Ducati Marlboro Team rider Casey Stoner will start the final round of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship from the front of the grid after a dominant performance in today’s single qualifying practice for the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana. The Australian was rarely troubled at the top of the time sheets.

CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team)  (1st; 1’32.256)
“We’ve been fastest in every session so far so we have to be pleased with that and the fact we were able to do most of the lap times we did on a race tyre today is a good sign. I felt pretty comfortable out there but one of the softer rear tyres pushed the front that bit harder and it folded on me in four or five corners. It’s a shame because potentially we could have gone that bit quicker but I can’t complain. We’re on pole position again, in good shape for the race tomorrow and looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather holds out because it would be nice for everybody to end the season with a good race.”

Valencia Qualifying Results

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 32.256 sec
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 32.519 sec
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 32.537 sec
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 32.922 sec
5. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 33.085 sec
6. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 33.154 sec
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1min 33.391 sec
8. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 33.475 sec
9. Ben Spies USA Sterilgarda Yamaha Team 1min 33.539 sec
10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1min 33.776 sec
11. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1min 33.809 sec
12. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 33.844 sec
13. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 34.097 sec
14. James Toseland GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 34.107 sec
15. Marco Melandri ITA Hayate Racing Team 1min 34.188 sec
16. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 1min 34.308 sec
17. Gabor Talmacsi HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 1min 34.357 sec
18. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 34.537 sec

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First time on the Yamaha M1 MotoGP bike Ben “Elbowz” Spies adapted quickly.   During qualifying at Valencia Spies started chipping away at the gap to the front.   Still learning the MotoGP machine and the Bridgestone tires Spies stated he is still not confident on the different tires yet.  As qualifying wore on James Toseland was still towards the back of the pack and Spies had already managed to work his way up to 7th.

As time was running out qualifying kept getting quicker and so did Spies.  He managed a 9th Position on the grid for tomorrows race and a very fast race pace.  Another shot to Toselands confidence on the MotoGP machines as the Rookie Spies ran off and hid from him during qualifying.  As we all know this is only half the story as the conclusion will be the checkered flag after tomorrows race.

We know Toseland is a good rider just he never seemed to get it right on the MotoGP machine.  Toseland tested Ben Spies’s championship winning Yamaha R1 in Portugal recently where he adapted quickly and was running faster than Spies.  Just goes to show that not all riders can adapt to MotoGP.

A new bike, new tires, and a different race series shows how quickly Ben Spies can adapt to new bikes and tracks.  As he is still in the learning phase with the relationship with the M1 Yamaha we expect big things come 2010.

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Former 250GP world champion and leading MotoGP team boss Sito Pons showed off the bike his Spanish squad will campaign in the inaugural Moto2 600cc four-stroke world championship in 2010. Pons’ team will use a bike designed and built by German-based Kalex Engineering The new bike will be tested immediately after this weekend’s final race in Valencia, though the identity of riders remains shrouded in mystery.

It will be known as the Pons Kalex team. Toni Elias has been the number one target for Pons’ outfit, but he has got twitchy about signing a deal because of recent money issues experienced by Ducati-bouned Hector Barbera. He recently boycotted the first few minutes of opening practice in Sepang because he had not been paid.

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Spanish company Inmotec has unveiled a MotoGP machine (pictured) with which it plans to take part in several events during the 2010 season.

Designed and built entirely in Spain, the Inmotec bike is scheduled to make its MotoGP debut on home asphalt in next year’s Grand Prix of Catalunya, on July 4, with test rider Ivan Silva at the controls.

Inmotec then hopes to enter the Misano, Brno, Balatonring and Valencia rounds, before supplying their machines as a manufacturer in 2011.

Unfortunately, small independent manufacturers have a poor record of survival since the switch to four-strokes in 2002, with Ilmor, WCM and Team Roberts all dropping out – even Japanese giant Kawasaki was forced to quit at the end of last year.

Famous Italian brand Ducati, which made its MotoGP debut in 2003, is the outstanding exception to the ‘new’ manufacturer rule.

Source | Crash.net

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The Scot Racing Team has unveiled the motorcycle which it will race in next year’s inaugural Moto2 World Championship.

Like fellow MotoGP team Tech 3, Scot has decided to design and build its own chassis, in partnership with Rapid Inside NCS.

“We opted for this solution – designing our own Moto2 instead of buying one from a factory – because, although more demanding, it allowed us to make use of our competencies. At the same time, we’ll be able to be ultra-quick if radical changes should be required,” explained technical director Emanuele Ventura.

“The frame is totally adjustable, as far as centre of gravity and any offset are concerned. Our target is to develop a well-balanced bike, competitive on any circuit, instead of one performing only in ideal conditions. The bike is ready to tackle the track, although some specifications are still to be settled”.

The prototype, which is on show in the Valencia paddock, features Showa suspension, Brembo brakes, Marchesini rims, Arrow exhaust, Acerbis saddle and Motoart fairing.

Scot Honda is on target to win the final 250cc World Championship with Hiroshi Aoyama in this weekend’s season finale.

Scot has not yet announced riders for its Moto2 project or confirmed if it will continue in MotoGP for a third season in 2010.

The team, which presently runs Gabor Talmacsi in the premier-class, had been linked with a seventh Honda for Alex de Angelis backed by the Sammarinese government, but that seems to have gone quiet.

