Daily Archives: January 31, 2012

Alonso is believed to close the Ferrari’s gap with Red Bull

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Fernando Alonso is believed to be able to close the gap of Ferrari with Red Bull if given the right car. This is disclosed by Flavio Briotore who full confidence ahead of 2012.

No doubt, Red Bull is so dominant that able to retain the world title, both driver and constructor. In the 2012 it seems Red Bull will also be fast. But Ferrari are determined to fight better than they did last year.

Maranello squad finished third in the constructor’s championship last year,while Alonso was fourth behind Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Mark Webber.Briatore believes that Alonso is able to make a difference although he acnowledges that Red Bull is still in front of Ferrari.”Red Bull has a great advantage and it works very quitely within two months,”he told.

“I saw two or three tenths off Ferrari(Red Bull’s speed) if that happened in the first race, Alonso can win the championship..”.

Briatore also urged Ferrari to give their full support to Alonso this season because he has talent to reverse the deficit in two or three tenths.

“Last season was very disappointing but Felipe Massa back from accident and has always done very well,”he said.

“But the second driver must be in harmony with Fernando Alonso and team and contribute. I would not worry about who is close to Alonso but the Spaniard should be given a car as competitive as possible.

“The world championship was won by a single driver, so the team must focus on one driver.”. Briatore concluded.

Barrichello enjoys on KV Racing IndyCar test

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Barrichello KV Racing IndyCar test Barrichello enjoys on KV Racing IndyCar test

Barrichello-KV Racing IndyCar test

After losing his opportunity to return to race of Formula 1, Rubens Barrichello tried to find the diversion to IndyCar racing. it has been agreed with KV Racing IndyCar team to conduct a test with them. After conducting test on Monday, Barrichello admitted that he”liked what he saw”.

Barrichello has reced in Formula 1 for 19 seasons. Last chance to be back racing in F1 is Williams. But the last time, Williams have decided to choose on Bruno Senna into 2012.

Seeing this, although Barrichello has not given up, and make F1 as his final goal, he turned his attention to the IndyCar Series and have a successful test run with KV Racing. IndyCar team KV Racing is owned by Jimmy Vasser who won IndyCar in 1996.

In these tests, Barrichello completed 94 laps of Sebring International Raceway in Florida. He was impressed after the test.

Barrichello said,”I have still much passion for speed and I was pretty young in my mind and I believe I am getting better,”he said.

“Now I am really happy and like what I just need to see what comes up…I need to talk to my family and for Jimmy.”.

Barrichello added: “In the morning I began to be used for cars and not doing anything silly because obviously you do not want to put it into the wall.

“It is different engine from what I’m used, but had a good feeling, so I had a very good day and productive behind the wheel.

“You could call me a beginner, even though I have 33 years doing this job, but here I was a rookie IndyCar.”.

Provide a response to the result of test conducted by Barrichello, Vasser admits he was eager to secure the service of Brazil because it has a very positive impact on KV Racing’s main driver Tony Canaan.

“We are all delighted with the test,” he said.

“This is the first time Rubens in indyCar and I think he enjoyed himself. Of course, we have a lot of fun working with him.

“Most importantly, if he would have any kind of effect on Tony we must find ways to make it around.”. Vesser concluded.

Stoner absent on first day Sepang test due to injury

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Casey Stoner could not follow the first day of Sepang test due to back injury. This began at the time of warm-up routine in his room at Honda pit garage this morning when he felt his back to lock, which is related twith old injuries that has plagued Stoner previously.

Finally, Honda decided to cancel the test session for Stoner on the first day. Stoner then undergo physiotherapy, but his condition did not improve. After consultation with the management of HRC, it was decided that he better use this day to rest so he could go back to test the next day.

Since Stoner could not perform tests on 1000cc RC213V, HRC finally decided that a replacement rider is Kousuke Akiyoshi. However, Akiyoshi only doing 4 laps on the Stoner’s bike.

