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Double Anaheim podium for Yamaha

Josh Hill at A2 LandM San Manuel Yamaha pair, Josh Hill and James Stewart, gave the new YZ450F a double podium appearance respectively at Angel Stadium, Anaheim in Los Angeles for the third round of seventeen in the AMA Supercross/FIM World SX Championship. On the second visit of three to the venue in California, Hill took his second rostrum result in as many weeks with the runner-up position behind Ryan Dungey. Reigning champion Stewart nursed a sore right hand - a consequence of his Heat race fall last week in Phoenix - to take third place and rise to fifth in the standings. After continuous rainfall during the week on the west coast there were fears that the latest instalment of the Anaheim trilogy would be a muddy one. However some decent track prep and effective use of covers provided a reasonably tacky surface for the riders. Yamaha LandM riders Stewart's hand seemed to bother him in practice but he was able to make the most of a bright start to lead the first quarter of the Main Event. Team-mate Hill was not far away and powered into the lead by lap seven. Dungey was the quickest rider on the track and battled with Hill entering the final five laps. The youngster was denied his second career SX triumph but his runner-up slot, some three seconds ahead of Stewart, means that he is now second in the series. Stewart is still chasing his 38th AMA Supercross victory after his initial success at Anaheim several weeks ago. The 24 year old is currently 22 points adrift of Dungey, and left the arena promptly after finishing the Main Event. 'I don't know if I wasn't breathing in the beginning or what but that pace was ridiculous and I couldn't do it for 20 laps,' remarked Hill, who lies 15 points behind Dungey. 'By the time Dungey passed me, I had nothing left. I'm pretty bummed because with James hurt, I know I have a limited time to get up there and start winning. Hopefully next week.' Paulin in LA Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team's Gautier Paulin negotiated his third and final AMA Supercross West Coast Lites outing and was able to leave LA with 6th place; his highest finish to-date on the YZ250F as the best Yamaha rider that evening. The Frenchman, who had been schooled by AMA winner and fellow countryman David Vuillemin in the US, will now return to Europe to fully prepare for his FIM Motocross World Championship MX2-GP title assault. 'I had a big crash in the whoops and David had been telling me to not be so timid in them, so it felt good in my last supercross this year to put in my best finish in the Main,' he said. 'I think I could have done better but it was my best by far. Hopefully, if I can come back next year, it won't be so new to me then.' British rookie Max Anstie was right behind Paulin with 7th place; the best Indoor classification so far for the teenager. Round four takes place next Saturday at the ATandT Park in San Francisco.
Crowd: NA Weather: Humid
Lap Record: 0'44.601 (Ricky Carmichael , 01/01/2006) Last Years Winner: James Stewart 2010 AMA-SX Anaheim, CA 24/01/2010 Race 1 - 20 Laps Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 Ryan Dungey Suzuki USA 19'47.620 2 Josh Hill Yamaha USA 0'03.139 3 James Stewart Yamaha USA 0'06.109 4 Andrew Short Honda USA 0'10.812 5 Kevin Windham Honda USA 0'15.871 6 Justin Brayton Yamaha USA 0'16.861 7 Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 0'18.240 8 David D Millsaps Honda USA 0'34.697 9 Michael Byrne Kawasaki AUS 0'36.971 10 Ivan Tedesco Yamaha USA 0'40.461 11 Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA 0'43.942 12 Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA 0'49.176 13 Nicholas Wey Kawasaki USA 0'50.618 14 Jason Thomas Suzuki USA 0'53.532 15 Chris Blose Honda USA 1'01.518 16 Grant Langston Yamaha RSA 1'03.896  
Rider Standings 23/01/2010 Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points 1. Ryan Dungey Suzuki USA 72 2. Josh Hill Yamaha USA 57 3. Andrew Short Honda USA 52 4. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 52 5. Kevin Windham Honda USA 51 6. James Stewart Yamaha USA 51 7. Ivan Tedesco Yamaha USA 43 8. Justin Brayton Yamaha USA 41 9. David D Millsaps Honda USA 37 10. Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA 30 11. Nicholas Wey Kawasaki USA 25 12. Grant Langston Yamaha RSA 19 13. Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA 19 14. Michael Byrne Kawasaki AUS 18 15. Austin Stroupe Suzuki USA 18 22. Jason Lawrence Yamaha USA 4 25. Josh Grant Yamaha USA 1  
Manufacturer Standings 23/01/2010 Pos. Manufacturer Points 1. Suzuki 72 2. Yamaha 67 3. Honda 54 4. Kawasaki 52
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team finish up the final day at Portimao

Riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland completed their final day of testing today at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. The two British riders have worked hard over the three days, experiencing a variety of weather conditions from dry to wet to intermediate as they and the team worked through various electronic and bike set ups ahead of the 2010 season. The final session saw Cal fall victim to the drastically reduced grip of the track following yesterday’s rain. Fifty minutes from the end he lost the front of the bike on the slippery surface on the last corner before the home straight. In typical form he was back on his spare bike shortly afterwards for the remainder of the session. Team-mate James was consistently fast all day, ending the last test day just outside the top five in sixth position. Cal Crutchlow Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (4th, 1’42.9) “it was frustrating to fall today, the track so was so slippery it was unavoidable, but it cost me some time on the track. Having said that we’ve had a really good test, we’ve worked through a lot of things and I think we’ve got closer to a good set-up for the first race. I’m really keen to get to Australia and start the next test before we kick-off racing.” James Toseland James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (6th, 1’43.1) “I’m really pleased overall. We’ve worked through a lot of stuff over the last three days and I feel I’ve got a lot more understanding of the bike. The team has worked really well and I’m pleased we’ve managed to keep consistent fast pace over the test. I think there’s more to come so I’m looking forward to getting started again!” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager “Unfortunately the grip level was much less than Friday, so until the soft tyres went on the lap times were not as fast as when we started the test. All the riders struggled to find good grip, so the problem was with the track, not the riders. Cal lost some time after his fall, he switched bikes but had no experience on the tyre on the second bike so couldn’t push so hard. James rode really well today, he is always consistent and was definitely fast enough for the conditions out there. Overall we go to Australia feeling confident and with a good spirit. We’ve had a really successful test, we’ve got some great feedback and have made a good start to 2010.”
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Crutchlow and Toseland get a wet weather workout in Portimao?

Day two of the first World Superbike test of 2010 saw wet sessions for Yamaha riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland, with dry track only appearing towards the end of the day. Both riders took it easy and enjoyed the opportunity to familiarize themselves with how their bikes worked in the wet for the first time. The second day saw more extensive testing of the electronic settings and also an opportunity to test the wet and intermediate Pirellis tyres for the season ahead. Cal was again one of the quickest riders of the day, finishing in the top five, whilst James took a more relaxed approach, not pushing too hard in the wet weather. Cal Crutchlow Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (4th, 1’50.1) “It wasn’t so bad today, it dried up in the end. It was a bit of a last minute thing to get a good time in. In the end we only had two laps on intermediate tyres. We got through some more electronics today but we still have some work to do on chassis and other electronics tomorrow.” James Toseland James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team, (15th, 1’55.4) “It was one of those situations today, we had the last ten minutes getting to grips with intermediate tyres, I was getting up to speed as the last session ended. It’s a bit of a risk to get a good time in the wet on those tyres. It’s looking good for tomorrow though so we’re looking forward to some more dry time. Having said that it’s been good to get out on rain tyres and ride in the damp to experience how the bike behaved.” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager “Today was our first fully wet practice, the second practice started wet and slowly dried out. We worked a lot on the electronics adjustments with both riders. Last year we didn’t have so many wet practices so it has been very helpful today to gather data and information. We’ve had a full day to get a good wet strategy together, so we’re happy and looking forward to some more sunshine tomorrow.”
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike riders kick-off 2010 at Portimao?

New for 2010 Yamaha World Superbike riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland took their first rides of the year today at the Portimao circuit in Portugal. Day one of the three day test saw the riders re-familiarize themselves with their YZF-R1’s and start working on their set-ups for the year. The riders focus for the first day was continuing the development of their preferred settings. Crutchlow was on typically fast form, ending the day in second on the timesheet, less than two tenths of a second from the fastest rider. Team-mate James Toseland was also on form, ending the first ride of the year in fifth just half a second off the front. Cal Crutchlow Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (2nd, 1’42.9) “It wasn’t so bad for the first day. We’re still trying to get comfortable on the bike as we progress but we’re getting there. I’m working away at it and I think the times were good enough. To still be working out our settings and have good times near the top of the board is very satisfying.” James Toseland James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (5th, 1’43.3) “I think I ended up in fifth at the end of the day but only about half a second separates me from first. I’m pretty pleased, we’ve been trying a lot out on the bike and it’s been a really productive day. We’ve tested a lot of things and eliminated a few. I’m hoping the weather holds for out tomorrow but rain is forecast. Having said that, I’ve not ridden this bike in the rain yet so I’m happy for it to rain tomorrow and then be dry on Sunday so we’re testing in all conditions.” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager “We did a great job today, everything was on schedule as it should have been. The team and riders worked really hard, we tested some tyres and as always also we have some other things in development. Cal was working hard on the positioning for his bike and James continues to get more confidence with bike as he gets used to his change from MotoGP.”
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

AMA-SX: Hill takes first 2010 podium?

