Motourage

The MotoGP World Championship returns to action at Estoril following a three-week break due to the postponement – and possible cancelation – of the Japanese GP at Motegi. The bwin Grande Prémio de Portugal hosts Round three of the 2011 season this weekend at one of the slowest circuits on the calendar. The unique track setup presents a real challenge to the riders and engineers, but perhaps the greatest concern for riders is the track’s proximity to the Atlantic. High-speed winds can whip off the ocean, blowing bikes and riders off course and throwing dust onto the circuit, making for challenging conditions. Last year’s event at the circuit saw torrential downpours; causing cancelation of Saturday’s qualifying session and generally wreaking havoc on riders and teams.

LCR Honda’s Toni Elias arrives at the Portuguese track with high motivation as he aims to take a step forward aboard his RCV, and the 28-year-old can rely on good experience at Estoril where he experienced his first victory in the premier class during a memorable race.

Elias: “Well, this break was a bit long and I am happy to be back on track especially on this circuit where I have experienced an unforgettable victory in 2006. We had plenty of time to check the data and I am hoping to find a better set up in Portugal because I am eager to bounce back after a difficult beginning. I am bit worried about the weather: I would prefer a dry race but the proximity to the ocean is always a gamble.”

The MotoGP World Championship resumes this weekend at Estoril following a three-week break since the last round at Jerez. The series stays on the Iberian peninsula with a short trip to the Estoril Circuit in Portugal, which should ensure a strong Spanish following in the local crowd. The event was hit by heavy rain last year, leading to the cancellation of qualifying on Saturday, and although Estoril is perhaps mainly known for its fickle weather, the circuit itself has excellent characteristics within its 4,182-meter layout. A mixture of fast and slow corners and some dramatic elevation changes, as well as a main straight measuring almost a kilometer in length, make it a demanding proposition for the riders.

Héctor Barberá emerged unscathed from a bruising race at Jerez last time out, picking up a highly creditable sixth place to boot. While other riders fell around him, the Mapfre Aspar Ducati rider stayed upright in a confidence-inspiring performance that leaves him optimistic about the next challenge at Estoril. The Spaniard is confident that the Estoril circuit suits his style and is therefore looking forward to another good weekend. Last year he finished tenth in this race and he is hoping for more this time around.

Héctor Barberá:
“The objective in Portugal is to improve the way we work during practice. Above all we want to improve the set-up of my Ducati with our focus on the race, like we did at Jerez. We want to line up on the grid with the best possible pace and fully aware of our potential. Estoril is a circuit that is usually kind to me and I have great memories. I was fourth for a few laps in my first season but I crashed because of a wet track and then the following year I won. I usually get to grips with it quite quickly so I hope that’s the case again this weekend. I have prepared well over the last few weeks and I am looking forward to it.”

The MotoGP World Championship is back on track for the bwin Grande Prémio de Portugal at the Estoril Circuit this weekend after almost a month’s break. Estoril is one of the most technically demanding circuits on the calendar, putting all aspects of the bike-tire-rider package to the test. At this time of the year, the weather could also play a contributory role with conditions likely to be cooler and more unsettled than last season.

Randy De Puniet

The Pramac Ducati Team is ready to mount the saddle of the Ducati Desmosedici GP10. Loris Capirossi has been treating his right shoulder with therapy twice a week and a lot of work in gym. Randy De Puniet underwent surgery to remove a screw in his left knee that doctors inserted during surgery on the broken leg last year at Sachsenring. The Estoril circuit remains difficult and unfortunate for Loris Capirossi, who, in the past, has collected just one podium. Three third place De Puniet’s best finish, and he hopes to repeat on this occasion. The weather could play a significant role this weekend, with the forecast indicating a probability of rain for all three sessions of free practice, qualifying and the race.