Regarding the injury which he suffered, Stoner said,: ”I was stretching this morning for a good twenty minutes to prepare to go out on the track for the first time and then all of a sudden my back just locked on me, I could not move or do something. I had to call someone to come and help me move to a position less painful!..

“Then I have a physio on it just to get for this afternoon, but it does not feel good I have a physio again after lunch but it’s still not diminished, I feel can go out on a bike in the afternoon but we all agreed it would probably make it worse for tommorow.”.

“We have two more days of testing here in Sepang, we know the track well and we know the bike, we just need some time to test the new parts we have here to provide feedback to HRC.

Stoner also wish tommorow could participate in the test, and his condition improved,” I think the track conditions tommorow will be better and improve my back during the night we must go back on schedule with our test program tommorow”.said Stoner.

Valentino Rossi feels positive on Ducati GP12

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Although Valentino Rossi only achieves the fifth place on first day of Sepang test, Valentino Rossi today praised to Ducati that he could make his debut on Ducati Desmosedici GP12. For Rossi today is Ducati GP12′S debut in Sepang which was designed and built only three months. Hoping to force a much more competitive this season, after a poor in 2011.

Ducati Desmosedici GP12 has undergone a radical overhaul to give Rossi a feeling of comfort on the front-end. Ducati GP12 also features a new twin-spar aluminum and change chassis for main engine to change the center of gravity and weight distribution.

Today, Rossi was in fifth place with a best time of 2.02.392, or 0.735s behind Jorge Lorenzo who win the fastest position.

Regarding the test results today, Rossi said, “The distance is 0.7s compared with Lorenzo who made a very good lap and I am very happy because we fix many problems in all the 2011 season we were not able to fix. At the entrance braking, corners and agility, bike much better and Ducati have done a great job in no time.

“But that’s just the first day and we had a lot of work in the acceleration of the bike remains a little too difficult and unstable and I think it is the engine, chassis, electronics and a bit .. But I think we can compete.

“Now I can extract and use the front of the front tires. I have good temperature and the tires work well, so it is a big step compared to last year.

“The position on the bike last year I never felt confident with this one I am fine and I have enough space on the straight and well positioned in the corner .. Now we have to work but the first day is positive.”.

Rossi also spoke of other things that lyang very big positive is that any set-up changes he made for the GP12 which helps reduce lap times, which rarely happens with GP11 fuss.

Rossi said: “One very positive today we worked on the bike and we are improving and this is a miracle compared to last year.

“Last year when we change the bike is the same or maybe worse this time we are working on my bike and 0.1 or 0.2s faster .. Last year in the third round you’ll make a lap time after 50 laps and maybe a little worse. ”.

Regarding the answer to the question whether he expects a positive beginning to the pre-season testing, Rossi added: “Why not? But you never know because to create a new bike in three months you have a big question mark.

“The first bike is beautiful and I like when you see it compared with the old bike. This is a big step but mainly it is much faster.”. said Rossi.

In third,Cal Crutchlow would not be too carried away

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Cal Crutchlow, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 made a surprise in third place on the first day pre-season test Sepang 2012. Cal took third place behind Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. In fact he could beat Ben Spies and Valentino Rossi who are fourth and fifth.

However, Cal said that he would not be too carried away with this result,”I do not get more excited because do not forget this is only the first day of 2012 and it does not really mean anything. But it is a positive start and I am happy because I do not like this track.

“I’ve never got on with it and I’m pretty rusty this morning. I’m just riding a motocross bike for one morning because I jumped from the MotoGP bike at Valencia but I’m back up to speed pretty quickly.

“I started to feel a little weak towards the end of the day but I’m happy because the bike is basically the same spec as I was riding in Valencia.

“We still have much work to be done because the same problem I experienced in Valencia. We still have too much wheelspin and carts, but the positive is that the bike store all the good points of 800. A good entry point and good stability on the brakes,although it was never my strong point anyway.

