Friday, December 31, 2010

Tak Perhitungkan Rossi, Biaggi Jagokan Lorenzo

Headline
Jorge Lorenzo -
Milan - Entah lupa atau memang tidak menjagokan Valentino Rossi, juara dunia Superbike Max Biaggi hanya menyebut Jorge Lorenzo dan Casey Stoner sebagai kandidat juara MotoGP 2011.
Pembalap yang sempat tampil di MotoGP bersama tim Camel Pramac Pons ini menjagokan pembalap Fiat Yamaha Jorge Lorenzo sebagai kandidat terkuat. Dia juga memperhitungkan Casey Stoner, yang baru bergabung dengan Honda, sebagai pesaing terdekat.
Biaggi, yang mundur dari seri utama balap motor tersebut pada 2005 mengacungkan jempol untuk penampilan dominan Lorenzo saat menggenggam gelar juara musim ini dan yakin tak banyak yang berubah darinya musim depan.
Namun MotoGP musim ini juga masih akan diikuti nama-nama besar, termasuk Stoner, yang akan menjalani musim perdana bersam Honda setelah tampil cukup memukau bersama Ducati.
Sementara itu, mengenai seterunya saat masih berkutat di MotoGP maupun GP 500, Valentino Rossi, yang kini bergabung bersama Ducati, Biaggi sama sekali tak menyebut namanya.
“Lorenzo tampil cemerlang musim ini dan bekerja dengan sangat baik. Sangat bagus. Saya yakin dia akan menjadi kandidat terkuat tahun depan. Tetapi hati-hati juga terhadap Stoner,” ucapnya dikutip La Gazetta dello Sport.
Kedua pembalap asal Italia itu memang pernah menjadi musuh bebuyutan di MotoGP, namun catatan statistik menunjukkan Rossi lebih sering mengalahkan Biaggi di akhir musim. [nic]

Adu Cepat Adaptasi Migrasi di Moto GP 2011

Adu Cepat Adaptasi Migrasi di Moto GP 2011
Headline
Valentino Rossi - Foto:Istimewa
Oleh: Subchan Zurya Mawla
Olahraga - Rabu, 29 Desember 2010 | 18:30 WIB
INILAH.COM, Jakarta - Moto GP 2010 mendapuk Jorge Lorenzo sebagai juara dunia. Menjelang musim 2011, banyak perpindahan pembalap yang bisa mengubah peta kekuatan tim.
Musim ini Lorenzo tampil begitu kokoh dipuncak klasemen usai melalui perhelatan sengit dengan para pesaingnya, termasuk Valentino Rossi yang notabene rekan setimnya di Yamaha.
Peta kekuatan berubah setelah Rossi merampungkan proses kepindahannya ke tim Ducati pada akhir November. Predikat juara dunia serta hengkangnya The Doctor tak membuat Lorenzo berganti peran menjadi pembalap utama Yamaha.
Kecepatan Lorenzo saat menunggangi YZR-M1 tak perlu diragukan untuk sekadar menggantikan peran Rossi. Namun, yang menjadi tanda tanya adalah kesanggupan rider berusia 23 tahun tersebut saat membedah motor tunggangannya.
Satu fakta penting yang perlu dicermati adalah posisi vital Rossi di Yamaha. Rider asal Italia tersebut dikenal tidak hanya andal saat berada di atas sirkuit melainkan juga saat membedah YZR-M1.
Sekadar catatan, pada awal kepindahannya dari Honda pada musim 2004, Yamaha bukan merupakan bagian dari sejumlah tim besar yang favorit juara. Namun pandangan itu langsung berubah pasca kedatangan Rossi.
Keberadaan rider yang gemar menggunakan nomor 46 di lambung motornya itu disebut-sebut sebagai otak di balik kecepatan yang dimiliki YZR-M1. Bersama Jeremy Burgess, chief engineer sekaligus mekanik andal yang selalu menyertai Rossi kemanapun pembalap asal Italia itu melangkah, The Doctor terus membedah setiap kelemahan motornya untuk kemudian diperbaiki oleh tim mekanik Yamaha.
Kini, sepeninggal Rossi, kubu Yamaha memiliki pekerjaan rumah dalam hal pengembangan motor. Kelebihan YZR-M1 saat berada di tikungan cepat jelas diketahui Rossi oleh karena itu tim asal Jepang tersebut perlu meng-update mesin dan teknologi mereka.
Sementara itu, bagi Ducati kehadiran Rossi menjadi berkah karena tim asal Italia tersebut tidak hanya mendapatkan jasa sang pembalap namun juga sejumlah tokoh penting di balik sukses Yamaha.
Sebut saja mekanis Jeremy Burgess, mantan manajer Rossi di Yamaha Davide Brivio, dan sepuluh nama lain eks Yamaha yang ikut hengkang mengikuti Rossi.
Keberadaan Rossi dan Burgess di tim Ducati langsung terasa ketika keduanya membeberkan hasil tes prototipe Desmosedici yang dinilai memiliki kekurangan saat melakukan tikungan. Meski begitu Burgess mengakui dari segi akselerasi dan kecepatan Ducati lebih baik dari para seterunya.
Bagaimana dengan Casey Stoner? Kubu Honda seperti melakukan reuni dengan eks pembalapnya itu sehingga tidak butuh waktu lama bagi Stoner mempelajari karakter motor RC212V.
RC212V dikenal memiliki ketangguhan akselerasinya yang ringan sehingga mempermudah penggunanya saat bakusalip. Meski begitu kubu Honda masih perlu mengembangkan kecepatan karena berdasarkan pengalaman musim lalu, RC212V kerap kesulitan saat beradu kecepatan di lintasan lurus.
Meski fokus perhatian musim depan masih berkutat pada Lorenzo, Rossi, dan Stoner, patut disimak pula kiprah Rookie of the Year Ben Spies. Sukses bersama tim satelit Yamaha Tech 3 menjadi tiket baginya untuk melangkah ke tim besar. Berkat pencapaian tersebut tim Yamaha resmi menunjuk pemuda Amerika Serikat kelahiran 26 tahun lalu itu sebagai suksesor Valentino Rossi di tim Fiat-Yamaha.
Gayamembalap yang agresif serta performa impresif yang kerap diperagakan oleh rider asal Amerika Serikat itu saat berada di atas lintasan menjadi dasar dari keputusan yang diambil oleh tim asal Jepang tersebut saat mencari pendamping Jorge Lorenzo. [nic]

