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Category: Superbikes
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Nicky Hayden had successful surgery on a detached right knee medial collateral ligament (MCL), which was carried out by Dr. David Chao at the Oasis Surgery Center in San Diego, California, at 7am PST (GMT -8) today. The Honda WorldSBK Team rider twisted his knee last Friday during a flat-track training session near Barcelona, Spain.
Hayden will have a post-operation evaluation in the coming days to determine when he can begin physical therapy.
Nicky Hayden 69
Unfortunately I injured my knee between the two private tests of Aragón and Jerez. I had a chance to do some flat-track training during my days off on a small, second-gear, track but I caught my foot awkwardly in a bit of a rut and twisted my knee around. Luckily, I didn’t crash nor hurt anything else on my body, but I knew straight away that something was wrong with my knee. It turned out that I had a tear to the MCL so, after consulting with some doctors back in the US, I had an operation today to fix it. I will rest for a few days but it looks like I’m going to start rehab very soon and I will follow the doctor’s instructions very closely. Injuries are never good, but luckily I have a bit of time now before the new season comes around. I want to thank Dr. Chao and his staff; I will now spend some days testing and then tackle the rehab in order to jump on the new bike as soon as possible!
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Michelin saw the 2016 MotoGP™ World Championship draw to an impressive conclusion as Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) ended the season where he started it in Qatar by taking victory and recording a new lap and race record in the process at today’s Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana in Spain.
Lorenzo started from pole position after setting the best-ever lap around the 4,005m Valencian circuit, with a time of 1’29.401 yesterday. Using the latest edition MICHELIN Power Slick medium compound front tyre, which has a new profile and is aimed for the 2017 season, the Spaniard got the holeshot from the start and led at the end of lap-one. Lorenzo never came under any real threat at the front and held first place for the rest of the proceedings, setting the race lap record on the fifth circulation as he recorded a time of 1’31.171. He finished the 30-laps in 45’54.228 to set a new race record at Valencia, a feat which Lorenzo had also completed at Qatar during his – and the MotoGP field’s – first outing on Michelin tyres this season.
The battle behind for the remaining podium positions was as intense and enthralling as any seen this season. A five-way tussle soon developed behind Lorenzo featuring World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team), Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Maverick Viñales (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). The five modern-day gladiators clashed at every opportunity with numerous overtaking manoeuvres making for exciting racing and positions changing hands regularly. As the race progressed Marquez broke the shackles of the remaining quartet and tried to chase Lorenzo, he set many fast sectors as his new for 2017 MICHELIN Power Slick hard compound front tyre worked perfectly in the latter stages of the race. Marquez managed to take a large amount of time out of what was now an unassailable lead for Lorenzo, and despite his late charge the five-time World Champion had to settle for second.
A huge and colourful crowd of 110,050 packed the grandstands around the circuit to witness Iannone secure the final rostrum position after a thrilling head-to-head with Rossi which saw the two change places many times. Rossi was fourth with Viñales following him over the line for fifth. Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) took sixth and the position of First Independent Team Rider, with Dovizioso a very close seventh. Eighth place was secured by Aleix Espargaro (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) and Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was ninth. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) rounded out the top-ten.
Michelin had a new profile front tyre available for this weekend that is a part of the plans for 2017. All the riders were given the option to use this latest version of the MICHELIN Power Slick and over 75% of the field chose to race with this new option today. Further evaluation of this tyre, plus some more of the latest front versions from the French company, will be tested at a two-day test in Valencia this week.
Michelin will be present at many winter season tests appraising the new tyres and gathering data in readiness for the start of the 2017 season, which is scheduled to get underway beneath the floodlights of Qatar next March.
Jorge Lorenzo – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP: “I want to congratulate the work done by Michelin during the year. We improved the front tyre so much that now the front is more able to compensate the grip of the rear. Little-by-little we have also improved the rear as well after the problems of Argentina and Sepang and now this weekend we have had very competitive tyres. This was demonstrated by breaking the record on Saturday, taking the lap-record on Sunday and getting the race record as well.”
Nicolas Goubert – Deputy Director, Technical Director and Supervisor of the MotoGP Programme: “This has been a very good weekend for us and we are extremely satisfied with the results we have achieved. We brought one of the new profile front tyres that we have for 2017 here this weekend and all the riders tried it, with many of them choosing to use it during the race. This is a clear indication that we are heading in the right direction for next year and the riders are happy with what we have to offer. Today we saw the lap-record and race record broken and yesterday the overall track record was surpassed, this also happened at the first race of the season at Qatar and at Misano, we are pleased to have gotten these results as it demonstrates that the progression has been throughout the season and not at just one race. We know we still have a lot of work to do and that starts on Tuesday with the first test for 2017. Overall we are quite pleased with how everything has gone in 2016, we have had issues to overcome and we believe we have faced up to all challenges and tried to find solutions for most eventualities. The whole Michelin team has worked very hard and I would like to thank them for their professionalism and dedication and we all look forward to more success next year.”
