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Friday, 05 February 2010 22:02 |
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The 2010 Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Teams have broken cover for the upcoming season with the new YZ450 and 250Fs boasting a radical and fresh design. The ’10 machinery has received a youthful and modern look to completely reflect the innovative technology housed beneath. David Philippaerts and Gautier Paulin have been charged with responsibility of the YZ450 and 250FMs in the FIM Motocross World Championship MX1-GP and MX2-GP classes respectively for the factory Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team. Ken De Dycker (MX1-GP), Loic Larrieu and Alessandro Lupino (MX2-GP) will represent the Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci MX squad.
For the first time since 2005 the Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team, the most successful outfit in the history of MX1-GP, will divide their attentions between factory MX1 and MX2 machinery. 2008 world champion Philippaerts begins his third term with the crew and will be hoping to show race fans across the globe the potency of the ’10 YZ450FM and the renowned technical touch of the Rinaldi Group. Yamaha enter the 2010 GP schedule as defending champions (both Rider’s and Manufacturers) and with the rearward-slanted position of the new fuel-injected 450cc engine housed in a brand new chassis will aim for further prolificacy on the track.
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25 year old Italian Philippaerts divided his winter time between cross-country training in the snowy mountains of northern Italy as well as riding in Belgium. He now believes he is ready to chase another title. ‘I feel good and I am really enjoying the new bike,’ he said. ‘We will keep on working through the season and although the level of the competition will again be high and there will be some surprises – as every year – I know I am in a good position. I must avoid mistakes and keep consistent with the points.’ Philippaerts is confident that the motorcycle will reveal its potential right away: ‘The standard motorcycle is already very good and the team have taken steps to personalise the race bike for me. Every time I ride it I am satisfied; it feels light and very responsive. We still have to see our level compared to the others but I am very positive.’
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In MX2-GP Gautier Paulin is welcomed to the team and to Yamaha. The Frenchman finished 3rd in the 2009 series – only his second full GP season – and is expected to launch a valid campaign for the crown that Yamaha won in 2005 and 2007 on the revised YZ250FM. ‘I stayed in America for two months and all the motocross and supercross riding and training I did there really helped my mental and physical state, I am so excited to get started,’ said the 19 year old. ‘I was happy when I knew the team were interested in me and as soon as I tested the bike I wanted to sign the contract. The team is already pushing and supporting me so much and I have never had anything like that.’
‘Even though the YZ450F is new, it is really good with excellent and smooth power delivery,’ commented Team Manager Mino Raspanti. ‘We are also very happy to have Ohlins with us this season. We are working really hard - as in every pre-season - to be organised and prepared. Having riders in two classes means we have to be busier at the races but we are excited about the potential of our riders and we have possibilities to win.’
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Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci MX Team enter the MX1-GP series with the shrewd acquisition of Ken De Dycker for 2010. The Belgian has
been part of the tussle for the crown in the premier class since 2007 and is feared for his capabilities in the sand. A Grand Prix winner each year since ‘07 and a regular ‘podiumee’, De Dycker will make his Yamaha debut at Mantova this weekend. ‘This is a bit of a change for me but I am already feeling quite comfortable in the team and its family atmosphere,’ said the 25 year old. ‘I feel really good on the bike. David won the title in his first year with Yamaha and the manufacturer certainly has won many titles so all this can help me this season.’
Under the stewardship of Ilario Ricci the team have not forgotten their MX2-GP roots and retain the services of teenager Loic Larrieu. The French youngster begins his second GP term after taking a sensational podium result at his home round at Ernee last summer. Larrieu has been battling to regain fitness after a double shoulder injury incurred late in 2009 but should be ready for the first Grand Prix: ‘I did not have the off-season I wanted but now I hope to start the GPs in the best way possible. I learnt a lot in 2009 and want to build on this.’ Alessandro Lupino begins his third year as a Yamaha rider on the YZ250F and hoping for more fortune in 2010 after several injuries hampered the 19 year old’s progression in the last twelve months.
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A new team joining the world championship paddock in 2010 will be Yamaha Gariboldi Monster Energy. The Italian outfit will bring highly-rated European Champion Christophe Charlier, from France, and promising Finn Harri Kullas to the Grand Prix circuits.