DOMINASI ROSSI BERAKHIR

Stoner: Dominasi Rossi Berakhir!
Headline
Valencia - Casey Stoner menganggap persaingan di MotoGP saat ini tak lagi begitu sengit karena tak lagi didominasi oleh Valentino Rossi.
Ketika Rossi hengkang dari Honda dan bergabung dengan Yamaha pada akhir musim 2003, pembalap asal Italia itu langsung mampu tampil secara konsisten dan berhasil menjadi juara dunia di musim perdananya dengan menggunakan mesin YZR-M1 tahun 2004.
Namun, Stoner, yang memutuskan hengkang dari Ducati dan memutuskan bergabung bersama Honda pada musim 2011, pesimis Rossi akan dapat mengulang kembali sejarah tersebut, terkait penampilan kurang konsistennya bersama Ducati akhir-akhir ini.
"Saya tidak percaya dia akan menang sebanyak saat menunggangi Yamaha,” tuturnya pada MCN.
"Tingkat persaingat di Moto GP akan lebih seru karena tak melulu didominasi oleh Rossi.”
"Kita harus menunggu dan melihat apa yang mampu dilakukannya bersama tunggangan barunya itu. Namun, sama seperti saya, ia bakal mendapat tantangan baru musim depan.”
Stoner baru-baru ini tampil mengesankan pada debutnya dengan menggunakan mesin Honda RC212V dengan menjadi yang tercepat di sesi tes di Valencia. Sedangkan, Rossi hanya mampu finis di urutan 15 dengan menggunakan Ducati.

CASEY STONER THE MAN TO BEAT 2011

Jorge Lorenzo: Casey Stoner jadi Man to Beat

 Barcelona: Jorge Lorenzo akan tampil di MotoGP 2011 dengan status sebagai juara bertahan. Namun, bukan pembalab asal Spanyol  itu yang akan menjadi buruan para rival. Casey Stoner, jagoan baru Repsol Honda, akan menjadi man to beat di ajang balap motor paling bergengsi tersebut.

