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Bradley Smith returns to the Sepang track in Malaysia fired-up for the second MotoGP™ test of the season which starts on Tuesday. The 22 year old Oxfordshire rider had a very impressive first full MotoGP test at the 3.447 miles circuit on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur at the beginning of the month.

In three days of testing in hot humid conditions he finished a very impressive eighth fastest and was less than half a second slower than nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi. He returns on the 250 bhp Monster Tech 3 Yamaha with still a great deal to learn about riding the fast, complex machine on the Bridgestone tyres before that opening grand prix of the season in Qatar on April 7.

The Oxfordshire rider has stayed out in Malaysia between the tests and has kept fit with motocross, supermoto and cycle training in the heat. There will be one more test at Jerez in Spain after the three days in Sepang before that first race of the 18 round season.

Bradley Smith:
“Now the hard work starts to close the gap on those top riders even more. Of course I was pleased with that first test and thought it was a decent start by a rookie but I suppose I’ll show if I deserve the ride when I start mixing it with the likes of Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista. I’m having to re-learn how to ride a bike that is so incredibly fast. I feel I’m riding ten out of ten but I’m around the seven mark. I need to forget so much I learnt riding a Moto2 bike and trust the Yamaha and the Bridgestone tyres. Also the carbon brakes mean you brake so much later from a much higher speed. I can’t wait to get back out there and work with the Tech 3 team who were fantastic at the first test. I’ve kept very fit and really enjoyed the motocross, supermoto and cycling. Hopefully that hard work will pay off on Tuesday and for the next two days. Let’s hope the rain stays away and I can make the next big step in my MotoGP education.”

The British trio of Cal Crutchlow, Bradley Smith and Michael Laverty head back to Sepang in Malaysia brimming with confidence for the second MotoGP™ test of the season which starts on Tuesday.

All three British riders had a morale boosting first test at the 3.447 mile Sepang circuit at the beginning of the month and return for three more days of track time before the opening grand prix of the season in Qatar on April 7.

Isle of Man based Midlander, Crutchlow started his third season with the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team. He followed up his two podium finishes last season by finishing fifth fastest in that first test behind the factory Repsol Hondas of Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez and the factory Yamahas of World Champions Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. He was just over half a second slower than Pedrosa who led the way.

Oxfordshire’s Bradley Smith had a very impressive first full MotoGP test finishing eighth fastest. Crutchlow’s Yamaha team-mate is still adjusting to the sheer speed and complexity of riding a 250 bhp MotoGP machine after two years in the Moto2™ class. He’s stayed in Malaysia between the two tests keeping fit with motocross and Supermoto training in the heat. It is important the weather stays dry for the three day test as the 22 year old needs as much track time as possible before that first grand prix.

Ulsterman Michael Laverty also had a superb test at Sepang as he prepares for his first MotoGP season riding the Paul Bird Motorsport machine. He was a very impressive 15th fastest overall and was the third fastest CRT machine behind the very experienced Aleix Espargaro and Randy de Puniet. Laverty returns to Sepang with the new British-built PBM frame and the Magneti Marelli electronics to test.

The first MotoGP test earlier in February heralded what could be a vintage MotoGP season. Two big questions were answered immediately. Nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi is back on the pace riding the factory Yamaha after those two disastrous years at Ducati. He was third fastest followed by Moto2 World Champion Marc Marquez who was right up there with the MotoGP grand prix winners from the very first morning.

It promises to be another crucial three day test. Fingers crossed the rain stays away and the riders avoid injury as that opening grand prix approaches.

Twenty year old Scott Redding leads the British charge in the first Moto2™ and Moto3™ tests of the 2013 season which start in Valencia tomorrow. He will be joined on the Moto2 grid by debutants Danny Kent and Kyle Smith while in the hugely competitive Moto3 class the very experienced Danny Webb and Scottish teenager John McPhee have their first rides of the season.

Gloucestershire-based Redding is a pre-season favourite on the Marc VDS Kalex machine after finishing fifth, including four podium finishes, last year. He is still the youngest rider ever to win a grand prix and realises what a massive season lays ahead in the 17 round championship.

