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Alex Asigno
Yamaha Motor Italia completed their first year in the Superbike World Championship yesterday, taking part in a three-day test session at the Losail circuit in the Gulf state of Qatar. The test, organised by championship tyre suppliers Pirelli, was attended by all but one of the series' designated development teams and gave riders Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Pitt an opportunity to test some new Ohlins suspension parts on their YZF-R1 machines, as well as a host of new tyre options. In contrast to the rain which affected last February's race at the long Losail circuit, the riders were welcomed by surfaces temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius. Typically, Haga chose not to run a qualifying set-up - recording a best of 2:00.46 on race settings. Pitt did run the soft qualifying rubber on the third day to set a best lap of 2:00.56. Both riders were over two seconds faster than in their last visit to the desert circuit, almost 10 months ago, an indication of the development of both the machine and tyres. Ducati rider Troy Bayliss topped the timesheets after three days of running, with a 1:58.66 lap on qualifying tyres. Yamaha Motor Italia completed their first year in the Superbike World Championship yesterday, taking part in a three-day test session at the Losail circuit in the Gulf state of Qatar. The test, organised by championship tyre suppliers Pirelli, was attended by all but one of the series' designated development teams and gave riders Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Pitt an opportunity to test some new Ohlins suspension parts on their YZF-R1 machines, as well as a host of new tyre options. In contrast to the rain which affected last February's race at the long Losail circuit, the riders were welcomed by surfaces temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius. Typically, Haga chose not to run a qualifying set-up - recording a best of 2:00.46 on race settings. Pitt did run the soft qualifying rubber on the third day to set a best lap of 2:00.56. Both riders were over two seconds faster than in their last visit to the desert circuit, almost 10 months ago, an indication of the development of both the machine and tyres. Ducati rider Troy Bayliss topped the timesheets after three days of running, with a 1:58.66 lap on qualifying tyres. The next official superbike test takes place at Phillip Island in Australia, between 17 and 20 January. Round one of the series takes place at Losail on 25 February. Noriyuki Haga "The new suspension is very good. The front worked straight away without any changes! The rear is also good and with some changes we should find some further improvement. Now I am happy to go on holiday. We have hardly stopped since the end of the season and even as early as January we are back testing." Andrew Pitt "It's been a satisfying test and I was pleased to find that on the few times I was lapping with Bayliss my R1 was a little faster than his Ducati. Certainly the engine upgrades are working good, as is the new  suspension. We also fitted a new shock at the end of the test and this will be one of the key development areas at our next test." Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator) "We have improved massively since the first race of last season, especially with the chassis, and we suffered none of the front tyre wear problems we had when we raced here. We still have to work on the settings of the new shock absorber, but this looks like a step forward. We also tested engine durability here and completed almost 1,600 kilometres without any problems whatsoever. Also at this test we tried various different injection mappings to give a sweeter power delivery and better drive. Over the next few weeks we will build our 2006-specification engines and at the next test we expect to have several new developments, especially with the engine."   High resolution copyright free (for editorial use) images are available from the photo gallery section of www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex Asigno

Tracks

By Alex Asigno in Archives

Tracks
Anglesey
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=238583&Y=367476&A=Y&Z=5 Brands Hatch
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=557500&Y=164500&A=Y&Z=5 Cadwell Park
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=529375&Y=380854&A=Y&Z=5 Castle Combe
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=385709&Y=176572&A=Y&Z=5 Croft
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=428440&Y=507201&A=Y&Z=5 Donington Park
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=442060&Y=325995&A=Y&Z=5 Goodwood
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=487989&Y=107485&A=Y&Z=5 Knockhill
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=305368&Y=693745&A=Y&Z=5 Lydden
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=623127&Y=146768&A=Y&Z=5 Mallory Park http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=445468&Y=300594&A=Y&Z=5 Mondello Park
Oulton Park
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=358874&Y=364584&A=Y&Z=5 Pembrey
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=240923&Y=203804&A=Y&Z=5 Rockingham
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=489735&Y=291273&A=Y&Z=5 Snetterton
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=600446&Y=289139&A=Y&Z=5 Silverstone
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=467709&Y=242286&A=Y&Z=5 Thruxton
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=428235&Y=145810&A=Y&Z=5
Alex Asigno

Biker Meets

By Alex Asigno in Archives

Biker Meets
Ace Café, Old North Circular Road, Wembley – Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=519550&Y=183850&A=Y&Z=1 Tel: 020 8961 1000 http://www.ace-cafe-london.com Boxhill, Ryka's Cafe, Old London Road, Dorking - Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=517150&Y=152050&A=Y&Z=1 Carlisle Parade, Carlisle Parade, Hastings, Sussex - Wed Eve
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=581550&Y=109250&A=Y&Z=1 Cat & Fiddle Inn, Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire - Saturday, Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=397850&Y=372950&A=Y&Z=3 Tel: 01298 23364 Devils Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire - Tue, Fri Eve, Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=361550&Y=478250&A=Y&Z=1 Dick Turpin, Arterial Rd, Wickford, Essex - Tue Eve
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=575150&Y=190950&A=Y&Z=3 Tel: 01268 726205 Hartside Top Café, Alston Moor, Cumbria – ???
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=368776&Y=543049&A=Y&Z= Tel: 01434 381036 Earl of March, Lavant, Chichester, Sussex - Thu Eve
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=485750&Y=108250&A=Y&Z=1 Tel: 01243 774751 Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire - Saturday, Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=430050&Y=360050&A=Y&Z=1 Rivington Barn, Hampson St, Horwich - Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=363550&Y=411850&A=Y&Z=1 http://www.rivingtonbarn.com Squires Milk bar, Newthorpe Lane, Newthorpe, Leeds – Wed Eve
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=445751&Y=432956&A=Y&Z=1 Tel: 01977 684618 Westgate Street, Newcastle upon Tyne – Saturday, Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=423950&Y=564150&A=Y&Z=1 Whiteways, A29, Arundle, Sussex - Saturday, Sunday
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=500150&Y=110950&A=Y&Z=3
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Motor France will enter the 2006 Superbike World Championship with a three-rider line-up that sees former Japanese 250cc champion Shinichi Nakatomi join the team's 2005 riders Norick Abe and Sebastien Gimbert. Twenty-seven-year-old Nakatomi is an experienced R1 pilot, having ridden for Yamaha's YSP Racing Team in the Suzuka Eight-hour and Japanese JSB1000 championship since switching to four-strokes in 2003. Having never raced outside his native Japan, Nakatomi is looking forward to the adventure of racing in the world championships, experiencing the western culture and racing the YZF-R1 at
world level.  Yamaha Motor France's squad will again be run by experienced tuner Martial Garcia, whose company is responsible, in conjunction with Yamaha's Japanese headquarters, for the development of Yamaha's YEC racing kit parts development programme for the YZF-R1 and YZF-R6. The team expects to use these parts as the base of their 2006 machines and will use the series as well as an opportunity to test and develop the 2007 range of customer race parts. Completing the squad are Abe and Gimbert, both of whom are looking to improve on their Superbike rookie seasons in 2005. Experienced Grand Prix rider Abe ended his first superbike season in 13th place but, having learned the circuits and the characteristics of the YZF-R1 and championship controlled Pirelli tyres, is looking to become a regular feature in the battle for podium finishes in 2006. Gimbert suffered an injury-plagued 2005 campaign but showed his speed early in the year with a lap record in Qatar and a sixth place in Valencia. The Frenchman will again also feature in Yamaha Motor France's squad at the classic 24-hour races of Le Mans and Bol d'Or. Shinichi Nakatomi "Although I still haven't finished the big task of winning the All-Japan JSB1000 title on the YZF-R1, I am going to start a new next season in world superbike and try to focus everything I have learned over the past three years with Yamaha and do the best I can. I don't intend to use my first year in the championship just as a year for learning. I intend to go out there and race aggressively, and I hope to be up there in the race for the championship." Norick Abe "This year was my first season racing in the world superbike series and there was a lot that I had to learn. But now, with this season of experience behind me, I am anxious to work on improving the things I wasn't able to do in the off-season and during the season this year so that I can approach the coming season better prepared. Our overseas tests will begin in December and my first aim is to do the best preparation possible during these tests." Sebastien Gimbert "I am looking forward to a second year in world superbikes and also staying with the Yamaha Motor France team. My leg injury weakened my performances last season but now I am fully fit and feeling strong. The experiences of myself and the team will allow us to go to each circuit with invaluable knowledge and I believe that we can give a greater representation of our abilities."
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Motor Italia riders Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Pitt were on track yesterday at a two day test at Valencia circuit, arranged by championship tyre supplier Pirelli for its official development teams. Running time was limited after Monday's action was washed out due to heavy rain. Pitt was one of only four riders to brave the conditions, completing just a handful of laps on the slippery surface. Day two saw the arrival of sunshine but the track failed to dry out in the morning, leaving just three hours of dry running. Both riders ran their R1s in virtually the same specification they finished the 2005 season with, the main evolutions being updated Ohlins suspension, which was tested for the first time, and some new specification tyres from Pirelli. Despite the limited running time, both riders were comfortably faster than their times from April's race. Haga concluded the test with the fourth fastest time of the 12 riders present, a 1'36"6, while Pitt was seventh fastest with a 1'37"2. Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) was fastest overall with a 1'35.7. Team Coordinator Massimo Meregalli commented: "The bad weather reduced the time available and we were only able to get through a small amount of the work we'd planned. However it went well and this test has given us the opportunity to work with three new team members and for them to become familiar with our working practices. Next we have a test in Qatar early next month where we hope to have more track time. We ended the 2005 championship growing in confidence and for 2006 our intention is to be one of the main challengers for the championship title."
