Round eight of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship heads to the Mugello circuit for the TIM Grand Prix of Italy, but Loris Capirossi will not be participating due to injuries he sustained at the Assen round last weekend. The news has been a real setback for the Italian, who must miss his biggest race of the season.
“I'm obviously very disappointed and angry. I was hoping I would be on the track for this race, but my injuries from the crash at Assen force me to raise the white flag for the first time in my career for Mugello,” said Capirossi, who has competed at the Mugello Grand Prix for 20 consecutive years thus far. “I'm sorry for the many fans who will attend the race here at Mugello, the track they are emotionally closest to. I have many fond memories of this circuit.”
The 38 year old has had plenty of success at Mugello, including becoming the first Italian rider to win a 500cc Grand Prix at the circuit in 2000. Since then, he has achieved four additional podiums, the last of which was a 2nd place spot in 2006 on the Ducati.
“I wanted to turn my season around at this race. Now I will have to rest, sit still for at least two weeks and try to get back on track as soon as possible."
The back to back races offer an opportunity for the riders to pick up quickly where they left off in The Netherlands where they celebrated the first of the year’s 50th Anniversary of Grand Prix racing events. The Tuscan circuit is just two hours drive from the team’s headquarters near Milan and is an honorary home race for the team.
Lorenzo has a strong record at Mugello, winning in the 250cc class and claiming two premier class second place finishes in 2009 and 2010 with the Yamaha Factory Team. Spies performed well on his first visit to the Italian track last year, taking seventh after an intense battle which saw him ride as high as fourth at times.
Mugello can lay claim to being one of the fastest circuits in the world. The main straight is over a kilometre long and witnesses speeds of over 320km/hr by the GP riders before dropping into the downhill right hand corner at the end. Combine this with varied camber and gradient changes, high speed chicanes and an extra wide track and the thousands of passionate fans who flock to the surrounding hillsides are guaranteed some intense racing action.
Ben Spies: “These few days off seem to have taken forever, when you finish a race like Assen you just want to get straight back in and try to do it again. My first GP victory still hasn’t sunk in properly; it was pretty special for me to be able to do it at such a legendary circuit and at this unique time in Yamaha’s history. The red and white livery definitely bought me luck! I’m looking forward to Mugello, the track has apparently got a new surface with lots of grip so it should be pretty good for the bike and pretty exciting for the fans.”
Jorge Lorenzo: “We are going to Mugello with no time to rest and think about what happened last Saturday. The team did a great job and I believe now the bike can be better, we can make a step forward. We have to be positive after all! Mugello is a track I like so much, maybe one of the most beautiful in the world, and is my favourite along with Phillip Island. This track is full of chicanes and this year there is new asphalt! I've never won in MotoGP, but we will try this year and give a show to all our fans. Also I hope the weather changes after the previous races - summer has arrived."
The black powder-coated 883cc Evolution powertrain with black covers takes the Iron 883 motorcycle deep into the heart of darkness. With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a broad torque curve, the Iron 883 delivers plenty of power for the city scene. The pipes on the straight cut shorty dual exhaust flow the distinctive Harley-Davidson V-Twin sound. The black chopped rear fender with its combination stop/turn/tail lights shows more of the 150 mm rear tire and black, 13-spoke cast aluminum wheel, while the front tire also rides on a black wheel. The rest of the Iron 883 gets a darker-suited presence with black front forks and fender supports, fuel tank, oil tank cover, belt guard, drag style handlebar and mid mount foot controls. A classic solo seat with a height of 25.3 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger seat and a backrest in complementing black finishes can be added as accessories.
A one-piece, solo classic seat with a height of 25.3 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger seat and a backrest in complementing black finishes can be added as accessories.
The Transmission
With his second position at Assen, Casey Stoner has extended his lead in the Championship to 28 points over Jorge Lorenzo, while Andrea Dovizioso, third in Holland, confirms his third position in the overall standings and has reduced his gap to Lorenzo to only 9 points.
