycle racer knows all too well: a highside. Still completing his out-lap, Hagata’s Yamaha YZF-R6 lost traction at the rear wheel, and then abruptly regained it, which for most riders would usually mean an ejection seat straight into the kitty litter, but not for Genki. Holding onto the bars throughout the incident, Hagata avoided crashing (again, …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/oX8viRSTgKA/

Dieter Braun Georg Braun Walter Brehme Jack Brett Norick Abe

Force India expect more from Barcelona upgrade is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley says there is more performance to come from the upgrade package introduced last weekend.

Force India expect more from Barcelona upgrade is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/6F7CKvLnbcM/

Jan Bäckstrom Chris Baert Graham Bailey Steve Baker Peter Balaz

The Confederate X132 Hellcat is the latest creation from the boutique southern motorcycle brand, and continues the Hellcat lineage’s custom-roadster aesthetic. Like any machine produced by Confederate, the real beauty of the new Hellcat comes down to the bike’s detail finishes, which for the X132 includes a motor casing that was built out of two pieces of billet 6061 aircraft grade aluminum. Officially spec’d with “sufficient” power and torque figures, the  2,163cc v-twin motor on the X132 is more …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/u0olJjXu_tM/

Hartmut Bischoff Gastone Biscia Norman Black Kenny Blake John Blanchard

Cheating in motorsports is as old as the sport itself. Whenever powered vehicles gather together to race each other, then someone, somewhere, will try to gain an advantage, either within the rules or, if that is not successful, outside of the rules. In all classes, and at all times, teams, engineers and riders have all tried to cheat in one way or another. Even the imposition of a spec engine in the Moto2 class hasn’t …

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/WfVuO-eCLgA/

Ramiro Blanco Rolf Blatter Norman Blemings František Bartoš Loek Bodelier

Donington Park is renowned for giving fans exciting races. 48,500 of them turned up over the weekend to brave the cold wind and watch the most exciting racing Superbike races of the year. Crashes, surprises, upsets and spills were the order of the day while history was made and old enmities revisited.

The weekend started on Thursday with a white water rafting experience at Hole Pierpoint watersports centre. Leon Haslam, Chaz Davies, Eugene Laverty and Sam Lowes all messed about in a dinghy while facing the artificial rapids. Every one of the racers fell in at some point and Sam Lowes may have ingested the local water and contracted food poisoning that ravaged his insides and threatened to ruin his weekend.

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/bDpiAAcs56M/2012_donington_world_superbikes_an_excit.html

Juan Bordons Andrea Borgonovo Eduard Borisenko Juan Borja Sergio Boroncini

Force India expect more from Barcelona upgrade is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley says there is more performance to come from the upgrade package introduced last weekend.

Force India expect more from Barcelona upgrade is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/6F7CKvLnbcM/

Andre Luc Appietto Robin Appleyard Junya Arai Toshiyuki Arakaki Fernando Aranda

Maldonado win surprises everyone in Predictions Championship is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

No-one predicted Pastor Maldonado’s maiden victory in the latest round of the Predictions’ Championship.

Maldonado win surprises everyone in Predictions Championship is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/lD31xRn-xQI/

Fergus Anderson Hugh Anderson John Anderson Kent Andersson George Andrews