The European motocross season comes alive this weekend with the popular Starcross International at the Mantova circuit in Italy. This unofficial ‘Grand Prix’ (by virtue of the burgeoning entry list of works riders) witnesses the start of activities for the Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Teams and the beginning of shake-down events and tests for the next eight weeks. In almost two months the first Grand Prix of fifteen, at Sevlievo in Bulgaria, will initiate the 2010 FIM Motocross World Championship. Paulin and Larrieu will make their first 2010 competitive outings next week at Montevarchi for the first round of the Italian Championship.
For a selection of images highlighting the athletes and new YZ machinery of the Yamaha Monster Energy motocross efforts please visit www.yamaha-racing.com. Information and profiles of riders, teams and motorcycles can also be found in the relevant sections on the website. |
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Friday, 05 February 2010 00:00 |
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Valentino Rossi led the way for the second day running in Sepang today, concluding the first test of the year on top of the standings. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was also on the pace today, finishing the test third fastest behind Casey Stoner.
Rain this morning meant the track did not fully dry out until lunchtime and it was after one o'clock before Rossi left the garage on his 2010 YZR-M1. The World Champion, who turns 31 in ten days time, completed 32 laps and set a best time of 2'00.925, only half a second slower than the record pole time for the track, which he set last year. Lorenzo put in a few laps in the late morning but the track was still wet in places and so he, too, waited until after lunch to really get started. The 22-year-old made a big improvement from yesterday and felt much more comfortable on the bike, finishing third fastest in a time of 2'01.680 after 60 laps.
The team will return to Sepang at the end of the month for the second of three pre-season tests.
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Valentino Rossi - Position: 1st Time: 2'00.925 Laps: 32
"After yesterday this second day has been very good as well, even though we lost a few hours to the rain, and the end we were still able to finish all our work. We worked on the new bike to find a better setting and I was happy to be the fastest overall - even though this is just testing this is important for me! At the next test we will have a few more new things but we're already happy because we're fast and strong. There is room to improve of course; Sepang is always a good track for the Yamaha so we will have to wait until Qatar to get a better understanding of our level, but we have made a great start."
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Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 3rd Time: 2'01.680 Laps: 60
"I felt much better today and I was able to be fast straight away. It wasn't a big problem yesterday, it's just that after such a long break I forget how to ride a little bit! I need a bit of time, but it was much better today. I'm happy about my performance and about my feeling with the new bike. Yamaha have made good improvements without changing the best parts of the bike and this is the best way. They have made some good modifications to the chassis and the engine and this has already improved our pace. We don't have many days on the bike until the start of the season so we will make the most of the time here next month to continue our good work."
Ben Spies and Colin Edwards happy with Sepang test
The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team ended its first track action of 2010 in positive mood after a rain-hit final day of MotoGP testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
Colin Edwards and Ben Spies were unable to begin any meaningful testing until the track had completely dried this afternoon after heavy morning rain badly disrupting this morning's session. Once damp patches had cleared though the Texan duo were able to make significant progress, taking full advantage of the valuable track time before further heavy rain brought an early end to proceedings at 5pm.
Texan Spies showed more of his true potential today when he clocked the fifth quickest time, despite the reigning World Superbike champion still feeling below his physical best.
Working closely with his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew, Spies focused his efforts on continuing to adapt his riding style to the YZR-M1 machine. The American made significant progress with his braking style and managed to slice close to a second off his best lap time set yesterday with a time of 2.02.266 in his 31-lap stint.
Edwards, who was third quickest yesterday, finished seventh fastest with a best time of 2.02.479. That was just 0.2s slower than Spies as the 35-year-old evaluated several different chassis and swingarm setting options.
The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad will be back on track at Sepang for another two-day test session later this month before winter testing concludes in Qatar in March.
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 00:00 |
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Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi got his pre-season off to the best possible start today, finishing fastest on the first day of testing in Sepang. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate and last season's runner-up Jorge Lorenzo also made a strong start, ending the day in fifth.
Both riders concentrated on completing as many laps as possible on the latest evolution of the 2010 YZR-M1 and, with the weather staying dry until just a few minutes before the end of the session, it was a productive day all round. Rossi led the way and was one of four riders to dip under the existing lap record. His time of 2'01.411, set this morning on his 15th of 54 laps, was half a second quicker than second-placed Casey Stoner.
