VALENTINO ROSSI
ESTORIL CHICANE
ESTORIL AERIAL
Friday, October 2, 2009
MotoGP Friday Practice
MotoGP Friday Practice
In good conditions at Estoril, on the opening day of the round 14 weekend, it was Fiat Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo who set the pace in the first MotoGP free practice with a best time of 1’37.185s in the closing stages, after heading the timesheet for most of the session.
Lorenzo needs to pile as much pressure as possible on his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi this weekend to stay in the title hunt and the Spanish star will be happy to have started practice in first place, at a venue where he took his first Moto GP win last year.
Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa was the second quickest participant, demonstrating his pace once again with a 1’37.544 time which was 0.359s down on Lorenzo’s hot lap.
Rossi will not be too disappointed to have commenced the Estoril weekend in third place, with a similar time to Pedrosa’s best, 0.421s behind his championship rival Lorenzo - at a circuit where he has scored five premier class wins.
Casey Stoner was back on track after a three round break, taking his beloved Desmosedici GP9 machine round in a best time of 1’37.966 as the fastest Ducati rider on Friday.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Colin Edwards was fifth once again, a position he has found himself in on several occasions in 2009, going round in just over 1’38 on the satellite Yamaha M1 which he will ride again next year.
Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) were sixth and seventh respectively, whilst James Toseland (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) made a late surge from lower down the order into eighth place. San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Alex de Angelis and Pramac Racing’s Mika Kallio completed the top ten.
The MotoGP riders will be back on track at 9.55 a.m. local time at Estoril on Saturday morning for Free Practice 2.
SOURCE:
In good conditions at Estoril, on the opening day of the round 14 weekend, it was Fiat Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo who set the pace in the first MotoGP free practice with a best time of 1’37.185s in the closing stages, after heading the timesheet for most of the session.
Lorenzo needs to pile as much pressure as possible on his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi this weekend to stay in the title hunt and the Spanish star will be happy to have started practice in first place, at a venue where he took his first Moto GP win last year.
Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa was the second quickest participant, demonstrating his pace once again with a 1’37.544 time which was 0.359s down on Lorenzo’s hot lap.
Rossi will not be too disappointed to have commenced the Estoril weekend in third place, with a similar time to Pedrosa’s best, 0.421s behind his championship rival Lorenzo - at a circuit where he has scored five premier class wins.
Casey Stoner was back on track after a three round break, taking his beloved Desmosedici GP9 machine round in a best time of 1’37.966 as the fastest Ducati rider on Friday.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Colin Edwards was fifth once again, a position he has found himself in on several occasions in 2009, going round in just over 1’38 on the satellite Yamaha M1 which he will ride again next year.
Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) were sixth and seventh respectively, whilst James Toseland (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) made a late surge from lower down the order into eighth place. San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Alex de Angelis and Pramac Racing’s Mika Kallio completed the top ten.
The MotoGP riders will be back on track at 9.55 a.m. local time at Estoril on Saturday morning for Free Practice 2.
SOURCE:
MOTOGP Ten years of MotoGP at Estoril
MOTOGP Ten years of MotoGP at Estoril
MOTOGP Ten years of MotoGP at Estoril
2009 will be the tenth year that the Portuguese Grand Prix has been held at the Estoril circuit.
Prior to moving to Estoril there had been two previous Portuguese Grand Prix events, both hosted in Spain; at Jarama in 1987 and Jerez in 1988.
The first Grand Prix event at Estoril was in 2000 and it has been on the calendar every year since.
Below are the highlights of the previous nine Grand Prix events held at Estoril:
2000 Garry McCoy had the honour of winning the first 500cc race at Estoril riding a Yamaha, after qualifying on pole for the only time in the premier-class. In the 250cc class Daijiro Kato took his first GP victory outside of Japan from Olivier Jacque, with Marco Melandri finishing third to become the youngest ever rider to finish on a 250cc podium.
2001 Each of the races were won by riders on their way to winning their respective world titles: 500cc Valentino Rossi, 250cc- Daijiro Kato and 125cc Manuel Poggiali.
2002 Valentino Rossi won a race that was run in very wet conditions, after Sete Gibernau had led for most of the race only to crash out with four laps to go. Fonsi Nieto had an incredible win in the 250cc race after crashing on lap 13 and re-joining the race down in seventh place.
2003 Valentino Rossi won in the premier-class for the third successive year at Estoril. Spanish riders were successful in the smaller classes, with Toni Elias winning the 250cc race and Pablo Nieto taking his one and only GP victory in the 125cc class.
2004 Both Valentino Rossi and Toni Elias repeated the victories of the previous year. The 125cc race was won by Hector Barbera ahead of current MotoGP riders Mika Kallio and Jorge Lorenzo.
