Analysing the significance of Valentino Rossi´s win at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, which extended his standings lead to 75 points with five races remaining, Yamaha Factory Racing boss Lin Jarvis was in no doubt as to the importance of the round thirteen result for the Italian. Cheered on by the majority of the crowd at a circuit which lies just a few kilometres from his hometown of Tavullia, Rossi took a highly popular victory, with Stoner unable to score points for the second round in succession as he crashed out on lap seven.
`The Doctor´ was followed across the finishing line by Jorge Lorenzo in second place as the double 250cc World Champion recaptured his early season form to register his first podium since Le Mans in May, making it a great day for the team.
Jarvis had also seen Yamaha satellite riders James Toseland and Colin Edwards finish in the top ten. He commented, `One-two for us as a team and as a manufacturer is fantastic. I mean it was a shame for Casey and for the spectators, but we will take it! It is a very, very important victory for the championship.´
When asked whether it was physical or mental well-being which had contributed most to Lorenzo´s return to form Jarvis replied, `A little bit of both. I am sure that a few races ago he was shaky but honestly in the last couple of races he has felt better about himself and he has said I feel fine mentally. I think this result is just super for him. He has been very good all weekend, and he has put it together on race day. It is great to see him back up there.´
Having overseen Rossi´s successful move onto Bridgestone tyres over the winter, but with three Yamaha riders still running Michelins, Jarvis has a unique insight on the current hot topic of tyres in MotoGP.
On the day of the announcement of Dani Pedrosa´s sensational Bridgestone switch, Jarvis stated, `As a company we maybe do not have a fixed opinion on it. There are opinions of engineers, opinions of sports management, different opinions. Personally I am quite inclined towards monobrand, for the sport, for the championship and for the equality of the competition, but it is not so simple. In principle we all believe in free competition in the championship and when things are equal the Michelin riders can be up there.´
Ulsterman Eugene Laverty (22) will replace Fabien Foret in the Yamaha World Supersport Team for the Donington and Vallelunga rounds, as the French rider continues his recuperation at home in France.Third in the 2006 British Supersport series, Laverty has more recent experience of 250cc GP machinery, but is pumped at the prospect of running in top-level 600cc racing. ”I'm really excited at the chance to ride a competitive Supersport machine”, said Laverty. ”Two years of riding underpowered bikes has led to two difficult seasons for me. For Yamaha to pick me up and offer this opportunity is fantastic, I'm over the moon! I can't wait to get to Donington and start working with the team to set up and get out on track".
British GP winner Scott Redding has been rewarded for a series of brilliant performances in his rookie campaign with Aprilia guaranteeing him a factory Aprilia 125 machine for 2009.Redding was told after meetings with Aprilia boss Gigi Dall’Igna in Misano last weekend, and he is likely to remain with the Blusens squad having secured the top level bike.
Redding has an offer to replace current world championship Mike di Meglio in the Ajo Motorsport Aprilia squad, and also been approached about a factory KTM ride in the 250GP series.
Redding though will stay in the 125 class and he told: “I’m not sure where I will be riding, but to get a factory bike is brilliant news. I’ve won a race this year on an old bike, so the latest spec factory bike hopefully will let me fight for the championship next season.”
His title chase hampered by a crash with teammate Hiroshi Aoyama at Misano, Mika Kallio is being courted by Red Bull KTM to continue in 250cc for another year.It´s the sight that every Team Manager dreads on raceday; nervous moments as teammates battle against each other, culminating in a DNF stamped alongside both riders´ names. That was the situation for Harald Bartol, head of Red Bull KTM, on Sunday afternoon in Misano.
Title challenger Mika Kallio and 2007 race runner-up Hiroshi Aoyama both fancied their chances at the San Marino circuit in the 250cc race, and were placed alongside each other over the course of the first two laps. Kallio collided with his Japanese teammate and brought both riders´ races to an early conclusion, leaving the title situation difficult for the Finnish star.
`We would have had a good chance today with our bike, but that´s the way it is,´ said a downbeat Bartol after the incident. `It appears that Hiro took a slightly different line, and that Mika was probably too close. The lucky thing was that Simoncelli only finished sixth.´
`We will be trying to get Mika back into the title fight, and we have some changes that we can probably bring to Indianapolis to try again,´ added the KTM boss, aiming to take a first title for the factory before Kallio´s possible departure at the end of the season.
`We are trying to keep him, but we have heard from Mika that he is looking for a MotoGP move. At the moment we have had no clear answer from him and, with so many of the top riders in 250cc already under contract, we will have to check our options,´ he concluded.
directories:
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |