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2012 bwin Grand Prix of Czech Republic
ROUND TWELVE 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY AUGUST 26
CRUTCHLOW SEEKS CHANGE OF FORTUNE IN BRNO

Isle of Man-based Midlander Cal Crutchlow chases a change of fortune at the magnificent Brno circuit when he rides in the bwin Grand Prix of Czech Republic on Sunday. Crutchlow crashed out of the Indianapolis Grand Prix on Sunday and also fell twice from the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha in practice and qualifying.

Despite the misfortune he still holds fifth place in the championship while Cumbrian James Ellison picked up another precious point when he finished 15th on his 50th Grand Prix appearance riding the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine.

Scott Redding was the only British success at Indianapolis after finishing sixth in the Moto2™ race. The Gloucestershire teenager is fifth in the championship riding the Marc VDS machine. Two places behind him is 21 year old Bradley Smith who failed to score points this year after finishing 16th at Indianapolis with Londoner Gino Rea three places behind him.

Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent led the Moto3™ race from the front row of the grid at Indianapolis but eventually dropped to 12th. He‘s had some brilliant qualifying performances this year but just one podium finish. Danny Webb is doubtful for Brno after fracturing his right arm when he crashed the Mahindra in qualifying on Saturday.

Cal Crutchlow:
“Of course it was a disappointing weekend at Indianapolis with the three crashes but at least I was not hurt in any of them. The big positive is I was 1.2s faster than last year and at this level it is not a bad run to go 10 races in a row inside the top 10. I’ve got a chance to put things right in Brno next weekend and I will be doing my best to be challenging for a top result again.”

PEDROSA CLOSES IN FOR BRNO BATTLE

Indianapolis winner Dani Pedrosa is just 18 points behind championship leader Jorge Lorenzo as their battle continues at the bwin Grand Prix of Czech Republic at the ancient Brno circuit on Sunday.

It was just Pedrosa’s second win of the season but the Repsol Honda rider has finished off the podium on only one occasion in the 11 races this season. Lorenzo has just one win in the last five races but has won five grands prix and only been out of the top two on one occasion.

It promises to be another close fight in the 22 lap race round the 3.357 miles circuit. Lorenzo won the MotoGP™ race a couple of years ago while Pedrosa’s only success has come in the 125 cc class although he did start from pole last season.

Pedros’a team-mate World Champion Casey Stoner has won twice including last year but he arrives in the Czech Republic suffering with torn ankle ligaments and chipped bones in his right ankle following his spectacular crash during qualifying at Indianapolis. He completed an unbelievable race to finish fourth in America but now trails Lorenzo in the championship by 39 points.

Andrea Dovizioso is having a great season and took his fifth podium finish of the season at Indianapolis riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha. He holds a comfortable fourth place in the championship especially after his team-mate Cal Crutchlow crashed in Indianapolis but still retained fifth place in the title chase.

Honda satellite riders Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista are separated by just two points in their battle for sixth. Bradl won his first grand prix in the 125 cc race at Brno in 2008 with Bautista successful two years earlier on route to the world title.

Valentino Rossi has won five MotoGP races at Brno and 16 years ago won his very first grand prix in the 125 cc race. His Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden hopes to be fit to ride after missing his home race at Indianapolis following a qualifying crash in which he broke some bones in his hand. Ben Spies will be looking for a change of fortune after his Yamaha engine blew apart while he was challenging Pedrosa for the lead at Indianapolis.

Aleix Espargaro leads the CRT battle from his Power Electronics Aspar team-mate Randy De Puniet who is a previous 250 cc Brno winner as is Tony Elias who continues to replace the injured Hector Barbera on the Pramac Ducati.

Nineteen year old Marc Marquez continued his quest for the Moto2 World Championship before moving to MotoGP with a comprehensive Indianapolis victory. It was the Spanish teenager’s fifth win of the season and leads his great rival Pol Espargaro by an impressive 39 points. Last year’s Brno winner Andrea Iannone had a disappointing Indianapolis and dropped to third place with former 125 cc winner Tom Luthi fourth.

