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Alex Asigno
Yamaha Motor Company Ltd. and Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. marked the second year of their MotoGP partnership today, at the official 2008 Fiat Yamaha Team Launch in Turin, Italy. The presentation was hosted by Italian TV star Simona Ventura and took place at the historic Lingotto building, which was Fiat’s car factory from 1923 until 1982. The building, which features a unique rooftop test track, played host to a different type of wheel power today when the new 2008 YZR-M1s, sporting an updated version of the Fiat Yamaha Team’s eye-catching white and blue livery, were unveiled. Yamaha’s double MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was present at the ceremony alongside his new team-mate, 20-year-old Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who is making the step up to MotoGP after two years as 250cc World Champion. Also present today were Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl, Masahiko Nakajima, Fiat Yamaha Team Director and YZR-M1 Project Leader, Davide Brivio and Daniele Romagnoli, Fiat Yamaha Team Managers, and Lorenzo Sistino, CEO of the Fiat brand. “I’m very happy that we’re so close to the start of racing,” said Rossi, who will contest this season on Bridgestone tyres for the first time. “This is a very important year for us and our only aim is to win, although it’s going to be hard work. My hand is much better, if not yet perfect, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike in Sepang next week. Everyone has been working very hard over the winter and I think our new bike is quite good, although of course we still have a lot of work to do. Everyone is very motivated and I know that we have the best team there is.”
 
Lorenzo, whose M1 will be Michelin-shod this season, enjoyed his first official day as a Yamaha rider. “I’m very happy to be here, with these people, this bike and in this team. I have a long way to go in my development but I have improved each time I’ve ridden the bike and the last test especially was very good. I’m very excited about this season and it’s a great honour to share the garage with Valentino, who is without doubt the most complete talent in our sport.” Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, commented, “We’re very pleased to be continuing our strong partnership with our title sponsor Fiat. Meanwhile, the most important change to our team is the arrival of Jorge Lorenzo as Valentino Rossi’s new team-mate. Our aim is to recapture the title and, as our most experienced rider, this is Valentino’s clear mission. However we also expect Jorge to be fighting at the front as he gains experience. We have two multiple World Championship winning riders in our team and we believe we have optimum chance to realise our ambitions. “As well as continuing with Fiat, we also enter into a second year with Official Sponsors AIA and ACER, and we’re also delighted to announce today the arrival of a new Official Sponsor in solar-energy company KERSELF, with whom we have concluded a two-year sponsorship agreement. Another important new partner is YAMALUBE, Yamaha’s own high performance lubricants brand. Plus, as everyone knows, this season we will be working with both Michelin and Bridgestone tyre brands and we would like to thank them, as well as all our official sponsors and suppliers, for their continued support.” “The Fiat Yamaha initiative has been a success for Fiat from the start,” added Lorenzo Sistino, CEO of the Fiat brand. “The team is young, successful and dynamic and MotoGP brings us very close to our target market and gives us great visibility, not only in Italy but worldwide. We’re looking forward to another great year with Yamaha.” The Fiat Yamaha Team’s 2008 campaign gets underway in Sepang, Malaysia next week with the first of four pre-season tests. The 18-round MotoGP season commences in Qatar on 9th of March.
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Motocross Team’s Josh Coppins is more determined than ever to see his FIM World Championship dreams come to fruition in 2008 after coming so desperately close last year. The 30 year old will shortly return from an active winter of training in his native New Zealand to embark on a busy pre-season spell of international races and tests before the first Grand Prix of fifteen in Holland on April 6th. “At the moment I am starting to work more on my riding and getting the hours on the bike but also keep up my physical training,” he said. “I leave New Zealand on the 28th of January and go straight to Italy where I will test my race bike. Then we have races at Mantova, Montevarchi , Valance and Hawkstone, all in a row. This year I will also work with Jacky Vimond (former 250cc World Champion). After this I will have three weeks off from racing and I will see what areas I need to work on; they may be speed, or the bike or fitness. I will do the first round of the Belgium championship the week before Valkenswaard and then we hit Grand Prix 1.” Coppins has been honing his physical condition since December in his town of Motueka, with some local race appearances – including domination of Supercross outings in Australia and New Zealand - thrown in for good measure. His gym and cardiovascular itineraries have seen an intense timetable of activities from cycling and riding to rock-climbing. “To be honest every year it gets better,” he said of his programme. “Every year we step-up the training and try to prepare better, but then so do my competitors! I did pretty much the same as the previous two years except I rode the motorbike a bit more and basically did more training than in the past. Last year we were struggling to do twenty hours a week, this year almost every week was well over that.”
 
The winner of five Grand Prix in his maiden season with the YZ450FM first had to let his broken shoulder heal. The injury meant that the Yamaha Motocross Team surrendered the MX1 crown they had owned since in 2004 and halted their phenomenal run of six titles. Coppins lead fourteen of fifteen rounds in 2007 until being forced to withdraw from the final race of the year. He insists that the ‘downtime’ he needed to recover from the break was a positive experience for his mental state approaching 2008. “I spent some time doing nothing at home waiting for my shoulder to heal,” he revealed. “In that time I thought about the highs and the lows of 2007, the good and the bad parts of my season and most of all how I could improve for ‘08. I have a bit of a different approach now, mostly mentally, I think I am a stronger person now.” In terms of his work with the Italian crew of YMT, Coppins also stresses that the 2008 version of his race motorcycle means he will be even more of a potent force come April. “The new 2008 bike is a really good and I am happy because Yamaha addressed the few little issues we have from last year,” he remarked. “I tested the new bike for two weeks before I left Europe at the end of ‘07. There are only small changes but mostly to the chassis. They have made a big difference and it is a nicer bike to race.” “There is not too much testing to do now as I am happy with how things are,” he continued. “We will try a few modifications that I have asked the team to try over the winter, but mostly it will just be getting time on the bike and getting comfortable again in Europe.”
Alex Asigno
Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) completed a tough but successful three day test at Phillip Island in conditions which varied from relatively cool to exceptionally hot, finding real improvements while using Yamaha’s YCC-I variable intake system in full race trim. Noriyuki Haga (Position: 6th – Best time: 1’32.4) “It’s gone very well. We spent the days testing new parts, the results are good so now I am just waiting for the race. I’ve tried new suspension, new swing arm linkages and many tyres and the variable inlet trumpets. Before coming to Phillip Island I tested the variable inlet trumpets for two days in Japan and the feeling is very good. We can see from the power curve that it is better and as a rider it gives me a better feeling. It gives us increased adjustment and for sure we will use this from now on.” Haga’s personal best time of 1’32.4 was only 0.3 seconds from the best over the three days of testing, while Corser set a 1’32.7, both concentrating their efforts on finding good race settings and tyre options in the constantly changing track conditions. Corser in particular found the surface uncharacteristically bumpy in places, and the final day of testing, run in ambient temperatures of 38°C at times, was hard work for all.
As well as successful trials of the YCC-I system, the team evaluated swingarm and linkage developments, with Corser also trying out new braking components. The very high temperatures of the final day are not expected to be experienced at the Phillip Island race itself, on 2 March. Troy Corser (Position: 7th – Best time: 1’32.7) “We’ve had a lot to test but we’ve seen a direction - some were good and some not so good. I’ve been working to improve the stability on the bike and we’ve also been trying some new discs to give us better braking. We’ve had a whole range of front forks, rear shocks and a different swing arm link and tyres to test. The actual one lap fast times on the final day didn’t really come but we gained a lot of data, a lot of feedback and have a good race speed. I only spent the final afternoon using the variable inlet but I’ve been able to feel a bit different power. I think we’ve still got a bit of work to do to find the best bike balance here but it’s definitely been a positive test.” Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator - Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team) "We have to be happy with this test because we are better than last year and the year before and in particular over a race distance our speed is good. Still this circuit remains difficult for us because it offers not the grip level that makes are bike work perfect. It is difficult to say the difference between us and the competition, because we did our long run at around 12 noon, most others did theirs at a different time. We were happy with ours, especially the one from Noriyuki, so we are leaving Phillip Island feeling optimistic. Both riders used the variable intake system properly for the first time and both of them were very happy with it. It is a positive step and for sure we will use it at the first race in Qatar.” Circuit Length: 4.445km, Temp: First day 20°C, rising to last day 38°C Weather: Dry, sunny Parkes hot at home as Foret continues progress Broc Parkes left his home circuit of Phillip Island with the best lap time of the three day test in the Supersport category, while his new team-mate, Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport Team) also made great progress with the new Yamaha YZF-R6. Parkes set a blistering 1’34.6, some 0.4 seconds faster than his closest rivals, and easily inside the previous lap records. Foret found the set-up changes he needed to set his best of 1’35.2 on the very last day. It had been a tough test because of the every increasing temperature, and the fact that since the last test there, the track has become bumpy in places. A lot of effort was focused on finding suspension setting that worked effectively, as the previous test of the brand new machine was conducted on the smooth and flat circuit at Qatar, in late November. Broc Parkes (Position: 1st – Best time: 1’34.6) "It’s been a good test and we’ve been working really well. The engine, chassis and suspension is all working together, we’ve tried a lot of things and it seems that every direction we went in was a good one and we kept improving. The new bike is a big improvement especially the engine, it’s got more torque which makes it more user friendly and it’s also giving us better tyre life. All in all I’m really happy, at the Qatar test I was quickest and I’ve been fastest all three days here in Phillip Island so hopefully we can keep the momentum going until the first race.” Fabien Foret (Position: 4th – Best time: 1’35.2) "My test was much better on the final day and I did a few fast laps at the end, so I am a bit happier than I was on day one or two. I am still working on the feel and feedback from the front and because of the very hot conditions everyone seemed to be looking for grip. Turn one was very bumpy, but the grip was the biggest thing for me in the heat.” Wilco Zeelenberg (Team Coordinator - Yamaha World Supersport Team) "The test went OK even if the conditions changed each day and the track was quite bumpy in places compared to the experience we had at the Qatar tests. It was very smooth and flat there. It was 20°C on the first day, 30°C on the second and then 38°C today, so we have tested the new bike in every condition except rain. We had to work hard for three days to find the best suspension settings and we still have work to do to be exactly where we want to, but we still have the time and space to do that. We have been fast, so that is not an issue. We also did some successful long runs to choose tyres.” Circuit Length: 4.445km Temp: First day 20°C, rising to last day 38°C Weather: Dry, sunny Superbike times combined 1. Yukio Kagayama (JPN-Suzuki) 1’32.1 2. Troy Bayliss (AUS-Ducati) 1’32.2 3. Michel Fabrizio (ITA-Ducati) 1’32.3 4. Ruben Xaus (ESP-Ducati) 1’32.3 5. Fonsi Nieto (ESP-Suzuki) 1’32.3 6. Noriyuki Haga (JPN-Yamaha) 1’32.4 7. Troy Corser (AUS-Yamaha) 1’32.7 8. Max Biaggi (ITA-Ducati) 1’32.8 9. Regis Laconi (FRA-Kawasaki) 1’33.0 10. Makoto Tamada (JPN-Kawasaki) 1’33.4 11. Max Neukirchner (GER-Suzuki) 1’35.5 Supersport times combined 1. Broc Parkes (AUS-Yamaha) 1’34.6 2. Jonathan Rea (GBR-Honda) 1’35.0 3. Andrew Pitt (AUS-Honda) 1’35.0 4. Fabien Foret (FRA-Yamaha) 1’35.2 5. Katsuaki Fujiwara (JPN-Kawasaki) 1’35.6 6. Chris Walker (GBR-Kawasaki) 1’35.7 7. Josh Brookes (AUS-Honda) 1’35.7 8. Garry McCoy (AUS-Triumph) 1’35.9 9. Robbin Harms (DEN-Honda) 1’36.4
Alex Asigno
The 2008 Dakar rally has been cancelled just one day before the 30th edition of the historic competition was due to start in Lisbon, Portugal. The late move was initiated over security concerns with at least eight of the fifteen stages passing through Mauritania in western Africa. An announcement issued by the event organisers A.S.O today stated that: “Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 24th of December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O.” “A.S.O.’s first responsibility is to guarantee the safety of all: that of the populations in the countries visited, of the amateur and professional competitors, of the technical assistance personnel, of the journalists, partners and rally collaborators.” 52 Yamaha riders from a list of more than 250 were set to take the start in Lisbon. A.S.O has vowed that the future of the rally is not at threat. “The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols. The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar,” the statement also read.
