Rossi philosophical over Misano potential

Valentino Rossi says his loyal fanbase shouldn't get their hopes up too high ahead of the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano as he prepares for his much anticipated home event with Ducati.

The seven-time 500cc/MotoGP champion has endured a series of high profile struggles since joining forces with Ducati this season, not least at the most recent Indianapolis Grand Prix when a qualifying crash and race day gearbox problems consigned him to a distant tenth place.

Turning his attentions to this weekend's event at Misano, Rossi admits he would prefer to be making his first visit to his local circuit as a Ducati rider with a better run of form behind him.

With this in mind, Rossi has told fans to be prepared for results that 'won't be satisfying', even if he has vowed to do his utmost to go beyond the current lacklustre situation.

“We'll be racing in front of our home fans at Misano, and obviously we'd like to do better than we have at recent races. Indianapolis was very difficult, and we would have preferred to arrive here in better shape, but we're aware that much of our work is aimed toward the future. 

“For the moment, we must take into account the possibility that our results won't be satisfying, first for us but also for our fans. We're all working at our maximum, both at the track and in the company, and in the meantime, we'll try to do as well as the current situation allows.”

source: crash

Stoner eyeing four-in-a-row at Misano

Casey Stoner will continue in his quest to put the 2011 MotoGP World Championship further from the grasp of Jorge Lorenzo at Misano, the Australian bidding to make it four wins on the trot.

The Repsol Honda rider was in imperious form throughout the Indianapolis Grand Prix weekend as he romped to a third straight victory, while Lorenzo's distant fourth means the gap between them has swelled to 44 points with six grands prix remaining.

With no break between races, Stoner will look to pick up where he left off at Misano, a circuit where he has had mixed results in the past, including a win in 2007, but a retirement in 2008 and a fifth place for Ducati in 2010.

Nonetheless, while Stoner considers Lorenzo and his team-mate Dani Pedrosa to be a significant threat, he is confident he will leave the San Marino race with another strong result.

"I'm looking forward to going to San Marino and seeing how competitive we can be. In 2007 and 2008 we were fast there, then I missed 2009 and last year we struggled a little so we've had a mixed bag of results. It's a nice track, I like the two corners off the end of the back straight, they're a lot of fun and very fast. 

“I know Dani and Jorge will be very fast there, but I'm coming off the back of three wins and in a strong position in the Championship so we'll see what we can do and I'm confident we can get a good result.”

source: crash.net

Dovizioso on hunt for Lorenzo at Misano

Andrea Dovizioso is setting his sights firmly on securing a second podium on home soil at Misano as he continues his bid to close down Jorge Lorenzo in the overall standings.

The Italian slipped further behind Lorenzo with a fairly lacklustre run to fifth position at Indianapolis, but with just 25 points between the two heading to Misano, he feels he has plenty of time to make up lost ground and challenge for a runners-up spot.

For the moment, Dovizioso is confident he can shine at what will be his most local circuit of the season, the Repsol Honda man determined to add to his emotional Mugello rostrum finish.

“We arrive in Misano after a disappointing result in Indianapolis but we are determined to turn the page and return on the podium. The conditions in Indianapolis were very demanding but we managed to record our fastest time on the very last lap. This shows that we are fast and therefore we arrive in Misano stronger and with an extra motivation. 

“We are third in the Championship and this is the important point. We will continue fighting and we will give our best every race weekend, because we believe that second position in the World Championship is not impossible. 

“Last year in Misano I finished fourth behind Valentino. This year we want to take the next step and get the podium spot. I'm sure that with the experience gained this year, we can be strong at Misano. I don't live far from Misano and after the podium finish in Mugello I would love to have another good result in front of the Italian crowd.”

source: crash

Simoncelli heads to home race

The atmosphere of Simoncelli's home circuit, located just a few kilometres from his hometown, will provide “Super Sic” with all the motivation he requires to rediscover his podium form from the previous race at Brno. Dspite the difficulties encountered in the USA, they at least provided the team with plenty of data to refer to should they encounter similar problems in the future. The transatlantic trip brings Marco home to a circuit he doesn't particularly like, but where his family and friends will make up for that by providing plenty of support.

Hiroshi Aoyama will take to the circuit boosted by a good result at Indianapolis and in the knowledge that he can do even better in the closing stages of the championship.

Marco Simoncelli:

“Indianapolis was a tough weekend. I was excited after warm-up but it turned out that the improved performance of the tyre was down to the lower temperatures in warm-up. With the track back up to 50°C for the race it was a complete disaster. I had fun for five laps but that wasn't enough. It is a shame but at Misano I hope I can ride like I did for those five laps throughout the entire race. That is my hope, for me and especially for my fans. Misano has not been that good to me in the past but there is a first time for everything. It is not one of my favourite circuits but the motivation is there and I will give it my all. I live just a few kilometres away and the atmosphere will help me.”

Hiroshi Aoyama:

Hiroshi Aoyama “I wasn't completely satisfied with the result at Indianapolis. I was happy that I found a good feeling with the bike in the race and felt in good physical shape but a little annoyed with my start. I will be out to make up for that at Misano, a circuit which is tighter and more technical than Indianapolis. I am sure that we can build on my positive feeling from Indianapolis at Misano this weekend. I would really like to give the team a god result because they are based so close to the track.”

San Carlo Honda Gresini press release

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Baldassarri or Sissis

Italian Baldassarri has his eye on a home win, but knows that a victory is far from assured as Sissis, the 16 year old Australian, is still an extremely strong threat. The pair will also be under tremendous pressure from the likes of Florian Alt, who was on pole in Brno and won the German Championship round at the Red Bull Ring in Austria the following weekend.