“My main goal for this season is to be in the battle for the championship, and I need to start the process with two good tests in Valencia and Jerez this month, before returning to Jerez for the final test in March,” he explained before the three day test at the 2.489 miles Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. “I’ve been working hard over the winter, because I feel like I need to be prepared for the first race more than any this season. I was out in Spain for a month doing a lot of training, not just in the gym or on the bicycle, but also on my MX and Supermoto bikes. I also spent some time in Austria doing some core training and working on my mental and physical approach, just so everything is 100% when I get on the bike for the first time tomorrow.”

Kent-based Danny Webb returns for another season of grand prix racing looking for a little bit of good fortune. He rides the Suter Honda for the Ambrogio Racing team after two tough years with the Indian Mahindra team. John McPhee made a good impression when he rode in selected grands prix at the end of last season. He has been rewarded with a full time ride with Racing Team Germany on an FTR Honda.

The three days Valencia tests starts tomorrow (Tuesday) and testing will continue in Jerez next week.

Bradley Smith is ready and prepared for the biggest test of his 22 year old life when he rides the 990 cc Monster Tech 3 Yamaha M1 machine in the opening test of the 2013 MotoGP™ season at Sepang in Malaysia which starts on Tuesday.

For the first time in his whirlwind career he comes up against the legends of grand prix motorcycle racing such as Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa in the three day test at the 3.447 miles Sepang circuit.

Three times grand prix winner Smith makes his MotoGP debut at the opening round of the 18 race championship under the floodlights at the Losail International circuit in Qatar on April 7. He has only completed a few damp laps on the 2012 Yamaha M1 machine at Valencia in November. The two three day tests at Sepang and the final test at Jerez in Spain before the opening grand prix will be vital for the Oxfordshire rider who joins, Isle of Man – based Midlander, Cal Crutchlow in the French Tech 3 team.

Smith has a two year contract with the team and knows the experience gained test riding the 200 mph plus Yamaha will be a crucial part of his rookie MotoGP year.

“For the last few years I would race to the computer to check the MotoGP lap times from the Sepang test but this time it’s pretty scary because I will posting my own lap times on the screen and not watching from home,” explained Smith, who flew to Malaysia last weekend to acclimatise with the heat and humidity at the Sepang circuit. “I’m both excited and more than a little bit nervous because this a big deal for me. From the first to the last minute of the three days I have to keep my brain switched on and do the business.”

“I want to build a special relationship with the 2013 M1 Yamaha and the Tech 3 team right from the start. That means riding as many laps as possible and hopefully the rain staying away. I have so much to learn both from the bike and the team and they really whetted my appetite when I completed those few damp laps in Valencia last November. Since then I’ve been waiting for this day and it’s at last arrived. This is the most important test of my life so far and I can’t wait.”

Smith plans to stay in Malaysia before the second three day test session which starts on February 26.
Bradley is ready to take on the best

This week’s test is crucial to Bradley’s pre-season preparations

Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith get a taste of what lies ahead as they take on the best in the world in the first MotoGP™ test of the season at Sepang in Malaysia on Tuesday. The long awaited three day test throws together the MotoGP stars for the first time this season just two months before the 18 round season gets underway in Qatar on April 7.

It will be a contrasting experience for the two British Monster Tech 3 Yamaha riders around the 3.447 miles circuit. Isle of Man based Midlander, Crutchlow, embarks on his third MotoGP season after a brilliant 2012. He finished seventh in the World Championship and secured two podium finishes. This season Crutchlow looks towards more podium finishes and ultimately the first British premier class grand prix win since Barry Sheene in 1981.

Twenty two year old Smith is a MotoGP rookie after winning three 125 cc grands prix and a successful Moto 2™ career. This will be his first MotoGP test in the dry, although it can rain in Sepang and the first time the Oxfordshire rider has come up against the likes of World Champions Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

It’s also a baptism of fire for Ulsterman Michael Laverty. He rides a MotoGP bike for the first time when he tests the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine on Tuesday. The PBM bike with new electronics will be available for both Laverty and Yonny Hernandez to ride at the second Sepang test at the end of the month.

