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Alex
Ben Spies made a promising start to the Aragon race, climbing a position off the line to drop into the first corner in third behind Pedrosa and hotly pursued by Stefan Bradl and Yamaha Tech3 riders Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow. As the two front runners pulled away, Bradl made a move past Spies and then immediately crashed out of the race. The Texan worked hard to fend of the two satellite riders, eventually conceding his third place to Dovizioso on lap 14 and fourth place to Crutchlow on lap 17 to take his third fifth place finish of the year. Spies heads to Motegi in two weeks time still in tenth place in the Championship, now with 88 points.

Jorge Lorenzo
Position 2nd - Time +6.472
“I was thinking to try for the win at the beginning of the race and if that was not possible then second place was the best possible result for the Championship. Dani had a better pace in the end, I was stronger at the start then little by little I was a bit slower, the tyres were slipping a lot and I couldn’t follow him. I nearly crashed in one corner and decided then to stay in second place and wait for the end of the race.”

Ben Spies
Position 5th - Time +13.786
“I struggled a bit with the front tyre today at the beginning and then in the middle of the race. I tried to keep Dovi and Cal at bay as long as I could. Once they passed me I tried to hold onto the back of them in case they made a mistake. The bike was working well we just didn’t have it working as exactly as we needed to stay with them. We did our best they were just too quick in the end.”
Alex
It wasn’t just the YZF-R1 dominating at Homestead; the YZF-R6 Supersport machine was also the one to beat. Yamaha Extended Service Graves Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier won Saturday’s Daytona Sportbike race and RoadRace Factory R6 rider Jake Gagne took the honours on Sunday. The podiums and wins continued to flow in the support classes with an impressive 20 Yamaha R6 top ten finishes over the weekend.

“It’s pretty incredible to win my third AMA Pro Superbike Championship”, Hayes said. I want to give a big thank you to Yamaha, not just to my team but all the employees and dealers for the opportunity to race the R1 for you.”

“Congratulations to the entire Monster Energy Graves Yamaha Team”, said Yamaha Road Racing Team Manager Tom Halverson. “It’s been an incredible season and it tales so many pieces of the puzzle to put together three consecutive Superbike Championships. Thanks to Josh, our crew and sponsors and all the people back at Yamaha that made this happen.”

Source www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
Here the eighteen year old from Parma describes the experience of travelling over to compete on another continent and through capping a remarkable season in which she has dominated women’s dirtbike racing. ‘Fonta’s’ work this season is not quite complete yet as she aims to win her seventh event from a total of eight in the 2012 FIM series with the Grand Prix of Germany this weekend.

Kiara, were the motos tougher or harder than you expected in the USA?
No, not really, although I didn’t expect to win so easily there…in fact I didn’t expect to win! So it was a surprise in a way. I thought the level would be higher than it is in Europe but it isn’t. If anything it is the other way and I think there are faster girls in Europe.

What comparison can you make between the American and European scenes?
I found many good things but as I was over for just one race then I don’t think I really got the full picture. I thought there might be more emphasis behind women’s motocross, but it is not so different to Europe. Overall some things were better but then the FIM World Championship also wins in other parts.

How did you find Lake Elsinore?
The track was new for everyone and it was really deep and wet in the beginning with a lot of jumps, doubles and a big table-top. I didn’t do one of the doubles which Fiolek was making every lap. The track was not easy but it was cool and I enjoyed riding it.

Are you thinking about an AMA season now?
It is hard to say right now! I feel good in the FIM World Championship and that’s where I’ll be next year with Yamaha and Monster Energy. But I love the USA so…who knows what options we might have for the future.

How was the reception from the press and the American public and people?
Really nice. I felt good with everyone there, especially the Yamaha and Monster Energy people and all the help from the Rock River team; they were really hospitable and made me feel at home. It was cool to meet some other Pro riders like Blake Baggett. I asked him for a photo and he said because I’d gone 1-1 at the meeting then he’d like a photo with me! It was also nice to have congratulations from Ken [Roczen] and Marvin [Musquin] and Gareth Swanepoel and even Mitch Payton. I wasn’t sure how the American fans would feel about a European coming over and beating their girls but the response was good and the reaction to my visit was really positive. I am happy we went and I want to give a big thanks to all who made it possible.

Source www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
Jorge Lorenzo
Position 1st - Time: 42'49.836
“It’s been a very tough weekend because Dani and I have been very close in the qualifying and the warm up. Unfortunately today he had really bad luck, first with the lights at the beginning of the race and then Hector took him out. This was really unfortunate for him. In Holland we were unlucky and today he was unlucky, anything can happen in these races. We have to be happy with our result and the point advantage we now have, for sure we are much more calm now than before the race! The race was difficult for everyone, only having qualifying was not enough when you have to set up the chassis and electronics and everything for the race. It was hotter during the race so there was less grip too. I almost crashed in turn one but managed to save it too!”

Ben Spies
Position 5th - Time: +7.543
“I know we didn’t get on the podium but I’m glad we were able to finally just have a normal race. Some of the times weren’t quick enough for the podium but we put on a good charge in the end. We struggled with a few things, especially some feeling with the front tyre. It’s been a difficult weekend and we didn’t start the race with the perfect set up but luckily could still put together an ok race. After what’s happened in the last eight weeks it almost feels like a podium for me!”


Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager

“A very spectacular race and an important victory. Of course I feel sorry for Dani because he didn’t deserve what happened. At the end of the day you can’t have 18 races without incidents, it would be nice but impossible. We’re leading now with 38 points with five races to go so we need to keep up the pressure to the end.”

Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director

“A great victory for Jorge, especially during a special event for Yamaha with the Race-Blu launch. A shame for Dani, suffering the same as we did in Assen. We’re in a great position now but from here to the end we need to stay consistent. Unfortunately Ben didn’t have a great feeing with the front tyre which compromised his results. A top five finish is good anyway after such a difficult weekend and definitely a step in the right direction.”
Alex
The MotoGP bikes’ new design has been created to reinforce Yamaha’s historic association with racing blue, harking back to the racing liveries of the early 1980’s Yamaha teams. Alongside the two-tone blue and matt grey colour scheme, the Yamaha YZR-M1 will also feature matching blue wheels.

Riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies will also wear special leathers with the ‘Race-Blu’ colour scheme to complement the bike.

The Yamaha YZF-R1, YZF-R6 and YZF-R125 unveiled today in Misano will be the first production models to feature the new livery for the 2013 model year. These exclusive ‘Race-Blu’ Series models will feature as an integral part of the Yamaha line-up in future years.

This will be the first time a Yamaha special livery used in Grand Prix racing will be available at the same time for consumers to buy on production motorcycles.

Jorge Lorenzo

“I am very proud to ride with these special colours. The Yamaha racing colours are always very iconic and have a great history. It’s very cool that racing fans will be able to ride in the same colours that we race in!”

Ben Spies
“It’s another really cool special livery from Yamaha. The red and white one brought me a lot of luck last year with my win in Assen so I’m hoping this Race-Blu will do the same here in Misano and Aragon!”

Source: www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
Monster Energy Yamaha YART endured yet another tough, incident filled race to wrap up their difficult season. After a fall by Gwen Giabbani in the first hour followed by a fuelling and an electrical issue later in the race, riders Steve Martin and Igor Jerman had fought back to sixth place when another electrical problem required German to push his YZF-R1 back to the pits. After losing valuable time the team rejoined and were able to take a hard earned seventh place at the flag, scoring 17 points. Despite two DNFs during the season the final result puts the 2009 world champions sixth in the final Championship standings with a total of 59 points.


The Yamaha Folch Endurance Team and Superstock favourites DG Sport Herock were both forced to retire from the race after suffering technical issues, the first after 264 laps, and the second after 13 laps. The result leaves Yamaha Folch Endurance in eighth place in the final standings and DG Sport Herock fifth in the Superstock class with 66 points.

"Of course we're a little disappointed,” said Christophe Guyot, Team Manager, Yamaha GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube. “Victory was definitely possible today. In the end we can be proud of our performance. We had our run with three machines ahead of us, showed good speed but unfortunately had to settle for fourth after losing time following a suspected holed radiator. That’s how it ends today, but I'm already looking forward to the 2013 Bol d'Or with our YZF-R1. '

“My riders and pit crew have done a great job this weekend,” commented Mandy Kainz, Team Manager, Monster Energy Yamaha Austria. “They should be proud of their performance. We have shown that we have given our best to the end at every race this season.”

Source www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
The penultimate event of the MX2 class in the FIM Motocross World Championship took place across the bumpy and fast hard-pack of Faenza in Italy and was watched by a weekend audience of 24,000. The fifteenth round of sixteen was played out in bright sunshine and high temperatures and was also the site of the final meeting in the EMX2 competition.

Pocock became the UK's first European champion with a brave ride to fourth position on Saturday afternoon. A stone had dislodged the rear brake cable and forced the British Championship leader to exercise caution and no shortage of skill on the steep and treacherous downhills and fast jump sections. The twenty year old's top four result meant enough points to close the contest and start celebrations for the Steve Dixon-led Monster Energy crew that have now accumulated titles (domestic or international) for the last three years. On Sunday morning Pocock – now running his fettled 2012 YZ250F with a gold number plate – slipped off his bike negotiating the heavily watered terrain (that was slick and unpredictable as a result) but still managed to ace his tenth success (from fourteen) and ensure overall victory for a sixth triumph from a possible seven.

At Faenza Arnaud Tonus defied discomfort from a twisted right knee to score sixth and seventh for fifth overall. The Swiss worked hard across the difficult surface and was wary of his leg after suffering the slight twinge while training during the week. Zach Osborne was chasing a podium finish after taking third spot in the qualification heat on Saturday. The American suffered some arm-pump in the first moto that caused his race to vary in its effectiveness but picked up his pace by the final stages to overtake Jordi Tixier and take fourth. Osborne was fourth again in the second moto when a small oil leak forced the former British Champion to slow and finally enter the pits to safeguard the engine and avoid any possible complication. Countryman Michael Leib effectively curtailed his racing season after attempting practice and qualification on Saturday but has simply not recovered sufficiently from his virus to be able to operate at full strength.