Alex Asigno
David Frétigné (Yamaha WR450F - Yamaha Moto France Ipone) confirmed his ambitions for the legendary Dakar rally raid by claiming his fourth consecutive win in the Shamrock rally, that took place in the Marroccan Sahara from the 28th of October to the 6th of November. After his season competing in national and international enduro races, 'the Shamrock' marked Frétigné's traditional switch to rally-raid. The likeable Frenchman quickly adapted to the terrain and his bike. Frétigné, 35, took five day wins at the eighth edition of the Shamrock and added his fourth overall victory to his already impressive tally. David showed great speed in both fast and technical stages, making the best of his past experience in Marocco. However the main goal of the race was to let Frétigné and his team get used to his new WR450F and prepare for the Dakar.
The 28th edition of the Dakar rally will take place from the 31st of December to the 15th of January 2006. After the rally had already started in France and Spain, it will this time take off from Lisbon, Portugal to end nearly 10,000 kilometres later at the coast of Dakar, Sénegal. In only his second Dakar participation this year David Frétigné finished fifth overall. He was the only rider to have won three specials in 2005 and he repeated his 450 class win of last year. David Frétigné (Yamaha WR450F - Yamaha Moto France Ipone) - overall winner "Above all I have used the Shamrock to prepare for Dakar. It's nice that I have won with an advance of more than 2 hours over the second, but for more it's even more important to know that we have done our homework for the Dakar. I have concentrated on getting the right setting for my suspension over the past week and everything turned out great. Apart from that we did the usual stuff with a new bike: adjusting pedals and handlebars, learning to work with the new GPS and so on. We have not touched the engine, but even under demanding situations the WR450F engine behaved brilliantly. In general the bike gave me even more confidence than before, and we will keep the bike as it is for the Dakar. The next step in my preparation is to rest and perfect my physical shape till the end of November, after that I will start studying the maps to get my mind set for the 2006 Dakar. I will also have the bike with me to continue to ride and practice my navigation." FINAL STANDINGS SHAMROCK RALLY 2005 1. David Frétigné (Yamaha), 2. Thierry Bethys (Honda), 3. Christophe Meillat (Honda), 4. Olivier Cubaynes (Yamaha), 5. Patrick Moreno (Suzuki), 6. André Lenoble (Suzuki), 7. Christophe Rougeot (Yamaha), 8. Philippe Pennarun (Yamaha), 9. Jean-Michel Redal (Polaris), 10. Eric Beaudoin (Kawasaki)
Alex Asigno
Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Pitt will race for the Yamaha Motor Italia squad in the 2006 Superbike World Championship, fulfilling the team's desire to retain the services of both its riders from the 2005 campaign. Both men played an important role in developing Yamaha's YZF-R1 in its first year of world superbike competition with Japanese ace Haga recording 10 podium finishes, including two wins, on his way to third place in the championship. Australian Pitt ended the year eighth in the standings with a best result of fourth in the opening race of the season in Qatar. The Yamaha Motor Italia squad will again benefit from the official backing of  Yamaha Motor Europe and for 2006 will use the updated YZF-R1 as the base for their world superbike contender. Preparations for the new season have already begun, with the first test of the 2006 season due to take place in Valencia on 14-15 November. Noriyuki Haga "I wanted to stay with Yamaha as we ended the year very strongly and I am very pleased that we have been able to agree terms. We had a good first year together and it would have been a shame not to take advantage of all the development work we carried out. Yamaha knows what it has to do to make the bike into a championship winner and it was important for me to know that I have the support needed for 2006. We came close to winning the title in 2000 and my motivation to become champion is still as strong as it ever was. Becoming world superbike champion is the goal I still have to achieve and I believe that Yamaha can give me what it takes to turn this dream into reality." Andrew Pitt "When I signed for last year we always knew that it would be 2006 before we could really see the benefits of our work, therefore I'm delighted to continue with the team and hopefully take advantage of the hard work we put in last year. I enjoy working with this team and we've seen that the bike can be a winner. We know what we have to do to take it to the next level and with a year's experience of the class, the bike and the Pirelli tyres I feel that I can show my true ability next year." Laurens Klein Koerkamp - Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe "We were quite late in starting this project last year and I said that our objective would be to develop the bike and put ourselves in a situation where we were winning races by the end of the year. By the middle of the season we were well on track, and we have shown that we can compete with the best in the class. For 2006 we can take advantage of our year's knowledge. We now have base settings for each circuit we race on, a year's development work behind us and some chassis improvements from the new YZF-R1. The team will again be run by Massimo Meregalli and working with Andrew and Noriyuki gives us great stability. Our learning year is over and we now know exactly what is required to challenge for the title. It will not be easy, but ultimately it is our goal for 2006."
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Factory Racing rider Valentino Rossi scored his sixteenth podium from seventeen races in the final round of the 2005 MotoGP World Championship to put the shine on Yamaha's 0th Anniversary celebrations at Valencia. The Italian started from his lowest grid position of the season but produced a dramatic ride to end the race in third place, lapping quicker than eventual winner Marco Melandri (Honda). A crowd of 124,520 watched Rossi make up seven positions with an incredible surge on the first lap, although the early pace of Melandri and Nicky Hayden (Honda) provided them with an advantage that proved impossible to breach in the second half of the race.  Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Date: 6 November 2005 Crowd: 124520 Temp: 21ºC Weather: Sunny Rossi's Yamaha Factory team-mate Colin Edwards suffered a disappointing end to his first season with the team, losing three positions on the first lap after starting from sixth and only managing to recover one place by the end of the race. Nevertheless, the American has made significant progress with a new riding style over the course of the weekend and he is now looking forward to winter testing as he prepares for his second season as a Yamaha rider. In the meantime, Yamaha is left to reflect on a stunning Anniversary season, in which it has swept the board, taking the riders', teams' and constructors' World Championship titles. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Team), 3rd "The second part of the race was very positive because my pace was fast and I rode well but if you want to win a race then you can't start from fifteenth on the grid. I made a mistake yesterday with the crash but the truth is that we were struggling all weekend with the setting and we didn't understand until this morning what the problem was. We worked it out and in the race I was able to ride how I wanted to, but it was too late. It was good fun, I pushed hard but it wasn't enough. In the future we have to make sure we work better in practice. It's been a fantastic season and everyone has worked hard to achieve all our targets. Now we look forward to some holidays and some hard work during winter testing!" Colin Edwards (Yamaha Factory Team), 8th "I didn't ride great today. In the middle of the race I started to push hard and caught up again with the middle of the pack, but by that time I had abused my tyres a lot, they were moving around and so I decided to hold station. I have never been at the last race of a season counting down the days for winter testing to start. We have a lot of work to do and I want to get going as soon as possible. It's been an average season but we've learnt a lot for next year and the whole team has worked very hard for me. I want to thank them and thank Michelin and I'm looking forward to working with everyone over the winter and coming out strong next year." Davide Brivio - Yamaha Factory Team director "Basically we lost the race in practice, both with the setting difficulties we had and Valentino's starting position for the race. It is always going to be difficult from the fifth row, but he was 4.9 seconds down on the leader after four laps and by the end it was 2.9 so his pace was even better than the race winner. It's been a long season from January, when testing started, to November. We have won everything available, scored eleven race victories and right now I would accept the same statistics next season - only with Colin higher in the championship. That is our aim for next year but for now I just want to say thank you to all our staff, engineers, crew and both of our riders. It has been a fantastic season." Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 10th "We had a difficult weekend as we could not solve the problems we had on the first day. However, I still gave my best. I think it was a season where I built up very valuable experience. I have learnt a lot and, despite the injury that kept me out for a while, I think I have progressed well. Now I am going to rest for a few days which I think I deserve! I want to thank everyone at my team, the mechanics and everyone who has supported me." Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 15th It has been a difficult year in which I have been battling to adapt to the YZR-M1, but it has proved difficult. Today was another hard one, but despite not enjoying myself much on the bike, we got one point. I must look forward now and keep fighting."    Race classification MotoGP Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Circuit Length: 4005 Lap Record: 1' 33.043 (Marco Melandri, 2005) Fastest Lap Ever:  1' 31.874 (Sete Gibernau, 2005) Race: 30 Laps  Pos.  Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1   M. Melandri Honda  ITA  46' 58.152  2   N. Hayden Honda  USA  +0.097  3   V. Rossi Yamaha  ITA  +2.959  4   C. Checa Ducati  ESP  +18.718  5   A. Barros Honda  BRA  +20.706  6   M. Biaggi Honda  ITA  +21.254  7   L. Capirossi Ducati  ITA  +23.142  8   C. Edwards Yamaha  USA  +25.678  9   M. Tamada Honda  JPN  +36.710  10   T. Elias Yamaha  ESP  +39.116  11   S. Nakano Kawasaki  JPN  +41.136  12   R. Kiyonari Honda  JPN  +45.691  13   J. Hopkins Suzuki  USA  +46.507  14   A. Hofman Kawasaki  GER  +49.856  15   R. Xaus Yamaha  ESP  +1' 19.443  Fastest Race Lap:   Pos.  Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1   M. Melandri Honda  ITA  1' 33.043  Championship standings MotoGP   Pos.  Rider  Manufacturer  Nat. Points  1   Valentino Rossi Yamaha  ITA 367  2   Marco Melandri Honda  ITA 220  3   Nicky Hayden Honda  USA 206  4   Colin Edwards Yamaha  USA 179  5   Max Biaggi Honda  ITA 173  6   Loris Capirossi Ducati  ITA 157  7   Sete Gibernau Honda  ESP 150  8   Alex Barros Honda  BRA 147  9   Carlos Checa Ducati  ESP 138  10   Shinya Nakano Kawasaki  JPN 98  11   Makato Tamada Honda  JPN 91  12   Toni Elias Yamaha  ESP 74  13   Kenny Roberts Suzuki  USA 63  14   John Hopkins Suzuki  USA 63  15   Troy Bayliss Honda  AUS 54  16   Ruben Xaus Yamaha  ESP 52  Manufacturers standings MotoGP   Pos. Manufacturer Points  1  Yamaha 381  2  Honda 341  3  Ducati 202  4  Kawasaki 126  5  Suzuki 100  6  Blata WCM 13  7  Proton KR 1  8  Moriwaki 1  Team standings MotoGP Pos. Team Points  1  Yamaha Factory Team 546  2  Repsol Honda Team 379  3  Team Movistar Honda MotoGP 370  4  Ducati Marlboro Team 295  5  Honda Camel 220  6  Kawasaki Racing Team 150  7  Fortuna Yamaha Team 130  8  Team Suzuki MotoGP 126  9  Konica Minolta Honda 103  10  D'Antin MotoGP 25  11  Blata WCM 14  12  Team Roberts KR 1  Race classification GP250 Round: 16 - Valencia GP250 Circuit: Valencia Circuit Length: 4005 Lap Record: 1' 35.792 (Daniel Pedrosa, 2005) Fastest Lap Ever:  1' 35.298 (Daniel Pedrosa, 2005) Race: 27 Laps  Pos.  Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1   D. Pedrosa Honda  ESP  43' 33.395  2   J. Lorenzo Honda  ESP  +3.448  3   C. Stoner Aprilia  AUS  +14.372  4   A. de Angelis Aprilia  SMR  +17.771  5   H. Barbera Honda  ESP  +26.233  6   H. Aoyama Honda  JPN  +31.244  7   Y. Takahashi Honda  JPN  +35.518  8   R. de Puniet Aprilia  FRA  +36.488  9   A. Dovizioso Honda  ITA  +43.129  10   R. Locatelli Aprilia  ITA  +43.960  11   A. Debon Honda  ESP  +55.494  12   J. Smrz Honda  CZE  +57.265  13   M. Cardenas Aprilia  COL  +58.185  14   S. Guintoli Aprilia  FRA  +58.545  15   T. Sekiguchi Aprilia  JPN  +1' 1.485  Fastest Race Lap:   Pos.  Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1   D. Pedrosa Honda  ESP  1' 35.792  Championship standings GP250   Pos.  Rider  Manufacturer  Nat. Points  1   Daniel Pedrosa Honda  ESP 309  2   Casey Stoner Aprilia  AUS 254  3   Andrea Dovizioso Honda  ITA 189  4   Hiroshi Aoyama Honda  JPN 180  5   Jorge Lorenzo Honda  ESP 167  6   Sebastian Porto Aprilia  ARG 152  7   Alex de Angelis Aprilia  SMR 151  8   Randy de Puniet Aprilia  FRA 138  9   Hector Barbera Honda  ESP 120  10   Sylvain Guintoli Aprilia  FRA 84  11   Yuki Takahashi Honda  JPN 77  12   Alex Debon Honda  ESP 67  13   Roberto Locatelli Aprilia  ITA 61  14   Simone Corsi Aprilia  ITA 59  15   Mirko Giansanti Aprilia  ITA 36  Manufacturers standings GP250   Pos. Manufacturer Points  1  Honda 349  2  Aprilia 339  3  KTM 30
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Factory Racing rider Valentino Rossi faces an uphill battle in the final round of the 2005 MotoGP World Championship tomorrow after qualifying fifteenth fastest at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. Rossi slid from his YZR-M1 machine just over eleven minutes from the end of this afternoon's qualifying session and, despite returning to the track on his second machine, he lost several positions in the final push for times. The Italian will start from the fifth row of the grid as he aims to score his twelfth victory of the season and repeat the success he has enjoyed at this circuit for the past two years.
MotoGP : Yamaha Factory Racing face Sunday challenge at Valencia Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Date: 5 November 2005 Temp: 19ºC Weather: Sunny Rossi's Yamaha Factory team-mate Colin Edwards benefited from a more productive afternoon, making major progress with his new riding style and knocking almost two seconds off his best practice time from yesterday. For the second successive race the American will start from the second row of the grid in sixth place as he aims to improve his championship position with a good finish tomorrow. Pole position went to Sete Gibernau (Honda) in a new record time of 1'31.874 and the Spaniard is joined on the front row by Marco Melandri and Nicky Hayden (both Honda), who will fight for the runner-up spot behind Rossi in the championship in tomorrow's race. Colin Edwards (Yamaha Factory Team), 6th - 1'32.456 "I'm halfway happy with the result. We had a few problems early in the session but we worked things out and I was able to set a decent time on a qualifying tyre. The second row isn't terrible but we have work to do to find a better race pace. We made more progress with the new riding style but in reality I need 100 laps to perfect it, so I can't wait for winter testing! It takes me five or six laps to get going and we just need to get it ingrained in my system. The team has worked hard today and Michelin has given us some good options for tomorrow - I am determined to finish the season on a high. The stadium style atmosphere here is always fantastic so I'm looking forward to tomorrow." Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Team), 15th - 1'33.503 "When I crashed I was pushing hard with the qualifying tyre and honestly I felt confident that I could do a good time. I was maybe a little too aggressive and when I touched the brake I just lost the front and went down. I was going fast and I have some small bruises on my elbow and on my leg, but I will be fine tomorrow for the race. I was lucky. The grid position is not so good, my worst for a very long time! The situation on the track is actually not so bad; the rhythm is okay, although we do have some problems and for sure I am slower than some of the other riders. The main problem is that it's hard to overtake at this circuit. A lot will depend on how many riders I can pass at the start and in the first lap. Anyway, we will try to make some progress tomorrow morning and see what happens in the race. My target is to be in the top five, any higher is maybe too difficult, but it's going to be a good battle!" Davide Brivio - Yamaha Factory Team director "We are in a strange situation. Colin is on the second row but his race pace is not as good as we would like, whilst Valentino is on the fifth row with a better race pace than his team-mate. We need to combine the two! Valentino's starting position is going to make it very difficult for him and it will not be his easiest race, but that is the reality of the situation and we have to deal with it. Luckily we have already won everything but we still want to have a good last race. It's going to be tough but we'll work hard in the morning and see what the race brings." Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 13th - 1'33.005 "This morning I had a spectacular crash without getting any injuries. Unfortunately this afternoon we did not have the same pace as in the morning session. Throughout the day we've been working with a full fuel tank and a race tyre and we've got a good pace even though we do not have a top position. This will make the race more difficult for me but I hope I will have a good start and will be able to get in touch with the top group as fast as I can." Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 17th - 1'34.874 "It's hard to do things right when you're in a difficult situation like now, but I'm not looking for excuses. I'm working hard to get a good feeling and the bike itself is working fine. Tomorrow I hope to find a good rhythm and to score some points."    Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Circuit Length: 4005 Lap Record: 1' 33.317 (Valentino Rossi, 2003) Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 31.874 (Sete Gibernau, 2005) Date: 5 November 2005 Temp: 19ºC Session 1 :  Pos.  Rider  Manufacturer  Nat.  1st Qualifying 1  S. Gibernau  Honda  ESP   1' 31.874   2  M. Melandri  Honda  ITA   1' 32.111   3  N. Hayden  Honda  USA   1' 32.217   4  C. Checa  Ducati  ESP   1' 32.374   5  M. Biaggi  Honda  ITA   1' 32.384   6  C. Edwards  Yamaha  USA   1' 32.456   7  L. Capirossi  Ducati  ITA   1' 32.482   8  A. Barros  Honda  BRA   1' 32.518   9  S. Nakano  Kawasaki  JPN   1' 32.663   10  M. Tamada  Honda  JPN   1' 32.682   11  J. Hopkins  Suzuki  USA   1' 32.785   12  A. Hofman  Kawasaki  GER   1' 32.966   13  T. Elias  Yamaha  ESP   1' 33.005   14  N. Aoki  Suzuki  JPN   1' 33.393   15  V. Rossi  Yamaha  ITA   1' 33.503   16  R. Kiyonari  Honda  JPN   1' 33.846   17  R. Xaus  Yamaha  ESP   1' 34.874  