Josh Hill An LandM San Manuel Yamaha rider finished on the podium of the second round of the 2010 AMA Supercross/FIM World Championship at Chase Field in Phoenix but it was Josh Hill gaining his first silverware for the team instead of defending champion and Anaheim 1 winner James Stewart. Hill gave the 2010 YZ450F its second rostrum appearance in as many weeks last Saturday when he rode to a steady 3rd place in Arizona behind the two Ryans; Dungey and Villopoto. After setting the fastest time in the first practice session Stewart suffered a heavy fall in the qualification Heat and left trackside in some pain. He was able to participate and win the Last Chance race but in discomfort. In the Main Event the Floridian was tussling for a slot just inside the top ten when he tangled with arch-rival Chad Reed causing him to be lapped and drop down the order to 15th. Reed retired for his second DNF and apparently is now on the sidelines with a broken hand. Stewart catching up Stewart was able to obtain 6 points for his efforts in reaching the chequered flag but has slipped from 1st to 7th after 2 of 17 meetings in the 2010 schedule. Hill meanwhile survived his own scare prior to his run to 3rd position: "I had a big crash in practice," he said. "I almost got into a head-on collision with [Fabien] Izoird, but I came out of that and didn't get hurt. I just got good starts, which is something I don't usually do, so it was awesome. I was just able to keep a good track position." The 20 year old celebrated his fifth podium in the supercross class and finished just ahead of Ivan Tedesco, who was 4th, with Justin Brayton taking another top-ten finish with 8th place. Broc Tickle was 5th on the YZ250F in the West Coast Lites series and Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team's Gautier Paulin finished the second Main Event of his career in 12th after a mediocre start. Round three will take place next weekend back in the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Los Angeles. Circuit Length: unknown Crowd: NA Weather: Dry
Lap Record: 0'51.216 (Ricky Carmichael, 01/01/2005) Last Years Winner: James Stewart 2010 AMA-SX Phoenix, AZ 17/01/2010 Race 1 - 20 Laps Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 Ryan Dungey Suzuki USA 18'09.406 2 Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 0'06.053 3 Josh Hill Yamaha USA 0'13.094 4 Ivan Tedesco Yamaha USA 0'17.388 5 Andrew Short Honda USA 0'22.908 6 Kevin Windham Honda USA 0'25.322 7 Austin Stroupe Suzuki USA 0'28.008 8 Justin Brayton Yamaha USA 0'30.858 9 David D Millsaps Honda USA 0'43.755 10 Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA 0'53.034 11 Manuel Gomes Rivas Kawasaki ESP -1Laps 12 Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA -1Laps 13 Nicholas Wey Kawasaki USA -1Laps 14 Jason Thomas Honda USA -1Laps 15 James Stewart Yamaha USA -1Laps 18 Grant Langston Yamaha RSA -3Laps  
Rider Standings 16/01/2010 Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points 1. Ryan Dungey Suzuki USA 47 2. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 38 3. Josh Hill Yamaha USA 35 4. Kevin Windham Honda USA 35 5. Andrew Short Honda USA 34 6. Ivan Tedesco Yamaha USA 32 7. James Stewart Yamaha USA 31 8. Justin Brayton Yamaha USA 26 9. David D Millsaps Honda USA 24 10. Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA 21 11. Austin Stroupe Suzuki USA 17 12. Nicholas Wey Kawasaki USA 17 13. Grant Langston Yamaha RSA 14 14. Manuel Gomes Rivas Kawasaki ESP 10 15. Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA 9 24. Jason Lawrence Yamaha USA 4 25. Josh Grant Yamaha USA 1  
Manufacturer Standings 16/01/2010 Pos. Manufacturer Points 1. Suzuki 47 2. Yamaha 45 3. Kawasaki 38 4. Honda 36
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Double top five finish for Yamaha at 2010 Dakar

