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CRUTCHLOW AND REDDING RACE INTO EUROPE

Monday 29 April 2013
bwin Grand Prix of Spain
ROUND THREE 2013 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY MAY 5
CRUTCHLOW AND REDDING RACE INTO EUROPE

Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding spearhead the considerable British charge into Europe at the bwin Grand Prix of Spain at the legendary Jerez circuit in Spain on Sunday. Isle of Man – based Midlander Cal Crutchlow has started his third season in the MotoGP™ World Championship in superb form while 20 year old Gloucestershire rider Scott Redding leads the Moto2™ World Championship after the opening two rounds in Qatar and America.

Crutchlow arrives at the 2.748 mile circuit in Southern Spain fired up to take on the factory bikes. Riding for the Satellite Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team he has grabbed fourth and fifth places already this year, led the final day of pre-season testing at Jerez and finished fourth last year. His new team-mate Bradley Smith won his first grand prix at Jerez in the 2009 125 cc race. The Oxfordshire rider scored his first ever MotoGP points in Texas with a 12th place and will be looking to push on over the weekend at a track he knows well and on which he has tested the MotoGP Yamaha. Ulsterman Michael Laverty also returns to a track on which he has tested the Paul Bird Motorsport CRT machine. He must fancy his chances of his first ever MotoGP points after impressive performances in the opening two races in his debut season.

Redding has a four point lead in the Moto2 Championship after second and fifth places on the Marc VDS Kalex machine. The sparks will fly in the 26 lap race on Sunday with three riders sharing second place in the championship including Texas winner Nico Terol. Last year’s Jerez winner Pol Espargaro who crashed in Texas will also be a massive threat. Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent and Spanish-based Yorkshire man Kyle Smith chase their first points of the season at a circuit they both know well.

After a couple of miserable seasons the experienced Kent-based Danny Webb is at last finding a change of fortune in the Moto3™ class. Riding the Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda he’s picked up points at the opening two rounds. Scottish teenager John McPhee could do with a change of fortune. His Caretta Technology FTR Honda was wrecked when he was taken out in the Qatar race which made for a tough time in Texas. He returns to Jerez in better shape.

Cal Crutchlow

“I was very pleased with the result in Texas and we did a better job than any of us expected. To finish fourth and be behind Marquez, Pedrosa and Lorenzo is a great achievement for all and gives us confidence to take into the next few races. I’m giving it my all and I’ll never give up and I think in Texas again we showed how competitive the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 package is. Now we go to Jerez and I was quickest at the winter test a few weeks ago, so it’s going to be another big battle that I’m excited about.”

REDDING RE-WRITES THE HISTORY BOOKS

The Moto2 World Championship leader Scott Redding is the first British rider since Tom Herron in 1976 to lead the intermediate class in the MotoGP World Championship. It was 37 years ago that Herron led the 250 cc World Championship by a single point from Walter Villa after winning at the 1976 TT race in the Isle of Man.

The last British rider to lead a World Championship was Bradley Smith in 2009. After his victory at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello he led the 125 cc World Championship from Julian Simon by 3.5 points.

EUROPEAN KICK OFF WITH MIGHTY JEREZ CONFRONTATION

The first MotoGP European grand prix of the season promises to provide a mighty confrontation at the bwin Grand Prix of Spain at Jerez on Sunday. After two superb opening races in Qatar and Texas the action switches to Europe around the 2.748 mile circuit in Southern Spain and all the components are in place for a continuation of the battle.

World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and the youngest ever Premier class winner 20 year old Marc Marquez share the lead in the championship after a victory apiece at the opening two races. Factory Yamaha mounted Lorenzo has already two MotoGP victories in Jerez but Marquez has never won a grand prix there. Their respective team-mates Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi have both tasted MotoGP success at Jerez and will be desperate to claw back the points advantage. Pedrosa riding the Repsol Honda was successful five years ago while Rossi has secured six wins on both Honda and Yamaha machinery.

Diving right into the middle of those four factory riders will be Cal Crutchlow who has looked more than capable of mixing it with them in the opening two rounds. Riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha he has grabbed fifth and fourth places and also led the final day of testing this year at the track where he was fourth last year. Spaniard Alvaro Bautista injured his hand at that final test but has made a steady start on the Go and Fun Gresini Honda while the new Ducati pairing of Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden have made a solid start. It’s a marathon rather than a sprint for the Italian factory and so Dovizioso’s two seventh places represent the start of what could prove a long journey. They will be joined by test rider Michele Pirro in the 27 lap race.

