Nicky Hayden #1

MotoGP 2007 season haven't been already started but the number of rider have been released by FIM. Nicky "the kentucky kid" Hayden has confirmed using #1, unlike Valentino Rossi used # 46 when he was the champion in 2002 - 2006. The rider number in 2007 session are listed below :

* 1. NICKY HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team Honda
* 4. ALEX BARROS BRA Pramac d’Antin Ducati
* 5. COLIN EDWARDS USA Yamaha Factory Racing Team Yamaha
* 6. MAKOTO TAMADA JPN Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha
* 7. CARLOS CHECA SPA Honda LCR Honda
* 10. KENNY ROBERTS Jr USA Team Roberts KR211V
* 17. RANDY DE PUNIET FRA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki
* 19. OLIIVIER JACQUE FRA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki
* 21. JOHN HOPKINS USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki
* 24. TONI ELIAS SPA Honda Gresini Honda
* 26. DANI PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda
* 27. CASEY STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati
* 33. MARCO MELANDRI ITA Honda Gresini Honda
* 46. VALENTINO ROSSI ITA Yamaha Factory Racing Team Yamaha
* 50. SYLVAIN GUINTOLI FRA Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha
* 56. SHINYA NAKANO JPN Konica Minolta Honda Honda
* 65. LORIS CAPIROSSI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati
* 66. ALEX HOFMANN GER Pramac d’Antin Ducati
* 71. CHRIS VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki
* TBC JEREMY McWILLIAMS GBR Ilmor SRT Ilmor X3
* TBC ANDREW PITT AUS Ilmor SRT Ilmor X3
Note:
TBC = To Be Confirmed

McWilliams, Pitt confirmed as Ilmor riders for 2007

Despite his crash in Jerez back in November where he suffered a fractured left femur McWilliams is well on the way to recovery, both he and ex-Kawasaki rider Pitt spent time today at the teams engineering facility in Northampton discussing plans for 2007.

Both riders are familiar with the Ilmor X³ SRT having tested the bike in Jerez and in Valencia after the final of the MotoGP World Championship. The riders were selected for not only their proven riding skills but the invaluable experience they will bring to the team.

At 42 Irishman McWilliams is one of the sports most experienced riders and his team mate 30 year old Australian Pitt has clocked up a decent amount of miles with Kawasaki back in 2004. At this early stage in the X³’s development, the team believe it’s essential to have riders who have the ability to assist with perfecting the ultimate race set-up of the bike.

Jeremy McWilliams: “I’m very pleased to be part of a new team and obviously I’m delighted to be back in MotoGP. Now, with Mario and Ilmor it’s a very different situation – having spent some time with him and the team his passion and dedication is evident everywhere, especially at the facility in Northampton – you can see that he’s not a man who’s used to coming second. He takes his racing incredibly seriously, he’s a legend and whilst I know his expectations in terms of hard work are high he’s realistic about what we can achieve over the next year.”

“We have a brand new bike and very little testing time – I think we have a very good product to work with but there is a lot of developing that needs to be done. It’s going to take time and it’s going to be hard but I’m really looking forward to it, at the end of the day, that’s what MotoGP is all about – it’s hard work – if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!”

Andrew Pitt: “I’m delighted that everything is confirmed now – I can’t wait to get back out on the track – I really feel like I wasn’t able to reach my potential before and now I’m lucky enough to get another opportunity with a new team on what promises to be a great bike. You only need to take a quick look around the Ilmor headquarters to see how seriously these guys take things, it dwarves everything I’ve ever seen before.”