Massive interest will be focused on a nine times World Champion and a MotoGP rookie at the test. Italian Valentino Rossi returns to Yamaha to partner World Champion Jorge Lorenzo after two disastrous years at Ducati. Nineteen year old Spaniard Marc Marquez has already clinched both 125 and Moto2 World titles and arrives in MotoGP replacing Casey Stoner at Repsol Honda where he partners Dani Pedrosa.

Andrea Dovizioso replaces Rossi at Ducati where he joins former World Champion Nick Hayden. Former World Superbike Champion Ben Spies and Italian Moto2 star Andrea Iannone team-up at Pramac Ducati

The second MotoGP test will be at Sepang between 26th and 28th of February. The Moto2 and Moto3 classes start testing at Valencia in Spain on February 12.

Check all the latest times, news and interviews from the tests at motogp.com
For the video coverage you will need a motogp.com video pass.
Nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi back at Yamaha

Double World Champion teenager Marc Marquez (right) joins Dani Pedrosa at Repsol Honda.

Cal Crutchlow ready to become first British premier class grand prix winner since Barry Sheene in 1981

Monday 8 October 2012
2012 AirAsia Grand Prix of Japan
ROUND FIFTEEN 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY OCTOBER14
CRUTCHLOW ON COURSE TO RE-WRITE HISTORY BOOKS
Cal Crutchlow arrives in Motegi for the Air Asia Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday on course to becoming the highest placed British rider in the MotoGP™ World Championship for 22 years. With four rounds remaining the Isle of Man – based Midlander is fifth in the Championship – Niall Mackenzie was fourth in 1990. However the re-writing of the history books is no way decided with nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi and former 125 cc World Champion Alvaro Bautista breathing down his neck.

The Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider is just seven points in front of the pair after finishing fourth in the previous round in Aragon as he prepares for just his second race at the 2.983 miles Motegi circuit.

Cumbrian James Ellison picked up more points on the Paul Bird Motorsport CRT machine in Aragon. He hopes to use the updated ART engine over the weekend as he chases Colin Edwards for 17th place in the championship.

Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding was involved in a superb Moto2 race in Aragon. Despite splitting the stitches following an operation on his right wrist he finished on the podium in third place riding the Marc VDS Kalex. Right behind him was 21 year old Bradley Smith on the Tech 3 Mistral in fifth place. Redding was fifth at Motegi in the Moto2 race a couple of years ago while Smith was on the 125 cc podium the same year in third place and finished seventh in the Moto2 race last year. Londoner Gino Rea makes his first appearance at Motegi riding the Federal Oil Gresini Moto 2 machine.

Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent bounced back to form with fourth place in the Moto3™ race in Aragon. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider is involved in a close battle for sixth place in the championship with his great friend Malaysian Fahmi Khairuddin whose big race is in Sepang just a week later.

Kent-based Danny Webb soldiers on aiming to score his first points of the season for the Indian Mahindra team before moving onto fresh pastures next year. Scottish teenager John McPhee embarks on the adventure of a life time starting in Japan riding the Caretta Technology KRP Honda on his first trip to the Far East.

Cal Crutchlow:
“I was happy with fourth in Aragon because this result once again shows the huge step I have made from last season. I was close to the podium and last year struggling to be in the top ten. It was a good result for the Championship too because I pulled a small gap on Valentino and Alvaro. I can go into the last four races with a lot of confidence and hopefully enjoy some more good battles with Andrea. I tried my best to beat him and didn’t quite manage it, so hopefully next time we are in a fight like that it will be me that comes out on top.”

STOP PRESS
Danny Kent moves up to the Moto2 World Championship next season. He replaces Bradley Smith in the Tech 3 team where he joins Frenchman Louis Rossi who won the Moto3 French Grand Prix this season. Smith moves up to the MotoGP team.

Former Moto2 World Champion Tony Elias returns at Motegi where he replaces Claudio Corti in the Italtrans Racing team.

