Terol receives Pingüino de Oro award

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Nico Terol was presented with the Pingüino de Oro award in recognition of his 2011 125cc title at this year's Pingüino motorcyclist event.

Nico Terol was one of the guests and award recipients of the 31st edition of the motorcycling awards, the Pingüinos de Oro (Golden Penguins), the largest in Europe in the winter months. Terol was acknowledged by thousands of motorists who attended the annual Pingüinos event, with this year’s addition attracting 26,815 attendees. In addition to the Spanish rider receiving an award, this year's Legends of Motorcycling Phil Read award was presented to Honda and the Spanish television station, RTVE.

The rider was proud of this award, saying: "I’ve really enjoyed this experience, feeling the warmth of true fans who are here despite the weather. I'm impressed. I'm going home very happy to have been here and to have received this great award."

Regarding his debut in the Moto2 class, Terol told fans and journalists present at the event, "I want to go step by step, but while always moving forward. Moto2 is a complicated class, but I don’t feel a lot of pressure on me to perform, the pressure will come after we improve. Our goal is to move forward then we'll see where we are. It's a very different bike and I’ll need a little time."

source: MotoGP Official

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Interview with Simone Grotzkyj Giorgi

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Simone Grotzkyj Giorgi, the 23 years old Italian who raced in 125cc World Championship with Phonica Racing Team talks about his 2011 season, his guitar and his addiction of social networking.

Simone missed 6 races due to wrist fracture but still managed to finish the season in 16th place.

Hi Simone, can you tell us about how you got into Grand Prix?

I started to race at 2004 in the 125cc class of Italian Championship with a "Family Team." My Dad was my mechanic, I was the rider and mechanic, and my mother was the chef! After a good season with a podium in the last race, I decided to move in with Aprilia bike that more competitive.

In 2005 season, I raced in the Spanish and Italian Championship. The Spanish Championship wasn't so lucky for me because I crashed in 4 of the 7 races, but I collected an important podium in Albacete in the first race. Instead, in the Italian Championship, I took all podiums in all races and I won the championship.

In 2006, I started my World Championship experience.

What is your highlight in 2011 season?

I think everyone will say Brno because I've been 8th in the race, but for me one of my best races was the GP of Silverstone. It was wet and cold but I could fight throughout the race in the top 5. Shame a puddle in the first corner didn't allow me to finish the race...

You have to leave some races due to broken left-arm last season, how did you take it? Have you recovered 100%?

It's not so easy every time it happdned, but we are riders and we know that our sport is dangerous. Anyway, now I'm ok. I’ve recovered 100%.

How is the off-season treating you? Are you in the gym every day and running every day?

Since end season until January, I took a break and I did everything that I couldn't do during the race season, like spend a lot of time with my friends, play and take guitar lessons and many other funny things. When the training began, I spent a lot of time in the gym. But my favorite way to train is by cycling. I don't like running!

Is there any ritual or special habit that you do before the race?

Yeah of course!! I'm really superstitious! Every time before the race, I always careful to wear my right glove first and then the left one. I have this habit since I was in the pocket bike races.

Who has been your best teammate so far?

My best teammate so far is my last teammate for sure, Taylor Mackenzie. I was fine with him from the first test. He is younger than me and I established a good friendship with him.

Every week I write to him or he write to me. This is one thing that made me love my sport.

How do you handle jet lag?

The secret is not to eat too much during the flight. It is not always easy, because in a long journey we are bored, and eating is a good way to combat it!

Your hobby is playing guitar, have you ever thought to leave racing and become a musician?

Never! I've been playing guitar for 3 years and I love it, but I'm not so good. The guitar needs to be played every day and I can't, because during the season I stay away from my home for a long periods.

What are your Top 3 songs on your Playlist?

I love the Beatles and Eric Clapton and I listen to all kind of blues music! But I always listen to these three songs before the race:

Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne, Cocaine by Clapton and Crossroad by The Cream. I listen to these songs in live versions because they are more powerful!

Describe your perfect woman in 3 words!

Smile, sweet, clever.

What is your favorite pickup line?

I'm not too much romantic, it usually sudden!

If you left in deserted island, mention 5 things you should bring and what is your plan in surviving?

Knife, lighter, a ball called Wilson, my girlfriend and for sure my guitar. My plan would be; light a fire, trying to hunt something around the island and waiting with my girlfriend and my guitar for someone to help me.

How important for you to communicate with your fans via Twitter and Facebook?

I'm a social networks lover! I wanted to have a way to contact my favorite rider when I was young, and this wasn't possible without social network. I'm not Valentino Rossi but I try to respond all fans who write to me. I think it’s so funny!

