2005
Moto Racing News
2004
NEWS
- SUPERCROSS:
CARMICHAEL RETURNS TO RACING (DEC 2)
After missing the 2004 season through injury, the 3 times AMA Supercross
champion Ricky Carmichael is back. He will ride Suzuki to contest the
world supercross championship starting in Canada.
CARMICHAEL: "... Since the Maxxis U.S. Open, I have really increased
my training and riding to ensure that I am in top shape for the THQ
World Supercross GP ... This is going to be one heck of a season, and
I am hungry to win my first THQ World Supercross GP championship"
- MOTOGP:
BAYLISS JOINS HONDA (NOV 23)
Former world and British Superbike champion Troy Bayliss will ride a
Honda RC211V next season. He was dropped by Ducati after 7 years but
will now ride alongside Alex Barros in the Pons Camel Honda team.
SITO PONS: "... With Alex and Troy leading the charge, I am confident
that the yellow Camel Honda bikes will be constantly battling for the
leading positions in every race. I would like to thank Honda, Camel,
Correos and the other team sponsors for their constant support and whilst
we clearly have a lot of hard work ahead of us this winter, I am confident
that this exciting new project will bring much success to everyone concerned"
- PARIS
DAKAR: ROMA SWITCHES TO CARS (NOV 20)
2004 Paris Dakar winner (Motorcycle) Joan Roma has switched
to cars for the upcoming Dakar Rally. Instead of KTM motorcycle Roma
will be driving a factory Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD car. The Mitsubishi
team is aiming for a record 5th consecutive Paris Dakar win. Its drivers
include defending champion Peterhansel, Roma and the dual Paris Dakar
winner Hiroshi Masuoka. 2005 Paris Dakar starts on new years day from
Barcelona in Spain and finish 16 days later in Dakar, Senegal.
ROMA: ".... This is an incredibly exciting opportunity
for me to join Mitsubishi Motors for the Dakar ... I have witnessed
the successful transition that Stéphane and Andrea have made
from motorcycle riding to rallying on four wheels and hope that I can
repay the team with a good result."
- MOTOGP:
DUCATI JOINS BRIDGESTONE CAMP (NOV 16)
Factory Ducati team of Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa will be riding
on Bridgestone tyres next season. The switch from Michelin marks another
step in the rapidly improving Bridgestone. Makoto Tamada won 2 races
early this year on Bridgestone. Next year Bridgestone is likely to supply
about 7 riders.
DUCATI (C Domenicali): "... Like us, the Japanese company has been
present in MotoGP for not many seasons, but it has already proved that
it is capable of producing successful tyres, while simultaneously demonstrating
a notable capacity for development. For our part, we ended the 2004
season on an upward trend and we are convinced that the collaboration
with Bridgestone will represent a further step forward in our attempt
to gain a competitive advantage in a championship that is becoming increasingly
demanding and exciting ... I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude
to Michelin, and in particular Pierre Dupasquier and Nicolas Goubert,
for the support they have given us in many years of collaboration ...
Together with Michelin, we won 8 World Superbike Riders' titles and
made our debut in MotoGP last year, winning our first race and finishing
on the podium ten times. The relationship has been excellent both on
a technical and personal level. A big thanks also for allowing us to
start to work with our new partner from the next test onwards. This
is a truly sporting gesture that is much appreciated and it shows that
the rapport between our two companies continues to be excellent".
- WORLD
SUPERBIKE: MARTIN & McCOY JOINS FOGARTY (NOV 10)
Carl Fogarty's Foggy Racing have announced rider line-up for 2005. Long
time Ducati rider Steve Martin (AUS) and former MotoGP rider Garry McCoy
(AUS) will replace Troy Corser anbd Chris Walker.
FOGARTY: "... Garry is a very exciting rider, with a proven pedigree,
who I think will adapt well to our bike ... Steve is probably the most
underrated rider on the world scene. He wants to be noticed and now
it's up to him to make people sit up and take notice."
McCOY: "... I am really looking forward to it. It is still only
early days for the FP1 but, from the results the team has been achieving
lately, it's clear it has potential. I never set myself targets, I just
go out to win. But I am really hoping to do better than last year as
I now know a lot of the tracks that I didn't know in my first season,
which made it really tough. I am also really pleased to have Steve as
a team-mate and the chance to share information in trying to get the
bike up there challenging for podiums."