Source | Crash.net

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The BMW R1200RT is getting a new double overhead camshaft engine in common with the new BMW R1200GS with more power and a better fairing for even better comfort.

The R1200RT is one of the best tourers on sale and the new 110bhp engine which will boost torque and allows a higher rev range along with increased wind and weather protection will only improve this.

The new engine has 110bhp with 88ft lb of torque and now revs to 7750rpm.
The BMW R1200RT will go up against Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 and the Triumph Sprint ST 1050.

Overview of the main new engine features of the 2010 R 1200 RT:

• New, even more dynamic engine with two overhead camshafts per cylinder.
• New DOHC cylinder heads offer an even more efficient cylinder charge.
• Maximum torque increased to 88 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm, maximum output remaining at 110 hp at 7,750 rpm.
• Increase in maximum engine speed from 8,000 to 8,500 rpm, with an even broader power band.
• Significantly improved torque and acceleration.
• Smoother Torque curve.
• Cylinder head covers now with two, instead of four, fastening bolts and a new dynamic design.
• Electronically controlled exhaust flap for superior and powerful sound.

Other new features of the 2010 BMW R 1200 RT include:

• ESA II Electronic Suspension Adjustment with damping, spring base and now also spring rate adjustable at the touch of a button.
• BMW Motorrad Integral ABS featured as standard in the partly integrated version.
• New design fairing with improved protection from wind and weather.
• Re-designed cockpit with visor.
• New control units and hydraulic reservoir.
• Electronically controlled windshield with optimized aero-acoustics and improved transparency
• • Fairing in new design with protection from wind and weather improved once again.
• Re-designed cockpit with visor.
• New control units and hydraulic reservoir.
• New audio system with controllable interface for a USB/MP3 and iPod, operated through the Multi-Controller.
• Adjustable foot shift lever.
• Hard-shell cases (each with a capacity of 32 liters) featured as standard, with accurately fitting four-point lock system and cover finished in body color.
• Tank railing for conveniently fastening accessories.
• New colors for the R 1200 RT: Polar metallic, Ostra Grey metallic matt, Thunder Grey metallic, multi-color paintwork in conjunction with Thunder Grey metallic base color.
• Extended range of optional extras and special equipment tailored to the R 1200 RT, naturally in top BMW quality.

Other changes to the RT include the second generation updated Electronic Suspension Adjustment system (ESA II), restyled fairing with improved protection, a new dash and an audio system that can be controlled through a handlebar-mounted controller.

The audio system will play MP3, iPod or USB sticks and it also has a radio.

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The last race of the 2009 MotoGP season will also be the last race in Ducati Marlboro Team colours for Livio Suppo, Ducati’s MotoGP project manager. The Italian manager will leave Ducati to embark on a new professional adventure.

In Ducati since 1999, Suppo was involved in this challenging and ambitious project from the very beginning, contributing with his intuition, perseverance and enthusiasm to the world title victory of 2007 and to the many podiums and successes that have characterised the life of the Ducati Desmosedici from its debut in 2003 up until today.

“Livio has meant a great deal to Ducati and also to me personally; he has been a loyal and valuable colleague but above all a great friend,” commented Claudio Domenicali, General Director of Ducati. “We are very sorry that he has decided to leave the company but, in light of his correctness, professionalism and the great contribution he has made to the growth and success of the MotoGP project and the Ducati brand, we can only offer him our very best wishes as he takes on a new professional challenge. This is, however, also one of those moments in which we can rethink our organization in order to further improve, and this is what we have done in defining the 2010 team’s direction. The management of the Ducati Marlboro Team will be entrusted to, and reinforced by, two new managerial figures. Alessandro Cicognani, currently marketing manager for the Ducati Corse Division, will be responsible for the MotoGP project and alongside him, Vittoriano Guareschi, already the test rider for Ducati, will undertake the role of Team Manager, bringing to the squad a wealth of knowledge and experience that he has gained through being a professional rider and, most recently, a test rider.”

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What a crazy tank slapper.  I am surprised the guy stayed on as long as he did.  Tell us about your tank slapper stories.

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Having had his title tilt ruined by illness, Casey Stoner is wanting to draw a line under his 2009 MotoGP campaign in the best way possible by signing off with a fifth victory of the season at Valencia.

A debilitating ailment forced Stoner to miss three races earlier in the season, preventing him to making it a three-way battle for the title with Yamaha pair Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, but his return to competition has seen him back to his best, winning at Phillip Island and Sepang most recently.

It means he is on course to secure third in the standings, even if he is mathematically still able to overhaul Lorenzo should the Spaniard retire and Stoner wins in Spain.

The Ducati rider is well placed to keep his end of the bargain too having won the last two rounds, as well as last season’s Valencia finale.

“Valencia is a circuit I’ve always liked – it is tight and slow but surprisingly flowing and I think it’s a good circuit for a MotoGP bike. Apart from anything it is a great viewing spectacle for the fans, who can follow the bikes around practically the whole circuit.

“My Ducati has always run really well there and I’ve been on the pace for the past couple of seasons – in testing and in the races – so obviously we’re hoping that trend continues, even though we will have to make a few small adjustments to the bike.

“We’re finally at the end of the season and already looking forward to the next one, so if we can win this race then great, if not we’ll try and finish the year with a podium and then start working towards next year.”

Source | Crash.net

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