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ROUND SIX 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY JUNE 17
CRUTCHLOW HEADS NINE RIDER BRITISH CHARGE AT SILVERSTONE

Cal Crutchlow returns home to head the nine rider British charge at the Hertz British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. The Isle of Man-based Midlander has made a sensational start to his second season in the MotoGP World Championship™ and chases his first podium finish at the sixth round of the Championship round the 3.666 mile Northamptonshire circuit.

The Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha rider is currently fifth in the 18 round Championship just four points behind his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso and five in front of nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi. Last year Crutchlow missed his first British Grand Prix after crashing and breaking his collarbone in qualifying but returns bursting with confidence despite a high speed crash while testing in Barcelona last week.

Cumbrian James Ellison makes a welcome return to the British Grand Prix riding the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine in the MotoGP CRT category. Ellison, despite some major chattering problems with the bike, is still the highest placed CRT race finisher thanks to his 11th place at Le Mans and finished just out of the points in 16th place in Barcelona.

Former British 125 cc Grand Prix winner Scott Redding and last year’s Silverstone runner-up Bradley Smith lead the highly competitive Moto2™ challenge. Gloucestershire teenager Redding is the still the youngest ever grand prix winner after his success at Donington in 2008. The Marc VDS rider has already been on the podium this season but it’s been a tough year for three times grand prix winner Smith. Riding the Tech 3 Mistral machine it’s been a real battle against the Suter and Kalex framed machines and the 21 year old Oxfordshire rider hopes to be nearer the podium in the 18 lap race on Sunday. Londoner Gino Rea seeks a change of fortune on his British Moto2 debut. Riding the Federal Oils Gresini Suter machine he’s been knocked off in the last two races, on the second bend of the last race in Barcelona.

The two Danny’s, Kent and Webb head the Moto3™ challenge. They both look forward to their home race after tough starts to their campaigns in the new class. Wiltshire teenager Kent looked superb in pre-season testing has only finished two races on the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine while it’s been tough for Webb’s Indian Mahindra team taking on the likes of KTM and Honda in the exciting new class.

Two British Wild card entries bring the British interest up to an encouraging nine riders. Seventeen year old Scotsman John McPhee has already impressed on the Racing Steps Foundation KRP Honda. It’s the Oban teenager’s sixth wild card entry and he’s previously scored 125 cc World Championship points at Silverstone and Valencia. He’s currently competing in the very competitive CEV Spanish Moto3 Championship and two weeks ago finished 19th in the Aperol Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

His team-mate Fraser Rogers makes his World Championship debut in front of the home fans. The 16 year old Wiltshire rider is also competing in the Spanish Moto3 Championship.

Cal Crutchlow:
“The test at Aragon last Wednesday was really important for me because I was unable to make a proper judgment on the new parts after the early crash in Catalunya. To be honest I’m happy to have completed the test and put a lot of laps in because after the big crash I am not in the best physical condition. My ribs are hurting and if I cough it is really painful, so leaving here with a positive test gives me good confidence to take to my home race in Silverstone. They have done a great job altering the circuit for us and it’s a great track. The variery is fantastic with fast and slow corners, long straights and different braking areas. I can’t wait to race there again.”

BRITISH FACT FILE

CAL CRUTCHLOW
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP Team
Born 29/10/1985, Coventry
Titles: 2006 British Supersport Champion, 2009 World Supersport Champion,
2011 MotoGP Rookie of the Year
Position 2012: Fifth MotoGP World Championship
Twitter: @Calcrutchlow
Team Contact: press@tech3racing.fr

JAMES ELLISON
Paul Bird Motorsport ART MotoGP team
Born 19/9/1980 Lancaster, Cumbria
Titles: 2000/2001 European Superstock Champion, 2003 World Endurance Champion
Position 2012: 16th MotoGP World Championship
Twitter: @racing ellison
Team Contact: sue@cartersport.com

BRADLEY SMITH
Tech 3 Racing Moto2 Team
Born 28/11/1990 Oxford
Grand Prix wins: Three 125 cc Spain, Italy 2009 and Valencia 2010
2009 Runner-up 125 cc World Championship, nine Pole positions
Position 2011: Seventh Moto2 World Championship
Position 2012: Tenth Moto2 World Championship
Twitter: @BradleySmith38
Team contact: press@tech3racing.fr

SCOTT REDDING
Marc VDS Moto2 Team
Born 04/01/1993 in Quedgeley, Gloucestershire
Grand Prix wins: One 125 cc Great Britain 2008. Still youngest rider to win a grand prix
2011 Position: 15th Moto2 World Championship
2012 Position: Fifth Moto2 World Championship
Twitter: @Reddingpower
Team contact: press@Marcvds-group.com

GINO REA
Gresini Racing Moto2 Moriwaki
Born 19/9/1989 in Tooting, London
Titles: 2009 Euro Superstock 600
2012 Position: 25th Moto2 World Championship
Twitter: @GinoRea
Team Contact: aldo.gandolfo@gresiniracing.com

DANNY KENT
Red Bull KTM AJO Moto3 team
Born 25/11/1993 in Chippenham, Wiltshire
2011 Position: 11th 125 cc World Championship
2012 Position: 15th Moto3 World Championship
Twitter: @DannyKent52
Team Contact: aki@ajo.fi

DANNY WEBB
Mahindra Racing Moto3 team
Born 22/03/1991 in Kent
2011 Position: 19th 125 cc World Champion and pole position in Valencia.
Twitter: @Danny Webb99
Team contact: Rupert.williamson@jardine-international.com

STONER SEEKS SILVERSTONE REPEAT BUT NOT THE RAIN
He might not want the same amount of rain but World Champion Casey Stoner needs a repeat of last year’s result in the Hertz British Grand Prix at Silverstone on Sunday. The Australian Repsol Honda rider trails the in form Jorge Lorenzo by 20 points after five rounds of the 18 round MotoGP™ World Championship and requires a repeat of last year’s stunning victory in the pouring rain to close the gap.

