Racing:

Crashing in the desert is disastrous

This iconic picture shows how risky racing in the desert actually is. After this specific crash, Tommy Ivo and his fellow riders can only sit and wait (a lot) for help with their race bikes thrown all over the place.

"Hello, my name is Jorge Lorenzo, I’m 13, and I want to be World Champion."

The words that we used for the title belong to Jorge Lorenzo and are probably the most touching from this entirely excellent video, which is actually made by combining two different interviews taken to Jorge Lorenzo and his father during two different periods of the MotoGP rider’s life. In the first, the skilled youngster talks about his ambition to become a World MotoGP Champion, while the second presents him as a successful MotoGP rider, but still with the ultimate goal on his mind, the same one as nine years ago.

Life is all about following your dreams and Jorge Lorenzo has clearly learned that from a very young age, but it’s always nice to return in Mallorca, Spain and get back on the old big wheel off-road kid’s bike and have some pictures taken with the kids training there. See the video after the break.

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2009 MotoGP Race Report from Misano

After crashing out at Indianapolis, Valentino Rossi won his second consecutive victory on the Misano track in San Marino. This win positions the World MotoGP Champion 30 points ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, who had to satisfy with second place at the end of the Misano race. Third place was occupied by Dani Pedrosa.
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2Evil dragster – scooter tuning at the highest level

French scooter tuning house MXS Custom has created this incredibly fast 172cc, two-stroke scooter called the 2Evil dragster. Obviously, the thing is built for drag racing and it is quite good at what it is meant to do. For instance, it covers 150m of scooter drag strip in less than six seconds. Hit the jump to see the 2Evil dragster humiliating the competition.
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2009 MotoGP Race Report: Jorge Lorenzo hits the spot in Indianapolis

Having recently renewed his contract with Fiat Yamaha Team, rider Jorge Lorenzo celebrated by making his way on the highest position of the podium at Indianapolis. Alex de Angelis was the second to pass the finish line and Nicky Hayden seemed very happy with third place.

Lorenzo’s teammate, Valentino Rossi, isn’t that satisfied of his performance at the 2009 US MotoGP as he crashed and couldn’t continue the race. Still, the Italian rider is overall 25 points ahead of Jorge Lorenzo.

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Jorge Lorenzo renews his contract with Yamaha

During these last few weeks, MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo has been oscillating between Fiat Yamaha (his current team) and Ducati Marlboro for the 2010 season. While Ducati’s multi-million dollar offer did sound tempting, Lorenzo has decided to renew his contract with Yamaha and will continue being Valentino Rossis’s skilled teammate. It seems that riding the best bike for the job is more important for a racing rider than any financial offer.

‘Today is a good day because I have decided to remain with the Yamaha factory team in 2010. It was a very important decision and that’s why I have had to take the last few weeks to make it, but I think that this is the best decision for me in this moment,’ said Lorenzo.

‘We have no doubt that he has the ability and drive to become MotoGP world champion and we are proud that he has decided to remain with Yamaha, despite having received some very serious approaches from some of our competitors. This timely decision now allows us to focus on the present championship and to make definitive plans for our 2010 MotoGP program,’ said Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing.

Honda marks 50 years of racing with new web page

Honda has been a name associated with motorcycle racing for 50 years now and the Japanese manufacturer celebrates by creating a new web page. This reveals an impressive collection of previously unseen pictures and videos, but also free downloadable ringtones.

The new web page takes us through the most important steps in Honda racing history from the very beginnings and to this day, while showing barely released pictures along with the videos and MP3 ringtones. For a quick incursion into the past go to http://www.world.honda.com/MotoGP/history/

Ducati 1098S Martini Racing picture update

Last month we had a post regarding the creation of the Ducati 1098S Martini Racing and we’re now on it again to update the picture gallery and information about the bike.

Weighing only 163kg dry and disposing of 175 horsepower, the Martini Ducati 1098S dues its impressive power-to-weight ratio to racing cams and pistons, titanium con-rods, lightweight crank, magnesium alloy wheels, WSBK-spec gearbox, ¼ turn quick-throttle, Ohlins suspension components, Termignoni exhaust with carbon mufflers and to the multitude of carbon fiber bodywork components.

Although the 1098S was replaced by the 1198S, this Martini Racing replica keeps the previous generation model interesting and attractive for the public.

The pictures are courtesy of mc24 and autoblog.

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Alvaro Baustista’s joy loops bikes (w/video)

250cc Grand Prix racer Alvaro Baustista won third place last weekend at Brno after announcing a 2-year contract with MotoGP factory team Rizla Suzuki. These are more than enough reasons for a young racer to perform a wheelie during the celebration lap, but Baustista was most likely too enthusiastic for a maneuver that requires so much attention. See the result after the jump.
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So long to MotoGP burnouts !

MotoGP rules are changing and starting to affect the post-race show. Because that often included burnouts and that is in contradiction with the new long-life engine rule, we’re disappointed to announce that smoky celebrations will probably no longer be seen. Valentino Rossi is already conforming.

Also, there will be no ride back together to the pits for crashed motorcycle and rider because dirt can be drawn into the engine and that sure doesn’t lengthen its life. In fact, Nicky Hayden says that “You’ll see people getting a scooter ride back rather than bringing the bike home,”

We know that wheelies aren’t that engine-friendly either and can’t even imagine where the new ruling will bring the MotoGP show.