- US SUPERBIKES:
HODGSON TO MAKE DEBUT IN 2005 (NOV 9)
2003 world superbike champion Neil Hodgson will move from MotoGP to
US (AMA) Superbike championship in 2005. In his AMA debut, he will ride
Ducati 999 for US factory Ducati team alongside Eric Bostrom.
HODGSON: "... The AMA championship poses a great challenge both
to me personally and to Ducati as they haven't won it for many years
... The main thing that I have discovered this year (2004) is that I
cannot race just to make up the numbers. I need to win."
- WORLD
SUPERBIKE: CORSER & KAGAYAMA JOINS SUZUKI (NOV 7)
Yukio Kagayama will move up from British Superbikes to World Superbike
championship next year. He will ride for factory Suzuki team alongside
a former World superbike champion Troy Corser.
- MOTOGP:
BARROS DROPPED; HAYDEN STAYS WITH HONDA RACING (NOV 1)
Honda Racing has re-signed Nicky Hayden has been for another 2 years
while team-mate Alex Barros has lost his ride.
HONDA RACING (Satoru Horiike): "...He still has a lot to learn
and we propose to put everything in place to give him every chance of
success ... The past two years have been a good experience for Nicky
... He has learnt the tracks and learnt about MotoGP and we want to
teach him to win and to make a habit of it."
- MOTOGP:
CHECA JOINS DUCATI TO REPLACE BAYLISS (NOV 1)
Carlos Checa who was dropped by Yamaha will join Ducati next season.
He will partner Loris Capirossi instead of Troy Bayliss who finished
on the podium at season finale. Bayliss has been with Ducati for the
past 7 years and won the World Superbike championship in 2001 and the
British Superbike championship in 1999 for Ducati.
DUCATI (Claudio Domenicali): RE BAYLISS".. Troy is undoubtedly
one of the most important riders in the history of Ducati ... Together
we have enjoyed some great successes, so I'd like to say a big thank
you to him, from myself and everyone else at Ducati. Troy has ridden
Ducatis for the last seven years, the last five with the factory team,
so maybe it's time for both of us to try new challenges"; RE CHECA:
"... Carlos is a very fast and highly motivated rider, we're proud
to have him on our team, and we're sure that his experience will be
crucial in helping us to continue moving forward. He will ride the bike
for the first tomorrow so he will immediately be involved with the development
of the GP5. Finally I'd like to say thank you to Yamaha for allowing
Carlos to start working with us right away."
- SUPERCROSS:
CARMICHAEL RETURNS TO RACING (DEC 2)
After missing the 2004 season through injury, the 3 times AMA Supercross
champion Ricky Carmichael is back. He will ride Suzuki to contest the
world supercross championship starting in Canada.
CARMICHAEL: "... Since the Maxxis U.S. Open, I have really increased
my training and riding to ensure that I am in top shape for the THQ
World Supercross GP ... This is going to be one heck of a season, and
I am hungry to win my first THQ World Supercross GP championship"
- MOTOGP:
BAYLISS JOINS HONDA (NOV 23)
Former world and British Superbike champion Troy Bayliss will ride a
Honda RC211V next season. He was dropped by Ducati after 7 years but
will now ride alongside Alex Barros in the Pons Camel Honda team.
SITO PONS: "... With Alex and Troy leading the charge, I am confident
that the yellow Camel Honda bikes will be constantly battling for the
leading positions in every race. I would like to thank Honda, Camel,
Correos and the other team sponsors for their constant support and whilst
we clearly have a lot of hard work ahead of us this winter, I am confident
that this exciting new project will bring much success to everyone concerned"
- PARIS
DAKAR: ROMA
SWITCHES TO CARS (NOV 20)
2004 Paris Dakar winner (Motorcycle) Joan Roma has switched
to cars for the upcoming Dakar Rally. Instead of KTM motorcycle Roma
will be driving a factory Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD car. The Mitsubishi
team is aiming for a record 5th consecutive Paris Dakar win. Its drivers
include defending champion Peterhansel, Roma and the dual Paris Dakar
winner Hiroshi Masuoka. 2005 Paris Dakar starts on new years day from
Barcelona in Spain and finish 16 days later in Dakar, Senegal.
