2012 WSBK Riders and Teams
World Superbike |
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World Supersport |
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MotoGp News | Ducati kicks off 2012 with annual ‘Wrooom’ event
| The 2012 ‘Wrooom’ event officially opens today, where the stunning slopes of Madonna di Campiglio in the magnificent Dolomites play host to a week of full of skiing, exhibitions and meetings with the press.Riders, guests and media arrive Monday evening, after which a busy schedule kicks off the following day. Tuesday morning, team riders Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi will field questions from the attending media in a joint press conference, after which the riders will meet with fans. Also answering press enquiries will be Ducati Corse General Manager Filippo Preziosi in a meeting that takes place on Wednesday morning. The high point of the week traditionally occurs on Friday, where an exhibition race between Ducati’s MotoGP riders and Ferrari’s F1 drivers face off in a kart race on ice to wrap up the 22nd edition of Wrooom. This year however, Hayden’s participation in the activities is likely to be limited due to his recent shoulder injury. SOURCE: www.motogp.com |
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WSBK News | Local Hero Mathew Scholtz to ride World Super Sport Class in 2012
| The 19 year old rider from Kwazulu Natal, Mathew Scholtz was selected to ride for the PTR Honda racing team in World Supersport in 2012. Mathew finished the 2011 season on an excellent note as he became the first South African to start a Moto2 race in pole position, in the last round of the Spanish Moto2 championship. Mathew will be part of a team that placed Sam Lowes and Eugene Laverty on the map in world championship level racing and the academy wishes him great success in 2012. |
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MotoGP Legends | a Trip down Memory lane | Wayne Gardner
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| Australian Wayne Gardner plied his trade when the 500cc factory bikes were arguably at their hardest to ride and in which the competition in the class involved legendary peers such as Wayne Rainey, Randy Mamola, Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer and Mick Doohan. His 52 podiums, 18 victories and 1987 premier class title win came during one of the toughest decades of competition in the sport. Following his 500cc debut in 1983, Gardner remained loyal to Honda in his eight seasons of World Championship participation – earning a breakthrough thanks to his results for Honda Britain. His first full-time campaign was in 1985 and he won his first Grand Prix in 1986, before successfully battling with Lawson and Mamola to become 1987 World Champion on the NSR500. An ill-handling 1988 version of the NSR often offered sensational images of Gardner wrestling the phenomenally fast machine and he again tussled with Lawson that year but their close duel eventually swung in the favour of the American. The subsequent seasons were wrecked by injury; broken legs, ribs and feet – hindering his riding in 1989, ‘90 and ‘91. Highlights in that period, however, included breath-taking victories at the first Phillip Island GP in 1989 and an even better re-run in 1990; both of which feature amongst the finest races ever seen in the premier class. Gardner retired in 1992, taking an emotional final win at the British Grand Prix that year. As the first ever Australian 500cc World Champion he opened motorcycle racing up to a much wider audience in Australia and is cherished by a generation of fans. Australian Wayne Gardner plied his trade when the 500cc factory bikes were arguably at their hardest to ride and in which the competition in the class involved legendary peers such as Wayne Rainey, Randy Mamola, Kevin Schwantz, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer and Mick Doohan. His 52 podiums, 18 victories and 1987 premier class title win came during one of the toughest decades of competition in the sport.Following his 500cc debut in 1983, Gardner remained loyal to Honda in his eight seasons of World Championship participation – earning a breakthrough thanks to his results for Honda Britain.His first full-time campaign was in 1985 and he won his first Grand Prix in 1986, before successfully battling with Lawson and Mamola to become 1987 World Champion on the NSR500.An ill-handling 1988 version of the NSR often offered sensational images of Gardner wrestling the phenomenally fast machine and he again tussled with Lawson that year but their close duel eventually swung in the favour of the American. The subsequent seasons were wrecked by injury; broken legs, ribs and feet – hindering his riding in 1989, ‘90 and ‘91.Highlights in that period, however, included breath-taking victories at the first Phillip Island GP in 1989 and an even better re-run in 1990; both of which feature amongst the finest races ever seen in the premier class.Gardner retired in 1992, taking an emotional final win at the British Grand Prix that year. As the first ever Australian 500cc World Champion he opened motorcycle racing up to a much wider audience in Australia and is cherished by a generation of fans |
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MotoGP News | Colin Edwards tests BMW powered Suter CRT bike, his new ride for 2012.
After two days of private testing at the Jerez circuit, the experienced Texan spoke to motogp.com about his first impressions of the CRT machine, one of the new generation of MotoGP bikes that will join the grid in 2012. This was Edwards’ first ride on the BMW-Suter after missing the post- Valencia Official Test while recovering from shoulder surgery.
The veteran expected that there would be work to do before next season, though his first impression of the bike was higher than he originally expected. “Overall, it is better than I thought it would be, the potential is there. I think we are at about 65 percent right now,” he said.
The electronics package the team will use is new to MotoGP, and Edwards said the remaining 35 percent of bike development will come from improvements with those electronics. “The chassis is set up, but the main thing is the electronics and getting the whole package to come together. With the electronics, every time we make a little change and make it better, everything just gets a little smoother and easier.”
Speaking further of the overall impression of the new bike, the Texan said: “The bike reminds me a lot of 2003 when I went to Aprilia. It’s got a screamer engine, lots of torque, somebody built the chassis, someone put an engine it, and it came a long way through the year. It was one of the first bikes with ride by wire and all the electronics. It reminds me a lot of that. But I know what I need, I know what I am looking for, I know what want, I know how to make the bike go faster, so the main thing now is just don’t lose focus and keep going down the right path.”
The team spent most of the two days on Bridgestones from 2011, though they did get a chance to test a new rear tire, which created challenges but Edwards is sure are fixable. “We got a little more chatter…once we get the electronics fixed I know that will go away, I am sure it will.”
As for the bike’s lap times, of which the unofficial best time on Wednesday was a 1’43.9 and Thursday was a 1’42.6 (as compared to Edwards’ best time of 1’40.188 in the Spanish GP at Jerez in March), Edwards was unconcerned. “I came here and I would have been happy with just yesterday’s times, being injured and all, but I did a ‘42.6 today, which is a little better than a second faster. I’m reasonably happy with that.”
The test was also the first time the American worked with his new crew chief for 2012, Kor Veldman. “I’ve never worked with him before, but he has a lot of knowledge and experience and we get along great. Just spending a couple days with me I can see he knows what he is talking about, and that’s a plus, you know, when you can find someone you can communicate with and get things done. So I’m really happy with him.”
Two days of putting the bike through its paces was enough to learn what the team needs to do next according to the veteran. “We didn’t set the world on fire, but like I said we are at 65 percent, we have to work to find the rest of it,” he said.
The team will have two months to complete that work before the next time the bike will hit the pavement at the Official Test at Sepang in 2012.
SOURCE:wwwmotogp.com
Moto GP News | Loris Capirossi appointed advisory role
The Italian, Loris Capirossi has now after a 22 year Grand Prix career, been appointed the advisory role to assist with matters of safety in the MotoGP World Championship.Throughout his 22 year career he has started 328 races, finished on the podium 99 times and won 3 titles. Loris has competed in the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP categories. Capirossi, with his understanding of the requirements and needs of riders as well as his experience of a variety of different motorcycles, will offer the World Championship advice regarding new regulations, homologation of new tracks, the competition and safety. Dorna has requested to the FIM that Capirossi’s number (65) be retired from use in the MotoGP World Championship as recognition of Capirossi’s contribution throughout his career. SOURCE: www.motogp.com |
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