Category: Moto GP

1. Grand Prix of the Americas, Qualifying

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 12th Apr 2015

   SATURDAY MOTOGP QUALIFIERS AT AUSTIN. BAUTISTA ENDS THE DAY IN 23rd PLACE, 25th FOR MELANDRI
   
   Austin (USA), 11 April 2015 - In the final free practice sessions (FP3 and FP4) and in the qualifying session that determines the starting grid order, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini continued working on development of the RS-GP bikes.

   After finishing in 19th place in FP3, Bautista had to forego the bike he had used for that time due to a technical problem. I wasn't able to find that feeling and he had to settle for a time of 2'05,595, taking 23rd place which places him on the eighth row of the starting grid tomorrow.
   In the decisive session Marco Melandri improved his time (2'07,267) compared to the free practice sessions, but not enough to move up from 25th place which puts him on the ninth row for tomorrow's race.
   
   ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)
   "We used Alvaro's second bike for a few tests on various settings but a problem with the first bike toward the end of FP4 forced him to take the bike that he had less of a feeling with onto the track. For the race we need to go back to the standard we had in the free practice sessions, which will definitely give us better results than what we did in the qualifiers."
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)
   "We are working hard and obviously in this period it isn't a simple thing to translate our efforts into performance straight away. In any case, we were able to get a glimpse of a hint of improvement from Alvaro during the weekend. Of course we want to begin making more progress, but we knew that in these rounds so far from Europe it wouldn't be easy because there isn't much time to react and make significant changes. Tomorrow we want to finish the race to rack up some more miles and precious experience."
   
   ALVARO BAUTISTA
   "We worked a lot on the electronics to have better power management, trying a lot of solutions that will also be useful for the future. But for the qualifiers I was forced to take out the other bike with a different setup and I wasn't able to take advantage of all the work we had done up to that point. It's a shame because I'm sure I would have been able to lap faster. For tomorrow the unknown is the weather. If we have a wet race it will be important to set a good pace straight away. In any conditions, and considering how things went in Qatar, the important thing will be to finish the race."
   
   MARCO MELANDRI
   "Until we get back to Europe and can count on more consistent developments we'll just have to grit our teeth and try to learn from each session. Only when I'm completely at ease in the saddle will I be able to push the way I'd like to."

2. BMW Motorrad España partners with World GP Bike Legends‏

   Posted on 9:39am Saturday 11th Apr 2015

   For bikers the journey is in the destination. It’s about experiencing the here and now. But it’s more than that. It’s a way of life. It’s our attitude.

   World GP Bike Legends is pleased to announce BMW’s latest destination – Jerez Circuit. The 19-21 June 2015 will see the inaugural weekend festival aimed at reliving the Golden Era of grand prix motorcycle racing.

   BMW Motorrad España is partnering with the festival to offer visitors the opportunity to compare classic icons to the present day models. The full range of BMW motorcycles will be on display complemented by an extensive exhibition of motorsport machinery from decades passed. Successfully competing in World Championship series since 1924, BMW’s have won everything from Superbikes and Grands Prix to the Dakar Rally!

   Nick Wigley, CEO of Goose Live Events Worldwide, the event promoter, remarked “We are hugely excited to announce the involvement of BMW Motorrad España in the first ever World GP Bike Legends – it’s an iconic brand with over 90 years of motorcycle racing history. Visitors will no doubt enjoy the opportunity to get up close to both the classic and current BMW models on display.”

   BMW Motorrad has had an emphasis on sophisticated design and clever functionality throughout its history – be sure to read up on its development of pre-war supercharged boxer engines that went on to dominate sidecar grids. Today, reliable and powerful engines complemented by sublime suspension create a ride so enjoyable they inspire adventure and it’s now the focus message. MAKE LIFE A RIDE.

   World GP Bike Legends. 19-21 June 2015 Jerez Circuit, Spain.

   How will you get there?

   Visit www.worldgpbikelegends.com for all information on the Legendary riders, support grids, live music and festival entertainment.

3. MOTOGP COMES TO TEXAS FOR THE AUSTIN ROUND, THE SECOND OF THE 2015 SEASON

   Posted on 12:27pm Tuesday 7th Apr 2015

   Bautista and Melandri on the track to improve with their RS-GP bikes
   
   Austin (Texas - USA), 7 April 2015 - The second round of the 2015 MotoGP season, scheduled on the track at Austin, Texas, has Aprilia continuing its growth and development project.