Alex Asigno
While a great many people across the world ate, drank and relaxed over the end of year festive period a select group of well-trained and courageous sportsmen made last minute checks and nervously counted the hours until the day they had to travel to Lisbon, Portugal on January 5th. The 30th edition of the Dakar rally sees the largest entry list yet of 540 teams using motorcycles, quads, cars and trucks traverse the longest course to-date with over 9000km to be covered across Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal in just fifteen days. The third launch from the Portuguese capital will see 52 WR450F-engined Yamaha machines (bikes and quads) compete for positions and aspire to last the distance from a roster of more than 250 riders. Not only hoping to reach Dakar in Senegal on January 20th but also ambitious of capturing a top finish in the motorcycle class – as well as defend Yamaha’s crown in the increasingly growing division for 450cc bikes – are Frenchmen David Frétigné and Michel Marchini and Czech Republic’s Martin Macek.
 
In terms of results Frétigné will be looking to match the heights of his 2005 attempt in which he took fifth position overall (an achievement that was repeated last year by Portuguese Helder Rodrigues). The WR450F has a fine tradition in the 450cc category with Frétigné winning that particular section of the competition in 2004 and 2005. The bike was steered to victory again in 2007. Frétigné led the 450s up until the seventh stage before sustaining a KO and Rodrigues went on to take the overall honours. Five times French Enduro champion Frétigné boasts seven stage wins in his Dakar career and will again be going up against motorcycles from 400cc to 690cc capacity. “I expect a very technical Dakar in 2008, which maybe will allow riders on smaller motorcycles to make time,” he said. “This gives a big hand to the 450 and it means that the bike could produce some surprises. When I first arrived at the Dakar in 2004 on the 450 people thought I was crazy. I have since won seven stages, two of which were in that first year. This time we must strive to make the difference with our navigation and the 2008 route seems to favour this aspect of the rally. I was really close to the podium in 2005 and missed it by only a few minutes. Therefore for 2008 I will be aiming for a place among the leading trio. I want to prove that a 450 can have a place on the podium.” The Yamaha Europe backed team of Frétigné and Marchini uses a six-wheeled truck, a 4x4 assistance vehicle. There are two drivers, three mechanics, a team manager and press officer. Michel Marchini finished 7th and as the second best Yamaha rider in 2007. The Corsican is more than aware of the extreme task that faces him but insists the experience he has gained will stand him in good stead. “Arriving in the first five would be the main goal,” commented Marchini, “every year you get to know the land better, you can read the road book better and every little thing that is easier helps save time.” “The body becomes a machine,” he added. “It is only necessary to eat, sleep and drink when you can.” 39 year old Macek, from Smrzovka, was Yamaha’s third highest finisher in 2007. He reached Senegal with 15th position overall in the bike category and was 6th in the 450s. The Czech Enduro expert, who has an ambition to build an Enduro school/training area in his native country, stated that his aim for 2008 was to break into the top ten. He has assembled a suitable back-up squad and was testing in Tunisia during October. In 2008 the fifteen days of action see the participants covering more than 500km a day on average (with just one rest day). The route consists of fifteen stages, each of which contains a ‘special’. The ‘specials’ are timed and the subsequent results make up the race standings. The longest stage takes place in Morocco at more than 800km. Entering Mauritania means a number of ‘specials’ across the dunes and terrain of the Sahara desert. Aside from the competitive element of the specials (the riders and drivers are timed for almost 6000km in total, longer than the previous two Dakars) the ‘liaisons’ also have to be negotiated; a set distance until a vehicle completes a stage. Although liaisons do not contain the pressure of a special, the added kilometres – the most in Africa involves 326km through Mauritania on Day Fourteen – increases the high endurance demands of the rally. There are few motorsport competitions that push the limits and resolve of man and machine quite as hard as Dakar. Yamaha have a fantastic record in the rally with nine overall victories stretching back from 1979 and six successes thanks to Dakar ‘legend’ Stephan Peterhansel. Frétigné’s first effort in 2004 saw the introduction of the famous ‘2-Trac’ mono WR450F and he won three stages against the might of the twin cylinders. The Dakar organisation is vast and the popularity of the event continues to grow. Almost 500 accredited media follow the rally and over 600 televised hours are beamed out from the desolate but beautiful depths of western Africa. Dakar 2008 START-FINISH 05/01/08 Lisboa-Portimão 486 km 06/01/08 Portimão-Málaga 535 km 07/01/08 Nador-Er Rachidia 717 km 08/01/08 Er Rachidia-Ouarzazate 584 km 09/01/08 Ouarzazate-Guelmim 834 km 10/01/08 Guelmim-Smara 625 km 11/01/08 Smara-Atâr 829 km 12/01/08 Atâr-Nouakchott 531 km 13/01/08 Rest Day 14/01/08 Nouakchott-Nouhadibou 648 km 15/01/08 Nouhadibou-Atâr 685 km 16/01/08 Atâr-Tidjikja 692 km 17/01/08 Tidjikja-Kiffa 531 km 18/01/08 Kiffa-Kiffa 515 km 19/01/08 Kiffa-Saint-Louis 757 km 20/01/08 Saint-Louis-Dakar 304 km TOTAL 9273 km Dakar 2008 Yamaha Competitors 7. MARCHINI Michel (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 12. FRETIGNE David (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 16. PAIN Olivier (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 19. MACEK Martin (CZE) YAMAHA WR450F 28. CROQUELOIS Eric (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 34. PISANO Michael (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 37. MATEUS Nuno (PRT) YAMAHA WR450F 44. RANDYSEK Dusan (CZE) YAMAHA WR450F 47. WILLEMSEN Daniel (NLD) YAMAHA WR450F 64. CORNILLE Franck (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 65. MORO Joel (FRA) YAMAHA 450F 85. RIGAUDEAU Pascal (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 91. ALGERI Luigi (ITA) YAMAHA 450F 92. BIANCHI PRATA Pedro (PRT) YAMAHA WR450F 119. FERREIRA Luis (PRT) YAMAHA WR450F 121. SARR Alioune (SEN) YAMAHA 131. MEIER Christina (DEU) YAMAHA WR450F 134. DE GROOT Richard (NLD) YAMAHA WR250F 135. FROSTAD Gjermond (NOR) YAMAHA WR450F 141. VAN DER WAL Paul (NLD) YAMAHA WR450F 143. DE ROO Herwin (NLD) YAMAHA WR450F 146. CARDOSO Paulo (PRT) YAMAHA WR450F 153. LENOBLE Andre (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 154. PENNARUN Philippe (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 159. SZILVASI Peter (HUN) YAMAHA WR450F 161. BODELIER Loek (NLD) YAMAHA WR450F 162. HOFLAND Jan (NLD) YAMAHA WR450F 167. ROSA Joao (PRT) YAMAHA WR450F 173. BARDAUSKAS Balys (LTU) YAMAHA WR450F 177. ANO Julio (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 182. MARCANT Dominique (FRA) YAMAHA WR450F 189. OLIVEIRA Pedro (PRT) YAMAHA 450F 190. RIBEIRO FERREIRA Fernando agostinho (PRT) YAMAHA 450F 193. FRANKEN Dirk jan (NLD) YAMAHA WR450F 202. LECOMTE Antoine (FRA) YAMAHA 450F 218. LIST Gerard (NLD) YAMAHA WR250 219. VAN BERGEIJK Henno (NLD) YAMAHA WR450 220. SCHUTTEL Dirk (NLD) YAMAHA WR450F 223. PEDERZOLI Claudio (ITA) YAMAHA WR450 229. GABARI Harite (MAR) YAMAHA WR450 236. DOTTORI Alberto (ITA) YAMAHA WR450F 237. SLETHOLT Asbjorn (NOR) YAMAHA WR450F 239. MEES Yvan (BEL) YAMAHA WR450F 240. PALIOKAS Sarunas (LTU) YAMAHA WR450F 250. MACHACEK Josef (CZE) YAMAHA 252. PENA Jose maria (ESP) YAMAHA 254. DECLERCK Christophe (FRA) YAMAHA 255. MONTEIRO Miguel (PRT) YAMAHA 256. OLIVEIRA Alexandre (PRT) YAMAHA 257. GONZALEZ Joan manuel (ESP) YAMAHA 259. HERBE Philippe (FRA) YAMAHA 260. CHARROING Alderic (FRA) YAMAHA
Alex Asigno
2008 will be the Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team’s second season in World Supersport, being a newcomer last year and having successfully contested the Spanish Supersport Championship for the past five years. David Salom, will remain with the team and will be joined by highly experienced fellow Spaniard David de Gea. Based in Barcelona, the Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team is managed by the veteran Dani Devahive, who has taken the team to national championship success three times since 2002 – in 2004, 2005 and 2006, before finishing 2007 in fourth. Taking into account three second place finishes – in 2002, 2003 and 2004 - the Yamaha Spain squad is the most successful team in the Spanish Supersport Championship to date. With one season of World Supersport experience under their belt and a brace of experienced national and international technicians in the team Dani is confident of making a next step upwards in their second year in the WSS championship. The team’s main objective has always been to nurture young riders in the Spanish Championship and then launch them onto the world stage; having done this previously with Cardenas and Tizon, who both went into 250GP, the team is looking to achieve success with its latest protégé, David Salom. Salom made an impact early on last year in his rookie season in World Supersport, achieving a sixth at Valencia followed on by a fifth at Assen. The 23 year-old Spaniard contested in the national Supersport championship for three years prior to moving to the World Series in 2007. 30 year-old Jose David de Gea, better known as David, has raced in World Supersport previously but has focussed on other classes in the last few years. His career has also seen him participate in 250GP and MotoGP races, though his best success has been in the Spanish Formula Extreme Championship, in which he is the current champion and has taken the title a total of four times since 2003.
