pictures: NGM Forward Racing 2012 Livery with Coling Edwards

Tweet

source: crash.net

read more...

Colin Edwards 2012 CRT MotoGP livery revealed

Tweet

The NGM Forward Racing team unveiled its racing colours for its 2012 MotoGP debut season at Jerez on Tuesday (more pics below). 

The team is one of several new entries taking advantage of the 'CRT' rules to step up from Moto2 to MotoGP. 

Forward Racing has signed popular Texan Colin Edwards to ride its Suter-BMW. 

Edwards, with two WSBK titles and twelve MotoGP podiums to his credit, is the most highly decorated of the nine CRT riders, but is expected to face tough competition for top CRT honours from Aspar Aprilia's Randy de Puniet. 

"I would like to apologize for being late," said Edwards. "Apparently there is an even bigger tornado than me in Texas that delayed my flight! 

"Jokes aside, I am very happy to be here today and to be part of this new adventure with the team. We have started off working a lot on the development of the bike and especially on the electronics. 

"At the first test we were at about 60% of the development of the bike and now we are at about 92%-93%. Our objective is to keep working and get good results.” 

Team owner Giovanni Cuzari believes the new CRT class will become as successful as Moto2. 

"In 2010 I immediately believed in the new Moto2 category," he said. "I realized the great possibilities that the new rules offered in terms of providing exciting races. In my opinion it was a great idea on Dorna's part and hence Carmelo's. 

"Today I think we can say that the Moto2 races are spectacular: the grid is full - maybe a little too much! - and the show is always guaranteed. So, today we're here to officially present our entry into MotoGP 'taking one more step forward'. 

"I think CRT will, with time, have the same success that Moto2 experienced. Of course, like all rookies at the beginning we will suffer a bit, but time will prove us right and hopefully bring many satisfactions with the CRT." 

Forward Racing will also continue in Moto2 this season, running Suter machinery for Alex de Angelis and Yuki Takahashi, also present at the launch. 

"For the past year and a half I have been riding a different bike and now I have to adapt my riding style to my Suter bike, but I believe that we can work really well together," said de Angelis. "I look 'Forward' to this season.” 

Fellow former MotoGP rider and Moto2 race winner Takahashi added: 

"I am happy to be here, the bike is good, the team is good and we can make many things together this season," he said. "We have had a busy pre-season where we have tried many different things to find a good setting. I hope to have a good start to the season and keep up the good work of the team.” 

The final Moto2/Moto3 pre-season test concludes at Jerez on Wednesday evening, with the MotoGP class taking over from Friday to Sunday. 

source: Crash.net

read more...

Melandri & Dovizioso racing for charity

Tweet

On November 12th and 13th, at the Crossdromo Internazionale Monte Coralli di Faenza, the second edition of  the “RideForLife” charity event will take place. The weekend will feature motocross, quad, pit bike and go-pro auto races, with some of the biggest names in road and off-road racing at the controls.

Expected to participate are: Andrea Dovizioso, Marco Melandri, Alex De Angelis, Michele Pirro, Chicco Chiodi, Andrea Bartolini, Claudio Federici and Davide Guarneri. Some freestyle jumping displays will also be part of the show.

Practice and qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, with the races taking place from 12:30pm onwards on Sunday.  At 4:30pm there will be a raffle drawing for two Yamaha motocross bikes, and various articles of equipment  

The event is officially promoted by the FMI (Italian Federation), and by the charity organization Riders4Riders.  The goal is to raise funds for injured riders, and to support research into curing spinal cords injuries.

source: GP One

read more...

De Angelis takes the initiative in wet afternoon run

Tweet

The JiR Moto2 rider was the quickest in a wet FP2 session at Valencia on Friday afternoon as the riders lapped at around 10 seconds slower than the morning session. Championship leader Stefan Bradl was the fastest of the day overall.

Rain in the afternoon at the Ricardo Tormo circuit made for a wetter track surface as the Moto2 bikes headed out for their second session, and it was Alex de Angelis (JiR Moto2) who adapted best to the worsened conditions with the fastest lap of 1’52.026.

The morning session was run on a cold and damp track, but steady rain later in the day made for a comprehensive wet second session in which the Moto2 field lapped at around 10 seconds slower than their morning times.

Trailing De Angelis in FP2 were Italians Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) at +0.182s and Raffaele de Rosa (NGM Forward Racing) at +0.541s. The top five for the session was completed by Mattia Pasini (Ioda Racing Project) and Mika Kallio (Marc VDS Racing).