Across the Atlantic at Lake Elsinore for the final round of the AMA Pro National Motocross series 2012 world champion Kiara Fontanesi confirmed her status as a global-leader in women's off-road racing by running to a 1-1 victory. The Monster Energy and Yamaha backed athlete had confirmed her (and Italy's) first world title in Great Britain last month with five victories in seven rounds but defeated America's finest – including Ashley Fiolek – to sign-off a triumphant term. The eighteen year old from Parma now has one more significant race meeting ahead with the last appointment on the FIM schedule coming in two weeks at Teutschenthal in Germany. The venue will also stage the closing chapter for the MX1 and MX2-GP trails before the 66th Motocross of Nations at Lommel on September 30th.

Mel Pocock:

"The whole experience this weekend is a bit indescribable really. Winning a championship is something I dreamed of since I was a young kid. The key race was a bit nerve-wracking for me because I was pulling away at the front and lost my rear brake with six laps to go. I had to play the game differently and focus on bringing the bike home. As soon as I got to the line and turned right to see everyone there I think it was the best feeling I've ever had in motocross. I also wanted to take the overall win and had my work cut-out when I saw how wet the track was Sunday morning. I took another holeshot and was leading when I went down briefly. I had the gold number plate on my bike and I thought 'I cannot be in second place with this'. I worked hard to take the win."

Kiara Fontanesi:

"I'm so happy for this victory and I want to thank everyone. Michele Rinaldi and his staff for a great coordination for getting me here, Yamaha, Monster and Yamaha USA that have helped me with everything. I came here to win…and I did it! It has been such a fantastic year."

Zach Osborne:

"In the first race I had good speed in the beginning but then had a bit of arm-pump. I got the rhythm back by the end and pushed back up to fourth. I almost passed Van Horebeek for third. In the second I had a really bad start but came through to fourth again and was inching towards Van Horebeek when we had a little mishap with the bike. The track was mega yesterday but today it was overwatered way too much. The whole thing was flattened and it was wide-open everywhere and it was hard to make any difference. Despite that I have to say it was pretty enjoyable."

Arnaud Tonus:

"It was a tough grand prix because I was a bit worried about my leg over the jumps and all those bumps. To finish fifth overall in the circumstances is not too bad. I struggled to find a rhythm so I was nowhere near my best but the results could have been worse. My knee was already feeling better after I twisted it on Wednesday so I'm sure next week there will be more improvement and we'll be in good shape for Teutschenthal."

Michael Leib:

"I'm still not right and it's very disappointing. Basically the year finishes for me here. My plan was to come back to Europe and fight my way through two events and then be back to a good way for the final two but it has not worked out like that. I just have to close the season now and work towards a good winter."
Alex
Lorenzo completed 64 laps yesterday and 77 today, wrapping up the day as the fastest rider with a time of 1'48.351. Spies completed 95 laps yesterday and a further 76 today, ending third fastest with a time of 1'48.946.

Jorge Lorenzo
“Today was a very long day, we made a race simulation at the end of the session so I feel very tired but it was necessary to see the performance of the rear tyre. In general we leave here with happiness and confidence as we’ve been one second faster than last time. We need to try and improve consistency over race distance here.”

Ben Spies
“We basically tested the bike over race distance here and completed a race simulation to set the bike up with a focus on the end of the race. We worked on some different fork and shock settings and a little bit of electronics but nothing major. We were mainly fine-tuning the bike and the results seem good. I’m positive for the rest of the year. The package we have now was good over the race simulation so I’m optimistic for the race.”

Source: www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
The Yamaha France GMT 94 Yamalube Michelin Team arrive in Le Mans having scored two successive podiums in Oschersleben and Suzuka and sitting fourth in the Championship standings with 74 points, 21 from the lead. A win in Le Mans would make a title victory a possibility. Riders David Checa and Kenny Foray will be re-joined by team member Matthieu Lagrive, now fully recovered from an elbow injury.

The Monster Energy Yamaha YART Team prepare for the final race of the year determined to end on a high after a difficult season. Despite two DNFs at Qatar and Suzuka the team are still seventh in the Championship with 42 points and looking to move up the standings with a strong result this weekend. The team displayed strong potential in the last two rounds, taking pole in Suzuka and the overall fastest qualifying time in Oschersleben. A trouble-free race could see riders Steve Martin, Igor Jerman and Gwen Giabbani convert their typically fastest pace into success. The team has a strong record at Le Mans, consistently finishing on the podium with a victory in 2009 and second in 2010.

The Yamalube Folch Endurance Team riders Daniel Ribalta Bosch and Arturo Tizon Ilbanez line up in France currently sitting sixth in the Championship despite not having participated in the Suzuka round. Consistently putting their YZF-R1 across the finish line has seen them amass 55 Championship points and puts them in contention for a possible top four position in the final standings.

