MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Ducati Completes Test At Mugello - Electronics, Engine And Swingarm Key Changes

David Emmett — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:37:23 +0000

The weather finally smiled on Ducati's testing efforts on Thursday, providing a full day of testing under excellent conditions. After parts of the first two days were lost to rain and a wet track, the sun shone all day Thursday, with the track being too hot, if anything. Though the post-race press release is as free of detailed information as ever, the positive vibe that came through in both the press release and in the responses from various sources at the test is evident. Lap times were not made public, but according to GPOne.com, Valentino Rossi ran a 1'48.62 and Nicky Hayden posted a 1'48.84, on what Troy Bayliss - also there, testing the Panigale Superbike - described as a slow track due to the temperature. That is close to the fastest lap set by Jorge Lorenzo at last year's race on the 800cc Yamaha, but a long way off the 1'47.326 set by Casey Stoner on the 1000cc Honda at the test after last year's race at Mugello.

Source:

http://manziana.motocorse.com/blog/32431_Particolari_3_parte_test_Mugell...

Ducati Press Release: Weather Allows Hayden And Rossi To Turn Laps With Modified Engine

Press Release — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:46:26 +0000

Ducati is currently testing several new parts for their MotoGP machine, including a modified engine to soften power delivery. After the first day of riding by Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, they issued the following press release:

Ducati Team at Mugello for first day of two-day test

Year:

2012

Suzuki MotoGP Prototype Spied In Japan Leaves Many Questions Unanswered

David Emmett — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:42:20 +0000

That Suzuki is working on a MotoGP prototype for a return to the premier class at some point in the future - 2014 is the date Suzuki staff have referred to officially in all their communication - is well-known. There have been several reports of the bike being tested, but no real photos or information on the bike. Until yesterday.

Source:

http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/05/22/spied-2014-suzuki-motogp-prototype/

Photographer's Blog: Interview with Federica De Zottis, MotoGP Press Manager, Ducati Corse

Scott Jones — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:47:52 +0000

Having worked directly with Max Biaggi, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi, to name only a few, Federica De Zottis’ experience in Grand Prix motorcycle racing is truly unique. For the past five years she has worked closely with the Ducati Team riders, her current main responsibility on race weekends being to assist with the press duties of Valentino Rossi. When I approached her about the possibility of an interview, she was kind enough to invite me to the Ducati hospitality at Estoril to share her story.

Scott Jones: Federica, you're currently MotoGP Press Manager for Ducati Corse. Could you please describe your job for us?

Federica de Zottis: My job is split into two parts, the part that I do in the office in Bologna, and the part that I do here [in the MotoGP paddock]. Of course they are linked together, but during the winter I spend most of the time at the office.

Bridgestone Press Release: Masao Azuma Discusses Racing In The Torrential Rain of Le Mans

Press Release — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:20:01 +0000

Bridgestone's usual post-race debrief press release, in which Masao Azuma discusses how their tires performed in the torrential conditions at Le Mans:

French MotoGP™ debrief with Masao Azuma

Round 4: French MotoGP™ - Post-race debrief
Le Mans, Wednesday 23 May 2012

Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Soft, Medium. Rear: Soft, Medium (Asymmetric)

Bridgestone wet compounds available: Soft (Main), Hard (Alternative)

Rain lashed the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans prior to last Sunday’s French MotoGP™ and an exciting wet race ensued with Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo streaking away to take his second win of the season ahead of Ducati’s Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner.

Weather conditions at Le Mans started dry but cool on Friday but gradually degraded over Saturday and Sunday, with cold and wet conditions greeting riders as they lined up on the grid for the race. Track temperatures struggled to get over 20°C throughout the whole race weekend meaning that the softer compound tyres were preferred by riders due to their greater warm-up performance and initial grip.

Q&A with Masao Azuma – Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Department

Year:

2012

COMPETITION: Win A Pair Of Tickets To The 2012 Silverstone Round Of MotoGP

David Emmett — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:25:36 +0000

On 15 – 17 June MotoGP returns to the UK’s premier motor sport venue, as Silverstone hosts the 2012 British Grand Prix. With spectacular action guaranteed, Silverstone has developed a three-day festival for bike fans, packed with on and off track entertainment. And MotoMatters.com has a pair of tickets to give away for the event!