Stoner memang merupakan pembelap baru di Honda. Namun itu tidak membuatnya mengalami masalah adaptasi. Dalam uji coba di Valencia November 2010 lalu, dia menjadi yang tercepat pada harai terakhir. Dia mampu mengalahkan Lorenzo yang tercepat di hari perdana.

Livio Suppo sebagai manager Honda Repsol menjadi salah satu alasan kenapa Stoner begitu hebat. Suppo lah yang menjadi figure penting keberhasilan Stoner saat menjadi juara dunia pada tahun 2007.
sebagai juara bertahan
Lorenzo yang memprediksi Stoner jadi man to beat  pada Moto GP musim 2011. Dia tidak lagi melihat mantan rekan setimnya di Yamaha, Valentino Rossi, yang musim depan membela Ducati sebagai lawan utama. Casey dan Honda jadiancaman yang lebih besar. Pabrikan Jepang selangkah didepan jika dibandingkan dengan Ducati.

Lebih lanjut Lorenzo menilai, Stoner punya potensi yang lebih baik daripada rivalnya yang lain. Stoner punya banyak cara untuk kembali mengangkat prestasinya. Pedrosa tidak memilki kelebihan lain disbanding Stoner. Sedangkan Rossi sangat baik, sangat sulit mencari kelemahan dia. Buat saya pribadi, yang menjadi kendala Rossi adalah factor usia. Dia selalu menjadi yang terdepan selama bertahun tahun. Hanya , dia.tidak bisa dengan mudah selalu berada diatas pembalap lain saat ini.
Stoner punya cara membalap yang impresif, tapi tak konsisten. Dia terlalu sering jatuh. Tapi, jika dia bisa lebih tenang dan focus, akan sulit untuk mengalahkannya. Lorenzo      

Thursday, December 23, 2010


REPSOL HONDA
 Mania MotoGP - Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) had confirmed Casey Stoner will join their team for the upcoming 2011 season. But until now HRC has not yet announced the team which will be placed Stoner. At the announcement, vice president of HRC, Shuhei Nakamoto expressed a desire to maintain their current rider, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso. Like what the line up of Honda in MotoGP next 2011? Really Pedrosa, Stoner and Dovizioso will be combined into one team?
       There are two possible scenarios to be run Honda. First, combining Stoner and Pedrosa in the Repsol Hondateam while Dovizioso "deposited" on one of its satellite team. Second, uniting all three in one team but with adifferent sponsor.
      The first scenario included are often run by the manufacturer of the wing logo. Daijiro Kato (deceased) andMax Biaggi never experienced it. They shelter under the flag of the satellite team but got full support as the main team rider

      Place most likely to "entrust" Dovizioso is the Honda Gresini team. The problem, Fausto Gresini team care has been a Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli. In addition, the team had a sponsor Castrol Gresini which in fact is the competitor's Repsol, the main sponsor of the manufacturer teams. Based on experience, Sete Gibernau had experienced barriers to receive support from the manufacturer because of this.
The second scenario is more often heard will run Honda. Rumored, Honda will establish a team with three riders and two different sponsors. Pedrosa and Stoner sponsored by Repsol while Dovizioso sponsored by Red Bull. Despite different primary sponsors of the paddock but they reportedly will be one.

     Excluding the two scenarios above, was also circulated rumors Dovizioso and team Yamaha Tech3perform assessments of cooperation. But it seems this is only used Dovi to raise the "sale price". As withPedrosa, Dovi is a true Honda rider who has been with Honda since competing in the 125cc class. In addition, the Honda rider from satellite team reportedly set to adopt the motor based on data development byDovizioso, Pedrosa instead .
 
Honda’s factory team looks set to dominate the constructors title in 2011 with their line-up of 3 extremely talented riders.



 27. Casey Stoner (AUS)




 






























Casey hasn’t had a great time the last two seasons, with his illness in 2009, and his crashes in the 2010 season. A move away from the unpredictable Ducati to the super-smooth Honda was perhaps inevitable. Frankly, Stoner on a Honda is a frightening proposition and I cannot see him coming away with anything less than 1st place in the 2011 championship. This is borne out by his test times in Valencia, which really are stunning considering the fact he is getting used to a completely different bike.