2005 Alex Barros dominated proceedings by winning the race from pole position and setting the fastest lap as well as being fastest in every practice session. This was the last time that Barros stood on the top step of the podium in grand prix racing. Casey Stoner won for the first time in the 250cc class, while Mika Kallio took his first ever Grand Prix win in the 125cc class.
2006 After qualifying 11th on the grid, Toni Elias scored his one and only MotoGP victory to date by just 0.002 seconds from Valentino Rossi to equal the closest ever recorded finish in the premier-class since the introduction of electronic timing. Alvaro Bautista's win in the 125cc race was his 14th podium of the year - a new record for most podium finishes in a single season in the 125cc class.
2007 Valentino Rossi won for the fifth time at Estoril after a great battle with Pedrosa. Alvaro Bautista took the 250cc victory after finishing lap one down in twelfth place. Hector Faubel won the 125cc race from championship rival Gabor Talmacsi, with Pol Espargaro taking his first ever GP podium in third.
2008 Last year the Portuguese Grand Prix was the third event of the year and gave Jorge Lorenzo his first MotoGP win after he had qualified on pole for the third successive race. With his victory, Lorenzo became the 100th different rider to win a premier-class grand prix. Alvaro Bautista took his first win of the year in the 250cc class while Simone Corsi took back-to-back wins to extend his lead in the 125cc championship chase.
SOURCE:
MOTOGP Ten years of MotoGP at Estoril
2009 will be the tenth year that the Portuguese Grand Prix has been held at the Estoril circuit.
Prior to moving to Estoril there had been two previous Portuguese Grand Prix events, both hosted in Spain; at Jarama in 1987 and Jerez in 1988.
The first Grand Prix event at Estoril was in 2000 and it has been on the calendar every year since.
Below are the highlights of the previous nine Grand Prix events held at Estoril:
2000 Garry McCoy had the honour of winning the first 500cc race at Estoril riding a Yamaha, after qualifying on pole for the only time in the premier-class. In the 250cc class Daijiro Kato took his first GP victory outside of Japan from Olivier Jacque, with Marco Melandri finishing third to become the youngest ever rider to finish on a 250cc podium.
2001 Each of the races were won by riders on their way to winning their respective world titles: 500cc Valentino Rossi, 250cc- Daijiro Kato and 125cc Manuel Poggiali.
2002 Valentino Rossi won a race that was run in very wet conditions, after Sete Gibernau had led for most of the race only to crash out with four laps to go. Fonsi Nieto had an incredible win in the 250cc race after crashing on lap 13 and re-joining the race down in seventh place.
2003 Valentino Rossi won in the premier-class for the third successive year at Estoril. Spanish riders were successful in the smaller classes, with Toni Elias winning the 250cc race and Pablo Nieto taking his one and only GP victory in the 125cc class.
2004 Both Valentino Rossi and Toni Elias repeated the victories of the previous year. The 125cc race was won by Hector Barbera ahead of current MotoGP riders Mika Kallio and Jorge Lorenzo.
2005 Alex Barros dominated proceedings by winning the race from pole position and setting the fastest lap as well as being fastest in every practice session. This was the last time that Barros stood on the top step of the podium in grand prix racing. Casey Stoner won for the first time in the 250cc class, while Mika Kallio took his first ever Grand Prix win in the 125cc class.
2006 After qualifying 11th on the grid, Toni Elias scored his one and only MotoGP victory to date by just 0.002 seconds from Valentino Rossi to equal the closest ever recorded finish in the premier-class since the introduction of electronic timing. Alvaro Bautista's win in the 125cc race was his 14th podium of the year - a new record for most podium finishes in a single season in the 125cc class.
2007 Valentino Rossi won for the fifth time at Estoril after a great battle with Pedrosa. Alvaro Bautista took the 250cc victory after finishing lap one down in twelfth place. Hector Faubel won the 125cc race from championship rival Gabor Talmacsi, with Pol Espargaro taking his first ever GP podium in third.
2008 Last year the Portuguese Grand Prix was the third event of the year and gave Jorge Lorenzo his first MotoGP win after he had qualified on pole for the third successive race. With his victory, Lorenzo became the 100th different rider to win a premier-class grand prix. Alvaro Bautista took his first win of the year in the 250cc class while Simone Corsi took back-to-back wins to extend his lead in the 125cc championship chase.
SOURCE:
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Valentino Rossi to make 100th Yamaha start
Valentino Rossi to make 100th Yamaha start
Valentino Rossi will start his 100th MotoGP race for Yamaha this weekend at Estoril.