   In the opening round at Qatar it was Marco Melandri who rode his Aprilia RS-GP across the wire in his first race distance outing, whereas Alvaro Bautista – who had shown excellent signs during the test sessions on Saturday – was forced to withdraw due to damage to the braking system after contact with Marc Marquez in the first lap.

   Bautista's performance in particular would have been important to have a “snapshot” of the progress made by Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, since this is the testing spirit with which the team is facing this first part of the season. In any case, the American round will provide the setting for a second and important test bench.
   
   ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)
   “A season that is so packed, with eighteen GP races on the calendar, doesn't leave us much time even to complain. We left Qatar disappointed that we weren't able to assess Bautista's performance over race distance, but here is a second chance. For us it will be another fundamental test on our itinerary and obtaining information during the race would be really important. In the opening weekend we received confirmation of just how hard a challenge we accepted, but we also achieved some positive results that we'll be able to confirm during this American round in order to lay some solid cornerstones for development.”
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)
   “After a Grand Prix as peculiar as the night race in Qatar, in Texas we'll be back on the track in conditions that we are obviously more accustomed to. The Losail track proved to be particularly demanding, but we expected that. Our Championship strategy is to learn all the tracks on the calendar so we can arrive at the 2016 season fully prepared from every point of view. Looking at it that way, Circuit of the Americas, which is a very complete track with fast turns and long straight stretches mixed with a more flowing part, represents another important test bench and a chance to collect important data. After the episode that involved Alvaro with no fault of his own during the race in Losail, our goal for this round is to have both riders finish the race, testing and taking a first step forward in terms of performance as well, both on the flying lap and race pace.”
   
   ALVARO BAUTISTA
   “In Texas we'll be taking on a completely different track than the one that hosted the first Grand Prix of the year. During the winter test sessions at Valencia, Jerez and Sepang the bike consistently performed the same way basically, whereas in Qatar we were facing new situations, but we don't know if that had to do with the particular characteristics of the track or the particular racing conditions with not much grip on the tarmac. So I'm anxious to get onto the track in Austin, a track with some hard braking sections and long straight stretches where we'll be able to check some important things concerning the way the RS-GP performs and continue our development work on the bike. It is essential for us to find the right motivation straight away after our disappointment in the first Grand Prix, where I was unable to complete even the first lap of the race, and get back to work with a positive attitude.”
   
   MARCO MELANDRI
   “Austin is a new track for me, so I am expecting a demanding weekend. In any case I think that finishing the race in Qatar was a helpful first experience and I hope it was also useful for the guys at Aprilia to make some important changes that will be able to help me gain more confidence on the bike. Now I'd like to take a few steps forward and at least try to get into the pack of riders ahead of me. It won't be easy, but I'm anxious to try.”

4. Steve Parrish latest star confirmed for World GP Bike Legends

   Posted on 9:51am Saturday 7th Feb 2015

   Grand Prix podium finisher and renowned personality ‘Stavros’ will take to the track at Jerez on 19-21 June to compete against the ever-growing list of Legends
   
   Fan-favourite Steve ‘Stavros’ Parrish will return to the race track for the first ever World GP Bike Legends – an unprecedented event that will see a huge collection of motorcycle racing stars donning their leathers to do battle at Jerez, Spain on 19-21 June.
   
   Parrish is a veteran of over 50 grands prix, scoring his best result of third place in France in 1982. Team-mate to one of the greatest legends of them all – the inimitable Barry Sheene – in his debut 1977 World Championship season, Parrish soon gained a reputation as a larger than life character in the paddock, and he’s sure to be the source of plenty of entertainment when he’s reunited with his old accomplices at Jerez in June.
   
   “I think what the guys are putting together at Jerez could be something very special,” enthused Parrish. “It’s going to be great to blow off the cobwebs and actually race with everyone again. I can’t think of many better ways to spend a summer weekend than in Spain with your mates and some of the most amazing racing machines ever built – in fact the more I think about it the better it sounds! With live music and everything else on offer it’ll be a weekend to remember – I can smell the two stroke oil already...”
   
