Motorcycle Racing News

Occasional motorcycle racing news reports, results and other ruminations on MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike and more.

December 22, 2007 - 2008 will be the Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team’s second season in World Supersport, being a newcomer last year and having successfully contested the Spanish Supersport Championship for the past five years. David Salom will remain with the team and will be joined by highly experienced fellow Spaniard David de Gea.

Based in Barcelona, the Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team is managed by the veteran Dani Devahive, who has taken the team to national championship success three times since 2002 – in 2004, 2005 and 2006, before finishing 2007 in fourth. Taking into account three second place finishes – in 2002, 2003 and 2004 - the Yamaha Spain squad is the most successful team in the Spanish Supersport Championship to date. With one season of World Supersport experience under their belt and a brace of experienced national and international technicians in the team Dani is confident of making a next step upwards in their second year in the WSS championship.

The team’s main objective has always been to nurture young riders in the Spanish Championship and then launch them onto the world stage; having done this previously with Cardenas and Tizon, who both went into 250GP, the team is looking to achieve success with its latest protégé, David Salom. Salom made an impact early on last year in his rookie season in World Supersport, achieving a sixth at Valencia followed on by a fifth at Assen. The 23 year-old Spaniard contested in the national Supersport championship for three years prior to moving to the World Series in 2007.

30 year-old Jose David de Gea, better known as David, has raced in World Supersport previously but has focused on other classes in the last few years. His career has also seen him participate in 250GP and MotoGP races, though his best success has been in the Spanish Formula Extreme Championship, in which he is the current champion and has taken the title a total of four times since 2003.

The Yamaha Spain World Supersport Team is the third team to be supported by Yamaha Motor Europe in the championship, joining YME’s own Yamaha World Supersport Team and the Yamaha Team Italia squad.

Yamaha Spain Team - National Highlights
2007: 4th, Spanish Supersport Championship
2006: Spanish Supersport Champion
2005: Spanish Supersport Champion
2004: Spanish Supersport Champion and 2nd, Spanish Supersport Championship
2003: 2nd, Spanish Supersport Championship
2002: 2nd, Spanish Formula Extreme Championship

David Salom
Date of Birth: 16/10/1984
Nationality: Spanish
Residence: Spain
Career Highlights
2007: 21st, World Supersport Championship
2006: Spanish Supersport Champion
2005: 2nd, European Suzuki Cup and 4th, Spanish Supersport Championship
2004: 5th, Spanish Supersport Championship

David De Gea
Date of Birth: 09/12/1977
Nationality: Spanish
Residence: Spain
Career Highlights
2007: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion
2006: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion and participation in 3 races
250GP World Championship
2005: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion
2004: 3rd, Spanish Formula Extreme Championship
2003: Spanish Formula Extreme Champion and participation in MotoGP

December 20, 2007 - After having contested in the World Supersport Championship for the last two years, the Yamaha GMT94 team will move up to the World Superbike Championship in 2008. In addition to this and following on from their Bol d’Or win in 2007, Yamaha GMT94 will continue to enter the world’s two most demanding Endurance races – the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Bol d’Or 24 Hours.

The Guyot Motorcycling Team was founded in 1992 by Christophe Guyot - himself a former rider and passionate sportsman - with the aim of making motorcycle racing more accessible to the young people of France. In 2003, the team linked up with Yamaha Motor France to become a more professional concern and has since gone from strength to strength, including becoming Endurance World Champion in 2004. Now known as the Yamaha GMT94 team, the squad operates a strategy focused on two very different road race classes – sprint racing and endurance racing.

For 2008, the team is moving into the World Superbike Championship, although they are continuing with the current team line up of David Checa and Sébastien Gimbert. 2004 Endurance World Champion David Checa, aged 27, has raced in World Supersport with the Yamaha GMT team for the past two seasons. The younger brother of Carlos Checa, David’s racing pedigree includes 250GP and European Supersport before he moved into Endurance racing in 2003. In addition, that same year he was Pirelli’s WSB control tyre tester and participated in a handful of WSB races. This WSB experience will stand him in good stead for 2008 as he re-enters the WSB fray once more.