Mario Illien, Team Owner: “As a fledgling team, the main reason behind signing McWilliams and Pitt was for their skills in further developing the overall bike package and making us more competitive as a team. Both riders come well equipped with a huge amount of experience to bring to the team as we start out. I’ve said since the beginning of this project that we are on a steep learning curve and I believe that McWilliams and Pitt will really help us begin to make our mark on the grid.” (dailyracer.com)

RC212V Specification

Nicky Hayden (1), Daniel Pedosa (26), Marco Melandri (33), Toni Elias (24), Sinya Nakano (56), and Carlos Checa (7) will ride Honda RC212V in MotoGP session 2007. Technical specification of RC212V is shown below :

RC212V - Technical Specifications:
Weight & Dimension
Weight (kg) : over 148kg
Overall length : 2050mm
Overall width : 645mm
Overall height : 1125mm
Wheelbase : 1440mm
Road clearance : 125mm

Engine Specification
Engine type: liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4 valve V-4
Displacement : 800cc
Maximum power : N/A
Frame type : twin-tube
Front Wheels (inch) : 16.5
Rear Wheels (inch) : 16.5
Front Suspension : Telescopic fork
Rear Suspension : New Unit Pro-link
Fuel tank capacity : 21 litre

Yamaha ends partnership with Camel

Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards rode the bikes sponsored by Camel during the 2006 season and while they’ll both continue riding with the team in 2007, Yamaha is searching a new title sponsor for the new 800cc bikes.

"Following Camel’s recent announcement, Yamaha Factory Racing would like to express its thanks to Camel and Japan Tobacco International for their partnership and support over the 2006 MotoGP season," a statement issued by Yamaha read.

"Our thanks go out to all those involved in the project; they have formed an important part of our team over the past year. It has been a great honour for Yamaha to work with such an experienced sponsor and Camel’s enthusiasm throughout the season has been greatly appreciated by the entire Yamaha Factory Racing Team and the Yamaha Motor Group." (dailyracer.com)

Selama musim 2006, Valentino Rossi dan Coilin Edwards berlaga di MotoGP dengan motor yang dponsori oleh Camel. Pada musim 2007 ini, kontrak kedua pembalap diperpanjang oleh team Yamah, sedangkan yamaha sendiri saat ini sedang mencari sponsor pengganti setelah Camel mundur dari kancah MotoGP 2007.

“Berdasarkan pernyataan pihak Camel, Yamaha Factory Racing mengucapkan terimakasih kepada camel dan Japan Tobacco International atas kerjasama dan dukungannya selama musim 2006”, ungkap pihak Yamaha.

“Terimakasih kami ucapkan kepada semua yang terlibat dalam proyek ini, mereka merupakan bagian penting dari team kami dalam melewati musim 2006 ini. Hal ini merupakan penghargaan terbesar Yamaha untuk bekerja sama dengan sponsor yang sangat berpengalaman serta antusiame Camel dalam melewati musim ini sangat dihargai oleh Yamaha Factory Racing Team dan Yamaha Motor Group” (dailyracer.com)


"

Nicky Hayden expects a long way to go to retain his title

Honda, alongside other MotoGP teams, is testing its 800cc bike at Sepang and the reigning MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden has already warned there is much work to do if he is to successfully defend his maiden crown in 2007.

"We have a lot of work to do. Today we moved the swinging arm pivot both up and down to check the feedback looking for better rear grip and a good feeling."

"We also tried a new shock but that was not really what we were looking for, we need something in-between. I tried some changes on the mapping and other electronic stuff."

"Basically we just need to understand the bike better than we do right now, but I didn’t really give my best today. My brother Tommy crashed testing his US Superbike and what with running to the phone to check out his condition the day could have been much better. Luckily Tommy’s ok so I will go into tomorrow in better shape."