Fabiano Sterlacchini, Technical Director, Pramac Racing
“Estoril is a difficult track, which combines slow sectors with other fast. The last corner is without a doubt the most difficult. The rain could shuffle the cards, just use the right strategy. I think our bike is best suited with a wet track.”

Loris Capirossi, Pramac Racing Team
“I like Estoril, although I’ve never done a great deal. In This week I have been training twice a day, I’m at 90% of my physical condition. Running in the water will not be easy, but the bike paradoxically be better in the wet. I am confident we will succeed in delete the first two outputs unfortunate.”

Randy De Puniet, Pramac Racing Team
“There is a great desire to start again. Physically I’m fine, and I hope that bike is ready for Estoril. I know that Ducati can give us many satisfaction if we work well. All that remains is to prove in these days. The weather? It may rain; it does not matter to me.”

The Repsol Honda Team returns to action this weekend in Portugal after a break of three weeks due to the postponement of the Grand Prix of Japan. The Estoril circuit hosts the third round of the MotoGP World Championship and activity on track will extend through to Monday for one day of testing, the first of the season.

Dani Pedrosa, second in the Championship with nine points behind the leader, Jorge Lorenzo, will get back aboard his Honda RC212V after his surgery on March 6. Last week, the Spaniard had the stitches removed from his left collarbone, and despite not being a hundred percent physically; he will fight for another podium, as will teammates Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso to get some points back after a hard race in Jerez.

The three Repsol Honda riders have all enjoyed podium finishes in Estoril: Andrea Dovizioso on four occasions, the most recently last season; and both Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner three times. Dani is missing the victory in Portugal but keeps the circuit record from 2009 (1´36.937), while Casey and Andrea have won once in 250cc.

Dani Pedrosa
“I did what I had to do in these three weeks off and I look forward to get back on the bike after this period which has been good for me to undergo surgery and start rehabilitation. Last week I had the stitches removed, so everything is still very fresh and I don’t know how I will feel in Estoril, but I’m excited to see if everything went well and if I can put the issues aside once on the bike. It would be very good because we had a good start to the season and I wish to compete in the best conditions. I want to make the most of the four practice sessions to prepare for the race. It would help if we have good weather, as this year we race in April, but you can never trust the weather there having the Atlantic Ocean so close. With regards to the circuit, Estoril has heavy braking zones and it will be important to find traction to take advantage of the good acceleration we have.”

Andrea Dovizioso
“I am looking forward to the race in Estoril; it’s a track where I have had very good results in my career. I arrive motivated, and want to get back to form after the Jerez weekend with a good race and to show the results of all the positive work done with the team. I think that we will be competitive at Estoril. The circuit is very slow and it’s not the best to ride with a MotoGP machine, in fact, one of the more difficult tasks is to manage the power of the RC212V on this slow track. We will have 4 practice sessions to work on the set up and it’s important to start well from the first day. After this long break, I’m happy to return on track. I have enjoyed this period at home with my family, having time to relax but also time to dedicate to training and to do the preparation of the coming races. Now it’s time to jump on the bike.”

Casey Stoner
I had a good rest in Switzerland and I feel very good at the moment. I’m looking forward to Portugal after a difficult last race in Jerez; we were looking for a good result in Spain after positive practice sessions and qualifying so we are happy to get back on track. Estoril is not one of my favorite tracks but we have had good success there in the past. We will be looking to get back some points against Lorenzo as he has been the strongest there in the past 3 years. I think our bike should work quite well at this circuit as it has some tight turns with exits onto big straights so I hope to find some good traction in these points and be competitive from the first day.”

Almost four weeks after the Jerez round – the extended break being due to the postponement of the Japanese GP until October – the MotoGP World Championship returns to action at Estoril this weekend, where the bwin Grande Prémio de Portugal hosts Round 3 of the 2011 season. This will be the 14th occasion that there has been a Portuguese GP.