Sébastien Gimbert is also a long-time member of the Yamaha GMT94 Team, having first joined the team’s Endurance effort in 2004 and becoming world champion in the same year. Like many Frenchmen the 30 year-old has specialized in the Endurance scene, having won the Bol d’Or with Checa and the GMT94 team in 2007 as well winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2005. But to date he also has 45 WSB races under his belt. Gimbert achieved his best WSB result in 2004 when he scored two fourth position finishes at Magny-Cours. This success was enough to gain him a full-time WSB ride with Yamaha Motor France the following year, although a broken leg during the season prevented him from showing his full potential.

As well as contesting the WSB Championship, David Checa and Sébastien Gimbert will contest the Le Mans and Bol d’Or races once again in 2008, this time with British rider Steve Plater. In 2007 the Yamaha GMT94 Team won the Bol d’Or for the first time in style with a five lap lead, after having already won as a team twice the Le Mans 24hrs and numerous other Endurance events.

Yamaha GMT94 will receive some support from Yamaha Motor Europe who recognize the importance of Endurance racing in France and the dream of team owner Guyot to grow steadily to become a future top contender in World Superbikes.

David Checa Profile
Date of Birth: 20/04/1980
Nationality: Spanish
Residence: Barcelona, Spain
Career Highlights
2007: 12th, World Supersport Championship, 1st Bol d’Or 24 Hours
2006: 11th, World Supersport Championship and 3rd, Le Mans 24 Hours
2005: 1st, Le Mans 24 Hours and 2nd, Bol d’Or 24 Hours
2004: World Champion Endurance and 1st, Oschersleben 24 Hours and Zhuhaï 6 Hours rounds
2003: 3rd, World Champion Endurance

Sébastien Gimbert Profile
Date of Birth: 09/09/1977
Nationality: French
Residence: Puy de Velay, France
Career Highlights
2007: 20th, World Supersport Championship, 1st Bol d’Or 24 Hours
2006: 3rd, Le Mans 24 Hours and 19th, World Superbike Championship
2005: 1st, Le Mans 24 Hours
2004: World Champion Endurance
2003: 2nd, French Super-production Championship and 1st, Bol d'Or and Spa 24-hour races

KTM will be omnipresent in the paddock and the track in the 125 cc and 250 cc classes of international road racing in the 2008 season; it has been announced by the company's headquarters in Mattighofen, Austria.

"In keeping with our well-known policy to be always "Ready to Race", we are making a dramatic increase in our international road racing activities for the 2008 season, "said Winfried Kerschhaggl, head of KTM Motor Sports. "This indicates our firm commitment to be active and successful in major road racing competition and is in keeping with our market move into the road bike sector."

Effective immediately, KTM will not only run the Red Bull KTM factory team in the 125cc and 250 cc classes of the premiere class MotoGP Road Racing World Championship; the company now extend its activities to include support and the supply of KTM motorcycles to a number of private teams.

KTM Factory Riders
Under the expert guidance of KTM racing director Harald Bartol, the 250 cc Factory Team for 2008 includes the experienced Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) and Mika Kallio (Finland) both of whom made their mark in 2007 and have the potential to be winners in their class.

Switzerland's Randy Krummenacher, a 125 cc KTM factory rider within a new one-man team configuration, races under the banner Red Bull KTM 125 Team in 2008.

From now on KTM actively supports a range of private teams, which the company believes is an excellent way of supporting young talent and allowing promising riders to contest races on high performance machines. KTM's Konrad Hefele has been appointed to oversee the operational activities with the various private teams.

Team Repsol KTM
KTM is particularly thrilled that in 2008 the riders of Alberto Puig's Team Repsol will be onboard the machines from Mattighofen. Not only is Puig one of the great racing personalities; he moved off the track to become an influential talent spotter and mentor to developing riders. Team Repsol's decision to go with KTM machines in both the 125cc and 250 cc classes underlines the depth of this valuable sponsorship partnership and the importance of the new, radically expanded team structure.