Lorenzo won at Silverstone two years ago and the Yamaha rider loves the fast flowing corners at the 3.666 miles Northamptonshire circuit. The 2010 World Champion has won three grands prix this season including the last two with Stoner victorious in Jerez and Estoril.

There should be plenty of challengers to the leading duo especially if the rain returns. Stoner’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa was second in the previous round in Barcelona and needs his first win of the season to keep the two leaders in sight. His former team-mate Andrea Dovizioso is getting to grips with the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha and took his first podium of the year in Barcelona. The Italian finished second last year and is involved in a tremendous battle for fourth place in the Championship with his team-mate Cal Crutchlow who missed the race last year with a broken collarbone. Don’t rule out Lorenzo’s team-mate Ben Spies who’s had a tough start to the season but finished third at Silverstone a couple of years ago.

Four weeks ago nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi finished second on the Ducati in the pouring rain at Le Mans. If the conditions were similar in the 20 lap race on Sunday the Italian could be right up there again to the delight of his legion of British fans. His team-mate Nicky Hayden has finished fourth for the last two years.

German Stefan Bradl returns to the track where he dominated the Moto2 race last year. The Moto2 World Champion had made an impressive start to his MotoGP career on the LCR Honda and is eighth in the Championship two points behind Alvaro Bautista who is getting to grips with the San Carlo Gresini Honda. Karel Abraham picked up his first points of the season in Barcelona but may be forced to miss the race on Sunday because of two damaged fingers.

Aleix Espargaro still leads the CRT charge but will face a big challenge from his Power Electronics Aspar ART team-mate Randy De Puniet, James Ellison and Italian Michele Pirro who was third in the Moto2 race last year. American Colin Edwards finished third last year just eight days after breaking his collarbone and returns on the NGM Mobile Forward Racing Suter BMW.

Controversy still reigns in the highly competitive Moto2 World Championship after the Barcelona collision between the two Spanish rivals Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro. Race Direction initially added a one minute penalty to Marquez’s third place which kept him out of the points. His Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol team protested which was upheld and he was re-instated. Espargaro’s Pons 40 HP Tuenti appealed against that decision. Their appeal is currently being heard so watch this space.

Oblivious to all the drama is Swiss rider Tom Luthi who took the lead in the Championship after finishing second in Barcelona behind Italian Andrea Iannone who currently shares third place in the Championship with the luckless Espargaro. It promises to be a similar weekend at Silverstone.

The Moto3™ World Championship makes its British debut with seven points separating the two leaders. German Sandro Cortese had ridden a very savy campaign on the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine to hold the advantage over 17 year old Spaniard Maverick Vinales who started the race on pole last year. The Blusens Avintia FTR Honda rider has won in Qatar and Barcelona this year but the race has at least half a dozen likely winners. The British public also gets the first chance to see the latest crop of young talent that will be making the MotoGP headlines in the next ten years. Sixteen year old Italian Romano Fenati makes his Silverstone debut after winning in Jerez and is joined by countryman Niccolo Antonelli and Spanish Champion Alex Rins.

HERTZ BRITISH GRAND PRIX TIT BITS
No British rider has ever won the premier class race (MotoGP) at the British Grand Prix. Steve Parrish and John Williams came the closest when they crashed separately while leading on the last lap at the first ever British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1977. Their Suzuki team-mate Pat Hennen won the race.

The last British rider to win a premier class grand prix was Barry Sheene – the 1981 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp. The last British rider to finish on the premier class podium was Jeremy McWilliams who was third in the 2000 British Grand Prix at Donington Park.

The Annual Riders For Health Day of Champions Auction takes place on Thursday afternoon. Already passes, sets of leathers and helmets have been donated by the leading riders and teams.

Rise Again is the new single from The Rainband and is released in tribute to MotoGP legend Marco Simoncelli on 17 June with profits going to the charitable foundation named in his memory.The Rainband were approached by the newly formed Marco Simoncelli Foundation and agreed to write a song to help raise funds to build disabled care homes across the world, a cause close to the racing hero’s heart. The Rainband will play live at Silverstone over the weekend.
“Road To London for Sic,” a journey dedicated to the legendary Marco Simoncelli and organised by members of the Vespa Club di Morciano di Romagna . The ride will go from Romagna to England with 14 vintage Vespas –carrying a replica helmet donated by Paolo Simoncelli to the Riders For Health auction. Proceeds will go to the Marco Simoncelli Foundation.
SILVERSTONE FACTS AND FIGURES
Silverstone circuit staged the first ever British Motorcycle Grand Prix in 1977. Previously the British round of the World Championship was held at the TT races in the Isle of Man. In 1987 the grand prix switched to Donington Park but returned to Silverstone in 2010.
Circuit Length: 5.902 kms
Width: 17 m
Pole Position: Right
Longest Straight: 880m
Left Corners: Eight
Right Corners: Ten
Pole Position Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
2’02.020 (2011)
Lap Record:
Jorge Lorenzo/Yamaha
2’03.526 (2010)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT

Saturday 16 June
1250 – 1605 BBC Red Button – Live Qualifying Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP
1930 British Eurosport 2 Qualifying
Sunday 17 June
1105 – 1230 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 Live Moto2 race
1230 – 1430 BBC 2/BBC HD Live MotoGP race
1430 BBC Red Button and British Eurosport 2 Live Moto3 race
And MotoGP Action

CONTACTS
Nick will be available at the circuit from Thursday lunchtime until Sunday night. Please note Nick will not be available to answer the phone during qualifying or the races.