 
The Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team is the third team to be supported by Yamaha Motor Europe in the championship, joining YME’s own Yamaha World Supersport Team and the Yamaha Team Italia squad. Yamaha Spain Team - National Highlights 2007: 4th, Spanish Supersport Championship 2006: Spanish Supersport Champion 2005: Spanish Supersport Champion 2004: Spanish Supersport Champion and 2nd, Spanish Supersport Championship 2003: 2nd, Spanish Supersport Championship 2002: 2nd, Spanish Formula Extreme Championship David Salom Date of Birth: 16/10/1984 Nationality: Spanish Residence: Spain Career Highlights 2007: 21st, World Supersport Championship 2006: Spanish Supersport Champion 2005: 2nd, European Suzuki Cup and 4th, Spanish Supersport Championship 2004: 5th, Spanish Supersport Championship David De Gea Date of Birth: 09/12/1977 Nationality: Spanish Residence: Spain Career Highlights 2007: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion 2006: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion and participation in 3 races 250GP World Championship 2005: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion 2004: 3rd, Spanish Formula Extreme Championship 2003: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion and participation in MotoGP
Alex Asigno
After having contested in the World Supersport Championship for the last two years, the Yamaha GMT94 team will move up to the World Superbike Championship in 2008. In addition to this and following on from their Bol d’Or win in 2007, Yamaha GMT94 will continue to enter the world’s two most demanding Endurance races – the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Bol d’Or 24 Hours. The Guyot Motorcycling Team was founded in 1992 by Christophe Guyot - himself a former rider and passionate sportsman - with the aim of making motorcycle racing more accessible to the young people of France. In 2003, the team linked up with Yamaha Motor France to become a more professional concern and has since gone from strength to strength, including becoming Endurance World Champion in 2004. Now known as the Yamaha GMT94 team, the squad operates a strategy focused on two very different road race classes – sprint racing and endurance racing. For 2008, the team is moving into the World Superbike Championship, although they are continuing with the current team line up of David Checa and Sébastien Gimbert. 2004 Endurance World Champion David Checa, aged 27, has raced in World Supersport with the Yamaha GMT team for the past two seasons. The younger brother of Carlos Checa, David’s racing pedigree includes 250GP and European Supersport before he moved into Endurance racing in 2003. In addition, that same year he was Pirelli’s WSB control tyre tester and participated in a handful of WSB races. This WSB experience will stand him in good stead for 2008 as he re-enters the WSB fray once more. Sébastien Gimbert is also a long-time member of the Yamaha GMT94 Team, having first joined the team’s Endurance effort in 2004 and becoming world champion in the same year. Like many Frenchmen the 30 year-old has specialised in the Endurance scene, having won the Bol d’Or with Checa and the GMT94 team in 2007 as well winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2005. But to date he also has 45 WSB races under his belt. Gimbert achieved his best WSB result in 2004 when he scored two fourth position finishes at Magny-Cours. This success was enough to gain him a full-time WSB ride with Yamaha Motor France the following year, although a broken leg during the season prevented him from showing his full potential.
 
As well as contesting the WSB Championship, David Checa and Sébastien Gimbert will contest the Le Mans and Bol d’Or races once again in 2008, this time with British rider Steve Plater. In 2007 the Yamaha GMT94 Team won the Bol d’Or for the first time in style with a five lap lead, after having already won as a team twice the Le Mans 24hrs and numerous other Endurance events. Yamaha GMT94 will receive some support from Yamaha Motor Europe who recognise the importance of Endurance racing in France and the dream of team owner Guyot to grow steadily to become a future top contender in World Superbikes. David Checa Profile Date of Birth: 20/04/1980 Nationality: Spanish Residence: Barcelona, Spain Career Highlights 2007: 12th, World Supersport Championship, 1st Bol d’Or 24 Hours 2006: 11th, World Supersport Championship and 3rd, Le Mans 24 Hours 2005: 1st, Le Mans 24 Hours and 2nd, Bol d’Or 24 Hours 2004: World Champion Endurance and 1st, Oschersleben 24 Hours and Zhuhaï 6 Hours rounds 2003: 3rd, World Champion Endurance Sébastien Gimbert Date of Birth: 09/09/1977 Nationality: French Residence: Puy de Velay, France Career Highlights 2007: 20th, World Supersport Championship, 1st Bol d’Or 24 Hours 2006: 3rd, Le Mans 24 Hours and 19th, World Superbike Championship 2005: 1st, Le Mans 24 Hours 2004: World Champion Endurance 2003: 2nd, French Super-production Championship and 1st, Bol d'Or and Spa 24-hour races
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Antonio Cairoli finally ended an unforgettable 2007 racing calendar by securing the European Supercross championship last weekend in Munich. A successful defence of his indoor crown means he adds yet another trophy to his immense collection from this season; including the FIM MX2 World Championship and the Italian national motocross title. The fifth and last round of the European SX competition was not an easy won for the 22 year old, who had previously won three events (Bologna, Milan and Genova) and also took a second place at Bilbao in Spain. A crash in practice when he fell on the landing off a double jump caused some cuts and also bruising to his left hip and chest. The entry list was already quite tough with seasoned AMA supercross racers in the form of Rodrig Thain and Joaquim Rodrigues and Cairoli’s main title rival Fabian Izoid. The world champion was able to ride through the pain of his injuries to seize a victory in the semi-final event and his close tussle against Rodrigues kept the fans more than entertained. A bad start in the first of the twelve lap main events on Friday night however (the second was on Saturday) saw Cairoli again facing adversity.
 
On a track that was difficult for passing he could only fight back from eleventh place to take seventh position. Crucially he was able to overtake Izoid in the closing stages and this achievement confirmed his third major championship of the year. With his work done Cairoli opted not to contest the second night in Munich due to the discomfort from his earlier accident “I had decided that I wanted to be cautious at this meeting and just do what was needed to take the championship but the fall in practice complicated things,” he said. “To ride well in supercross you need to be 100% and I could never get comfortable or find my rhythm after the crash; I wasn’t agile enough to be quick and the track was also pretty dangerous in places. I won the semi-final but not really in the manner I would like. In the final I was practically last off the start and I had to battle to recover positions. I knew that if I passed Izoird that the title was mine, so that was my goal.” “I am really happy to be European Champion Supercross champion,” he continued. “Last year the title came little bit as a surprise, but this year I really pushed and enjoyed the series because at every track there was a fantastic reception from the public. I believe this Championship is growing in terms of interest.” “2007 has been really long and at this last race I did feel some fatigue and perhaps also a slight fall of concentration; I think this is understandable,” he added. “However it has been a fantastic season; full of victories! I really want to thank the team, together we have worked and sweated a lot and now can take great satisfaction from what we have done. Now we have a short holiday before we can think about the adventure ahead in 2008!"
Alex Asigno
The 2007 FIM Off-road Awards took place in the affluent setting of Monaco and the ‘Salle de Etoiles’ last Saturday and Yamaha De Carli’s Antonio Cairoli and Yamaha Demaria’s Yves Demaria proudly accepted their silverware for MX2-GP and MX3-GP world championship success respectively. In front of more than 400 guests that included former world championship legends like Jean-Michel Bayle and Roger de Coster, winners from both the Motocross and Supermoto World and European stages were given their accolades by the FIM and Youthstream. Cairoli, a double world champion after recapturing the crown he owned in 2005 on the YZ250F, was treated to a short video of action highlights; revealing moments from the 10 GP wins (from 15), 21 motos (from 28) and 13 podiums (from 14) in his MX2-GP dominance. The flamboyant Sicilian was also able to re-live his stunning MX1-GP debut at Donington Park. “This is a great way to end a fantastic season for me and the team,” said Cairoli, who is committed to defending his MX2 title next year. “We won many races and it was the perfect answer to 2006 when I lost the title by just a few points. There are many good memories from 2007 but I think my win at Donington Park in the MX1-GP class was special. I was hoping for a podium result at best but to get those good starts and win first time with the YZ450F was incredible. I want to win more in 2008 and then see where my future lies with Yamaha.” Yves Demaria signed off his career as a full-time world championship racer by taking a privately entered YRRD kitted YZ479F to a third rider’s title in the larger bore category. “2007 was a difficult year because I had to combine being a rider and a team manager but I could manage to win my third MX3 world championship and I cannot think of a better way to end my career,” said the French veteran who will continue to contest select Grand Prix events with the direct backing of Yamaha France. Yamaha De Carli boss, Claudio de Carli, scaled the stage to accept the team’s prize for 2007 while Michele Rinaldi was also on-hand to collect Yamaha’s award for the MX2-GP Manufacturer’s championship. “Yamaha won a lot of MX2-GP races in 2007 and I am proud to accept this for their achievement,” he said.
Alex Asigno
Claudio de Carli is proud to announce that his MX2 World Championship team will from now on be called the ‘Yamaha Red Bull De Carli Team’, signifying the stronger collaboration between the team and the world leader in the energy drinks market. Since 2006 Red Bull has been a team partner and after two very successful seasons, in which Antonio Cairoli finished second in 2006 and celebrated his second MX2 World Championship title this year, both parties agreed to intensify their relationship. Partnering title holder Cairoli in the 2008 MX2 world championship will be the team’s current riders Matteo Bonini and Alessandro Lupino, all riding Yamaha YZ250F machines tuned by the team race department under direct supervision of Claudio De Carli. The agreement, sealed with a simple handshake between Red Bull Motorsport management and Claudio De Carli, offers the team many opportunities to further strengthen its structure and competitiveness. After the earlier announcement of Youthstream that Red Bull will be the official energy drink of the FIM Motocross World Championship for 2008, 2009 and 2010, as well as the title sponsor of the MX of Nations, Red Bull’s increased involvement in the Yamaha De Carli team is a yet another confirmation of their trust in the potential of the Motocross sport. The racing team of Claudio De Carli was created in 1994 at the time when Claudio’s active riding career had ended. In the eighties De Carli was one of the best private riders in the Motocross World Championship and the first Italian ever to win a race in the 500cc World Championship.Since the start in 1994 Team De Carli has been with Yamaha, winning their first 125 world title in 1997 with Alessio Chiodi on a Yamaha YZ125. In 1999 the team came close to another 125 world title when Claudio Federici finished second.
