-Moto GP- Season 2011-

[UncleKracker]

Stoner ends Sepang test on top
Casey Stoner completed his and Honda's domination of the Sepang test with the quickest time on the final day on Thursday. The Australian, who had been fastest on the first two days, continued with his impressive pre-season form by finishing on top of the times with a lap of 1m59.665s.

Rossi downbeat on Ducati's pace
Valentino Rossi says Ducati is lacking pace following the Sepang test, the Italian admitting he is not too optimistic the chassis issues can be solved. Ducati concluded the second of Malaysia's tests today with somewhat sub-standard results.
The best Rossi and Nicky Hayden could manage was 11th and 12th respectively, disappointing for the pair after a positive start.

[UncleKracker]

Yamaha sure it will be quick in races
Yamaha insists that its 2011 bike is a match for its rivals over a race distance even though it has not shown outright pace in testing. Honda has led the way so far in the MotoGP season build-up, with the factory Yamahas of Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo only fifth and seventh on the final day at Sepang yesterday.
Team boss Massimo Meregalli acknowledged that Yamaha had a gap to make up, but was adamant that the testing results were deceptive and it would be quick in grands prix.

Ducati vows to solve GP11's problems
Ducati team boss Filippo Preziosi is adamant that the squad can resolve the issues that have kept it off the pace so far in winter testing. Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden were both outside the top 10 on the final day of this week's Sepang test, with the Italian expressing concern about how much he was struggling with chassis set-up on the GP11.
But Preziosi feels Ducati's final Sepang results were unrepresentative, pointing out that the test was disrupted by Rossi having to miss one of the three days through illness.

[genius83]

Aragon secures new MotoGP deal
The Motorland Aragon circuit will host a MotoGP race until at least the 2016 season after securing a new deal with organisers Dorna.

Although @UK has posted the news but just for future reference, here is the timing sheet of last day of Sepang MotoGP testing.

[U]<font color='darkslateblue'>Sepang MotoGP PreSeason Testing</font>[/U]
[U]<font color='darkred'>Day 3</font>[/U]
Pos  Rider             Team/Bike       Time       Gap        Laps
 1.  Casey Stoner      Honda           1m59.665s             37
 2.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda           1m59.803s  + 0.138s   38
 3.  Marco Simoncelli  Gresini Honda   2m00.163s  + 0.498s   46
 4.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda           2m00.541s  + 0.876s   45
 5.  Ben Spies         Yamaha          2m00.678s  + 1.013s   32
 6.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha   2m00.966s  + 1.301s   29
 7.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha          2m01.003s  + 1.338s   48
 8.  Alvaro Bautista   Suzuki          2m01.194s  + 1.529s   34
 9.  Hiroshi Aoyama    Gresini Honda   2m01.328s  + 1.663s   48
10.  Hector Barbera    Aspar Ducati    2m01.346s  + 1.681s   21
11.  Valentino Rossi   Ducati          2m01.469s  + 1.804s   59
12.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati          2m01.469s  + 1.804s   71
13.  Loris Capirossi   Pramac Ducati   2m01.493s  + 1.828s   39
14.  Cal Crutchlow     Tech 3 Yamaha   2m02.034s  + 2.369s   50
15.  Randy de Puniet   Pramac Ducati   2m02.155s  + 2.490s   42
16.  Toni Elias        LCR Honda       2m02.410s  + 2.745s   57
17.  Karel Abraham     Cardion Ducati  2m02.506s  + 2.841s   55

[Blackeye117]

Welcome Back Genius

[genius83]

Lorenzo: No quick fix for power issues
Jorge Lorenzo has admitted that Yamaha will have to wait for the engine improvements that he feels it needs to get closer to testing pacesetter Honda.

Honda says no magic in 2011 bike
Honda says its winter leap forward is down to a series of small improvements rather than a major design breakthrough with its 2011 MotoGP bike.

[ztahir]

thank you genius83..good to see you have started a motogp discussion here..

I feel that this season is going to let some of the underdogs shine as Rossi/Yamaha combo has been lethal for the past few years..all dues to him for developing the M1 and it always had it since the very beginning but now I think Vale really has his job cut out..a completely new machine is so far proving uncompetitive and the Stoner/Honda package is the one to bet one..and Lorenzo well he's proved that he was going to bag 2010 even if Vale was on top form...so 2011 should be very interesting!

[genius83]

@ztahir
Welcome to the discussion and hope to see you during the season.

