Suzuki to return to MotoGP

Suzuki will return to the MotoGP championship in 2015.

The Japanese manufacturer announced its return ahead of a test of its prototype bike in Spain on June 17 2013.

Suzuki won 500cc World titles with the likes of Briton Barry Sheene, and Americans Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts but pulled out in 2011 saying the company needed to reduce costs in the face of a global economic downturn but hoped to return in 2014.

FOUR TOP BIKE MAKERS

The bikemaker joined an official MotoGP test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya on Monday after the MotoGP race there and said it would continue to test inside and outside Japan.

Davide Brivio, Valentino Rossi's former boss at Yamaha, will manage the test team with MotoGP racer Randy de Puniet serving as development rider on the 1000cc machine.

Suzuki's return will give MotoGP at least four major manufacturers in the top category - the others are Honda, Yamaha and Ducati. Kawasaki pulled out in 2009

Original Article and more at: http://www.wheels24.co.za/Motorsport/Suzuki-to-return-to-MotoGP-20130617

Sepang plaque for Simoncelli

KUALA LUMPUR - MotoGP riders will gather at Malaysia's Sepang circuit for the installation of a plaque in memory of Italian rider Marco Simoncelli who was killed in a crash there a year earlier.

Razlan Razali, Sepang International Circuit CEO, said riders and team officials would gather at Turn 11 on Thursday (Oct 18) where the young racer lost control of his bike - and his life.

"A bronze plaque will be installed at Turn 11 in remembrance of Simoncelli," he said.

UP-AND-COMING STAR

The tragic incident - probably engraved in the minds of all MotoGP fans - occurred soon after the race started. The 24-year-old's Honda veered across the track and into the path of riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, both of whom hit the fallen rider.

Simoncelli, considered an up-and-coming MotoGP star, lost his helmet in the collisions.

Razlan also said a "Marco Simoncelli Rookie of the Year" trophy in memory of the flamboyant 2008 Moto2 World champion would be unveiled on Saturday.

The circuit will award the trophy to the best rookie in the MotoGP class at the 2012 season-ending race in Valencia on November 11. The rookie rider with the most points will be the winner.

Sepang will host the Malaysian leg of the MotoGP series on Sunday (Oct.21), Round 16 of the 18-race championship.

Original Post at: http://www.wheels24.co.za/BikesQuads/Sepang-plaque-for-Simoncelli-20121016

Rossi out of Ducati, into Yamaha

ROME, Italy - Italian motorcycling great Valentino Rossi will leave Ducati at the end of the 2012 MotoGP season to rejoin Yamaha on a two-year deal.

Yamaha Motor Racing managing director Lin Jarvis said in a statement: “In June (2012) we signed Jorge Lorenzo for the 2013/14 campaign and can now confirm Valentino Rossi for the next two years.

"I’ve no doubt that with the experience, knowledge, skills and speed of these two great champion riders we will be able to challenge for many race wins and for the 2013 and 2014 World championship titles."

DUCATI KEEPS HAYDEN

The 33-year-old, nine-times World champion – seven of those in the highest class - first joined Yamaha in 2004 and won four MotoGP titles for the brand before agreeing a two-year deal with Ducati at the end of the 2010 season.

Ducati said it was finalising its 2013 championship line-up having recently renewed a contract with American Nicky Hayden.

Spaniard Lorenzo, MotoGP champion in 2010, has ridden for Yamaha since 2008 and is leading the 2012 championship by 23 points after 10 races.

Rossi is in eighth place with only one visit to the podium all season.
Originalpost and more biking news can be found at: http://www.wheels24.co.za/BikesQuads/Rossi-out-of-Ducati-into-Yamaha-20120810

Stoner 4th - but hero of Indy

Indianapolis, Indiana - He crashed in qualifying, rode in a special boot with damaged ankle ligaments and bone breaks and still Casey Stoney came home fourth in the 2012 Indianapolis MotoGP.

The race was won by Dani Pedrosa on another Honda.

The Honda ace started sixth (on a time from early in quali) but within the first dozen laps has picked off the opposition, one by one, until with 16 laps to go he was running third behind Dani Pedrosa (Honda) and Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) though Ben Spies (Yamaha) dropped out with a blown engine after starting fourth.

HANGING IN THERE

With 14 to go it was Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha), Alvaro Bautista (Honda) and Stefan Bradl (Honda) - with eight to go the queue was the same. Then a lap later, the pain obviously coming through for Stoner, Dovizioso slipped through on the inside though Stoner stayed right on his tail in fourth.

He was still hanging in there with four to go - was he pacing himself for a push on the closing laps while Pedrosa stayed well clear at the front? Valentino Rossi, by the way, was running a very lonely seventh, nearly half a minute behind.

Three to go and the order was the same at the front with Pedrosa not easing up at all, his rear wheel coming out through the curves and way ahead of Lorenzo.

As the flag dropped after 28 laps and Pedrosa filing the fastest speed of 335km/h it was Pedrosa, followed by Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Stoner (to huge applause from the crowd), Bautista and Bradl with Rossi still a distant seventh.

While the history books will report the order, the subscript will remember the bravery of the guy who came fourth.

The next MotoGP races will be in Brno next weekend.

2012 Indianapolis MotoGP result
1 Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 46min39.631,
2 Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) +10.823
3 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Yamaha) +17.310
4 Casey Stoner (AUS/Honda) +19.803
5 Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) +22.556
6 Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) +30.072
7 Valentino Rossi (ITA/Ducati) +57.614
8 Karel Abraham (CZE/Ducati) +1:08.442
9 Yonny Hernandez (COL/BQR) +1min11.106
10 Aleix Espargaro (ESP/ART) +1min14.079

Overall points after 11 rounds
1 Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) - 225
2 Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) - 207
3 Casey Stoner (AUS/Honda) - 186
4 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Yamaha) - 137
5 Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) - 106

Original Post found at: http://www.wheels24.co.za/BikesQuads/Stoner-4th-but-hero-of-Indy-20120819