Monthly Archives: June 2012

Monday 25 June 2012
2012 IVECO TT ASSEN
ROUND SEVEN 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY JUNE 30
CRUTCHLOW’S CRUSADE TO THE CATHEDRAL

Cal Crutchlow’s MotoGP crusade continues at the Cathedral of motorcycle sport, the TT circuit at Assen in Holland on Saturday. For the 64th time on the last Saturday of June the world famous circuit stages the Dutch round of the World Championship and this year the Iveco Dutch TT is the seventh round of the 18 round MotoGP™ World Championship.

Isle of Man-based Midlander Crutchlow fought through the pain barrier and confounded the medical authorities by finishing sixth at the previous round at Silverstone riding with a broken and dislocated left ankle sustained in a practice crash 24 hours earlier. The Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha rider moved back into fourth place in the Championship in front of his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso who crashed out. Crutchlow has been receiving extensive treatment on the injured ankle back in the Isle of Man before travelling to Assen to compete in the 28 lap race round the 2.822 mile circuit near Groningen in the North of Holland.

Cumbrian James Ellison picked up more points after finishing 14th at Silverstone on the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine. He returns to Assen in fourth place in the CRT category with chances of improving with three grands prix on the next three weekends.

Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding shared the headlines with Crutchlow after Silverstone. The Marc VDS rider finished a brilliant second in the Moto2™ race after a titanic last bend fight with Championship leader Marc Marquez. It was his second podium of the season and he needs to continue the podium finishes to close on the leaders from his fifth place in the Championship.

Twenty one year old Oxfordshire rider Bradley Smith finished third in the Assen Moto2 race last year and the 2009 125 cc race. Riding the Tech 3 Mistral machine he led for the first few laps at Silverstone to eventually finish seventh after a tremendous last lap scrap with Tom Luthi. It was his best result of the season and hopes to make further improvements on Saturday while Londoner Gino Rea looks for a points scoring ride on the Federal Oil Gresini machine after a disappointing race at Silverstone.

Eighteen year old Wiltshire rider Danny Kent looks to at least match his sixth place at Silverstone on the Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 machine. It was his best result of the season and he has a great chance to climb from his 14th place in the Championship. It’s been a nightmare season for the experienced Danny Webb in the same class. The Kent-based rider has yet to score any championships points as the Indian Mahindra team struggle for reliability in the very competitive class.
Cal Crutchlow:
“If they pass me fit at Silverstone, they’ve got to pass me fit at the next race unless I have an operation – and I won’t be having an operation. The doctors said they could operate and put a pin in it but the guy who I saw on the Saturday, who is an ankle specialist, said it would make it worse. The doctors told me I was not allowed to put any weight on my foot for eight to 10 weeks but me being a typical motorcycle rider, that’s eight to 10 hours. I ride motorcycles for a living. The bone is quite badly broken on the inside. I’ve fractured the inside of my ankle and I dislocated it. I’ve got to rest up, let the healing process do what it can and aim to come back stronger in Assen. The Silverstone result gives me confidence because I was as fast as the guys in front and matching Jorge Lorenzo. The positive thing for me is that I was running at a consistent pace when out in clear air, which is something we’ve struggled with since last year so that’s encouraging for the future.”

STONER NEEDS ASSEN VICTORY

World Champion Casey Stoner needs to get back to winning ways at Assen on Saturday to prevent Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo running away with the 2012 title chase. Lorenzo riding the factory Yamaha has won the last three races to build up a 25 point lead over the Australian who has been dogged with tyre and chattering problems on the Repsol Honda.

Both have premier class victories at the 2.822 miles TT circuit with Lorenzo also a winner in both 250 and 125 cc classes. It promises to be a close fought 28 lap encounter between the two World Champions. Last year Lorenzo’s Yamaha team-mate Ben Spies secured his one and only MotoGP victory and how the American needs a repeat or at least a podium finish as he fights to keep his place in the factory team.

Stoner’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa has made a solid start to the season but needs to step up to fight for wins to push on from his third place in the Championship. The Spaniard has only been off the podium once this season and is a former 125 cc winner at Assen.

Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team-mates Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso are separated by six points in their battle for fourth. Dovizioso crashed out of the last round at Silverstone while Crutchlow was a brilliant sixth, riding with a fractured left ankle. It’s even closer behind them with seven times Assen winner Valentino Rossi tied on points with San Carlo Gresini rider Honda rider Alvaro Bautista, a 250cc Assen winner, in sixth place. Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl has made a good start to his MotoGP career on the LCR Honda and leads former World Champion Nicky Hayden by a couple of points. The American Ducati rider won his only grand prix outside America with a last bend victory over countryman Colin Edwards in 2006 riding the Repsol Honda. Karel Abraham returns to the action on the Cardion AB Ducati after missing Silverstone with a hand injury.

Spaniard Aleix Espargaro leads the CRT category from his Power Electronics Aspar team-mate Randy De Puniet.The pair come up against some experienced Assen competitors. Italian Mattia Pasini may be having a tough season on the Speed Master ART machine but was a 125 cc winner five years ago while veteran Edwards was desperately unlucky not to win the MotoGP race a year earlier.

With the outcome of the appeal by Pol Espargaro’s Pons 40 HP Tuenti team against the re-instating of Marc Marquez’s third place in Barcelona still to be heard, the Moto 2™ World Championship is packed with intrigue and great racing. Last year’s Moto2 and the year before 125 cc winner Marquez grabbed the lead in the Championship after finishing third behind Espargaro and Scott Redding in Silverstone. The in form Espargaro shares second place with former leader Tom Luthi, who could only finish eighth at Silverstone, just six points adrift of Marquez with 2010 winner Andrea Iannone fourth in front of the Marc VDS pair of Redding and Mika Kallio.

Another Spaniard and Assen winner last year took over the lead in the Moto3™ World Championship. Seventeen year old Maverick Vinales, riding the Blusens Avintia FTR Honda, won at Silverstone to lead German Sandro Cortese by just two points, in what is turning into a two rider head to head confrontation for the Championship. Luis Salom in third place chases that elusive first grand prix win after two second places, including Silverstone, while 16 year old Romano Fenati in fourth place makes his Assen debut.

ASSEN FACTS AND FIGURES

THE ONLY SURVIVER
The Assen TT circuit is the only survivor from the original inaugural 1949 World Championship calendar. Motorcycle racing started on the roads surrounding the Dutch City of Assen in northern Holland in 1925 and has continued ever since apart from a break in the Second World War.

The circuit has changed considerably over the last 87 years from the long road circuit to the current 2.82 configuration. However, some of the old bends remain and the circuit is still known as the Cathedral of grand prix motorcycle racing.

Circuit Length: 4.542 kms
Width: 14 m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 487m
Left Corners: Six
Right Corners: Twelve
Pole Position Record:
Jorge Lorenzo/Yamaha
1.34.515 (2010)
Lap Record:
Dani Pedrosa/Honda
1’34.525 (2010)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT 2
Friday 29 June
1150 – 1505 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 – Live Qualifying
Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 30 June
0950 – 1400 BBC Red Button Live Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP race
0945 – 1225 British Eurosport 2 Live Moto3 and Moto2 races

CONTACTS
Nick will be available at the circuit from Wednesday lunchtime until Saturday night. Please note Nick will not be available to answer the phone during qualifying or the races.
Media Office Tel No: +31 592380375

A time schedule for the event is attached
Crutchlow has received extensive treatment on his ankle for this weekend’s race

Redding will be aiming to go one better this weekend

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.