If what I have read is true then I could assure you that Honda is going to dominate this year's championship with Yamaha may be able to give them some fight but Ducati and Rossi no way near them and only fighting for odd win.

[UncleKracker]

2011 season seems to be an internal battle between the three Honda riders and
Marco Simoncelli's works Gresini bike, which is a works Honda with a different livery.

Stoner vs Pedrosa is likely to be the main battle. Others, seem to be fighting for minor podium positions and points.

Stoner FTW:D

[genius83]

Rossi receives rapturous welcome at Ducati Night in Bologna
Around 35,000 fans were present at the Piazza Maggiore in the Italian city on Friday evening, to greet the Ducati Team rider.

Guareschi: “We now understand exactly what we want”
The Ducati Team Manager explained in an interview at Sepang that the Borgo Panigale factory knows “exactly what it wants from the GP11” for a good start to the season.

Zeelenberg: “Harder competition is better for us”
Jorge Lorenzo’s Team Manager on the Factory Yamaha Racing team gave his reaction to the pre-season action so far in a video interview.

Monza hosts San Carlo Honda Gresini team presentation
Marco Simoncelli, Hiroshi Aoyama and team owner Fausto Gresini were all present as the team made its official 2011 presentation.

San Carlo Gresini Honda

Hiroshi Aoyama

Marco Simoncelli

Venice hosts LCR Honda team’s 2011 launch
In the marvellous setting of Venice city the LCR Honda MotoGP Team announced their racing project for the 2011 season, at the famous Venice Casino.

Repsol Honda team launches the new CBR250R in Indonesia
Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso and Casey Stoner flew to Jakarta to visit new team sponsor, Astra Honda, and take part in the presentation of the new Honda CBR250R. The trio also supported Astra Honda in the promotion of young motorcycling talent through a training programme and school.

Edwards: “We’ve got a good shot this year”
The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider was in high spirits following the second pre-season Test at Sepang last week.

[m_waqas]

i hope Lorenzo gives them (Honda) a run for their money.. cause internal battles are not that exciting.. the team tends to favor one driver over another eventually, so the outsider challenging them would be interesting... i 've some good hopes for Spies as well :S ...

Venice hosts LCR Honda team’s 2011 launch

can we have some more pics of this launch ??...

[genius83]

@m_waqas
Here are some more pics from the LCR Honda Presentation:

[genius83]

[genius83]

Hector Barbera with his MotoGP Bike

Hector Barbera

[m_waqas]

right.. thanks steve.. i see 2 great pics ...

that Suzuki ain't looking bad.. not bad at all..

[genius83]

Rossi changing riding style for Ducati
Valentino Rossi has admitted that he is having to change his riding style to suit the Ducati as there will not be time to adapt the bike to his liking.

HRC employees unhurt in quake
Honda Racing Corporation has announced that all its employees escaped unhurt from the terrible earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan yesterday.

Hopkins hopes for Suzuki race chance
John Hopkins hopes he can earn a chance to race for Suzuki in MotoGP again after rejoining the team for some filming work in Qatar today.

[genius83]

Pedrosa leads first night of Qatar test
Dani Pedrosa was fastest as the Honda domination continued on day one of the final MotoGP winter test in Qatar.

[U]<font color='indigo'>Qatar MotoGP PreSeason Night Testing</font>[/U]
[U]<font color='darkred'>Night 1</font>[/U]
Pos  Rider             Team/Bike      Time       Gap       Laps
 1.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda          1m56.271s            41
 2.  Casey Stoner      Honda          1m56.414s  + 0.143s  32
 3.  Hiroshi Aoyama    Gresini Honda  1m56.444s  + 0.173s  59
 4.  Ben Spies         Yamaha         1m56.563s  + 0.292s  38
 5.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha         1m56.682s  + 0.411s  60
 6.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha  1m56.742s  + 0.471s  42
 7.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda          1m56.780s  + 0.509s  56
 8.  Valentino Rossi   Ducati         1m57.038s  + 0.767s  57
 9.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati         1m57.137s  + 0.866s  57
10.  Randy de Puniet   Pramac Ducati  1m57.143s  + 0.872s  39
11.  Marco Simoncelli  Gresini Honda  1m57.226s  + 0.955s  57
12.  Alvaro Bautista   Suzuki         1m57.302s  + 1.031s  61
13.  Hector Barbera    Aspar Ducati   1m57.325s  + 1.054s  69
14.  Loris Capirossi   Pramac Ducati  1m57.437s  + 1.166s  56
15.  Karel Abraham     Cardion Ducati 1m57.499s  + 1.228s  49
16.  Cal Crutchlow     Tech 3 Yamaha  1m57.737s  + 1.466s  51
17.  Toni Elias        LCR Honda      1m58.250s  + 1.979s  65

De Puniet unhurt in testing crashes
Randy de Puniet shrugged off his pair of crashes in MotoGP testing at Losail this evening, though he admitted that the loss of track time had been frustrating.

