MotoGP » Sachsenring - Race results.

Sunday, 13th July 2008

Full race results from the German Grand Prix at a wet Sachsenring, round ten of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship.

Dani Pedrosa crashed out on lap five, while holding a seven second lead.


1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 47min 30.057 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 47min 33.765 secs
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 47min 44.059 secs
4. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 47min 44.181 secs
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 48min 12.079 secs
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 48min 16.705 secs
7. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 48min 34.540 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 48min 34.645 secs
9. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 48min 46.830 secs
10. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 48min 59.332 secs
11. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 47min 41.757 secs
12. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 47min 43.954 secs
13. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 48min 13.749 secs

DNF:
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 8min 5.615 secs
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 3min 23.795 secs
Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 14min 50.161 secs
Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 32min 10.373 secs

MotoGP » Pedrosa to miss US GP?

Monday, 14th July 2008

Dani Pedrosa injures hand and ankle after crashing out of German Grand Prix lead.

Dani Pedrosa's Sachsenring accident, which cost him the race and world championship lead, may also rule the Spaniard out of next weekend's US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Pedrosa had shocked the paddock by rocketing to a 7.4secs leads after just five laps around the soaking Sachsenring circuit, but then fell at high speed as he braked for turn one.

"It was a little strange. I had only just touched the brake and I crashed," confirmed Pedrosa after his first DNF of the season. "It was a real pity because I'd got a great start and was going well. I had a good feeling. The front felt perfect, the rear was sliding just a little, but the general feeling was good considering the track conditions. It is a real pity."


"Dani was showing very good performance at the start of the race, he had a good feeling for the conditions but he was unlucky. It was a fast crash," added team manager Kazuhiko Yamano.

After falling, the Spaniard slid into the run-off area, rolled through the gravel trap, then came to a halt against the air fence. Pedrosa fractured the top bone of his left index finger in the incident and also has a suspected fracture of his right ankle.

Pedrosa is due to fly to Barcelona to see his surgeon Xavier Mir in advance of next weekend's US GP and the Clinica Mobile - which treated Pedrosa at the circuit - believes that 'in consideration of the serious injuries suffered' surgery on Pedrosa's left hand is 'likely'.

But if surgery does take place, the Clinica Mobile added that Pedrosa 'will not be able to take part in the next GP at Laguna Seca, and we can expect his return at the Czech Republic Grand Prix [on August 17] after the summer break'.

Pedrosa had led the MotoGP World Championship by four points over Valentino Rossi heading into the German GP, round ten of 18.

Formula 1 » Schumacher: I quit F1 to save Massa's seat.

Tuesday, 15th July 2008

Michael Schumacher, the most successful F1 driver of all time, reveals why he walked away at the end of 2006 - and it wasn't because of Kimi Raikkonen, he claims...

More than a year-and-a-half on from his retirement from Formula 1, Michael Schumacher – the most successful driver in the sport's history – has revealed that he walked away to save his team-mate and friend Felipe Massa's career.

The German – who claimed a record-breaking seven world drivers' crowns in the top flight, the product of an unrivalled 91 victories, 154 rostrum finishes, 68 pole positions and 1,369 points – hung up his F1 helmet at the end of his 16th season in 2006.

At the time many had surmised that he had quit rather than run the risk of being out-performed by Kimi Raikkonen, who had been signed up to drive for Ferrari the following year. Schumacher, though, insists this was not the case.

“I stopped because I didn't want my friend Felipe Massa to be unemployed,” the 39-year-old is quoted as having said by Swiss newspaper Blick. “I would have had no problem going up against Kimi Raikkonen.”

Schumacher will be in evidence throughout the forthcoming German Grand Prix weekend – around a circuit at which he triumphed on four occasions during his career in the uppermost echelon – fulfilling his role as a special consultant to the Scuderia. The outing will mark only his second paddock visit of the season, following his appearance in Barcelona almost three months ago. He is also due to play football in the 1 drivers' team on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the alternating agreement that currently sees the German Grand Prix shared between 2008 home Hockenheim and the Nürburgring looks set to continue until at least 2011, when the scheme is contractually fixed to end.

The move was made as more and more countries clamour for the right to welcome F1, making it more difficult to justify Germany having two seasonal slots on the calendar, as had been the case in 2006 and a number of previous years.

source: crash.net

Suzuki to launch Hayabusa and GSX-R 1000cc in India

Your diwali gift cannot be more special than this. If you have Rs11 lakhs from this september you can vromm legally in world’s fastest bike. Suzuki has finalised its plan to launch the Hayabusa in India. The Hayabusa which is powered by 1340cc in line 4 engine is a dream bike for every bike fanatic. The bike earned more fame in India when actor John Abraham rode the bike in Dhoom. With the launch of Hayabusa Suzuki becomes the third bike maker to foray into the superbike segment in India. Yamaha and Ducati has already launched superbikes ranging from Rs10 lakh to Rs47 lakh in India.Suzuki will also introduce its second superbike the GSX-R 1000cc in India by November this year. The Hayabusa which is powered by 1340cc in line 4 engine is likely to cost an astounding Rs 11 lakh and that explains why the company does not expect big numbers. “We will launch the bike in the first week of September,” said Atul gupta, vice-president, sales and marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India. “The demand for big bikes is actually more of a hype. Cumulatively these bikes sell only about 400 units per annum and we don’t expect volumes as well. Alongwith the GXR we will probably do 150 units per annum.” Similar to any other manufacturer Suzuki also feels the 105 per cent import duty on CBU will push the price to the skies and will attract very few customer. “India is not the place for these bikes. We don’t have the roads like they have in developed countries for them and it is not fun to ride them at say 70 km per hour,” Gupta said. “We are nevertheless launching the Hayabusa because it will showcase our strength as a bike manufacturer. Moreover these are already available in the grey market so we might as well legalise them.”

source: vicky.in

TVS Apache RTR FI - Test Drive

It seems that your run for TVS apache RTR EFi might be soon ever. Vicky.in keen reader Sudhi saw as many as 25 bikes at the Bangalore showroom and the bike is available for test drive which means the official launch is very close. He rode the apache RTR FI for few kilometers inside the Bangalore city and here are the first impressions.

Except the FI stickers there is not much novelty in the new Apache RTR FI. It retains the same short and squat stance. But it seems like TVS might have kept the apache RTR FI in garage for a longer time. The faded paint is a clear testimony. Also new is the blue back-lit LCD speedo console but it should have been more contrast for better readability. Let’s get closer to the heart, the new FI mill really makes a difference with its superior refinement than the older. The low end torque is excellent but it is not the same in the mid range rpms. The pick up is not uniform. It also starts vibratiing once the needle past 60kmph. But remember i driven a bike that has not undergone pre delivery inspection. We can make a opinion only after a longer drive. According to the dealers, Apache RTR FI would return a mileage of 60-65kmpl. Especially under high fuel prices this sounds good. But what makes you to jump to the skies is the RTR FI’s price. TVS has priced it sensibly and the new RTR FI comes at Rs 74500 on the road(Bangalore). Apache RTR FI is currently available only in two colours (in Bangalore) - orange and yellow. Titanium grey will be available only after two months.

source : vicky.in