Monday 28 May 2012
Aperol Grand Prix of Catalunya
ROUND FIVE 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY JUNE 3
REDDING CHASES REPEAT PODIUM FINISHES

Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding believes his third place Moto2™ finish in the previous round has set him up for more podium finishes starting this Sunday at the Aperol Grand Prix of Catalunya in Barcelona.

The Marc VDS rider’s first podium finish of the season in the rain at Le Mans consolidated his fifth place in the very competitive Moto2 World Championship and sets him up for the 23 lap race round the 2.937 Circuit De Catalunya on Sunday.

Oxfordshire-based Bradley Smith is eighth in the Championship despite problems setting-up his Tech 3 machine to match the Suter and Kalex framed bikes. Hopefully some much needed testing may help his situation and he returns to the track where he finished second in the 125 cc race two years ago.

Londoner Gino Rea is a rider who has switched to a Suter frame on his Federal Oil Gresini machine. He was desperately unlucky at Le Mans where, after making a lightening start, he crashed after a collision with Frenchman Johann Zarco.

Isle of Man based Midlander Cal Crutchlow was another faller in the MotoGP™ race at Le Mans but he remounted to finish eighth to hang onto fourth place in the Championship. It’s been a superb start for the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha rider in just his second MotoGP season. The former World Supersport Champion is getting closer and closer to his first podium finish. Last year he finished seventh on his Barcelona debut.

Cumbrian James Ellison gave himself and his Paul Bird Motorsport team an enormous boost after finishing 11th at Le Mans. He was the leading CRT machine and looks forward to the 25 lap race on Sunday after a difficult start to the season.

The Moto3™ race at Le Mans was a disaster for British riders Danny Kent and Danny Webb who both crashed out in the rain. Wiltshire teenager Kent slipped to 12th in the Championship while Kent-based Webb has not opened his account. It’s tough for his Indian Mahindra team taking on the established factory teams but they did score their first points of the season at Le Mans, Webb’s team-mate Marcel Schrotter was 12th.

Seventeen year old Scotsman John McPhee makes a wild card entry in the Moto3™ race riding the KRP machine for the Racing Steps Foundation. He’s already secured two podium finishes in the Spanish-based CEV Buckler Moto3 Championship this season.

Scott Redding:
“I was really happy in Le Mans because it felt like a long time since I was on the podium and it was great result for me and the Marc VDS Team. We have been threatening to get a result like this all season and it felt great because last year was a bit of a disaster and we made a big gamble to change the chassis to Kalex. Right from the start of testing it made a big difference to my confidence. Apart from the result, the positive is that I felt confident in the rain. I had a great feeling with the bike and to be on the podium in the rain is a special feeling. Now we can move forward starting in Barcelona with a lot of confidence that I’m competitive in both wet and dry.”

THE LORENZO/STONER DUEL CONTINUES IN BARCELONA

The fight between World Champions Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner continues at the fifth round of the MotoGP™ World Championship at the Aperol Grand Prix of Catalunya in Barcelona on Sunday. Both riders have won two of the opening four rounds of the 18 round title chase with Spaniard Lorenzo leading the Championship by eight points after finishing second in the races he did not win while Stoner was third in both his non victory grands prix.

It promises to be another close 25 lap encounter round the 2.937 miles Circuit de Catalunya between two riders who have tasted Barcelona success. Lorenzo from Mallorca treats Barcelona as his home race and brought Yamaha success two years ago while Stoner has won on both Ducati and Honda machinery.

There is every chance it will not be a two horse race with Stoner’s Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa a previous winner at his home track. If it rains as it did in Le Mans a couple of weeks ago, nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi could be in with a shout after finishing second on the Ducati in France. He has won six premier class grands prix in Barcelona and arrives after two days of much needed testing for Ducati at Mugello.

The Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha duo of Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso have made a great start to the season. Both have nibbled at the podium and are separated by just one point in their battle for fourth. Last year Crutchlow was seventh on his Catalunyan debut while Dovizioso won the 250 cc race six years ago.

The Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl has made an equally impressive start to his MotoGP career and is seventh riding the LCR Honda. He won the Moto2 race last year and is joined on the grid by Barcelona winners Randy De Puniet, Hector Barbara, Alvaro Bautista and Matteo Pasini.

Local rider Aleix Espargaro leads the CRT challenge riding the Power Electronics Aspar machine. Last year he took his first ever grand prix podium finish after finishing third in the Moto2 race. He can expect a big challenge on Sunday from his team-mate De Puniet, Pasini and hopefully Colin Edwards who is expected to return after breaking his left collarbone in Estoril.