Valencia test position & time: 1st @ 1m 32.066s
My prediction for 2011: 1st



26. Dani Pedrosa (SPA)



















Dani had a good season in 2010 finishing 2nd in the championship, and had it not been for injury causing him to miss some of the end of the season, the gap between him and Lorenzo might not have been so large. Dani is the king of the race starts and he knows the Honda well, so you wouldn’t bet against him in 2011. I can’t see him being quicker than Stoner though.
 Valencia test position & time: 5th @ 1m 32.497s
My prediction for 2011: 3rd


4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA)














Dovi had a mixed 2010 season and seemed to be a little lacking in consistency, and he will be looking to improve on his 5th place in 2011. I don’t think he’ll manage it.
 Valencia test position & time: 9th @ 1m 32.942s
My prediction for 2011: 6th

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Competition season 2011 seems to become more fierce due tothe migration of The Doctor to the Ducati team. The move iscertainly going to heat up the scent of his rivalry with riders fromSpain, Jorge Lorenzo. Do not forget also the drivers - other drivers are ready to act like Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa orAndrea Dovizioso. Intrigued by their actions in the circuit, then do not miss the races scheduled so as not to miss their exciting action


DUCATI MARLBORO


















Everyone will be watching Ducati with great interest following their signing of Valentino Rossi for 2011, and with a new bike, it should be interesting. Rossi and Hayden both got to test “big bang” and “screamer” versions of the thumping V4, and it’ll probably be the “big bang” engine that makes the cut. Not the first time Rossi and Hayden have been team mates either.


46. Valentino Rossi (ITA)



















Arguably the greatest motorcycle racer ever and a worth world champion in 2009, but thanks to a broken leg only managed 3rd in the 2010 season. Still, even if he hadn’t had the accident, he wouldn’t have beaten Lorenzo, and at times he didn’t look much like the Rossi of old. Hopefully his planned shoulder surgery in the off-season will go well and he will be back to his best next year. Personally, I think he might find it difficult to compete with Ducati and that he should seriously look at moving to Formula 1 before that opportunity disappears. Still, you’d never bet against him…


















Valencia test position & time: 15th @ 1m 33.793s
My prediction for 2011: 5th



69. Nicky Hayden (USA)


Nicky managed a 7th in 2010 and I reckon he’ll be there or thereabouts again this year. His being more familiar with the Ducati resulted in better test times in Valencia, which give a better indication of how the Ducati will perform next year.

Valencia test position & time: 6th @ 1m 32.583s
My prediction for 2011: 8th

Monday, December 20, 2010



TEAM FIAT YAMAHA
The factory Yamaha team looks set to shine again in 2011, with a strong rider line-up and apparently a revised engine.


99. Jorge Lorenzo (SPAIN)


















The current world champion will take some beating - Jorge has gone from strength to strength this season. Not only does he have talent in spade loads and a brilliant bike to ride, he has consistency, and that’s what wins championships.













Valencia test position & time: 2nd @ 1m 32.179s
My prediction for 2011: 2nd





11. Ben Spies (USA)







































The 2009 World Superbike Champion (in his rookie year no less) had a good first season in MotoGP with the Tech 3 Yamaha team, finishing a respectable 6th. Now Ben has the faster factory M1 to ride, and it is highly likely that he will be pushing Lorenzo all the way in 2011. His 3rd place in the Valencia test bodes very well indeed.
















Valencia test position & time: 3rd @ 1m 32.322s
My prediction for 2011: 4th
RIZLA SUZUKI

 
 How sad that Suzuki will only be running one bike in 2011. At least it will be an improved bike, if Alvaro’s test times are anything to go by.

19. Alvaro Bautista (SPA)


Alvaro finished 13th in 2010, and I reckon with a better bike under him a bit more experience he should be doing better in 2011.


Valencia test position & time: 7th @ 1m 32.738s
My prediction for 2011: 9th
SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI
 


The satellite Honda team has an excellent talent in Simoncelli, and clearly a bike that is not far off the performance of the factory machine.

58. Marco Simoncelli (ITA)


One of the real rising stars of MotoGP, surely Marco will have a factory ride before much longer. His performances towards the end of 2010 were stunning, and his test times at Valencia show there’s more of the same to come. Simoncelli could be the real surprise package of 2011.

Valencia test position & time: 4th @ 1m 32.450s
My prediction for 2011: 7th



7. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN)
 
Hiroshi had a reasonable season in 2010 finishing 15th, and he’ll be hoping for better in 2011, particularly since Marco is ably demonstrating the capabilities of the bike. I can’t see him doing much better though.