German Sandro Cortese arrives at Brno brimming with confidence. He leads the Moto3 Championship by 29 points and won the 125 cc race at Brno last year. His great rival Spanish teenager Maverick Vinales crashed on the last lap at Indianapolis while Spaniard Luis Salom won his first grand prix.

BRNO FACTS AND FIGURES
The 3.357 mile circuit is situated on a wooded hillside high above the City of Brno. It replaced the old road circuit that ran round the town and staged the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix between 1965 and 1982. The undulating purpose built circuit which held its first grand prix in 1987 is a great favourite with the riders and attracts big crowds.

Circuit Length: 5.403kms
Width: 15 m
Pole Position: Left
Longest Straight: 636m
Left Corners: Six
Right Corners: Eight

Pole Position Record:
Valentino Rossi/Yamaha
1.56.145 (2009)

Lap Record:
Jorge Lorenzo/Yamaha
1’56.670 (2009)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT 2
Friday 24 August
1210 – 1500 British Eurosport 2 – Live Practice Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Saturday 25 August
1155 – 1500 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 – Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 26 August
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

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
Crutchlow is looking for a change of fortune in Brno

BACK TO THE TRACK AFTER OLYMPIC GLORY

There can be no better venue for the British MotoGP™ riders to continue the post Olympic optimism than the World famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit when battle recommences at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in America on Sunday.

Chasing the medals between those towering grandstands and across the famous yard of bricks the riders commence a frantic second half of the season as they crisscross the globe.

Isle of Man – based Midlander Cal Crutchlow chases his first MotoGP podium after a superb first half of just his second MotoGP season. He lies fifth in the World Championship and is involved in a tremendous battle with his Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Andrea Dovizioso. They are separated by just 15 points and it’s a fight that will continue until that final round at the beginning of November in Valencia.

It’s been a tough return to MotoGP for Cumbrian James Ellison. Riding the CRT Paul Bird MotorSport ART machine he crashed out in the previous round at Laguna Seca after securing points at the previous three rounds. He 16th in the Championship but is the fifth highest CRT machine only four points behind Michele Pirro who is the third highest.

Scott Redding and Bradley Smith have been champing at the bit to get back on the track after a five week break since their last race. In that race at Mugello in Italy Smith was fourth and Redding sixth but they will be chasing podium finishes round the 2.620 Indy circuit on Sunday. Gloucestershire teenager Redding has finished on the podium three times this season riding the Marc VDS machine and is fifth in the Championship. Smith’s best result was at Mugello on the Tech 3 Mistral machine and is seventh after scoring points in all of the nine opening rounds. Both riders have finished on the Indianapolis podium with Smith second in the 125 cc race three years ago and Redding third in the Moto2 race the next year. Londoner Gino Rea makes his Indy debut fighting to hang onto his Gresini ride after a tough first half of his Moto2™ Championship season.

The two Danny’s, Kent and Webb have tasted contrasting fortunes in the new Moto3™ Championship. Wiltshire teenager Kent may only be tenth but on many occasions he’s been battling for the lead on the Red Bull Ajo KTM and finished on the podium in Assen. He looks very capable of more podium finishes or even a grand prix victory. It’s been a very different story for the highly experienced Kent-based Webb. Riding the Indian Mahindra machine it’s been tough going and he chases his first points of the season in a very important second half of the year.

REDDING AND SMITH SET FOR MOTOGP NEXT YEAR
British Moto2 stars and grand prix winners Scott Redding and Bradley Smith look set to join Cal Crutchlow in the MotoGP Championship next season. Twenty one year old Smith has already signed a contract to ride for the Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha team next season while Redding is still hoping for a deal with his Marc VDS team to ride a Ducati next year.

During the summer break Redding completed a two day MotoGP test with Ducati in Italy. Smith’s first MotoGP ride is scheduled for Valencia in Spain a couple of days after the last grand prix of the season at the beginning of November.

