It's been awhile that I updated this blog. The reason is that, I was very busy these past few months. But now, here I am. MotoGP was finished and of course, Valentino Rossi won as MotoGP World Champion 2009. It was his 9th time as a Champion. This only proves that eventhough he is not getting younger, he is still the best rider in MotoGP. I just hope that net year, Rossi will going to show his best again.
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After more than one month of being quiet, here I am again updating my blog. I know that I missed a lot of things but now I'm back. Anyway, yesterday the MotoGp riders showed their best move in Germany at Sachsenring circuit. Valentino Rossi of Yamaha won the Grand Prix of Germany, reaching 101 career victories. The second place was Spanish Jorge Lorenzo, also a Yamaha rider. While the third place was Spanish Dani Pedrosa of Honda and the fourth was Casey Stoner of Ducati.
Here are results of the race.
1 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team
3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team
4 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team
5 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini
6 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini
7 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team
8 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team
9 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3
10 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3
11 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
12 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing
13 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
14 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing
15 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP
Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team was not classified on the race. The tires of his moto surrendered.
Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP didn't finished the first round.
Here are the latest overall standings:
Pos. Rider Nation Team Points
1 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 176
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 162
3 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 148
4 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team 108
5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 83
6 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team 70
7 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team 69
8 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 64
9 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 61
10 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 58
11 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 47
12 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 47
13 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team 46
14 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 45
15 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing 28
16 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing 20
17 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando 12
18 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 9
19 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 1
Yesterday's race was held in the circuit of Catalunya. It is the best race that I've ever seen especially in the part wherein Valentino Rossi surpassed his team mate Jorge Lorenzo. In this race, the two Yamaha riders showed their best moves...:-)
Here are the results of the race.
1 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team
3 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team
4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team
5 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
6 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team
7 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3
8 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP
9 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing
10 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team
11 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
12 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini
13 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3
14 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team
15 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando
16 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing
17 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP
Not classified T. ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 16 Lap
Not finished 1st lap Y. TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP
Here are the overall standings:
Pos. Rider Nation Team Points
1 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 106
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 106
3 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 106
4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team 69
5 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team 67
6 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 54
7 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team 50
8 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 49
9 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 42
10 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 42
11 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 29
12 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing 26
13 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 25
14 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 23
15 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team 19
16 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing 10
17 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando 9
18 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 8
19 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 0
Last Sunday, the MotoGp riders gave their best race at Mugello circuit. It was not an easy race because at that time, the weather condition was not good. Valentino Rossi’s Mugello winning record came to an end last Sunday as he didn't won in the first place. Dani Pedrosa, on the other hand, got an accident.
Here are the results of the race.
1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team
3 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team
4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team
5 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
6 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3
7 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3
8 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP
9 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing
10 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
11 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team
12 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team
13 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing
Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP
14 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini
15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini
Here are the overall standings:
Pos. Rider Nation Team Points
1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 90
2 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 86
3 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 81
4 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team 57
5 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team 56
6 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team 48
7 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 45
8 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 38
9 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 37
10 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 34
11 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 26
12 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 23
13 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 21
14 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing 19
15 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team 13
16 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing 10
17 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando 8
18 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 8
Teams wishing to enter the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship have until this (Friday) evening to lodge their entries. So far only a handful has officially confirmed that they have submitted entries.
Of the existing constructors, just Williams have declared putting their name forward. Their rivals have so far delayed lodging entries, as talks continue over the FIA’s plans to introduce a voluntary budget cap next season. It remains to be seen whether a compromise will be reached ahead of Friday’s deadline.
Several new names are keen to compete next season, when the grid is expected to feature 13 teams. The US-based squad led by F1 veterans Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson have already lodged their entry, as has the Spanish Campos Racing concern, led by ex-Formula One driver Adrian Campos.
A number of others have declared their intention to enter, including legendary race car constructors Lola, who last competed in Formula One racing in the 1990s. Former F1 team principal David Richard’s Prodrive organisation is also understood to be submitting an application.
The FIA is due to publish details of the successful 2010 applicants on Friday, June 12.
As far as racing tyres are concerned, size does matter, particularly for this Formula One season, which has seen the return of slicks after an 11-seasons’ absence. The removal of the grooves which were previously on the tread area means that the proportional size of the rear tyres’ contact patch has changed relative to the fronts’.
“There are many differences between a slick and a grooved tyre, but the change of the proportional tread area in contact with the road is a very important aspect of the performance potential,” explains Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone’s director of motorsport tyre development. “This year we are hearing a lot of talk about weight distribution and the balance of the cars and this is related to the big changes to the regulations for the cars and the tyres for 2009.
“The latest aerodynamic regulations mean a lower and wider front wing, but a taller and narrower rear wing. This means the proportion of aerodynamic grip - the grip provided by the downforce pushing the car down onto the road - has moved towards the front of the car.
“In addition to this, there is more mechanical grip - grip provided by the tyres interacting with the road surface - than before at the front of the car, due to the proportionally bigger contact patch of the front tyre, so the latest cars have a lot more grip on the front than previously.”
The additional grip at the front means that the latest cars work their rear tyres harder than before.
“We can certainly say that the current generation car has an oversteer tendency, where the rear of the car doesn’t have as much grip as the front, and this tendency is a focus for teams in their car set-ups and designs,” explains Hamashima.
An oversteering car is generally one that is good at turning in to corners, but one where the rear of the car has trouble following the path of the front. In American terminology, the car is ‘loose,’ meaning the rear slides around. This is often fun to watch, and can result in the cars being spun, but it’s not necessarily the fastest way around a race track. So, if there’s more grip at the front than there is at the rear, surely it’s time for more grip at the rear?
“Of course, we could make more grip for the rear tyres through different rubber compounds or construction or wider tyres. However, we can’t make use of different rubber and wider tyres, because of the regulations. When we make use of different construction, however it is the front tyre which has too much grip rather than the rear tyres not having enough,” explains Hamashima.
“When we moved to grooved tyres for the 1998 season, the opposite was the problem, as the front tyres did not have enough grip. To counter this we made a taller and wider front tyre. When the rules were changed to allow slicks back we recommended that the tyre sizes were changed back to the sizes before grooves came in - with smaller front tyres - however the teams’ car designs were already very far advanced for the same size tyres as used with the grooved tyres.”
The size of the front tyre has a particular impact on a Formula One car’s aerodynamics. The front tyres present a large surface cross section to the airflow and cause a lot of drag, so a big factor in the design of the car’s bodywork and wings is trying to compensate for this.
For the future, Bridgestone has already tested a narrower front tyre and is working with the FIA and the teams regarding any potential change for the future.
“For Bridgestone we can make front tyres of the current size, or of a narrower width, so it is not a problem for us once a decision is made about the tyre size,” explains Hamashima. “The size is set in the regulations, so it is not a change we would make in isolation, it is something that if it happens it will be because there have been consultations between us, the FIA and also the teams.”
Bridgestone tested a smaller front tyre in Jerez in Spain back in March.
“The test in March, where eight teams were present, was useful for evaluating a potential new front tyre size by six teams,” explains Hamashima. “We went narrower on width, but based on what we learnt from running that tyre we would probably want to go a bit narrower still. For now, however, we have the excitement of the 2009 season.”