It’s a big weekend for Yamaha factory rider Ben Spies who’s had a tough start to the season. Last year he finished on the podium in third place and a repeat on Sunday would be a massive boost to his confidence as he fights back from 11th place.

Pol Espargaro, younger brother of Aleix, arrives home with a one point lead in the Moto2 World Championship after the fun and games in the Le Mans rain. There is a tremendous battle already developing for the Championship with Espargaro leading Marc Marquez, who crashed in France, by a single point. Le Mans winner Tom Luthi is just a further two points adrift while just two points separate Andrea Iannone and Scott Redding in their fight for fourth. As usual in Moto2 there are five previous Barcelona winners on the starting grid.

There were 20 crashes in the rain hit Moto3™ race at Le Mans. One of them was German Sandro Cortese who remounted to finish sixth and open up a 12 point lead in the Championship over Maverick Vinales who crashed out as did Luis Salom and Romano Fenati who are third and fourth respectively in the title chase. Frenchman Louis Rossi won the race to move up to seventh place.

The Moto3 riders in particular will be looking for some sunshine over the weekend at the circuit situated in the northern outskirts of the magnificent Mediterranean City.

CATALUNYA FACTS AND FIGURES
Circuit Length: 4.727 km
Width: 12m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 1047m
Left Corners: Five
Right Corners: Eight
Pole Position Record:
Casey Stoner Ducati 1m 41.186 (08)
Lap Record:
Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m 42.358 (08)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT

Saturday 2 June
1200 – 1500 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 –
Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2,

Sunday 3 June
09450 – 1225 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2
Live Moto3 and Moto2 race
1230 – 1400 BBC 2/BBC HD
Live MotoGP race
14.00 British Eurosport
MotoGP Action
CONTACTS
Nick will be available at the circuit from Thursday lunchtime until Sunday night. Please note Nick will not be available to answer the phone during qualifying or the races.
A time schedule for the event is attached.

Redding is hoping more podiums will follow

Gino Rea looking forward to building on Le Mans form

ROUND FOUR 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY MAY 20
CRUTCHLOW CONTINUES PODIUM QUEST – SMITH CELEBRATES 100TH GRAND PRIX
Team-mates Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith arrive at the fourth round the MotoGP™ World Championship on Sunday the Monster Energy Grand Prix of France with very different experiences at the legendary Le Mans Bugatti circuit.
Isle of Man–based Midlander, Crutchlow makes just his second MotoGP appearance at the 2.60 miles circuit after a superb start to his second season in the Championship. Twenty one year old Oxfordshire rider Smith celebrates his 100th grand prix appearance in the Moto2 race at the track where he secured his first ever grand prix podium five years ago.
Riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, Crutchlow has pushed the factory bikes in the opening three rounds of the Championship after starting from the front row of the grid on two occasions. He is fourth in the Championship behind World Champions Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa and is two points in front of his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso. Two fourth places and a fifth represents an amazing start to the season.
Cumbrian James Ellison has found it much tougher on his return to MotoGP riding the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine. The team issued a statement last week scotching rumours that he may be replaced and there will be no better way in paying back their support than by scoring his first points of the season on Sunday.
It’s also been a tough start for the three British riders in the ultra-competitive Moto2™ World Championship. Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding is fifth in the Championship riding the Marc VDS Kalex machine. He’s started from the front row and led races but needs that podium finish to really kick start his season. Smith struggled to stay with the leaders on the Tech 3 machine but his consistency puts him just ten points behind Redding in ninth place. He is hoping for some new parts for his bike to push him nearer the leading group.
Gino Rea’s Federal Oil Gresini team makes a frame change at Le Mans. They switch from the Moriwaki frame that brought them the World title with Toni Elias two years ago to Suter that has tasted success this season with Marc Marquez.
Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent bounced back to a hard earned eighth place in the Estoril Moto3™ race following his crash the previous week in Jerez. Kent-based Danny Webb’s tale of woe continued in Estoril where he was forced out of the race with mechanical problems. He needs a change of fortune to score his and Mahindra’s first points of the season on Sunday.
Cal Crutchlow:
“I was pretty happy with fifth place in Estoril but I would like to have been a bit closer to the top three like I was in Jerez. It was a good race with Andrea and we have carried on the momentum from the first two races and now we can look forward to Le Mans. That’s a massive weekend for Monster and Tech 3 Yamaha, so I’ll be determined to be back fighting for the podium again.”
MAKING A POINT AT LE MANS
Just a single point separates World Champions Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo as they prepare for battle at the fourth round of the MotoGP World Championship, the Monster Energy Grand Prix of France at the legendary Le Mans circuit on Sunday.
Australian Stoner, riding the Repsol Honda, leads the way after winning the last two grands prix . The current World Champion won at the 2.60 miles Bugatti circuit that forms part of the 24 hour car racing circuit last year. Lorenzo riding the factory Yamaha won the previous two years and so the battle between the two top motorcycle riders in the World looks set to continue in the 28 lap race on Sunday.
Their respective team-mates could play a major part. Dani Pedrosa who is third in the Championship, 14 points behind team-mate Stoner, has both 125 and 250 cc victories. Ben Spies has endured a tough start to the year and will be looking to get back on track at Le Mans where he finished sixth last year.
The main threat to those Championship contenders could come from the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha duo of Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso racing at their team’s home race. Crutchlow has made a sensational start to his second MotoGP season and lies fourth in the Championship while Dovizioso is just two points behind him and finished second at Le Mans last year.
Former 125 cc World Champion Alvaro Bautista has made a solid start to his career at San Carlo Gresini Honda. He’s sixth in the Championship just two points in front of the impressive MotoGP debutant, current Moto2 World Champion, Stefan Bradl on the LCR Honda.
There was a glimmer of light for the beleaguered Ducati factory team in Portugal with nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi finishing seventh. The three times Le Mans winner is ninth in the Championship one point behind his team-mate the 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden. Ducati’s woes returned after the Estoril race when the vital MotoGP test on Monday was cancelled because of heavy rain.
The battle for CRT honours continues between the Power Electronics Aspar duo of Spaniard Aleix Espargaro and Frenchman Randy De Puniet. It’s a massive home race for De Puniet who is three points behind his team-mate.
Australian Chris Vermeulen makes a welcome return to MotoGP to replace the injured Colin Edwards on the NGM Mobile Forward Racing BMW. The American broke his left collarbone in a qualifying crash in Estoril and Vermeulen makes his return after injury problems to the track where he secured his only grand prix victory in 2007.
Both the Moto2 and Moto3 races provided fantastic finishes in Estoril and the fourth rounds on Sunday should carry on the tradition. The last lap duel in the Moto2 battle between the two Spanish rivals Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro was breath taking and they are separated by nine points in their Championship fight. Marquez has won two races this year and Espargaro the other. Both have won at Le Mans with Marquez securing his first Moto2 win last year. However, this will not be a two horse race and former Le Mans winners Toni Elias, Tom Luthi, Yuki Takahashi, Julian Simon and Mike Di Meglio are bound to have a say in the proceedings.
It was equally as fierce in the Moto3 battle between Sandro Cortese and Maverick Vinales in Portugal. German rider Cortese came out on top to take the lead in the Championship by two points. But once again it will not just be between these two with Luis Salom and Italian teenager Romano Fenati to name but a few who will make the sparks fly.