 
Today’s dominant position of the team in MX2 started with the arrival of arguably the biggest star in Motocross today, Antonio Cairoli. In his first full season in 2004, riding the Yamaha YZ250F, Cairoli finished third. He won his first MX2 world title in 2005, finished second the year after, but won back his title by crushing the opposition this season. Other accomplishments of the team include many national Italian championships as well as contributing to Italian Motocross des Nations victories in 1999 with Claudio Federici and 2003 with Alessio Chiodi. Antonio Cairoli, born in Patti Italy on September 23 1985, also has other prizes added to his tally which include the 2006 European supercross title and two MX2 Italian titles won in 2006 and 2007, of course all won with the Yamaha Red Bull De Carli Team. “Tonio’ is only twenty-two years old, but with 21 GP (one in MX1) and 48 heat victories (one in MX1) he is already the most successful rider on the MX2 starting list. In Matteo Bonini, born in Castelnuovo Monti Italy on September 20 1985, the team has another rider with winning potential. This year Bonini finished third in the MX2 Italian Championship and frequently proved he could ride with the fastest riders in the World Championship. Sixteen year old Alessandro Lupino, born in Viterbo Italy on January 15 1991, is the future of the Italian motocross. Last year he won everything there was to win in the 85cc class; the Italian, European and World Championship. This year, for the first time on a YZ250F bike he finished second in the Junior World Championship, sixth in the Italian Championship, and he won the ‘Trofeo Italia’.
Alex Asigno
It is with great pleasure that the Yamaha Tech 3 team wishes to announce the signing of two world champions to contest the 2008 MotoGP World Championship. American rider Colin Edwards, will be joined by Brit, James Toseland with both riders bringing a wealth of riding experience to the Yamaha Tech 3 Team. Texan Edwards, after four years in the elite class and winning two World Superbike Championships in 2000 and 2002, possesses an invaluable amount of development knowledge while Toseland is the recently crowned 2007 world superbike champion after first claiming his first world title in 2004. In another exciting development for the vastly experienced French team both riders will compete on Michelin tyres as well as commencing the season on the latest version of the Yamaha M1. The entire Tech 3 team is very happy to welcome these two great riders with their first outing at the next winter test this week at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia (15-16-17th November). The team will then head to Jerez in Spain from the 27th to 29th of November for the next stop of the hectic winter schedule before the December test ban comes into effect. Colin Edwards quotes: “I’m honestly really excited about coming to Tech 3. I think the overall package that Yamaha has put together for next year – four good bikes and four World Champions and four different crews giving Yamaha a whole lot of information means we will be on the pace from the start and it’s pretty exciting. I’ve known Herve well and I know that Tech 3 is a very good outfit and I’m also really looking forward to sharing a garage with James. I’m positive that it’s going to be a great team.” James Toseland quotes: “I am over the moon about coming to MotoGP. It seems to have been a long time coming to get this opportunity but it has come at the right time and is the opportunity of a lifetime. It is a massive transition in my life to make and I am really looking forward to it. I don’t know who was happier as my mum was in tears when we got the news!  am really thankful to Yamaha and I appreciate the chance they have given me and I want to thank everyone for the opportunity they have given me.  have met Herve on a couple of occasions and he is a genuine nice guy and I truly feel the Tech 3 Team will be a good place to start my MotoGP career so it’s nice to be welcomed into the team. t will also be good to be working with Colin again as we have had a 10 year separation. He has said some really nice things in the press as to how he will help me. We get on really well together so I think we should make a good team. I’ve been employed to do a serious job so I am not coming in with the mental attitude that there won’t be any pressure on me; there will be and I want to do the best job possible and be near the front.”
Alex Asigno
2007 MX2 world champion Antonio Cairoli has won the third round of the European Supercross Championship held at the Eicma motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. Meanwhile Yamaha US factory rider Chad Reed was crowned ‘King of Bercy’ at the world famous Paris-Bercy Supercross event in France for winning all but one of the races held from Friday to Sunday. Chad’s stalwart and 2007 AMA US Motocross champion Grant Langston raced to second overall making it a perfect weekend for Yamaha fans. After a long break from Supercross competition Chad Reed won all the heat races expect for one on the first day of the event. Grant Langston was his main rival during the entire week-end and was rewarded runner up in the 25th anniversary of the most prestigious European Supercross event. Reed sees his Bercy victory as a positive prelude to his 2008 AMA Supercross campaign; “I couldn’t expect a better result for my comeback at Bercy and I’m very happy to win this race for the first time. During three nights I had real good battles with Grant Langston and Andrew Short which was a great preparation for next season. The crowd was amazing as always in Bercy, I had fab time here in Paris!” Cairoli’s win in Milan gives him a comfortable lead in the European Supercross championship with 42 points, the result of winning the opening round in Bologna, Italy and a second place in Bilbao, Portugal. With two more rounds to go in Genova (24 November) and Munich (15 December) Cairoli’s outlook to retain his title look good as he enjoys a margin on second placed Degli Esposti of 15 points. The win in Milan was a perfect ending to Antonio’s week as he had a once-in-a-lifetime experience riding Valentino Rossi’s YZR-M1 on the Tuesday after the final MotoGP race held at the Ricardo Tormo circuit at Valencia, Spain. Cairoli normally spends all his time on a motorcycle off road, but occasionally rides on road and track too. Earlier in the year he spent considerable time on a YZF-R6 at the Misano race track during the annual Italian Yamaha Fest, but still harnessing the M1’s 200+ horsepower was intimidating prospect for the moto and supercross star; “I was more then a little anxious, also because Valentino’s bike has opposite gear change to what I, and normal road riders are used to. What impressed me most was the fearsome acceleration, which frankly speaking is the only real sensation you can get when you have limited riding skills on a bike like this.I was allowed to do just five lap, but I enjoyed it so much I requested and got another five! In fact I consider putting another M1 test in my next Yamaha contract! No but seriously, my future is not in road racing, I enjoy motocross too much, especially physical aspects of it.” Wisely Cairoli had no illusions and made no attempts to break the lap record, but rode safe and steady lapping the track in 1’51, some 20 seconds slower then the circuit fastest time.
Alex Asigno
Following the conclusion of the 2007 season, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd and Yamaha Motor Racing Srl are pleased to be able to confirm the final line-up of their 2008 Factory Team. Seven-time World Champion Valentino Rossi and two time 250cc World Champion Jorge Lorenzo will contest the 2008 MotoGP World Championship as team-mates in the Fiat Yamaha Team. Yamaha can also confirm its plan to run Valentino Rossi on Bridgestone tyres in 2008, while Jorge Lorenzo will be racing with Michelin tyres. In order to facilitate the use of both Michelin tyres and Bridgestone tyres within the Yamaha Factory Team and to ensure confidentiality of data for each tyre company, Yamaha will organize separate rider pit boxes, but the Fiat Yamaha Team will continue to operate and race as one team.
Alex Asigno
Valentino Rossi's hopes of securing the runner-up spot in the championship ended in the unluckiest of fashions today, when a technical issue brought the injured Italian's race to a premature end in Valencia. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards also had a disappointing race and finished 13th in his final race for the Factory Team, after starting from 15th. Having broken three bones in his hand after crashing in qualifying yesterday, Rossi bravely decided to race, his 192nd consecutive start since his 125cc debut in 2006. Forced to start from 17th after completing only five laps in qualifying, he needed to finish 15th or higher in order to secure second place in the championship from Pedrosa, who started on pole. By mid-race distance he had gone one better, having passed Anthony West, Shinya Nakano and Makoto Tamada to take 14th.However on lap 18 Rossi ran into unexpected problems with his bike and he was forced to retire, only able look on as Pedrosa went on to win the race and take the championship runner-up spot by just one point. Edwards meanwhile had made up three places from his starting position to 12th, but was limited by a lack of grip and unable to make any headway to the next group of riders. A late battle with Carlos Checa however, who was riding in his last MotoGP race, went the way of the Spaniard and Edwards was forced to settle for 13th across the line and ninth place in the championship on his Fiat Yamaha farewell. Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing, commented after the race, "This final race has been a very disappointing end to a long and hard season. I feel very sorry that our machine failed Valentino today and denied him the second place in the championship that he surely deserved. His ride today with a broken hand showed his fighting spirit and his passion for racing. Colin's last race for the Yamaha Factory Team was also a disappointing end to his season. I would like to anyway thank Colin for his commitment to Yamaha and for his great teamwork during the last three years. We also look forward to having him in the Yamaha family as our next-door neighbour in 2008. Last but not least I would like to thank all members of the Factory Team and the Yamaha MotoGP staff for their tireless dedication and commitment all year long. We will now put our full focus on next year. We have a lot of work ahead of us in order to come back stronger and faster and to return to winning ways for the 2008 MotoGP World Championship."