STONER RETURNS FOR MOTEGI SCRAP
World Champion Casey Stoner makes a welcome return to the MotoGP World Championship with four rounds remaining starting at the AirAsia Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi on Sunday. The Australian Repsol Honda rider has missed the last three races after fracturing his right ankle in a qualifying crash at Indianapolis a month and a half a go.

His return to the 2.983 miles Motegi circuit will spice up the ultimate championship battle between his team-mate Dani Pedrosa who has won three of the last four grands prix and Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo. The Yamaha rider holds a 33 point advantage over Pedrosa but has only won one of the last five races. It promises to be a superb fight between the three Championship leaders who between them have won at Motegi in the last three years. It’s also an important race for Stoner to hang onto third place in the championship after Andrea Dovizioso closed to within seven points of the Champion after his sixth podium finish of the season at the previous round in Aragon.

It’s also a crucial race for his Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Cal Crutchlow in his attempt to hold onto fifth place in the title chase with both Valentino Rossi and Alvaro Bautista seven points adrift. Both Rossi and Ducati have a great record at Motegi but not together. The Italian has won twice while Ducati have secured four precious victories at the home of Honda thanks to Loris Capirossi and Stoner.

Rossi’s team-mate Nicky Hayden is confident of riding despite his crash in Aragon while Stefan Bradl makes his Motegi MotoGP debut after a rare crash for the German from the LCR Honda in Aragon. Ben Spies has four rides remaining on the factory Yamaha to secure his first podium finish of the season while the CRT battle between Power Electronics Aspar team-mates Aleix Espargaro and Randy De Puniet shows no sign of abating. De Puniet holds a two point advantage over his team-mate.

Ivan Silva returns to the Avintia Blusens BQR team replacing David Salom who had replaced him for the last two races. Former 250 and Moto2 winner Italian Robbie Rolfo comes into the Speed Master team to replace Mattia Pasini.

It appears a case of when rather than if Marc Marquez clinches the Moto2 World title. The Spanish teenager can’t do it at Motegi but could easily win his second World crown a week later in Malaysia. He holds an impressive 48 point lead over Pol Espargaro after finishing second behind his great rival following a ferocious battle in Aragon. There is every chance of a repeat at Motegi with Andrea Iannone fighting to hang onto third place from Tom Luthi while Marc VDS team-mates Scott Redding and Mika Kallio battle for fifth in front of Bradley Smith.

German Sandro Cortese has a mathematical chance of clinching the Moto3 World title but once again will probably have to wait until Malaysia. He has a 51 point advantage over Luis Salom after the Spaniard won his second grand prix of the year at Aragon. Spanish teenager Maverick Vinales dropped out of the Championship race when his engine failed on the warm-up lap in Aragon He’s already won five grands prix this season but slipped to third in the Championship after his Aragon demise.

TWIN RING MOTEGI FACTS AND FIGURES

The Twin Ring Motegi circuit is situated in the wooded hills 100 miles north-east of Tokyo. The huge complex was built by Honda in the late nineties and staged its first motorcycle grand prix in 1999 which was won by Kenny Roberts Junior.

The 2.983 road racing circuit, which includes two tunnels, is surrounded by the Indy style oval while the complex includes a speedway track, World trials sections and the magnificent Honda museum.
Circuit Length: 4.801 kms
Width: 15 m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 762m
Left Corners: Six
Right Corners: Eight
Pole Position Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
1.45.267 (2011)
Lap Record:
Dani Pedrosa/Honda
1’46.090 (2011)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Friday 12 October
0510-0800 British Eurosport – Live Practice Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Saturday 13 October
0455 – 0800 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport – Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 14 October
0245 – 0505 BBC Red Button/British Eurosport – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
0530 – 0700 BBC2 Live MotoGP race
1230 — 1400 BBC2 MotoGP race repeat

The video in which Nick hosted the Optimum Procurement in Sport forum at Old Trafford cricket ground is now available at http://www.optimumprocurement.co.uk/

2012 Iveco Grand Prix of Aragon
ROUND FOURTEEN 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30
CRUTCHLOW FIGHTING TO HOLD ONTO FIFTH IN ARAGON

Cal Crutchlow is fighting to hang onto fifth place in the MotoGP™ World Championship at the Iveco Grand Prix of Aragon in Spain on Sunday. The Isle of Man – based Midlander crashed out of the previous round in Misano just two weeks after securing his first ever MotoGP podium finish. Riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha he is involved in a tremendous fight for fifth place in just his second MotoGP season.