LE MANS FACTS AND FIGURES
The first French Grand Prix was staged in 1951 at the Albi circuit. Seven more circuits have hosted the grand prix with the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans staging the event for the 13th successive year on Sunday. The Bugatti circuit includes the start and finishing line for the legendary Le Mans 24 hour car race.
Circuit Length: 4.185 kms
Width: 13 m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 674m
Left Corners: Four
Right Corners: Nine

Pole Position Record:
Dani Pedrosa/Honda
1.32.647 (2008)

Lap Record:
Dani Pedrosa/Honda
1’33.617 (2011)

TELEVISION TIMES BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT2
Saturday 19 May
1250 – 1605 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 – Live Qualifying Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP

Sunday 20 May
0950 – 1205 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 – Live Moto3 and Moto2 race
1230 – 1400 BBC 2/BBC HD Live MotoGP race
15.15 British Eurosport MotoGP Action

CONTACTS
Nick will be available at the circuit from Thursday lunchtime until Sunday night. Please note Nick will not be available to answer the phone during qualifying or the races.
A time schedule for the event is attached.
Media Office phone number (in the Media Centre): +33 2 43 40 38 71
Cal Crutchlow looking for a podium at his team’s home race

Scott Redding on board the Marc VDS Kalex

Tuesday 1 May 2012
ROUND THREE 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – SUNDAY MAY 6

Just seven days after his stunning ride in Jerez Cal Crutchlow once again takes on the best in the World at the Grand Prix of Portugal at the Estoril circuit on Sunday.

The Isle of Man based Midlander has finished fourth in the opening two rounds of the 18 round MotoGP™ World Championship and last Sunday at the bwin Spanish Grand Prix was under two and a half seconds behind race winner, World Champion Casey Stoner. He also set the fastest lap of the race in just his second Jerez appearance.

To put his performances in perspective Crutchlow is the first British rider to secure a fastest lap in a premier class grand prix race since the late Barry Sheene in the 1984 South African Grand Prix. He is also the first British rider since Ron Haslam in 1984 to secure three consecutive fourth places.

The Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider makes just his second appearance at the short 2.599 miles Estoril circuit where he finished eighth on his debut last year. He is pushing hard for the first British MotoGP podium finish for 12 long years in the 27 lap race that has often been affected by the weather because of the track’s location close to the Atlantic coastline.

It has been a tough start to the year for Cumbrian James Ellison and he was very unlucky not to score his first points of the season at Jerez. He was sidelined with an oil pressure problem a couple of laps from the finish when in a points scoring position. However after fitting the new compound Bridgestone tyre for the race the chattering problem on his PBM Art machine was considerably lessoned and he arrives in Portugal with confidence the problem has been solved.

Another rider looking forward to Estoril is Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding. The Marc VDS rider is fourth in the Moto2™ Championship after a hard fought fourth in Jerez. He led but slowed when the rain started to fall causing the race to be halted prematurely. He is just four points behind third placed Tom Luthi and fancies at least a podium finish on Sunday.

Bradley Smith’s start to the season has not been easy but he still lies ninth in the Championship. Following a qualifying crash from the Tech 3 machine he started from the sixth row of the grid in Jerez and fought through to 11th when the race was stopped. The Oxfordshire – based rider has finished twice on the 125 cc Estoril podium.

Gino Rea will be looking to build on his first point scoring ride in Jerez. In just his second grand prix he was 15th riding the Federal Oil Moriwaki Gresini machine.