 
Colin Edwards - Position: 13th Time: +46.572 "There's really nothing to say about today so I'll just leave that be! It was my last race with the Factory Team and everyone knows I wanted a better goodbye than this, but there was little I could do today. I'm very thankful to everyone in this team for the last three years, which have without doubt been some of the most memorable of my racing career. A huge thanks to Yamaha, to Michelin and to everyone in the team; it's been great fun. I'm very glad I'm staying with Yamaha and now I'm just looking forward to getting started with the new bike!" Valentino Rossi - Position: DNF Time: 11 Laps "I have no words. For sure, after today, I can say that it's not just a matter of misfortune. I did everything I could in order to be on the grid today, because I wanted to try and confirm my second place in the championship, which I think I deserved. I was riding very fast, even though my bike was not perfect. When I got into 14th place, I told myself that my task was done, but I was feeling quite good and I wanted to try to pass some more riders. Unfortunately however I felt that I had a problem with my bike and I was forced to come in. Now we are checking the data to understand what happened, because at the moment it's not so clear. I will need 20 days to fix my hand and then I will be back in Jerez to start my winter testing programme. I'd like to thank Claudio Costa and Marco Montanari, as well as everyone at the Clinica Mobile, because they made a great effort with my hand to enable me to race today." Davide Brivio - Team Director "We hoped for a much better end to the season and we would like to say sorry to Valentino because he made a great effort to race with his broken hand. Unfortunately a technical problem stopped him from getting the second place and we're very sad about this. Our engineers are doing everything they can now to understand what happened today, because Valentino felt that he had a problem and that the engine was not working properly. From our first analysis we are not yet sure what the problem was, so we have decided to send the engine back to Japan for further investigation. Colin was only able to finish 13th and it's a shame also that he couldn't finish the season and his Factory Team career on a better note. We're glad however that he's staying in the Yamaha family and we wish him all the best. It seems that Valencia hasn't been a very lucky track for us over the last couple of years, but what happened today will just give us a stronger motivation for next season. We start testing again this month and we will do everything we can to be at the top of the championship again next year. Thanks to the team and everyone involved; there have been some very difficult moments this year but we will try again in 2008." Season ends on a high note for Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 Team The Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 Team finished 2007 at the Valencia Grand Prix with its most impressive performance of the year. Both riders secured Dunlop's best qualifying result in the premier class since 2002 as Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada started from the second row of the grid in fifth and six positions, respectively. In the race, Sylvain created another personal best being the first Yamaha across the finish line with both riders scoring championship points as victory went to local hero Dani Pedrosa with Sylvain claiming the "Rookie of the Year" award. Guintoli, after being as high as eighth place during the 30-lap race had to settle for 11th place after a race long duel with the factory bikes of Carlos Checa, Tony Elias and Randy De Puniet while Makoto, who celebrated his 31st birthday on the day, was also embroiled in the same battle and finished 15th. Sylvain Guintoli - Position: 11th Time: +38.763 The start of the race wasn't that great but then I got into a good rhythm to have a good battle with Randy and Barros and Elias. It was good fun race and considering my start I am happy to finish where I did and to be the first Yamaha homes as a great bonus. It is pretty emotional for me at the moment. We had such a great season. It was the best season ever for me and I feel a bit sad. I think the team all agree that we did better than we expected. The aim at the start was to progress, learn the category and a MotoGP bike and try to beat my teammate whenever possible. From the start I think we showed that we had the pace and the motivation whilst Dunlop put in an enormous amount of hard work and were equally motivated. The season was definitely very positive for the entire team and I wish them all the best for next year. Makoto Tamada - Position: 15thTime: +56.879 During the race I had a very good pace but after about half way the performance of the tyre dropped down a little bit and I also felt some vibration from the rear so I lost a bit of confidence in pushing hard and lost contact with the riders I was fighting with. I'm not too happy with the race but I would like to thank the team and Dunlop for the opportunity to race in this team. I didn't get the results that I was really looking for but the team and the guys from Dunlop never stopped working to try and improve things. They couldn't have done anything more to help me this year and I wish everyone much success in the future. Herve Poncharal - Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 Team Manager Definitely a very good weekend for us. Our best qualifying result by far with our two riders on the second row and I was very proud to end up our relationship with Dunlop on a high note in qualifying and a solid result in the race. The race was tough but we managed to keep a good rhythm although the start was not excellent as usual, unfortunately. Sylvain pushed hard through the entire race and there is nothing to be ashamed of. The tyres were consistent all race long, we were the first Yamaha across the line something so that is something I'm really proud of and both riders were in the points again but this is the end of the adventure of Yamaha Tech 3 and Dunlop. I would like to thank all the Dunlop technicians, fitters and engineers that have been involved in the project because they have been behind us 100%, always motivated and always working very hard. I would also like to thank both my riders as we have had a really incredible ambience in the garage all year. There was never any problem between the riders and team and certainly for me on the human side 2007 is the best year I have ever had with two riders. I'm sad to see them leave but happy to see Sylvain go to a good team and I wish all the best to Makoto in his endeavours for next year. I also wish all the best for Dunlop and hope they can return to MotoGP as soon as possible. Meanwhile I'd like to congratulate Dunlop on their 15th consecutive 250cc and 10th consecutive 125cc World Championships. Race 1 - 30 Laps Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time 1, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 46'43.533 2, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 0'5.447 3, John Hopkins, Suzuki, USA, 0'20.404 4, Marco Melandri, Honda, ITA, 0'24.827 5, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, ITA, 0'25.804 6, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 0'25.804 7, Alex Barros, Ducati, BRA, 0'29.470 8, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 0'30.333 9, Randy De Puniet, Kawasaki, FRA, 0'30.895 10, Toni Elias, Honda, ESP, 0'31.030 11, Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha, FRA, 0'38.763 12, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 0'42.506 13, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 0'46.572 14, Shinya Nakano, Honda, JPN, 0'50.220 15, Makoto Tamada, Yamaha, JPN, 0'56.879 16, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 1'15.369 Best Lap Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 1'32.748 Rider Standings 04/11/2007 Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points 1, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 367 2, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 242 3, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 241 4, John Hopkins, Suzuki, USA, 189 5, Marco Melandri, Honda, ITA, 187 6, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 179 7, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, ITA, 166 8, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 127 9, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 124 10, Alex Barros, Ducati, BRA, 115 11, Randy De Puniet, Kawasaki, FRA, 108 12, Toni Elias, Honda, ESP, 104 13, Alex Hofmann, Ducati, GER, 65 14, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 65 15, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 59 16, Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha, FRA, 50 18, Makoto Tamada, Yamaha, JPN, 38 Team Standings 04/11/2007 Pos., Team, Points 1, Ducati Marlboro Team, 533 2, Rizla Suzuki, 371 3, Repsol Honda Team, 369 4, FIAT Yamaha Team, 365 5, Honda Gresini, 297 6, Pramac D'Antin, 181 7, Kawasaki Racing Team, 176 8, Tech3 Yamaha, 88 9, Honda LCR, 65 10, Konica Minolta Honda, 47 11, Team Roberts, 14 Manufacturer Standings 04/11/2007 Pos., Manufacturer, Points 1, Ducati, 394 2, Honda, 313 3, Yamaha, 283 4, Suzuki, 241 5, Kawasaki, 144 6, KR212V, 14
Alex Asigno
Last Sunday the 28th October the International Oceania MX race took place in Australia. The event is a kind of a mini MX des Nations just for the two states down under; Australia and New Zealand. The best professional, junior and women riders of both countries competed at the Barrabool circuit west of Melbourne to determine who could call themselves the best Motocross nation in Oceania. Yamaha Motocross Teamrider Joshua Coppins won all his races, but that was not enough to get New Zealand the title. "I really enjoyed myself this weekend" smiled Coppins."I set the fastest time in practice and qualifying on Saturday and stayed out of trouble on Sunday and managed to win all my races.The track was fast and technical which I liked and we had good weather with some wind in the morning making it a bit dusty." Despite Coppins' wins, Team New Zealand was unable to pry the trophy from a hungry Aussie team."NZ did well in the professional and women's classes, with a great ride from our Katherine Prumm, but we really struggled in the junior class which I guess is where we lost out to Australia". With Josh's third place in his first ever Supermotard race a fortnight ago in Mettet, Belgium and a second place at the Weston Beach race in the UK a little over a week ago it is clear the "Lizard" has made a full recovery from his shoulder injury that cost him the 2007 MX1 World Championship title. Any doubts about Coppins' fitness vanished as he negotiated the deep sandy dunes of Weston beach on a production 2008 YZ450F. "I didn't know what to expect from this race." admitted Coppins. "I have heard a lot about the Weston Beach race and now that I have one under my belt I'm going to be back for more. I rode a complete standard YZ450F 2008 model and was amazed how well the bike pulled and held up in the deep sand. We ran stock suspension and a standard fuel tank so I just had to stop more often to re-fuel which is obviously where I lost some time "I took it easy on the first lap and was around 20th position after the start. Mike Brown and Steve Ramon were long gone, but then 'Brownie' cooked his clutch and after the first hour I was two minutes behind Steve. I got a rhythm going and closed down the gap to 50 seconds by the time the organisers red flagged the race so I was pumped with my riding and fitness." "I loved doing these events and am going to stay on a little longer in Australia for a bit of a holiday before heading back home to Motueka." added the Yamaha Motocross Team star.
Alex Asigno
Fiat Yamaha Team rider Valentino rounded off a difficult weekend with a strong ride in today's Malaysian Grand Prix, bringing his Yamaha M1 home in fifth position from ninth on the grid. His team-mate Colin Edwards, who started from 13th, finished 11th. The usual hot and steamy Sepang conditions ensured that the 21-lap race would be a test of stamina for all 20 riders on the grid and, after being hampered by grip issues throughout practice, the Yamaha pair were not expecting an easy race. However some last-minute alterations worked wonders and Rossi especially was able to lap consistently at the same pace as the leaders throughout, recording the second fastest lap of the race on the penultimate lap. The Italian dropped two places at the start but quickly found his rhythm and pegged back Nicky Hayden, marking the start of a spirited ride which saw him pass four riders in as many laps. Soon finding himself in fifth with a gap of more than three seconds to Randy de Puniet, Rossi put his head down and kept pushing, trying to close the gap to the Frenchman. Despite steadily gaining ground on him to the flag, it was not quite enough and he had to settle for fifth. Edwards too made up some places early on and looked to have ninth place secure with two laps to go. However Hayden, who had earlier dropped behind Edwards when running off the track, passed him in the closing stages and Texan was relegated to tenth place. Today's race was won by Casey Stoner, with Marco Melandri and Dani Pedrosa taking second and third. Rossi now lies 24 points clear of Pedrosa in the championship standings, meaning he has to take just a single point during the final race to secure second place, whilst Edwards' six-point haul sees him hold on to eighth position. The final Grand Prix of the season takes place in Valencia, Spain, in a fortnight's time.