Valencia test position & time: 10th @ 1m 33.105s
My prediction for 2011: 14th
MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3



Ben Spies showed in 2010 what the satellite Yamaha bike is capable of, but it’s clearly no match for the factory machines, and with a relatively weak rider line-up, I can’t see 2011 being a great season for Tech 3.


5. Colin Edwards (USA)


Colin is getting on a bit now and it seems unlikely that he will have anything new to offer in 2011. Still a great rider, and may pull the odd surprise finish, but a mid-table finish is probably the best he can hope for.

 Valencia test position & time: 12th @ 1m 33.325s
My prediction for 2011:  12th



35. Cal Crutchlow (GBR)
 
Cal is a new face in the MotoGP paddock having recently stepped up from World Superbikes. He’ll probably have found his feet by the middle of the season and finish more strongly, and I reckon he may even finish ahead of his team mate Colin.

 Valencia test position & time: 13th @ 1m 33.483s
My prediction for 2011: 11th
Pramac Racing Team

 Pramac have an all-new line-up for 2011, and hopefully they’ve worked some better reliability into their Ducati powered bikes.


14. Randy De Puniet (FRA)


Randy is one of my favourite riders with his flamboyant style. Often though, this costs him, like at Silverstone in 2010 where he wore his tyres out power sliding through the corners and saw his excellent position evaporate. It will be interesting to see him riding the Pramac Ducati, and assuming the reliability is there, I think he’ll have a reasonable season.

 Valencia test position & time: 8th @ 1m 32.836s
My prediction for 2011: 10th



65. Loris Capirossi (ITA)

 The elder statesman of MotoGP moves to Pramac from Suzuki and probably won’t see much improvement over his 2010 performance. Still able to cut it with the youngsters despite being in his forties. Respect!

 Valencia test position & time: 14th @ 1m 33.740s
My prediction for 2011: 15th



Paginas Amarillas Aspar

The satellite Ducati team fared reasonably well in 2010, but stiff competition up the top will make it harder to make an impression in 2011.

40. Hector Barbera
Hector still has time to improve in MotoGP, but I can’t see him doing much better in 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 11th @ 1m 33.168s
My prediction for 2011: 13th


LCR Honda
Randy made the satellite Honda bike look better than it probably is, and I can’t see Toni Elias managing to do the same. LCR will probably need to get used to being closer to the rear in 2011.

24. Toni Elias (SPA)
Toni comes back into MotoGP after a season out in Moto2, where he took the Championship. The big bikes are in a different league though and I think Toni may struggle in 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 17th @ 1m 34.800s
My prediction for 2011: 16th



Cardion AB Motoracing
I know less than nothing about this team and their rider, so I’m predicting a last place finish. The team is moving up from Moto2 and will be fielding a Ducati. Who knows what to expect?

17. Karel Abraham (CZE)
Karel placed 10th in Moto2 last season, so I can’t image he’s going to jump up to the big league and show the rest of them how it’s done. His test times in Valencia weren’t bad though, so this could be another surprise package for 2011.
Valencia test position & time: 16th @ 1m 33.793s
My prediction for 2011: 17th



The Casualties
 Mika Kallio: will be racing in Moto2 for Marc VDS Racing Team in 2011
Aleix Espargaro: will be racing in Moto2 for Pons Kalex in 2011
Marco Melandri: will be replacing Cal Crutchlow in the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike team for 2011, ending 8 years in MotoGP, where he managed an excellent 2nd place in 2005. Will no doubt be in the running for the World Superbike title in 2011.
Interwetten Honda Team: will be focusing on Moto2 for 2011, but plan to return to MotoGP in 2012.

The Support Riders
Alex de Angelis: replaced Hiroshi Aoyama for three races in 2010. Will continue in Moto2.
Roger Lee Hayden: replaced Randy de Puniet for Laguna Seca. Rumours are that Roger will be in Moto2 next year.
Kousuke Akiyoshi: replaced Hiroshi Aoyama for two races in 2010. No confirmed ride for the Japanese test rider next year.
Carlos Checa: replaced Mika Kallio for two races in 2010 and finished 3rd in World Superbikes. Will continue in World Superbikes in 2011.
Wataru Yoshikawa: replaced Valentino Rossi for one race in 2010. No confirmed ride for the Japanese test rider next year.