MotoGP Premier Class

There was no shortage of talking points following Round 2 in southern Spain, where defending World Champion Jorge Lorenzo took his first win of 2011 in the wet, and was followed onto the podium by a Dani Pedrosa struggling with his recovering left arm and Nicky Hayden. Casey Stoner’s inability to finish the race after being taken down in an incident involving Valentino Rossi, the latter of whom managed to remount his bike and finish fifth, merely added to what was a highly eventful race at Jerez.

Yamaha Factory Racing rider Lorenzo has a formidable recent record at the Estoril track, having won for the past three consecutive seasons from pole position. The Spaniard has now finished inside the top four for 22 straight races, and leads the early Championship standings by nine points ahead of rival Dani Pedrosa. The Repsol Honda man arrives in Portugal hopeful that surgery immediately after Jerez will have eased the discomfort caused in his left arm, and despite that he secured a 90th GP podium in the last round making him only the tenth rider to reach the milestone in the World Championship’s 63-year history.

Stoner will be eager to put the DNF from Jerez firmly behind him and regain the momentum he has established in the early stages of the season. The Repsol Honda rider has twice stood on the Estoril podium in the premier class but is yet to win there in MotoGP (he has a 250cc victory to his name), and will view such a result as the perfect response. Nicky Hayden is the highest placed Ducati rider in the standings after two rounds, with factory teammate Rossi close behind. The Italian has only once finished off the podium at the circuit in the premier class, and counts five victories amongst his haul of rostrum results there.

Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) experienced different fortunes in the previous round, the Japanese scoring his best premier class result to date with fourth whilst the Italian ended the race 12th. Dovizioso’s last premier class podium came at Estoril in the penultimate round of 2010.

Héctor Barberá’s (Mapfre Aspar Team) sixth at Jerez was another premier class personal best and the Spaniard will aim to build on that further, whilst rookie Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) finished eighth after a fall in the wet and now heads to another new track in Estoril. The Brit is another rider to have taken advantage of the almost four-week break to have undergone surgery, having an arm issue sorted out. Fellow rookie Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) will be confident after taking seventh at the last outing.

Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini) will be more determined than ever to record a first premier class podium having crashed out whilst leading at Jerez, likewise Factory Yamaha Racing’s Ben Spies will want to make up for taking no points at Jerez having been set for a podium finish when he fell whilst riding in second position. Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) will also feel he has a point to prove after crashing in Spain, Toni Elías (LCR Honda) returns to the sight of his sole premier class victory, and Pramac Racing duo Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet will hope for an upturn in fortunes. The Frenchman had a screw removed from his left knee following Jerez, as he underwent follow-up surgery from his broken leg suffered last season.

Hoping to make a welcome return after missing the opening two races of the season following a fractured left femur, suffered in Qatar, is Álvaro Bautista. The Rizla Suzuki rider has been working hard to regain fitness and make his comeback just six weeks to the day after he sustained the injury, and has been named on the entry list for Estoril.

Moto2

Italian Andrea Iannone is the early Moto2 standings leader after taking victory in the wet at Jerez last time out, and the Speed Master team rider will aim to maintain and stretch his lead at the top after hitting his stride immediately in 2011. Hot on his heels however are two riders who have also enjoyed strong starts to the campaign in the shape of Stefan Bradl and Thomas Lüthi, who are currently level on points.

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Rizla Suzuki’s Alvaro Bautista is targeting an amazing return to the MotoGP arena at this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix, just 42 days after breaking his left femur.

Bautista has been undergoing intensive physiotherapy to make sure he is at a sufficient level of fitness to be able to take to the track on Friday – following a full medical to determine his ability to compete. If he is unable to ride at a competitive level, Rizla Suzuki will have Factory test rider Nobuatsu Aoki on stand-by to take over if he has to withdraw from the event – but Bautista’s clear target is to compete in the Grand Prix.