Fretigne in the dunes Portugal’s Helder Rodrigues has completed the 9000km, 14 stage loop through Argentina and Chile that formed the 2010 Dakar rally in a fine fourth place on the WR450F. The 30 year old was one position ahead of France’s David Fretigne who added to his Dakar stage win tally by earning victory on the second day. The WR accumulated 10 top three results in total through the endurance and skill of both riders in the 32nd edition of the historic and challenging event. Rodrigues was hunting for a podium place in the latter half of the two-week rally and traversed a variety of terrain and conditions in what was the second year of the spectacle being based in South America. The Enduro expert finished in the top three in four stages and dropped out of the first ten only once across the entire fourteen. Helder Rodrigues “I am really happy because I proved I have the speed and consistency to run at the front of the Dakar,” he said. “I am in good shape and arrived to the finish without any injuries or physical problems and I am really motivated to do well again here. I am one of the youngest riders among the leaders and after this result I feel that I win the Dakar; this will be a dream and I hope I can achieve it soon.” Although Rodrigues could not topple Cyril Despres, who had led from the third stage, to give Yamaha their tenth Dakar triumph he was nevertheless the highest runner for the brand, just over half an hour in front of Fretigne. The Frenchman, a former winner of seven Dakar stages prior to the 2010 trek and also a victor in the old 450cc classification, had a bittersweet run through the continent. Celebration in stage two and a further four more runner-up positions were ultimately undone by an electrical problem on stage three that cost the Dakar veteran the better part of two hours. “I did not achieve my goal of third place but to finish fifth despite losing one hour and forty-five minutes with a problem in the dunes, well, I could not hope for better,” reflected ‘Fretos’, who had charged from 20th place in the standings after his misfortune. “I won a stage and was pretty consistent throughout. I showed that I can be considered a candidate for victory.” Fretigne and Pain 2010 was the first year in which all motorcycles were operating near a level ‘playing field’ with a technical limit of 450cc; larger capacity machines faced air restrictions. Only 450cc bikes will be permitted in 2011. “Next year we will all be on 450s so I am already impatient for 2011 when we will all be on equal machines; the competition has been revived,” added Fretigne. Fellow Frenchman Olivier Pain was 9th overall, placing three Yamahas in the final top ten. Yamaha dominated the quad category thanks to the skills of Argentinean brothers Marco and Alejandro Patronelli respectively with their YFM700Rs. Marco, runner-up in 2009, clinched the title with a commanding lead of over two hours. Along with his older brother the South American’s ruled six stages. Yamaha filled five positions in the top six with Spain’s Juan Manuel Gonzalez in third, Poland’s Rafal Sonik in fifth and Argentina Sebastien Halpern in sixth. In total Yamaha grabbed ten stage wins from a possible fourteen. “In my dreams I could not have imagined this; two brothers finishing first and second at the Dakar! I think it is a bit of history for the rally,” said the winner. “This was a really hard Dakar and the toughest part was the climb through the north of Chile and Antofagasta, navigation was tricky and it seemed to never-end. I want to thank my team and my family who always supported me.”
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Wilco Zeelenberg joins Fiat Yamaha as Lorenzo's Team Manager

Yamaha Motor Racing Srl is pleased to announce the appointment of Wilco Zeelenberg as Team Manager for Jorge Lorenzo in the Fiat Yamaha Team. Dutchman Zeelenberg joins the team from Yamaha's World Supersport Team, where he won the World Championship in 2009 with Cal Crutchlow. Zeelenberg previously had a successful career as a rider, contesting 100 Grands Prix from 1986 to 1995, racing with three different manufacturers including Yamaha. From 1995 to 2000 he then raced in the World Super Sport championship. On retirement from racing he joined Yamaha Motor Europe as Technical Coordinator and Test Rider until 2008, when he took over the role of Team Manager for the Yamaha World Super Sport Team. Zeelenberg lives in Holland and is married with two children. Lin Jarvis, Managing Director for Yamaha Motor Racing Srl, added, "I would like to congratulate Wilco on his appointment and wish him every success in his new challenge. I am confident that the Team and Jorge will benefit from Wilco's long experience as a rider, a Yamaha racing technician and more recently as a successful Team Manager. We look forward to integrating him into the Fiat Yamaha Team working alongside Davide Brivio, both Team Managers being under the supervision of Team Director Masahiko Nakajima." "After nine years working for Yamaha I am very proud to be joining the official Yamaha MotoGP team," said Zeelenberg. "It's a big reward and I am very excited about this new challenge. Jorge is a fantastic rider and I cannot wait to start working with him and the crew. The team is already a well-oiled machine and I am thrilled to be fitting into it. It's clear that there are four main contenders for the title and Jorge is one of those four. I am a very competitive person, I will do everything I can in the team to create the right atmosphere and fight for the championship title."
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