 
Valentino Rossi - Position: 5th Time: +4.733 "Of course I'm disappointed with fifth place, but I am very happy with my race today. It's a pity because we had great potential this afternoon and, if we had been able to start from the front row, I think we could have fought for the victory. We made some modifications today and luckily everything worked much better during the race than it had during practice. We were fast this afternoon, we had a great rhythm but unfortunately we really lost the race yesterday in qualifying! I took some time to find my rhythm at the start of the race but once I did I realised I had a great pace and that my bike and tyres were working very well. I tried to catch de Puniet but, even though I was a tiny bit faster than him, the difference was only one or two tenths and so it wasn't enough to be able to make up three seconds. My Michelin tyre worked very well to the end today so this is encouraging for Valencia, where we will be trying one more time to win before the end of the season. Colin Edwards - Position: 10th Time: +29.746 "I got a bad start and had a bad few corners, but once I'd got settled I managed to get past a couple of guys and push on a bit. After a while I got Vermeulen and Hopkins in my sights and I was trying pretty hard to close the gap to them, but I couldn't get closer than about 0.8 seconds. Towards the end I started to feel pretty light-headed - I was feeling the remnants of when I was sick earlier in the week - and everything was really a bit of a blur for the last few laps. I had a terrible headache and in this heat it's hard to concentrate if you're not at 100%, and unfortunately I couldn't hold Hayden off at the end. It's been another tough weekend for us but once again it could have been worse and I want to say thanks again to everyone for working so hard and keeping morale going during a difficult couple of races." Davide Brivio - Team Dorector "Valentino ran a great race today but unfortunately he was penalised by his starting position and the first lap, when he had to take some time to find his rhythm. We saw today that the pace he had could have allowed him to fight at the front, but we lost a lot of ground during practice and qualifying and this afternoon we suffered for that. Colin also made some big improvements today but at the end of the day he, too, could only do the best he could from a bad grid position. Today everything worked well, especially for Valentino, and it's a great pity we weren't in a position to make the most of it. We will try once more in Valencia and let's hope we can finish the season on a high note." Malaysian malaise for Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 The Malaysian Grand Prix held in stifling conditions at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur did not provide the results the team was expecting. After travelling from the cold climes of southern Australia in early spring to the humidity of the tropics, Casey Stoner continued his dominant form in 2007 with another victory. As has been the case many times this year, variable weather conditions in practice combined with problems associated with a newly laid surface guaranteed that the weekend would be far from plain sailing. For the first time this season neither of the Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 Team riders, Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada were able to score any championship points. Makoto Tamada - Position: 18thTime: +59.596 That was a very hard race and it has been a very hard weekend to find something but we never could get there. Friday and Saturday were very difficult but we seemed to find something this morning that we thought would work but again we were wrong. During the race the grip level was very low and didn't seem to improve during the race. Sylvain Guintoli - Position: 19thTime: +1'23.119 I'm really disappointed in myself as the entire package worked really well for me today with the bike and tyres. I had a bad start and then on the second lap I had a coming together with Kurtis Roberts and I never really recovered. I knew if I got a good start I would be able to battle with Checa, Nakano and a few others but I blew it from the very beginning. I pushed really hard but I was making too many mistakes as on this track you have to be very smooth. I just didn't ride well today and the more I pushed the more mistakes I made. Herve Poncharal - Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 Team Manager This was a weekend to forget. We never had the right pace in race configuration all weekend but after a fairly good qualifying session we expected better than what happened in the race. Now we have to forget about this weekend and look ahead to the final round at Valencia where hopefully we can finish the season on a high note. Race 1 - 21 Laps Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time 1, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 43'4.405 2, Marco Melandri, Honda, ITA, 0'1.701 3, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 0'2.326 4, Randy De Puniet, Kawasaki, FRA, 0'3.765 5, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 0'4.773 6, Toni Elias, Honda, ESP, 0'17.667 7, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 0'20.950 8, John Hopkins, Suzuki, USA, 0'22.198 9, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 0'22.450 10, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 0'29.746 11, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, ITA, 0'34.923 12, Alex Barros, Ducati, BRA, 0'35.667 13, Nobuatsu Aoki, Suzuki, JPN, 0'44.113 14, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 0'44.486 15, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 0'49.658 16, Shinya Nakano, Honda, JPN, 0'51.726 17, Chaz Davies, Ducati, GBR, 0'58.905 18, Makoto Tamada, Yamaha, JPN, 0'59.596 19, Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha, FRA, 1'23.119 20, Kurtis Roberts, KR212V, USA, 1'50.960 Best Lap Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 2'2.108 Rider Standings 21/10/2007 Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points 1, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 347 2, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 241 3, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 217 4, Marco Melandri, Honda, ITA, 174 5, John Hopkins, Suzuki, USA, 173 6, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 169 7, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, ITA, 155 8, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 121 9, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 119 10, Alex Barros, Ducati, BRA, 106 11, Randy De Puniet, Kawasaki, FRA, 101 12, Toni Elias, Honda, ESP, 98 13, Alex Hofmann, Ducati, GER, 65 14, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 61 15, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 59 17, Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha, FRA, 45 18, Makoto Tamada, Yamaha, JPN, 37 Team Standings 21/10/2007 Pos., Team, Points 1, Ducati Marlboro Team, 502 2, FIAT Yamaha Team, 362 3, Rizla Suzuki, 345 4, Repsol Honda Team, 336 5, Honda Gresini, 278 6, Pramac D'Antin, 172 7, Kawasaki Racing Team, 169 8, Tech3 Yamaha, 82 9, Honda LCR, 61 10, Konica Minolta Honda, 45 11, Team Roberts, 14 Manufacturer Standings 21/10/2007 Pos., Manufacturer, Points 1, Ducati, 374 2, Honda, 288 3, Yamaha, 278 4, Suzuki, 225 5, Kawasaki, 137 6, KR212V, 14
Alex Asigno
Fiat Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards are faced with a difficult challenge for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang after struggling during qualifying this afternoon. The team worked hard throughout the day to rectify the lack of grip from which both riders have been suffering, but they were unable to find a competitive package and the pair now face a daunting task for tomorrow's 21-lap race when they start from ninth and thirteenth positions. The rain stayed away today and during this morning's session, with temperatures in the low 30s and conditions of the newly improved track becoming increasingly more consistent as more rubber was laid down, times improved all round. Rossi and Edwards both made some positive steps forward and finished the session in seventh and thirteenth, confident of more improvements this afternoon. However this was not to be and a lack of grip on race tyres this afternoon kept the pair down in the lower orders, before they made their qualifying challenges in the last 15 minutes. Rossi briefly held second after his first qualifying lap but several riders went faster and a small mistake with his second tyre meant he was unable to improve again. Ninth place puts him on the outside of the third row, whilst Edwards will start from the head of the fifth row after failing to find a comfortable rhythm with either of his qualifying tyres. Valentino Rossi - Position: 9th Time: 2'02.466 Laps: 22 "This morning things were feeling better for us and we were a little bit more confident. Unfortunately this afternoon, with the higher temperatures, our tyres didn't work in the same way and we were much slower and sliding quite a lot. With the qualifying tyre I was quite confident and they worked quite well, as they have all season, and I thought there was a chance for the front row. With the second one I thought we could improve again but I had a slide in the third section and lost some time, and so now we are on the third row. I am quite disappointed because our race pace is not good at the moment and we needed to be on the front row to give us the best chance possible for tomorrow. It will be difficult to use the warm-up to our advantage because the conditions are different to those we will probably have during the race, but anyway we will do what we can and try to make the best from the situation." Colin Edwards - Position: 13th Time: 2'03.040 Laps: 19 "There's really very little to say about today and I think it's better if I say "no comment!" We've got some big problems and it hasn't been fun. I want to say thanks to all my guys; they're working so hard to try and make a difference and find a way to improve things and I know they won't give up at any point. It's going to be a very hard race but it's not over till it's over so we'll just have to wait and see what we can improve before 3pm tomorrow and what happens after the lights go out." Davide Brivio - Team Director "We're in quite a difficult position and now we have to try our hardest to find a better package for the race. At the moment we just don't have enough grip and both riders are struggling to contend with this, so we are quite slow. This morning both Valentino and Colin made some good improvements but this afternoon we were unable to continue in the same way. We couldn't find the right combination to challenge with today but we have some ideas and we will be doing our utmost to give both of them a more competitive package for tomorrow's race." Qualifying 1 Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time 1, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 2'1.877 2, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 2'1.918 3, Marco Melandri, Honda, ITA, 2'1.944 4, Randy De Puniet, Kawasaki, FRA, 2'2.107 5, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 2'2.202 6, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 2'2.225 7, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 2'2.301 8, Toni Elias, Honda, ESP, 2'2.432 9, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 2'2.466 10, John Hopkins, Suzuki, USA, 2'2.697 11, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, ITA, 2'2.708 12, Alex Barros, Ducati, BRA, 2'3.022 13, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 2'3.040 14, Shinya Nakano, Honda, JPN, 2'3.233 15, Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha, FRA, 2'3.408 16, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 2'3.525 17, Chaz Davies, Ducati, GBR, 2'4.197 18, Makoto Tamada, Yamaha, JPN, 2'4.314 19, Nobuatsu Aoki, Suzuki, JPN, 2'4.604 20, Kurtis Roberts, KR212V, USA, 2'5.404
Alex Asigno
Fiat Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi claimed his tenth consecutive career podium at Phillip Island today, taking third place and clocking the fastest lap of the race in the process. Team-mate Colin Edwards finished ninth in a race that was won by Casey Stoner, with Loris Capirossi second. Starting second on the grid, Rossi slipped to fourth but passed Dani Pedrosa on lap two, only to make a small mistake at the end of the lap, briefly touching the grass at the start of the main straight and letting Pedrosa back past. On lap four of 27 he managed to get in front of the Spaniard once again and he then set off after Nicky Hayden, who was running second behind Stoner. Despite setting the fastest lap on lap seven, Rossi was unable to make much headway until lap 11, when he passed Hayden for second. As Stoner gradually extended his advantage in front however it became clear that Rossi's fight would be for the runner-up spot as he became embroiled in a three-way battle with Capirossi and Pedrosa. After several changes of position between the trio Pedrosa tailed off and it briefly looked like another being another vintage Rossi-Capirossi showdown, but with little grip left in his tyres Rossi was unable to keep pace with his compatriot and he eventually crossed the line three seconds adrift, with Stoner several seconds ahead of Capirossi. After failing to find a comfortable setting throughout the practice sessions, Edwards made a change to his setting for the race and, although it took him some laps to adapt and he dropped a few positions early on, he kept pushing throughout and was able to peg back several places. He finished ninth and claimed seven points, which moves him up one place in the championship to eighth. Rossi's 16-point haul meanwhile sees him move 29 points clear in second place, ahead of Pedrosa. The team now heads directly to Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix in just seven days time. Valentino Rossi - Position: 3rd Time: +10.038 "Honestly I'm not too disappointed today because I know I did everything I could have possibly done. I started okay and in the opening laps I felt like I could go quite fast and have the chance to fight at the front. I passed Pedrosa and at that stage I was quite close to Hayden and Stoner, but then I made a small mistake coming onto the straight and lost a bit of time. I managed to pass Pedrosa again but then I wasn't able to close the gap to Stoner, even though I was riding at the maximum. In places I had fun and I made some good passes; at the end especially I was hoping for a great battle with Capirossi, like the old days, but by then the grip from my rear tyre was very poor and I had to slow down to make sure I would arrive to the end. I am very happy that I was on the podium because this is a special place and it's always a big emotion to stand there with all the crowds in pit lane. Today with Casey I think it was a bit like for me in Mugello! Anyway, now we