After two surgeries to fix the broken right collarbone suffered in the Grand Prix of France and having missed three consecutive races, Dani Pedrosa returns very motivated at the Mugello circuit, the scene where he celebrated his first of four victories last season. Dani will be hoping to return to his fine form he was in before the injury, with three podiums and one win in the first three races. His team mates have remained in a very good shape during his absence, with 3 consecutive wins and a second place for Stoner, and 3 podiums for Dovizioso.
Located in the beautiful region of Tuscany, the Mugello circuit is a favourite among all the riders and a must see event for all fans. It's one of the fastest tracks in the world, with 15 corners and a top speed of 350km/h achievable down the long start/finish straight. This year with new asphalt, the action on track will extend to Monday for another day of testing for all the MotoGP Teams. The Repsol Honda Team will continue development of its 800cc machine.
Casey Stoner:
"I'm really looking forward to Mugello especially after a difficult weekend in Assen where I was extremely happy to have finished second in a very difficult race. Last year we didn't get the best result but I've always enjoyed this circuit and I think this year we can expect to be quite competitive. From what I've heard, the new surface is a lot smoother and a lot faster which will make Mugello an even better circuit from what it already was! I've been excited about coming here to try it out! I'm hoping to have a good race and score important points for the Championship, but we need to keep our heads down and continue working hard."
Andrea Dovizioso:
"I'm very curious to go to Mugello and ride there with the new asphalt. Those who tested there said that it's unbelievably smooth. Mugello is one of the most technical, demanding and beautiful tracks in the MotoGP calendar, so I'm sure that without the bumps it will become one of the best circuits in the world. I'm happy to race in the Italian GP at this particular moment of the season: we are third in the Championship and we arrive after two successive podium finishes. We are competitive and determined to get another good result at my home GP. We have been consistent in dry and wet conditions and the team is working really well so I'm confident. Last year i was on the podium and the feeling up there is amazing, not comparable with another podium finish so I really want to repeat it. I hope there will be many spectators and that we can put on a good show! Mugello is always a special event, I enjoy every minute of it, starting with the journey to reach the Tuscan track via il Muraglione pass, a historical route for bikers!"
Dani Pedrosa:
"After missing three races, I'm happy to be back in Mugello. During this period I've been very focused on my recovery and after the second operation I have improved a lot. I'm really looking forward to riding the bike, getting into the groove again and to be as competitive as I was before the injury. It's been difficult being out of competition, but that was the situation and I couldn't do more. I have been in contact with my team during this time and I know they also look forward to getting back to normal. Together we will work to regain the highest level and fight to win races again. Mugello is a difficult circuit, very technical and demanding, and I know it will not be easy for us, but last year we scored our first win of the season there and we would like to get a good result."
Having stretched his Championship lead to 28 points after seven rounds, Casey Stoner’s position at the head of the standings continues to look ever stronger and the Repsol Honda rider will aim to continue his impressive form in Italy. Second place at Assen was Stoner’s 49th premier class podium, and the Australian will become only the 12th rider of all time to make 50 the next time he steps onto the rostrum.
The man in pursuit of Stoner is Jorge Lorenzo, and the Yamaha Factory Racing rider is already contemplating a sizeable gap to his rival. The reigning World Champion managed to salvage sixth place in Assen having crashed on the opening lap through no fault of his own, and a timely first premier class win at Mugello would boost Lorenzo’s challenge. Aiming to impress a home crowd however will be Andrea Dovizioso, and the Repsol Honda rider has finished the last two rounds on the podium to close the gap to Lorenzo in second to just nine points.
Sharp focus will fall on Valentino Rossi and his Ducati Team this weekend as the Borgo Panigale factory and Italian rider approach a hugely significant home race together. Having finished 30 seconds off race winner at Assen Ben Spies, there is still plenty of work to do, but Mugello is a track at which Rossi has an unparalleled record – between 2002 and 2008 he won for seven successive years. Last year’s Mugello GP was the site of the leg injury which brought to an end Rossi’s 230-race starting run, and the scene is set for a special weekend for the Italian.