New YZ450F and Stewart win 2010 opener in LA

Stewart wins 2010 Rnd1 The opening round of the 2010 AMA Supercross/FIM SX World Championship at the Angel Stadium, Anaheim in Los Angeles was won in fine style by defending champion L and M San Manuel's James Stewart. The Floridian gave the new Yamaha YZ450F its first victory in a major series. The 51st supercross race in Anaheim and the first of three visits in the 2010 schedule saw a tense beginning to the current campaign that runs almost every week across the US and into Canada until the beginning of May. Stewart was dominant in practice and took first pick in the gate for Saturday's main event that was attended by more than 43,000 people. James Stewart The 24 year old started in second place and hunted the rear wheel of rookie Ryan Dungey for 17 of the 20 laps before making his play for the lead in the closing stages. He crossed the line for his seventh win in Los Angeles by nearly four seconds from Dungey with Kevin Windham over thirty seconds adrift in third. Stewart's arch-rival, Chad Reed, retired on the second lap after a collision left him with broken wheel spokes. "The first few laps, I was trying to settle in and see where everything was, checking out the bike and everything was cool, but I messed up a rhythm section and then he [Dungey] got a pretty good gap," Stewart recalled. "I looked up and it was like lap 13, so I had to put in another charge. I felt like I had a lot left in the tank and I was able to catch him, pass him, and then he ended up trying to pass me back, but I was able to hold him off until the end of the last lap and win the race." "I feel like my endurance is really good, and that's what I really work for hard every week. I felt way better at lap 17 than I did at the beginning." "It's going to be a long season," he added. "Unfortunately, Chad DNF-ed tonight, so there were a lot of crazy things going on but I'm happy to be out of here with a win and the points lead." Josh Hill Stewart's success could start another Anaheim 'clean sweep' for Yamaha as the champion claimed two events last year and Joe Gibbs Racing's Josh Grant was another victor. Grant on this occasion did not start the Main Event after feeling the ill-effects of a practice crash on Tuesday before the meeting. Other YZ450Fs were present in the top half of the leader-board with Stewart's new team-mate Josh Hill running to 6th place and being followed by Ivan Tedesco in 7th and Paris Bercy SX winner Justin Brayton in 8th. Paulin in AMA-SX debut Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team's Gautier Paulin made his AMA SX debut at Anaheim in the West Coast Lites class. The Frenchman, supported for the event by Yamaha Star Racing, made the first of three scheduled appearances as part of his winter build-up to the FIM MX2-GP Motocross World Championship and finished in 15th, the victim of two falls, the first coming through contact with another rider while holding 4th spot. "I felt good," he said. "It was my first time. But Trey Canard hit me and knocked me down, and then I fell again later. My speed was good, but I need to be more consistent next week." Broc Tickle was the highest YZ250F runner with 6th position. Round two of seventeen takes place at Chase Field in Phoenix next Saturday.
Crowd: 43,841 Weather: Dry
Lap Record: 0'44.601 (Ricky Carmichael , 01/01/2006) Last Years Winner: James Stewart 2010 AMA-SX Anaheim, CA 10/01/2010 Race 1 - 20 Laps Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 James Stewart Yamaha USA 18'59.724 2 Ryan Dungey Suzuki USA 0'03.423 3 Kevin Windham Honda USA 0'37.074 4 Andrew Short Honda USA 0'41.282 5 Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 0'44.902 6 Josh Hill Yamaha USA 0'49.151 7 Ivan Tedesco Yamaha USA 0'50.266 8 Justin Brayton Yamaha USA 0'57.308 9 David D Millsaps Honda USA 1'00.003 10 Grant Langston Yamaha RSA -1Laps 11 Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA -1Laps 12 Nicholas Wey Kawasaki USA -1Laps 13 Gregory Aranda Kawasaki FRA -1Laps 14 Fabien Izoird Kawasaki FRA -1Laps 15 Justin Keeney Kawasaki USA -2Laps 17 Jason Lawrence Yamaha USA -16Laps 20 Josh Grant Yamaha USA -20Laps  
Rider Standings 09/01/2010 Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points 1. James Stewart Yamaha USA 25 2. Ryan Dungey Suzuki USA 22 3. Kevin Windham Honda USA 20 4. Andrew Short Honda USA 18 5. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 16 6. Josh Hill Yamaha USA 15 7. Ivan Tedesco Yamaha USA 14 8. Justin Brayton Yamaha USA 13 9. David D Millsaps Honda USA 12 10. Grant Langston Yamaha RSA 11 11. Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA 10 12. Nicholas Wey Kawasaki USA 9 13. Gregory Aranda Kawasaki FRA 8 14. Fabien Izoird Kawasaki FRA 7 15. Justin Keeney Kawasaki USA 6 17. Jason Lawrence Yamaha USA 4 20. Josh Grant Yamaha USA 1  
Manufacturer Standings 09/01/2010 Pos. Manufacturer Points 1. Yamaha 25 2. Suzuki 22 3. Honda 20 4. Kawasaki 16  
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Yamaha hunting ’10 Dakar podium as second half commences