What are your goals and objectives for this coming race season? Will you stay with your team in Moto3?

My goal is always the same, try to win as many races as possible and fight for the championship. I think I can do it but every year I have some bad luck that didn't help me. 

I will race in Moto3 but with another team. Now I can't say more but you have to wait for me! I'll be there, on the grid!

Rider Stat:

Date of Birth: 28/09/1988

Born in: Pesaro (Italy)

Nationality: Italian

Height: 173 cm

Weight: 65 kg

N: 15

Degree (Obtained and in current frequency): High Secondary School

Relatives (Father, Mother and Brothers): Alessandro (Father), Arabella (Mother), Margherita (Sister)

Hobby: Play guitar

Practiced sport besides Motorcycling: Bicycle, Basket, Tennis

Cars and bikes: Smart (cars), Honda CB1000 (bike)

Preferred Brand: Everything that is a gift!

Movies and music: All thriller films, blues and pop music

by Firsty Ayusha @ucha6911

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Valencia circuit to name corner after 125cc World Champion Nico Terol

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The Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo Circuit will name one of its corners as the new 125cc World Champion, Nico Terol, who achieved the title in the last MotoGP Grand Prix held at the Valencia Circuit.

“Besides being a great rider, Nico demonstrates every day the values we try to instill ​​in young people in our school, sacrifice, humility, perseverance, teamwork … all that with his immense talent has taken him to the top,” stated Julio Garcia, CEO of the circuit.

Terol will now have to chose the corner that will bear his name, “We do not know what corner to choose, but the important thing is that it is a great honor to have a corner in the track right where I started my career and where I was proclaimed champion”

The World Champion began his motorcycling career at the Circuit’s School and is the fourth Valencian rider who became a World Champion after Ricardo Tormo, Jorge Martínez Aspar and Champi Herreros.

source: twowheelsblog

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Goodbye 125!

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Last Sunday's Valencia season finale also saw the final 125cc grand prix race, ever. 

The class has been ever-present since the inception of the grand prix world championship in 1949. But in 2012 it will be replaced by 250cc -stroke machines and relabelled 'Moto3'.

Over the years the 125cc class has become known for its close racing, and its ability to provide the best young riders with a chance to showcase their talents to the world.

Indeed, most MotoGP riders cut their teeth on the screaming two-stroke machines, most while they were young teenagers. Of the 2011 MotoGP riders, Rossi, Capirossi, Pedrosa, Dovizioso and Bautista all won the 125cc world championship during their ascension to the premier-class. 

A somewhat surprising statistic however is that only three men have ever gone on to win the premier-class crown after winning the 125cc world championship - Phil Read, Alex Criville and Valentino Rossi.

The most successful 125cc rider of all time is of course Angel Nieto, who won a staggering seven 125cc world titles, closely followed by Carlo Ubbiali who won six during the 1950s.

Italy and Spain have been the two most successful countries for producing 125cc world champions, with 23 and 15 world titles respectively. 

Two more 125cc world champions of note are Jorge Martinez 'Aspar' and Fausto Gresini, who are still prominent in the paddock as MotoGP team leaders.

In fact, last Sunday saw Nico Terol finally crowned world champion riding an 'Aspar Aprilia', after a tense season-long battle with Johann Zarco (Ajo Derbi). His championship victory was assured when Zarco fell during the early stages of the race. 

This championship victory seals the Aprilia/Aspar partnership as the dominant force in 125cc racing over the last decade. Terol has announced he will be competing in Moto2 next year for Aspar.

Moto3 will be an interesting prospect on paper, involving four-stroke motorcycles - more in-line with what the factories sell to the public - but also a determined effort to limit costs and ensure a more level playing field in terms of access to machinery.

Let us hope it provides many of the same thrills and exciting racing that the 125cc formula has over the past 63 years.

source: crash

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Mahindra Racing’s Danny Webb on pole for 125cc Grand Prix

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Webb will start from pole position for the first time in his career and for the last ever 125cc race on Sunday, the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana on Sunday. Luis Rossi and Johann Zarco join the Brit on the front row, while Terol starts from 9th position.

Mahindra Racing’s Danny Webb starts the last 125cc GP ever from pole position after setting the fastest lap of 1’45.898, four tenths ahead of the field, in an exciting qualifying held in mixed conditions. The final times were around 4 seconds slower than their dry morning times as light showers left the Ricardo Tormo circuit in varying degrees of dampness, with a dry line forming in the last 10 minutes.

Luis Rossi (Matteoni Racing) starts from second on the grid in his maiden front row qualifying. The Frenchman’s time of 1’46.325 was over a second and a half faster than third place starter and compatriot Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo).