The Superstock class could also see a title victory for the Yamaha YZF-R1 with the DG Sport Herock Team in contention for the top spot. Riders Didier Van Keymeulen, Alex Cudlin, Gianluca Vizziello and Raymond Schouten have put in strong performances so far, finishing just off the podium in fourth at the last round in Oschersleben and coming into the final race just seven points adrift of the Championship leaders with everything to play for.

“Our team is very confident after two consecutive podiums, including the magical Suzuka one,” said Yamaha France GMT94 Team Manager Christophe Guyot. “We are motivated and have all the elements for a good race. We will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary with Yamaha at Le Mans, so we’ve chosen to debut our new 2012 R1 with a new colour scheme there."

“We will try to leave the bad luck at home this time!” commented Monster Energy Yamaha YART Team Manager Mandy Kainz. “The last years we have always finished on the podium at Le Mans, the highlight being our win in 2009. The same rider line up we have now has always finished on the podium. As it’s the end of the season hopefully we have finished with all the difficulties we’ve experienced and can finish on a high. The last couple of race weekends we’ve always been the fastest but then run out of luck. We will take our normal endurance tactics for the race and hope for the best!”

Source: www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
"I'm really happy to continue with Monster Energy Yamaha because I think it is one of the best teams in the FIM World Championship," said the racer. "I'm also happy that Michele [Rinaldi] and Yamaha Motor Europe wanted to keep me and they trust me. It was an easy decision to sign another contract. We had already been talking since the start of the year and I feel like I have a home here."

"Securing Steven was a priority for us because we all saw his pace and potential in a first excellent season with Monster Energy Yamaha," said Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp. "I'm happy we have been able to announce the first part of our plan for the MX1 and MX2-GP classes for 2013 and we will have more news very soon on what we believe is a young, exciting and very competitive line-up for the new season."

www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
I feel better but now I’m frustrated because it is not possible to get back on the track again yet. It feels strange to be here [at Matterley] and not be thinking about the races. I have no pain, I feel strong and the doctor is happy with the work that has been done. He says the operation fixed the wrists and made them stronger even more than the surgery I had last year and of course with my job that is important!


What’s the next step?

I’m due a check-up soon and then together with the doctor we hope to fix a date to get back on the bike and then I’ll be taking it easy and slowly to get back to normal speed. I haven’t been cycling or working too much because the season is over for me, and it doesn’t make much sense to start training at this time. 2013 has to be my focus now. I am doing some light work to stay in shape but I think when I start riding again in September then I will step it up a little bit and do more work on the bike. I am doing physio every day.

So what have you been doing over the last month or so?

Some work on the house because I’ve never had such a long period at home! I’m sorting out some small things and hanging out with some friends. I walk to the bar everyday to see people and have a talk. It is a different life.

You haven’t had any worries or doubts because the injury was a repetition of the one last summer?

I was happy with the job last year and the guys in Germany took good care of me but the whole process there was not like being at home. I knew the doctor in Italy I needed this time and called him directly from Sweden after the crash. He told me the operation was difficult because he had to take away the old metal work and place new material. There were two options: an easy operation with a long recovery period of six months or a longer and hard operation with a shorter recovery. The doctor advised me to take the harder operation in the end because he thought it would be better for me. It was a long process but it meant I would be able to look at riding a bike two months afterwards. The doctor was pleased with his work and how it all turned out. Last year after twenty days I could move my hands and this time it was two. This year I was fast. I did the same training and was pushing the same way in the motos as I showed in Mexico and Brazil. So why not the same next year? The operation wasn’t done on a knee joint or a shoulder or any ligaments; it is just the bone and I saw the best specialist for that. I had two different types of plate last time and now they have been switched for the same material in each wrist and it is stronger. My life is motocross and I want to race.

You look in good form. If you can ride in September will the Nations on the 30th be possible?

No. I hope to be on the bike two weeks before and while I think it would be possible to race I won’t be at the level I want to be to do a job for Italy. For that motivation I cannot do it this time. I will miss Lommel but I should know if I can make another race this year quite soon.

www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
Coppins scored second position overall at Coolum in Queensland last weekend in what was the tenth and final round of the series. The 35 year old picked up seven moto victories and posted fantastic 21 top three finishes in the 30 motos run over the course of the contest. It was the fifth consecutive championship for the Australian CDR team.

“This ranks highly for me,” said the New Zealander, who spent three seasons as a factory Yamaha racer in the FIM MX1-GP World Championship. “No domestic championship is easy, even more so when it's not in your home country. The level of the teams impressed me and overall I've had a great time and I am really happy I got to ride here before I retired.”

“It felt good to repay Yamaha and all the sponsors,” he added. “I feel at home with Yamaha and have now won races for them all over the world. The latest YZ450F has been one of my favourite bikes of my pro career.”

Coppins will represent his country at Lommel in Belgium for the 66th Motocross of Nations on September 30th. The Kiwi has always been in contention to fly his flag since his first appearance back in 1993. ‘The Lizard’ will then contemplate his next steps: “I will stay involved with Yamaha and in mx, mostly back home in New Zealand but also abroad. We are still talking; I think they wanted me to get this championship in the bag before we made to many plans but I'm happy that we have a future laid out.”