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Factory Racing riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards began making preparations for the final round of the 2005 MotoGP World Championship at Valencia today, with the cloudy conditions at the Ricardo Tormo circuit brightened by the return of the factory's traditional red, white and black racing colours. Both riders' YZR-M1 machines and leathers are decorated in the famous livery, in commemoration of Yamaha's 50th Anniversary and its extraordinarily successful year in racing this season. MotoGP : Yamaha Factory Racing riders prepare for final push Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Date: 4 November 2005 Temp: 21ºC Weather: Dry Rossi was seventh fastest in both sessions as he worked on adapting the set-up of his machine to the demands of a tight and twisty circuit after the fast and flowing characteristics of Phillip Island and Istanbul. There is certainly more to come from the Italian tomorrow after he ended the day with a lap time which was over 1.5 seconds outside his pole position record of 1'32.478, set two seasons ago. Colin Edwards also made a steady start to the weekend, lapping tenth fastest as he continued to work on a new riding style designed to increase his corner speed. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Team), 7th - 1'34.040 "I like the colour scheme very much - it is like going back to the 1970s. The bike and the leathers look really nice. Today we're having a few problems with the front end and also with acceleration. We are losing a lot of time in the slow corners and we are not strong at the end of the lap in general. We have some problems and some of the others are very fast but I am not too worried. We've had difficulties before on a Friday and worked them out for Saturday so I am confident we can overcome them on this occasion too. Everybody is tired because seventeen races in a season is a lot but we will keep pushing until the end." Colin Edwards (Yamaha Factory Team), 10th - 1'34.129 "I am getting to grips with this new riding style and I feel I have made a big step forward already this weekend. Every time I go out on the track I make progress and the team has been very helpful. My Crew Chief Daniele is showing me where I can be faster and where I can be later on the brakes, which is really helping - there's definitely a team effort going on. I feel the times are there this weekend but I now have to find the confidence in myself to push on and keep moving forward. We will see what else we can come up with tomorrow." Davide Brivio - Yamaha Factory Team director "It was another slow start to the weekend for us, something we have become used to this season! The positions don't look good but there are a lot of riders who are close together and if we make the improvements we know we are capable of, then both our riders should be much higher up tomorrow. As usual on a Friday we analyse the information and try to find as many solutions before practice continues tomorrow." Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 11th - 1'34.161 "We've been improving in the right direction though this circuit is really difficult and there are riders with many different riding styles. If you make one small mistake you can lose a lot of time here. The race will be very difficult and we cannot do big steps from all the problems we've had this season. We give our best, trying to improve for a good result on Sunday." Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 19th - 1'36.057 "This morning were not sure about the condition of one of our engines so we really had only one bike left, so our morning practice was a little bit different than usual. In the afternoon we've been improving step-by-step even though we still need some extra corner speed. The bike is working quite good here and I hope to leave Valencia with a good result."   Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Circuit Length: 4005 Lap Record: 1' 33.317 (Valentino Rossi, 2003) Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 32.478 (Valentino Rossi, 2003) Date: 4 November 2005 Temp: 21ºC Free Practice :  Pos.  Rider  Manufacturer  Nat.  Free Practice  1  M. Melandri  Honda  ITA   1' 33.464   2  C. Checa  Ducati  ESP   1' 33.506   3  S. Gibernau  Honda  ESP   1' 33.523   4  N. Hayden  Honda  USA   1' 33.722   5  L. Capirossi  Ducati  ITA   1' 33.730   6  A. Barros  Honda  BRA   1' 33.967   7  V. Rossi  Yamaha  ITA   1' 34.040   8  M. Biaggi  Honda  ITA   1' 34.094   9  M. Tamada  Honda  JPN   1' 34.103   10  C. Edwards  Yamaha  USA   1' 34.129   11  T. Elias  Yamaha  ESP   1' 34.161   12  N. Aoki  Suzuki  JPN   1' 34.512   13  J. Hopkins  Suzuki  USA   1' 34.651   14  A. Hofman  Kawasaki  GER   1' 34.778   15  S. Nakano  Kawasaki  JPN   1' 34.832   16  R. Kiyonari  Honda  JPN   1' 35.157   19  R. Xaus  Yamaha  ESP   1' 36.057
Alex Asigno
Valencia, Spain To commemorate Yamaha's 50th Anniversary and its extraordinarily successful year in racing this season, Yamaha has decided to race the last round of the 2005 MotoGP World Championship in the company's traditional red, white and black racing color scheme. This follows the Yamaha Factory Team's earlier showing of the yellow and black traditional US racing colors in the US MotoGP round at Laguna Seca. As a result the YZR-M1 machines of Yamaha Factory Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will sport the red, white and black colors as seen on many of Yamaha's past factory racing bikes. In fact in 1975, exactly 30 years ago, Yamaha won its first GP500 world championship with Giacomo Agostini riding the then revolutionary two-stoke OW23 YZR500, also painted in Yamaha's corporate racing colors. The team will present itself with the riders and bikes on Thursday, November 3 at 17.00 on the main straight for a photo call. Yamaha has enjoyed probably the most successful year in racing ever, winning no less the seven world titles across the MotoGP, MX1 and MX2 World Championships in truly dominant style. By racing in the traditional corporate racing colors Yamaha endeavors once more to exceed expectations and touch people's hearts, making sure the 2005 racing season will be remembered for a long time to come as Yamaha enters "the next 50". The media can visit www.yamahamotogp.com for pictures of the team presentation and other related content, while members of the public can go to Yamaha's official racing site www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex Asigno
2004 MotoGP race summary At Valencia Valentino Rossi secured his ninth and final win of his world championship winning first season with Yamaha. Down in sixth after a tricky start he used his improving pace to good effect, winning 0.425 seconds ahead of second-placed rider Max Biaggi (Honda) and final podium finisher, Troy Bayliss (Ducati). After a difficult start, when Rossi did not get the drive he wanted, he immediately set about reducing the margin of advantage enjoyed by early leader Makoto Tamada (Honda), and on lap six he made a determined inside pass to lead the race for the first time. A gritty duel between the pairing saw Tamada pass on turn one of lap seven, leading the ranks ahead of Rossi, Nicky Hayden (Honda) and Biaggi. To the rapture of the 122,000-strong crowd, Rossi went back into a final leading position with a pass on the entrance to the last chicane. Circuit: Valencia Country: Spain Track length: 4005 m Opened: 1999 Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 32.478 (Valentino Rossi, 2003) MotoGP lap record: 1' 33.317 (Valentino Rossi, 2003) Last year MotoGP winner: Valentino Rossi Circuit tel: +34 96 2525220 Circuit web site: http://www.circuitvalencia.com Colin Edwards had a less rewarding time at Valencia only finishing in eight position, still this was enough to secure a very commendable fourth position in the final 2004 standings. 2005 set-up report YZR-M1 Valencia is a circuit that offers a slightly undulating layout with good camber combined and an abrasive surface. It has many stop-and-go 90-degree corners, bumps and a tight design which has claimed many of victims losing the front-end. This is especially the case with the faster and heavier MotoGP machines. For this reason riders will be chasing security on this very point, followed by stability under brakes, while still offering the agility to deal with a circuit that is more suited to a 250 than a 240Hp MotoGP four-stroke. The latest spec YZR-M1 offers all the traits that a winning MotoGP bike should have; agility, drivability off slow and medium speed turns, enough horsepower to survive on the straights and all of this offered consistently throughout an entire race. The linear character of the 'big-bang' YZR-M1 power plant is supported by state-of-the art electronic engine management systems that offer a much more rider and tyre friendly delivery - making it easier to get on the power earlier in the turn and with more confidence. This is essential in the final turn - the run onto the front straight and the start/finish line. With all of these qualities secured, the main challenge will be to set-up the bike giving enough front-end confidence on corner entry in order to not fall victim to a low side crash. Regarding the geometry and suspension set-up, the Yamaha will have a front-end lifted slightly, compared to most other circuits, and the rear lowered. Combined with the right front spring rates and preload, all controlled by the rebound, this will allow for improved stability under brakes and a planted front-end. With good camber, except for the penultimate sweeping turn, the ability to leap the M1 hard off the turns is essential. Especially with the high corner speeds Rossi likes to carry. To ensure this the rear suspension preload will be set to prevent an excessive amount of rear-end squat - reducing understeer - while still offering a plush enough ride to provide good, consistent traction.
Alex Asigno
Yamaha Engineering Corporation (YEC) is again producing a full range of racing parts for the YZF-R1 and YZF-R6 machines, designed in accordance with FIM superbike and supersport regulations. YEC is a Yamaha subsidiary company based in Japan. One of its activities is the production of high performance racing parts, which provide that vital edge for Yamaha riders to compete successfully on race tracks the world over. Among the successful riders that used YEC kitparts in 2005 were Noriyuki Haga, winning two races in the Superbike World Championship, and the Yamaha GMT94 team, winning the Le Mans 24-hour race. For 2006, YEC has developed a range of parts to turn the all-new YZF-R6 into a world and national level supersport racer. Next to that, new YZF-R1 parts are also available to order now. As an additional service, European YEC customers competing at national, European or world championship level will be invited at the end of December to sign up, free-of-charge, for the Yamaha Race Training (YRT). YRT is a three-day course where teams receive invaluable technical training from Yamaha's Japanese and European race engineers, with ample track time available for pre-season testing. This special training will be held at the Valencia circuit in Spain between 22-24 March 2006 (limited places available). Motocross riders are catered for too with their own range of racing parts developed by Yamaha Rinaldi Research and Development (YRRD), the company that is also responsible for preparing the factory Yamaha YZ450FM machines of MX1 world champion Stefan Everts. YRRD parts are available for the YZ450F, YZ250F and YZ125 models. Further information on YEC, including recommended retail prices, YRRD parts and copyright-free high-resolution images, as well as more YRT information, is available by visiting www.yamaha-racingparts.com. The order deadline for the first delivery of 2006 is November 14. To order, customers are requested to contact their national Yamaha distributor.