Rizla Suzuki’s GSV-R will feature a new logo in Estoril – “Change and Challenge” – which is used by Suzuki in the Asian regions to promote its new range of motorcycle products in these markets. Rizla Suzuki hopes to engage with the enthusiasm and passion of all MotoGP fans in these areas and it appreciates all the support of Bautista as he undertakes what is certainly a huge challenge in his comeback from serious injury.

The Estoril circuit is a track of contrasts, where some fast corners in its 13-turn configuration mix with an almost kilometer-long straight and one of the slowest sections of the year. Situated on a rocky outcrop high above the towns of Estoril and Cascais, the circuit is only six kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean and this can give rise to some very changeable weather, a fact that was emphasized in 2010 when torrential rain caused the cancellation of the qualifying session.

Bautista plans to take to the track on Friday morning for the first of two free-practice sessions. Saturday will see a final practice in the morning, followed by an hour-long qualifying session in the afternoon where he aims to be qualifying for the best grid position he can obtain. Sunday’s race is round three of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship and the 28-lap race gets underway at 13.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).

Álvaro Bautista:
“I have been working very hard to be back in time for Estoril and I believe I will be able to take part in the race. I know it will be difficult, but I think the sooner I can get on the bike the more it will aid my total recovery and help my way to full fitness. I have travelled over 4,500km with many journeys to the hyperbaric chamber in Madrid to assist with my healing – I have been there so many times I could close my eyes and go without problems! I have now finished the rehabilitation phase and started on the physical preparation; this involves a lot of swimming, cycling and other fitness programs to build up the strength so I can ride again. It is going to be really tough, but I am totally focused on being on the GSV-R in Portugal, it’s all I can think about at the moment and that is my first goal. After that we’ll see what happens and take everything one step at a time.”

FTR Moto took two more top-10 finishes in an action-packed 16th round of the Moto2 World Championship at the Estoril Circuit in Portugal on Sunday.

Gabor Talmacsi took his first pole of the season in Portugal

Gabor Talmacsi, on the FIMMCO Speed Up Team machine, finished in eighth place after taking his first pole position of the year and the sixth for FTR Moto – after two days of wet practice on Friday and Saturday led to a dry race.

Karel Abraham worked his way through from 22nd place on the grid and the Cardion AB Motoracing Team M210 rider finished in 10th place after making a trademark burst in the second half of the 26-lap race and finishing just four seconds behind the race winner.

Hard-charging Andrea Iannone looked set for a fourth win of the year as he battled through from 34th place on row nine of the grid to hold fourth place with six laps to go – after a succession of fastest laps for the Italian. But the luckless Iannone crashed out on the FIMMCO Speed Up Team machine at the start of lap 20 to end his challenge. He remounted to finish the race in 21st place. Iannone remains third in the World Championship with Talmacsi moving up to sixth. Abraham sits in 14th with Debon 15th.

Aeroport de Castello-Ajo Team M210 rider Alex Debon was a non starter at Estoril after the Spanish rider crashed in Saturday’s free practice and fractured his right collarbone.

“The lack of dry practice made for an interesting race and it looked like Andrea Iannone was going to pull off a fantastic victory at one point but it wasn’t to be,” said FTR’s Steve Bones. “Seeing Gabor Talmacsi get pole position then lead the race was superb and the battle for third on the last couple of laps could have easily gone a different way and Talmacsi and Karel Abraham could have been in contention for podium finishes.

“The weekend was obviously a disappointing one for Alex Debon and we wish him well in his recovery. We’re all looking forward to Valencia next weekend now and hopefully a victorious finish to the 2010 Championship.”

Double podium at Estoril delivers third consecutive Yamaha Triple Crown

Fiat Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi put in a superb team performance on Sunday at the Grand Prix of Portugal on the Estoril Circuit, taking first and second respectively to deliver Yamaha its third consecutive Triple Crown with the Team, Rider and Manufacturer titles. The achievement marks the first time since the Triple Crown’s inception that any manufacturer has won it three times in a row. After a weekend of disruption from the weather, yesterday’s race was run mainly in bright sunshine, although rain earlier in the day meant the track was still patchy to begin with.