“I’m excited for Josh that he was able to win this championship,” said CDR Yamaha Team Principal Craig Dack to Yamaha Australia. “I have said it before, but the working relationship I have with Josh is still the best I have had with a rider in doing this role in 20 years. For Josh to secure our 36th championship, in our 20th anniversary of CDR Yamaha is a fitting reward and another historic moment for CDR and Yamaha.”

www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
Jorge Lorenzo
Position 2nd - Time: +0.178
“I really enjoyed that race, mainly in the last laps, Dani and I tried everything for the win. We are so close in the Championship that every point is important. It was a very strategic race, in some parts of it I was slowing down to relax a bit and get some air and I think Dani was a little later on as well, staying calm and preparing for the last laps. When Dani was pushing a lot I took a lot of risks to stay with him and finally I had to try to pass him, the victory was so close I had to try. This time Dani was cleverer than me and braver so congratulations to him, next time maybe it will be different! A big thank you to my team as well who worked really hard and made a very competitive bike for me.”

Ben Spies
DNF
“The crash today was no other fault than myself, I was trying to get back into a rhythm and catch the group in front of me because I could see they were coming back and I had a good lap times for coming through. I’m really disappointed not just for me but for the team as they’ve done an excellent job this weekend, we’ve showed speed and motivation all weekend which is hard to do after Laguna and Indy. The race was really over for me before turn one because the clutch overheated off the line. It was no one’s fault; we checked the data and my practice starts are identical to my race starts. We checked the clutch and there is nothing wrong with it, it just overheated and took over two laps to cool down enough to give it 100% by which time the race was over. I still tried to get the best out of it I could and just made a small mistake.”
Alex
Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo was back on the podium today, taking second place in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. The Championship leader had struggled all weekend to find an optimum set up, only making a step forward in yesterday’s qualifying session. Lorenzo, who was one of only two riders to take a gamble on the softer tyres for the race, dropped a couple of places from the start then worked to get behind his team mate Ben Spies in second. After the Texan’s unfortunate DNF he was promoted to second and began chasing down Pedrosa’s lead. Lacking the pace to stay with the leader he settled for second, taking 20 valuable Championship points.

Fellow Factory rider Spies was denied his chance to shine in front of his home crowd following an engine failure early in today’s race. After a strong weekend with impressive pace Spies made a superb start to today’s race, flying past pole man Dani Pedrosa to secure the lead on the second lap. Having then allowed Pedrosa past and tucked in behind disaster struck with an engine failure on lap six.

With no time to rest the team now head back across the Atlantic to Europe for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic in Brno next weekend. Lorenzo leaves Indianapolis leading the Championship by 18 points, Spies remains in tenth place with 66 points.
Alex
Michael Leib entered his first meeting on the YZ250F since recovering from Epstein-barr virus. The American had not seen GP duty since June and the enforced break clearly showed in his stamina levels to last the motos. The Californian attempted both races but did not have the condition to make the chequered flag.

On Saturday Kiara Fontanesi wrapped up her first FIM Womens World Championship with first and third positions in the motos on her YRRD-equipped YZ250F. Her remarkable 100% podium record that includes four overall GP victories from the seven rounds held so far and fourteen motos without dropping out of the top three means she was able to confirm the crown with a 72 point advantage and just 50 left to win with the final round in Germany next month.

A second corner crash for Mel Pocock in the first of the two European MX2 motos on Friday left the Briton with a lot of work to do. The twenty year old dashed back from dead-last and some distance behind the pack to finish a noteworthy tenth. In front of a bumper crowd on Sunday Pocock took second place to earn fourth overall and miss the podium for the first time this season. The current British Championship leader still holds the red plate after five rounds of seven in the series with a 34 point gap over Stefan Olsen and races in Holland and Italy to go.

The Grand Prix of Benelux will constitute round fourteen of the FIM Motocross World Championship and will take place through the rough sandy ripples of Lierop on September 2nd.

Zach Osborne:
It was a great weekend for me and I gelled with the track straightaway. In the first moto I didnt get such a good start but I closed down a five or six second gap to Jeffrey. I have only done three GPs and it is hard to come back on these guys when they have already done more than twenty-five motos. Im happy with the result I had this weekend and Im continuing to build my fitness and come back to a good level.

Arnaud Tonus:
I made a mistake on Saturday and had a bad crash. I hurt my back a bit and felt lucky to be able to ride today. I felt good with my arms and that was a positive thing, especially as I didnt have much preparation time for this race. I had two consistent motos and it was hard to get a good jump out of the gate with the position I had. Anyway, the rhythm came back to me today and I was strong at the end of the motos. I will keep on working and hope to be better and better each GP.

Michael Leib:
I underestimated myself coming back to the GPs early. The plan was to get through the weekend and finish both motos and that wasnt the case and it was a bit more than I expected. I need to crack down and follow my original goal of being able to do well in Italy and Germany. This is not the start I wanted so I just have to put it behind me. My fitness will be better just from the riding I did anyway and it would have been pointless pushing through the limits after the sickness Ive had.