   Having gone on to win British Superbike and truck racing championships, Parrish is sure to be a contender in the ‘Race of Legends’ – a flat out contest between some of the sport’s biggest names aboard their original racing machines from the 1980s and 1990s. Already confirmed are former world champions Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner, Christian Sarron and Kevin Schwantz, with Didier de Radiguès and Graeme Crosby also signed up to compete.
   
   The weekend will feature 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes with full practice, qualifying and races across the three days. These battles will be some of the highlights of the entertainment-filled event that includes not only a huge collection of racing icons but also live music from the likes of Bonnie Tyler and Toseland as well as an amazing shopping village and unparalleled access to grandstands, paddock and pits all included in the standard ticket price.
   
   There are currently significant early bird discounts on weekend tickets – with the full weekend price fixed at €55 until 31 March 2015. Tickets provide bike fans will full access to grandstands, race paddocks, the trade village and the live music concerts. For more information go to www.worldgpbikelegends.com

   Keep updated with all the news as it happens by following World GP Bike Legends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
   
   Photo caption: Steve Parrish will be racing a host of other legendary riders at Jerez on June 19-21

5. APRILIA RACING TEAM

   Posted on 9:13am Thursday 3rd Apr 2014

   THREE DAYS OF WORK AT JEREZ AFTER THE OPENING ROUND AT PHILLIP ISLAND WITH A WIN AND FIRST PLACE IN THE STANDINGS

   In view of the second round at Aragon Melandri and Guintoli tested chassis setups and electronics.

   Aprilia will arrive at the first European race leading the Rider championship with Guintoli, in third place with Melandri and at the top of the Manufacturer standings.

    

   Jerez, 2 April 2014 - The long break after the Australian first round at Phillip Island gave the World SBK teams and riders a chance to recharge their batteries in view of the first European round which will be held at the Spanish Aragon circuit on 13 April. In order to regain familiarity with "race mode" and to hone their weapons in view of the next round, the Aprilia Racing Team had three days of testing on the Jerez track in Andalusia, where current championship leader Sylvain Guintoli and team mate Marco Melandri, third in the standings after the first round, were hard at work.

    

   The first two days, marked by sunny skies but a lot of wind and mild temperatures, gave the Aprilia Racing Team standard bearers a chance to get a lot of laps in, completing a heavy workload and gathering fundamental information to develop the RSV4. While for Sylvain this was an opportunity to further increase his confidence on the track since he skipped the winter test sessions, at the same time trying out some new electronic and chassis solutions, Marco Melandri took advantage of the tests to explore the potential of the RSV4, a new bike for him in his first Aprilia SBK season. During the more than 150 laps he took the rider from Ravenna was able to test a variety of setups and electronic configurations aimed at increasing his familiarity with the bike, in addition to refining his riding style in search of the best harmony with the bike which is the reigning Champion of the Manufacturer Championship.

    

   Winner of Race 2 at Phillip Island, Sylvain Guintoli put in a total of more than 160 laps at a good pace, confirming the positive feeling he demonstrated after the first race. His right shoulder, injured last year and operated on twice during the winter break, also held up well under stress which means that this can now be filed away as an overcome problem.

   Marco Melandri: "Fortunately we were able to get a lot of work done, focusing on what we didn't like about Phillip Island. On the first day we concentrated on shock absorption on the bumps and going into turns, whereas on the second day we tried to lap and get the RSV4 to close out the turns better. It was difficult but in the end we managed to put together a package that will allow us to improve. We had some other ideas we wanted to try out as well but unfortunately we weren't able to do a lot of work on the third day. At Aragon I expect to see a leap of quality which is what we need to win."

   Sylvain Guintoli: "For us these three days were important, first and foremost to get back into the saddle after Phillip Island. This has been a very long break and I needed to get some kilometres in with the bike. We also had quite a few details we needed to test, besides new electronics strategies, so these were some pretty intense tests. I'm happy with the refinements. When we get to Aragon we'll be strong and motivated and that's what's important."

   Romano Albesiano: "These were three very useful days of testing for the development of the RSV4. There are still a few improvements to focus on, both from electronics and a chassis point of view. Final race pace performance is not bad, but it still isn't enough. At Jerez we gathered some important information that helps us to have a very clear idea on which direction we need to go."