Former Moto2 World Champion Stefan Bradl was mighty relieved to finish fifth in America after crashing out on the LCR Honda in Qatar and will seek to climb from his tenth place just one point in front of the impressive Aleix Espargaro. The Spaniard was the top CRT bike last year and has put the Power Electronics Aspar ART top CRT at the opening two rounds, giving the likes of MotoGP newcomers Bradley Smith and Andrea Iannone a tough time. Iannone’s Pramac Ducati team-mate Ben Spies will miss the race still suffering from a shoulder injury sustained last year despite finishing 13th in his native Texas.

Twenty year old Scott Redding leads the Moto2 World Championship after second and fifth places on the Marc VDS Kalex. Three riders shares second place just four points adrift. Former 125 cc World Champion Nico Terol won in Texas from Tito Rabat and Mika Kallio and they will be looking over their shoulders for Dominique Aegerter who’s made a brilliant start with two fourth place and Qatar winner Pol Espargaro. The Tuenti HP40 Pons Kalex rider crashed out in Texas but won his first Moto2 race at Jerez in difficult conditions last year.

Just one point separates the three leading riders in the Moto3 Championship. Spanish teenager Alex Rins, after his first grand prix victory in Texas and Qatar winner Spaniard Luis Salom share the lead. Maverick Vinales’s two second places put him one point adrift and the fight between these three and many others is certain to continue in the 23 lap race on Sunday.

JEREZ FACTS AND FIGURES
Circuit Length: 4.423 km
Width: 11 m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 607m
Left Corners: Five
Right Corners: Eight

Pole Position Record
Jorge Lorenzo/Yamaha
1.38.189/162.164 km/h (2008)
Lap Record
Dani Pedrosa/Honda
1’39.731/159.7 Km/h (2010)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Friday 3 May
12.05 – 15:00 Free Practice British Eurosport 2
Saturday 4 May
11.30 – 15:00 Live Qualifying Red Button and British Eurosport 2
Sunday 5 May
09.45 – 12.30 Live Moto3 and Moto2 Races Red Button and British Eurosport 2
12.30 – 14:00 Live MotoGP Race BBC2

By NHMCadmin|2020-04-29T09:39:55+00:00April 30th, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

CRUTCHLOW AND REDDING CHASE TEXAS PODIUM FINISH

After impressive starts to their respective seasons British riders Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding chase podium finishes in the very first MotoGP™ race in Texas, the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday.

The 3.427 miles Circuit of the Americas in Austin hosts the second round of the MotoGP World Championship for the first time. At the opening round of the season in Qatar Crutchlow fought tooth and nail with the factory bikes to eventually finish fifth in the MotoGP race. Redding pushed eventual Moto2™ race winner Pol Espargaro to the limit to finish second.

Isle of Man – based Midlander Crutchlow was contesting second place on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha in Qatar when he ran on at turn one and had to settle for fifth behind the factory foursome of Lorenzo, Rossi, Marquez and Pedrosa. Throughout the weekend he’d harassed the factory bikes and will continue to do so at the new circuit starting in the very first practice session on Friday morning.

It was a tough MotoGP debut for his new team-mate Bradley Smith who crashed out after impressive practice and qualifying sessions. His main aim will be to secure his first MotoGP finish in the 21 lap race on Sunday. Thirty one year old Ulsterman Michael Laverty made a solid MotoGP debut in Qatar finishing 17th on the Paul Bird Motorsport CRT machine. More track time for him and the team should result in his first World Championship points very soon.

Redding’s stunning performance in Qatar was a real boost for the Marc VDS team. The 20 year old Gloucestershire rider fought Moto2 pre-season favourite Espargaro throughout the race and his first win in the class can’t be far away. Although they finished out of the points both Danny Kent and Kyle Smith made decent starts to their Moto2 careers. Wiltshire teenager Kent was 18th on the Tech 3 machine while Spanish-based Yorkshireman Smith was 21st on his World Championship debut.

The highly experienced Kent rider Danny Webb picked up his first World Championship points for over a year with a hard fought 11th in the ferociously fought typical Moto3™ race in Qatar riding the Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda. Not so lucky was Scottish teenager John McPhee who was fighting for championship points when he was brought down.

Cal Crutchlow:
“It was a great night in Qatar for Yamaha but also for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team because I showed that I can battle for the podium. The top four are the best riders on the best bikes but I pushed them as hard as I could until the small mistake stopped me. I’m best of the rest and that’s pleasing and hopefully I can be up there again in Austin.”

Scott Redding:
“It’s a new track for everyone, which will be interesting, but I’m sure it won’t take any of us long to get up to speed. I’ve never had a problem learning new tracks and I’m looking forward to seeing what the Circuit of the Americas has to offer. If we approach this race in the same way as we did the last then I think there’s every chance we can repeat the success of Qatar in America. That’s the goal, anyway”

THE CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS – FOURTH AMERICAN MOTOPGP VENUE

The brand new Circuit of the Americas is the fourth circuit in America to host grand prix motorcycle racing. The first American Grand Prix was held at Daytona in Florida in 1964. Laguna Seca in California staged its first grand prix in 1989 with the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway coming on board in 2008. This year there will be three MotoGP races in Americas at the Circuit of the Americas, Laguna Seca and Indianapolis.

LORENZO AND ROSSI CHARGE INTO TEXAS

World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and team-mate, nine times world champion, Valentino Rossi lead the charge into Texas for the second round of the MotoGP World Championship on Sunday. The Yamaha riders dominated the opening round in Qatar but know it will not be so easy at the very inaugural Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin.

The demanding 3.427 miles Circuit of the Americas track stages its very first MotoGP event after hosting its first Formula One car race last season. Lorenzo has tested at the track earlier in the year with team-mate Rossi and the Honda trio of Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa and Stefan Bradl. Rossi’s second place in Qatar on his return to Yamaha and his battle with Rookie Marc Marquez made all the headlines somewhat eclipsing the perfect weekend for the Lorenzo in both qualifying and the race.

Pedrosa was disappointed with his fourth place especially being beaten by his new Repsol Honda team-mate, Marquez, who’s debut lived up to all the pre-season hype. Cal Crutchlow fought tooth and nail with the factory bikes until running on at turn one and having to settle for fifth on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha. Spaniard Alvaro Bautista was a brave sixth on the Go and Fun Gresini Honda despite considerable discomfort from a hand injury sustained in a testing crash. The former 125 cc world champion should be stronger after a two week break.

Another former 125 cc world champion Andrea Dovizioso made a solid start to his Ducati career with a seventh place one place in front of American team-mate Nicky Hayden Ben Spies, the last American winner of a MotoGP race, was not helped by a practice crash but finished tenth behind his Pramac Ducati team-mate Andrea Iannone on his MotoGP debut.

Last year the CRT battle was fought out between Power Electronics Aspar team-mates Aleix Espargaro and Randy De Puniet and the opening round in Qatar gave every indication it will be the same this time round. Last year Espargaro came out on top as he did in Qatar but keep an eye on Hector Barbara who was the third top CRT bike despite problems in practice and qualifying.

The MotoGP grid will be increased to 26 riders with the inclusion of American riders Blake Young riding the Attack Performance Racing Kawasaki and Mike Barnes on the GP Tech’s Suzuki.
Pol Espargaro and Scott Redding should continue their Moto2 Qatar battle that was only decided on the last bend in favour of the Tuenti HP 40 Kalex rider. They will be checking out Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami who was not only third in the race but very impressive in qualifying and practice on the Italtrans Kalex. Some old hands including Mika Kallio, Julian Simon, Simone Corsi and Alex De Angelis where close behind and it promises to be a typical 19 lap Moto2 encounter round the new circuit.

The second year of Moto3 started in Qatar with a breathtaking five rider battle. Spaniard Luis Salom just came out on top riding the Red Bull Ajo KTM and thirsting for revenge in Austin will be the other four; Maverick Vinales, Alex Rins, Alex Marquez and Jonas Folger. Throw in the likes of Fahmi Khairuddin, Miquel Oliveira and Arthur Sissis and the new American audience is in for a treat.

CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS FACTS AND FIGURES
Circuit Length: 5.513 km / 3.426 miles
Width: 15 m
Pole Position: Right
Left Corners: Eleven
Right Corners: Nine

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Friday 19 April
19:10 – 22:00 Free Practice British Eurosport 2/ BBC Live Streaming
Saturday 20 April
18:20 – 21:00 Live Qualifying Red Button/British Eurosport 2
Sunday 21 April
16:45 – 19:30 Live Moto3/ Moto2 Races Red Button/British Eurosport 2
19:30 – 21:00 Live MotoGP Race BBC3
21:00 Replay MotoGP Race British Eurosport 2

By NHMCadmin|2016-09-05T19:16:57+00:00April 16th, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

CRUTCHLOW PREPARES TO END 32 YEAR DROUGHT

2013 Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar
ROUND ONE 2013 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY APRIL 7
Crutchlow poised to end 32 year old British MotoGP™ drought

Twenty seven year old Isle of Man – based Midlander Cal Crutchlow is poised to end the amazing 32 year old drought for British riders in the MotoGP™ World Championship as he lines up for the opening round of the 2013 championship in Qatar on Sunday evening.