A battered and bruised Danny Kent arrives in Estoril. The Wiltshire teenager slid into a fallen bike when he crashed on the first lap at Jerez but he will be fit to ride. Danny Webb looked set for a top ten finish in Spain but was sidelined with a mechanical problem when he was racing through the field on the Indian Mahindra machine.

Cal Crutchlow:
“I was fourth in Qatar but at Jerez I could actually see the winner and there is no reason why I can’t be up there battling for the podium from now on. There will still be some races where I won’t be that close to the podium but now I know we can be there. I gave it everything I had to pass Dani Pedrosa but there was nothing I could do. He was phenomenal round Jerez, so I’m happy to have challenged him so closely. But he was the better rider on Sunday and it was really hard to stay with him. I set the fastest lap of the race though, so that proves the progress I’ve made since last season.”

THE BATTLE CONTINUES IN ESTORIL

Just nine points separate the three leading riders as they race into the third round of the MotoGP™ World Championship, the Grand Prix of Portugal in Estoril on Sunday. The opening two rounds of the 18 round Championship has provided two breath taking encounters between Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa and the 28 lap battle round the 2.599 miles Estoril circuit should be more of the same.

Lorenzo riding the Yamaha leads the way after winning in Qatar and finishing second behind World Champion Casey Stoner’s Repsol Honda in Jerez last Sunday. Pedrosa won the Estoril race last year and is just a further five points adrift after second and third places. It’s a fight that could go all the way to the wire at Valencia in November. Lorenzo has won three times at Estoril and finished second last year behind Pedrosa. Stoner has not won a MotoGP race but was victorious in the 2005 250 cc race.

Waiting in the wings and ready to pounce to claim his first ever MotoGP podium is the impressive Cal Crutchlow who has finished fourth in the opening two rounds riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha. His team-mate Andrea Dovizioso has been fifth on both occasions while just three points behind him is Spaniard Alvaro Bautista who’s made a solid start to his career at San Carlo Gresini Honda.

Stefan Bradl has won the Moto2 race in Estoril for the last two years and has made an impressive MotoGP debut on the LCR Honda. The German is eighth in the Championship one point behind former World Champion Nicky Hayden riding the Ducati.

Two riders looking for a change of fortune at the Estoril circuit, which is situated five miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean near the capital City of Lisbon, are factory riders Valentino Rossi and Ben Spies. Nine times World Champion Rossi who is struggling on the much changed Ducati has won five times in Estoril. Spies riding the factory Yamaha is down in 11th place after two 11th place finishes.

The two favourites for CRT honours Colin Edwards and Randy De Puniet both failed to score in Jerez and it’s Spaniard Aleix Espargaro who leads the way riding the Power Electronics Aspar ART after finishing 12th in Spain.

His younger brother Pol won the shortened Moto2™ race in Jerez after a typically fierce battle with Championship leader Marc Marquez. That is certain to continue on Sunday with Qatar winner Marquez leading the Championship by just four points. Throw into the mix former Estoril winners Toni Elias, Simone Corsi, Nico Terol, Hector Faubel, Mika Kallio plus the likes of Tom Luthi, Scott Redding and Andrea Iannone and the sparks are certain to fly.

All the talk in Jerez was about 16 year old Italian Romano Fenati who won the Moto3™ race in just his second grand prix appearance. It was a staggering performance by the Italian teenager on the slippery track to win by 36 seconds while others fell by the wayside. He leads the Championship by ten points after finishing second in Qatar. His rivals headed by Spanish teenager Maverick Vinales know that Fenati backed by the Italian Federation is a serious contender for the first Moto3 World title. Vinales and the likes of Sandro Cortese, Luis Salom and local rider Miguel Oliveira will be out to give him a hard time on Sunday.