Breathing down his neck with just five rounds remaining is nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi fresh from his second place on the Ducati in Misano. The Italian is just two points adrift while Alvaro Bautista, who grabbed his first ever MotoGP podium at Misano and Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl are four and seven points respectively behind the British rider.

Twenty five year old Ulsterman Jonathan Rea continues to replace the injured World Champion Casey Stoner on the Repsol Honda after an impressive MotoGP debut at Misano. In a chaotic race he kept his head to finish eighth and he returns to Aragon where he tested for two days earlier in the month.

It’s a sad race for Cumbrian James Ellison following the death of his father last week. He will have a new Aprilia ART engine in his Paul Bird Motorsport CRT machine.

Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding is also fighting to hang onto fifth place in the Moto2™ World Championship. Riding the Marc VDS Kalex machine he has a five point advantage over team-mate Mika Kallio and will be looking to capitalize on good qualifying performances in the last two grands prix where he’s taken front row starts.

Twenty one year old Bradley Smith has only missed out points scoring once this season riding the Tech 3 Mistral machine. He has a good record in Aragon with a 125 cc podium finish in 2010 and sixth in the Moto2 race last year. Londoner Gino Rea must have a change of fortune in the last five races with a blown engine his latest tale of woe at Misano.

Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent could be moving up to Moto2 next season and will want to end his Moto3 career on a high riding the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine. He currently lies eighth in the World Championship, 11 points behind Fahmi Khairuddin and the injured Alexis Masbou who share sixth. Danny Webb hopes to sign of his time with the Indian Mahindra team with some points scoring rides after a disappointing and unlucky season so far.

McPHEE TO RIDE IN FINAL FIVE GRANDS PRIX

Scottish teenager John McPhee is set to replace the injured Frenchman Alexis Masbou for the remaining five rounds of the Moto3™ World Championship, starting at the Iveco Grand Prix of Aragon in Spain on Sunday. Caretta Technology rider Masbou, who is currently sixth in the Moto3 World Championship, broke his femur in a private test at Vallelunga in Italy earlier this month.

Eighteen year old McPhee, from Oban, Argyll, will join the Turin-based Caretta squad at Aragon and will compete on his KRP M3-01 chassis which has been re-liveried in Caretta Technology colours and is to be fitted with the Italian squad’s Geo Technology Grand Prix spec Honda engine.

McPhee, whose regular ride is with the Racing Steps Foundation-backed KRP team in Spain’s CEV Moto3 Series, will wrap up his hectic end-of-season schedule with a return visit to Valencia for the final round of the Spanish Championship. McPhee heads to Aragon having already picked up three world championship wildcards so far this year including last month’s Grand Prix at Brno where he eventually finished 15th after running as high as third place in the early stages.

There is also good news for Kent-based Danny Webb who has signed a deal with the World Wide Communications Ambrogio Next Racing team to compete in next year’s Moto3 World Championship.

John McPhee:
“It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity. To get more experience at world level with a Grand Prix team like Caretta should give a boost to my prospects of getting a full-time World Championship ride in 2013. Naturally I have a lot of sympathy for Alexis and wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. He’s clearly had a strong working relationship with the team to get the results he has, so hopefully I will be able to pick up where he left off.”

LATER BRITISH GRAND PRIX DATE AT SILVERSTONE

The 2013 British Grand Prix at Silverstone will be staged in September next year. The new Silverstone circuit will stage its fourth consecutive MotoGP event on September 1 in the provisional 2013 MotoGP calendar which was issued last week.

