MotoGP Rules Cut Costs and Practices

The Grand Prix Commission has announced significant rules changes for the upcoming 2009 season. The amendments are twofold, including new bike restrictions and a reduced track schedule at each round.

First the schedule change. Friday morning practice sessions have been dropped altogether. Instead there will be one afternoon practice session, followed on Saturday by a morning practice and afternoon qualifying session. The traditional hour-long session time has also been trimmed to 45 minutes. All told, 105 minutes have been stripped out of the MotoGP program. The 20-minute Sunday warm up is unchanged.

MotoGP machines are not permitted brake disc or pads made of “ceramic composite materials.” And internal electronics have been stymied, with electronic suspension control and launch control forbidden. Other tech modifications include a new rule that only five engines may be used during the season’s final eight races (beginning with the August round at Brno).

Although it is not explicitly stated in the FIM release announcing the rule changes, the move has been made to trim competition costs.

The official FIM rule changes are listed below:

1. Standard time schedule

Friday

• 13:05-13:45 125cc Free Practice 1
• 14:05-14:50 MotoGP Free Practice 1
• 15:05-15:50 250cc Free Practice 1

Saturday

• 09:05-09:45 125cc Free Practice 2
• 10:05-10:50 MotoGP Free Practice 2
• 11:05-11:50 250cc Free Practice 2
• 13:05-13:45 125cc Qualifying Practice
• 14:05-14:50 MotoGP Qualifying Practice
• 15:05-15:50 250cc Qualifying Practice

Sunday

• 08:40-09:00 125cc Warm Up
• 09:10-09:30 250cc Warm Up
• 09:40-10:00 MotoGP Warm Up
• 11:00 125cc Race
• 12:15 250cc Race
• 14:00 MotoGP Race

2. From Czech GP, maximum 5 engines can be used in 8 races. No changing of parts will be permitted except daily maintenance.

3. Ceramic composite materials are not permitted for brakes disc or pads.

4. Launch control system is not permitted.

5. Electronic controlled suspension is not permitted.

6. Only 2 post race tests at Catalunya and Czech GP for development purposes using test riders only are permitted.

Articles by: Bart Madson
www.motorcycle-usa.com

Melandri Back on Kawasaki in MotoGP

Kawasaki Racing's Marco Melandri testing in Valencia,
shortly before Kawasaki pulled the plug on their MotoGP team.

Kawasaki announces that after constructive talks between Kawasaki, Dorna and other involved parties, a new one-rider Team will participate in the 2009 MotoGP Championship season.

This decision was made after negotiations that followed Kawasaki’s January 2009 announcement to suspend its factory supported MotoGP activities due to the economic crisis. Rider for the new MotoGP team will be the Italian Marco Melandri.

The team will be equipped with Kawasaki motorcycles and supporting materials.

That Kawasaki has come to this new team approach is the result of on the one hand the need for a strong reduction of MotoGP racing investments and on the other hand the necessity to come to constructive solutions for all related parties.

The new team will disclose more details about its 2009 season’s plans on a short notice.

Courtesy of Kawasaki Racing

2009 Gresini Racing - Honda RC212V

Technical Specifications

• Model: Honda RC212V
• Overall lenght: 2.050 mm
• Overall width: 645 mm
• Overall height: 1.125 mm
• Wheelbase: 1.440 mm
• Road Clearance: 125 mm
• Weight: over 148 kg
• Engine type: liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4 valve V-4
• Cooling System: Liquid
• Displacement: 800 cc
• Maximum Power: NA
• Frame type: Twin Tube
• Wheels: Bridgestone
• Front (inch): 16,5
• Rear (inch): 16,5
• Suspension: Showa
• Front: Telescopic fork
• Rear: New Unit Pro Link
• Fuel tank capacity: 21 litres
• Lubricants: Castrol
• Sparks plugs: NGK
• Tyres: Bridgestone
• Chain: RK

Riders Complete First Ride In 3-day at Sepang

A three-day test at the end of last week, held at the Malaysian circuit of Sepang, saw riders from the MotoGP field for 2009 returning to action for the first time since the 'winter' test ban.

Off-season testing has been reduced compared to previous seasons thanks to the new single tyre supplier rule, as the teams have less requirement for experimentation with their new provision of Bridgestone rubber. This development in MotoGP has helped to significantly reduce costs for the teams and allowed them to concentrate fully on their 800cc machinery itself.

Coincidentally, the man to finish the Sepang test at the head of the timesheets was the first rider to win the MotoGP title on Bridgestone tyres, Ducati's 2007 MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner.

Australian Stoner is returning from surgery on his left wrist undertaken in November of last year, meaning that he kept his workload to a minimum over the three days, but as he gradually regains his fitness he is still capable of rapid lap times -as he demonstrated on Friday and Saturday.