2010 World Champion Lorenzo made a strong start from pole, taking the lead into the first corner before briefly relinquishing it to Nicky Hayden for a few seconds before taking back control of the race. His teammate, Rossi, made a play for the lead on lap four, relegating Lorenzo to second until lap 17 where a decisive out braking maneuver saw the Spaniard retake the lead, putting his head down to build an impressive eight second lead over Rossi by the checkered flag. The victory was another landmark for Lorenzo, being the third consecutive time he has won from pole position at this track. Rossi’s second position finish continues his impressive record in Portugal, giving him his tenth podium here in all classes.

Rossi’s second-place and a non-finish from Casey Stoner means the Italian has moved back to third in the championship standings, 19 points off Dani Pedrosa and second place. The final round of the season comes in one week’s time at Valencia in Spain.

Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 1stTime: 46’17.962
“On the warm-up lap I could see there were still a few wet parts and I knew that I was going to have to be careful at the beginning. I got a great start and was in the lead but eventually Valentino overtook me and then off he went. He had a better pace than me then and I couldn’t go with him. As the track got drier I found my pace improving and then step-by-step I closed the gap and was able to get past him. At that point I felt really good and I am so happy to win for the third time here at Estoril. It was a long time since I have won but my confidence has remained high and I haven’t been worried. I knew I could win here at my favorite track. We also confirmed the Triple Crown for Yamaha today so well done to the whole team for this victory.”

Valentino Rossi – Position: 2ndTime: +8.629
“Like I said yesterday, a wet warm up and a dry race is a difficult one! I am happy about this weekend, we worked really well on the bike on the wet and this morning I was the fastest in the warm up, if it had been a wet race I could have been very competitive. For the dry we started blind so I had to try to take some risks at the beginning because the setting was ok, but it was not enough because when Jorge got into his rhythm he was faster than me, I had no way to fight with him. I tried to stay with him but he was too fast. Anyway second place is positive for my championship because I am back in third place and I’m not so far from Dani Pedrosa in second. I’m happy to have improved the setting of the bike but we are still not strong enough so we will try to improve for Valencia for a final win with Yamaha.”

Wilco Zeelenberg – Team Manager
“They were strange conditions for the race today, being run in the dry after all the wet practice sessions. We struggled at the start a bit with a full fuel tank, Jorge over braked a little on the end of the straight so P1 was not so good in the beginning. After eight or nine laps however the feeling was a lot better and he was able to catch up with Valentino and pass for the win. This is victory number eight and after a few races of not winning we are happy to be first again! We need to keep our focus for Valencia because it would be great to finish this fantastic season with one more win.”

Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“On one side it was a very good race because we went into a dry race with a blind setting and we got a very good result, but unfortunately when you are so very close to the victory it’s hard to not get there. Anyway we took a positive second position and we learned a lot today about out setting for the final race. It was a very positive day for Yamaha too because we took the Triple Crown again, well done to everyone.”

Mixed fortunes for Edwards and Spies in Estoril

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha Team experienced mixed fortunes at the Grand Prix of Portugal today, Colin Edwards racing to a gutsy seventh position while Ben Spies was unfortunately unable to start after a heavy fall on the sighting lap.
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After Saturday’s heavy rains at the Estoril Circuit during the MotoGP bwin Grande Premio de Portugal, Sunday’s conditions gradually improved during the afternoon. By race time, only a few wet spots remained.

Due to the needs of live television, Moto2 took to the track first on Sunday, and WTR San Marino’s Valentin Debise had an excellent and swift departure. The Moto2 race was declared dry although the track was still quite moist in some spots. Debise got off well from the  fourth row, and the Frenchman moved into fourth place by the second lap in fourth place, and held position for the first few laps. However, a severe pain caused by a crash that occurred on Saturday became too much to bear, and Debise began to lose positions quickly before and he was forced to retire.