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Derek Sheils, the man who won two Irish and one Ulster road racing titles this year, has agreed to ride for John Burrows' Tyrone based road racing outfit again for the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and other road races. Another great fillip for the team is the confirmation that Cookstown will continue as title sponsor for an amazing seventh consecutive year. 
John Burrows said:
"I'm extremely happy to announce that Derek Sheils will be the lead rider for Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing in 2017. I'm delighted to have him back as it gives us continuity that we didn't always have in the past. We know Derek, he know the team and the bikes so we are ready to go already.
"Derek will have Superbike, Supersport 600, Superstock and Supertwins machinery at his disposal for the Isle of Man TT, Ulster GP and the Irish Championship meetings. It has yet to be decided if we will compete at the North West 200. We may field a second rider at certain events if the opportunity arises.
"Derek won the Irish and Ulster Superbike titles in 2016 as well as the Irish Supertwins crown and also claimed his first International rostrum when he finished second in the UGP Supertwins race. Next year Derek and the team will focus on gaining more International success and we will have a crack at the Irish Superbike, Supersport and Supertwins championships - that would be a difficult hat-trick to achieve but it's a challenge we are up for.
"Derek joined the 130 mph club at Dundrod this year and I'm confident he can rise to the same mark at the TT in 2017. At both International events Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing will be aiming to be at the top end of the result sheets.
"Finally, it's marvellous to have Cookstown giving us their backing once again. Their continued support has helped us go from strength to strength during the last seven years. We will also have substantial support from Hagan Homes and NMT Shipping. Thanks to all the team's supporters without whom our successes would not be possible."
Conor Cummins, William Dunlop, Steve Mercer and David Johnson rounded out the top ten, having missed out in the morning’s race.
Hutchinson has now moved to the top of the race for the Joey Dunlop Championship with 70 points and with Dunlop retiring, Harrison movea up to second on 47 points with Dunlop remaining on 45 in third.
Meanwhile, Dan Hegarty was again the top privateer in an excellent 11th place. Horst Saiger was the second privateer home in 13th overall with Jamie Coward third and 14th overall.
Hegarty leads the overall privateers table on 50pts followed by Coward on 47 and Saiger 46.
Dubliner Sheils commented:
"I had a great year with Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing in 2016 and I'm delighted to be staying with the team for another campaign. John Burrows has assembled a great crew who are very professional and keep on top of things, when I go out on track I know I will have a great bike underneath me. Winning three titles last year was good but the most satisfying thing for me was my improved International performances and my 131 mph lap at the Ulster GP.
"Next year my focus will be on getting near the sharp end in every International race I take part in. At the TT I'm aiming for top ten finishes but with the quality in every race I know that won't be easy. I know my package will be good enough but sometimes at the TT you need a bit of luck as well.
"At home it would be nice to retain the titles I won in 2016 but I will just take each National meeting as it comes. If I win races every weekend then the championships will take care of themselves."
Derek Sheils will ride the Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing Suzuki GSXR 1000 Superbike in the 50th Macau GP on November 19th. It will be Sheils' first appearance at the famous Far East race.
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GROWTH OF THE RS-GP MACHINES - TODAY IN RED TO CELEBRATE (RED) - CONFIRMED IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON
ALBESIANO: “THE BIKE HAS GROWN. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY IN THE TOP TEN AND STILL IMPROVING"
Alvaro Bautista (tenth) rode his Aprilia RS-GP to a top ten finish at the Valencia GP that close out the 2016 Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing season.
Stefan Bradl (thirteenth) also finished in the points, bringing home a good team result worthy of the positive conclusion to a season that, especially in the second half, saw the RS-GP machines and the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders consistently battling for a spot in the top ten, the stated goal for Venetian V4's rookie season, sometimes doing even better with placements like the seventh place finishes achieved in Argentina (Bradl) and Japan (Bautista).
Alvaro, in his last race with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini and penalized by his start from the eighteenth spot on the grid, came back little by little, confident with his pace and the overall good balance of the bike. After overtaking Miller, Redding and Petrucci, he fended off Barbera's final attempts and, with the six points earned, overtook Laverty in the overall championship standings, finishing the season with a nice twelfth place.