The Last Action of Sete Gibernau (2006)

Team : Ducati Marlboro Team
Teammate : Loris Capirosi (65)
Final Result : 13th

Remembering Sete Gibernau (2001 - 2005)

Team : Movistar Honda
Teammate : Marco Melandri (33)
Final Result : 7th


Team : Telefonica Movistar Honda
Teammate : Colin Edward (45)
Final Result : 2nd


Team : Telefonica Movistar Honda
Teammate : Daijiri Kato (74) / Ryuichi Kiyonari
Final Result : 2nd


Team : Suzuki Telefonica Movistar
Teammate : Kenny Robert Jr (21)
Final Result : 16


Team : Suzuki Telefonica Movistar
Teammate : Kenny Robert Jr (21)
Final Result : 9th

Remembering Sete Gibernau (1996 - 2000)

Remembering Sete Gibernau (1990 -1995)

prastowo-priyatmoko.blogspot.com has been retired

Sorry, www.prastowo-priyatmoko.blogspot.com has moved to this blog (motogp-news.blogspot.com). Thanks for your attention.

Gibernau retires

Former double MotoGP World Championship runner-up and nine-times grand prix winner, Sete Gibernau, has announced his retirement from racing.

An emotional Gibernau confirmed the conclusion of his ten-year MotoGP career during a press conference in Barcelona, saying:

"I have decided to retire from world championship motorcycling. It has been an incredible experience and given me many unforgettable moments. I'm proud of what I've achieved, I dreamt of being world champion and went through some difficult moments, but those just made me appreciate the good times more. I'm very pleased to have won races in both 500cc and MotoGP, to have led the world championship on several occasions and to have fought to the end to become a world champion."

Gibernau added that he had turned down the chance to continue in MotoGP on less competitive machinery next year:
"I'm leaving at the top. To continue just for the sake of it would not have made me happy, especially if I was just doing it for the money," explained the #15, who said he was offered a ride by Kawasaki, Sito Pons and Ilmor. "I don't yet know exactly what I'll do in the future, but I've got other projects to concentrate on."

The 33-year-old Spaniard was Honda's leading rider - and Valentino Rossi's closest title rival - during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, but the pressure of fighting the dominant Italian seemed to take its toll and Sete was left winless in 2005, despite five pole positions, prompting him to leave the satellite Gresini Honda team (with whom he took all but one of his race wins) for a new start at the factory Ducati Marlboro Team.

But his 2006 season began with a mechanical failure while amongst the lead group in Jerez and further misfortune followed - highlighted by a huge accident at turn one in Catalunya, when he tangled with team-mate Loris Capirossi under braking. Gibernau broke his collarbone in the fall, forcing him to miss the next three rounds then, just two races after his return, required a further operation after the plate inserted to heal the break weakened, forcing him to miss another race.

Gibernau made his second comeback for the three flyaway events in Malaysia, Australia and Japan - finishing fifth, fourth and fourth as he regained fitness - but had a fighting chance of a breakthrough victory when he took the lead of the rain interrupted Australian Grand Prix. However, as the weather improved, Sete's wet tyres deteriorated and he went on to lose what would have been his first, and only, Ducati podium to Rossi at the very final corner. (www.crash.net)

Catatan Bursa Pembalap MotoGP 2007

Diawali dengan hengkangnya Casey Stoner dari Honda LCR ke kubu Ducati, kemudian diikuti Sinya Nakano yang dipinang Konica Minolta Honda. Sementara kubu Yamaha Tech 3 kehilangan Carlos Checa yang menggantikan Casey Stoner di Honda LCR. Pembalap veteran asala Brasil Alex Barros yang sempat pindah ke Superbike 2006, akhirnya mendapat jok di Ducati d’antin yang tahun 2007 ini berlaga dengan ban Bridgestone menemani Alex Hoffman. Ramainya bursa pembalap 2007 tersebut meninggalkan nama Sete “the spaniard” Gibernau yang didepak dari Ducati. Akan kemanakah “anak orang kaya spanyol” ini berlabuh ? Sepertinya jok MotoGP sudah penuh, ataukah akan seperti Alex Barros yang hengkang ke Superbike tahun 2006 ? Atau sebagai anak konglomerat bukan tidak mungkin Sete akan membangun team pribadi.