“Looking at the lap time today we are in a good position but we know that we can only improve us. Not too much but to me feels like I’m riding a 800 bike with more power.

“It is still good to get out on the first day of testing and be competitive and at the top instead of having to fight.” Cal concludes.

Lorenzo fastest on first day of MotoGP Sepang test

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The first pre-season test session at Sepang preceded the wet track condition  because it was raining last night. This conditions made riders and teams were in the pit until 11.15 local time.

On Tuesday Sepang Test 2012 was attended by 12 riders from the factory-built team and two CRT teams, Forward Racing and BQR team. Ducati GP 12, which had been still kept secret is also present for it’s debut on the track.

Jorge Lorenzo from Yamaha Factory Racing runner-up of MotoGP 2011 season becomes the fastest on first day Sepang test. Followed by Dani Pedrosa, Cal Crutchlow and Ben Spies sequentially in second,third and fourth place. While Valentino Rossi with his new Ducati GP12 in fifth place.

Casey Stoner can not follow this test session because of old back injury whilst stretching during the morning warm-up session. Casey Stoner finally decided to be absent today and will be back tomorrow.

Testing Results of MotoGP Sepang test 2012(Tuesday-updated 5pm)

  1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 2m 1.657s (Lap 19/30)
  2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 2m 2.003s (44/44)
  3. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2m 2.221s (26/27)
  4. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 2m 2.234s (28/28)
  5. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Team 2m 2.727s (31/31)
  6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2m 2.751s (16/20)
  7. Hector Barbera ESP Pramac Racing 2m 2.773s (24/35)
  8. Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Test Rider 2m 2.829s (29/29)
  9. Alvaro Bautista ESP San Carlo Honda Gresini 2m 2.939s (29/36)
  10. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda 2m 3.668s (28/38)
  11. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 2m 3.781s (36/36)
  12. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team 2m 3.969s (19/22)
  13. Franco Battaini ITA Ducati Test Rider 2m 4.986s (20/26)
  14. Kousuke Akiyoshi JPN Repsol Honda 2m 7.163s (1/4)
  15. Colin Edwards USA Forward Racing (Suter-BMW CRT) 2m 8.240s (12/18)
  16. Ivan Silva ESP Avintia Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 2m 11.267s (12/12)
  17. Jordi Torres ESP Avintia Racing (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 2m 12.652s (33/33)

Casey Stoner:1000cc could mean less traction control

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By changing the engine capacity to 1000cc in MotGP 2012, Casey Stoner believes that the use of electronic system will be reduced. Stoner gives an example electronic system for traction control.

It is estimated, a new 1000cc engine can reach peak speed of more than 215mph on a faster track like”Mugello and Catalunya“. However, Casey Stoner said that with the increasing amount of power to the 1000cc bike when compared to 800cc, it will not require an electronic systems with a higher level.

One of the problems on a 1000cc, that is capable of producing 250bhp power is how to get the rear grip. This can be done by minimizing the energy on some tracks the amount of the power as that possessed by a 800cc bike.

The use of an electronic systems in MotoGP has been criticized by most drivers. Some systems are often used as traction control, engine braking and anti-wheelie. The driver said that the electronic system has negated the skills of riders and the race became boring. For the factory, It is precisely the opposite because they assume that the MotoGP as an arena to develop new technologies that ultimately can be applied to new engine.

In this regard, Stoner at the launch of Repsol Honda event at Sepang,Malaysia, he said: “In my opinion, we may be able to use their (electronic) is much less. We might be able to stop, pick up and spray out of the corner a little more without the edge tires so much.

“With the engine torque also you actually get more traction in many ways so you have more control over the slides and you get a better grip to go fast enough shear is not the way to go fast. But I found that in some corner of the slide can make you a little faster.

“But unfortunately it’s not the fastest way round, so we still will have to reduce that if we put the show they will be easier to slide but. Unfortunately we were there to try and win the race and the fastest way round the song is to keep the wheels in line.” . Stoner concluded.