It was 32 years ago that Barry Sheene was the last British rider to win a premier class grand prix but Crutchlow’s form in pre-season testing suggests that the drought may soon be over. He starts his third year in the MotoGP World Championship at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar under the floodlights at the 3.343 miles desert circuit riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha after some superb pre-season testing. He led the way on the final day of the Jerez test in mixed conditions last week following his two podium finishes last year.

The former World Supersport Champion has shown he is capable of fighting with the factory bikes especially in mixed conditions which he may not get in Qatar. The wind and sand can be the major problem but in the remaining 17 rounds of the Championship he has a great chance of re-writing the history books.

He is joined in the Tech 3 team by MotoGP debutant Bradley Smith. The 22 year old Oxfordshire rider was runner-up in the 2009 125 cc World Championship and was signed up for MotoGP a year and a half ago after three successive Moto2™ podium finishes. He has made steady progress in testing and that learning curve will continue throughout his debut season.

Ulsterman Michael Laverty also makes his MotoGP debut riding in the CRT Category for the Paul Bird Motorsport team. The PBM team has built their own frame for the Aprilia engine as they enter their second year in MotoGP with a two man team.

Twenty year old Gloucestershire rider Scott Redding heads British hope in the Moto2 class. Last year he grabbed four podiums on his way to fifth place in the Championship riding the Marc VDS Kalex machine and returns to the fray with a wealth of experience and helped by the minimum weight rule in the class. It’s a big year for Redding while two other British riders make their Moto2 debuts.

Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent had a superb season in the Moto3™ class last year winning two grands prix in Japan and Valencia before replacing Bradley Smith in the Tech 3 Moto2 team this year. He’s joined in the class by 21 year old Yorkshireman Kyle Smith who chose a very different route. The Spanish-based rider finished second in the very competitive Spanish CEV Stock Extreme Championship last year which included a win at Jerez. He joins former World Champion Toni Elias in the Blusens Avintia Kalex team.

The Moto3 debut season was a fantastic success last year and two British riders prepare for battle in the fiercest of all Championship classes. The experienced Kent-based Danny Webb deserves a real change of fortune and hopes to find it by switching to the Ambrogio Racing Suter Honda team. Scottish teenager John McPhee impressed at the end of last season and has been rewarded with a full time ride in the Caretta Technology – RTG FTR Honda team.

Cal Crutchlow:
“It is obviously very satisfying to finish the Jerez test with the fastest time because it shows what a really good job I did and what a great job my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team did too. It has been a positive pre-season and I think I have shown I have made another big improvement for this year. This result gives me a lot of confidence going to Qatar but my goal will be to finish in the top six and get some early momentum like I did last season. It is going to be a very exciting season and now I can’t wait to get to Qatar.”

Qualifying shake-up
The race in Qatar will herald the new qualifying system in the MotoGP Class. The top ten riders from the three practice sessions will automatically be seeded into the second qualifying session. The remaining riders will participate in the first qualifying session. The top two riders from that session will then join the top ten from practice in the second Qualifying session to determine the front four rows of the grid. The remaining places on the grid will be determined by the times from the first qualifying session.
There will be a 30 minute untimed practice session before the two qualifying sessions. The qualifying in Moto3 and Moto2 will remain the same as last year with a single session.

Vintage year uncorked in Qatar
What promises to be a vintage 2013 MotoGP season is uncorked at the opening round of the 18 round championship at the CommercialBank Grand Prix of Qatar on Sunday evening.

Under the floodlights of the 3.342 miles Losail International circuit the 24 MotoGP riders clash for the first time and the 22 lap race should give us a foretaste of the bruising battles that lie ahead.

World Champion Jorge Lorenzo arrives with an old Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi back in the fold to face the might of Honda. Dani Pedrosa finished second in the championship last year after winning six of the last 11 grands prix and is joined in the Repsol Honda team by Moto2 World Champion Marc Marquez. Throw the likes of Cal Crutchlow, Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl into the mix and it should explode at the desert circuit.

Lorenzo will be seeking a good start and has two 250cc and 125 cc victories in Qatar but the only other MotoGP winner in the race is nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi. The Italian returns to Yamaha after a disastrous two years at Ducati determined to make it four wins for himself and Yamaha at the Losail International circuit.

If Pedrosa hits the ground running he could be the biggest threat to his great rival Lorenzo’s crown and he has a new young team-mate to keep him on his toes. Twenty – year old Marc Marquez has been the sensation in pre-season testing and makes his MotoGP debut in Qatar where he won the Moto2 race last year in typical aggressive style.