Scott Redding:
“When I’m away racing I just want to focus on this year and so I don’t worry about what might happen next year, I’m aware of the gossip that goes on but don’t pay much attention to it until something actually happens so once this opportunity came about it’s certainly been interesting to know that Ducati are interested in me which is important for my career. I had no idea what was going to happen but I was going down the pit lane with the limiter on thinking “I’m on a MotoGP bike and I’ve no idea what to expect”. It was a real eye-opener, I opened it up full bore and thought “well, it’s not that quick” but realised about the anti-wheelie and traction control systems. The first time I came down the home straight and went from 5th to 6th gear and had the throttle completely wide open, that’s when you realise how fast it really is. It’s like sitting on a live rocket ship! Mugello’s a hard circuit to get a GP a bike around, there’s a lot of change of direction which is hard to get used to when especially on a bike that’s heavier than my Moto2 bike but it was pretty immense; the fast straight with the brow then you’re in the braking zone for the first corner by the time you’re in 6th gear. The bike would always want to wheelie but to try and go straight over it would cost 0.3/0.4s.They said there could be another test although I don’t get involved too much in the contracts side of things – I just want to concentrate on my racing although if I see Valentino or Nicky in the paddock I must just drop the elbow on them and then say “Ciao”!

THE BATTLE CONTINUES – EIGHT TO GO
After the shortest of summer breaks the battle for the MotoGP World Championship continues at the iconic Indianapolis Speedway on Sunday at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix. There are eight rounds of the Championship remaining in a frantic three months to decide the outcome.

Occupying the front seat of the roller coaster is Jorge Lorenzo fighting off the combined challenge of Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and World Champion Casey Stoner in those opening ten rounds. Only time will tell if the 23 point lead the Spanish Yamaha rider holds over Pedrosa or more significantly the 32 advantage over Stoner will be enough when the season closes in Valencia at the beginning of November.

The three leaders have all tasted success at the 2.620 miles ‘Brickyard ‘ circuit that incorporates the start and finish straight, albeit running in the opposite direction to the world famous Indy 500 track. Australian Stoner won last year, Pedrosa the year before and Lorenzo in 2009. This year Stoner grabbed his first win for three races in the last round at Laguna Seca and he needs to keep winning to put some real pressure on his great rival. Pedrosa’s consistency, off the podium just once this season, keeps the Spaniard in second place but he needs to win more races after just one victory this season to close the gap on his countryman at the front.

Nine times World Champion Valentino Rossi won the very first grand prix at Indianapolis, just before the tornado arrived back in 2008. Typically the Italian will be the centre of attention at the weekend after announcing he will return to Yamaha next season after two disastrous years at Ducati. The Monster Energy Tech 3 Yamaha pair of Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow continue their season long battle for fourth place. Dovizioso leads the way by 15 points thanks to four podium finishes and one of them could replace Rossi at Ducati next season.

Former World Champion Nicky Hayden has re-signed for Ducati and can concentrate on his battle for sixth place with impressive MotoGP Rookie Stefan Bradl, Rossi and former 125 cc World Champion Alvaro Bautista who’s fighting to hang onto his San Carlo Gresini Honda ride. Ben Spies makes his last home MotoGP appearance for Yamaha and he’s determined to go out with a bang at Indianapolis where he finished third last year.

Toni Elias continues to replace the injured Hector Barbera who hopes to return at the bwin Grand Prix of the Czech Republic the following week on the Pramac Ducati. The CRT battle continues between Power Electronics Aspar team-mates Randy De Puniet and Aleix Espargaro who are equal on points way ahead of the field. There will be two extra CRT entries for the 28 lap race on Sunday. Steve Rapp makes his second appearance on the Attack Performance Aprilia after just failing to qualify at Laguna while former AMA Champion Aaron Yates rides the GP Tech machine at his home race.

The Moto2 and Moto3 riders return to the fray after a proper summer break of five weeks following their last round at Mugello in Italy. Despite only finishing fifth in Italy Marc Marquez holds a commanding 34 point Moto2 lead over countryman Pol Espargaro and Italian Andrea Iannone after a superb first half of the season. He won the Moto2 race last year in which Espargaro was second to secure his first Moto2 podium finish. Espargaro also won the 125 cc race three years ago and needs to secure his third win of the year to close the gap on Marquez and get away from Iannone who won the previous round in Mugello.