go straight to Malaysia, where our bike usually goes well, so once again we will do the maximum and try for the win." Colin Edwards - Position: 9th Time: +35.073 "After the problems we'd had all weekend we made a big change to the tyres and to our setting for the race, more towards what Valentino was running, so it was pretty different to what I'd been used to all weekend. I got pinched a bit at the start and had to go round the outside of a few people, and then I had a huge moment at the end of the first lap where it nearly flicked me off and I lost a few places. Once I'd got the measure of how to ride it though it actually felt okay and I did a 31.9 at one point, which I hadn't been close to all weekend. I gave it everything I had today and, although I can't be happy with ninth, after the nightmare I'd had all weekend I think it could have been worse. It's been great to have so many family and friends here as ever and I want to say a huge thank you to my guys; they've had to work so hard changing the bike around so much and they've done a great job as always." Davide Brivio - Team Director "At the beginning of the race Valentino was keeping the same pace as the riders in front and we were all hoping for a battle until the last corner. Unfortunately it was not possible because after some laps the grip went down and we had to settle for finishing third. We had hoped for a better result today and it's a real pity because we all love this track; it's a magic place for us. Colin made a big effort and did a very good job because he was able to climb some positions in the second half of the race. If he'd had a faster pace from the beginning, he could have made a very good race. Unfortunately we struggled a lot with his bike throughout the weekend and this was the best we could do with him. It was not a disaster today because we were able to confirm Valentino's second place in the championship and we will keep on defending it in the last two races. Now we go to Sepang and we will be fighting for the win again." More championship points for Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 In a weekend marred by extreme changes in the weather, the Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 Team managed to gain more championship points as Sylvain Guintoli brought his Yamaha M1 home in 14th position at the Australian Grand Prix held at Phillip Island while his team mate Makoto Tamada finished in 16th. Sunshine was only seen on race day which made machine setup and tyre selection over the two days of practice extremely difficult as the track was either fully wet or damp for most of the time. Qualifying was held in dry but cold conditions, which allowed Sylvain to take full advantage of the Dunlop qualifying tyres to put him on the third row of the grid. Sylvain Guintoli - Position: 14th Time: +54.324 Although I had a good start, I lost quite a lot of places on the first lap waiting for enough heat to get into the tyre. Once that happened I was able to set a good pace and match the lap times of the riders in front of me. It took me a long time to get past Chaz Davies by which time the others had made too much of a gap on me and I wasn't able to reduce it with the number of laps remaining. Makoto Tamada - Position: 16th Time: +1'12.904 I was very happy with the bike setting we had and the front tyre was great but I didn't have a lot of side grip in the rear. It was ok when I was right on the side of the tyre but I didn't have much feeling throwing the bike into the corners and also picking it up on the exits. Herve Poncharal - Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 Team Manager After the lift from Motegi this was a very disappointing weekend for us as we came here with high hopes of a good result. We didn't find the best settings with the weather but that is no excuse. Qualifying was good as Sylvain was on the third row in front of some more fancied riders but in the race we lacked grip in the crucial first couple of laps. We then started lapping at the same pace as the guys in front but we had lost over five seconds to them in the opening laps, which is just too much. We expected a lot better so we are all disappointed. Race 1 - 27 Laps Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time 1, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 41'12.244 2, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, ITA, 0'6.763 3, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 0'10.038 4, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 0'11.663 5, Alex Barros, Ducati, BRA, 0'19.475 6, Randy De Puniet, Kawasaki, FRA, 0'27.313 7, John Hopkins, Suzuki, USA, 0'29.243 8, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 0'34.883 9, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 0'35.073 10, Marco Melandri, Honda, ITA, 0'36.971 11, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 0'37.721 12, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 0'38.426 13, Shinya Nakano, Honda, JPN, 0'47.430 14, Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha, FRA, 0'54.324 15, Toni Elias, Honda, ESP, 1'10.471 16, Makoto Tamada, Yamaha, JPN, 1'12.904 17, Kenny Roberts, KR212V, USA, 1'13.020 Best Lap Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 1'30.801 Rider Standings 14/10/2007 Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points 1, Casey Stoner, Ducati, AUS, 322 2, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, ITA, 230 3, Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, ESP, 201 4, John Hopkins, Suzuki, USA, 165 5, Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki, AUS, 160 6, Marco Melandri, Honda, ITA, 154 7, Loris Capirossi, Ducati, ITA, 150 8, Colin Edwards, Yamaha, USA, 115 9, Nicky Hayden, Honda, USA, 112 10, Alex Barros, Ducati, BRA, 102 11, Toni Elias, Honda, ESP, 88 12, Randy De Puniet, Kawasaki, FRA, 88 13, Alex Hofmann, Ducati, GER, 65 14, Carlos Checa, Honda, ESP, 59 15, Anthony West, Kawasaki, AUS, 58 16, Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha, FRA, 45 18, Makoto Tamada, Yamaha, JPN, 37 Team Standings 14/10/2007 Pos., Team, Points 1, Ducati Marlboro Team, 472 2, FIAT Yamaha Team, 345 3, Rizla Suzuki, 325 4, Repsol Honda Team, 313 5, Honda Gresini, 248 6, Pramac D'Antin, 168 7, Kawasaki Racing Team, 155 8, Tech3 Yamaha, 82 9, Honda LCR, 59 10, Konica Minolta Honda, 45 11, Team Roberts, 14 Manufacturer Standings 14/10/2007 Pos., Manufacturer, Points 1, Ducati, 349 2, Honda, 268 3, Yamaha, 267 4, Suzuki, 216 5, Kawasaki, 124 6, KR212V, 14
Alex Asigno
Yamaha De Carli Team rider Antonio Cairoli secured the 2007 Italian championship title at the last of round of the six race championship held at the Gazzane di Preseglie track in Brescia. Cairoli, as defending 2006 champion, entered the last round with a ten points lead on fellow Yamaha rider Manuel Monni and managed to seal his championshipby winning the first moto, while his closest rival placed seventh when penalized for overtaking under a yellow flag. Needing only two points from the second moto Cairoli took things steady and finished second behind winner Monni. The 2007 Italian championship turned out to an all Yamaha affair with the first four riders riding a YZ250F, while 16 year old Team Yamaha de Carli rider Alessandro Lupino, finished in sixth position. With a light early-morning rain watering the track to create optimal racing conditions it was Portuguese Rui Goncalves (KTM) who got the hole shot, but Cairoli soon got by to take the chequered flag without being challenged. Exciting however was the battle between Yamaha Team Ricci rider Davide Guarneri and Manuel Monni for second, it was Monni who eventually took the flag as runner up, but he was later demoted five positions for overtaking under a yellow flag. Only needing two points to secure the championship Cairoli could have been forgiven to just cruise home in the second moto, but as expected ‘Tonio’ diced for the win with Guarneri and Monni. But as the laps accumulated Cairoli settled for a podium while the other two went for the win, a slide of Guarneri finally gave Monni a much deserved moto win. Cairoli confirmed that winning the Italian International championship does mean a lot to him; ‘I had to dig deep today to secure the title, but I’m happy it paid off because winning this championship is really important to me. It’s been hard tough, I have not been able to train regularly the last month and I feel that my condition is weakened a bit. After a long season I feel the batteries need to be recharged. I’m sorry Manuel did not get a real shot at the title today due to his penalty, he was really strong today and deserved to win the second moto. Compliments also to Matteo (Bonini) for finishing in third overall despite having to deal with many injuries this year’. Cairoli will not have much time to recover from the long 2007 motocross season with the second round of the European Supercross championship race on the calendar for coming weekend at Bilbao (Spain), yet another championship title the Sicilian star needs to defend! Standings 2007 Italian Championship 1. Antonio Cairoli / Yamaha De Carli - 277 points 2. Manuel Monni/ Team Yamaha RSC - 261 points 3. Matteo Bonini/ Yamaha De Carli - 221 points 4. Davide Guarneri / Yamaha Team Ricci - 213 points 5. Angelo Pellegrini / Honda - 180 points 6. Allesandro Lupino / Yamaha De Carli - 151 points
Alex Asigno
The Fiat Yamaha Team head straight from Australia to Malaysia this week as they contest the second Grand Prix in just seven days, with the penultimate race of the season set to take place at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur. Yamaha have been the most successful manufacturer in MotoGP at the ultra modern circuit, taking three victories from eight visits, and their strong record in Malaysia stretches back to the first ever race in the country back in 1991, when John Kocinski took 500cc honours at Shah Alam. The most recent Malaysian Grand Prix was also won by Yamaha, with Valentino Rossi taking his fourth premier-class win at Sepang following a stunning battle with Loris Capirossi last season. Rossi is keen to repeat that performance this weekend as he aims to become the first MotoGP rider ever to score 100 career podiums in the class - his third place finish at Phillip Island last Sunday having taken his tally to an unsurpassed 99. Rossi's team-mate Colin Edwards is also targeting a return to the podium after a dry spell of eight races since his last top-three finish at Donington Park. Sepang is one of the widest tracks on the calendar, measuring 16 metres across in some areas, and high track temperatures are always a factor in the tropical climate. With four major hairpins, and some fast and frequent changes of direction in its 5,542m layout, Sepang provides a stern workout for the entire bike set-up and its largely consistent, if demanding, climate makes it the ideal winter testing venue. However, after being completely resurfaced since preseason testing back in February, the teams will have to wait until first free practice on Friday morning to see how useful previous data will be for set-up this weekend. Valentino Rossi - "Our target is unchanged" Valentino Rossi's impressive career podium tally in MotoGP includes six from the past six seasons at Sepang, including those four victories. After extending his advantage over Dani Pedrosa in the battle for the important runner-up spot in the championship at the last round, the Italian is again targetting the top step of the podium as he aims to finish a difficult season on a high note. "I did everything I could in Australia but we couldn't challenge Stoner so our target for the final two races is unchanged - to fight for the win," says Rossi. "Sepang is another of my favourite tracks and I've had some great races there. Last year's battle with Loris was especially memorable, and I would really like to have the chance to fight like that with my rivals again this year. "We know that our bike generally goes well there and we have a lot of data from so much testing there, even if our bike has changed quite a bit from the start of the year when we were last there and the track has also, but hopefully we will be able to find a good package and be competitive. We have two races left and we are going to be doing everything we can to win them both so we can end the season in a good way." Colin Edwards - "Still determined" After another disappointing weekend in Australia, Colin Edwards prefers to focus on the positive preseason tests the team enjoyed at Sepang back in February, when both riders dipped under 990cc lap record pace during an extensive tyre workout. Edwards has not enjoyed the best of luck at Sepang in the past and has yet to finish above tenth place but he is confident of turning that around this weekend. "Despite only finishing ninth I did leave Phillip Island feeling like we salvaged something from the weekend because at times it was looking like it was going to be a lot worse and I think we learnt something," reflects Edwards. "For Malaysia, Michelin are bringing some stuff that I know from testing works for me on this bike at this track - we just have to hope it works just as well with the new surface. Hopefully if we put it together with what we learnt about the bike in Australia then we'll be in good shape. "The YZR-M1 went brilliantly at Sepang in preseason testing - now we will have to see how much better our rivals are there after a full season of development. Anyway, I'm glad to be going straight there from Australia because there's no time to sit about feeling disappointed about what happened Phillip Island. I'm still determined to get a good result before the end of the season and Sepang is a good place to do it." Davide Brivio - "A few question marks" It promises to be a busy weekend for Fiat Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio, who arrived in Malaysia early this week to check out the newly resurfaced Sepang circuit. With weather forecasts predicting rain and the Grand Prix Commission set to announce a decision over tyre regulations for next season, there is plenty for the Italian to think about both off and on the track in Malaysia. "We had a great test here in February but it looks like the resurfacing has changed the track a lot so we don't know what the grip will be like," says Brivio. "It means we go there in pretty much the same shape as everybody else, with some doubts about what we tested here. The weather forecast we have is predicting rain each afternoon so there are question marks over the track and the conditions. "Apart from that, this is a circuit we have enjoyed a lot of success at in the past and Valentino has won here many times so we have to be confident. It will also be an important weekend because of the decision over a possible single-tyre rule for next year. Once it is made we can decide our exact development strategy for next season so we are all looking forward to hearing how it will work out. Then we can look ahead to making a stronger challenge next year."