WTR's Johann Zarco

It was also a difficult race for 125cc rider Johann Zarco.  The French rider, starting from 18th position, was unable to gain ground, and he fought to maintain his place. Unfortunately, the track was very slippery and he crashed with a group of other riders. After four laps, rain again began to fall, which forced the interruption of the race. Zarco was unable to take part in the restart.

VALENTIN DEBISE – retired:
“The bike was good, but it was a pity for the pain in my leg and for this reason I was not longer able to ride.”

JOHANN ZARCO – crashed:
“I crashed at the eighth lap while I was fighting with [Jonas] Folger. Unfortunately in a moment I realized I crashed. This fall was really a shame, this could be a good race, the bike went really well and I’m sure I could remount and finish in the points zone. “

Lorenzo fastest on wet Estoril circuit, Rossi close behind in third

In echoes of the harsh weather conditions witnessed two weeks ago at the Phillip Island Circuit in Australia, heavy rains and wind severely disrupted today’s free practice sessions at the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril. The morning’s 45-minute first free practice session saw less than five MotoGP riders take to the circuit for a minimal number of laps, the majority, Fiat Yamaha Team riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi included, deciding to sit it out in the hope of gentler conditions for the afternoon. The riders’ patience paid off with a break in the rain signaling the start of the afternoon session, the circuit drying in patches towards the end of the 45 minute practice.

The 2010 MotoGP champion waits for the rain to end at Estoril

Newly crowned 2010 MotoGP World Champion Lorenzo was clearly enjoying one of his favorite circuits on the calendar, relishing the enjoyment of riding with the pressure of the world championship title battle no longer a focus. The young Mallorcan lapped consistently within the top four before a final push at the end of the session to secure the fastest time in advance of tomorrow’s qualifying sessions. Rossi was also on form, delivering consistent fast laps from the off and leading the table mid-session as he worked through the wet settings. He finished the session in third, just over three tenths off his team mate. Tomorrow’s two sessions have both been extended to one hour in order to make up for some of the time lost to the rain today.

Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 1stTime: 1’48.522Laps: 20
“I love this track; I have won here both times in MotoGP so I am very happy to be here. Unfortunately the weather was terrible this morning and there was no point in riding, then this afternoon it was still very difficult, with a lot of water on the track and you had to be very careful. I felt good despite the conditions and step-by-step we improved so that at the end, when it was slightly drier, I was able to set a good time and we are on top. Tomorrow we will have two longer sessions so we will be able to recover some of the lost time, let’s hope for no more rain.”

Valentino Rossi – Position: 3rdTime: 1’48.883Laps: 20
“This afternoon was a normal wet practice and I’m happy about my performance. I am close to the top, was fast from the beginning of session and had a good feeling with bike. Unfortunately we were losing a little bit in some sections of the track, especially the last one because the bike was moving a little too much. We will try for tomorrow to improve the settings, it’s important that we made a good start this afternoon as this morning’s session was canceled and it looks like the weather may not be very good over the weekend, so we will not have a lot of time to set up the bike.”

Wilco Zeelenberg – Team Manager
“We are quite happy with the practice, not so happy with all the rain so far. The track was starting to dry towards the end of the session though and we were able to make some small improvements to the settings. We have to concentrate on entry and exit grip on the rear on the corners so if it’s wet again tomorrow we’ll focus on that. P1 is always good but the times are very close so we’ll see tomorrow.”

Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“It was a good session today, we started with a good base and Valentino was fast throughout the practice. There are still some improvements to make both with the electronics and the balance of the bike. We got some really useful information from the session so if we have any further wet sessions or a wet race on Sunday we can continue with this good base.”

Spies learns fast at wet and windy Estoril

Ben Spies conquered another steep another learning curve at the Estoril track in Portugal today, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider ending the opening day of MotoGP practice in an impressive fifth position.
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