ROMA: ".... This is an incredibly exciting opportunity
for me to join Mitsubishi Motors for the Dakar ... I have witnessed
the successful transition that Stéphane and Andrea have made
from motorcycle riding to rallying on four wheels and hope that I can
repay the team with a good result."
- MOTOGP:
DUCATI JOINS BRIDGESTONE CAMP (NOV 16)
Factory Ducati team of Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa will be riding
on Bridgestone tyres next season. The switch from Michelin marks another
step in the rapidly improving Bridgestone. Makoto Tamada won 2 races
early this year on Bridgestone. Next year Bridgestone is likely to supply
about 7 riders.
DUCATI (C Domenicali): "... Like us, the Japanese company has been
present in MotoGP for not many seasons, but it has already proved that
it is capable of producing successful tyres, while simultaneously demonstrating
a notable capacity for development. For our part, we ended the 2004
season on an upward trend and we are convinced that the collaboration
with Bridgestone will represent a further step forward in our attempt
to gain a competitive advantage in a championship that is becoming increasingly
demanding and exciting ... I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude
to Michelin, and in particular Pierre Dupasquier and Nicolas Goubert,
for the support they have given us in many years of collaboration ...
Together with Michelin, we won 8 World Superbike Riders' titles and
made our debut in MotoGP last year, winning our first race and finishing
on the podium ten times. The relationship has been excellent both on
a technical and personal level. A big thanks also for allowing us to
start to work with our new partner from the next test onwards. This
is a truly sporting gesture that is much appreciated and it shows that
the rapport between our two companies continues to be excellent".
- WORLD SUPERBIKE:
MARTIN & McCOY JOINS FOGARTY (NOV 10)
Carl Fogarty's Foggy Racing have announced rider line-up for 2005. Long
time Ducati rider Steve Martin (AUS) and former MotoGP rider Garry McCoy
(AUS) will replace Troy Corser anbd Chris Walker.
FOGARTY: "... Garry is a very exciting rider, with a proven pedigree,
who I think will adapt well to our bike ... Steve is probably the most
underrated rider on the world scene. He wants to be noticed and now
it's up to him to make people sit up and take notice."
McCOY: "... I am really looking forward to it. It is still only
early days for the FP1 but, from the results the team has been achieving
lately, it's clear it has potential. I never set myself targets, I just
go out to win. But I am really hoping to do better than last year as
I now know a lot of the tracks that I didn't know in my first season,
which made it really tough. I am also really pleased to have Steve as
a team-mate and the chance to share information in trying to get the
bike up there challenging for podiums."
- US SUPERBIKES:
HODGSON TO MAKE DEBUT IN 2005 (NOV 9)
2003 world superbike champion Neil Hodgson will move from MotoGP to
US (AMA) Superbike championship in 2005. In his AMA debut, he will ride
Ducati 999 for US factory Ducati team alongside Eric Bostrom.
HODGSON: "... The AMA championship poses a great challenge both
to me personally and to Ducati as they haven't won it for many years
... The main thing that I have discovered this year (2004) is that I
cannot race just to make up the numbers. I need to win."
- WORLD SUPERBIKE:
CORSER & KAGAYAMA JOINS SUZUKI (NOV 7)
Yukio Kagayama will move up from British Superbikes to World Superbike
championship next year. He will ride for factory Suzuki team alongside
a former World superbike champion Troy Corser.
- MOTOGP:
BARROS DROPPED; HAYDEN STAYS WITH HONDA RACING (NOV 1)
Honda Racing has re-signed Nicky Hayden has been for another 2 years
while team-mate Alex Barros has lost his ride.
HONDA RACING (Satoru Horiike): "...He still has a lot to learn
and we propose to put everything in place to give him every chance of
success ... The past two years have been a good experience for Nicky
... He has learnt the tracks and learnt about MotoGP and we want to
teach him to win and to make a habit of it."