Moto3 makes it Indy debut and the American crowd are in for a real treat after a sensational start to the new championship. Nine points separate Sandro Cortese and Maverick Vinales at the top but there are at least ten riders capable of victory in the heat of battle. Italian teenager Romano Fenati makes his Indy debut after winning in Jerez, Luis Salom will surely win a race before the end of the season, Louis Rossi chases a repeat of his Le Mans victory while never rule out podium finishers Alexis Masbou, Alex Rins and Danny Kent.

INDIANAPOLIS FACTS AND FIGURES
The iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway celebrated its 100th birthday three years ago by staging its second MotoGP race because the first race ever staged at “The Brickyard” was a motorcycle race in 1909. Since then the Oval circuit has been the home of the World famous Indy 500 car race. The 2.620 motorcycle circuit runs in the opposite direction but incorporates the same start and finish straight. The towering grandstands around the oval hold over 257,000 spectators.
Circuit Length: 4.216 kms
Width: 16 m
Pole Position: Right
Longest Straight: 872m
Left Corners: Ten
Right Corners: Six
Pole Position Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
1.38.850 (2011)
Lap Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
1’39.807 (2011)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT 2
Friday 17 August
1810 – 2100 British Eurosport 2 – Live Practice Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Saturday 18 August
1555 – 1800 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 – Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 19 August
1555 – 1800 BBC Red Button – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
1545 –1800 British Eurosport 2 – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
1830 — 2000 BBC2 and HD Live MotoGP race
2000 British Eurosport2 – 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.

Email nick@nick-harris.co.uk
Mobile 07785 224 596
Redding will be back on his Moto2 bike this weekend

2012 TIM Italian Grand Prix
ROUND NINE 2012 MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – SUNDAY JULY 15
SMITH RETURNS TO SCENE OF TRIUMPH
Twenty-one year old Oxfordshire rider Bradley Smith returns to the scene of previous triumphs when he competes in the Moto2™ race at the magnificent Mugello circuit in the TIM Grand Prix of Italy on Sunday. Smith won the 125 cc race in 2009 at the 3.259 miles circuit and last year finished third in the Moto2 race. He’s currently seventh in the Moto2 World Championship and his Tech 3 Mistral machine is improving every race.
Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding was chasing his third successive podium in Germany on Sunday but crashed out at the second bend he did, however, retain his fifth place in the Championship. Londoner Gino Rea started from the second row in Germany but finished just out of the points in 18th place.
Cal Crutchlow finished eighth in Germany after running of track chasing a podium finish. He makes just his second Mugello appearance trailing his Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Andrea Dovizioso by seven points in their battle for fourth in the championship. Cumbrian James Ellison is fifth in the CRT category riding the Paul Bird Motorsport ART machine.
Wiltshire teenager Danny Kent was thawted by mechanical problems in Germany and is keen to get back to podium chasing in Italy, while Danny Webb chases a change of fortune for the Mahindra team at the fast undulating track.
Bradley Smith:
“I am really happy with the first part of the race because I was battling for the podium and that is where I should be. But the second half of the race wasn’t so easy and it is clear we still have some work to do to improve the Mistral 610 machine. I had the same problem in the race that I had all weekend in the dry and that was a lack of rear grip. We tried a lot of things to improve it but I didn’t have the drive out of the corner like the rest. It is a pity that I didn’t quite finish in sixth because that would have been a decent outcome, but seventh still gives us something to build on. The Mistral 610 is getting better and that is clear because both myself and Xavier were able to finish inside the top 10, so that shows the brilliant work the team have been doing. Now we go to Mugello, which is one of my favourite tracks, and I’m hoping to have another great battle like last year when I was third.”

