motorcycle Gp news update 2011: Rossi and Hayden enjoying the show

Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden have been the centre of attention at Madonna di Campiglio on Tuesday, the second day of the week-long Ducati event. Watch the attached motogp.com video for an overview of proceedings at the Italian ski resort so far.

Day 1 at the Wrooom MotoGP Press Ski Meeting

The wait was finally over for fans and media alike on Tuesday as Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden both spoke about the forthcoming 2011 season at the Wrooom event at Madonna di Campiglio.
Having arrived at the Italian venue on Monday evening to a frenzied media welcome, the Ducati MotoGP riders met Scuderia Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa as they posed for photographs in front of the waiting press.
On Tuesday morning the Ducati pair held individual press conferences as they fielded questions from the media, and following that motogp.com interviewed both Rossi and Hayden as each discussed the Desmosedici, the forthcoming season and the prospect of working alongside one another in 2011.
In the attached motogp.com video you can view a résumé of events so far at the 21st edition of the Wrooom event, as well as viewing photos of Rossi and Hayden in their 2011 colours in the Latest Photos section of the motogp.com site. On Wednesday the new Desmosedici GP11 will also be presented by Ducati.

Rossi eager for action but prepared for “calm” recovery

The Italian gave his first reaction following his shoulder operation on Sunday, underlining his determination to be ready for the Sepang Test in February.

Valentino Rossi is fully aware of the road to recovery that awaits him following surgery on his shoulder on Sunday, and despite acknowledging that he needs to be “calm and patient” in his rehabilitation the 31 year-old is eager to try out his repaired shoulder.

In the aftermath of his operation in Italy on Sunday Doctor Alessandro Castagna, one of the specialists who operated on Rossi, said he expected the nine-time World Champion to fit in time for the MotoGP Test at Sepang which takes place at the start of February next year, provided there were no complications to the Italian’s recovery.


Rossi appears to have taken stock of the advice and is anticipating a careful approach, and gave his post-operation reaction to the crew of Italian broadcaster Mediaset’s humorous show ‘Striscia la Notizia’.

“I’m pretty bad and it’s very painful, but that’s normal in the days that follow an operation. I’m finding it difficult to sleep,” said Rossi. “The operation went well. Everything is how it should be. My arm is immobilised, and the shoulder is expected to recover 100%. Now it’s just a question of time, I have to be calm, patient, and to wait.”

With his focus on the Sepang Test, which should be his second on the Desmosedici, Rossi continued: “The shoulder was much worse than we suspected and the operation lasted twice as long as was planned. The tendons which we thought were a little bit affected were in fact completely damaged. Now I have a shoulder which is like new, and I’m eager to try it out. I hope to be fit for February 1st, the first Test of 2011, and ride the Ducati.”

Valentino Rossi, Furusawa and Jarvis look back on seven years of success

The final race of the 2010 season at Valencia brought to a close a success-filled partnership between the Italian rider and Japanese factory. The 31 year-old, Masao Furusawa and Lin Jarvis all gave their reactions to the end of an era following the race.