Lorenzo found it a little harder to get back into the swing of things and took it gently this morning, but he felt much more comfortable on the new M1 this afternoon and gradually began to improve his time, setting his best time of 2'02.165 on the penultimate lap of the day, leaving him in fifth.
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Valentino Rossi - Position: 1st Time: 2'01.411 Laps: 54
"Today was very important because this year we have just six days of testing in which to set the bike, so we can not waste any time. This first day was very positive, we tried the new bike for 2010, with a different chassis and a new engine, which can do more kilometres, and it is quite fast. Yamaha has worked very well over the winter. Now we need to spend time on setting some electronics and other things. This is only the start but it seems we're already in good shape."
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Jorge Lorenzo - Position: 5th Time: 2'02.165 Laps: 57
"After such a long break I found it quite hard to find my rhythm on the bike today - motocross bikes are not the same as the new M1! It was quite a difficult start to the day but little by little i started to feel more comfortable and to improve my pace. This afternoon, when it was a bit warmer, i began to improve my times even more and get closer to the first rider, so in the end I was quite happy with our work. Yamaha have brought some good things for us; the bike is not completely different to the old one but the small details make it easier to ride and this is important. Today was my first day of riding with my new team manager, Wilco Zeelenberg, and I feel good with him. He is an ex rider and so we were able to share a lot of information and he was able to give me some good advice."
Colin Edwards makes flying start to 2010 in Sepang
Refreshed after a long winter break and boosted by the impressive performance of Yamaha's new 2010 YZR-M1 machine, Colin Edwards produced a stunning return to MotoGP action at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia today.
The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider ended the first day of 2010 pre-season testing with the third fastest time, a best lap of 2.01.932 only bettered by Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner as the MotoGP paddock reconvened after a three-month winter break.
Edwards completed 48 laps in typically demanding Sepang conditions as air temperatures reached close to 40 degrees and track temperatures hitting a searing 60 degrees. Edwards, who finished fifth in last y ear's MotoGP world championship, was one of four riders who managed to lap under the existing lap record and he finished just 0.030s behind Stoner. The Texan was thrilled with the performance of Yamaha's new 2010 YZR-M1 machine, particularly with bottom end performance on the in-line four-cylinder motor.
Ben Spies kicked off his 2010 challenge with a fastest lap of 2.03.142 helping the reigning World Superbike champion secure 12th spot. A chronic bout of jetlag after the long trip to Kuala Lumpur stopped Spies from displaying his true potential, with the Texan continuing to adjust to the prototype YZR-M1 machine while also trying to learn the long and technical Sepang circuit.
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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:00 |
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The Fiat Yamaha Team unveiled its new 2010 livery today, on the morning of the first MotoGP test of the pre-season in Sepang, Malaysia. The championship-winning team will field the same line-up as last year with World Champion Valentino Rossi and runner-up Jorge Lorenzo once again spearheading its attack.
The two-day test began today, 4th February, the first of three pre-season tests before the first race at Qatar on 11th April.
The new 2010 YZR-M1 of both Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo as well as several videos of the riders and Team Managers are now available for you online.
Go to www.yamaha-racing.com, visit the MotoGP photo and video gallery and be the first to discover the new 2010 livery!
Lin Jarvis - Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
"2009 was the most successful year for Yamaha's racing activities for many years. It will be difficult to follow such a performance but we are intending to try! We are lucky to have the same fantastic rider line-up with Valentino and Jorge and we are looking forward to getting started with our work on track.
"Of course, Yamaha has not been able to escape the global economic situation but MotoGP forms a key part of the company's recovery plan. It is a very important brand image tool and MotoGP will remain a flag-waving activity for Yamaha worldwide.
"We are extremely fortunate to have retained all of our existing loyal sponsors and even to have added a few more to the team. Our title sponsor Fiat is with us for a fourth year and Petronas, Packard Bell and Yamalube will continue as major sponsors of the team. We have two new sponsors in the form of Yamaha Indonesia, who join us with the aim of promoting their activities in Indonesia, the most important market for Yamaha at the moment, and Iveco. We have also retained all of our existing technical sponsors and suppliers.
"Last but not least I would like to welcome back to all of our team members and staff and also extend a warm welcome to our two new team members; Wilco Zeelenberg joins from the successful Yamaha World Supersport team as Jorge's new team manager and Davide Marelli comes in as his new Data Technician." |
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