Rodrigues The 2010 Dakar Rally has reached the half way point and Yamaha can count on some consistent and decent performances from the likes of Helder Rodrigues and David Fretigne on WR450Fs who currently hold lofty positions in the motorcycle class. The toughest Rally in the world is once more occurring on a different continent – South America for the second year in succession – but the 9000km, 14-stage route on a loop through Argentina and Chile, beginning and ending in the Argentina capital, offers a diverse and challenge topography worthy of the title ‘Dakar’. The 32nd edition of Dakar is the first with a new regulation of cylinder size in the motorcycle division with the limit pegged at 450cc (bigger machines must be air restricted); allowing the potency of the WR450F to come into its own on a ‘level playing field’. With almost 6000km negotiated, Rodrigues is currently second in the overall standings after 2009 winner Marc Coma was handed a six hour penalty on Friday. The Portuguese, who has only dropped out of the top ten in two stages, has notched best positions of 2nd and 3rd on Stages 2 and 6 respectively up until the mid-rally break of one day. Rodrigues attempted his first Dakar in 2006 and won the 450 class in 2007. He now faces a margin of more than one hour to leader Cyril Despres who has been leading since Stage 3. The 30 year old Yamaha representative heads David Fretigne in 6th place overall. The French Yamaha stalwart is unlucky not to be higher in the classification after earning his eighth triumph on the second day. Fretigne tackled 626km through technical terrain and made the most of some familiar turf to surge ahead. “It was difficult to see at the beginning because of the weather but visibility became better later in the stage and thanks to the tracks being similar to those in which I have trained on in France I was able to increase my rhythm,” he said. Fretigne Sadly the next day Fretigne clocked in with 42nd place after an electrical problem cost him valuable time. “I remain motivated even if my position is not so favourable,” he commented at the time after being bumped outside the top twenty of the overall ranking “but this is the Dakar; you can laugh one day and be crying the next.” Since then Fretigne has been fighting his way back up the table, with 3rd position on Stage5 and 2nd spot through Stage 7 keeping him with a chance of a podium honour. After Stage 7 Spaniard Jose Manuel Pellicer is 8th on another WR while 29th year old Frenchman Oliver Pain is 10th and the fourth Yamaha inside the leading group. Patronelli In the Quad category Yamaha-powered machinery is racing clear with the first five positions of the group of fourteen participants by Stage 7. Marcos Patronelli has a mammoth lead of almost two and a half hours over older brother Alejandro; the Argentines have taken four stages between them. In third is Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez ahead of Rafal Sonik from Poland in fourth. After working their way north and the highest point of the route in Chile, the competitors of the ’10 Dakar will now begin the path down the coast and through the Atacama Desert and dunes until swerving back across the border into Argentina on Wednesday. The Rally finishes with Stage 14 and the entry into Buenos Aires on Saturday 16th.
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

2010 Racing Parts order deadline approaches

R1 Basic Engine Kit The perfect chance to hone your edge on the racetrack with Yamaha Racing Parts for the YZF-R6 and YZF-R1 is drawing nearer with the second ordering deadline for receiving these indispensible YEC kit sets to close on January 15th. Forged through the efforts of world champions Ben Spies and Cal Crutchlow with their respective title winning teams in World Superbike and World Supersport, the high-performance engine and chassis components as well as the specialist tools are now in demand and any remaining orders must be received by the end of next week for delivery by late April. The total YEC line up consists of over 120 parts for the latest generation R1 and over 110 parts for the current R6 such as race camshafts, ECU units and wire harnesses, gears, valve springs and generators. Also available in 2010 are optimum selected sets of uniform weight production pistons and connecting rods and well balanced production crank shaft sets. As in previous years, the range includes a selection of race parts for former model year R1 and R6 machines too. R6 Piston set Yamaha's YEC Racing Parts are sold through the official Yamaha dealer network and are for closed-circuit use only. For further information on specifications and availability teams and riders must contact local Yamaha dealers or national distributors without delay to ensure priority on these essential tools for racing ambition and success. The third and final ordering deadline is May 15th for delivery in August.
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

2010 AMA Supercross spectacle to start this weekend

Stewart This weekend the sensational show that is the AMA Supercross/FIM Supercross World Championship gets underway at its spiritual home of the Angel Stadium, Anaheim in Los Angeles for its 37th edition. The first visit of three to the venue in the 17-race 2010 schedule will see defending champion James Stewart of the L and M Team wield the new Yamaha YZ450F into its maiden major international campaign. Stewart will be backed by new team-mate and Yamaha mainstay Josh Hill while also being supported by brand-mates Josh Grant and Bercy SX winner Justin Brayton as members of the Joe Gibbs Racing squad. Yamaha clinched the AMA/FIM title in 2008 and 2009 and with Stewart’s undoubted status as the fastest rider of the Indoor discipline they will be aiming for a hat-trick come the final round in May in Las Vegas. The Floridian missed the podium only twice from seventeen occasions in 2009 and collected 11 wins setting a new record in Blue colours. The story of last season was the current-24 year old’s duel with Chad Reed, and the arch-rivals are set to clash again on Saturday as the series then heads from West to East coasts with a visit to Toronto, Canada also part of the calendar. With a total of 36, Stewart is presently third in the all-time winner’s list, needing two more victories than Reed for further promotion and has to accumulate thirteen triumphs to hit the number one spot ahead of Ricky Carmichael. Yamaha has a long standing association with Supercross as Pierre Karsmakers won the inaugural championship on a DT250 in 1974, Jeremy McGrath ruled the class for three years in succession from ‘98 to ’00 and Doug Henry famously took the YZ400F to four podiums in 1998 introducing the wave of four-stroke technology that dominates the sport today. A pacy track awaits the riders in Los Angeles and the priority for Stewart surely has to be to improve on his 2009 result in which he tangled with another rider and crashed out of the Main Event. Josh Grant was the surprise victor twelve months ago and the 23 year old followed up his achievement with some decent speed and a rack of top-five finishes. The opening round of the championship will also witness the first competitive outing for Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team’s new rider Gautier Paulin. The French teenager – who finished 3rd in the 2009 FIM Motocross MX2-GP world championship – plans to contest the initial three meetings of the West Coast Lites series for further experience in the sport.
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike riders wrap a successful test in Valencia