Rossi juga Manusia - Hayden Juara Dunia

MotoGP 2006 putaran terakhir menjadi penentu kedigdayaan Repsol Honda Team dengan menempatkan Nicky Hayden sebagai Juara Dunia MotoGP 2006. Sementara Valentino Rossi puas ditempat ke dua klasemen akhir MotoGP 2006. Sepertinya Rossi juga mengalami tekanan mental yang luar biasa mengahadapi seri terakhir di Valencia ini, sehingga mengalami kecelakaan tunggal di lap ke-5. Kecelakaan tunggal yang jarang sekali dialami Rossi. Kecelakaan tunggal Rossi terakhir terjadi di Qatar tahun 2004, setelah dipinalti start di barisan belakang yang akhirnya keluarlah “sumpah serapah” kepada Sete Gibernau, rival kuatnya pada saat itu.
Klasemen Terakhir MotoGP 2006:
1. Nicky Hayden
2. Valentino Rossi
3. Loris Capirossi
4. Marco Melandri
5. ….

Preview – Valencian Grand Prix

Crash.net
Rossi and Hayden, Australian MotoGP, 2006
Melandri leads start of Valencia MotoGP Race, 2005
Dovizioso and Lorenzo, Japanese 250GP, 2006
For the first time in 14 years, the MotoGP World Championship will be decided with a final round showdown, which Yamaha's Valentino Rossi will start eight-points ahead of Honda's Nicky Hayden.

Reigning five-times world champion Rossi has only lost one premier-class title since he arrived in 2000, but - after a difficult season - the Italian superstar only took the 2006 points lead last time out in Portugal, in a race of truly monstrous consequences for the Repsol Honda team.

Hayden began the penultimate round 12 points clear of Rossi, but team-mate Dani Pedrosa stunned the MotoGP world when he slammed into the side of the Kentuckian on lap five of 28, bringing them both down and leaving the way clear for Rossi to lead the championship.

Hayden's fury may have abated, but Pedrosa's colossal mistake can only be rectified in one way: The 250cc world champion, who has won the 250cc race at Valencia for the last two years, must finish second behind Hayden on Sunday to give the American and Honda the world title by a single point.

It's a tough call for Hayden. The former AMA Superbike champion led the championship by a massive 51 points after winning his home grand prix, round 11 at Laguna Seca. He's agonisingly watched that lead being swallowed up by a resurgent Rossi and Camel Yamaha - and the heartbreaking clash in Portugal would have destroyed a weaker character.

But the 25-year-old rider is made of sterner stuff and will fight to the finish to try and break Rossi's perfect sweep of all the 990cc championships. Hayden goes well round the tight 2.486 mile circuit and finished second last year after a superb battle with Marco Melandri, which was decided at the flag by 0.097secs.

The 30 lap race on Sunday will be the biggest test of Hayden's racing life, while seven-times world champion Rossi is used to fighting for titles - although never at the final round. A patriotic sell-out weekend crowd of over 220,000 will boost Pedrosa, who in turn has only one thought in mind - to help his team-mate win the world title that his moment of madness in Portugal could well have wrecked.

Meanwhile Rossi, who admits Valencia is not his favourite circuit despite winning two MotoGP races in 2003 and 2004 and finishing third last year, will be looking for help from his team-mate Colin Edwards. The Texan proved the perfect team-mate in Portugal, which is something that Pedrosa will be hoping to achieve for Hayden on Sunday.

A 'small' problem for the central players in the plot is the fact that so many other riders who are not interested in world titles are very capable of not only winning the race, but also filling positions on the podium to really complicate matters.

For instance, the Fortuna Honda duo arrive at the circuit, named after the former 50cc World Champion Ricardo Tormo, bristling with confidence. Spaniard Toni Elias produced the ride of his life to beat Rossi in Portugal and secure his first MotoGP victory, while team-mate Melandri won the race last year and is fighting to hold onto his third place in the championship.