At the moment there are 19 races on the calendar with two races thought to be in Texas, USA and Argentina still to be confirmed. (Provisional calendar attached)

LORENZO DEFENDS COMFORTABLE LEAD IN ARAGON

Jorge Lorenzo arrives in Aragon on Sunday defending a 38 point championship lead over the luckless Dani Pedrosa with just five rounds of the 18 round MotoGP Championship remaining. Pedrosa is desperate to close that gap on the Yamaha rider at the Iveco Grand Prix of Aragon but the odds are stacked against him following his first lap crash at the previous round.

Lorenzo secured his sixth win of the season at Misano and knows that virtually podium finishes in those last five rounds would enable him to regain the title he lost to Casey Stoner and Repsol Honda last year. Stoner, who has won the first two grands prix at the 3.155 mile circuit situated between the Mediterranean coast and Zaragoza, is still recovering from his broken right ankle. The Australian will again be replaced by Ulsterman Jonathan Rea but may return for the next round at Motegi in Japan.

While the battle at the front on Sunday is expected to feature Lorenzo and Pedrosa once again nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi could be a threat after his second place in Misano. Ducati and Rossi appeared to have made some definite steps forward and Aragon will be the perfect test for the pair who go their separate ways at the end of the season.

Andrea Dovizioso replaces Rossi at Ducati next year and the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider still has ambitions to finish third in the championship before leaving Yamaha. The Italian is fourth, 23 points behind the absent Stoner while his team-mate Cal Crutchlow is fighting to hand onto fifth place after his crash in Misano.

Just seven points separate Crutchlow in fourth and Stefan Bradl in eighth. Rossi is just two points behind the Englishman while Alvaro Bautista, fresh from his first MotoGP podium at Misano, is just another two points adrift with Bradl just three points behind the Spaniard.

Ben Spies has five more rides with the Yamaha factory team before joining the Ducati ‘Junior’ team next season and will surely grab a podium finish before the end of the season while countryman Nicky Hayden continues his recovery from a hand injury. The American brought Ducati a third place in the first Aragon Grand Prix two years ago.

The CRT battle between Power Electronics Aspar team-mates Randy De Puniet and Aleix Espargaro continues. Frenchman De Puniet leads the Spaniard by just three points after finishing ninth in Misano where Espargaro crashed.

Nineteen year old Marc Marquez is getting closer to the Moto2 World title before joining MotoGP next year. The Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol rider has an impressive 53 point lead in the championship over Pol Espargaro after his seventh win of the season in Misano. He won the Moto2 race at Aragon last year and should clinch the title long before the final round in Valencia. The big fight is for second place where Espargaro has a 20 point advantage over Andrea Iannone, who joins Spies at MotoGP Ducati next year, with former 125 cc World Champion Tom Luthi just four points behind.

German Sandro Cortese also looks odds on favourite to win the inaugural Moto3 World title following his win at Misano. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider increased his championship lead to 46 points after his third win of the season. It’s much closer for second place with just ten points separating the Spaniards Maverick Vinales and Luis Salom.

ARAGON FACTS AND FIGURES

The 3.155 miles Aragon circuit is the newest addition to the MotoGP calendar having staged its first MotoGP race just two years ago. Situated in the beautiful unpopulated area between the Mediterranean coast and Zaragoza the undulating and long circuit is popular with both riders and spectators. It features seven right and ten left corners and a back straight well over half a mile long.

Circuit Length: 5.078kms
Width: 15 m
Pole Position: Right
Longest Straight: 968m
Left Corners: Ten
Right Corners: Six
Pole Position Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
1.48.451 (2011)
Lap Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
1’49.046 (2011)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Friday 28 September
1210 – 1500 British Eurosport – Live Practice Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Saturday 29 September
1150 – 1505 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport – Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 30 September
0955 – 1205 BBC Red Button – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
0945 –1200 British Eurosport – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
1230 — 1400 BBC2 Live MotoGP race

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.