Zarco’s front row will give him the advantage he needs if he is to challenge Nicolas Terol (Bankia Aspar) in Sunday’s race. The Championship leader and favorite qualified in 9th position with a time of 1'48.920, and will need only to finish 11th or higher even if Zarco wins the race to claim his first World title.

Fourth place on the grid is Luis Salom (RW Racing GP), who just edged Alexis Masbou (Caretta Technology Forward Team) to take the head of row two. Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) completes row two after lapping just 0.005s behind Frenchman Masbou.

Row three is headed by Sandro Cortese (Intact Racing Team Germany), who currently leads rookie Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) by just two points in the battle for third in the Championship. Viñales starts just next to the German on the grid after setting a lap 0.025s behind him on the drying track. Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) completed the top ten times, lapping half a second slower than Terol.

source: motogp official

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Cortese sustains lead in FP2

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Sandro Cortese led the 125cc field in the first practice outing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, with Harry Stafford claiming the second spot ahead of Johann Zarco. Nicolas Terol concluded the rainy session in 12th position.

Rainy conditions slowed the single cylinder field considerably during the second practice session of the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana, after FP1 claimed more than ten riders on the treacherous damp track. FP2 was held under no less slippery conditions, as Cortese (Intact Racing Team Germany) rose to the top of the pile once again with a fastest posted lap of 1’59.126.

Stafford (Ongetta-Centro Seta) posted the second fastest time behind Cortese just before the rain began to fall in earnest, nearly one second behind the German and 0.038s ahead of Championship challenger Johann Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo). Alberto Moncayo (Team Andalucía Banca Cívica) posted the fourth fastest time at four tenths off the Frenchman, though crashed out of the session with 11 minutes to go.

Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) was a close fifth, ahead of Adrián Martín (Bankia Aspar) in sixth and Jack Miller (Caretta Technology) claiming the seventh spot in the timings.

Louis Rossi (Matteoni Racing), Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) and Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) finished the top ten riders, with Viñales crashing in the final ten minutes. The young Spaniard was up and back on the bike, though he had some trouble getting back to the pits when he opted to ride his bike on the service roads before re-entering the track.

A cautious Nicolas Terol posted the 12th fastest time behind wild card John McPhee (Racing Steps Foundation KRP). The Championship leader is 20 points ahead of Frenchman Johann Zarco in the run for the title, and on Sunday will only need a finish of 11th or higher to deliver him his first World title and the last ever 125cc Championship crown.

source: motogp official

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Terol and Zarco poised for final-round showdown

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The last-ever 125cc World Championship title will be decided this weekend at the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana. Spaniard Nico Terol goes into the final round of the 2011 season with a 20-point advantage over Frenchman Johann Zarco.

Nico Terol heads into this weekend's Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana the firm favourite to clinch the last-ever 125cc World Championship title, as the final edition of the two-stroke category is decided in the last round of the 2011 season.

The Spaniard leads Frenchman Johann Zarco by 20 points at the top of the standings, and knows that a finish of 11th or higher in Valencia will deliver him his first World title. This is the fifth time that the 125cc title will have been settled at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia since the track became the final venue on the calendar back in 2002.

Zarco's impressive ride from 15th on the grid to third in the race in the previous round in Malaysia ensured that, with Terol placing fifth at Sepang, the fight for the crown would go to the bitter end, but it appears the Avant-AirAsia-Ajo rider will now have to settle for runner-up spot behind his Bankia Aspar rival who stepped on the podium in last year's Valencia race.

If the battle for first and second looks almost done and dusted, the scrap for third is extremely close. Sandro Cortese (Intact Racing Team Germany) currently leads rookie Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) by just two points, and the pair will be steeled for strong displays. Viñales' win at Sepang, his third of his debut year, was Aprilia's 15th of the year in the 125cc class – a new record for most wins in the category by a manufacturer. Viñales will also pick up the Michel Metraux Trophy on Sunday evening having been voted the best performer in the class by his fellow riders.

Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) will aim for a strong sign off to the season in his home race, which he has twice won before in the 125cc class, and Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) still holds a slim chance of taking the Spaniard's top-five spot in the overall classification with a strong result.

Efrén Vázquez (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) and Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) are both assured of top-ten finishes this season, whilst Alberto Moncayo (Andalucia Banca Civica) and Danny Kent (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) will contest the final spot within the top ten.