The all British line up of Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland wrapped up a successful final day of testing in Valencia this afternoon. Both Crutchlow and Toseland had spent the two day test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit working through electronic and chassis settings on their R1 superbikes ahead of the 2010 season next year. Day two saw big improvements from both riders as the times came down, covering some 60 laps each, despite neither of them getting the opportunity to take advantage of the faster tyres towards the end of the day. They will now head home for Christmas before joining up with their new team again in Portugal in January for the first test of 2010 at the Portimao circuit in the Algarve. Cal Crutchlow Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (1’34.0) “Today was even better than the first day, we worked through a lot more settings in the sessions. I’m disappointed with my final time though as I think I could have been fastest at the end of the day but I didn’t get a chance to use the fastest tyre. I’m happy enough with my overall pace and consistency. We’ve still more to do so I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike in January and keeping up the development.” James Toseland James Toseland, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team (1’34.3) “A really encouraging test for me, again I’m happy being on a track I know so I can concentrate on the bike set up. I feel we’ve come on quite a bit with the bike over the last two days. I didn’t utilize the quick tyre to its full potential as I got held up which is a shame as I was quite confident of getting into the 33s. I ended up on 34.3, which was a good pace. I’m getting used to the way of riding the bike and getting confident with the team as well. I think if we had a race tomorrow we’d be in with a shout!” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team Manager “For the second test for both riders and last test of the season I’m very satisfied. We’ve made some good improvements to the feel of the electronics and suspension, with some very useful feedback from the riders. We’ll take a break now and come back to it in January in Portimao and I think we will achieve even more.”
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Toseland and Crutchlow enjoy a productive first test day at Valencia

Sterilgarda Yamaha world Superbike riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland settled in for their second test with their new 2010 team today at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. The British pairing spent the day working through various electronic settings on the bike, including the anti wheelie control and the traction control to find a smoother feeling on the throttle of the championship winning R1. Crutchlow also spent some time working with the team to perfect his positioning on the R1, a larger bike than his championship winning R6. James Toseland James Toseland, Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike Team (1’34.8) “It’s nice being on a track I know so I could really concentrate on the bike, unlike Portimao in the last test where I was learning the circuit as well. I think we’ve been really competitive today, the times I’ve been doing have been really comfortable, so a sign for me that the bike and team is working well. We’ve been mainly working on the electronic side of things today. It’s such a new bike, there were a lot of things the team wanted to try out during the 2009 season but didn’t have time to do, so the team are taking the opportunity to try some new things with a new rider to see if there’s an improvement.” Cal Crutchlow Cal Crutchlow, Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike Team (1’35.0) “We worked through some stuff today, mostly positioning on the bike, it felt a bit different from Portugal so it’s been harder to get comfy today. I didn’t use any good tyres in today’s sessions so I think I got some decent times which I’m pleased with, the times were consistent 35’s over the day. We’ve got some more stuff to try tomorrow and we’ll keep working hard methodically through everything.” Massimo Meregalli, Sterilgarda Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager “I think the first day of the test went well, we got some good information from both riders. On Cal’s side we tried to fit him better on the bike as he’s very small. So we’ve made some changes to suit him. We’ve also bought along some new parts which we will continue to test. James is getting more confident with the bike and performing well so we’re looking forward to continuing tomorrow.”
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Yamaha take final World Endurance victory and claim the Manufacturer’s Title