Email nick@nick-harris.co.uk
Mobile 07785 224 596
Time Schedule is attached
McPhee has already raced strongly in Moto3 this year as a wildcard

McPhee is looking forward to Aragon this weekend

ROUND THIRTEEN 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16
REA MAKES GRAND PRIX DEBUT ON WORLD CHAMPION’S HONDA

Ulsterman Jonathan Rea makes his MotoGP™ debut riding World Champion Casey Stoner’s Repsol Honda at the Aperol Grand Prix of San Marino and the Riviera of Rimini at Misano on the Adriatic coast of Italy on Sunday.

The 25 year old will replace the injured Stoner at Misano on Sunday and at Aragon in Spain in two weeks’ time after just two test sessions on the Honda RC213V machine at Brno and Aragon. In between the two tests he competed in two World Superbike races at the Nurburgring in Germany at the weekend riding the Honda Fireblade machine.

Last month Rea helped Honda win the prestigious Suzuka Eight Hour race in Japan and also tested the 800cc Honda MotoGP machine in Malaysia a couple of years ago. He has racing experience at both Misano and Aragon in the World Superbike Championship.

Jonathan Rea:
“I’m happy with the test we did in Aragon. Now we’re not looking at the lap times so much, but the gap to the front which is decreasing every test, so I’m happy with that. On the first day we did a lot of work with the base setting and we confirmed that the next morning. I’m still not completely happy finishing the corner, but on the final afternoon I did a long run and my fastest lap came at the end, so I need to push these tyres much harder and it’s a question of trust.
It’s been a good opportunity to test before the race; the Repsol Honda Team gave me the best opportunity, knowing the bike and the circuit and I am constantly learning. I raced in Germany at the Superbikes this weekend, so it will be a busy period for me but I will try to take advantage of it and enjoy it as much as I can. I’m grateful to Honda for giving me this opportunity. I don’t underestimate the challenge.”

CRUTCHLOW TO CONTINUE WHERE HE LEFT OFF

Cal Crutchlow can’t wait for the 28 lap race at Misano on Sunday after re-writing the history books in the previous round at Brno in the Czech Republic. The Isle of Man –based Midlander became the first British rider to finish on a MotoGP podium for 12 years with a brilliant third place finish behind championship leaders Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha.

Crutchlow in just his second MotoGP season lies fifth in the championship and has plenty of experience at the 2.262 miles Misano circuit in MotoGP and World Superbikes. He trails team-mate Andrea Dovizioso by 28 points in their battle for fourth place with six rounds remaining. Cumbrian James Ellison continues his fight for CRT honours. Riding the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine he’s 18th in the championship three points behind Colin Edwards.

Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding wants to forget the previous Moto2™ round in Brno where he started from the front row of the grid but crashed the Marc VDS machine at the third corner. He held onto fifth place in the championship two places in front of his great British rival Bradley Smith. The 21 year old Oxfordshire rider recovered from a bad qualifying session to finish eighth in Brno riding the Tech 3 machine. He’s desperate for a strong finish to his Moto2 career before joining MotoGP next season. It was also a tough Brno weekend for Londoner Gino Rea who crashed in the early stages but remounted to finish 24th.

Kent-based Danny Webb has recovered from his hand and wrist injury to return to the saddle of his Mahindra machine in the Moto3™ race. He will be joined by Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent who needs some more podium finishes to push on from eighth place in the championship. His one podium finish was a third place in Holland and he trails KTM team-mate Zulfahmi Khairuddin by ten points in their battle for seventh.

PEDROSA CHASING HATRICK TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON

Dani Pedrosa chases a hatrick of MotoGP victories to close the gap on championship leader Jorge Lorenzo in the Aperol Grand Prix of San Marino and the Riviera of Rimini at Misano on Sunday.

The Repsol Honda rider arrives at the 2.626 miles Misano circuit on the Adriatic coast of Italy after winning the last two rounds at Indianapolis and Brno to close the gap to just 13 points on Lorenzo with six rounds of the 18 round championship remaining. It promises to be another head to head confrontation between the two bitter Spanish rivals who have both won at Misano in the last couple of years. Lorenzo brought Yamaha victory last year with Pedrosa on the top step of the podium the previous year.