Melandri leads fellow Italian Loris Capirossi by eights points, which has a familiar ring to it, with Pedrosa a further seven points adrift. Capirossi had a difficult time in Portugal but has been in superb form winning two of the previous four races on the Marlboro Ducati. He's joined by World Superbike Champion and former team-mate Troy Bayliss, who replaces the injured Sete Gibernau for the final race of the year.

Veteran Kenny Roberts will be looking to end a superb season for his Oxfordshire- based KR team with a third podium. The former World 500cc Champion is sixth in the championship after a superb third place in Portugal, a race he was leading going into the last lap.

KR Jr leads 21-year-old Australian Casey Stoner by two points and it's a big race for Stoner for many different reasons. He has crashed out of the last two grands prix and it's his last ride for the LCR Honda team before he replaces Gibernau at Ducati next season.

Shinya Nakano won the 250cc race in Valencia six years ago and signs off his Kawasaki career on Sunday before joining Honda next season, replacing Makoto Tamada in the Konica Minolta team. His team-mate Randy de Puniet is also a former 250 Valencia winner and will be looking to finish his first MotoGP season with a decent result.

Spaniard Carlos Checa has his last ride for the Tech 3 Yamaha team - currently facing an uncertain future - before replacing Stoner at LCR Honda, while Australian Gary McCoy makes his second appearance for the Ilmor team riding the X3 800cc machine.

Tamada Pindah ke Yamaha

Salomo Sihombing - detikSport

Konica Minolta Honda
Valencia - Habis kontrak di Konica Minolta Honda tidak membuat Makoto Tamada keluar dari MotoGP. Musim depan pembalap Jepang itu bergabung dengan Tech 3 Yamaha.

Di awal karirnya tahun 2003, Tamada cukup sukses dengan meraih podium. Semusim kemudian pembalap berusia 29 tahun itu meraih dua gelar seri. Namun karirnya anjlok setelah Konica memutuskan beralih dari ban Bridgestone ke Michelin.

Akhir musim ini karir Tamada kembali dipertanyakan. Sebab posisinya dipastikan diambil oleh pembalap Kawasaki Shinya Nakako. Namun kabar baik datang menjelang seri terakhir Valencia akhir pekan ini. Tamada resmi dikontrak oleh tim Tech 3 Yamaha, yang adalah pengguna ban Dunlop.

"Saya senang kembali balapan dengan ban Dunlop, karena saya punya catatan yang bagus menggunakan Dunlop di Superbike Jepang," ujar Tamada seperti dilansir Crash, Kamis (26/10/2006).

"Proyek yang ditawarkan Tech 3 Yamaha dan Dunlop sangat menantang saya. Saya bisa melihat kemampuan mereka lewat prestasi Carlos Checa di MotoGP Portugal," tambahnya.

Checa musim ini meraih dua finis ketujuh, termasuk di Portugal. Namun untuk musim 2007, pembalap Spanyol itu dipastikan pindah ke LCR Honda. (lom/lom)

Barros Gabung Ducati d'Antin

Salomo Sihombing - detikSport


AFP/Carl De Souza
Roma - Alex Barros hanya setahun turun di World Superbike. Musim depan pembalap Brasil itu akan balik ke MotoGP bersama tim Ducati Pramac D'Antin.

Karir Barros memang punya karir unik di balapan roda dua. Turun di GP500cc 1990 hingga era MotoGP, pembalap 36 tahun itu absen dari kelas "Para Raja" tahun lalu karena tidak mendapat sponsor.

Meski usianya cukup tua, namun Barros tidak pensiun. Dirinya malah beralih ke World Superbike bersama tim Klaffi Honda. Namun tahun depan, kolektor tujuh gelar seri MotoGP itu akan menunggangi motor 800cc Ducati Desmosedici GP7.

"Saya sangat senang bisa kembali balapan di kelas presmier bersama Pramac d'Antin. Saya sangat yakin, saya yakin kami akan melakukan tugas dengan sukses," ujar Barros seperti dilansir Crash, Selasa (24/10/2006).