Under Puig's astute guidance, Spain's Julian Simon, who was a full factory rider for KTM in the 2006 season, contests the 250 cc class and retains full factory status. KTM is particularly pleased to have Simon again onboard their racing machines. Completing the Team Repsol KTM racing stable are two very promising young riders Spanish riders in Esteve Rabat and Marc Marquez on the Repsol KTM 125 cc machines. Alberto Puig has now also opted to use KTM 125 race bikes for his activities in the rookies program of the MotoGP Academy.

KTM Supports Team Valsir Seedorf
The popular Japanese rider Tomoyoshi Koyama, who raced in the Red Bull KTM factory team in 2007, also stays onboard a KTM machine, racing for Team Valsir Seedorf. He will be joined in the team by 20-year old Italian Lorenzo Zanetti who contested his first full 125 cc world championship season in 2005.

Scot Racing Team 125cc on KTM
This private team will field two 125cc riders in 20-year old Italian rider Raffaele De Rosa who enters his third season in the top level of 125 cc racing. His team-mate will be 27-year-old Spanish rider Pablo Nieto, who won his first GP in 2003, Nieto, nicknamed "El Chiquitin", is the son of the legendary racing star Angel Nieto.

Red Bull Rookies Cup
This unique competition continues in Europe for 2008, while a second series is also being contested in the USA. Twenty three talented young riders have made it through the selection process for each of the competitions and all 46 will race on identical KTM machines. The decision to run a parallel competition for young riders in the USA is an indication of the success of the inaugural series in 2007, of KTM's commitment to support young riding talent and of the growing significance of the KTM brand road bikes in the USA.

November 15, 2007 - Spaniard Fonsi Nieto and German Max Neukirchner both put the 2007 Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki GSX-R1000 though its paces during their recent test at Valencia in Spain with Neukirchner beating the lap record on regular race rubber.

Both riders made many changes to the positions of the bars, footpegs and levers so that they could start to get comfortable with the bike, before beginning to push hard.

The weather for the tests was generally good and both riders and the team were able to do a lot of good groundwork and gather useful information in more than 150 laps.

Nieto posted a best time of 1:35.5 and Neukirchner a 1:35.00 - which is faster than Max Biaggi's best race lap there earlier this season.

Fonsi Nieto: "This test was all about me getting comfortable with the bike so we did a lot of work with the handlebars, levers and footpegs. My initial feeling is that the bike is very good and I have a lot to learn. I started with the Biaggi settings but I didn't get on with them so we've changed them quite a lot - more in the Kagayama direction I guess."

"The Alstare Suzuki feels more of a race bike than my bike of last year and it has a lot of potential. I am not thinking about lap times at this test, because I want to learn this bike first. The Alstare team is great to work with and everybody is very friendly. I am getting to know them all very quickly and already we have a very good relationship. The World Superbike Championship is not an easy race series by any means but I am really looking forward to this new challenge."

Max Neukirchner: "I know I've ridden the Alstare Suzuki before but this is a different situation for me here. We spent most of the time getting the bike right for me. That meant changes to the riding position, bars, levers and footpegs. I enjoyed riding the bike in the last race of the year but now it's time to get the bike dialed-in for me properly."

"There is a lot to do, but we are all working well and making good progress, so we are all pretty happy at this stage. I know most the Alstare guys from before but I am working with some different mechanics this time, so I have to get used to them and they have to get used to me. I'm already enjoying myself with the team and I think we will leave Valencia in a positive frame of mind."

November 5, 2007 - Suzuki Motor Corporation has officially announced its agreement with Italian star Loris Capirossi to join its MotoGP squad for the 2008 season.