The 23 year-old finished the last day just under a tenth of a second quicker than his closest rival, reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi, with a time of 2'01.043 - well inside Dani Pedrosa's 2008 pole position record time of 2'01.548.

Stoner commented: "Considering that I have recently had an operation and my wrist has still not full recovered, to be the fastest rider here is a dream to be honest. Now I have to work hard on improving my physical condition and recovering the level of movement I need to ride the bike properly without pain. The Desmosedici GP9 is a good bike and in every test we've done with it we've come out on top."

Affected more recently by a hospital visit, current MotoGP title holder Rossi was just off Stoner's pace on the final day, as he too rode through the pain barrier following a recent domestic accident.

The Italian tested in Malaysia with stitches in his left hand and foot having fallen onto a glass coffee table at his home in Italy last week. He stated on Saturday that "I am leaving Sepang feeling happy, because we've made a good start. We finished everything we wanted to do on the bike and the setting and the rhythm is quite good. My injuries are getting better each day because they're only cuts and they're healing fast. For sure we need to improve some more but since this year we have less testing, this performance has been very important."

Third fastest over the three days was Suzuki's Italian veteran Loris Capirossi who looked immediately more comfortable on his significantly remodeled 800cc prototype than with last year's machine. With Tech 3 Yamaha's Colin Edwards and San Carlo Honda Gresini's Toni Elias - on his factory spec 2009 RC212V- just behind Capirossi on the timesheets there was representation from four different manufacturers in the top five.

Capirossi's team-mate Chris Vermeulen was sixth in the combined three-day standings, whilst the early-departing Pedrosa was seventh overall courtesy of his best lap from the second day. The Repsol Honda rider left Malaysia 24 hours earlier than expected citing a lack of complete recovery from a knee injury which required surgery before Christmas.

The final Sepang top ten was completed by a trio of 250cc graduates, 2008 rookies Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) and 2009 newcomer Mika Kallio (Pramac Racing).

Next on the timesheet was Nicky Hayden who continued his adaptation to the Desmosedici GP9 and Bridgestone tyres, riding for the first time in full Ducati Marlboro colours.

The American still has some catching up to do with his friend and teammate Stoner, having lapped 1.454s slower, and explained on Saturday that "Obviously I'm not happy with my lap times, I was expecting more from myself, but I have to stay positive. I've improved my lap times every day and we have gathered a lot of data to work from in the next test. The fact Casey is already so fast means that the bike has the potential - it can only be a good thing that he is going so quick."

Another high profile Ducati rider, returning hero Sete Gibernau, was also lower down the timesheets than he would have hoped, on his Guinea Ecuatorial team satellite machinery. Having finished thirteenth the former World Championship runner-up will be looking for improvements at the next MotoGP test which takes place on 1st-3rd March, under the floodlights at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

Gibernau to miss Qatar test..

Guinea Ecuatorial Team rider Sete Gibernau suffered a small setback to his recovery from a recent shoulder operation during training yesterday, meaning he will miss the forthcoming MotoGP test in Qatar.

Veteran rider Sete Gibernau, who returns to MotoGP this year with new satellite Ducati outfit Guinea Ecuatorial Team, has suffered a preseason blow with the news that he has aggravated an old shoulder injury - requiring a visit to the Institut Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona on Thursday.

The accumulation of physical exertion at the recent MotoGP tests in Malaysia and his demanding training programme has caused a slight ligament tear in his left shoulder that will require a period of complete rest.

Keen to avoid any major complications before his return to premier-class racing in a little over a month’s time, Gibernau and his team have agreed to cancel their participation in the upcoming Qatar test session as he turns his focus to a swift and full recovery.

Ducati Desmosedici GP8 Sat (Alice Ducati)

Engine: Liquid-cooled, 90 degree V4 four-stroke, desmodromic DOHC, four valves per cylinder.

Capacity: 799cc

Maximum power: more than 200hp

Maximum speed: in excess of 310 kph/192 mph

Transmission: Six-speed cassette-type gearbox, with alternative gear ratios available. Dry multiplate slipper clutch. Chain final drive.

Carburation: Indirect Magneti Marelli electronic injection, four throttle bodies with injectors above butterfly valves. Throttles operated by EVO TCF (Throttle Control & Feedback) system.

Ignition: Magneti Marelli

Frame: Magneti Marelli Tubular steel trellis-style chassis, pressed aluminium swing-arm.

Tubular: Steel trellis-style chassis, pressed aluminium swing-arm.

Suspension: Öhlins upside-down 42mm front forks and Öhlins rear shock absorber, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping.

Tyres: Bridgestone 16.5" front and rear.

Brakes: Brembo, two 320mm carbon front discs with four-piston callipers. Single stainless steel rear disc with two-piston caliper.

Dry weight: 148kg