YART in action The Yamaha Austria Racing Team took yet another race win last weekend at the 8h of Doha, Qatar for the final round of the 2009 FIM World Endurance Championship. The impressive ride to victory by YART riders Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani, who led the entire race from the first lap, gave Yamaha enough points to claim the 2009 FIM World Endurance Manufacturer title. The Team had already sealed the championship title at the previous round in September but kept the pressure on for the final race to take a clean sweep for Yamaha to add to their already impressive list of world championship title wins this year. “We had some problems at the Bol d’Or round and Suzuki passed us in the manufacturer’s championship standings,” said YART Team Manager Mandy Kainz. “So we came here to Qatar to win. The race was perfect, there were no mistakes and it was a good weekend for us, as it was usually over the year! We also wanted to finish on the podium on Sunday, it was the best way to finish the year.”
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Factory Yamaha Motocross team joins forces with Ohlins

Ohlins and YZ450F The Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team will be able to count on the technical expertise of renowned Swedish suspension specialists Ohlins for the 2010 FIM MX1 and MX2-GP World Championship after an alliance between the two parties was recently confirmed after successful initial tests. The new YZ450FM of David Philippaerts and 2010 revised YZ250F of fresh recruit Gautier Paulin will embrace the technology of the firm established in 1976. Testing will continue extensively with a view towards achieving optimum set-up for the beginning of the pre-season campaign in February and then the first Grand Prix of fifteen in Bulgaria on April 4th. For the Rinaldi Group a union with Ohlins will signify a return to earlier glory days in which Michele Rinaldi – then as Team Manager – grasped the first world titles for the squad and Yamaha in the early 1990s (1994, 125cc with Bob Moore, and 1992, 250cc with Donny Schmit). Ohlin and Rinaldi “I have pleasant memories of working with Ohlins and of course their reputation in the motorcycle sport world is very highly regarded,” commented Team Principal and Owner Michele Rinaldi. “We have two new motorcycles with the latest generation of the YZ450F and the 2010 YZ250F and we are confident that the support and knowledge of Ohlins will help us achieve our goals both on and off the track.” “This new co-operation is very exciting for us. We have a completely new damping system ready for the team along with our high level of technical service and support - we believe that a forceful combination has been created,” said Ohlins Racing Manager Mats Larsson. “The factory team has a fantastic racing history and we look forward to similar success in the future. We are also very much looking forward to being part of the competitive development for the new YZ450F and YZ250F.” Created by Kenth Ohlin in the mid-1970s, Ohlins won their first world championship in motocross in 1978; it would be the first of 200 titles gained across many disciplines of motorsport. Today the firm has three hubs, in Stockholm, Sweden, North Carolina and in Germany and employees more than 230 people. They have more than 30 employees dedicated to high-end racing support and service.
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno

Season ends with successful test in Valencia

A year of hard work finally came to an end for the Fiat Yamaha Team today with the last day of testing in Valencia. Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi finished the day first and third, signing off for the winter in strong form. Both riders continued to work on the new evolution YZR-M1, as well as doing some laps on their 2009 bikes in order to compare the new updates. Lorenzo set his best lap towards the end of the day's work and was 0.256 seconds faster than Casey Stoner, with Rossi 0.333 seconds behind the Australian. Having swept the board of trophies this season, the team will now enjoy a hard-earned break before reconvening at Sepang, Malaysia in early February for the next test. Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 1st Time: 1'31.939 Laps: 62 "I am happy that we are so competitive here with this new version of the bike. I was able to do some very fast laps and it feels good to be the fastest on the last day of the season. There is a long time now until the next text and it is good for me mentally to know that I was fast today. We have worked on some electronics and the suspension, and we have compared the new chassis to the old one and taken a lot of important information for our engineers. I am so happy about my season, I've won three races, taken many podiums and finished second in the championship. I think this is a great achievement by us and now I would like to wish everyone a good holiday to recover so we all come back in February at the maximum ready to work again!" Valentino Rossi - Position: 3rd Time: 1'32.528 Laps: 55 "I am happy about what we have so far with the new evolution of the bike, because it's already faster and already feels better than the old one. The throttle is easier to open and I think that Yamaha has done a good job so far. We were quite fast today and I'm happy about the work we have done over these two days. I think that we have given our engineers plenty to work on over the winter and I am looking forward to the next updates in February. It's good to finally finish work and now we have some months to relax and recharge the batteries ahead of next year, which for sure is going to be a big, big fight!" Test Times 1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1'31.939 2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1'32.195 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1'32.528 4. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1'32.942 5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1'32.981 6. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda 1'33.025 7. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1'33.111 8. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Racing 1'33.125 9. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'33.211 10. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'33.326 11. Alex Espagaro (SPA) Pramac Racing 1'33.345 12. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda 1'33.456 13. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1'34.206 14. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'34.230 15. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'34.540 16. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Scot Racing Team 1'35.261 Comunitat Valenciana: Record Lap C. Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1'32.582 Comunitat Valenciana: Best Lap V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 1'31.002
Alex Asigno
Alex Asigno