British MotoGP™ stars Cal Crutchlow and James Ellison start the vital final test of the season at Jerez in Spain tomorrow (Friday) in preparation for the opening grand prix of the 2012 season in Qatar.
Crutchlow, the Isle of Man-based Midlander, was the MotoGP™ Rookie of the season last year and has been very impressive in the two pre-season tests at Sepang in Malaysia this year. Riding the 1000 cc Monster Tech 3 Yamaha the 26 year old was fifth fastest in the second Malaysia test and faces the three day test at the Jerez circuit with renewed confidence before embarking on his second MotoGP season at the first grand prix under the floodlights at the Losail International circuit in Qatar on April 8.
Cumbrian-based James Ellison makes a welcome return to the MotoGP™ World Championship riding the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine. It’s a crucial three days for Ellison as the team prepare for their first MotoGP season after bad weather hampered their testing. It will be the first time that Ellison comes up against the factory bikes of the likes of Stoner, Lorenzo and Rossi.
STONER KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE
World Champion Casey Stoner will be keeping up the pressure on his rivals at Jerez after leading the way in the opening two tests. The Australian riding the Repsol Honda has enjoyed riding the 1000 cc RC213V Honda and he dominated both tests in Sepang although there were signs that the defence of his title may be harder than the winning last year.
His team-mate Dani Pedrosa will continue to win races and could be a big threat if he remains fit. The factory YZR-M1 Yamahas of former World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies have been right on the pace, while both Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso in the Tech 3 Yamaha team have been impressive.
The question that everybody is asking – what about Valentino Rossi and Ducati? The three days at Jerez should give a clear indication what to expect. Despite drastic changes to the frame of the GP12 machine both the nine times World Champion Rossi and the 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden struggled in Sepang. The next three days in Southern Spain are crucial for the Italian factory if they are going to challenge the might of Honda and Yamaha.
The current Moto2™ World Champion Stefan Bradl continues his MotoGP™ learning curve with LCR while Alvaro Bautista will enjoy three days of track time on the San Carlo Gresini Honda.
The test will also provide an insight to just how big the time difference will be between the factory machines and the new CRT status machines. Heading the CRT machines will be the experienced Colin Edwards on the NGM Mobile Forward Racing BMW Suter machine. It will also be interesting to check out the performance of Frenchman Randy De Puniet on the Power Electronics Aspar Aprilia after some impressive testing times.
To catch up with all the latest times and news from the Jerez MotoGP test go to www.motogp.com. The tests run from 10.00 – 18.00 local times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
BRITISH YOUNGSTERS WELL SET AFTER JEREZ TESTS
The young British stars in the new Moto3™ and Moto2™ classes look to have a great 2012 season ahead after three impressive days of testing in Jerez earlier this week.
Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent has looked in superb form during testing for the new Moto3 class. Riding the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine he was second fastest despite a high speed crash on the final day in Jerez. That first podium finish or even grand prix victory is a real possibility for Kent in only his second full season of grand prix racing.
Kent-based Danny Webb was not so lucky when he crashed his Indian Mahindra machine and damaged an old shoulder injury. He finished 21st fastest.
Grand Prix ‘veterans’ Bradley Smith and Scott Redding did not have perfect testing experiences before the opening Moto2™ race in Qatar. Despite not feeling 100% well Redding was seventh on the Marc VDS machine while Smith, despite a high speed crash on Wednesday, was 14th on the Tech 3 Mistral machine. Gino Rea was another faller on Wednesday and finally finished 21st riding the Moriwaki Gresini machine as he prepares for his first grand prix season.
Ends..

Nick Harris Media Communications races into the new season with the enthusiasm and expertise that is reflected by our portolio of international clients.

Nick will attend all 18 of the 2012 MotoGP grands prix working once again alongside Gavin Emmet as the Dorna World feed television commentators. Around 30 million viewers worldwide tune into their live coverage from every practice and qualifying session plus of course the races. In addition Nick will host all the press conferences on behalf of Dorna at the 18 venues and will also voice the highlight programmes from each race with Gavin.

Nick Harris Media Communications are delighted to continue their excellent working relationship with Tissot this season. We will carry out a number of tasks on their behalf before, during and after the race weekends.

Nick continues his 39 year association with the BBC by supplying voice reports for BBC World Service from each grand prix.

We are pleased to announce that we will continue to provide media support for grand prix winner Bradley Smith. Claire Sobas in particular has worked closely with Oxford-based Bradley since his grand prix debut six years ago.

Nick Harris Media Communications has just completed the Media Coverage and Audience Statistics brochure, circuit sheets and VIP brochure on behalf of the International Road Racing Teams Association. The Media Coverage and Statistics brochure will be available on line at www.nick-harris.co.uk/news next week.

Finally of course there is football. Nick has provided commentary for BBC Radio Oxford 95.2 fm for the majority of the Oxford United football league games both home and away this season.

Busy, we love it, but we are never too busy to help you and your business develop.

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Grand Prix winners Bradley Smith and Scott Redding head the British charge to Valencia in Spain for the first official Moto2™ test session of the season on Wednesday. They will be joined in the ultra competitive Moto2™ class by Gino Rea.

It will be the first ride of the season for both Smith, who won the 2010 125 cc grand prix in Valencia and 19 year old Redding. It will also be the first official test session for the Moto3™ class which replaces the 125 cc World Championship. Both Danny Webb and Danny Kent will be there to test the new 250 cc four-stroke single cylinder machines.

Twenty-one year old Smith can’t wait to get started after taking three podium finishes and finishing seventh in his maiden Moto 2 season last year.

“I’ve been training in California and can’t wait to get back on the bike,” explained the Tech 3 rider.” That first grand prix in Qatar is just two months away and so we have a very busy testing schedule. I will probably start on the bike that I rode in the Jerez test at the end of last season because I will be a little bit rusty and need a day to get it out of the system. It’s not a race at the moment and it’s important not to try too hard and be a test rider for at the least the next three days.”

Redding is as equally excited about getting back on the track.

“We need to be on the pace for the first practice in Qatar and so these pre-season tests are vital,” said the Marc VDS rider. “The advantage we have this year is we know the Kalex frame is good. Now we need to focus on refining the set-up and confirming and re-confirming any changes we make. If we do that in testing I’m confident we can fight at the front from that very first race.”

The former 125 cc World Champion Marc Marquez who finished runner-up in last year’s Moto2 World Championship will miss the test. He is recovering from an operation to cure double vision problems sustained in his crash in Malaysia last October.

Kent- based Danny Webb returns to Valencia, on the Indian Mahindra Moto3 machine, where he took the last ever125 cc pole position last year. Teenager Danny Kent had a very impressive first full season of grand prix racing last year and returns on the Red Bull KTM AJO in the Moto3 class.

After the three day Valencia test the Moto2 and Moto 3 teams travel further south for a three test at Jerez which starts on February 16.