2012 Donington Park WSBK Photos By Jared Earle

David Emmett — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:19:26 +0000

Champ

Tom Sykes has been the revelation of 2012

Chaz Davies' progress has been slow on the Aprilia. But it's been progress

Miller Motorsports Park Press Release: 5 Questions With Sylvain Guintoli

David Emmett — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:56:06 +0000

Miller Motorsports Park organized a phone-in press conference with Effenbert Liberty rider Sylvain Guintoli ahead of the US round of World Superbikes, scheduled to take place this weekend. Questions Guintoli fielded questions about injuries, the benefits of staying with the same team for more than one season, and the most important lessons he learned racing a private 250.

Below is the press release interview from Miller Motorsports Park:

Miller Motorsports Park Presents: Five Questions with Sylvain Guintoli

A Frenchman on an Italian bike for a Czech team breaks through in the Netherlands

TOOELE VALLEY, UTAH (May 18, 2012) — Miller Motorsports Park will again host the USA Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship on The BigM Weekend, May 26-28. As was the case last year, we will visit with race winners and other notable riders participating in the championship after each race during the 2012 season leading up to The BigM Weekend and bring you a new chapter in the “Five Questions with” series.

The subject of our second installment of the season is 29-year-old Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli, who rides the No. 50 Ducati 1098R for the Czech Republic-based Team Effenbert Liberty Racing. Sylvain started out in the 250 GP class in 2000, racing there through 2006 with a one-off MotoGP ride in 2002. He moved up to MotoGP full-time in 2007 through 2008. Unable to find a MotoGP ride in 2009, he switched to the British Superbike Championship, but jumped to World Superbike later that year with Suzuki when Max Neukirchner left to join Honda. His first full season in WSBK was 2010, and he finished seventh in the championship on the Suzuki. He moved to Team Effenbert Liberty Racing’s Ducatis in 2011, and finished sixth in the title chase despite having to come back from a serious accident in the first round of the season. This year he scored his first series win at Assen, where his wet-weather skills helped immensely.

2012 Le Mans MotoGP Sunday Round Up: Head And Heart

David Emmett — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:18:54 +0000

Funny how things turn out. On a weekend that looked like being overshadowed by one subject - Casey Stoner's shock retirement announcement and its repercussions - along came the rain and provided spectacle to cheer the hearts of racing fans of every persuasion. Rain offers new opportunities, and such opportunities light a fire in the breasts of racers being kept from running at the front under ordinary circumstances. At the same time, should that fire burn too fiercely, those same racers can fall prey to their own overarching ambition, and fall within sight of glory.

Sunday at Le Mans saw plentiful examples of both. In three outstanding, if rain-sodden races, the fine balance between head and heart that racing requires was demonstrated several times over. Riders took the chances on offer: those who wanted it too much suffered the consequences and crashed out ignominiously; those who did not want it enough floundered around miserably at the rear; those that got it just right were richly rewarded.

2012 Le Mans MotoGP Sunday Post-Race Press Releases

Press Release — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:42:40 +0000

Press releases from the MotoGP teams after Sunday's French Grand Prix at Le Mans:

Year:

2012

2012 Le Mans Moto2 and Moto3 Sunday Post-Race Press Releases

Press Release — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:36:24 +0000

Press releases from the Moto2 and Moto3 teams after the race on Sunday at Le Mans:

Year:

2012

2012 MotoGP Championship Standings After Round 4, Le Mans

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:24:55 +0000

MotoGP Championship standings for round , 2012

2012 Moto2 Championship Standings After Round 4, Le Mans

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:23:46 +0000

Championship standings for round , 2012

2012 Moto3 Championship Standings After Round 4, Le Mans

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:22:52 +0000

Championship standings for round , 2012

2012 Le Mans MotoGP Race Result: Dominant Victory And Epic Battle For Podium

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:13:38 +0000

Results and summary of the MotoGP race at Le Mans:

Race Details

2012

2012 Le Mans Moto2 Race Result: Dominant Display In The Rain

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:39:13 +0000

Result and summary of the Moto2 race at Le Mans:

Race Details

2012

2012 Le Mans Moto3 Race Result: Cool Heads Prevail In Wet War Of Attrition

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:20:08 +0000

Results and summary of the Moto3 race at Le Mans:

Race Details

2012

2012 Le Mans MotoGP Warm Up Result: Crutchlow Holds Off Stoner In Wet

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 08:11:35 +0000

Results of a very wet warm up session:

Race Details

2012

2012 Le Mans Moto2 Warm Up Result: Marquez Leads Luthi on a Wet Track

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:45:51 +0000

Results:

Race Details

2012

2012 Le Mans Moto3 Warm Up Result: Vinales And Kent Lead With Identical Times

David Emmett — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:28:03 +0000

Result, on a very wet track:

Race Details

2012