- MOTOGP:
CHECA JOINS DUCATI TO REPLACE BAYLISS (NOV 1)
Carlos Checa who was dropped by Yamaha will join Ducati next season.
He will partner Loris Capirossi instead of Troy Bayliss who finished
on the podium at season finale. Bayliss has been with Ducati for the
past 7 years and won the World Superbike championship in 2001 and the
British Superbike championship in 1999 for Ducati.
DUCATI (Claudio Domenicali): RE BAYLISS".. Troy is undoubtedly
one of the most important riders in the history of Ducati ... Together
we have enjoyed some great successes, so I'd like to say a big thank
you to him, from myself and everyone else at Ducati. Troy has ridden
Ducatis for the last seven years, the last five with the factory team,
so maybe it's time for both of us to try new challenges"; RE CHECA:
"... Carlos is a very fast and highly motivated rider, we're proud
to have him on our team, and we're sure that his experience will be
crucial in helping us to continue moving forward. He will ride the bike
for the first tomorrow so he will immediately be involved with the development
of the GP5. Finally I'd like to say thank you to Yamaha for allowing
Carlos to start working with us right away."
- WORLD SUPERBIKE:
CORSER LEAVES FOGARTY RACING (OCT 10)
33 year old Former Australian, US and World superbike champion (1996)
Troy Corser from Australia will leave Foggy Racing next season. In 2002
he joined the team formed by Carl Fogarty after riding for Ducati and
Aprilia. His best result for Foggy Racing has been a second place finish
and 2 poles.
CORSER: "... My time involved with the project has been fantastic.
Although it has been frustrating at times I cannot think of any other
project that has achieved so much in motorcycle racing in such a short
time ... I know that the bike will still improve but I want to ride
a proven bike next year, to give myself the best possible chance of
another shot at a world title at this stage of my career. I have done
three years with the project and I have got the bike to where I wanted
it to be - it's certainly good enough to achieve pole positions! But
now I am looking for a new challenge and my next challenge will be with
another team in World Superbikes"
FOGARTY: "... Troy has done a good job for us in our two years
of racing and it is a shame that we have to lose him ... He probably
still feels that he is as fast as anyone out there and feels that he
can still win the world championship on another bike. It is now up to
us to prove him wrong"
- PARIS-DAKAR:
RICHARD SAINCT DEAD (SEP 30)
34 year old French champion Richard Sainct has died during the Pharaohs
Rally. The KTM rider has won Paris-Dakar 3 times (2003, 2000, 1999)
KTM: "... KTM regrets to announce the death of three-time Paris-Dakar
winner Richard Sainct. Our thoughts are with Richard's family."
- MOTOGP:
GOES TO CHINA AND US IN 2005 (AUG 24)
2005 provisional calendar has been announced. A 17 round championship
includes 2 new GPs. Shanghai in China will host its first ever Motorcycle
GP race on May 1st. MotoGP will also return to US with GP at Laguna
Seca in California (July 10). 500cc GP was previously run there from
1988-1994. The new season will start on April 10th in Jerez and finish
on November 6th in Valencia.
DORNA (Carmelo Ezpeleta): "... Dorna has always been looking into
the possibility of coming back with MotoGP to the USA ... Now, thanks
to the great cooperation among all the parties concerned and to the
modifications being made at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, we are very happy
that we have found the ideal opportunity to do so. The United States
is an interesting market for MotoGP and certainly all the partners,
manufacturers and sponsors involved will be very positive about returning
there"
- BRITISH
MOTOCROSS: COPPINS IS 2004 CHAMPION (AUG 23)
PRESS RELEASE, HONDA: "Motueka born, Josh “Lizzard”
Coppins, has won his first British title today at the penultimate round
in Pontrilas, U.K. The CAS Honda hero blasted out another pole position
in the morning qualifying session and was once again the man to beat
on a track that would turn out to be rough and rutted due to an overnight
downpour. Coppins made a slight mistake on the first lap of race one
as both feet were torn of the foot-pegs by a deep rut. The Kiwi regained
his composure and fought back from fourth position to take the lead
a few laps later. Nobody could find the speed to catch the factory Honda
CRF450 rider and Lizzard cruised across the finish line with more than
twenty seconds over his nearest challenger. Heat two would prove to
be a title confirmation! Coppins grabbed the hole-shot, as he has done
so many times this season, and then continued to disappear into the
distance. Coppins’ closest challenger came in the form of Billy
MacKenzie however the youngster was sixteen seconds adrift as Coppins
took his fifth double win of the season and indeed the coveted British
Open MX title. “It’s great to be British champ,” grinned
Coppins “The team have been really brilliant and this makes it
their fifth consecutive British title – that must be some sort
of record! I’m happy I could play a part. I’m also pretty
pumped about wrapping up the title with one round to go. I can focus
on the GP’s even more now!”