 
Valentino Rossi : Information Age: 28 Lives: London, UK Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1 GP victories: 88 (61 x MotoGP/500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc) First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc) First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc) GP starts: 189 (129 x MotoGP/500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc) Pole positions: 49 World Championships: 7 Grand Prix (1 x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 4 x MotoGP) Colin Edwards: Information Age: 33 Lives: Conroe, Texas Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1 First GP: Japan, 2003 (MotoGP) GP starts: 81 x MotoGP World Championships: 2 World Superbike Sepang: Lap Record L. Capirossi (Ducati) 2006, 2'02.127 Sepang: Best Lap V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 2.00.605 Grand Prix Results: Sepang 2006 1. V. Rossi (Yamaha) 43'07.829 2. L. Capirossi (Ducati) +0.849 3. N. Hayden (Honda) +3.863 10. C. Edwards (USA) Yamaha +19.909
Alex Asigno
The Fiat Yamaha Team of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will run a special one-off livery on their bikes and leathers for the Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island this weekend, starting from Free Practice. The livery has been inspired by the famous ‘Abarth' brand, a division of Fiat Automobiles SpA. The Abarth brand has been re-launched by Fiat this year with several new models and this weekend's livery is designed to celebrate that. The livery uses all the elements of the logo - the Scorpion, which is synonymous with the brand, the white and red flag and the word ‘Abarth'. This will be the last livery change of the season for the team.
Alex Asigno
On Behalf of Yamaha Motor Corporation Co. LTD
About the Passing Away of Norifumi (Norick) Abe
It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Norifumi (Norick) Abe (32) on October 7, 2007, following a traffic accident. Norick Abe, as he is fondly known by motorcycle race fans around the world, was competing this season in the JSB1000 class of the All-Japan Championships from the “Y'S GEAR Racing” team. Norick was riding a motorcycle in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Pref. when he met with an accident at about 6:20 pm and he was pronounced dead at 8:50 pm at the hospital where he was taken for treatment.
In 1993, Norifumi Abe became the youngest rider ever to win the pinnacle 500cc class of the All Japan Road Race Championships. The following year he was competing in the All Japan Superbike Championship when he joined the Yamaha camp and started competing in the World GP500cc class. From 1995 he began competing full-time in the World GP500cc class, where he eventually compiled a record of three wins, four 2nd places and 10 3rd places in his GP career. This year he returned to the All Japan Championships and also competed in the Suzuka 8 hours World Endurance Championship race in July. During his career Abe was widely known and loved by the fans as a leading figure in the domestic race scene as well as abroad.
Comment from Takashi Kajikawa, President, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. “I am deeply saddened to hear this tragic news. Loved by fans in Japan, Europe and the Americas and throughout Asia, Norifumi Abe was an irreplaceable ambassador of motor sports worldwide. Here in Japan the fans were especially excited to see Abe return to the All Japan circuit after 14 years of international competition, and certainly their sense of loss at his passing is great. We pray that his soul rests in peace and we send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Norifumi Abe Profile Place of birth: Tokyo, Japan Born on Sept. 7, 1975 2007 team: Y'S GEAR Racing
Career: 1993: Champion of All Japan GP500 class 1994: World Road Race Championships GP500 class debut 1995: 9th in World GP500 class 1996: 5th in World GP500 class (won Japan GP) 1997: 7th in World GP500 class 1998: 6th in World GP500 class 1999: 6th in World GP500 class (won Rio GP) 2000: 8th in World GP500 class (won Japan GP) 2001: 7th in World GP500 class 2002: 6th in MotoGP 2003: 16th in MotoGP (spot participation) 2004: 13th in MotoGP 2005: 13th in World Superbike Championship 2006: 13th in World Superbike Championship 2007: Ranking 3rd in All Japan JSB1000 class (at the end of round 6)
Alex Asigno
In a day of dramatic racing, Yamaha came away with both their rider and manufacturer championship still hopes alive. Haga came third and fourth in today's races with Corser finishing in fifth in the second race after a DNF in race one. Race one had a spectacular start as Corser lost the front and crashed out on the first lap while Haga almost crashed but managed to move into third in front of Toseland. He then proceeded to take the fastest lap three times to catch Bayliss and Biaggi who were battling for first. Having caught Bayliss, Haga tousled and swapped places with him many times before Bayliss made it stick on lap 17. The battle up front had given Toseland the chance to catch up and challenge Haga for third position; a challenge which he eventually won. Race two was equally exciting with the usual suspects of Bayliss, Biaggi, Haga, Toseland and Corser up front and challenging for position. Bayliss took an early lead but Haga was quick to chase, along with Biaggi. Corser, in fifth, fought to get past Toseland until Toseland crashed allowing Corser to get on with catching the front runners up. The fight for first place turned into a three-way battle between Bayliss, Haga and Biaggi until Biaggi squeezed past the Yamaha rider for second place on lap 13. From there on the positions remained the same until the chequered flag. Shinichi Nakatomi had one of the best rides of his WSB career today, taking a pair of ninth place finishes. He made a good start in race one to move up to ninth, where he finished. Race two's start wasn't as good as he went down to 15th but he focused on the job in hand and managed to claim ninth by the end of the race. The outcome of today's races is that Haga now lies third in the championship, 4 points behind Biaggi and 33 points behind Toseland. With 50 points still up for grabs at the final round next weekend all three riders will be looking for the all-important win. Yamaha lies second in the manufacturer championship but only 3 points adrift of Honda. Both championships will be decided next weekend at Magny-Course.
Alex Asigno
Team Yamaha Ricci’s Nicolas Aubin ended an impressive breakthrough season in which he won his first Grand Prix, finished a career-best sixth in the MX2 World Championship and by assisting France to second place in front of a huge 74,000 crowd packed into the impressive Budds Creek circuit, Maryland USA for the 61st Motocross of Nations.
On a typically American track that was quick, technical, lined with jumps and blessed with hot sunshine. The temperatures in the mid 30’s gave the racing an extra physical edge and tested the best riders (three per Nation with one representative each in MX1, MX2 and MX Open classes) from around the globe with twenty countries entering the gate for the three 30 minute and 2 lap motos mixing the categories. The scoring system worked in reverse compared to a Grand Prix with the first classified participant taking one point, second position two points and then continuing down the order to last place. The Nation will the lowest score from five accumulated results (the worst finish can be discarded) earned overall victory. On this occasion it was the USA for the third year in a row.
Aubin was making his Nations debut for 2001 winners France and gave his country their third share of silverware since that historic day at Namur six years ago. The youngster rode to results of tenth and sixth in the two motos against the larger machines of the MX1 and MX Open fields. He was third overall in the MX2 class and provided an exciting piece of action in the first race when he clashed with Tommy Searle, only losing out on ninth by a fraction of a second at the finish line.
With the USA dominating each moto thanks to Ryan Villopoto and Ricky Carmichael it was left to the rest of the world to fight for podium slots. France beat Belgium by just one point and Italy were some way adrift in fourth. MX2 World Champion Antonio Cairoli was unlucky to take only fourteenth and a DNF. Cairoli was originally on the point of being unable to compete as his YZ250F arrived just in time for practice on Saturday having been held up through US customs. The 21 year old Sicilian struggled on the rough and bumpy track. He had his line cut by another rider in the first moto versus the MX1 machines and crashed, damaging his front brake and forcing a retirement. In the second race he had to enter the pits with a badly buckled front wheel as a result of a collision on the second lap. He re-entered the race but could not break into the top thirteen. USA for the third year in a row.
Team-mate Davide Guarneri was also feeling the demands of the surface with his first outing on the YZ450F in the Open category. He was fifteenth and sixteenth. USA for the third year in a row.
2007 AMA Motocross Champion Grant Langston had a tough day for South Africa. His first moto was wrecked by a spate of crashes and a problem with his rear brake. He then rode better in Moto2 to finish third and give the team their highest result. With Gareth Swanepoel crashing and breaking his foot South Africa was twelfth in the closing ranking. USA for the third year in a row.
Former World and American Supercross Champion Chad Reed posted the best race classification on YZ machinery across the classes at Budds Creek with a decent ride to second position in the opening moto, beating Carmichael. The Australian was luckless in the next race as he became caught up in a second turn pile-up and then retired as he could not shift gears. Australia were plagued with ill fortune and finished last as Andrew McFarlane was hit on the start straight of the first moto and pulled out of the event in pain while Michael Byrne had technical problems.
Credit must be given to Bike it Yamaha Dixon’s Carlos Campano who enjoyed his best race meeting of 2007 with fourth position overall in MX2 and was Spain’s most consistent rider with fourteenth and seventh. The Spanish national champion has struggled with a knee injury this season. Jubilo Yamaha’s Akira Narita was thirty-sixth and twenty-third on the YZ450F as Japan finished seventh in the final ranking.
The Motocross calendar is not quite over for Cairoli and Guarneri with two races of the Italian Championship remaining in October and then the six-round European Supercross Championship also to contest. Nico Aubin will be part of the French team for the prestigious Bercy Supercross.
Alex Asigno
Weather and tyre issues brought about an end to Valentino Rossi's slim title chances today, as he finished 13th in Motegi despite a heroic ride which saw him lead the race at one point. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards suffered similar problems in what was an extraordinary race, finishing one place behind Rossi in 14th. With the asphalt still wet after a morning of light rain, the riders started with wet-weather tyres on a fast-drying track. Rossi got a poor start from second on the grid and crossed the line for the first time in seventh place, with Edwards behind him in eighth. An outstanding ride from the seven-time World Champion then saw him fight his way back to the front, making up five seconds on the leaders and taking the lead on lap 14. The racing line by now was almost completely dry however, and behind him most riders had already opted to pit and change onto their second bikes with slick tyres. When Rossi eventually came in to change one lap later he had built up such a lead that he was able to re-join the race in second place, behind eventual winner Loris Capirossi, but Yamaha's jubilation was short-lived as Rossi immediately ran into serious issues with his front tyre and was forced to pit again. He rejoined the race in 15th but was able to make up only two places to the finish as he struggled with grip. Edwards, who was in third place when Rossi came in for the first time, rejoined in eighth but had similar tyre problems and also dropped back through the field to cross the line two seconds behind his team-mate. Casey Stoner took sixth place, which was enough to secure him the World Championship title. Rossi remains second and 26 points clear of Dani Pedrosa, who failed to finish the race, while Edwards drops two places down the standings to ninth, with three races remaining