World Champion Casey Stoner, who won at Misano five years ago, will miss the race recovering from the operation on his fractured right ankle. He will be replaced by Suzuka Eight Hour race winner Jonathan Rea who makes his grand prix debut.

Stoner’s third place in the championship is coming under threat from Italian Andrea Dovizioso who in turn is involved a battle with his Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Cal Crutchlow for fourth. It was a big weekend for the pair of them in Brno with Dovizioso agreeing a two year deal with Ducati and Crutchlow securing his first ever MotoGP podium.

Valentino Rossi will be replaced by Dovizioso at Ducati next year as he makes a much publicised return to Yamaha. It will be a bitter sweet weekend for the nine times World Champion at his home track. The Italian lives just five miles from the circuit where he won in 2008 and 2009 but will be making his last appearance for Ducati in Italy. He’s involved in a tremendous battle for sixth place in the championship with World Champions Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista. The trio separated by just five points with Rossi’s team-mate Nicky Hayden in ninth place and likely to return after missing both Indianapolis and Brno through injury. Spaniard Hector Barbara is also expected to return riding the Pramac Ducati following his practice crash at Indianapolis.

Power Electronics Aspar team-mates Aleix Espargaro and Randy De Puniet are separated by just four points as they continue their battle for top CRT honours while David Salom replaces Ivan Silva in the Avintia Blusens BQR team for the remainder of the season. Italian Danilo Petrucci will ride a BMW Suter machine replacing his Came Ioda.

Spanish teenager Marc Marquez is a clear favorite to win the Moto2 race on Sunday and the World title before the final race of the season. The Catalunya Caixa Repsol Suter rider chases his seventh win of the season at the circuit where he has won both 125 and Moto2 races to increase that impressive 48 point championship lead. Nothing is ever clear cut in Moto2 racing and the likes of this year’s other grand prix winners Pol Espargaro, Tom Luthi and Andrea Iannone will make life as tough as possible for Marquez before he departs to MotoGP next year.

German Sandro Cortese has been almost as impressive in the Moto3 Championship building up a 32 point lead with a combination of consistency and aggression. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider may have only won two grands prix but has only finished off the podium in one of the 11 rounds. In contrast second placed Maverick Vinales has won five grands prix but then produced just one more podium finish. Vinales must win on Sunday and hope for a rare Cortese mistake in the mayhem of a Moto3 Championship that has also brought wins for Jonas Folger, Luis Salom, Romano Fenati and Louis Rossi.

MISANO FACTS AND FIGURES

REVERSED MISANO RETURNED IN 2007
The 2.626 miles Misano circuit returned to MotoGP action in 2007 after a 14 year absence but running the opposite way round. The circuit, which is situated near to Riccione on the Adriatic coast of Italy, stopped hosting MotoGP events following the serious accident of the 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey in 1993. It returned in 2007 running the opposite direction and with a number of safety changes.

The original circuit was built in the mid seventies to replace the sea front road circuit which staged early season international meetings.

MARCO MEMORIES

The Misano circuit was the home track for the late Marco Simoncelli and his San Carlo Gresini team. Consequently there will be a number of special events to celebrate the career of Marco who lost his life at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang last year.

The 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz has led a cycle ride relay, The Cycle of Wishes, from Donington Park in England to Misano. On Thursday evening all competitors’ in the grand prix this weekend will cycle a lap of honour of the Misano circuit to celebrate the life of the former 250 cc World Champion.

Circuit Length: 4.226kms
Width: 14 m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 565m
Left Corners: Six
Right Corners: Ten

Pole Position Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
1.33.138 (2011)

Lap Record:
Jorge Lorenzo/Yamaha
1’33.906 (2011)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Friday 15 September
1210 – 1500 British Eurosport – Live Practice Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Saturday 16 September
1150 – 1505 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport – Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 17 September
0955 – 1205 BBC Red Button – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
0945 –1200 British Eurosport – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
1230 — 1400 BBC2 and HD Live MotoGP race