- AUS SUPERBIKES:
TRIBUTE KIRK McCARTHY (AUG 15)
1995 Australian Superbike champion Kirk McCarthy
died in hospital after a racing accident in a Supersport Race in Queensland.
He was 35 years old.
- WORLD
MOTOCROSS: SMETS OUT WITH INJURY (JUN 4)
Former world champion Joel Smets will miss the rest of the MX1 season.
He decided to have knee reconstruction surgery after the British GP
(May 30).
SUZUKI (Jens Johansson, team manager): "... This is obviously a
blow but we knew it would be coming at some point ... After the accident
Joel realised that he had a 50-50 chance of being able to ride at the
top level and credit to him because he worked so hard to put himself
up there. It was going quite well for a while. He was building up more
confidence but I think his progression peaked at Valkenswaard. His training
was OK and his riding was good but he was taking a lot of fluid on the
knee after the races and this wasn’t great in the long-term. Surgery
was always around the corner and after last Sunday he was in quite a
lot of pain and suffering cramps. He spoke with his doctor and the decision
was made to go ahead with the operation. Personally I think it is a
wise decision. This way he will be ready for the winter and to start
working fresh for next year ... At the moment we have no plans to replace
Joel. If we do hire another rider then it wont be for the next 3 or
4 GPs at least and we have a new bike coming in the summer break.”
- WORLD
ENDURANCE: CHINA'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL FIM RACE (APR 27)
China will host its first ever International FIM sanctioned motorcycle
race this weekend. Zhuhai 6 hours in Guandong is Round 2 of world endurance
championship. There is a large Chinese following for the series because
of their Chinese Zongshen Team. It won the world endurance championship
in 2002 with Warrick
Nowland and Igor Jerman. This year Nowland has joined the world superbike
championship with the Zongshen team but will ride in Zhuhai 6 hour race
on Sunday.
NOWLAND: “For me, this race is very special. 4 years ago I joined
the Zongshen Team and no one had ever heard of the Zongshen name. It
has been a great experience to be a part of the team’s growth
and to return to the home of Zongshen and take part in this historic
event is something I am very proud of. I am looking forward to it. I
am always out to beat GMT Yamaha and of course my Le Mans winning team,
Suzuki France. It will be a great fight!”
- BRITISH
SUPERBIKE / NW 200: RUTTER CHASING HIS DAD'S RECORD AT NORTH WEST (APR
7)
Current British Superbike championship leader Michael Rutter will be
after his father's 9 wins at North West 200. Rutter has already won
8 races at the Northern Ireland event and just needs 1 more to equal
his father's achievement. This year Rutter will ride in both Superbike
and Supersport class with new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade and Honda CBR600RR.
RUTTER: "... I’ve been competing at the North West 200 for
nine years now and have always enjoyed it .... The event itself is always
fantastic and the fans are incredibly enthusiastic.... I’m especially
looking forward to it this year because the HM Plant Honda Racing Fireblade
should suit the circuit. The bike turns amazingly well and the new rotary
steering damper works brilliantly when you’re flat-out .... I’m
climbing the all-time winners rankings and I’m only one win away
from equalling my dad’s record. I suppose the family influence
has rubbed off on me "
- AMA US
SUPERCROSS: CARMICHAEL SWITCHES TO SUZUKI (APR 4)
From 2005, the greatest AMA Supercross rider Ricky Carmichael will ride
for Suzuki. The winner of 10 AMA titles is resting this season to recover
from injury.