STONER TO FIGHT BACK AT MAGNIFICENT MUGELLO

World Champion Casey Stoner arrives at the magnificent Mugello circuit in determined mood for the TIM Grand Prix of Italy after his disasterous weekend in Germany. The Australian slipped to third place in the World Championship after crashing two bends from the finish in the race won by his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
Jorge Lorenzo finished second in Germany to regain his championship lead. The three leading riders are separated by 20 points and all three have excellant records at the superb 3.259 mile Mugello circuit nestling in the Tuscan hillsides above the beautiful City of Florence.
Lorenzo won for Yamaha last year and also secured the 250 cc victory six years ago. Pedrosa, fresh from his first victory of the season in the Sachsenring, also has MotoGP™ and 250 cc wins while Stoner brought Ducati victory in 2009. It promises to be another classic encounter between the three leaders but there may be others fighting for the podium.
Andrea Dovizioso has secured three podium finishes, including Germany for the Monster Energy Tech 3 team and regained fourth place in the championship from team-mate Cal Crutchlow who ran off track but still finished in eighth place in Germany.
Mugello’s favourite son returns home with mixed memories. Valentino Rossi won seven years in succession between 2002 – 2008 to send the partisan fans wild. Two years ago he crashed and broke his leg in practice but he returns after finishing sixth in the Sachsenring to hold onto sixth place in the championship. Just four behind him.despite having to start from the back of the Sachsenring grid is Alvaro Bautista who is a 250 cc winner at Mugello. Rossi’s Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden is two points adrift and coming under pressure from German Stefan Bradl riding the LCR Honda.
American Ben Spies is fighting for his factory Yamaha contract. He’s tenth in the championship after Dovizioso relegated him to fourth in Germany. Randy De Puniet took over the lead in the CRT category after finishing 11th in Germany. He leads team-mate Aleix Espargaro by a single point but also look out for previous double Mugello winners Matteo Paisini and Italian Michele Pirro on the San Carlo Gresini Honda. Italian Ducati test rider Franco Battaini is expected to continue replacing the injured Karel Abraham.

Spanish teenager Marc Marquez is running away with the Moto2™ World Championship. He has built up a 42 point lead in the championship after his fourth win of the season in Germany. In similar style to the last two rounds in Assen and the Sachsenring he’s chasing a hatrick of victoris after 125 and Moto2 wins at the Italian venue. There is a tremendous battle for second with Pol Espargaro , Tom Luthi and Andrea Iannone seperated by just five points. It’s a big home race for Iannone after crashing in Germany.

German Sandro Cortese will stop celebrating his histroric home Moto3™ win to concentrate on protecting his 18 point lead in the championship. Previous championship leader Maverick Vinales had a disasterous time in Germany finishing out of the points. It’s a special race for 16 year old Italian Romano Fenati who returns home for the first time to race after his maiden grand prix win in Jerez.

MUGELLO FACTS AND FIGURES
One of the favourite MotoGP venues for both fans and riders. The 3.259 miles circuit follows the contours of the Tuscan hills high above the City of Florence. It’s both fast and undulating and is also the Ferrari Formula One test track. Mugello staged it’s first grand prix in 1976.

Circuit Length: 5.245kms
Width: 14 m
Pole Position: Right
Longest Straight: 709m
Left Corners: Six
Right Corners: Nine

Pole Position Record:
Casey Stoner/Honda
1.48.034 (2011)

Lap Record:
Jorge Lorenzo/Yamaha
1’48.402 (2011)

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT 2
Friday 13 July
1210 – 1500 British Eurosport 2 – Live Practice Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Saturday 14 July
1150 – 1505 BBC Red Button & British Eurosport 2 –
Live Qualifying Moto3, MotoGP, Moto2
Sunday 15 July
0950 – 1205 BBC Red Button – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
0945 –1225 British Eurosport 2 – Live Moto3 and Moto2 races
1230 — 1400 BBC2 Live MotoGP race
1400 British Eurosport2 – 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.

Ellison moves into fifth position in the CRT category points standing

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE LORENZO/STONER DUEL CONTINUES IN BARCELONA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TELEVISION TIMES
BBC/BRITISH EUROSPORT

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

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

Redding is hoping more podiums will follow

Gino Rea looking forward to building on Le Mans form

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scott Redding on board the Marc VDS Kalex

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE BATTLE CONTINUES IN ESTORIL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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