September 9th, 2008 by R.J.

Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced that Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen have both agreed to terms to continue riding for the Japanese company’s MotoGP division for the 2009 season.

Of the news, the riders had this to say:

Loris Capirossi:
“I am delighted to be staying with Suzuki for another season. I have really enjoyed my short time here and know we are making progress and can be on top again. The management has shown faith in me - even though I have not been at my best due to my injuries - and now I must start to re-pay them for their belief in me and to committing to me a further season. I have enjoyed working with Paul and my whole crew has been fantastic all season, whatever I have asked for they have delivered and they are probably the hardest working guys in the paddock. I still have unfinished business in MotoGP and on the Suzuki, I still have podiums, pole positions and race wins in me and I believe that I can achieve that with this team. I want to finish my career with Suzuki and I want to do that in style!”

Chris Vermeulen:
“I’m extremely happy to be staying with the Suzuki team, it is a factory and squad that I know well and respect enormously. Over the last three years there has been big progress with both the machine and with my level as a rider. Suzuki was my entry into Grand Prix racing, I have been here for three years and won a GP - and been on the podium many times – so I am really pleased to be continuing this relationship. I had offers from other teams, but I always felt that I wanted to stay with Suzuki if we could get the terms agreed so that everyone was happy. Luckily we were able to do that, so now I can get on with trying to win more races and help Suzuki get to a World Championship challenging level.”

September 1st, 2008 by R.J.

Things aren’t looking good for Casey Stoner. Not only is he not winning (after taking every pole for the last seven races), but he’s pretty consistently crashing out from the lead with only himself to blame.

It happened again this weekend at Misano. Stoner had a substantial lead by the end of the first lap, and instead of slowing down his pace and taking a victory by four seconds instead of trying to push it out to twenty, he got greedy and lost control of his bike. He’s starting to remind me of a certain ficticious NASCAR driver who would always finish races “First or last, baby!”

Rossi went on to take his 68th premier class victory, and in doing so equalling the record of MotoGP Legend Giacomo Agostini. Rossi has had 3 consecutive race victories, now stands atop a 75 point championship lead, and there are only 5 races remaining in the season.  Things aren’t looking good for Casey Stoner.

August 30th, 2008 by R.J.

The top spot on the MotoGP grid for the seventh consecutive race will once again be occupied by reigning World Champion Casey Stoner with the aussie completing a clean sweep of the practice sessions at Misano.

Finishing a half second behind Stoner was Valentino Rossi who will start second on the grid for a third race in a row. Jorge Lorenzo, returns to the front row for the first time since the Portuguese grand prix of Estoril back in April.

Row two will be occupied by Randy de Puniet, Toni Elias and Dani Pedrosa.

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August 18th, 2008 by R.J.

Valentino Rossi once again benefited from Casey Stoner’s misfortune for a second consecutive MotoGP victory; crossing the finish line first at the Czech Grand Prix. The Fiat Yamaha rider’s top podium position,  coupled with an early crash from his title rival, increased Rossi’s lead to 50 points in the standings and gave a significant boost to his World Championship hopes.

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July 30th, 2008 by R.J.

As mentioned yesterday, Sete Gibernau may be called on to replace Marco Melandri as a factory Ducati rider.

Today, Gibernau completed two days of testing for Ducati at Mugello with the Official Testers Vittoriano Guareschi and Niccola Canepa who will continue testing tomorrow for the final day.

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July 29th, 2008 by R.J.

Marco Melandri is forced to wait and see if he will return to Ducati for 2009 or if he will be replaced by another World Championship runner-up, Sete Gibernau.

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July 28th, 2008 by R.J.

After last week’s dismal performance, Michelin seems to have grown tired of being the #2 tire manufacturer in MotoGP. The french tire manufacturer has vowed to try to produce better tires for the upcoming Czech Grand Prix in Brno.

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July 25th, 2008 by R.J.

Here is the provisional calendar for the MotoGP 2009 series:

April 12 *   - Qatar         - Doha/Losail

April 26     - Japan         - Motegi

May 3        - Spain         - Jerez de la Frontera

May 17       - France        - Le Mans

May 31       - Italy         - Mugello

June 14      - Catalunya     - Catalunya

June 27 ‡    - Netherlands   - Assen

July 5 †     - United States - Laguna Seca

July 19      - Germany       - Sachsenring

July 26      - Great Britain - Donington Park

August 16    - Czech Rep.    - Brno

August 30    - United States - Indianapolis

September 13 - San Marino    - Misano

September 20 - Hungary       - Lake Balaton

October 4    - Portugal      - Estoril

October 18   - Australia     - Phillip Island

October 25   - Malaysia      - Sepang

November 8   - Spain         – Valencia

*: Night Race
‡: Saturday Race
†: Only MotoGP class

July 23rd, 2008 by R.J.

Jorge Lorenzo will be sporting a cast on his left foot for the next 10 days in order to recover from clean fractures he suffered during last weekend’s MotoGP race at Laguna Seca.

The Fiat Yamaha rider was taken directly to the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona upon his return from Laguna Seca in order to undergo examination by Dr. Xavier Mir.

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July 21st, 2008 by R.J.

Still not back in town yet after the race… And what an awesome race it was!

Before this race, I was having doubts about Valentino Rossi’s ability to fend off Casey Stoner for the championship, but those doubts were erased on Sunday. Couldn’t believe he was able to go off course like that and managed to pull it out.

I expected both Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards to do much better than they did. I know they were complaining about Michelins at the track this weekend, so maybe Michelin is mostly to blame… But, I was expecting more. It just seems kind of pathetic when you have Edwards placing behind Spies, who hasn’t even raced at Laguna on a MotoGP bike before..