CRUTCHLOW HERALDS NEW MOTOGP™ ERA IN SEPANG
The new era of the MotoGP™ World Championship officially kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday) with the first test of the 2012 season at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The capacity of the MotoGP machines has been raised from 800 to 1000cc while the introduction of CRT machines to reduce costs has already increased the size of the grid for the 18 round global Championship.
Isle of Man-based Midlander Cal Crutchlow starts his second season in the Championship after winning the Rookie of the Year award last season riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha. He returns from winter training in California for just his second ride on the 1000 cc Yamaha after a brief shakedown test at Valencia last November. He will be joined in the Championship by Cumbrian James Ellison who returns to MotoGP riding the Paul Bird CRT Aprilia ART machine. He will have his first ride on the machine at the MotoGP test at the end of February.
All the factory bikes will be in Sepang with enormous focus on the performance of the 2012 Ducati after such a disappointing season last year. Nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi and former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden managed just two podium finishes last year and Ducati has made some radical changes to the new machine to take on the likes of Honda and Yamaha.
World Champion Casey Stoner, who waits the birth of his first child, enjoyed testing the 1000 cc Repsol Honda last year and together with 125/250 cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa will form a formidable duo. Despite a tremendous fight Jorge Lorenzo lost the Championship to Stoner last year but returns to the fray together with former World Superbike Champion Ben Spies on the 1000cc Yamaha. Also on a Yamaha is Italian Andrea Dovizioso who despite finishing third in the Championship last year was dropped by Repsol Honda. He joins Crutchlow at Tech 3 and hopes to be 100 per cent fit after breaking his collarbone in a motocross training accident – sounds familiar!
Moto2 World Champion German Stefan Bradl makes his official debut on the LCR Honda while the highly rated Alvaro Bautista is joined by Italian Michele Pirro in the San Carlo Gresini team. Karel Abraham and Hector Barbara will ride the 1000 cc satellite Ducatis. Many of the CRT teams will miss the first test but grand prix veteran Colin Edwards will be there on the Forward Racing Suter BMW.
SMITH AND THE BOYS HAVE ONE WEEK TO WAIT
The British youngsters in the highly competitive Moto2™ and new Moto3™ classes will start their official testing next week at Valencia in Spain. Twenty one year old Bradley Smith, who secured three podium finishes in his debut Moto2 season on the Tech 3 machine last year, returned after training with Crutchlow in California to start testing next Wednesday. He is joined by his great rival Scott Redding who rides for the Marc VDS team for the third year in succession. They are joined by Gino Rea who rides for the successful Gresini team after competing in the World Supersport Championship.
These are exciting times for Danny Webb and Danny Kent who compete in the new Moto3 Championship. The two-stroke 125 cc machines will be replaced by four stroke 250s. Webb continues riding for the Indian Mahindra team and 18 year old Kent for the Red Bull KTM AJO team.
The first grand prix of the season will be held under floodlights at the Losail International circuit in Qatar on Sunday April 8.
WINTER TESTS 2012

MotoGP™ WINTER TESTS
SEPANG 31/01-02/02/2012 Set Up: 29-30/01/2012 Time Zone: GMT + 8 hours
Tuesday, 31 January Wednesday, 1 February Thursday, 2 February
10:00-18:00 MotoGP™ 10:00-18:00 MotoGP™ 10:00-18:00 MotoGP™
SEPANG 28/02-01/03/2012 Set Up: 26-27/02/2012 Time Zone: GMT +8 hours
Tuesday, 28 February Wednesday, 29 February Thursday, 1 March
10:00-18:00 MotoGP™ 10:00-18:00 MotoGP™ 10:00-18:00 MotoGP™
JEREZ 23-25/03/2012 Set Up: 22/03/2012 Time Zone: GMT + 1 hour / +2 hours
Friday, 23 March Saturday, 24 March Sunday, 25 March
10:00-18:00 MotoGP™ 10:00-18:00 MotoGP™ 10:00-18:00 MotoGP™

Moto2™/ Moto3™ WINTER TESTS
VALENCIA 08-10/02/2012 Set Up: 07/02/2012 Time Zone: GMT + 1 hour
Wednesday, 8 February Thursday, 9 February Friday, 10 February
10:00-14:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™ 10:00-14:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™ 10:00-14:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™
15:00-15:50 Moto3™ 15:00-15:50 Moto2™ 15:00-15:50 Moto3™
16:00-17:00 Moto2™ 16:00-17:00 Moto3™ 16:00-17:00 Moto2™
JEREZ 16-18/02/2012 Set Up: 15/02/2012 Time Zone: GMT + 1 hour
Thursday, 16 February Friday, 17 February Saturday, 18 February
10:00-15:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™ 10:00-15:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™ 10:00-15:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™
16:00-16:50 Moto3™ 16:00-16:50 Moto2™ 16:00-16:50 Moto3™
17:00-18:00 Moto2™ 17:00-18:00 Moto3™ 17:00-18:00 Moto2™
JEREZ 19-21/03/2012 Set Up: 18/03/2012 Time Zone: GMT + 1 hour
Monday, 19 March Tuesday, 20 March Wednesday, 21 March
10:00-15:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™ 10:00-15:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™ 10:00-13:50 Moto2™/ Moto3™
16:00-16:50 Moto2™ 16:00-16:50 Moto3™ 14:00-15:00 Moto2™
17:00-18:00 Moto3™ 17:00-18:00 Moto2™ 15:10-16:00 Moto3™

Our Website is currently being updated to bring you all our exciting news for 2012. I’m sure you will enjoy reading all about our plans

Nick Harris 24/1/12