Mike's Motegi Mini Race Report

By Kropotkin | Sun, 23/09/2007 - 16:49

Crazy, crazy stuff.

Rain and a drying track scramble everything in the land of the rising sun.

Capirossi rolls the dice and comes in early for dry tires. The gamble pays off and Capirex wins his 3rd Motegi race in three years. DePuniet comes in second, his best result ever, then Elias. All the Bridgestone riders went back out on slicks.

Guintoli nearly gets Dunlop on the podium.

Rossi gambles and loses by staying out a bit too long on his wet tires..

Spec Tires in MotoGP?

By Kropotkin | Sat, 22/09/2007 - 17:34

Press release from Dorna:

In the Grand Prix Commission meeting Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta proposed the introduction of a single tyre rule for MotoGP in 2008, something which will be decided on at the forthcoming Polini Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna CEO

Little Dani, Happy at Last?

By Kropotkin | Fri, 21/09/2007 - 13:25

HRC announced on Friday that Dani Pedrosa has re-signed with Repsol Honda for the next two years. This announcement has been a long time coming with rumors of Pedrosa's displeasure with Honda and Michelin widely circulated. It has been no secret that Pedrosa, the so-called "Future of Honda" has been very unhappy with the Honda RC212V that was reportedly designed with riders of smaller stature (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) in mind.

Davies out of Motegi? (Updated)

By Kropotkin | Tue, 18/09/2007 - 23:02

Toby Moody at Autosport.com is reporting that Chaz Davies has taken himself out of consideration to replace Alex Hoffman at Motegi. Davies apparently had a bad reaction to a tetanus shot he recieved following an injury to his elbow during testing the d'Antin Ducati GP07 at Mugello last week. At Laguna Seca, Davies had to visit the hospital and his poor physical condition was exacerbated by two crashes over the weekend. It is not known at this time if d'Antin will be able to secure another rider for the Japanese round.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/62539

Mike's Motegi Preview (updated)

By Kropotkin | Tue, 18/09/2007 - 13:58

For Casey Stoner, this could be the week that was. That is, the week he is crowned MotoGP World Champion. The fact that it could be in the land of the rising sun, the home of the Japanese big 4 manufacturers makes it that much sweeter, if not for Stoner, then certainly for Ducati. The last time a non-Nipponese machine won the premiere class was in 1974, when an MV Agusta piloted by Englishman Phil Read prevailed. 33 years is an awfully long dry spell and it has built an powerfulful thirst for victory.

Spies To Test GSV-R

By Kropotkin | Tue, 18/09/2007 - 01:24

Ben Spies, fresh from his victory at Laguna Seca yesterday that saw him take his second consecutive AMA Superbike championship, has confirmed that he will test the Suzuki GSV-R800 this year. The test will occur on October 21 at Sepang the day after the MotoGP race. Spies also said that he does not know if he will be granted a wild-card ride at the season-ending Valencia race. Paul Denning, Rizla Suzuki team manager has commented that Suzuki very much wants to keep the 23 year-old Spies "in the fold".

Davies to race at Motegi?

By Kropotkin | Mon, 17/09/2007 - 19:44

MCN (It *must* be true!) is reporting that Chaz Davies has been approached by Pramac d'Antin Ducati to fill the seat recently unwillingly vacated by Alex Hoffman at the Motegi MotoGP race. Davies, as well documented on this blog, has impressed d'Antin and Ducati management during his stints as an emergency fill-in rider for d'Antin at Laguna Seca and during a recent test at Mugello.

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