18 year old Czech Tomas Vavrous is just as strong a contestant, having claimed both podiums at Brno as is Alan Techer, who has 2 wins from the last 3 races. It’s the last chance for everyone in the field and it will be every man for himself. Catch the final race of the year at Misano, on Saturday September 3rd at 16.30 CET.

The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup can be seen on TV stations around the world and by live webcast at www.redbull.tv with the shows beginning 10 minutes before the races.

Edwards and Crutchlow full of confidence

Edwards raced to a superb seventh place finish in front of his home crowd on Sunday to move into eighth place in the World Championship standings and further strengthenhis bid to finish top non-factory rider this year. Edwards has a good record at the 2.626 mile circuit, with three top 10 finishes in four attempts and is optimistic that he can continue in form in Sunday's race. Edwards will be seeking his eighth consecutive top 10 finish of the campaign at the San Marino circuit, which is hosting a MotoGP race for the fifth time having returned to the calendar in 2007.

Crutchlow's debut at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway proved to be a morale-boosting exercise, the British rider succeeding in his quest to end a disappointing string of results with a gutsy ride to 11th. The 25-year-old is now looking to build on the renewed confidence at a circuit where he has winning pedigree. Crutchlow was victorious in the 2009 World Supersport round at Misano and he was just one second away from claiming a stunning podium in the second World Superbike race last year.

This weekend's race on the Adriatic coast is the start of the final third of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, with the Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team looking forwar d to forthcoming flyaway trips to Japan, Australia and Malaysia before the season closes in Valencia in early November.

Colin Edwards:

"Misano was the first track I ever went to with the Yamaha World Superbike Team way back in 1995, so the circuit has always been a very special place to me with a lot of fond memories. I've spent a lot of time in that area around Riccione and the beach when I lived there with my family back in 2004, so Misano is always one of the races I'm most excited about going to. The fans are really passionate and they love MotoGP, so there is always a special buzz around the place. Last weekend in Indianapolis was a tough race, so to take seventh was still a positive result. You always want more but I know the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team is getting the maximum out of the package we have. It was obvious in Indianapolis th at we lack a bit of engine performance, but I still beat a lot of guys on factory equipment, so that proves what a good job we are doing. The goal this weekend will be the same as always and that's to qualify on the second row and finish in the top six. We nearly managed both in Indy, so I'm determined to make sure it will be mission accomplished in Misano."

Cal Crutchlow:

“After the positive result in Indianapolis I'm really looking forward to Misano now. The first objective in Indianapolis was to finish the race and learn more about the bike, and we accomplished that. That's given my confidence a lift and it wasn't only good for my morale but it was also good for the morale of the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team, who have supported me fantastically. Of course we want to be finishing higher, but I was happy with my pace in Indianapolis. I was lapping at the same pace that Dani Pedrosa did on his way to winning the race in 2010, but that shows just how fast the guys are going this year. It is a challenge but one that I am up for and the target this weekend will be to try and get back into the top 10. At least I don't have to worry about learning the track at Misano and that is a massive bonus before you even start. I just want to get another good result this weekend for all the hard work my crew have been putting in to make it work out for me. I'm sure we can build on last weekend's result and have another strong ride in Misano.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team press release

Repsol Honda head to Misano fresh from victory

Casey Stoner secured his seventh win of the season at Indianapolis with team mates Dani Pedosa and Andrea Dovizioso in 2nd and 5th respectively. Casey, also a winner at Misano in 2007 has qualified on pole twice but will be looking to improve on his 5th place finish last year.

Dani has enjoyed strong results at Misano in the past, progressively improving on each outing, finishing on the podium in the past two years and dominating in 2010 taking victory, pole position and the circuit lap record.

Andrea has narrowly missed out on a podium in San Marino in his past two outings there. He qualified 8th in both 2009 and 2010, and worked hard in the race to claim 4th position both years, he will be aiming for his first podium there this weekend in front of his home crowd.

Casey Stoner:

"I'm looking forward to going to San Marino and seeing how competitive we can be. In 2007 and 2008 we were fast there, then I missed 2009 and last year we struggled a little so we've had a mixed bag of results. It's a nice track, I like the two corners off the end of the back straight, they're a lot of fun and very fast. I know Dani and Jorge will be very fast there, but I'm coming off the back of three wins and in a strong position in the Championship so we'll see what we can do and I'm confident we can get a good result."

Dani Pedrosa:

"After the good race we had at Indy, we arrive at Misano in a very positive mood. The circuit is so different compared to Indy, but last year we had a very good race there and we will try to repeat this. We must be a little stronger on Saturday and prepare for the race the best we can. Misano is a track where you need good acceleration and hard braking, so this will be our priority to start working on with the bike setting. After the success in America, it's good to head directly to Misano. I hope we can continue working well with the team and take another step forward."

Andrea Dovizioso: 

“We arrive in Misano after a disappointing result in Indianapolis but we are determined to turn the page and return on the podium. The conditions in Indianapolis were very demanding but we managed to record our fastest time on the very last lap. This shows that we are fast and therefore we arrive in Misano stronger and with an extra motivation. We are third in the Championship and this is the important point. We will continue fighting and we will give our best every race weekend, because we believe that second position in the World Championship is not impossible. Last year in Misano I finished fourth behind Valentino. This year we want to take the next step and get the podium spot. I’m sure that with the experience gained this year, we can be strong at Misano. I don't live far from Misano and after the podium finish in Mugello I would love to have another good result in front of the Italian crowd."

Repsol Honda press release.