Championship leader Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) was seventh in the session, and his FP1 lap time from the morning remained the fastest of the opening day.

source: motogp official

read more...

De Angelis wins, Marquez last to 3rd

Tweet

History repeated itself for Alex de Angelis at Phillip Island in Australia - when, as last year, he rode to victory from pole, but only after contact with title contender Stefan Bradl on the final lap.

Bradl began the race in eighth after Saturday's rain-interrupted qualifying, with title leader Marc Marquez at the back of the grid, having been penalised for a frightening Friday practice collision with Ratthapark Wilairot, which occurred after the chequered flag. 

Marquez carved from 38th to 16th during an incredible first lap, then broke into the top ten on lap 4 of 25. Moments later Bradl took the lead from Scott Redding, the German having worked his way steadily forwards after a cautious first lap. 

Bradl and de Angelis then began to edge clear, while Marquez continued to gain places, reaching fifth by lap 10. 

Less than four-seconds from the leaders by the midway stage, Marquez passed Claudio Corti for a podium place with nine laps to go. But the Repsol rider's tyres were finally beginning to fade and the 18-year-old had to fight Corti to the flag before claiming the place.

Meanwhile, de Angelis had slipstreamed past Bradl into turn one at the start of the final lap, with the Kalex rider immediately trying to retaliate with an inside move at turn two. But there simply wasn't space and Bradl brushed the back of the JiR rider and was lucky to remain on track.

That left former MotoGP rider de Angelis to score his second ever Moto2 win by 1.358sec from Bradl, with Marquez 6.3sec from victory in third.

The result means that Bradl finally ended an eight-race losing streak to Marquez, and has retaken the title lead - but only by three points, with 50 still to play for.

source: crash

read more...

De Angelis on pole for Australian GP

Tweet

Alex de Angelis stole pole position in the last minutes qualifying for the Iveco Australian Grand Prix, with Mike di Meglio and Yuki Takahashi joining the JiR Moto2 rider on the front row. Marc Márquez will start from the back of the grid after incurring a one minute penalty to his qualifying time.

A rain interrupted Moto2 qualifying session on Saturday saw early fast lappers topping the overall times, with Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing) leading the field. Rain came in starts and stops, until a dry window opened in the final minutes of the qualifying, sending the riders out into a frantic closing which saw de Angelis take the top spot in a repeat of his performance last year at Phillip Island.

De Angelis, who won the Moto2 race last year, set a best time of 1’34.574, 0.088s ahead of Tech 3 Racing’s Mike di Meglio, who previously saw ninth as his highest ranking of the weekend. Takahashi (Gresini Racing) followed the Frenchman by 0.027s to take the last spot on the front row.

Redding eventually dropped to fourth position after setting a best lap of 1’34.699, while Kenan Sofuoglu (Technomag-CIP), who briefly topped the times in the final flurry, was relegated to fifth with his time of 1’34.729. Pol Espargaró (HP Tuenti Speed Up) and Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing) followed the Turkish rider in sixth and seventh.

Stefan Bradl (Viessmann Kiefer Racing) ended the session in eighth, ahead of Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2) and Mattia Pasini (Ioda Racing Project) to complete the top ten on the grid. Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) had a one minute penalty added to his time of 1’35.298 following the Moto2 Championship leader’s collision with Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda Singha-SAG) at the end of the Friday’s first free practice session.

source: motogp official website

read more...

Flashback: Misano 2009, Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden And Alex de Angelis Crash

Tweet

Last year at Misano, Colin Edwars, Nicky Hayden, and Alex de Angelis involved in a crash. Hayden look so angry with that situation. This drama was happened at the start of the first lap. Alex de Angelis hit Colin Edwards with the crash also taking Nicky Hayden into the gravel and instantly ending the race for all three riders.

However, Edwards was in no mood for sympathy and described De Angelis’ riding as unacceptable. The Texan fumed, “I thought I had the pace to easily be fourth and maybe fight with Dani Pedrosa for a podium but we are in Italy and occasionally you have to deal with an Italian rider who wants to be a hero and today that was De Angelis. Turn one at the start with 17 bikes is not the place to be going at race pace and he was never going to make through there. Today De Angelis is the guy who needed to be wearing Valentino’s donkey helmet.” Yes, at Misano 2009, Rossi wearing a donkey helmet. Donkey is a sign of stupid animal with a dumb brain. 

Here's some pictures and crash video. Enjoy it. Hope this weekend race at Misano will more interest than last year.

read more...