Mel Pocock:
Obviously Im gutted. I wanted to win here. I was taken out by Olsen in the first moto and it was a hard track to come back from that far down. I was also getting some arm-pump which is really weird. Basically I wasnt myself this weekend and thats disappointing because I had such amazing support. Anyway looking at the bigger picture I got some more points with second place in the second moto and now we go to Lierop and I consider myself more of a sand rider.
Alex
“I feel really good and I’m so happy to have won the world championship,” she said. “At the moment I’m pretty emotional and I’m frustrated with my second moto because I feel like it is one of my worst! I crashed and came back from last to third and focussed more on the championship and making sure of it rather than the race itself.”

“I think one of the best grand prix of the year for me was in Valkenswaard in Holland for the first round. Italy was special also, but to win in the sand like I did really started the series in the right way,” she added.

“I have to give so many thanks to my parents, family and all the people who helped me, especially Michele Rinaldi who I have said is like a second father to me! The support from Yamaha has been great and the bike has so much power. I’ve matured as a rider and the key to the results this year has just been more experience and learning how to be a better racer.”

Visit the Yamaha-Racing.com photo gallery or click here to download some special photos from Kiara’s victory celebrations at the British Grand Prix.
Alex
Lin Jarvis - Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing

“This announcement is once again excellent news for Yamaha. In June we were able to sign Jorge Lorenzo for the 2013-14 campaign and now we are able to confirm Valentino Rossi for the next two years. In doing so we have been able to put together the strongest possible team to challenge for victories and to promote the Yamaha brand.

We have run this ‘super team’ together in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and during that time we achieved the ‘triple crown’ titles with Rider, Manufacturer and Team World Championship victories for three consecutive years.

The target for the future is obvious and we will do our utmost to achieve our goals.

I have no doubt that with the experience, knowledge, skills and speed of these two great champion riders we will be able to challenge for many race wins and for the 2013 and 2014 World Championship titles.

The signing of Valentino completes our future planning for the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team. Now that this is done we will put our 100% efforts into completing the job at hand and to supporting Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo in their search for race victories and for Jorge’s 2012 World Championship title challenge.”

Yamaha Factory Racing Press Statement
www.yamaha-racing.com
Alex
Yamaha has teamed up with their top MotoGP stars Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies to give you the chance to win one of three limited edition 50th Anniversary Yamaha bikes.

In 2011 Yamaha celebrated it’s 50th year in Grand Prix racing with a special red and white livery used by the stars on track as they fought for MotoGP glory. To celebrate this incredible 50th anniversary landmark Yamaha has created a limited number of bikes across the model range. Three European lucky winners will now be able to own these should they complete the challenges correctly. You could be the one to ride away on either a 50th Anniversary Yamaha YZF-R1, a 50th Anniversary Yamaha FZ-8 or a 50th Anniversary Aerox scooter.

For European Facebook members Lorenzo and Spies have set six challenges for fans to complete, each of which will be revealed individually each Sunday 16.00 CET of the next six MotoGP races - starting 19th of august. You will have until the 28th October to complete all six challenges so don’t panic if you don’t get a chance to start right away. All the details of the competition and how to get started will be revealed on facebook so head over to Facebook.com/yamaharacingcom to register and get ready! There’s also a cool short video featuring both Jorge and Ben and the bikes you could win, so what are you waiting for?

“We hope you have as much fun completing the challenges as we did making the video!” said Jorge Lorenzo. “It was cool hanging out at the Yamaha Dealership where we shot the film and getting to play with all the great products and bikes they have there, a real treat! We all thought the red and white colour scheme was really special and it was amazing to be part of the 50th Anniversary last year. You have to enter the competition to try and win one of the bikes so you can be part of it too!”

“The 50th Anniversary red and white livery is my all-time favourite colour scheme,” said Ben Spies. “It brought me a lot of good luck last year and some pretty impressive MotoGP results! Take on our challenges and see if you can be lucky too!”
Alex
A second bottle of champagne was sprayed over a YZ250F but this time it was the 338 of Zach Osborne in the MX2-GP class as the American scored two fourth positions to raise the teams second trophy of the season in the competitive class. The 22 year old pushed hard in the second moto to overtake Jake Nicholls and ensure his rostrum celebration by virtue of the race ranking.

Arnaud Tonus missed out on the Czech Grand Prix due to the close proximity of the date to his wrist surgery. The Swiss was initially hopeful of making the gate at Loket but the delay of several days after the Russian GP waiting for an appointment with the best possible surgeon meant that the tissue and state of the arm post-op was too delicate for the rigours and demands of MX2-GP racing. 7 is expected to be fully ready to go for the teams home event on August 18-19.

The British Grand Prix at Matterley Basin will occur in two weeks and Monster Energy Yamaha now have a small respite from international and domestic racing commitments.

Zach Osborne:
It is great to be on the podium on what is such a special track. Today was a good result. I didnt set the world on fire but two fourth positions was a solid day. I didnt have the speed to run with Jeffrey and Tommy but I was the next best guy. Im looking forward to Matterley now. Its a circuit I like with a lot of ruts. I am going to train hard for it and today has given me a lot of motivation to work as hard as I can going into that race. It is tricky to come back mid-season from an injury because a lot of guys have good race pace and have done a lot more motos. It doesnt matter how much training you do, you cant really beat riding GPs week-in week-out. To be on the podium with two decent results and to get the ball rolling is really positive.