Musim 2006 capaian d'Antin sebenarnya tidak terlalu bagus. Namun dengan data ujicoba Ducati dari tim Marlboro Ducati, serta keputusan pindah dari ban Dunlop ke Bridgestone membuat peluang d'Antin lebih baik.

"Kami sangat menyambut kedatangan Alex Barros. Keberadaannya membuat kami benar-benar percaya diri menyambut musim depan. Pengalamannya merupakan sesuatu yang sangat berharga," sambut manajer Luis d'Antin.

Belum diketahui siapa yang akan menjadi tandem Barros di d'Antin, karena pembalap tahun lalu Alex Hofmann dan Jose Luis Cardoso masih belum jelas nasibnya. (lom/lom)

Biaggi Latihan di Magny-Cours Perancis

Sebagai penonton setia MotoGP di TV 7 (maklum belum kuat untuk menyewa TV Kabel-red) ada “sedikit” kritik untuk TV 7 yang agak mengganggu.
1. Redaksi TV 7 beberapa kali melakukan kesalahan menayangkan profil pembalap, biasanya team, Debut dan tempat tanggal lahir.
2. Ada satu komentator yang terlalu memihak Yamaha, mungkin supaya dipakai terus TV 7 mengingat acara tersebut disponsori Yamaha. Angkat jempol buat Bung Benny Djati Utomo dan Bung Joni Lono Purnomo yang kami anggap sebagai komentator MotoGP terbaik.
3. Celebration di beberapa seri yang dimenangkan team selain penunggang Yamaha hampir tidak pernah ditayangkan, kecuali tahun 2003 dimana Yamaha tidak pernah naik podium. Tanya kenapa ?

Saran untuk TV 7

Sebagai penonton setia MotoGP di TV 7 (maklum belum kuat untuk menyewa TV Kabel-red) ada “sedikit” kritik untuk TV 7 yang agak mengganggu.
1. Redaksi TV 7 beberapa kali melakukan kesalahan menayangkan profil pembalap, biasanya team, Debut dan tempat tanggal lahir.
2. Ada satu komentator yang terlalu memihak Yamaha, mungkin supaya dipakai terus TV 7 mengingat acara tersebut disponsori Yamaha. Angkat jempol buat Bung Benny Djati Utomo dan Bung Joni Lono Purnomo yang kami anggap sebagai komentator MotoGP terbaik.
3. Celebration di beberapa seri yang dimenangkan team selain penunggang Yamaha hampir tidak pernah ditayangkan, kecuali tahun 2003 dimana Yamaha tidak pernah naik podium. Tanya kenapa ?

KETOLOLAN PEDROSA !!!

Judul di atas mungkin terasa menyakitkan bagi Daniel Pedrosa setelah gelar rookie of the year disematkan di dadanya. Rasa sakit itu tidak lebih menyakitkan daripada sakit hati yang dialami Nicky Hayden, teammate Pedrosa di Repsol Honda Team, setelah terjatuh akibat tertabrak Pedrosa di sirkuit Estroil Portugal tanggal 15 Okrober 2006.

Sebagai pimpinan klasemen sementara saat itu, Nicky Hayden dipaksa harus berada di lima besar untuk mempertahankan mahkotanya dari serangan Valentino Rossi dari Camel Yamaha. Keluarnya Hayden dari lintasan estroil sebelum finish memaksanya untuk duduk di peringkat dua klasemen sementara. Perjuangan yang tidak ringan untuk dapat mengambil kembali mahkota yang sudah digondol Rossi sekarang. Satu-satunya kesempatan hanya ada di sirkuit Valencia Spanyol sebagai penutup laga MotoGP 2006.

