World Champion Casey Stoner is said to be recovering well from health issues in Australia prior to his return to racing at the Grande Premio de Portugal.

The Ducati Marlboro competitor skipped the events at Brno, Indianapolis and Misano after returning home in Tamworth, New South Wales to attempt to recover from illness that he incurred at the Barcelona event in June, which unfortunately saw him unable to overcome in the rounds at Assen, Laguna Seca, Sachsenring and Donington.

Stoner has been relaxing with a fishing trip in the Northern Territory at a location named Top End, where he took in the sights of local wildlife and enjoyed quality time with his family. He is said to be doing well after suffering harsh fatigue which has seen him miss the aforementioned events.

Many of his MotoGP opponents have wished Stoner a quick recover and his squad certainly hope that he comes back to fine form in Portugal which is scheduled for just over three weeks time.

 

Click here to read more

There was dramatic scenes early on in the MotoGP event on Sunday at Misano when home competitor Alex de Angelis crashed into Colin Edwards at the beginning of the initial lap, with the smash also sending Nicky Hayden into the gravel and finishing the race immediately for all three competitors.

After their excellent forms in test practice and each qualifying, the awesome threesome seemed due to gain good points to add to their total at round 13, unfortunately this was not to be with De Angelis taking the blame for the smash and was very apologetic afterwards to both Americans.

Edwards was not one for sympathy, he stated De Angelis’ racing as unacceptable. The Texan angrily commented, “I thought I had the pace to easily be fourth and maybe fight with Dani Pedrosa for a podium but we are in Italy and occasionally you have to deal with an Italian rider who wants to be a hero and today that was De Angelis. Turn one at the start with 17 bikes is not the place to be going at race pace and he was never going to make through there. Today De Angelis is the guy who needed to be wearing Valentino’s donkey helmet.”

He adds, “I didn’t know what had happened until I was sliding through the gravel. Turn one is the most dangerous time to crash with so many bikes around you, it is unacceptable. I’ve been fighting with Andrea Dovizioso in the championship most of the season and now he has ten points on me with four races to go. That’s racing.”

Meanwhile Hayden was also upset and in dismay having skipped the opportunity to allow all the Ducati supporters at Misano some joy. The Kentuckian racer says, “It’s easy to say it now but I just know I was set for a good race so I’m extremely disappointed. Maybe I wasn’t going to win but at least I could have run with the front guys for a while and given all the Ducatisti something to cheer, as well as picking up some vital experience and data for this machine.”

He continues, “To be honest I had a feeling De Angelis might create some drama here. He’s at home and fighting for his job and when I saw him in the corner of my eye I just tried to gas it and get out of his way. Unfortunately he slightly clipped my rear wheel and that was the last I knew about it. I know in racing people can make mistakes and I have done plenty in my life but I’m not happy with Alex because this wasn’t racing - it was just stupid to try and pull a move like that on cold tyres, on the first lap. Anyway, we’re all okay and looking forward to Portugal.”

On his part it was a massive error and De Angelis has now been unable to complete an event on 2 occasions, having also smashed out last season.

He says, “I got a decent start and thought I could make some more ground up on the inside on the turn but I went in too deep. Colin cut in front of me and I braked as hard as I could to avoid him but the front folded and I hit him. Unfortunately Nicky was hit as well and I apologise to both of them. Unfortunately these things happen in racing and I am desperately disappointed because this is my home race, there were a lot of people here supporting me and I wasn’t able to deliver a good result.

 

Click here to read more

Rumours surrounding the Italian hero Valentino Rossi with a leap to Italian factory squad Ducati has caused the World Champion to be asked about this topic after another win in Italy, but the MotoGP racer insists the speculation is just paper talk for now.

The 30 year-old racer got even closer to what could be a fourth premier class title with his Fiat Yamaha squad and a seventh premier class title in total on Sunday, when asked about the 2011 Ducati speculation he answers, “I haven’t decided yet about my future, I will decide in the next year. I have a contract signed already with Yamaha (for 2010). For sure it is a great dream for everybody, to see Valentino with Ducati. We will see, I don’t know.”

Explaining the wonderful atmosphere at Misano, which is close to his home town of Tavullia, Rossi says, “It is fantastic. This year I really feel like this is my home Grand Prix. Before it always felt more like Mugello was home, but here with all this crowd it is brilliant. It is great for MotoGP to have so many fans and to see everyone with their 46 flags was amazing.”

 

Click here to read more

An amazing performance this weekend at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini from ranking leader and current World Champion Valentino Rossi gave him the opportunity forget about the disappointment of Indianapolis.

The answer from Rossi after his Indy DNF was excellent form of his competitiveness and skills during the three days of MotoGP, endinig in a firm race win amongst his home fans, to claim a 30 point advantage between himself and second placed Jorge Lorenzo.

Later a very happy Rossi comments, “I am so happy because this victory is more important than normal, coming after a bad mistake in Indianapolis just seven days ago and especially because my team and I did a great job, from Friday afternoon. It was a perfect weekend, we were always very fast in all the practices and we are always proud of all the fans here in Misano. Thanks to them for all their support.”

Explaining how the event had travelled out from his view, Rossi adds, “I hoped to make a better start and get to the front but Dani (Pedrosa) and Toni (Elías) overtook me on the first corner and then Jorge at the end of the first lap, so I was fourth and in a little bit of trouble. I had a full fuel load and wasn’t 100% confident.”

 

Click here to read more

Ducati Corse has confirmed on Thursday that Nicky Hayden will sign an extension of one year to his current contract and line up alongside Casey Stoner in the Ducati Marlboro squad for next year.

The statement arrives following Hayden’s second showing for Ducati in Italy, at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, and after his first stage appearance for the team at his home town in Indianapolis last weekend.

Hayden says, “This has been a very good week and this news just adds to that. After the good result in Indy, now to renew the deal with Ducati is exactly what I wanted. I’m very happy. I always had faith and believed that we could achieve good results.”

He adds, “I’m excited for these last five races of the 2009 season, and if you look at the progression we have made from the start of the season to the middle, hopefully we will continue this through to the end. I just wish to say a big thanks to all the guys who made this happen, especially everybody in Ducati, as well as all our sponsors.”

Ducati manager Claudio Domenicali comments, “The confirmation of Nicky is the right reward for a rider who has been shown to perfectly embody the frame of mind that characterises Ducati - passion, determination and commitment. We have always considered Nicky to be an important asset to the Ducati 2010 strategy and we are very happy that he will remain in the Ducati Marlboro team.