Mel Pocock:
Its great to win four from four and keep that overall streak alive. Im a bit disappointed I missed out on the win on Saturday but Maxime was going really quick. It is not my ideal surface as a rider; I prefer mud or deep sand or berms to hit! Maxime got away from me in that first race and I made a mistake that cost me the race. I backed down the speed a bit to make sure of the points for second. Today he made a small mistake and dropped the bike, so I had the lead and rode error-free ahead of Gasjer. It was a hard weekend but I made it work for me. I had to learn out there. A lot of people have sent me messages that they have their tickets for the British Grand Prix next week. It will be a big race and Im really excited.
Alex
The Yamaha France GMT94 Michelin Yamalube Team took a hard fought third place on the podium this weekend in the 2012 Suzuka 8Hour race, the 35th anniversary of what is one of the toughest road racing endurance races in the world.




After initially dropping down the field following an unexpected pit stop, the team made maximum use of the potential of the 2012 YZF-R1 to work steadily back up through the field, passing numerous back markers to reach the front runners.




The achievement was doubly impressive for the gathered Japanese fans as the team had just two riders competing instead of the normal three as regular member Matthieu Lagrive was injured. It fell to David Checa and Kenny Foray to lead the charge, Checa impressing with a final double stint push at the end to take the podium.




Monster Energy Yamaha YART made an impressive start to the race weekend with Japanese rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga taking his YZF-R1 to pole position, smashing the Endurance lap record in the process with an incredible 2’06.845 second run in the scorching heat. Joined by British Superbike Swan Yamaha riders Tommy Hill and Noriyuki Haga, the team made a strong start to the race. Nakasuga led initially and was working to increase the lead with an impressive pace until an unfortunate crash. After some time spent repairing the bike Hill and Haga were able to replicate Nakasuga’s potential race winning lap times but were unfortunately 27 laps behind the field by that point and so decided to retire.

Alex
Yamaha Factory Racing will be joined by new Official Sponsor BM Group for the remainder of the 2012 season and through 2013 and 2014. The BM Group already has strong ties with Yamaha having been a key sponsor of the World Superbike Team. As such it was a natural progression to move across to MotoGP and join forces with the Factory Team.


The Italian based BM Group has almost 50 years of experience in manufacturing and supplying electrical connections and is a global market leader in its field.

Lin Jarvis - Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
“I am very happy to welcome the BM Group back into the Yamaha Factory Racing world and into the MotoGP Championship. Both of our companies share similar values of passion, quality, innovation and teamwork. We enjoyed a successful collaboration in the past in Superbike and we look forward to partnering together in the coming years and to sharing many exciting moments and successes both on and off the track.”

Andrea Mario Lodolo - President, BM Group
“We have developed a close and exciting relationship with Yamaha. From our first cooperation in 2009 with the Yamaha Superbike Team, our partnership has continued to go from strength to strength as it evolves. This international agreement is very important; it shows that our company is establishing itself as a centre of excellence and that we are going in the right direction. BM Group’s innovation and determination makes it a perfect match for the most prestigious motorcycling event worldwide, which attracts international media coverage.”
Alex
Jorge Lorenzo - Position 2nd - Time: +14.996


“Well, things can change completely in one race. In Holland we had a 25 point advantage then suddenly zero, one engine less and we were very disappointed. Then today we had some luck from Casey’s unfortunate crash. I would have been happy to have finished in third position because today the bike and the rear tyre was not so good. The race was very tough; I always seem to finish second here! I would have preferred not to crash in Assen and for Casey not to crash here but that is racing sometimes. We struggled a little all weekend with the changing weather so we must be happy with the end result.”




Ben Spies - Position 4th - Time: +20.740
“It was a frustrating race, but I guess we have to be happy with a top five. We had a lot more potential but we did the best we could with the set up we had. We didn’t have enough edge grip and acceleration so I had to sit behind Dovi and Cal and wait. I could see Cal was getting a little impatient and wanting to pass Dovi so I was hoping he would and maybe clear a spot for me to get by. I had a good pace but not enough to out brake them so had to play a waiting game.”

Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager
“Today was a great result after a very difficult race. Our pace was never really there and we were not really happy with our set up in any session. What counts is the standings so we are happy to be back in the lead and heading to Mugello next weekend.”

Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director
“It has been a pretty tough weekend but we have to see it in a different way. We came here second in the Championship and we are leaving leading it. This is the important thing. We knew from the beginning that it was going to be a complicated race and the weather didn’t help us. This morning we were pretty satisfied with the set up then suddenly we had to run with the hardest tyre. Unfortunately this choice compromised our results.”

Alex
Monster Energy Yamaha’s David Philippaerts could be back on a motocross track in as little as three months after a thorough and extremely successful operation yesterday afternoon at Spedali Civili di Brescia hospital. The former MX1-GP World Champion suffered fractures to both wrists after a crash during the first moto of the Grand Prix of Sweden at Uddevalla last Sunday.