Alex Asigno
Gauloises Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi took his fifteenth podium from sixteen races this season after finishing second in the inaugural Grand Prix of Turkey. Whilst Marco Melandri (Honda) backed up his practice pace with a strong victory at the front, Rossi overcame a series of set-up problems and a bad start in the race to push his fellow Italian hard over the final few laps. Rossi's Gauloises Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards finished seventh today, improving his pace towards the end of the race as he continued to adapt to a new riding style. Starting from the second row of the grid Rossi, did not get the ideal jump from the line and had dropped two places to sixth by the end of the first lap. As the Italian made his way through the field Sete Gibernau (Honda) took the lead, only to run off the track two laps later and allow Melandri, Nicky Hayden (Honda) and Rossi through. Rossi passed Hayden on lap eight and began an intense pursuit of Melandri over the final two thirds of the race, although he was unable to make up the gap between the pair and could do nothing to prevent the youngster from clinching his first ever MotoGP victory. Valentino Rossi (2nd +1.513) "On Friday and Saturday we struggled to find a good setting for the bike; yesterday morning I felt like I wanted to go home! It wasn't until qualifying practice yesterday afternoon that we began to understand what the problem was. We made some more steps forward in the warm-up this morning and went in a slightly different direction with the setting, which in the end wasn't so bad. Unfortunately I made a big mistake at the start and conceded a couple of seconds to the leader, which proved to be a big gap to make up. Melandri was very fast throughout the race and in certain points of the track I knew he was faster than me, so it would have been very hard to pass him. Anyway, I am satisfied with second place - it is a good result for us after all the troubles we've had this weekend and I'm really pleased with the way the team worked to overcome a difficult situation." Colin Edwards (7th +29.255) "I struggled today. I've been trying a new riding style this weekend which has really helped me find some more pace from the bike, but my instinct took over at the start of the race and I just went back to my old superbike style, trying to squeeze everything out of the bike. Once I had calmed down and focused on the new style I managed to get it together and I actually set my fastest lap of the race on lap 20, which tells its own story. I hate to say that this Grand Prix has been like a test but we have to look to improving our performances next season and I firmly believe we have contributed to that here, even though the race result was not what we were after." Davide Brivio - Gauloises Yamaha Team Director "Valentino had a very difficult weekend so second place in the race today is a good result. After the problems we had on Friday and Saturday morning the team worked very hard right up to the start of the race, as they always do, and helped Vale find some more speed. Second place is not so bad and now he has one more race to try to make it twelve wins for the season. Colin also had a few problems this weekend but he has tried something completely new to him and this race was like a transition. I think we will see the benefit of it next season." Toni Elias - 6th "I got away well, but it was impossible to keep up with the rhythm of the top three of four riders - I'm still not at that level yet. I was going along comfortably with Checa and we left behind the group who were chasing us. Then I made a mistake and he got away from me. From that moment I fought hard and got ahead of Tamada and Barros and, on the last lap, caught up with Edwards. I got past him two corners from the end in a section I knew I was quicker than him. This morning I got up and noticed that the temperature was about five degrees higher and we decided to use a hard Michelin tyre during the warm-up and then in the race also. It was a bit risky, but after five laps of the race they had warmed up and after that they worked very well. I am very happy with our progression and I hope to continue like this in the final race of the season." Ruben Xaus  - 14th "After starting badly I fought my way up through the field and the fact that my best lap was my last lap says it all. It took me 12 laps to get past Rolfo and in the end I was able to pass Hopkins also." Round: 16 - Turkish Grand Prix Circuit: Istanbul Circuit Length: 5378 Lap Record: 1' 53.111 (Marco Melandri, 2005) Fastest Lap Ever:  1' 52.334 (Sete Gibernau, 2005) Race: 22 Laps  Pos.Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1   M. Melandri Honda  ITA  41' 44.139  2   V. Rossi Yamaha  ITA  +1.513  3   N. Hayden Honda  USA  +6.873  4   S. Gibernau Honda  ESP  +12.420  5   C. Checa Ducati  ESP  +26.963  6   T. Elias Yamaha  ESP  +29.105  7   C. Edwards Yamaha  USA  +29.255  8   M. Tamada Honda  JPN  +33.345  9   A. Barros Honda  BRA  +33.790  10   S. Nakano Kawasaki  JPN  +44.225  11   C. Vermeulen Honda  AUS  +46.099  12   M. Biaggi Honda  ITA  +50.184  13   O. Jacque Kawasaki  FRA  +56.766  14   R. Xaus Yamaha  ESP  +1' 1.360  15   J. Hopkins Suzuki  USA  +1' 3.391  Fastest Race Lap:   Pos.  Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1     M. Melandri Honda  ITA  1' 53.111  Championship standings MotoGP   Pos. Rider  Manufacturer  Nat. Points  1   Valentino Rossi Yamaha  ITA 351  2   Marco Melandri Honda  ITA 195  3   Nicky Hayden Honda  USA 186  4   Colin Edwards Yamaha  USA 171  5   Max Biaggi Honda  ITA 163  6   Sete Gibernau Honda  ESP 150  7   Loris Capirossi Ducati  ITA 148  8   Alex Barros Honda  BRA 136  9   Carlos Checa Ducati  ESP 125  10   Shinya Nakano Kawasaki  JPN 93  11   Makato Tamada Honda  JPN 84  12   Toni Elias Yamaha  ESP 68  13   Kenny Roberts Suzuki  USA 63  14   John Hopkins Suzuki  USA 60  15   Troy Bayliss Honda  AUS 54  16   Ruben Xaus Yamaha  ESP 51  Manufacturers standings MotoGP Pos. Manufacturer Points  1  Yamaha 365  2  Honda 316  3  Ducati 189  4  Kawasaki 121  5  Suzuki 97  6  Blata WCM 13  7  Proton KR 1  7  Moriwaki 1  Team standings MotoGP Pos. Team Points  1  Gauloises Yamaha Team 522  2  Repsol Honda Team 349  3  Team Movistar Honda MotoGP 345  4  Ducati Marlboro Team 273  5  Honda Camel 205  6  Kawasaki Racing Team 143  7  Fortuna Yamaha Team 123  8  Team Suzuki MotoGP 123  9  Konica Minolta Honda 96  10  D'Antin MotoGP 25  11  Blata WCM 14  12  Team Roberts KR 1  Race classification GP250 Round: 16 - Turkish Grand Prix - GP250 Circuit: Istanbul Circuit Length: 5378 Lap Record: 1' 57.595 (Daniel Pedrosa, 2005) Fastest Lap Ever:  1' 56.930 (Daniel Pedrosa, 2005) Race: 20 Laps  Pos.  Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1   C. Stoner Aprilia  AUS  39' 28.243  2   D. Pedrosa Honda  ESP  +0.093  3   H. Aoyama Honda  JPN  +11.647  4   J. Lorenzo Honda  ESP  +21.861  5   A. Dovizioso Honda  ITA  +21.940  6   H. Barbera Honda  ESP  +22.258  7   A. de Angelis Aprilia  SMR  +43.755  8   R. Locatelli Aprilia  ITA  +44.105  9   S. Guintoli Aprilia  FRA  +48.918  10   C. Davies Aprilia  GBR  +54.376  11   A. Baldolini Aprilia  ITA  +54.651  12   A. Debon Honda  ESP  +59.791  13   A. Ballerini Aprilia  ITA  +1' 0.082  14   M. Giansanti Aprilia  ITA  +1' 0.225  15   J. Smrz Honda  CZE  +1' 0.338  Fastest Race Lap:   Pos.  Rider Manufacturer  Nat. Total Time  1   D. Pedrosa Honda  ESP  1' 57.595  Championship standings GP250 Pos.  Rider  Manufacturer  Nat. Points  1   Daniel Pedrosa Honda  ESP 284  2   Casey Stoner Aprilia  AUS 238  3   Andrea Dovizioso Honda  ITA 182  4   Hiroshi Aoyama Honda  JPN 170  5   Sebastian Porto Aprilia  ARG 152  6   Jorge Lorenzo Honda  ESP 147  7   Alex de Angelis Aprilia  SMR 138  8   Randy de Puniet Aprilia  FRA 130  9   Hector Barbera Honda  ESP 109  10   Sylvain Guintoli Aprilia  FRA 82  11   Yuki Takahashi Honda  JPN 68  12   Alex Debon Honda  ESP 62  13   Simone Corsi Aprilia  ITA 59  14   Roberto Locatelli Aprilia  ITA 55  15   Mirko Giansanti Aprilia  ITA 36  Manufacturers standings GP250 Pos. Manufacturer Points  1  Honda 324  2  Aprilia 323  3  KTM 30 
Alex Asigno
Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards got their first taste of the Istanbul Park circuit today as bright sunshine and moderate temperatures welcomed the MotoGP World Championship to Turkey for the first time. The riders had an extra half hour of free practice this morning as they aimed to get to grips with the new track, which proved to be somewhat trickier than expected, with several riders running off the circuit throughout the day. Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards got their first taste of the Istanbul Park circuit today as bright sunshine and moderate temperatures welcomed the MotoGP World Championship to Turkey for the first time. The riders had an extra half hour of free practice this morning as they aimed to get to grips with the new track, which proved to be somewhat trickier than expected, with several riders running off the circuit throughout the day. Rossi and Edwards were amongst those to make minor miscalculations this morning, the Italian missing his braking marker and running into the gravel traps on two occasions and the American losing the front end of his YZR-M1 and sliding off completely. Edwards' eventful day continued in the afternoon when an engine problem resulted in a small fire that warmed his ankles but brought no serious damage to either the rider or machine. Despite the setback Edwards set the seventh fastest lap of the day over the two sessions, two places behind Rossi on the combined time sheets, which were headed by Marco Melandri (Honda). Valentino Rossi (5th - 1'55.078) "The track is not so bad - very similar to China but with more up and down and our problems today are similar to the ones we had there. There are some long, fast corners and also some slow hairpins; it is difficult to find the right setting. The bike is not working as well as we would like and we couldn't be at the top. There is quite a lot of damage to the surface in the hard-braking areas from the Formula 1 and there are a lot of bumps. Our problem is mainly with the front end; we need to understand this to be able to ride the bike at the maximum. Anyway, it is only the first day at a new track so it is not so bad - tomorrow we will try and understand things a bit better."  Colin Edwards (7th - 1'55.171) "The crash this morning was a strange one; I felt like I was actually going slower than I had done on the previous lap but then the front end just went away. I guess you have to put it down to this being a new track. The bike was still running on its side for quite a while before I could get over and shut it off, which seems to have been what caused the problem with the engine in the afternoon - these things are designed to run standing up! As far as the track is concerned, it's pretty cool; I like it. The first seven turns are awesome, although I'm not too sure about that last section, it's a bit too slow for my liking and I reckon it would be better if they took the right hand kink out of it. I would like to be a second quicker but we lost a little bit of time compared to the other guys with the problems we had today so hopefully we can have an incident-free day tomorrow and make the most of both sessions." Davide Brivio - Gauloises Yamaha Team Director "Today we made an uphill start! Colin had a small crash in the morning and in general both riders were struggling for the lap times, but they will come. This is a new track and Friday is basically the opportunity to check things and see which is the best way to work. We have collected a lot of information from both riders and the job for the team now is to look everything over tonight and see how we can improve the bikes for tomorrow. It is a pleasure for the team to be competing in a new country like Turkey so hopefully we can enjoy the success here that we have had at other circuits this season." Tony Elias (8th - 1'55.208) "The important thing is that we are in the top ten again. Being at a new circuit we are all starting from an equal footing, but it is a difficult circuit with a lot of ups and downs and my Yamaha is maybe more sensitive than some of the other bikes. I like the circuit a lot, but with the rear-end being a bit unpredictable, enjoying yourself can be dangerous! We are working hard to resolve the problem though." Ruben Xaus (17th - 1'57.058) "It has been a while since I crashed because we have been working well, we understand better the characteristics of the bike and have not been taking too many risks. After changing for a tyre with more grip I tried to push harder into a corner and the bike locked and down I went. Because of the crash I lost nearly all of the first session, but in the second I spent time looking for the right settings and lines. I like the track, I'm not as comfortable as I would want to be but we are progressing which is the important thing." 1  M. Melandri  Honda  ITA   1' 53.506   2  S. Gibernau  Honda  ESP   1' 53.945   3  N. Hayden  Honda  USA   1' 54.774   4  S. Nakano  Kawasaki  JPN   1' 55.015   5  V. Rossi  Yamaha  ITA   1' 55.078   6  C. Checa  Ducati  ESP   1' 55.171   7  C. Edwards  Yamaha  USA   1' 55.172   8  T. Elias  Yamaha  ESP   1' 55.208   9  J. Hopkins  Suzuki  USA   1' 55.292   10  M. Biaggi  Honda  ITA   1' 55.478   11  M. Tamada  Honda  JPN   1' 55.657   12  A. Barros  Honda  BRA   1' 55.670   13  O. Jacque  Kawasaki  FRA   1' 55.925   14  C. Vermeulen  Honda  AUS   1' 56,665.000   15  R. Rolfo  Ducati  ITA   1' 56.865   16  S. Ito  Ducati  JPN   1' 5,691.000   17  R. Xaus  Yamaha  ESP   1' 57.058 
Alex Asigno
It's the breakdown we all dread but it's as inevitable as the rain that always follows hours of cleaning and polishing! Thankfully, these days we don't see so many of those front wheel, high speed blow outs of yesteryear but anything that inflates is liable to be punctured and the problem of sudden deflation is still with us. Tubed tyres are straightforward. As long as the tyre itself is not badly damaged it can usually be repaired and all you do then is replace the tube (do not repair a tube - it is never worth it!). Remember repairing the tyre is just as important as replacing the tube. Imagine the water and muck that can be forced through the hole and start acting between the tube and the tyre itself and you'll get part of the reason. When repairing tubeless tyres there are certain requirements. Most experts will always use a 'mushroom' repair to completely fill the hole and very few are happy to simply apply a patch to the inside. The reason they will give you comes from the danger of a patch getting 'lifted' by water forced through the unfilled hole on the body of the tyre. NB Some punctures simply cannot be repaired. Side wall punctures and those where structural damage to the tyre has occurred are two examples. Radial Tyres It may seem a bit excessive but if you get a puncture in a radial the advice will almost always be to 'write off' the tyre. Radial tyres are built with a continuous belt around them below the rubber. If the belt is damaged the tyre could distort under extreme use (as you get with a modern Superbike) and the puncture could re-develop with disastrous consequences. Chris and Peter will simply refuse to repair a tyre if there is the slightest danger of this occurring. Foreign Objects If you find a nail or screw sticking out of your tyre the advice is: leave it there! Take off the wheel and get down to the tyre shop (or call a mobile fitter). You never know, the tyre may be capable of being saved. Puncture Proofing There are substances on the market that you put into your tyres and just forget about punctures altogether. Some of these products are wonderful, some are not. The best thing to do is get expert advice before adding anything that can effect your tyres in any way at all.
Alex Asigno
It is mandatory that your tyres conform to the following rules: Tyres must be kept in good condition without bulges, splits or breaks. Pressure must be maintaining to recommended levels. There must be 1mm of tread depth throughout a continuous band measuring at least three quarters of the breadth of the tread around the entire circumference OR if the grooves of the original tread pattern did not extend beyond three quarters of the breadth of the tread any groove, which showed in the original tread pattern must have a depth of at least 1mm. AND The base of any groove, which showed on the original tread pattern, must be clearly visible. What You Should Be On The Look-Out For Foreign objects sticking out of the tyre (esp. bits of glass or flint in the grooves of the tread). Cracks in the side walls - very important if the bike has been laid up for a while. Tread depth (see above) Pressures - these need to be checked while the tyres are cold at least every fortnight using a good quality tyre pressure gauge. N.B. the gauges found in most petrol stations are notoriously unreliable. Uneven wear in the tyre - especially any 'flattening out' in the middle, which leaves a ridge. More About Pressures This is the first thing you should check if the bike starts handling badly. Even a couple of pounds difference in the pressure can make a huge difference and tyre wear becomes ruinous. The effect of over or under inflation can be shown thus: Also, if you go to a different make from the one originally fitted you may find the pressures have to be different as well. For example the Honda Gold Wing runs on the following pressures for the makes indicated; Make Front Rear Michelin 33 psi 41 psi Bridgestone 36 psi 42 psi Avon 33 psi 36 psi Find out what you should be running on when you get the tyre fitted. Finally Tyres can easily absorb oil and grease from the road. Modern tyres are very durable but their life is not indefinite. The best advice all the experts give is: use them, look after them and change them regularly.