Fiat Yamaha Press Conference

The last race of the 2010 campaign was also Valentino Rossi’s final in the colours of the Fiat Yamaha team after seven years, 46 race victories and four World Championship titles. Following third place in the GP Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana – his 84th podium with Yamaha – the Italian and Yamaha’s Masao Furusawa and Lin Jarvis looked back on an incredible time together.
In the attached video you can watch a special press conference with the trio, whilst the second video sees Rossi review his evolution and development with the Japanese factory throughout their time together.
Valentino Rossi:
"This is a very emotional day but I'm very happy as well because I don't have any regrets and there have been no bad moments or thoughts throughout these seven seasons together with Yamaha. From the beginning it was something great and we worked very well together. Like in life, in sport the results are crucial but just as important is the enjoyment and we had this at Yamaha. We had a great fusion in my team - the Australians, the Italians, the Japanese, the English and many more...a lot of people all together having fun. If in 2004 somebody had told me that I would win four world championships with Yamaha and 46 Grand Prix I would have signed in blood! I am happy. I have to thank first of all Masao Furusawa because we went through some difficult moments but we were able to improve the bike and make it the best machine, then I just have to say a big thank you to everybody who helped me in these seven seasons, and wish everyone good luck."
Masao Furusawa, Yamaha Engineering Operations Executive Officer:
"I would like to thank Valentino very much, I started in MotoGP in 2003 and it was a terrible year, it was almost like I was in hell! I really wanted to make the YZR-M1 a better bike but the more investigated it, the more I realised I needed something else, more than the bike. So we found Valentino Rossi. First of all I didn't believe Valentino would come to Yamaha because the bike wasn't great but somehow it worked. After South Africa in 2004 I felt like I was in heaven, it was a very exciting and memorable year. In 2004 Valentino was the only one who could win on the YZR-M1 so he contributed a lot to developing the bike. This year not only Valentino but also three other riders were fast so it's clear that our YZR-M1 is a pretty good bike. This is mainly because of Valentino's contributions over the years so I really appreciate that an d I want to wish him all the best in the future."
Lin Jarvis, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing:
"In 2003 when we had our worst year ever in GP racing and finally we said that whatever we were going to do, without Valentino Rossi on the seat it wasn't going to work! That was the point where we decided that we needed him. There were some exciting and secretive negotiations with Valentino and it was a very important decision but, with the backing of Masao Furusawa and the President of Yamaha Motor Company, we made it happen. It was ‘do or die'. With a huge commitment from Yamaha, the engineers and everybody in the team we made it work. We are very, very grateful because Valentino's arrival really turned things around for Yamaha and we came back to victorious ways. We are incredibly thankful and grateful to him for that. We've had so many exciting and enjoyable moments with him and with the crew that he brought with him, who are great guys. Today we will be saying goodbye to a great number of people including Davide Brivio, Jerry Burgess and the whole crew. We've had a super time, it's been a really excellent team and we will miss them tomorrow, it will be a strange day."

2010 season finale in Valencia

The 18th and final round of the 2010 MotoGP World Championship this weekend will see the runner-up spot decided, with the following Official Test offering an immediate taste of what is to come in 2011.

The Ricardo Tormo Circuit hosts the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana this weekend for the 12th year running, and what has since 2002 been the traditional season-ending round. The 18th instalment of the 2010 MotoGP campaign will see runner-up to already-crowned Champion Jorge Lorenzo decided, with Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi the candidates still able to take the honour.

Despite having wrapped up the title with three rounds to spare Lorenzo is still hungry for victories, as proven with his eighth of the season last time out at Estoril. The Fiat Yamaha rider is also on course to set a new record for the highest number of points scored in a single season in the MotoGP class as well as equal a number of other milestones, with the added incentive that Valencia is just one of three circuits on the current calendar at which he has not won in any class. He did finish on the podium last year however and will now aim to go one better.

The man with the most success at the venue is Pedrosa, last year’s race winner and with five victories in total across the premier (twice), 250cc (twice) and 125cc classes. The Repsol Honda rider currently has the best chance of finishing second in the Championship, holding a 19-point advantage over third-placed Rossi, but he is still recovering from his collarbone injury having only made his return to racing in Portugal having sat out three races.

Rossi has winning form at Valencia from 2003 and 2004, but is yet to taste victory on an 800cc machine there. The Italian, along with Lorenzo, will be aiming to deliver Yamaha their first win in the format, and came close last year in finishing second.

Rossi satisfied with the podium and now aiming for the final win

The Fiat Yamaha rider finished second in the bwin Grande Premio de Portugal and is now determined to win his final race with the team at Valencia next weekend.

Valentino Rossi’s ninth podium result of the season in the bwin Grande Premio de Portugal on Sunday gave the Italian great satisfaction, after a step into the unknown in terms of track conditions at Estoril.

After spending the weekend practicing in wet conditions the race was a dry affair, and the switch between set-ups did not hold the 31 year-old back from pushing hard as he finished second behind team-mate Jorge Lorenzo having challenged the Spaniard.

"Like I said yesterday, a wet warm up and a dry race is a difficult one! I am happy about this weekend, we worked really well on the bike on the wet and this morning I was the fastest in the warm up, if it had been a wet race I could have been very competitive,” said Rossi.

“For the dry we started blind so I had to try to take some risks at the beginning because the setting was okay, but it was not enough because when Jorge got into his rhythm he was faster than me, I had no way to fight with him. I tried to stay with him but he was too fast.”