After leaving Honda at the end of 2003, the Italian shocked MotoGP with a stunning victory on his M1 race debut in the 2004 season-opening Africa's Grand Prix.
Rossi went on to win the world championship for Yamaha in both 2004 and 2005, before losing out on the 2006 title to Nicky Hayden at the very final round - then slipping to a MotoGP worst of third during the first season of 800cc racing in 2007.
The Italian superstar fought back to claim his third Yamaha title in 2008 and is on course for a fourth in 2009, holding a 30 point lead over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo with four rounds to go.
Prior to joining Yamaha, Rossi won three premier-class titles for Honda - the last 500cc crown in 2001, then the first two 990cc MotoGP titles in 2002 and 2003.
During his 99 Yamaha starts to date, Rossi has taken 44 wins (including six in 2009), 71 podiums and 27 pole positions.
Rossi's most successful Yamaha season, in terms of race wins, was in 2005 when he matched his Honda record of 11 victories in one season.
As well as his six premier-class titles, Rossi won the 250cc championship in 1999 and the 125cc title in 1997, both with Aprilia.
Rossi made 64 race starts for Honda between 2000 and 2003, winning 33 times, and 60 starts for Aprilia between 1996 and 1999 (in 125 and 250) when he took 26 wins.
The following list shows the riders who have made most starts in the premier-class riding Yamaha machinery:
1. Norick Abe 143
2. Carlos Checa 112
3. Valentino Rossi 99
4. Christian Sarron 98
5. Eddie Lawson 86
After leaving Honda at the end of 2003, the Italian shocked MotoGP with a stunning victory on his M1 race debut in the 2004 season-opening Africa's Grand Prix.
Rossi went on to win the world championship for Yamaha in both 2004 and 2005, before losing out on the 2006 title to Nicky Hayden at the very final round - then slipping to a MotoGP worst of third during the first season of 800cc racing in 2007.
The Italian superstar fought back to claim his third Yamaha title in 2008 and is on course for a fourth in 2009, holding a 30 point lead over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo with four rounds to go.
Prior to joining Yamaha, Rossi won three premier-class titles for Honda - the last 500cc crown in 2001, then the first two 990cc MotoGP titles in 2002 and 2003.
During his 99 Yamaha starts to date, Rossi has taken 44 wins (including six in 2009), 71 podiums and 27 pole positions.
Rossi's most successful Yamaha season, in terms of race wins, was in 2005 when he matched his Honda record of 11 victories in one season.
As well as his six premier-class titles, Rossi won the 250cc championship in 1999 and the 125cc title in 1997, both with Aprilia.
Rossi made 64 race starts for Honda between 2000 and 2003, winning 33 times, and 60 starts for Aprilia between 1996 and 1999 (in 125 and 250) when he took 26 wins.
The following list shows the riders who have made most starts in the premier-class riding Yamaha machinery:
1. Norick Abe 143
2. Carlos Checa 112
3. Valentino Rossi 99
4. Christian Sarron 98
5. Eddie Lawson 86
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Rossi: 800cc MotoGP's biggest mistake for 15 years
Valentino Rossi has labelled the decision to cut MotoGP engine capacity from 990cc to 800cc for 2007 as 'the biggest mistake in the last 15 years'.
In an interview with Dennis Noyes for Spain's Motociclismo publication, the reigning six time MotoGP world champion - a premier-class title winner on a 500cc two-stroke, then 990cc and 800cc four-strokes - stated:
The 990 motorcycle was 'rough' and wild, but with a great motor and a lot power. The 800 is worse, simply worse, it is the same motorcycle with less power. I was very sad at the beginning, now it has improved, yes... But the power from the 990 made it a lot more fun".
Rossi was then asked how the show can be improved for fans watching trackside and on TV - and has answer made painful reading for those behind the change to 800cc.
"For me the spectacle with the 990 was the same as with the 500. There were big battles and large slides - this is what the public wants, no? The 990 slid a lot on the entry to the turns, but above all on the exit of the corners.
With the 800... I believe that the 800 are the biggest mistake the world championship has made in the last 15 years. We have lost a great part of the spectacle and part of this is because electronics have advanced so much.
For me the manufacturers committed a great error when they changed to 800cc. The 990s were better in every way.
The cut in engine capacity was designed to limit top speeds, but has resulted in higher cornering speeds and greater dependency on electronics.
To rub salt into the wound, Dani Pedrosa took his factory Honda to a new all-time Motorcycle Grand Prix top speed of 349.3 km/h in the opening practice session for this year's Italian Grand Prix.
