Moto2: Gino needs you! Rea loses funding and place on 2013 grid

Gino Rea in action at the 2012 Silverstone Grand Prix
Image via Flickr by JaredEarle used under creative commons license rules

Talented Brit Gino Rea has found himself without a ride for 2013 on the eve of the new season.

After reaching the podium last season in the wet at Sepang aboard the Fedaral Oil Gresini, Rea looked to be set to move to the new ESGP squad after testing with FTR, the British based team who were due to supply the chassis late last year.

According to Rea’s official Twitter account he needs to raise 150,000 euros to be able to ride, with no wage in that for himself, to plug the teams budget shortfall, while his personal sponsor Crimea pulled out their funding too when the situation started to look less than certain for 2013.

Rea told bikesportnews.com :

“Unfortunately the team failed to secure enough budget to complete the 2013 season and we lost our sponsor Crimea GP. It went downhill from there and now they’ve pulled the plug and I’m left with no ride.

“If I can find a sponsor or raise some funds we could continue but it’s getting very late. If I were to find a ride in World Supersport or World Superbike I would have to miss the first race because it starts so soon and the bikes are in the crates on the way to Australia. If anyone can help me you can email me at rearacing@sky.com.”

Rea also announced he was looking to start a sponsorship page to raise the necessary funds, a breakdown of which means that if just his Twitter followers alone were to contribute he would need just £7 from each of them.

Keep an eye on what Gino does next via Twitter here.

UPDATE: You can now help sponsor Gino Rea by visiting his sponsorship page here:

http://www.ginoreaclub.com/index.html

MotoGP: Rossi’s test Yamaha reveals itself – on Twitter!

In an age where technology is king and social media is often the quickest (if not always most reliable) source of breaking news, the test Yamaha M1 Valentino Rossi will be using revealed itself in a picture posted to it’s own Twitter account @YamahaYellow46 (seems the new M1 is so technologically advanced it can type and upload!).

Already gaining over 5,000 followers since the account opened on November 13th, the bike claims to be “Waiting for my love @ValeYellow46” while showing off the new Monster logo for 2013:

Waiting for Rossi…The Yamaha M1 is looking forwad to testing apparently!
Image by Yamaha M1 via Twitter

The wait for the M1 will be over when MotoGP’s three days of official testing start on Tuesday at Sepang, with the CRT bikes getting some extra testing before that to help with the massive task of setting up their new spec ECU for the coming season.

MotoGP/Moto2: Simon disagrees with Stoner’s Simoncelli comments

Simon and Simoncelli together in Austrailia
Image by MotoGP.com

Julian Simon takes issue with the content of Casey Stoner’s most recent interview on why he chose to exit MotoGP.

Italtrans Moto2 rider and former 125cc champion Julian Simon used a recent interview on Spanish radio to challenge Casey Stoner’s views on how he felt that Marco Simoncelli’s death in 2011 at the Sepang Grand Prix has been brushed aside in favour of aggressive racing.

In the Sunday Telegraph interview Stoner was very specific on the reasons why he had chosen to leave the MotoGP paddock, dismissing injuries and family commitments while citing fan treatment and how he “just fell out of love with the sport ”, however it was the comment that followed which upset Simon:

“We lost a rider a couple of years ago [Marco Simoncelli] and within a month it was like it never happened. They want to see biff and barge and they don’t realise our lives are on the line. “We became puppets in that world, and it had nothing to do with racing.”

Spanish website as.com reported that Simon told radio station Cadena Ser:

“The truth is that I don’t share Stoner’s view. I do not think people have forgotten a rider like Simoncelli … nor Kato and Tomizawa, and hopefully it will never happen again. I do not understand. Stoner has done so much for bikes, but bikes have also done a lot for himand I think eventually Stoner will ride a bike in the MotoGP World Championship. If not officially then sporadically. You’ll see “.

Despite Simoncelli reaching the MotoGP class in 2010 while Simon opted to move back to 125cc to take the title in 2009 the two rivals paths often crossed. They raced each other during the 2002-2005 125cc seasons and again in 250cc for the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. They also carried out promotional work together, most memorably on a trip to feed animals in Australia prior to the Phillip Island race in 2009.

For the full, more polished version of this story visit crash.net here: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187631/1/simon_disagrees_with_stoner.html where you can also comment or use social media to discuss with your friends or other like-minded people!

MotoGP pre-season test calendar for all classes

As we now enter the part of the year where excitement is building for the fast approaching new season of racing there is starting to be many thing to get excited about from promo events and videos to the unveiling of the new bikes and their 2013 paint jobs.

Now we just need to see those bikes in action, which means pre-season testing!

Here’s some dates to keep an eye out for to see how your favourite teams and riders are shaping up:

3-4th February  MotoGP CRT – Sepang

5-6th February MotoGP  – Sepang

12-14 February Moto2/Moto3 – Valencia

19-21 February Moto2/Moto3 – Jerez

26-28 February MotoGP – Sepang

12-14 March HRC MotoGP – Austin

18-21 March Moto2/Moto3 – Jerez

23-25 March MotoGP Jerez

Interesting points of note: CRT test first to allow time to work on new ECU specifications for the season, Honda elected to have a private test at the Circuit of the Americas ahead of the inaugural grand prix, weekend of 19-21 April.