Bradl (also in his last race with Aprilia), after a start that had relegated him to the back of the pack, skilfully came back, even overtaking Redding in the finale to finish thirteenth.
The Aprilia RS-GP machines showed off an entirely red livery in the race, without any other sponsors or even the Aprilia logo, in order to celebrate (RED), the organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver that, with $360 million in assistance, has contributed to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in African countries since 2006.
ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
"We finished a very important season for Aprilia. We brought our MotoGP bike to its début, taking it to the races straight away and developing it throughout the season. For the past few rounds our level has allowed us to stay consistently in the top ten, which was our goal. The bike has grown and the racing department with it. We are a strong and motivated team that still has potential for growth. In addition to everyone on the team, I particularly wish to thank our riders, who believed in our project and who have earned our respect. I wish Stefan and Alvaro all the best and now we will already begin thinking about next season, which will start in a few hours".
FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
"Analysing the season, the first goal was to get through all the races without any technical issues keeping us from finishing, which is not a given for such a fledgling project. We demonstrated our potential to our rivals, growing consistently. We have a long road ahead, but we are moving in the right direction. We are proud of the results achieved and my thanks go to everyone: to Aprilia who has always given 100%, as well as to the team at the track and the riders. After such strong emotions, it is already time to reset and restart, with an even stronger desire to show what we are capable of achieving".
ALVARO BAUTISTA
"In the second half of the season, we began to reap the fruits of a lot of hard work, much of which done last year as well. We went in the right direction for development. Aprilia did a great job and the materials worked the way we expected them to. We improved a lot and now I wish all the best to Aprilia and the team with whom I experienced two years of hard work, but great satisfaction in the progress the bike has made. I always gave it my all, but I must thank my engineers and my mechanics, because they did an exceptional job, always seeking to provide me with the best solution. The race today was good, if you consider that, starting from behind, we went from almost six seconds from the race leader in the first lap to finishing with a dignified gap, especially considering that this is one of the most difficult tracks for the RS-GP".
STEFAN BRADL
"It was a very exciting race, especially in the second half when I was able to push and overtake Redding, besides the fact that it is my last MotoGP race. Speaking of the race, unfortunately, after the warm up we had to replace the clutch and I was unable to make a good start, which did not make things simple. We decided to start with the soft front tyre, which we had not used in the afternoon sessions, and that meant that I had to adapt a bit, especially in the first laps. From the mid-race point on things improved, but the gap was already too big to strive for a better position. In any case, we finished in the points and, on a track that is difficult for us, that result was not a given. I wish to thank all the guys and Aprilia. This experience has helped me to grow as a rider, taking on a new challenge made up of testing and developing a new project. We can be satisfied with the work we have done and I wish them the best of luck for the future".
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Leon Haslam has signed a deal directly with Kawasaki Motors UK to ride in the British Superbike series with Bournemouth Kawasaki for the 2017 season. 
The team’s title sponsor and machine livery will be unveiled for the first time on the Kawasaki Motors UK stand (Hall 2 Stand 2B15) at Motorcycle Live at 10:30am on Saturday 19 November.
The Derbyshire rider has developed a strong relationship with the Japanese manufacturer, having competed in the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour race, and more recently the Japanese Superbike and World Superbike Championship final rounds, representing the brand.
Runner-up in the 2016 series on the Ninja ZX-10R, Haslam will be partnered by 24-year-old Luke Mossey who achieved a strong position in the 2016 Showdown and who is aiming to improve on his sixth place finish in the Championship this year.
Ross Burridge, Kawasaki Motors UK Senior Racing Coordinator, said: “2016 was a great season of racing and although we were disappointed that Leon narrowly missed out on the title win, he gave 100% throughout the year. We’re delighted to be continuing to work with him for the 2017 season – to be working with a rider of this calibre is very exciting. We’re confident that the Bournemouth Kawasaki team will be a great platform for Leon to strive for the Championship win in 2017.”
Leon Haslam said: “I’m so happy to have a second year with Kawasaki as I believe the ZX-10R will be the bike to beat – I’m super confident that we can win the BSB title. I have a really close relationship with Kawasaki as a manufacturer and it will be great to work with them again. I can’t wait to get everything going again.”
As well as the unveiling of the brand new race bike and 2017 BSB team sponsors, visitors to the stand over the course of the show (19-27 November) will also have the first chance to see the brand new 2017 Kawasaki machinery for the first time in the UK. #GetEvenCloser to the new race-ready Ninja ZX-10RR, the best-selling Z1000SX with advanced electronics and feast your eyes the stunning Ninja H2 Carbon. Also on display will be the brand new additions to the Z family – the Z900 and Z650 – in all their naked glory.
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