No satellite rider has yet won an 800cc race, while it took until this year's Catalan Grand Prix for an 800cc race to be won with a last lap pass.
The following table also shows how the change to smaller engines has halved the number of different race winners (from 14 to 7).
Note that weather was a factor in the single 800cc wins for Chris Vermeulen (fully wet), Loris Capirossi (wet/dry) and Andrea Dovizioso (damp).
MotoGP race winners: 990cc (2002-2006)
Honda: 10 riders - Valentino Rossi (20 wins), Sete Gibernau (8), Marco Melandri (5), Nicky Hayden (3), Max Biaggi (3), Dani Pedrosa (2), Alex Barros (2), Makoto Tamada (2), Toni Elias (1), Tohru Ukawa (1).
Yamaha: 2 riders - Valentino Rossi (25), Max Biaggi (2).
Ducati: 2 riders - Loris Capirossi (6), Troy Bayliss (1).
Suzuki: 0
Kawasaki: 0
Aprilia: 0
Roberts: 0
WCM: 0
Moriwaki: 0
MotoGP race winners: 800cc (2007 onwards)
Yamaha: 2 riders - Valentino Rossi (19 wins), Jorge Lorenzo (4).
Ducati: 2 riders - Casey Stoner (18), Loris Capirossi (1).
Honda: 2 riders - Dani Pedrosa (5), Andrea Dovizioso (1).
Suzuki: 1 rider - Chris Vermeulen (1).
Kawasaki: 0
Roberts: 0
Ilmor: 0
Valentino Rossi is he still the best Motogp rider? Will there be any second best to valentino rossi?
In an interview with Dennis Noyes for Spain's Motociclismo publication, the reigning six time MotoGP world champion - a premier-class title winner on a 500cc two-stroke, then 990cc and 800cc four-strokes - stated:
The 990 motorcycle was 'rough' and wild, but with a great motor and a lot power. The 800 is worse, simply worse, it is the same motorcycle with less power. I was very sad at the beginning, now it has improved, yes... But the power from the 990 made it a lot more fun".
Rossi was then asked how the show can be improved for fans watching trackside and on TV - and has answer made painful reading for those behind the change to 800cc.
"For me the spectacle with the 990 was the same as with the 500. There were big battles and large slides - this is what the public wants, no? The 990 slid a lot on the entry to the turns, but above all on the exit of the corners.
With the 800... I believe that the 800 are the biggest mistake the world championship has made in the last 15 years. We have lost a great part of the spectacle and part of this is because electronics have advanced so much.
For me the manufacturers committed a great error when they changed to 800cc. The 990s were better in every way.
The cut in engine capacity was designed to limit top speeds, but has resulted in higher cornering speeds and greater dependency on electronics.
To rub salt into the wound, Dani Pedrosa took his factory Honda to a new all-time Motorcycle Grand Prix top speed of 349.3 km/h in the opening practice session for this year's Italian Grand Prix.
No satellite rider has yet won an 800cc race, while it took until this year's Catalan Grand Prix for an 800cc race to be won with a last lap pass.
The following table also shows how the change to smaller engines has halved the number of different race winners (from 14 to 7).
Note that weather was a factor in the single 800cc wins for Chris Vermeulen (fully wet), Loris Capirossi (wet/dry) and Andrea Dovizioso (damp).
MotoGP race winners: 990cc (2002-2006)
Honda: 10 riders - Valentino Rossi (20 wins), Sete Gibernau (8), Marco Melandri (5), Nicky Hayden (3), Max Biaggi (3), Dani Pedrosa (2), Alex Barros (2), Makoto Tamada (2), Toni Elias (1), Tohru Ukawa (1).
Yamaha: 2 riders - Valentino Rossi (25), Max Biaggi (2).
Ducati: 2 riders - Loris Capirossi (6), Troy Bayliss (1).
Suzuki: 0
Kawasaki: 0
Aprilia: 0
Roberts: 0
WCM: 0
Moriwaki: 0
MotoGP race winners: 800cc (2007 onwards)
Yamaha: 2 riders - Valentino Rossi (19 wins), Jorge Lorenzo (4).
Ducati: 2 riders - Casey Stoner (18), Loris Capirossi (1).
Honda: 2 riders - Dani Pedrosa (5), Andrea Dovizioso (1).
Suzuki: 1 rider - Chris Vermeulen (1).
Kawasaki: 0
Roberts: 0
Ilmor: 0
Valentino Rossi is he still the best Motogp rider? Will there be any second best to valentino rossi?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Valentino Rossi looking for error free finish
Valentino Rossi looking for error free finish
Valentino Rossi is determined to eradicate some of the crucial mistakes that have dogged him in 2009 as he prepares to wrap up a ninth world title.