SUZUKI (DeCoster): "... Ricky is such a talented rider with tremendous
work ethic which will be a great example for Team Suzuki’s young
riders. I realize it won’t be easy for him to come back and win
after being off due to injury, but I have confidence in Ricky and in
how much effort I know that he’s going to put into winning.”
- AMA US
SUPERBIKES: MLADIN'S RECORD WIN (APR 4)
4 times AMA (US) Superbike champion Mat Mladin set another record this
weekend. By winning Race 1 he equalled Miguel DuHamel's record for most
number of wins in AMA Superbikes. If Mladin wins Race 2 he will have
27 career wins - more than anyone else in AMA history.
MLADIN: "... When I'm old and trying to convince somebody that
I was a good motorbike rider one day, I can point to the book and say,
'Look at all those wins."
- MOTOGP:
ROSSI RECEIVES THE WORLD CHAMPION'S TROPHY (MAR 27)
4 times world champion Valentino Rossi received the inaugural
" RIDE THE WORLD" trophy during the official IRTA pre-season
test at Barcelona (March 27, 2004). The trophy designed by Lorenzo Quinn
will be awarded to world champion (MotoGP) each season.
ROSSI: "... I like the trophy and I hope to have
my name inscribed on it many more times ... It reminds me of the Indy
Car trophy and I think it's a good idea. Hopefully I will have a few
more of these replica models to fill my house before the end of my career"
- AMA SUPERCROSS
- STEWART WINS TITLE (MAR 14)
Factory Kawasaki rider James Stewart won the AMA 125 East Region with
2 rounds still to go. The 2003 125 West champion has won 5 from 5 and
is only the second rider ever to win both Regions.
STEWART (KAWASAKI): "...
This championship might be the sweetest one yet .. I’ve been very
consistent this year, something that hasn’t been the case throughout
my career. I’ve been fast before, but there’s always been
a crash here or there that has kept me from being this consistent"
- WORLD
SUPERSPORT - DUCATI RETURNS (FEB 24)
After 3 year's absence, factory Ducati team will contest this year's
world supersport championship with Ducati 749R. 22 year old Lorenzo
Lanzi from European Superstock will be the sole works rider. Ducati
Desmosedici test rider Vittoriano Guaresch will also race in selected
events.
DUCATI (Paolo Ciabatti): "... Lorenzo has great
potential ... Last year he did extremely well on the Ducati 999S Superstock,
and we should consider that it was his first time on a four-stroke machine.
We know that the Supersport championship has a very competitive field
of riders and bikes, but we are sure that our package is good and that
the results will come soon .."
DUCATI (Claudio Domenicali): "... We tried to
include into the production bike all the features that we thought it
would need directly for racing and most probably the 749R is the most
advanced twin-cylinder bike ever built in the company .."
- WORLD
SUPERBIKE - HAGA RETURNS (JAN 26)
Noriyuki Haga who left Superbikes at the end of 2000 season to join
MotoGP will return. He will ride for Ducati Renegade team alongside
Leon Haslam.
HAGA: "... I am really happy to be returning to
the Superbike World Championship and to be riding a Ducati for the first
time in 10 years .. I can promise that I have not lost my exciting style
and I intend to finally claim the World Superbike title."
- MOTOGP
- ROSSI'S FIRST RIDE WITH YAMAHA (JAN 24)
Since switching from Honda to Yamaha, world champion Valentino Rossi
rode his new bike for the first time at Sepang today. His time of 2m
3.8s was the best of the 4 Yamaha riders (including Melandri, Checa,
Abe). This compares with 2m 2.585s set by Max Biaggi on a Honda 2 days
ago.
ROSSI:
"... We have a lot of work to do, but the bike is not bad at this
early stage and after so much time off I need to get more distance covered
to improve things. But for a first day on a new bike things were okay.
We'll work our way through gradual changes to the chassis and engine
tomorrow (Jan 25).
- MOTOGP
- BARROS RE-JOINS HONDA (JAN 20)
Alex Barros will move back to Honda after just 1 season with Yamaha.
He will ride for factory Repsol Honda team taking Valentino Rossi's
old seat. Barros' team-mate is Nicky Hayden.
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