Former Moto2 World Champion and Qatar winner Stefan Bradl starts his second MotoGP season after an impressive first year with the LCR Honda team. Former 125 cc Qatar winner Alvaro Bautista should have fully recovered from a testing crash to ride the Goandfun Gresini Honda while Cal Crutchlow starts his third MotoGP season riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha absolutely flying after some brilliant pre-season testing.

His former ream-mate Andrea Dovizioso joins former World Champion Nicky Hayden at Ducati determined to re-ignite the fortunes of the Italian factory while former World Superbike Champion Ben Spies joins MotoGP debutant Andrea Iannone in the Ignite Pramac Racing Ducati team. Another debutant is 125 cc grand prix winner, Bradley Smith who replaces Dovizioso at Tech 3.

The CRT category starts its second year and promises to be a real battle with the Power Electronics Aspar Aprilia duo of Aleix Espargaro and Randy de Puniet fighting to stay on top and to get among the prototypes machines at every opportunity. Former 250 cc World Champion Hiroshi Aoyama returns to partner Hector Barbara in the strong Avintia Blusens Aprilia team. Former World Superbike Champion Colin Edwards is joined by Italian Claudio Corti at NGM Mobile Forward Racing FTR Kawasaki while Ulsterman Michael Laverty and Columbian Yonny Hernandez team-up at Paul Bird Motorsport.

As always the Moto2 Championship is sure to provide many different winners and some breathtaking racing. Pol Espargaro must be favourite after such an unlucky season last year on the Tuenti HP 40 Pons Kalex but picking a winner in this class is a real lottery. From last year’s mix you have to fancy Scott Redding, Nico Terol, former World Champion Tony Elias, Julian Simon and Johann Zarco while checking out the newcomers from Moto3. Heading the list is German World Champion Sandro Cortese and grands prix winners Danny Kent and Louis Rossi.

The Moto3 Championship is equally wide open. Spanish teenager Maverick Vinales must be favourite on the Team Laglisse KTM but is fighting to be 100 per cent fit after damaging his hand in a testing crash. German Jonas Folger and Spaniard Luis Salom won grands prix last year and check out some of the impressive youngsters such as Spaniards Alex Rins and Alex Marquez and Australians Arthur Sissis and Jack Miller.

LOSAIL FACTS AND FIGURES
Circuit Length: 5.380 km / 3.343 miles
Width: 12 m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 1.068m/ 0.664 miles
Left Corners: Six
Right Corners: Ten

Pole position record:
Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha)
1’53.927/170.003 km/h (2008)

Lap record:
Casey Stoner (Ducati)
1.55.153/168.193 km/h (2008)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT
Thursday 4 April
15:45 – 20:45 Free Practice Red Button and British Eurosport 2
Friday 5 April
15:45 – 20:00 Free Practice Red Button and British Eurosport 2
Saturday 6 April
15:45 – 19:30 Live Qualifying Red Button and British Eurosport 2
Sunday 7 April
16:40 – 19:30 Moto3 and Moto2 Races Red Button and British Eurosport2
19:30 – 21:00 Live MotoGP Race BBC2
21:00 Replay MotoGP Race British Eurosport 2
CONTACTS
Nick will be available at the circuit from Wednesday lunchtime until Sunday night. Please note Nick will not be available to answer the phone during practice, qualifying or the races.
A time schedule for the event is attached.

By NHMCadmin|2020-04-29T09:39:55+00:00April 1st, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

BRADLEY FIRED-UP FOR SECOND INSTALMENT

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.”

By NHMCadmin|2013-02-25T15:08:29+00:00February 25th, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

CONFIDENT BRITISH TRIO RETURN TO SEPANG

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.

By NHMCadmin|2013-02-25T14:42:22+00:00February 25th, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

Redding leads british charge in valencia

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.

By NHMCadmin|2013-02-11T20:02:00+00:00February 11th, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

SMITH PREPARES FOR BIGGEST TEST OF HIS LIFE

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

By NHMCadmin|2013-02-04T11:17:26+00:00February 4th, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

CRUTCHLOW AND SMITH TAKE ON THE WORLD

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

By NHMCadmin|2020-04-29T09:39:55+00:00February 4th, 2013|Uncategorised|Comments Off

Air Asia Grand Prix of Japan

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

By NHMCadmin|2020-04-29T09:39:55+00:00October 8th, 2012|Uncategorised|Comments Off

OPTIMUM PROCUREMENT IN SPORT VIDEO

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/

By NHMCadmin|2012-09-24T17:01:49+00:00September 24th, 2012|Uncategorised|Comments Off

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