Another major point of interest at Mugello will be the return to action of Dani Pedrosa. The Repsol Honda rider, who fractured a collarbone at Le Mans and who has subsequently missed the previous three rounds, confirmed on Monday that he would ride in Italy and Mugello was the scene of the first of his four wins in 2010 as he took a flag-to-flag victory from pole position.
Ben Spies arrives in Italy fresh from celebrating his first MotoGP win at Assen, a victory which marked a number of milestones, one of them being that he became the first American to win a race since Nicky Hayden did so at Laguna Seca in 2006. The Yamaha Factory Racing rider also became the first rider to take a maiden MotoGP win since Dovizioso (Donington, 2009).
Spies’ compatriot Nicky Hayden will aim for a strong home display for Ducati, whilst Hiroshi Aoyama returns to the San Carlo Honda Gresini garage after filling in for Pedrosa at Repsol Honda in Assen. Aoyama’s team-mate Marco Simoncelli will be desperate for a first premier class podium in front of a fervent home crowd (for both rider and team), a result that has so far eluded him despite having started from the front row for the past five races (including poles at Catalunya and Assen).
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 pair Colin Edwards and Cal Crutchlow have both been in impressive form, the latter will be riding at Mugello for the first time in his rookie season, whilst Toni Elías’ LCR Honda team are preparing for their home race. Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar), Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) and rookie Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) will all seek improvements in fortunes and results after Assen, whilst for Pramac Racing Randy de Puniet will fly the flag as the sole representative in the team’s home race, after Loris Capirossi was deemed unfit to ride due to fractured ribs and a shoulder injury sustained in a crash in qualifying at Assen which forced him to miss the race.
To allow for further time for the development of the bike the decision has been made to postpone the test to a later date.
The new plan foresees Yamaha’s 2012 1000cc prototype tested by Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies following the Czech Republic round of the MotoGP World Championship at the Brno circuit.
The weather had been overcast all day and rain meant that the 125cc and Moto2 races were both wet, but by the start of the MotoGP race the conditions had become sufficiently dry for slick tyres, although the skies remained overcast. In the cool and slippery conditions, every rider on the grid opted for the softer specification front and rear slicks apart from Marco Simoncelli and Karel Abraham who used the harder option front.
With the track barely damp by the start of the race, the initial lap was always going to be crucial but several riders fell foul of the conditions. Abraham and Randy de Puniet retired in separate incidents, whilst Marco Simoncelli got caught out exiting turn five and took Jorge Lorenzo into the gravel with him although both rejoined the race.
Hiroshi Yamada – Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Department:
“This is a fantastic win for Ben, especially during Yamaha’s 50th anniversary celebrations, so I’d like to congratulate his team and Yamaha for their performance today. He becomes the tenth rider to have taken a premier class win on Bridgestone tyres and it is good to have a new race winner in MotoGP. It was a very tricky weekend for riders but also for our tyres. All season the temperature at races seems to be significantly lower than last year, and with the effect of rain over the last three days the track condition was very slippery and off-line it was still damp so today many riders used the softer slicks for improved warm-up.”
Hirohide Hamashima – Assistant to Director, Motorsport Tyre Development Division:
“The conditions today were cold and damp in places which meant that almost all riders used the softer option front and rear slicks. The soft compound front was used for its improved warm-up performance and grip with the low temperature, but the compromise of this means that tyre wear was therefore higher. Some riders experienced some graining of the front tyre, including Cal who opted to return to the pits for a fresh soft front slick. Generally, as Ben showed, rear tyre performance was okay today, even on the left side, although a few riders got caught out on the first lap. Andrea reported a vibration from the rear of his bike but investigation shows that this didn’t have anything to do with the rear tyre but may have been the effect he felt of graining on the right side of the front tyre.”
Dani Pedrosa will make his much-anticipated return to action at this weekend’s Gran Premio d’Italia TIM, having missed the previous three GPs through injury.
The Repsol Honda rider, who fractured his right collarbone in a crash in the race at Le Mans on May 15th, said in his personal blog: “For some weeks now I have wanted to tell you when I’ll return to action, and finally today I can. These past weeks have been difficult, but I knew I had to concentrate on my recovery in order to ensure that I get back on the bike in the best way possible. As I said last week, Mugello was the objective and it’s the only thing I’m thinking of at the moment.”