The Italian flew home for an operation that would involve replacement of the plates he had installed after his accident last summer. The damage to the radius bones of both arms was repaired by Dr Pier Paolo Borelli, who was able to stabilise the fractures by substituting and shifting the metalwork. Such was the comprehensiveness of the procedure that Philippaerts was already able to start stretching his fingers, felt considerably less pain and is able to sleep comfortably. ‘DP19’ is expected to leave the hospital over the weekend.

A period of rehab is expected to begin immediately and medical staff are confident that within two months the 28 year old will be able to use the limbs normally. “I am happy with how everything has gone and I am being taken care of very well here,” said Philippaerts who came back from a similar injury to claim two Grand Prix podiums and one moto victory this season. “It feels good not to have any pain and the doctor was confident that the new surgery will mean my wrists will be stronger than before. I will be home in two days and then looking to get fit and ready when I can.”
Alex
Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo wrapped up the final pre-season test of 2012 today in Jerez with an impressive 84 laps covered. Lorenzo spent almost the entire day as the only rider to drop under the 1’39 mark, with rival Casey Stoner joining him to lead by 0.173 seconds in the last moments of the session. The Mallorcan delivered an impressive race simulation, showing his trademark lap time consistency over the distance.

Team mate Ben Spies also covered some distance, putting in 61 laps as he worked on final set up solutions for his 1000cc YZR-M1. The Texan ends the test as the fourth fastest rider, 0.715 seconds from the front. Spies also worked on a race simulation earlier in the test and was satisfied with a competitive pace.

The MotoGP paddock now moves to Qatar where the first race will be played out under the floodlights in the desert on the 8th April. With the gap to their rivals much closer than last year in testing, both Yamaha riders are keen to line up on the grid and get the season started.

Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 2nd Time: 1'38.953 Laps: 84
“I’m really happy because we tried to make some good lap times so we put new tyres on the rear this morning to make the 1’38.9 which is a good time. This afternoon we improved the bike for a race simulation which went really well. In general we are very happy, it’s not just me, Ben is also very close to the competition as are Cal and Andrea. We need to improve our braking a little, if we can do that we could gain some more tenths of a second.”

Ben Spies - Position: 4th Time: 1'39.495 Laps: 61
“I’m happy with how the test went. Both Jorge and I worked really methodically on getting through a number of different things, I think we’re quite happy with the bike going to Qatar, it’s been good here and good in Sepang. A couple of the areas where we had problems last year seem to be a lot better. We can’t say if they are completely fixed until we go to more tracks but we are happy with the balance of the bike and I think we have a very competitive bike for 2012.”
Alex
The Swan Yamaha team has today (Monday) confirmed that World Superbike sensation Noriyuki Haga will be completing their line-up for the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he permanently replaces the injured Ian Hutchinson for the forthcoming season.

Fans’ favourite Haga is famous for his flamboyant riding style with much of his World Championship success in the past powered by Yamaha. Japanese ace Haga joins the MCE BSB Championship with the Swan Yamaha team following a record of 43 race wins in the World Championship, finishing runner-up in the title race on three occasions (2009, 2007, 2000) and securing third in the overall standings in an additional four seasons (2008, 2006, 2005, 2004).

Haga has already celebrated success on MCE BSB Championship circuits at World level including podium finishes at Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Silverstone and Assen as the Japanese contender prepares for his first full season in MCE BSB which gets underway at Brands Hatch on Easter weekend (6-9 April).

Haga said: “It is a new challenge for me to race in BSB and I am now ready for the new season with Swan Yamaha. I feel that after many years in the same series this will be a kind of restart to my racing career. BSB has grown a lot and I have big support from the fans in the UK, so I liked the idea of racing in the Championship. It will also be a return to Yamaha, where I spent so many years taking many wins and now I feel like I am going back to my family. I have won races with Yamaha before in the World Championship and now I hope that we can do it again in BSB. I don't know several circuits in England and the BSB Championship but I will do my best to get results this year for the fans, myself and for Yamaha. We will start testing soon and I am very excited to get back on track as we have big ambitions for this season. Finally I hope that Ian Hutchinson can recover soon from his injury.”

Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: “It was a difficult situation for the Swan Yamaha team when Ian (Hutchinson) was sidelined with just four weeks remaining before we begin our pre-season testing programme. We then had to set out to find a replacement rider and the result for us could not have been better. We are absolutely delighted that Noriyuki will be joining us and we are now looking forward to welcoming him into the team. Noriyuki has such vast experience of racing a Superbike and during his career has always had a strong partnership with Yamaha and we are happy that we can continue that relationship this year. The Swan Yamaha team won the title last season and Noriyuki is really ready for the challenge of BSB and is coming to race here to win.”

Swan Marketing Manager Mark Alldred concluded: “We are thrilled to confirm the full team line up for the 2012 season after Ian’s unfortunate injury. We are delighted to welcome Noriyuki Haga to the team at this late stage. He has a fantastic pedigree at the highest level and will be a real contender for the championship this year. We have a great rider line-up at Swan Yamaha having signed two of the top riders in the championship. We wish them both the best of luck for the forthcoming season.”