Any bike will do

MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo confirms he will race with No 1

A triumphant 2010 MotoGP racing season witnessed Yamaha Factory Racing Team rider Jorge Lorenzo charge to World Championship victory with an incredible nine race wins and a record breaking 383 championship points earned.

The status of reigning MotoGP World Champion gives the young Mallorcan rider the unique opportunity to change his racing number to No 1 as he defends his title this season. Lorenzo today confirmed his intention to run the coveted No 1 on his Yamaha Factory Racing M1 race bike, revealing a clever design incorporating his JL initials. This will be the first time a Yamaha MotoGP rider has worn the No 1 since Wayne Rainey defended his World Championship title in 1993 for the third consecutive time.

"Today I can reveal my No 1," said Jorge Lorenzo. "I am very proud because you have to work very hard to have the option to wear it. I have been lucky with my design because the No 1 works really well with my JL initials, maybe with different letters it would have been difficult to make it look right, I hope my fans will like it! I won't forget my No 99 this season, it will be there somewhere on my leathers because No 99 is in my heart. It was a difficult choice to change my number but I have earned the right for this unique opportunity to wear it."

Rossi at Misano

Tawau Ride Preparation - hahaha

Ranau Homestay

Rossi and Hayden unveil the 2011 Ducati Desmosedici

Valentino Rossi’s inauguration as an official Ducati rider took a further step at Madonna di Campiglio on Wednesday, when along with team-mate Nicky Hayden he was on hand to unveil the Desmosedici GP11 that both with ride in the 2011 MotoGP World Championship.

Complete in the individualised fairings that each rider will display this season, Rossi’s machine – personalised by Aldo Drudi – had hints of the Italian’s famous yellow, as the prototype was revealed for the first time.

The man behind the design of the GP11, Filippo Preziosi, was present at a press conference to describe the major characteristics of the machine as he detailed the features that include new aerodynamics, changes to engine torque, the stiffness of the chassis and revised electronics. “The aerodynamics are completely different, and the features are those we tested at Valencia (in November) upon which we will base the evolution of the bike,” said Preziosi, who also spoke to motogp.com after the press conference to explain the main changes to the prototype.

Also in attendance was Ducati General Manager Claudio Domenicali, who said: “2011 will be a year of great change. It will be the start of the third phase of our presence in MotoGP, a historic moment. To have Valentino in the team is a new aspect. Everybody knows what Valentino is capable of in terms of giving feedback for improving the bike and furthering the capacity of our project.”

 

MotoGP 2011: The new season

In less than one month’s time the first Official MotoGP Test of the year takes place at Sepang as the fight for the final 800cc title gets underway. Here, motogp.com previews the forthcoming season.

The 2010 campaign is still fresh in the memory but already the focus has turned to 2011. With the first Official Test in preparation for the new season coming immediately after the final round of the year in Valencia back in November, the excitement at the final 800cc season before the introduction of a 1000c engine capacity limit in 2012 is merely adding to the anticipation that the 2011 season will be one to savour.

Looking at the leading contenders for the 2011 MotoGP title the defending World Champion Jorge Lorenzo will be at the forefront, as he aims to underline his status as the new dominant force. Having been so consistent in 2010 and finishing 16 of the 18 rounds on the podium on his M1, the factory Yamaha rider displayed a level of maturity that was vastly improved in comparison to his previous premier class campaigns.

As Lorenzo opts for continuity with Yamaha two of his chief rivals ride with new teams in 2011. Casey Stoner becomes a factory HRC rider and his display in the Valencia Test hinted at what was an immediate affinity with the RC212V, whilst Valentino Rossi has filled the Australian’s seat at Ducati as an all-Italian match-up adds to the fascinating grid. Rossi may not have enjoyed as comfortable an introduction to his new machine as Stoner did to the Honda, but such is the nine-time World Champion’s proven track record he can be expected to be pushing hard on the Desmosedici come March 20th at Losail.

Along with Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa will hope to benefit from the stability of remaining with the same set-up in 2011, and for the 2010 runner-up it will be his sixth season on the factory Honda team. Having been Lorenzo’s longest challenger until injury struck towards the end of 2010, Pedrosa’s sights will be firmly set on a first premier class title.

As much as the ‘top four’ continue to be spoken of in one bracket, the gap behind them is being closed all the time and there are a number of riders who will not only be confident of breaking into that elite, but who have proven they have the ability to run at the front.

Andrea Dovizioso enjoyed his best premier class season to date in 2010 and will remain on the factory Honda team, Ben Spies was Rookie of the Year and earned a factory Yamaha ride as well as serving notice of his talent in what was his debut year, and of course Nicky Hayden is a former World Champion who displayed a much-improved feeling on the Desmosedici in his second season with Ducati. Marco Simoncelli was also highly impressive in his first campaign in the MotoGP class, and in 2011 will ride a factory supported RC212V on the San Carlo Honda Gresini team.

Colin Edwards has a wealth of MotoGP experience and will continue with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, whilst Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet are both seasoned campaigners and will compete to adjust quickest to the Desmosedici of the Pramac Racing team. Returning for their second seasons respectively and eager to make progress will be Héctor Barberá (Paginas Amarillas Aspar), Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini).

Great interest will also be stoked by the introduction of three new riders to the category. Toni Elías, winner of the inaugural Moto2 World Championship, makes his return to the premier class with LCR Honda whilst rookies Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Karel Abraham (Cardion ab Motoracing) make the move from superbikes and Moto2 respectively.

The Official MotoGP Test at Sepang on February 1st will give further indications as to the progress of each individual rider and team, and you can follow the pre-season on motogp.com.