Capirossi joins new team-mate Chris Vermeulen in the two-man Suzuki MotoGP team after the final round of the current MotoGP Championship, at Valencia yesterday, and the experienced racer will begin evaluating the 2007 and 2008 versions of the prototype 800cc GSV-R during a two-day test at the Spanish circuit.

Capirossi hails from Bologna in Italy and began Grand Prix racing in 1990. He has achieved success in each racing category, including World Championship titles in the 125cc class (twice) and the 250cc category in 1998. He still holds the record for becoming the youngest ever World Champion when he won the 125cc title at the age of 17.

Capirossi finished 7th in the MotoGP Championship this season and scored one race win to add to his previous 28 Grand Prix victories in the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP classes. Capirossi has also achieved nearly 100 podiums and 41 pole positions in all categories throughout his career.

Thirty four year-old Capirossi joins Suzuki with a vast wealth of knowledge gathered from 18 seasons at the highest level of motorcycle racing and significant experience of Bridgestone tyres. The signing of Capirossi confirms Suzuki's line-up for the attack on the 2008 championship, following the announcement shortly after his excellent second place in America earlier in the year, that current rider Vermeulen was to stay with the team

Loris Capirossi: "I am really happy because after five years with Ducati this is a very good time to change. I have been talking with the guys from Suzuki a lot and for me it is a really really interesting time and a very big change. I just cannot wait for the first time to jump on the bike. This will be important for me and for all the team. Suzuki looks in a good shape at the moment. Already the bike is good and we have three more tests this year to work on it and make more developments.:

"My motivation is 100% focused on that moment and I have new toys in my hand! I am really happy to be going to Suzuki and start working with my new team. The first time I ride the bike will be the best moment for me. After 18 years in Grand Prix racing I think I don't have many more seasons, so I want to prepare my body and condition myself 110%, and try to do the best I can to challenge again for the championship."

September 19, 2007 - Yamaha has today confirmed that Troy Corser and Noriyuki Haga will remain with the Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike Team in 2008.

A flamboyant and much-loved character, Haga has worked with Yamaha for many years and his World Superbike career highlights include second in 2000 and third title position in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Currently Haga is fighting for the 2007 title with only 41 points separating him in second place from front man Toseland, having caught up 25 points at the last round in Lausitz. With only two rounds remaining on 30th September (Vallelunga, Italy) and 7th October (Magny Cours, France) Haga is taking the fight for WSB crown all the way to the wire. So far this season he has already won four races, including taking the double win at the team’s home circuit of Monza.

This year has been Corser’s first season with the Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team but it has been a fruitful one, with him gaining eight podium positions so far this season. Corser has also had a good and close working relationship with Haga, with the two riders working together to help develop a championship winning machine in the YZF-R1. The two-times World Superbike Champion has 13 years of experience in the class, including 40 pole positions and an impressive 114 podium positions, 33 of which have been race wins.

Noriyuki Haga: “I feel great about how things have worked out, I’m very happy to stay with the Yamaha Motor Italia Team. This will be my fourth year with them; they are such a great team and I feel like I have known everyone for a long time. It’s like one big family! I’m pleased to be riding with Troy again next year; I know him quite well and we get along together, which always makes for a good atmosphere in the pit box.

I’m looking forward to repaying Yamaha’s faith in me with, hopefully, my first WSB championship title this year and a second one next year! With my position for next year sorted I can now concentrate on chasing the title in the last two rounds. I never give up!”

Troy Corser: “I’m very happy to be staying with the team next year; this year has been a very positive learning experience for me so far. We’ve made a lot of progress with the bike, the chassis and the suspension and I’m confident we can make further improvements in winter testing. It’s not all been plain sailing but that’s to be expected when you join a new team and get on a new bike. We’ve got a good path forward for next year, though, and that’s the important thing. Nori and I have worked well this season with good communication between us about the bike and tires. I’m sure that the close working relationship will strengthen even more during next year.”

