Valentino Rossi starts the European MotoGP season still chasing his first win of the year, having finished second to Casey Stoner in Qatar and his own Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in Japan last weekend.
Now he is gunning for his sixth victory in the top class at Jerez on Sunday, he told the press why he is looking forward to racing at one of his favourite tracks again and why he has no qualms about taking the fight to Lorenzo if he has to. AUTOSPORT was there to hear what he had to say.
Q. For some people this is the ‘real’ start of the season, this is such a big grand prix for you isn’t it.
Valentino Rossi: I agree because …Â Details
The MotoGP circus has its first European port of call this weekend, at Jerez de la Frontera in Southern Spain. After the rain-interrupted first two races, springtime in Andalucia will hopefully bring calmer weather for the riders and the capacity crowd of passionate Spanish fans. The Fiat Yamaha Team is riding high after a one-two from Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi in Japan last weekend and the pair will be targeting more glory this week as they look to continue their stunning start to the season.
Rossi has a huge Spanish following and an impressive …Â Details
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Some folks follow MotoGP racing because of the personalities involved, others, and I have a hunch that would be many of you, are more interested in the tech side of things, it’s not who is riding what, it’s what are they riding. If you count yourself among the latter group, Kevin Cameron’s new book, The Grand Prix Motorcycle: The Official Technical History, is something you’ll want to read. Although the large format and glossy pages make you think it’s one of those coffee table books soon forgotten, in reality, this is a complete history of the top level of motorcycle racing from the FIM World Championships beginning in 1949 right up to the present day motorcycles in MotoGP… Details
It has the ability to reach speeds of 102mph, race around a 38 mile mountainous course and is powered by batteries which can be charged from a standard household socket. It’s Kingston University’s new, green motorbike. Designed by six final-year engineering students, the bike is set to make history by competing in the world’s first zero-emissions Grand Prix this summer. The Kingston team will join 24 eco-bikes from America, India, Italy, Germany and Austria on the start line at the 2009 Isle of Man TTXGP.
Work on the bike began last October, under the guidance of course director for motorsport and motorcycle engineering Paul Brandon. The motorbike, which has gone through many designs…Â Details