MotoGP Blog

Kropotkin reports Lorenzo and Rossi are to share a garage next year. This makes sense, although the size of the egos in a small space will likely lead to fireworks. It does however, increase the probablility of some other stuff too:

• Edwards to Tech 3, for at least one season before he retires to AMA Superbike.
• Just four and not five Yamahas.
• Michelins for all four Yamahas next year, to help with data and development for Rossi and Lorenzo.
• Guintoli looking for someone to give him a job - surely someone must.

We still need to know who will fill the other seat(s) at Kawasaki. And then there is the replacement for Melandri at Gresini. There’s still lots to sort out.

Yamaha are testing their new pneumatic valve engine at Brno. Rossi could only manage 10th fastest, saying

“Initially we haven’t found that it’s a lot faster, but anyway this is only the very first step so we need some more time to understand it better and to see how it can help us. Tomorrow we will continue to work with it again, for part of the day at least”.

Things must be pretty dreary in the Fiat Yamaha garage these days, especially as Edwards time spent testing new tyres also failed to produce a startling result.

Meanwhile Ducati thundered on, Stoner producing exceptional times on old tyres. Capirossi also did well, using a different front tyre.

A good time at Brno seems to be exceptionally dependant on the front tyre, probably due to the off-camber, downhill corners, much more than any other track on the calendar.

One comes back, another one drops out. Unlucky for Gresini, Marco Melandri missed the Brno round, not with the broken ankle he somehow overcame to score points at Laguna Seca, but with a discal hernia in his neck. This affected a nerve and prevented him from turning his head to any great degree and gave him severe pain and lack of mobility in his left arm - no surprise he did not make it out from Friday through to Sunday.

On the other hand, a truly amazing performance from Tony Elias, sees him back on the track. Motogpblog said it was too early, and we are happy to say we were wrong, very wrong. Elias brough it home in 11th and at times looked to be back to his old self.

None of this helps Gresini, who fielded just one bike in Brno - the second time this has happened this season. A team like Gresini need exposure, and fielding one bike won’t do it for them. Melandri is now working hard to recover in time for Misano in two weeks time and Elias will continue his miraculous recovery as well - at least that is what Gresini need.

Is that it? The championship over and done, bar the shouting? If today’s result is anything to go by then Casey Stoner is as good as there. The lad simply does not make a mistake. I can’t remember an apex missed, a slide too leery, and he seems to have massive trust in the front end of his bike, especially around Brno’s tricky off-camber downhill turns. A fine victory for the Aussie, leaving the rest of the pack in his dust. Simply unstoppable.

Hopper tried hard, and today got his best ever result. For a guy who has for so long promised so much, it is surprising that this was hist first time standing on the second step. There is more to come this season I think, but will the move to Kawasaki limit his opportunities next year?

Hayden looked the happiest he has been all year, happy enough to pull several massive wheelies on the cooling down lap. Quite the opposite of Pedrosa who seems to have fallen out with the rest of the world. He is probably finding the Michelins tough to ride, plus getting beaten by Hayden to the podium has to hurt. Read the rest of this entry »

Too many riders, not enough bikes. That’s the story for Yamaha at the moment.

We know Rossi’s staying, we know Toseland is joining, and we know Lorenzo is moving up from the 250s. Up until now, Motogpblog has not believed Yamaha are intending to run five bikes next year, so somebody from Edwards, Tamada and Guintoli have to be the most likely to fill the final place.

Rossi and Edwards get on really well, and Michelin are big Edwards fans - he is a tireless tester (pun intended). Guintoli has performed well above expectations, and his heading of the timesheets at free practice in Brno, Dunlop qualifier or not, has made his point that he deserves a ride next year. Tamada has been less obvious and is the most likely to lose out. Read the rest of this entry »

Yamaha have introduced a new faring for the weekend. Currently only on Rossi’s bike, the faring is much wider and the screen raised to more of a “double bubble” shape. Compare the two images below:

The first picture is from Brno free practice, the second from the USA GP this year.

Notice the increased angle of the screen. Also the faring is very much wider than previous versions, providing a better air flow around the hands and down the sides of the bike. As a result the shape is much closer to that of the Ducati. This change can only be an effort to increase the top speed of the bike to try and stay with Stoner.