Alex Asigno
Fitting new tyres
Basically, there is little difference between fitting a motorcycle tyre and fitting any other sort. The real skill comes in knowing what to look for and knowing how to accomplish the tyre change without later endangering the rider or damaging the bike. Most riders should know how to take out a wheel but there are still many who don't. There is a potential for enormous damage to be caused if this is done badly. Modern wheels can be delicate and very expensive things; they can have coatings on them that can be damaged, torque settings can be critical and great care must be taken with the brake mechanism. If there isn't a mobile fitter or a mechanic who can get out to you, you really need to know how to get the wheel out and put it back properly. It would pay to find out how to do this and, if your bike has only got a side stand, you may also be wise to invest in a paddock stand for your garage. One-wheeled bikes don't tend to last too long on side stands! Magnesium and alloy wheels can be a problem when removing tyres. They can bend and distort if not handled carefully. The experts use the proper equipment to ensure no damage is caused. When fitting a tyre (especially tubeless) it is important to ensure the bead line is visible around the whole of the circumference. It may be necessary to put a bit of pressure into the tyre to do this (usually you hear a pop when the bead locates) then adjust it back down. However it is critical that the pressure is not excessive or the tyre could explode. You should use a 'cage' when blowing up tyres if at all possible. While the wheel is out
This is the time to have a look at the bits you can't always get at. For example the rim should be inspected for damage or rough edges, wheel bearings can be checked for play and spokes can be cleaned and checked for tightness. Balancing tyres
Modern tyres are fairly well balanced right from the start (when properly fitted) but it is still advisable to have the front wheel balanced to get rid of any lingering vibration. These days this can be done at the same time the tyre is fitted. There was a time when it was no good balancing a wheel until the tyre had suffered a bit or wear! Properly equipped motorcycle tyre fitters will have access to a balancing machine and it really is advisable to spend the extra couple of quid getting them to use it. Running in new tyres
This is really important. The number of riders who have crashed on new tyres is legion. Tyres need to be 'run in' before they should be expected to cope with hard riding or braking. The first 50 to 100 miles is critical. Ride smooth and slow for this period and your tyres will perform at their peak for the rest of their lives. Information kindly supplied by ATS Euromaster
Alex Asigno
Unless you are always going to replace your tyres with exactly the same make and type that were fitted by the manufacturer when the bike was new, you are going to need to know (or ask a man who does) a bit about the huge choice of tyres on sale and what specs mean when the time comes to buy the baby new shoes. The days when all you needed to know was the size and how much they cost have long gone. Modern tyres come in so many varieties with so many differing performance values even the experts have a job keeping up with it all. Some rules are fairly general. For example Spoked wheels (with notable exceptions like some new BMWs) can only take tubed tyres. Radial tyres (again there are one or two exceptions) can rarely be fitted with a tube Front tyres go on the front, rear on the rear ONLY. The speed rating of the tyre must match the capability of the bike i.e. Top Speed of Bike Tyre Rating Up to 93 mph (150 kph) PUp to 112 mph (180 kph) SUp to 130 mph (210 kph) HUp to 149 mph (240 kph) VUp to 150 mph (250 kph) V250 Over 156 mph (250 kph) Z and ZR Then you have to watch how radials, bias belted and crossply tyres are mixed. It's better to avoid mixtures if you can, but the following is law. LegalIllegalCrossply front, crossply rear Radial front, crossply rear Radial front, radial rear Bias belt front, crossply rear Bias belt front, bias belt rear Radial front, bias belt rear Crossply front, radial rear  Bias belt front, radial rear   Of course it doesn't stop there! Bikes come in all shapes and sizes. Some rims won't take some makes or tyres and some swinging arms are too close to permit some tyres to be fitted. You'll need to know what can go on your bike - and what is going to happen once that lovely new radial comes under load! Then there is the difference with the compounds to be considered. Mixing hard (long wearing) and soft (maximum grip) tyres on the same bike can be okay but equally can be disastrous if they are not compatible or on the wrong wheels. As if all this wasn't enough, some tyres are not warranted for road use at all. Then different parts of the world need different tyres dependant on the climate and road conditions. Ask any Gold Wing rider who bought those 'good value' American tyres a while back and 6,000 miles later found they had worn out! Wings are normally good for up to 15,000 miles but British roads are not the same as their counterparts in the States. Information kindly supplied by ATS Euromaster
Alex Asigno
We take them for granted but have you ever thought how much we rely on our tyres? Have you considered the performance we require from them every single time we ride? To see what I mean, try this exercise.  Hold both hands out in front of you with palms uppermost. Have a good look at them. You are now looking at roughly the area of your tyres in touch with the road whenever you ride your bike! In other words, that's the amount of rubber between you and eternity as you do the normal things bikers do. Like winding past that big lorry in the pouring rain, tucking in tight, and keeping the power on in a right hander or, possibly, stopping on a tanner when that Scandinavian looking car has decided, at the last second, to turn right across your path in front of you. Remember, the brakes stop the wheels but it's your tyres that stop the bike! Now give a thought to the forces you are putting through those two bits of rubber. Think of the heat generated as the speed rises and of the flexing needed to cope with the handling ability of a modern Superbike. You are now beginning to realise why the development and technology that has gone into those pieces of rubber has had to be very special. To borrow an expression, tyres are too small a word for them! The truth is, bike tyres have developed so much in recent years that they can now usually out-perform even the best of riders on the greatest of machines and in the worst of weathers! They won't often let you down. They will nearly always perform well for you. But they can only do so if you give them a fighting chance. Making sure you have the right tyres for the bike and having them professionally fitted, correctly balanced and properly maintained is every bit as important in your overall strategy as buying the right clothing and getting the best training.
ATS' Peter Wanstall and Chris Gregory. are specialist motorcycle tyre technicians who have helped the police on many occasions to reconstruct accidents where tyres have been at fault. The information you will find on this website has been produced with input from their vast amount of experience and knowledge. Information kindly supplied by ATS Euromaster
Alex Asigno

2006 Yamaha YZF R1

By Alex Asigno in Archives

2006 YZF-R1
A MASTERPIECE REFINED
More than any other motorcycle, the R1 has become synonymous with awe-inspiring engine performance and remarkable handling qualities. Yet, at the same time as being one of the world’s premier large-capacity supersport machines, the Yamaha R1 has also established a reputation for being one of the most stylish and beautifully-finished motorcycles that money can buy – in any category. On the race track the YZF-R1 has been quick to make its presence felt, and in 2004 the R1 won three major titles – the AMA Superstock Championship, the European Superstock Championship, and the FIM World Endurance Championship. R1 riders have also performed strongly in the prestigious All Japan Championships, and the R1 was victorious in the Isle of Man TT races on the world’s toughest road circuit. More recently the YZF-R1 had an impressive victory in the 2005 24-hour race of Le Mans and took its debut race win in the 2005 World Superbike Championship, underlining the machine’s ability to win at the very highest level. 2006 R1. THE HUMAN TOUCH
The development goals of the R1 have always been the same since day one: to create the definitive high performance supersport motorcycle with class-leading engine and chassis technology combined with aggressive and distinctive styling, that delivers the ultimate riding experience and unrivalled cornering performance. Yamaha has always been an innovative and forward-looking company, and for these reasons the R1 development team are constantly striving for an even higher degree of perfection. When the fourth generation YZF-R1 was launched it immediately set new standards for cornering, performance and styling, and the wide range of engine and chassis changes introduced for 2006 are designed to enhance the R1 experience even further. The higher powered engine and more agile chassis are sure to underline the R1’s unrivalled cornering performance and handling qualities on secondary roads – and will undoubtedly reinforce its reputation as the most exciting and rewarding supersport machine.   All these developments are the result of Yamaha’s ongoing research and development programme, in which the R1 has been constantly pushed to the limit by our factory test riders. It is their input that has helped to make the latest model feel and perform the way it does, and it underlines how human sensitivity has played a key role in forming the distinctive character of the R1. ENGINE 3 horsepower increase
The 2006 model runs with the same 998 cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-cylinder 5-valve layout featuring a 77 x 53.6 mm bore and stroke and 12.4:1 compression ratio. Equipped with a 3-axis transmission, fuel injection and 40 degree forward slanted cylinders, this ultra-compact powerplant is one of the most highly respected supersport engines of all time. Yamaha’s engineers have conducted a thorough examination of the R1’s intake and exhaust efficiency, and for 2006 a range of detailed changes in this area have achieved a 3 Hp increase in power at 12,500 rpm without direct air induction. One of the most significant changes is the use of shorter intake valve guides for 2006. Measuring 27.5 mm, these new guides are 5 mm shorter than the 2005 model, and this 15% reduction in length increases engine efficiency by increasing intake air flow, and reducing frictional power losses. To match the new intake valve guides, the 2006 model also features smoother intake ports. Furthermore, the clutch boss has been modified to increase the oil flow to the clutch assembly. Other detail changes The design of the compact cam chain tensioner has been revised, and now features a different sealing system for improved durability. The overall length of the main gear axle is increased by 5 mm, and the engine cover is modified accordingly. ENGINE TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
998 cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-cylinder 5-valve 3 hp power increase to 175 Hp @ 12,500 rpm* 40 degree forward incline cylinder Fuel injection Ultra compact 3-axis transmission 77 x 53.6 mm bore and stroke 12.4:1 compression ratio New smoother intake port design New shorter intake valve guides Higher intake and exhaust efficiency Modified cam chain tensioner Redesigned clutch boss * Without direct air induction 2006 YZF-R1 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE Type Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, forward inclined parallel cylinder, 20 valves, D0HC Displacement 998 cc Bore and stroke 77.0 x 53.6 mm Compression ratio 12.4:1 Max. power 128.7 kW (175 HP) @ 12,500 rpm* Max. torque 106.6 Nm (11.0 kg-m) @ 10,500 rpm* Lubrication Wet sump Carburettor/fuel supply Fuel injection Clutch type Wet multiple - disc Ignition TCI (digital) Starter system Electric Transmission Constant mesh, 6 speed Final transmission Chain Primary reduction ratio 1.512 Secondary reduction ratio 2.647 Gear ratio: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th 2.533, 2.063, 1.762, 1.522, 1.364, 1.269 * Without direct air injection CHASSIS Frame Aluminium die-cast Deltabox V Front suspension Telescopic forks, Ø 43 mm Front wheel travel 120 mm Rear suspension Swingarm (link suspension) Rear wheel travel 130 mm Caster angle 24° Trial 97 mm Front brake Dual floating discs, Ø 320 mm Rear brake Single disc, Ø 220 mm Front tyre 120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) Rear tyre 190/50 ZR17 M/C (73W) DIMENSIONS Overall length 2,085 mm Overall width 720 mm Overall height 1,105 mm Seat height 835 mm Wheelbase 1,415 mm Min. ground clearance 135 mm Dry weight 173 kg Fuel tank capacity (reserve) 18 litres (3.4 litres) Oil capacity 3.8 litres Specifications are subject to change without notice, in accordance with national regulation and legislations