The opening round of the 2013 season kicks of with the night race in Qatar, 5-7 April.

Moto3: Mack is back! Vinales rides for Blusens after apology

Blusens Avintia’s offer for Maverick Vinales to return to race with the Team in Australia was quickly taken up by the teenager who will be attempting to secure the runner-up spot in the Moto3 championship as the season draws to a close in Phillip Island and then Valencia, see more on those events here:

https://survivalofthefastest.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/moto3-maverick-vinales-quits-blusens-avintia/

Paco Sanchez, a rider adviser, has been brought in to mediate between the two parties and points out that Vinales should never have been allowed to walk away as this caused the biggest problem:

“A seventeen-year-old, who was ill-advised or misguided, who wants to be World Champion can make bad decisions. In Malaysia, with all the problems there were, on that day, mentally, for reasons I will not mention, it would not have been right to get on the bike. He could not get on the bike. The error was not that he didn’t get on the bike – the mistake was leaving.”

Personal opinion has been divided between youthful exuberance, naivety and attitude and a need for professionalism at any age, a point Vinales saw retrospectively when he chose to take the team up on their offer to return for the benefit of the sponsors, promoters and fans, while the youngster made an honest apology explaining his state of mind at the time stating that he didn’t think it wise to ride at all while so angry.

Not all the media were negative about his leaving with riders Aleix Espargaro and David Salom being supportive via Twitter, Espargaro spoke of the manager being the bigger issue, and went on to mention the many who had been in the same situation, but who were less rash in the circumstances.

“I had the same manager as mack(Vinales nickname), and I spend the same, so you … But it ended badly for me, Elias, Pablo Nieto, Pol, Simon … ALL! Anyway … ”

Salom had an interesting take posting on his @davidsalomds account:
“Not because there is so much hype with @maverickmack25, when teams throw the drivers (which are many) not such a fuss.”

His view that teams often leave riders out in the cold with little or no notice with no-one really raising an eyebrow came from a different perspective than most without agreeing or condoning the Spanish youngsters actions, while raising an interesting point.

BBC reporter Matt Roberts thought the Vinales incident was a good reason to contemplate a “official riders’ representative body” to look out for racers interests and stop massive breakdowns in communication going so far in the future.

Vinales made his original apology here to MotoGP.com:

“I made a mistake, because although I was not mentally prepared to ride the bike, I should not have left the Sepang circuit, or make such statements. And so, I apologize for the harm that has been accidentally caused, to all the fans, to the members of my Blusens Avintia team, to FTR, Honda, the championship promoters, and especially the sponsors of team (Blusens, Avintia, Repsol, Pacha and other partner companies) and personal sponsors (Alpinestars, Airoh, Wild Wolf, J. Costa etc.) that have both supported us, and without which I would not have achieved the successes to date.”

“I return with the aim to finish the season and regain second place in the overall standings, and for that, I will focus solely on sporting issues and work with my technicians to find the best set-up of the bike.”

“Finally, I want to express my strong desire to amicably resolve all the problems with the team, and to be able to concentrate on riding, which is what I really like.”

What next for Malaysian wild card Hafizh Syahrin?

What next for the future of Malaysian wild card Hafizh Syahrin ?

 

In a Moto2 race full of surprises and an unusual looking podium with not a Spaniard in sight, the wild card ride from Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin on his Petronas Raceline bike still deservedly caused a stir, and not just for the locals whipped up into a frenzy after Moto3 home racer Zulfahmi Khairuddin continued to push the boundaries with a new best of second while continuing to add to the best ever points tally by a Malaysian rider he is setting this season.

 

Syahrin impressed using his home track knowledge and skills currently being honed in the Spanish Moto2 Championship, where he is leading the privateer points standings and is sixth overall, with strong but safe overtaking moves in the treacherous conditions at Sepang.

 

Eventually finishing fourth at the red flag behind the podium men Alex DeAngelis, Ant West and Gino Rea the teenager was still in contention for a rostrum if the conditions hadn’t worsened after making his way to the front of the field from 27^th place on the grid.

 

He achieved this in only his second grand prix racing start, after riding a Moriwaki in the Malaysian Moto2 Grand Prix in 2011. It is the best position achieved so far by a wild card entry in the class.

 

As much as it would be interesting to see if his talents can extend beyond his home track this currently seems unlikely as the Petronas team have told website NST.com that the 18 year old is currently tied into a long term contract with them which they have no plans to change or be bought out of, although his performance has prompted them to consider further wild card rides in Moto2 next year and perhaps a full season in 2014, with the team moving into the World Championship with Syahrin.

 

Petronas Motorsports boss Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz stressed the intention not to let their rider slip away:

 

“He is not for sale. He is on a long term contract with us. We intend to see him develop with us and move him up gradually when he is ready to take the big step.”

