Aleix Espargaró’s excellent season is due to carry on as he is now in line for a MotoGP debut as a substitute competitor for Pramac Racing at Indianapolis and Misano.

Following the still absent Casey Stoner who is due to come back in October in Portugal, there has been an extra spot for a Pramac competitor for the next two races, with Mika Kallio briefly moving to the Ducati factory staff and with Pramac’s Brno replacement Michel Fabrizio unavailable. This seems a genuine opportunity for Espargaró.

The prior 125cc and 250cc rider has not had a permanent World Championship competition this season, but has been impressive with replacement rides at Assen and Sachsenring for the Balatonring group and in his work as a Moto2 development competitor.

The MotoGP event will also be Espargaró’s Indianapolis debut because the 250cc 2008 Indy event was cancelled due to poor weather.

The new Spaniard stated, “I am very happy as this season has been very hard for me. We are beginning a project for next year to be back in the World Championship and this will be a good chance to get back in touch with things. This season I have ridden for a couple of races in the 250cc category in Assen and Sachsenring concluding in fourth and seventh positions, therefore I feel physical ready.

Knowing that Álvaro Bautista’s contract signature with Rizla Suzuki staff for next year confirmed, the next information needed is who will he be riding with?

Present competitors Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen are both aware that their Suzuki contracts conclude at the end of this year and the staff has not yet made any confirmations as to who will pair up with Bautista next year.

Following, Capirossi suggested hints on the situation by saying, “I think the team have made a great choice to pick Álvaro because he is a very strong rider and I believe he will be very comfortable in the team. Everyone here is very relaxed and I am happy to be able to work with him.”

A proper confirmation is due within the next month, however in the meantime Capirossi’s work is to gain extra competitiveness for the Suzuki event package, he did well on Sunday and Monday over in the Czech Republic.

Claiming a fresh chassis and a brand new motor into the GSV-R, Capirossi gained a firm placing in fifth spot at the Brno event which placed him fourth on the test timesheet. He stated, “We were quite satisfied with how things went in the test. We rode all through the morning, trying settings and working on the new chassis, which seems to be better.

 

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Fiat Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were the head of the tables once more in Monday’s pre Czech practice at Brno, as the fresh Spanish hero attempted to come back from the woe of his second DNF in Sunday’s event.

Wet weather later in the day restricted the testing, however in the final leg, many competitors went back onto the circuit as the rain dried out. Though nobody was able to beat Lorenzo’s best morning time, however Rossi did come into second place on the timesheet in the remaining hour with a lap speed of 1’56.747s.

The best five following the fantastic duo was concluded by Repsol Honda competitors Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso with third and fifth placings respectively.  Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) arriving in between them for fourth place.

Lorenzo stated, “Yamaha have provided me with lots of new material to try. I have been surprised actually by how many new components they have been able to provide over the course of the season despite the economic situation. I have been trying chassis modifications and testing our electronics settings. Also we’ve looked at some clutch settings to see if we can improve our race starts. We won’t have these updates on the bike in Indianapolis but it is possible we could have them for Misano and Estoril.”

Brno pre GP Monday test – top times – lap numbers in brackets

1. J. Lorenzo - Fiat Yamaha - 1’56.2 (52)
2. V. Rossi - Fiat Yamaha - 1’56.6 (38)
3. D. Pedrosa - Repsol Honda - 1’56.7 (53)
4. L. Capirossi - Rizla Suzuki - 1’57.5 (43)
5. A. Dovizioso - Repsol Honda - 1’57.8 (53)
6. T. Elias - San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1’57.8 (39)
7. C. Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki - 1’57.9 (61)
8. N. Hayden - Ducati Marlboro - 1’57.9 (64)
9. M. Melandri - Hayate Racing - 1’58.0 (56)
10. M. Kallio - Ducati Marlboro - 1’58.1 (65)
11. N. Canepa - Pramac Racing - 1’58.1 (69)

 

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Suzuki have confirmed the announcment of 250cc competitor Álvaro Bautista, to compete in the 2010 and 2011 MotoGP World Championships with their official staff.

Bautista was Spanish 125cc winner in 2003 and titled the 125cc World Champion in 2006. He increased upwards to the 250cc session a few years ago and was deemed the ‘Rookie of the Year' award for his excellent performances. Bautista was placed 2nd in the 2008 title competition, he is now in contention for this year's 250cc race event, comfortably sitting second with only six events left.

 

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As Casey Stoner is having a rest from the next three races to recover from his fatigue problems, the Ducati Project Leader Livio Suppo explains the circumstances prior to the Cardion AB Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Stoner stayed in California for a multiple array of medical examinations after the Laguna Seca event, medics were unable to prove a current adaptation of his health issues, his body incorporated symptons of ‘slight gastritis and mild anaemia. However when the signs progressed after Stoner came back to Australia for the short break, it was confirmed that a full rest break would be needed.

Stoner is still enduring examinations and is unable to return to his racing before the Portuguese Grand Prix at the start of October, Mika Kallio is substituting from Ducati satellite staff Pramac Racing to compete in the spare factory Desmosedici.

Suppo explained, “Of course it has been a very difficult decision to take. When Casey got back to Australia he was getting very tired with whatever he did, even riding a horse or anything like that. So the Australian doctors suggested stopping, because if he can’t do anything it means there is definitely something wrong.”

He adds, “Unfortunately we still have to understand exactly what it is. It is not the first time and it won’t be the last time that it takes a while to understand why somebody is sick. Casey is a sportsman, leading the Ducati factory team and fighting for the World Championship so it makes it more difficult for him. We believe and the doctors believe that these two months will be enough to understand the problem and for Casey’s body to recover.”

 

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