“I head to Italy with great motivation to be back on the bike, to see how I’m feeling and to compete,” continued Pedrosa. “As well as riding again I’m really looking forward to getting back and seeing all the team, working with them and trying to do well. At the end of the day we’re like a family. You miss it when you spend such a long period without competing.”
Discussing his rehabilitation from injury, Pedrosa added: “The truth is that it (collarbone) has improved a lot since I had the second operation. It seems we’ve solved the problem and the good feeling I had in the days following the operation confirmed that. Now I need to see what I feel like when I’m on the bike during a race.”
In poor weather conditions with a dark, overcast sky and a wet track that started to dry up towards the end of the race, rain king West blasted from his 20th starting position to 13th place within one lap, kept on pushing and crossed the chequered flag in a fantastic fourth position. His German team-mate showed a similar kind of determination: Due to an electrical problem in qualifying, Neukirchner had to start from the very last position on the grid, but hunted most of the Moto2 field down to finish in an incredible tenth position.
“Things looked grim in practice for us, but then our riders shone in the race and turned things around”, beamed MZ CEO Martin Wimmer, who doubles as West’s crew chief for the time being. “We are very happy today. Hopefully, Anthony’s result was a turning point after all the bad luck he had in this season so far. We’d really like to continue at this level!”
Anthony West- 4th: "I was able to defend myself for the whole race without getting under pressure from other riders – a great feeling! I knew there were a few guys behind me who only waited for their chance, but I managed to increase the gap and pull away. I am really happy with this result, which was very important for us. For the first time with this bike, we’ve had a good set-up!”
Max Neukirchner – 10th: "I wonder if this has ever happened in the Moto2 category: To start dead-last and to end up in the top ten! This race has been phenomenal. At the beginning, I needed a while to find my rhythm and my concentration, but then I got faster and was able to ride consistently until the end. When it started to rain again in the last laps, I just thought: Please let this race end! My rear tyre was really worn and offered hardly any grip any more. Now we are more than happy. My congratulations to Anthony, I am happy for him and his fourth place!"
For several years now, the 178bhp Kawasaki ZX12 has had the most horsepower of any production motorcycle, though it has played second fiddle to the 175 bhp Suzuki GSX1300 Hayabusa (named after the Japanese Peregrine falcon, one of the few animals on the planet which can travel at 300km per hour which it does during a dive) because the Hayabusa has a higher top speed – the Suzuki’s aerodynamics enable it to more than make up for the slight horsepower deficit and it has now held the title of the world’s fastest production motorcycle for six years since it launched. The Hayabusa’s top speed as measured by the Guiness Book of Records is 317 km/h. But Kawasaki’s just announced ZX14 company flagship boasts 1400cc, much slipperier aerodynamics and the most horsepower and highest top speed of any production motorcycle EVER! The publicity conscious Kawasaki is keeping mum on the exact figures but the rumours emanating from Japan indicate we are just about to see the world’s first 200bhp production motorcycle. Full details inside.
A manufacturer is defined by the motorcycles it makes, and the defining characteristic of Kawasaki motorcycles has always been power - lots of power. It became the horsepower king waaay back when it released the H1 500cc three cylinder two-stroke triple in the late sixties, and built on that reputation with the 750cc H2 three cylinder two-stroke triple and finally the Z1 900cc four cylinder machine and the family of big four cylinder four-strokes that bike spawned – the Z1000, Z1-R, GPZ900R and all the way through to the modern hyper-bikes like the ZZ-R1100 and Ninja ZX-12R, Kawasaki’s flagship machines have set performance standards.
There’s absolutely no doubt that Kawasaki has been getting ready to take on the Hayabusa for several years – the ZX12 was expected to be a Hayabusa-beater and despite its ram air induction system inflating real horsepower from 178 at low speed to 190 at high speed (the forced air induction acts has the same effect as a supercharger), its aerodynamics let it down. But the ZX14 has obviously spent a lot of time in the wind tunnel as Kawasaki prides itself on the performance factor and it wanted to be the fastest of the bunch again. And there is absolutely no doubt that despite the big K’s coyness, the new Ninja ZX-14will be the most powerful and the fastest ever and continue the tradition by delivering as-yet-unheard-of levels of performance and excitement. Its aerodynamics reminds users that Kawasaki is indeed an aircraft manufacturer.
