September 13th, 2008 by R.J.

The first day of action at Indianapolis for MotoGP riders saw attention turning away from the new circuit and towards the skies, as torrential rain hit the track during the 800cc practice sessions at the Brickyard.

No rider was immune from the weather, but of those least affected was Kawasaki’s Anthony West onboard his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR. The Australian star has been known for his ability to perform during downpours, and it was no different today as he took fastest lap with a 1:53.034 in his opening session.

West was also fastest in the second session under even heavier rain, but with a slower time.

The Kawasaki rider is competing for a ride in 2009, and he’s doing it in impressive fashion. With rain in the forecast for Sunday’s race, West could be one of the key players.

The top 3 fastest riders of the day were Anthony West, Alex De Angelis, and Casey Stoner - who crashed yet again in the morning practice session.

September 12th, 2008 by R.J.

After one season together in MotoGP, Alex De Angelis and Fausto Gresini have recently signed a new contract for the upcoming 2009 MotoGP World Championship season.

De Angelis’ confirmation as a rider of the Faenza-based team is the result of their strengthened relationship and mutual confidence that has developed during the 2008 season. It has been a year in which Alex has demonstrated his potential, his willingness to gain experience and to grow in the top class of Motorcycle racing, achieving two fourth place finishes in Mugello and at the Sachsenring Grand Prix.

Alex De Angelis will be a name you will be hearing time and again in the upcoming season, you can count on it.

September 11th, 2008 by R.J.

As we head into round 14 of the 2009 MotoGP season, which is being held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the very first time, Kawasaki’s John Hopkins and Anthony West are in an optimistic mood.

West, who has recently struggled with front-end issues aboard his Kawasaki race machine is looking to gain a strong result at this new circuit. The 27-year-old Australian, who scored a career best Grand Prix finish with a fifth place at Brno, has been working closely with his crew to improve the set-up of his Ninja ZX-RR to give him more confidence into the turns.

Although the recent post-race test at Misano didn’t completely abolish the problem, he believes that steps forward have been made and he can continue his progression this weekend.

“Indianapolis is a new challenge for everyone as no-one knows the track. I’m hoping this will give us a little bit of an advantage, as it should be more of an even playing field”, commented West. “At Misano we struggled with the front-end of the bike, and although we managed to make some improvements in the post-race test, there is still work to do. I stayed in Italy following the event where I’ve been doing a lot of cycling and training ready for this weekend, so I’m feeling relaxed and ready for the challenge. We’ll go and try to get as many laps under our belt on Friday to put us in the best possible position for the race, and it will be a case of trying to capture as much data as we can, then going from there. I’m looking forward to it and I hope we can get a strong result.”

Hopkins is looking forward to racing his Ninja ZX-RR at his home event this weekend; especially after missing out on the Laguna Seca round due to injury. The 25-year-old Kawasaki pilot is hoping to make amends in front of a home crowd, especially after making further improvements to his race machine at the Misano post-race test.

Hopkins had this to say:
“I’m really excited about Indianapolis as it’s my second home round and unfortunately I missed Laguna Seca because I was injured. Not only that, but I grew up around the racing world, and although two-wheeled motorsport is my favorite, the family would all get together to watch races like the Brickyard and the Indianapolis 500 at this track”, he explained. “It’s a very special feeling to be racing in MotoGP there, and although I’m not familiar with the circuit, I’m incredibly motivated for this event. I’ve been studying the track layout and Olivier tested the Ninja ZX-RR earlier this year, so we have a little bit of feedback from that, but being in front of my home fans at such an incredible place is going to be fantastic - I just can’t wait to get out there.”

September 10th, 2008 by R.J.

The upcoming round of the MotoGP championship will see an exciting new track join the calendar, with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosting its first ever World Championship race. The Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix is by far one of the most eagerly awaited events this season. It will be the second and final time this season that a championship race will take place in the states.

Taking place on September 14th, the Indianapolis race promises to be a late-summer blockbuster, with the previous thirteen rounds having provided some exciting and unpredictable action. With the 2008 world title still up for grabs, the riders will, as always, be going all-out for victory in addition to the honor of becoming the first winner of the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.

Read the rest of this entry »

September 10th, 2008 by R.J.

The 2009 Honda CBR line-up has been revealed. The biggest news that everyone seems to be talking about is that the bikes will be available with optional ABS.

Here are a few photos from the new line-up. Read the press release from Honda after the break:

Read the rest of this entry »

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 8th, 2008 by R.J.

All four of the Yamaha MotoGP riders took part in the world premier of the 2009 Yamaha R1 today in a suitably glittering show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fiat Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo and Tech 3 Yamaha team-mates Colin Edwards and James Toseland were Yamaha’s surprise guests at the unveiling, w  hich took place in front of 3000 Yamaha at the Mirage Hotel.

The all-new version of the R1, Yamaha’s premium performance road bike, is more closely linked than ever to the YZR-M1, the MotoGP version, than ever. The premier-class riders each came on stage aboard a different colored version of the machine, before being interviewed about it’s qualities compared to their own MotoGP bikes.

Here’s what some of the riders had to say about the bike:

Valentino Rossi:
“This is a great bike, it’s very like my M1 and it’s exciting to see so many MotoGP qualities now appearing on a bike for the road. I think everyone who loves the R1 and Yamaha will be very excited about this new version, it’s fantastic!”

Jorge Lorenzo:
“I think this bike will be very popular. Yamaha have worked very hard to try to make it as like our M1 as possible and it seems they have done a fantastic job. The cornering and agility especially is great, which is of course one of the best qualities of the M1.”

September 5th, 2008 by R.J.

A motorcyclist has died during time trials at the Utah salt flats just east of the Nevada state line.

Investigators say that Cliff Gullet, 47 of Bozeman, Montana lost control of his motorcycle while traveling at 239 mph and died of the injuries he sustained.

Gullett was the owner of Team Bozeman Motorsports, a motorcycle and snowmobile dealership. He had set a handful of  land-speed records and said that he wanted to eventually become the first to reach 400 mph on a two-wheeled Streamliner.

Curt Lance, Team Bozeman’s general manager, said this of Gullet: “Cliff always told me that if anything happened on the Salt, he wanted it to be quick and not lingering. He died doing the thing he loved to do most — racing at Bonneville.”

September 4th, 2008 by R.J.

The man who crashed his motorcycle off an offramp yesterday in Las Vegas has been identified. According to police, the man is 25-year-old Joseph Kongnalinh of Las Vegas.

Police have said that Kongnalinh stole an alcoholic beverage from a Chevron station at 3061 St. Rose Parkway, near Spencer Street at 8:30 a.m. A police chase ensued and Kongnalinh was involved in two accidents, the latter of which flung him over a concrete retaining wall on an overpass and onto the 15 freeway 50 feet below below.

September 3rd, 2008 by R.J.

Yesterday, a Vegas man crashed and fell 50 feet to his death from an overpass above the I-15 freeway.

This has to be one of the weirdest motorcycle story I’ve ever written about. The man, apparently, robbed a convenience store with a gun to steal a bottle of liquor in his helmet and motorcycle jacket. He then hopped on his bike where a chase with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police ensued. He was able to outrun metro, but crashed his bike near Jones and Tropicana. He then took off his jacket and helmet, left it on the side of the road along with his handgun, and resumed running from the cops on his bike.

Police were not chasing him at the time he crashed on the Tropicana overpass of the I-15. His bike impacted a cement retaining wall and flung his helmetless body onto the freeway shoulder below where he was pronounced dead.

I’m not sure if the moral of the story is to not run from the cops; to always wear your helmet; or to not rob convenience stores.

Better go with all three.