“Ketololan Pedrosa sekali lagi ketololan Pedrosa” ujar Benny Djati Utomo, owner Yamaha Fuch Star Motor Indonesia, yang saat itu sebagai komentator MotoGP seri Estoril Portugal tayang di TV7. Komentator yang biasanya kalem dengan analisis tajam itu tiba-tiba seperti emosi menanggapi “tragedi” Hayden-Pedrosa (mengambil istilah Mashim –red). Repsol Honda Team sepertinya tidak melakukan team order untuk memuluskan langkah Hayden menjadi juara dunia MotoGP 2006. Akankah Hayden mampu mengambil mahkota juara dunia yang sudah dirampas Rossi dan “dibantu” Pedrosa ?

Cita-cita Checa Terkabul

Setelah gagal menunggangi honda di musim 2006, akhirnya Carlos Checa menandatangani kontrak dengan Honda LCR untuk musim 2007. Honda LCR akhirnya tidak melanjutkan kerjasama dengan Casey Stoner karena "harga" yang tidak mencapai titik temu. Akankah ini menjadi kebangkitan rider spanyol ini ? Kita tunggu musim 2007

Kawasaki : Pengganti Nakano harus berpengalaman

Kawasaki Racing Team harus memilih rider berpengalaman untuk menggantikan Shinya Nakano sebagai rider Kawasaki 800 cc yang pertama. Seperti yang dilansir dari crash.net, Nakano hengkang ke Konica Minolta Honda musim 2007 menggantikan Makoto Tamada.

Kawasaki Racing Team masih mempertahankan rider perancis Randy de Puniet untuk laga MotoGP musim 2007.

"Sulit mencari pengganti Nakano, sehingga kami memerlukan waktu yang agak lama untuk menentukan rider baru untuk tahun 2007" ujar Ian Wheeler Manajer Komunikasi Kawasaki.

"Kami akan melihat beberapa rider muda sebagai pengganti Nakano dari MotoGP maupun di luar MotogP, tetapi utnuk mengendarai motor 800 ccdan mengembangkannya, kami memerlukan rider yang berpeng



Rider "kosong" yang paling berpengalaman saat ini adalah Sete Gibernau yang didepak dari Ducati, setelah memutuskan untuk meminang Casey Stoner untuk laga 2007. Rumor yang beredar saat ini adalah pinangan Kawasaki ke Max Biaggi dan Alex Barros. Kemungkinan ini sangat kecil karena mengingat Max "Mad Max" Biaggi sudah teken di arena SBK bersama suzuki Alstare sedangkan Barros sepertinya sudah kerasan di SBK karena cita-citanya untuk menjadi juara dunia sudah ada tanda-tanda akan terwujud dibandingkan dia kembali ke MotoGP.



Tidak ada yang tidak mungkin bagi Makoto Tamada akan bertukar jok dengan Nakano, mungkinkah hal ini akan terjadi ?

Stoner Resmi ke Ducati

Mohammad Yanuar Firdaus - detikSport

Roma - Akhirnya, Casey Stoner secara resmi bergabung dengan skuad Ducati Marlboro musim depan. Pembalap berusia 21 tahun ini telah menandatangani kontrak dua musim dengan opsi di tahun 2008.

Kepastian ini mengakhiri tanda tanya yang beredar mengenai nasib Stoner dalam seminggu terakhir setelah pihak Honda menegaskan tidak akan memperpanjang kontraknya untuk musim depan. Ia akan berpartner dengan Loris Capirossi dan menggeser posisi Sete Gibernau.

Stoner tentunya gembira setelah keiginannya bergabung dengan Ducati terwujud. Rider asal Australia ini juga mengaku tersanjung bisa berduet dengan Capirossi musim depan.

Meski demikian Stoner yang secara tidak langsung 'disingkirkan' tim Honda di musim depan tetap memberikan penghormatan. "Saya berterima kasih kepada Lucio Cecchinello (manajer tim Honda)," tutur Stoner mengenai kesempatan yang diperolehnya bersama Honda, seperti dikutip Crash, Jumat (20/10/2006).