Alex Asigno
Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards will start the inaugural Grand Prix of Turkey from the second row of the MotoGP grid tomorrow, after lapping fourth and fifth fastest in this afternoon's single qualifying session. After making the most of another extended 90-minute free practice in the morning, the difference between the leading riders was much closer today, with the top six all pulling to within a second of the pole position time of 1'52.334 set by Sete Gibernau (Honda). After a difficult morning, Rossi clocked the fourth fastest lap of the day after making a series of improvements to his YZR-M1 machine designed to meet the demands of this new and challenging circuit. The Italian knocked almost two seconds off his best time from yesterday and is targeting even more set-up refinements in tomorrow's warm-up session before challenging for a record-equalling twelfth victory of the season in the race. After suffering a series of setbacks yesterday Edwards was able to work without interruption today and the American emerged as one of the strongest contenders for a pole challenge in the final stages of the session. Edwards, who revealed that he has made a change to his riding style here after struggling to compete for the podium in recent weeks, launched his final attack in the very last minute but was held up by a slower rider and ended up conceding 0.042 seconds to Rossi, eventually lining up just behind his team-mate in fifth place. VALENTINO ROSSI  (4th - 1'53.177; 27 laps) "This morning was not good at all, I had some big problems and we were quite worried.  Then this afternoon we made some major modifications and the bike began to work much better. In the end the lap time was not so bad and we were able to finish the session on the second row.  After this morning's troubles I am quite happy with this fourth place and maybe we can fight at the front tomorrow.  We need to use the warm-up well and make a few more small changes to the set-up.  I think it's going to be a very hard race tomorrow; Melandri and Gibernau were very fast today and I think tomorrow will be a big, big battle." COLIN EDWARDS (5th - 1'53.219; 25 laps) "We've struggled to find a set-up in recent weeks so here in Istanbul we've basically gone to Valentino's base setting and made gradual changes to suit my style. I've had to adapt my riding more to a 250 style, carrying much more corner speed, and as the weekend's gone on I've learnt more and more tricks that are helping me to go faster. This afternoon I felt good, I had much more confidence in the set-up and it helped me set some consistent times. To be honest I'm a little disappointed not to be on the front row because I felt like I had a 1'52 in me, but it wasn't to be. The main thing is that we've made improvements and if we can keep doing that in the warm-up tomorrow then we should be okay for the race." DAVIDE BRIVIO - GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR "The team has worked very well to improve the situation; it is still not the best but it is certainly much better than yesterday. The steps forward with the bike have allowed the riders to think more about where they can improve and both Valentino and Colin have created a good base to work from in the race. We have some very fast rivals and it will be a hard battle in the race but I can definitely say that we will be trying our best to be a part of it." Toni Elias (6th, 1.53,230) "I am very happy. We have worked very well, always with a full tank of fuel to simulate race conditions. I think we have a good rhythm, but I hope we don't have any unforeseen problems as we did at Phillip Island.  I have learnt a lot this year from riding the M1, and I am very happy with how things have gone. This morning I fell when trying to keep pace with Melandri, but his tyres were fresh and mine were not." Ruben Xaus (16th, 1.55.414) "With race tyres on I have improved a lot, but I was not able to improve with qualifying tyres on. I will try to make best use of the warm-up as I want to have a good race." Pos.  Rider  Manufacturer  Nat.  1st Qualifying 1 S. Gibernau  Honda  ESP   1' 52.334  2 M. Melandri  Honda  ITA   1' 52.463  3 N. Hayden  Honda  USA   1' 52.976  4 V. Rossi  Yamaha  ITA   1' 53.177  5 C. Edwards  Yamaha  USA   1' 53.219  6 T. Elias  Yamaha  ESP   1' 53.230  7 M. Tamada  Honda  JPN   1' 53.667  8 A. Barros  Honda  BRA   1' 53.719  9 C. Checa  Ducati  ESP   1' 53.836  10 S. Nakano  Kawasaki  JPN   1' 54.023  11 C. Vermeulen  Honda  AUS   1' 54.217  12 M. Biaggi  Honda  ITA   1' 54.358  13 O. Jacque  Kawasaki  FRA   1' 54.407  14 J. Hopkins  Suzuki  USA   1' 54.434  15 S. Ito  Ducati  JPN   1' 54.669  16 R. Xaus  Yamaha  ESP   1' 55.414
Alex Asigno
Australia : Gauloises Yamaha - Race Yamaha completed a clean sweep for 2005 today as the Constructors' World Championship was added to the Riders' and Teams' titles thanks to Valentino Rossi's eleventh win of the season at Phillip Island. The Gauloises Yamaha Team rider held off a strong challenge from Nicky Hayden (Honda) to continue his undefeated run at this circuit, which stretches back to 2001. Rossi started well from second on the grid and chased pole setter Hayden over the opening two laps before taking the lead and making several attempts to escape. However the American hung on and was presented with the opportunity to retake the lead when Rossi dropped the pace at the halfway stage. After studying Hayden for three laps, Rossi regained control on lap nineteen and managed to open out a one-second cushion as Hayden became embroiled in a scrap with Marco Melandri (Honda). Hayden eventually got the better of the Italian but Rossi was able to control his lead until the end of the race, winning by 1.007 seconds. Colin Edwards remains in the hunt for second in the riders' championship after a battling sixth place finish today. The Texan had struggled all weekend to match the excellent pace he found here during pre-season testing and was unable to hang on to the front group after starting from fifth on the grid. Edwards now lies in fourth place overall, eight points behind Hayden and Melandri, who are tied for second with two rounds remaining. Valentino Rossi : 1st – 41'08.542 “It has been an amazing season and today we have won the constructors' title for Yamaha in the year of their 50th Anniversary, so I am very happy. Congratulations to everybody. Eleven wins in the year matches my own record and to do it at Phillip Island is very special for me. I have won a lot of important races here, especially the 2001 500cc title and the title last year for Yamaha and it is a magic track for me – I love it. Today was tough, I had a great rival in Nicky Hayden and it was a great race. I got to the front after two laps and had a good rhythm so I pushed two or three times to escape. Every time Nicky came with me so I let him pass me just to see how it was. Then some more riders arrived so I tried again and this time I managed to get a one second advantage, which was like gold! I managed to hold it until the last lap and to celebrate the win in front of this great crowd is always a magnificent pleasure. Thank you to them and to everybody else who has made this season so special.” Colin Edwards : 6th – +33.200 “That wasn't great. We've been chasing our tail a little bit all weekend with the set-up and unfortunately we ran out of time and ideas. In the winter everything seemed okay here but this time we've been playing catch-up. In the end we went towards Valentino's setting, which was obviously working well for him, but for me it was just spinning up too much, even with the front wheel off the ground, which isn't normal. I want to thank the whole team for their hard work and congratulate Yamaha for the constructors' title. It's just a shame it didn't work out for me today.” Jeremy Burgess - Valentino Rossi's crew chief “It's been a good weekend for us, starting off with some fast and consistent times on Friday and Saturday and then staying in good shape as the other riders got better in the build-up to the race. Valentino controlled the race today and gave another example of why he is World Champion – he rides with his head as much as his wrist. It was nice for the Australian guys in the team to win their home race but more than that we are delighted for Yamaha to win the constructors' title. It was our only remaining target for the season so now we can look forward to the last two rounds and see what comes up.” Press Release Yamaha Racing
Alex Asigno

Supermoto a gogo in Mettet

By Alex Asigno in Archives

Yamaha riders played their part in the annual ‘Superbiker’ race in Mettet, Belgium. The legendary Superbiker is one of the world’s most important non-championship supermoto races. A 25.000 strong crowd witnessed the clash of styles with stars invited from supermoto, motocross and racing categories.
Stefan Everts, fresh from a dominant supermoto win in the Belgian championship last weekend, showed probably his best speed ever at Mettet. Unfortunately Everts had bad starting positions in both finals and finished ninth overall. However the Belgian was the best placed motocross rider, young German supermoto star Bernd Hiemer won the event ahead of S2 world champ Jerome Giraudo.Sunny weather and dry conditions provided excellent conditions for both the seasoned supermoto stars and the occasional riders. French Supersport star Stephane Chambon won the Starbiker, the qualifying race between road racing and motocross stars. MX1 runner-up Josh Coppins finished fifth behind Superbike world champion Troy Corser.Both Superbiker finals saw many interesting battles within the race, where the supermoto regulars were leading the pack and a mixed bag of riders was trying has hard as they could. Newly crowned Superstock champion Didier Van Keymeulen (Yamaha Motor Germany) even rode his first supermoto race in Mettet: “Every race I was getting faster and I made a lot of progress during the weekend. My lap times would have dropped drastically by the end of the day, but because the track was getting rougher it did not show as much in the end. It certainly was a great experience!” Broc Parkes Stefan Everts – Yamaha L&M Motocross Team “I really enjoyed the racing this weekend and I was pretty dialed in here. I had to start from the 10th line in the finals after we encountered a small problem during the Starbiker race, but in each final race I easily worked my way up. My bad starting position was a bit frustrating, because with a normal result during the qualifying race I would have been on the front row. Anyway I think I have proved to be the best allround rider here, because all the guys in front of me are fulltime supermoto riders.” Broc Parkes – Yamaha Motor Germany “In the first final I was lying around sixth when some guys crashed in front of me in the second corner! That was a real shame, because my speed was quite good. I tried to use my dirt track experience as much as I could, but for now I miss the motocross skills to hang with the best riders. It’s definitely been a cool weekend and a great way to end the season, on Wednesday I go back to Australia to enjoy my holiday.” Overall result Superbiker 1. Bernd Hiemer (Ger-KTM), 2. Jerome Giraudo (Fra-Aprilia), 3. Jurgen Kûnzel (Ger-KTM), 4. Eddy Seel (Bel-Husqvarna), 5. Gerald Delepine (Bel-Husqvarna), 6. Stephane Chambon (Fra-KTM), 7. Christian Ravaglia (Ita-Suzuki), 8. Marc Fraikin (Bel-KTM), 9. Stefan Everts (Bel-Yamaha), 10. Wilfried Reiter (Aut-KTM)