Yamaha confident it is catching Honda
The Yamaha riders were optimistic that they had narrowed the gap to Honda in tonight's MotoGP test at Losail, even though the timesheets still saw a Honda one-two-three at the end of the night.

Rossi: Ducati looking stronger in Qatar
Valentino Rossi says he is feeling more optimistic about Ducati's chances after the first day of testing in Qatar, despite only being eighth on the timesheets.

[genius83]

[genius83]

MotoGP won't rush Japan decision
MotoGP says it will leave the Japanese Grand Prix organisers to decide whether the Motegi race can go ahead in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country last week.

Stoner fastest in final MotoGP test
Casey Stoner edged out Dani Pedrosa on another night of Honda dominance as MotoGP's pre-season testing ended in Qatar.

[U]<font color='indigo'>Qatar PreSeason Night Testing</font>[/U]
[U]<font color='darkred'>Night 2</font>[/U]
Pos  Rider             Team/Bike       Time       Gap       Laps
 1.  Casey Stoner      Honda           1m55.681s            46
 2.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda           1m55.745s  + 0.064s  39
 3.  Ben Spies         Yamaha          1m56.294s  + 0.613s  45
 4.  Marco Simoncelli  Gresini Honda   1m56.433s  + 0.752s  70
 5.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda           1m56.439s  + 0.758s  58
 6.  Randy de Puniet   Pramac Ducati   1m56.445s  + 0.764s  67
 7.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha          1m56.707s  + 1.026s  48
 8.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha   1m56.716s  + 1.035s  57
 9.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati          1m56.726s  + 1.045s  68
10.  Hiroshi Aoyama    Gresini Honda   1m56.740s  + 1.059s  73
11.  Hector Barbera    Aspar Ducati    1m56.798s  + 1.117s  62
12.  Alvaro Bautista   Suzuki          1m56.931s  + 1.250s  63
13.  Valentino Rossi   Ducati          1m56.988s  + 1.307s  50
14.  Loris Capirossi   Pramac Ducati   1m57.345s  + 1.664s  62
15.  Cal Crutchlow     Tech 3 Yamaha   1m57.730s  + 2.049s  28
16.  Karel Abraham     Cardion Ducati  1m57.846s  + 2.165s  49
17.  Toni Elias        LCR Honda       1m58.536s  + 2.855s  57

Crutchlow plays down finger injury
Cal Crutchlow says the finger injury that halted his participation in the final winter MotoGP test day at Losail tonight will not prevent him from running in the season-opener at the Qatar track this weekend.

Honda vows to avoid complacency
The works Honda riders say they cannot take victory in the MotoGP season-opener for granted despite dominating winter testing.

Suzuki: Huge crash didn't spoil test
Alvaro Bautista shrugged off a crash that destroyed his Suzuki on the final night of MotoGP testing in Qatar and is optimistic about his chances in the season-opener this weekend.

Rossi hampered by shoulder again
Valentino Rossi was troubled to find that his lingering shoulder injury held him back again in tonight's final winter MotoGP test.

Lorenzo rules out Qatar victory
Jorge Lorenzo does not think he will be competitive enough to fight for victory when he starts his MotoGP title defence in Qatar this weekend.

Japanese MotoGP race postponed
MotoGP's Japanese round has been postponed in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the nation last week.

[genius83]

[genius83]

Japanese MotoGP moves to October
Motorcycle racing's governing body the FIM has announced that MotoGP's Japanese Grand Prix will now take place on 2 October.

Quake aftermath could hamper Honda
Honda Racing Corporation chief Shuhei Nakamoto has admitted that the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan could affect Honda's MotoGP programme this year.

Honda not expecting to dominate
Honda's Shuhei Nakamoto believes the team's rivals are in a stronger position than winter testing has suggested, and does not expect his squad to run away with this weekend's MotoGP opener in Qatar.