 

Pertronas Raceline manager Barry Leong revealed the team had discussed doing more next season but are uncertain their rider is ready for the move into the World Championship and ruled out giving Syahrin a full season in Moto2 next year:

 

“We have time because Hafizh is young. So we’d like to see him develop and be ready before we move him up. For now the plan is another season in the Spanish Championship, with an eye on putting him into the World Championship in 2014.”

 

Syahrin himself added he wants to stay with his current team due to the opportunities they have afforded him:

 

“ I am committed to my current team and sponsors. If I move up I want to bring my team and sponsors with me, to do it together.”

 

Dubbed ‘the king of pocket bikes’ as a child after starting riding on the machines aged nine, Syahrin was discovered by Leong whilst dominating the scene before hitting his teenage years and has ridden under his guidance at the Petronas Raceline Malaysia team since he was fourteen, winning the novice Malaysian Cub Prix championship in 2009 and the CP130 class the following year. The team have also run the youngster in the Petronas Asia road racing championship in 2010/11and the Australian national championship.

Moto2 De Angelis,West and Rea make ‘crazy’ Sepang podium in red-flagged race-Marquez crashes out.

In torrential conditions the rain specialists- and those with local knowledge shone in the awful weather. In a race which was delayed and controlled by weather San Marino rider Alex De Angelis lead on the lap the race result was calculated from for forward Racing. Gino Rea was ‘frustrated’ as he had hit the front when the red flag came out, but was placed third and needed to move his bike from the number one spot in parc ferme! Although not fond of the tag ‘rain master’ Ant West lived up to his reluctant billing and looked strong in the wet pulling clean moves  and marching through the field to take second.

The championship battle will last to Australia at least as Marc Marquez slid out while in a position to take the title on his Catalunya Caixa Repsol Suter. Initially distraught, instead of returning to the team garage a champion he arrived dejected on a scooter, Espargaro meanwhile was doing enough to keep his hopes alive but would have liked more points than his final position afforded him.

Special mention to the amazing fourth place ride by one time leader and Malaysian wild card rider Hafizh Syahrin who was unlucky not to make the podium for Petronas.

For full details and some great discussion read my full race report over at crash.net, available here:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/race+report/185324/1/moto2_de_angelis_wins_red-flagged_race_marquez_crashes.html

Moto3: Cortese wins championship as Khairuddin makes history!

German Red Bull KTM Ajo rider secured KTM’s first championship- and his with a win, leaving it late at Sepang and pushing home rider Khairuddin into second in the Malaysian Moto2 race. He is still the most successful Malaysian rider ever,now with a best of second and the highest points tally. Cortese’s fellow German Jonas Folger finished third for Aspar, meaning KTM/Kalex KTM ruled the podium slots.

There was no Maverick Vinales after his shock departure from the Blusens Avintia team before practice began.

Luis Salom quickly dealt with his five place penalty from Motegi and finished fourth at the head of the chasing pack after a big battle with Oliveira, Rins and Kent.

For more news on the race or to comment further see my crash.net full race report available here:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/race+report/185322/1/moto3_cortese_champion_at_sepang_khairuddin_podium.html

Moto2 Espargaro dominates conditions Redding second in Sepang

Tuenti Movil HP 40 rider Pol Espargaro has taken pole position in the qualifying session at Sepang for the Moto2 World championship race from Malaysia. It is his sixth pole aboard the Kalex this season.

Changeable conditions at the circuit meant few went faster as the session progressed into the closing stages. Espargaro improved his own time at the top to 2m.06.962 on his final lap after leading for most of qualifying.

Scott Redding led the way early on for Marc VDS and starts from second on his Kalex 0.437 behind Espargaro. Championship leader Marc Marquez completes the front row in third on his Catalunya Caixa  Repsol sponsored Suter.

Brit Bradley Smith rode through the pain of two fractured toes to qualify on the second row in sixth. he didn’t start in Sepang in 2011 as he suffered a collarbone fracture.

For a full race report and to comment further head to my report at crash.net here:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/185285/1/moto2_espargaro_from_redding_in_sepang_qualifying.html

Moto3: Marc VDS expand project for Moto3 team in 2013

Belgian Motorsport team Marc VDS have announced an expansion of their current bike squad, remaining in Moto2 with retained riders Scott Redding and Mika Kallio but now after receiving confirmation in Sepang that they have been allocated a grid slot they will also race in Moto3, with Belgian youngster Livio Loi.

It is not the first time Marc VDS have considered expansion, with a mooted, expensive move into the MotoGP class having been speculated, and tested for over the past couple of seasons. Redding was at one point thought to be making the move up with the team before being linked to a move to the Ducati Junior team which disappeared after a test ride.

Loi joins the team for the 2013 Moto3 Championship, having had their application for a grid slot confirmed in Malaysia but will not race until Jerez as he does not turn 16 until his birthday on the 26th April, although he will be allowed to pre-test as with Eric Granado who was in the same situation this year.

The teenager, from Helchteren in the Flemish part of Belgium, impressed in the Red Bull Rookies Cup this year, taking a race win and two podium finishes in his debut season, in a series that has become a breeding ground for future Grand Prix stars.