Kawasaki engineers and designers have created a motorcycle that turns its Ram Air and fuel-injected engine into the core of a powerful, torque-producing, aerodynamic stunner that will draw attention from onlookers whether on the road, or parked on the roadside. The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 is a 1352cc motorcycle, that is its most powerful ever, and succeeds in setting the performance standards for others to follow.
This all new in-line four has evolved from the Ninja ZX-12R and features a bore and stroke of 84 x 61mm packed into a purposefully designed compact outline that minimizes engine width, leaving it at virtually the same width as the 12R.
A twist of the throttle delivers a seamless spread of torque that is so linear, the "power band," per se, ceases to exist. Riders will pay particular attention to the impressive response that kicks in once the motor exceeds 6,000 rpm. Those that have ridden this newest Kawasaki flagship marvel at the torque response that makes pulling away from a total stop in almost any gear a possibility.
The engine uses a secondary balancer to tame unwanted vibrations, and a direct-actuation shift lever is lighter than conventional linkage-type set-ups, offering a more direct feel for the rider.
The ZX-14's chassis design is every bit the equal of its power plant. It is an advanced version of Kawasaki's unique aluminum monocoque frame, lightweight and very strong. This sophisticated approach gives the ZX-14 a responsive handling quality and incredible highway stability. By utilizing this frame technology, engineers were able to concentrate on delivering, as mentioned, a very slim, compact package. Inherently more rigid than twin-spar frames, and with the engine rigid-mounted, the monocoque's strength is greatly increased.
With the engine positioned forward in the frame, engineers were able to carefully select the wheelbase and front/rear wheel weight balance to achieve both high speed stability and responsive handling. The ZX-14 uses an inverted 43mm cartridge fork and new Uni-Trak linkage rear suspension to complement the highly rigid frame, thus offering both great controllability at high speeds and superb road holding when sport riding on twisting hill roads.
Does this ultimate combination of engine performance and chassis design make the Kawasaki ZX-14 rider-friendly?
The engineers and designers sought to combine the utmost elements of today's motorcycle technologies, yet still provide a package that is both approachable-and usable. The ZX-14 delivers seamless power, a smooth ride, and friendly ergonomics. Together, these characteristics are manifested in a ride that is surprisingly non-intimidating, yet still maintains the heart of the rebel so much a part of Kawasaki's brand heritage.
Offering a very relaxed sport riding position, it is compact without being cramped, and the bars are positioned so riders don't have to stretch to reach them. The narrow engine, monocoque frame, and fuel tank make it easy for the rider to keep his knees close together in any riding conditions. Footpegs are low-set to give ample legroom and the low seat height and narrow seat front make planting feet on the ground when stopped a cinch.
And when the rider is stopped, the motorcycle will be the center of attention. Because the monocoque frame goes over the engine and doesn't protrude through the fairing, the fairing design lines are uninterrupted, giving it a smooth, flowing appearance, from front to rear. Quadruple projector beam headlights adorn the ZX-14's front cowl, with the outer lights containing position lamps and high beams. Low beams are located in the two center lamps. The front and rear turn signals are integrated into the fairing and rear cowl, and the all new LED tail lamp features a unique "V" design.
Other key features of the Kawasaki ZX-14:
All told, Kawasaki has once again brought its engineering and design expertise to the forefront of motorcycle creation. The Ninja ZX-14 lives up to its predecessors, and far surpasses them, as the meaning of the word "ultimate" has found a new definition, at least as far as roadgoing motorcycles go.
These futuristic solutions have led to an amazing weight reduction (the FV2 1200 weighs under 160 kg) and an extremely compact size. The extraordinary agility that has always typified Aprilia motorcycles therefore finds its utmost expression in the FV2 1200.