Dengan demikian bergabungnya Stoner menjadi sejarah tersendiri bagi Ducati mengontrak rider muda belia. Pasalnya sebelum kedatangan Stoner, Ducati lebih identik dengan pembalap-pembalap mereka yang bisa dibilang cukup veteran. Sebut saja Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa dan yang terakhir, Sete Gibernau.
(ian/key)

Elias Tetap di Honda

Mohammad Yanuar Firdaus - detikSport


Moto-Live
Tokyo - Toni Elias bakal tetap menjadi anggota Honda musim depan. Kesuksesan rider Fortuna Honda ini di GP Portugal dua pekan lalu diperkirakan menjadi dasar Honda memperpanjang kontraknya.

Keputusan Honda ini memang sedikit mengejutkan. Pasalnya beberapa waktu lalu sempat muncul Elias bakal didepak dari tim di penghujung musim nanti.

Namun fakta berbicara lain. Pabrikan asal Jepang ini memperpanjang kontraknya satu musim lagi dan dipastikan Elias bakal tetap mengisi seat motor Honda V4 800 cc musim 2007.

"Saya sangat senang telah mencapai kesepakatan. Kontrak yang diperbarui ini membuat saya memiliki kesempatan meneruskan proyek yang kami mulai bersama Honda dan Fausto Gresini (bos Honda) tahun ini," ujar Elias seperti dikutip Crash, Jumat (20/10/2006).

Sementara kubu Honda tidak menjelaskan apa yang membuat mereka berubah pikiran dengan memperpanjang kontrak Elias. Namun santer terdengar kabar bahwa kesuksesan Elias meraih podium teratas di GP Portugal beberapa waktu lalu menjadi alasan utama Honda kemabli mengikatnya.

"Kami selalu mempercayai potensi yang dimilikinya dan kami mendukung Elias sepanjang balapan selama satu musim penuh. Kemenangan di Estoril menegaskan bahwa ia adalah pembalap yang sangat potensial dan penuh antusiasme," ungkap Gresini.

Dengan demikian Marco Melandri akan tetap didampingi oleh Elias musim depan. Namun dua pembalap tersebut kabarnya bakal mendapat dukungan berbeda dari musim ini setelah Fortuna dirumorkan bakal hengkang.
(ian/key)

Gibernau Absen di Laga Terakhir

Mohammad Yanuar Firdaus - detikSport

Estoril - Ducati Marlboro dipastikan tanpa diperkuat Sete Gibernau di seri terakhir MotoGP 2006 di Valencia. Cedera pada tangan dan tulang selangka yang membuat rider Spanyol ini harus absen.

Seperti diberitakan sebelumnya, Gibernau menderita luka yang cukup parah pasca kecelakaan yang dialaminya di Estoril akhir pekan lalu. Tangannya patah sementara tulang selangkanya kembali bergeser.

Tak ayal kondisi ini membuat Gibernau harus menjalani perawatan intensif di rumah sakit San Jose pasca berlaga di Estoril. Operasi pun harus dilakukan untuk memulihkan kondisi tangan dan tulang selangkanya yang mengalami cedera cukup parah.

Dr Angel Villamor mengungkapkan bahwa hasil operasi pada Gibernau berjalan lancar. Namun untuk bisa membuat Sete pulih 100 persen, pembalap veteran asal Spanyol ini harus beristirahat cukup lama.

"Semoga saja dalam waktu satu bulan atau lebih kami bisa memastikan perawatan pada Sete berjalan mulus dan ia bisa kembali melakukan kegiatan olahraganya secara normal," tukas Villamor seperti dikutip Crash, Rabu (18/10/2006).

Absennya Sete membuat satu tempat di motor Ducati Marlboro kosong. Namun pihak Ducati sendiri belum memutuskan apakah akan mencari pengganti bagi Sete di laga pamungkas MotoGP musim 2006 ini.