Yamaha are testing a new engine on Monday and Tuesday, believed to contain pneumatic valves. Long used in F1, they provide a better and more controlled response at very high revs than the more traditional sprung valves - we’re talking 20,000 rpm here - which should result in a gain in power from the engine. Will Yamaha bring this in for the end of the season, or will they refine it further and look to next year? If Rossi gets a sniff of the title, we’re sure we’ll see it sooner rather than later.

Reports from the paddock indicate that Michelin are pulling out all the stops to gain some ground on Bridgestone. From additional people in the paddock to the cancellation of the summer holidays of the motorcycle racing division of Michelin, they are doing all they can.

Motogpblog understands that a fundamental part of the issue with the Michelins is the additional speed the 800s are able to carry through the corners means that the edges of the tyres are heating up much more than they ever did on the 990’s. This is wearing the tyres more quickly, resulting in a loss of traction through and out of corners. Essentially, the Michelin riders are able to carry less speed and accelerate less quickly than the Bridgestones allow.

We also understand that the Tech 3 bikes will run Michelins next year so as to help with tyre data for the Yamaha factory team; expect Tech 3 on the podium pretty regularly next year.

Honda have started to be a little more generous with parts for their satellite teams in the second half of the season. Evidence from the warm-up sessions in Brno points to revised exhausts, and rumours of some software or electronics changes resulting in more top-end on the bikes (thanks Eurosport). The Konica Minolta Honda web page also talks about better front end feel for Nakano as part of the updates to the bikes.

The Honda generosity has not so far been extended as far as Team KR, who have so far received nothing new from the Big H. It would be easy to see this as some sort of rebuff by Honda; whether it is nor not depends very much on the wording of the contract between Team KR and Honda. Given Team KR are not crying foul about it, it would seem to be perfectly legit. If you get a chance during the race, listen to the Roberts bike - it sounds completely different to the other Hondas.

Loris Capirossi announced today that he will ride for Suzuki next year, as expected by the rumour-factory that is the MotoGP paddock at the moment. Kawasaki were also thought to be in the running, but instead chose instead to announce a return to their previous shade of green. Has there ever been a bigger non-story? Hurry up Friday Free Practice so we can get to the real news.

Back to Loris. This was probably the only real option open to him, and partnering Chris Vermeulen next year will keep him on his toes. Will he stay on beyond 2008? That probably depends on his performance during next season. Neither he nor Suzuki will have the desire to continue unless he’s picking up pretty regular podiums. Just in case, Suzuki have an option on his services for 2009 in case he does rediscover his form.

Not only will his bike change, but so will his mechanics. His current grease-monkeys are staying with Ducati, so his ability to gel with a new team of personalities will also determine his early success. Given Loris is one of the most down-to-earth and well-liked guys in the pit lane, team-spirit won’t be a problem, motogpblog thinks. It’ll be even easier if he’s showing in the top 3 come Sunday afternoon.

At the time of writing, the teams haven’t yet arrived at the Brno circuit. The PR machine’s wheels have certainly started to turn however, and the pace is only going to increase over the next few weeks until the title race for 2007 is decided.

Our pick of the early news, below:

Capirossi has apparently signed for Suzuki. Expect confirmation on Thursday, and for Loris himself, or Casey Stoner, to better his circuit record of 1′58.157.

Tony Elias is making a return to the scene after his broken leg a few short weeks ago. By his own admission he is only 60% fit, and with the risks of a fall damaging his leg and putting his recovery back a considerable amount (like the rest of the season) his judgement is questionable. There is no doubt he is a committed rider though - maybe too committed.

In the doldrums of the summer break came one story to rule them all - Rossi allegedly evading Italian taxes. It seems the bureaucrats have been busy because it has now come to light that Capirossi is also alledged to have evaded taxes. Who upset the Italian Tax Man?

One story which hasn’t happened, but which was supposed to be released back in the Sachsenring was the announcement that Pedrosa and Repsol Honda have reached agreement for Dani to ride for them next year. This has not been forthcoming, although the language of a recent interview seems to suggest Dani is thinking of next year in the same colours - agreement and announcement cannot be far away.

The flywheel of MotoGP spins slowly for the moment - take a breath while you have the chance, as the speed is going to pick up like an 800cc off the start line.