September 1, 2007 - The Kawasaki Racing Team confirmed their full rider line-up for the 2008 season today at Misano, with the announcement that 26-year-old Anthony West has been signed on a one-year deal to ride alongside Kawasaki's other recent signing, John Hopkins, next year.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki will field a third rider at the Japanese round of the MotoGP world championship next month. Current leader of the All Japan Superbike Championship, Akira Yanagawa, will join team stalwarts, Randy de Puniet and Anthony West, on a Ninja ZX-RR at the Motegi circuit as, for the second time this year, the team will put three riders on the grid.

August 3, 2007 - Comparatively normal by previous season’s standards, the summer break has arrived with 12 riders still unclear as to for whom they will ride in 2008.

This year has seen a number of early moves which, although they may have happened in season’s past, have rarely been announced so far in advance. The trigger for the numerous switches in teams was the first confirmed deal of the year, that of John Hopkins’ parting ways with Suzuki and moving to Kawasaki for a new challenge (see story below on this page).

This has set the wheels in motion for a frantic signing up process, with more moves confirmed by various teams:

Marco Melandri’s long-rumoured switch to Ducati finally came to fruition at Laguna Seca, making him the second rider currently in MotoGP to change rides for 2008.

Additional arrival Jorge Lorenzo is sure to fuel the rider roundabout yet further, and Yamaha announced today that James Toseland will go to the Yamaha Tech 3 team (see story).

Those who can rest easy concentrating on the task at hand are some of MotoGP’s big guns, including the top two in the World Championship standings. Ducati have wisely extended their deal with Casey Stoner for the next two seasons (see story below), while five-times champion Valentino Rossi also has his future with Yamaha secured.

Nicky Hayden still has a year on his Honda contract, although it wouldn't be surprising to learn that he's wondering why he signed with Honda for two years after the way they've been treating him. Wouldn't it be nice to see Nicky on, say, a Ducati?

Chris Vermeulen rejected offers to leave Suzuki, and will continue with Paul Denning’s outfit as they continue to improve their results.

The big question marks surround two riders known to have held talks with other teams, with both having assessed the possibility of joining Vermeulen in blue next year:

Dani Pedrosa is also thought to have spoken with Suzuki, although a move away from Honda seems unlikely given his long history with the Japanese factory.

Kawasaki could yet run a three rider team next season after success at Laguna Seca, meaning that Randy de Puniet and Anthony West could still be team-mates alongside John Hopkins. The Frenchman’s option for 2008 passed it’s deadline last month, but the 25 year-old is still in the frame for a spot in "Team Green", whilst West has impressed management with his performances since replacing Olivier Jacque at Donington Park.

Numerous other riders will have to wait on decisions, including experienced veterans Colin Edwards and Alex Barros, indicating that even those out of the running for the title still have every reason to perform after the summer break.

Rizla Rolls Another One With Suzuki
Meanwhile, Suzuki has announced that it has agreed terms with Rizla to continue with their sponsorship for a further season in MotoGP following on from the successful two-year partnership the pair has already enjoyed in the premier class of motorcycle racing.

Rizla, "The world's premier rolling paper brand", has agreed a one-year extension to its title sponsorship of the Suzuki Grand Prix motorcycle race team in the 2008 MotoGP World Championship which will see the Suzuki GSV-R prototype race bike sporting the distinctive Rizla blue for a further season around the world's Grand Prix circuits.

This is the second positive step for Suzuki as it plans its assault on 2008 championship after Chris Vermeulen pledged his future to the Japanese manufacturer shortly after last month's US GP, where the ever-improving Australian star took a superb second place. Rizla and Suzuki have already created a successful on-track partnership in MotoGP with the pairing scoring Suzuki's first four-stroke MotoGP victory at Le Mans in France earlier this year, along with three more podiums this season. Suzuki has had a racing relationship with Rizla since the 1980's in Grand Prix and Kevin Schwantz made his GP debut on a Rizla-backed RG500 in 1986.

Text and Photos for this report are courtesy MotoGP. Edited by webBikeWorld.com.

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