Manuel Tatasciore (Phonica Racing) continues in the place of the injured Simone Grotzkyj, and there will be five wildcard riders on track this weekend. Danish youngster Emil Meyer Petersen (Nordgren Racing), Spaniards Daniel Ruiz (Larresport) and Juan F Guevara (Team Murcia Pramac), Brit John McPhee (Racing Steps Foundation KRP) and German Kevin Hanus (Team Hanusch) will all gain valuable World Championship experience.

source: motogp official

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Zarco heads 125 grid at the Island

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Johann Zarco grabbed pole position for Iveco Australian Grand Prix just before crashing out of the qualifying session. Cortese and Folger will join the Frenchman on the front row, while Championship leader Terol heads the second row.

Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) took his fourth pole of the season and his career at Phillip Island after leading much of the qualifying practice Saturday afternoon, just before closing the outing with a high speed fall that he fortunately walked away from.

The Frenchman’s time of 1’39.207 was the fastest of the day though Sandro Cortese’s lap set in the better conditions Friday morning remained quickest of the weekend. The Intact Racing Team Germany team rider, who qualified second at the Australian circuit last year, will join Zarco on the front row after posting a lap of 1’39.558. Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) equalled his best grid position of the season, third, after lapping behind Cortese by a margin of 0.052s.

Nicolas Terol, who mathematically can take the title this weekend if he can increase his current 31 point advantage to 50 points over Zarco, was fourth with a time of 1’39.702. The Bankia Aspar rider heads an all Spanish row with Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) and Efrén Vázquez (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) joining him.

Row three is comprised of Danny Kent (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport), Alberto Moncayo (Team Andalucía Banca Cívica) and Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing), all three less than a tenth over a one second margin of Zarco’s pole setting time.

Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) crashed out of the session early, his time set on lap five was quick enough to land him tenth in the line up. Harry Stafford (Ongetta-Centro Seta) and Josep Rodriguez (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) and Jakub Kornfeil (Ongetta-Centro Seta) also had falls, the three will start from 18th, 21st and 13th, respectively.

source: motogp official website

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Cortese maintains fast form in Australia

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Sandro Cortese showed no sign of slowing by setting the Friday free practice pace at the Iveco Australian Grand Prix, ahead of Nicolas Terol and Johann Zarco.

Intact Racing Team Germany’s Cortese led the way in the second practice outing with a best time of 1’38.530, three tenths quicker than his morning time to place him at the top of the combined times for the day. Terol (Bankia Aspar) was again second in the charts, following the German rider by 0.178s after an improvement of two tenths over his morning time, while Johann Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) stepped up to third with a lap of 1’39.104.

The wind picked up for the afternoon session which saw the lightweight bikes produce slightly lower top speeds, although about two thirds of the field were able to improved on their lap times, with the biggest steps coming from Adrián Martín (Bankia Aspar),who improved seven tenths to end the day fifth in the field, and Alberto Moncayo (Team Andalucía Banca Cívica) jumping eight tenths from his morning time to land six for the day, while Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) was unable to improve his pace and his morning time of 1’39.132 set him fourth.

Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) went wide in turn eight in the second outing, touching the grass and sliding out in a high speed tumble but was up and walking away immediately though his bike was damaged enough that he was unable to rejoin, thus finishing seventh for the day. Danny Webb (Mahindra Racing) also crashed out and missed much of the session, finishing the day in 14th place.

Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) landed eighth, with Danny Kent (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) 0.239s behind the German rider while Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) recovered from a crash in FP1 to take the tenth spot just seven thousandths of a second ahead of Efrén Vázquez (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo).

source: motogp official

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Cortese stars in Phillip Island opener

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Sandro Cortese reigned supreme as the World Championship returned to Phillip Island today with the Intact Racing Team Germany rider on top form in the first free practice at the Australian circuit, ahead of Terol and Faubel.

The 125cc World Championship track action began on Friday under bright sunshine with practice sessions set one hour later than usual as the German rider set the pace with a 1’38.805, a margin of 0.135s over current standings leader Nicolas Terol (Bankia Aspar). Héctor Faubel followed his team mate with a 1’39.132 lap time with Johann Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) following by 0.217s to assume fourth.

Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing) grabbed the fifth spot in the timings for his first outing at the southern Australian circuit, with a substantial 6 tenths margin over the next group of close ranking riders led a third Bankia Aspar rider, Adrián Martín.

Alberto Moncayo (Team Andalucía Banca Cívica) follwed Martín by 0.054s, with Danny Kent (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) and Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) both 0.012s behind the Spaniard to take the eighth and ninth spots.Efrén Vázquez (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) was two tenths off Folger and 1.5s off the leader Cortese in tenth.

Luis Salom crashed early, and while the rider was up and OK, his bike was carried out of the gravel by track marshals. He finished the session in 31st, just behind the highest ranking wildcard of the session, Joshua Hook (HookRacing.com).

source: motogp official

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