With just four races of the campaign remaining in Portugal, Australia, Malaysia and Spain, the 30-year-old is firm favourite to capture his seventh premier class world title.
Following his sixth win of 2009 in Misano recently, the Fiat Yamaha rider holds a comfortable 30-point advantage over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.
Rossi though is determined to avoid a repeat of mistakes in Le Mans, Donington and Indianapolis as he looks to end Lorenzo’s brave challenge.
The Italian said: "The important thing is not to make any mistakes and arrive on the podium at every race and maybe try to win before Valencia. But anything can happen, any rider can make a mistake so I don't know if it is possible to win before Valencia.
"I had the chance to make things a lot easier but Indy was a big disaster. There are four races and 30-points is a good advantage. But also I was 50 in front and it is very easy to make a mistake at this level."
SOURCE:
Valentino Rossi is determined to eradicate some of the crucial mistakes that have dogged him in 2009 as he prepares to wrap up a ninth world title.
With just four races of the campaign remaining in Portugal, Australia, Malaysia and Spain, the 30-year-old is firm favourite to capture his seventh premier class world title.
Following his sixth win of 2009 in Misano recently, the Fiat Yamaha rider holds a comfortable 30-point advantage over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.
Rossi though is determined to avoid a repeat of mistakes in Le Mans, Donington and Indianapolis as he looks to end Lorenzo’s brave challenge.
The Italian said: "The important thing is not to make any mistakes and arrive on the podium at every race and maybe try to win before Valencia. But anything can happen, any rider can make a mistake so I don't know if it is possible to win before Valencia.
"I had the chance to make things a lot easier but Indy was a big disaster. There are four races and 30-points is a good advantage. But also I was 50 in front and it is very easy to make a mistake at this level."
SOURCE:
Rossi increases lead
Valentino Rossi led home a Fiat Yamaha one-two as he stretched his lead in the FIM MotoGP World Championship to 30 points over team-mate Jorge Lorenzo with victory at the San Marino Grand Prix.
Rossi and Lorenzo were well clear of the Repsol Honda of Dani Pedrosa at the chequered flag at Misano as the Spaniard's team-mate Andrea Dovizioso came in fourth.
Fifth went to veteran Rizla Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi as the fast-starting Toni Elias, on the San Carlo Gresini Honda, finally faded from second to finish the race in sixth.
Victory stretched Rossi's lead over title rival Lorenzo as Pedrosa's third place moved him up to third in the standings over Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner who is taking a break from the series to recover from illness.
A delighted Rossi said: "It was a perfect weekend and thanks to all the fans because it was a very important victory for me."
Lorenzo admitted he had been second best to his team-mate, as he said: "He was the number one this weekend because he is the fastest."
Pedrosa was quickest off the start line ahead of Elias and Rossi as the drama unfolded behind them.
Lorenzo managed to stay on his bike despite being hit in the second corner by Alex De Angelis whose Gresini Honda wiped both Colin Edwards (Monster Tech 3 Yamaha) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro) out of the race.
Rossi moved up from third to take the lead on lap eight of 28 and Lorenzo was up to second by half-distance.
Lorenzo was never able to close the gap enough on Rossi to challenge for the lead as Pedrosa finished a lonely third as his Honda appeared to run out of fuel on the slow-down lap.
SOURCE:
Rossi and Lorenzo were well clear of the Repsol Honda of Dani Pedrosa at the chequered flag at Misano as the Spaniard's team-mate Andrea Dovizioso came in fourth.
Fifth went to veteran Rizla Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi as the fast-starting Toni Elias, on the San Carlo Gresini Honda, finally faded from second to finish the race in sixth.
Victory stretched Rossi's lead over title rival Lorenzo as Pedrosa's third place moved him up to third in the standings over Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner who is taking a break from the series to recover from illness.
A delighted Rossi said: "It was a perfect weekend and thanks to all the fans because it was a very important victory for me."
Lorenzo admitted he had been second best to his team-mate, as he said: "He was the number one this weekend because he is the fastest."
Pedrosa was quickest off the start line ahead of Elias and Rossi as the drama unfolded behind them.
Lorenzo managed to stay on his bike despite being hit in the second corner by Alex De Angelis whose Gresini Honda wiped both Colin Edwards (Monster Tech 3 Yamaha) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro) out of the race.
Rossi moved up from third to take the lead on lap eight of 28 and Lorenzo was up to second by half-distance.
Lorenzo was never able to close the gap enough on Rossi to challenge for the lead as Pedrosa finished a lonely third as his Honda appeared to run out of fuel on the slow-down lap.
SOURCE:
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