James Ellison is set to make his MotoGP return after a five-year absence in 2012 after signing for Paul Bird’s new claiming rules team. It has not been decided what chassis the 31-year-old Briton will race, but it will be powered by an Aprilia RSV-4 engine. Although the deal has yet to be officially confirmed, [...]
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow concluded a successful first test on board Yamaha’s new YZR-M1 1000cc MotoGP machine at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia today. Taking advantage of gloriously sunny conditions during the two-day test, the 26-year-old completed 142 laps and was able to give Yamaha engineering staff a wealth of [...]
During the two-day official MotoGP test at the Valencia circuit, Bridgestone debuted the final specification 2012 tyres, providing them to all teams for the duration of the test. The test was conducted mostly with the new-era 1000cc machines including five Claiming Rule Team (CRT) bikes from BQR Inmotec, BQR FTR, TeamLaglisse and the Grellini Team. [...]
The finale of the 2011 season at Valencia was a thrilling but an incredibly tricky race for riders and tyres alike. The conditions were bad all weekend. Friday was wet but drying, leaving teams chasing setups on wet tyres as the track continually changed. Saturday’s sessions were dry although rain fell during the day, leaving [...]
Cal Crutchlow and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team ended the 2011 MotoGP World Championship in fantastic fashion this afternoon, the British rider claiming a career best fourth position to win the coveted Rookie of the Year title in a dramatic race in Valencia. The 30-lap encounter started with light rain falling on the Ricardo [...]
The Tech 3 Racing Team ended the 2011 Moto2 World Championship campaign in Valencia today with contrasting fortunes for Mike di Meglio and Bradley Smith. The 27-lap race started with light rain falling over the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, though the race was declared dry and di Meglio and Smith started on slick tyres. The tricky [...]
The final race of the season was an action-packed thriller, filled with the uncertainty of spots of rain that fell almost for the duration of the 30 laps, getting harder at times and challenging riders and tyres alike, leaving them guessing at grip level corner by corner. Every rider used the softer option rear slicks, [...]
The season ending race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, at Cheste, Valencia, didn’t live up to pre-race expectations for Scott Redding. He too quickly mastered the tricky conditions after starting from 14th and he had just moved into the top six when his podium challenge ended at the start of lap four. Battling to adjust [...]
After its first year in GP racing, the Indian Mahindra team closed its account with several aims achieved. Rider Marcel Schrötter rode a well-judged race to finish in the points, achieving his and the team’s pre-season aim of finishing in the top 15 of the championship. His points added to the team’s tally to underline [...]