With Casey Stoner crashing out Rossi now sits third in the Championship, 19 points behind Dani Pedrosa with the final round in Valencia next weekend.

Aussie Burgess follows Rossi again

Valentino Rossi and Ducati have poached the legendary Australian crew chief Jeremy Burgess from Yamaha in a bid to win a MotoGP title with a third manufacturer.

Rossi and Burgess are the most successful pairing in the MotoGP with seven world championships together over the past 11 seasons.

The Italian, who finished third behind winner Casey Stoner in the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, has insisted Ducati hire Adelaide-based Burgess to supervise his race program in search of an eighth world crown in 2011.

Rossi has never raced in MotoGP without kingmaker Burgess whose credits include world championships with Aussie greats Wayne Gardner and Mick Doohan.

"Jerry stays with me until I retire," Rossi said when asked about the prospect of racing without his trusted wingman.

Burgess left Honda to join Rossi at Yamaha in 2004 and will now work to reinvigorate Ducati, who have not won a title since 2007 with Casey Stoner.

"I've spoken to Ducati and I think it is all going to work out fairly well," Burgess said of his impending switch to Italy's famous red team.

Rossi hoping to race at ‘100 per cent’

Valentino Rossi says the flowing nature of the Phillip Island course should prove less troublesome for his injured shoulder this weekend as he looks to build on his Malaysian Grand Prix success.

The Italian romped to his first win since suffering with both shoulder and leg injuries in separate accidents with a victory at Sepang, Rossi subsequently reviving his hopes of securing third in the MotoGP standings.

With less than a week to prepare for the Australian Grand Prix, Rossi is looking forward to racing at Phillip Island, claiming the fast, sweeping bends – and minimal harsh braking points – will create fewer problems for his pained shoulder.

"I hope I can race at 100 per cent here in Australia," the FIAT Yamaha rider said. "On paper it looks good for my shoulder because although there are many fast changes of direction there isn't so much heavy braking here. We will see."

"The Phillip Island track is great; something different compared to other tracks. It's so fast and it's important to find the right line. Here it is difficult to find the right balance between the fast and slow corners, but it always makes for great racing, especially in MotoGP."

Rossi is currently positoned third in the standings, though Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso are just one and two points behind respectively.

Rossi: “One of the best races of my career”

“I want to say congratulations to Yamaha and to Jorge; he has been fast all the season, at all tracks and in all conditions and he deserves to be the World Champion,” said Rossi, who went on to discuss his own result.

"This is a wonderful moment for me, I am so happy to win like this and take my 46th win with the Yamaha on ‘my' M1,”

“I rode so well and it was a fantastic race, one of the best of my career I think. I wanted this 46th win so much because as everyone knows it's a special number for me! Thanks to my team because everyone worked so hard this weekend and I think this is a great repayment for everyone. To win like this, from 11th at the first corner, is a great feeling.”

Andrea Dovizioso has put on a strong effort these past two races, working his way up the ranks and placing him on the podium twice. The 2010 race season looks like it will be a positive end for this Italian, hopefully launching him into a strong race season for 2011.

Title focus for Lorenzo, Rossi wants to continue form

The Fiat Yamaha duo are approaching Round 15, the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, with different aims. Lorenzo is on the verge of clinching his first premier class title, whilst Rossi wants to build on the form he displayed in Japan.

Jorge Lorenzo:

"All I am thinking about is Sunday and if I can win the title... It's been one of the dreams of my life and it would be great to get it here in Sepang. I like Malaysia a lot and I've done so many kilometres there testing on my M1, plus I have great memories from winning the 250cc championship there in the 2007. The track is long and modern but the weather can be a problem because it can be too hot and also rain can cause problems. Last year was a bit crazy with the rain and then I had to start from last on the grid! I would definitely prefer it to be dry this year. The team and I will focus in the same way we have all season, working hard from Friday and with the goal of a podium or victory. We hope for the best result we can get."

Valentino Rossi:

"Japan was very exciting for us and it felt good to be fighting at the front through all the sessions and the race; it's been a long time since we were that strong. I don't know until I start riding how Sepang will feel on my shoulder but it is one of my two or three favourite tracks in the world and I am always excited to go there. We were strong there in winter testing, obviously a lot has changed since then but we made some good improvements to our bike in Japan so I hope we can be in the same kind of form this weekend."