TIMM, S.M.A.R.T,SNH

Company oh company

its difficult when you need to choose a name

Formation of New Corporation

Ya Allah,


Time is runnin very fast and now is already into 3rd quater, Alhamdulillah had a quick meeting with a trustable soon to be partner and proxy . 25th June need to get things start ...to begin with a name for the company to be setup.... 2) Maybank current account 3) virtual office ....etc


6months to prepare for SBM Motorsport (SP) Sdn Bhd..join venture...need secure some start up capital, strategic location and creative marketing and workforce...

MotoGP: Racing Season Officially Begins

Jeff Buchanan
03/17/2011

Click the images below for bigger versions:

MotoGP Season Preview

A few weeks ago in Australia the World Superbike Championship series made its debut for 2011 with Spaniard Carlos Checa taking a double win aboard his Althea Ducati.

Last week welcomed the official start of the AMA Pro Road Racing series at the traditional opening round at Daytona. The results were amazing (albeit controversial).

And now, as I write this, the 125cc and Moto2 riders have taken to the track in Qatar for the opening round of MotoGP. And in a few minutes the premiere class riders take to the asphalt to officially start the season.

For a race junkie like myself nothing quite eases the mind like the racing season getting underway. As an armchair racer, following the winter months with only scattered reports, rumors, banter and bullx&%#, I can escape into the magical world of racing, rooting for my favorite riders while speculating about various teams, bikes, changes, rules, tracks, etc. etc. etc. It's wonderful. It spirits me away from my daily concerns in life.

While certainly the AMA superbike series and the WSBK series possess major excitement, nothing quite gets the blood going like MotoGP, the premiere motorcycle racing series in the world.

This season, perhaps more so than any in recent memory, contains enough dramatic elements to stir things up like never before. Already in pre-season testing there has been some shuffling in the stakes and the betting wars.

Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Doizioso have reflected Repsol Honda's fierce determination to regain the kind of dominance they once had over the grid.

Obviously the biggest questions have been generated by what is happening in the Ducati garage. After all the hype and drama last year following the much anticipated move by the 7-time World Champion, Valentino Rossi, to Team Ducati, have come the realities of struggles of adapting to the Italian machine-reflected in the time sheets.

Normally one could draw relative conclusions from the test timings, however, we're talking Vale here. In other words; this means nothing. The affable Italian hero has pulled more rabbits out his hat than any other rider in history. Although Valentino is hampered by a nagging shoulder injury while still coming to terms with the red bike, you simply can't count him out-even in the first round.

Sneaking up through the time sheets in pre-season, American Ben Spies has been consistently hovering around the front runners as he comes to grips with the new factory Yamaha ride. Personally, I believe-provide "Elbows" stays healthy-will challenge for the podium all season and, dare I go out on a limb here, earn his first race win within the first half of the season.
The other rider showing marked improvement is Italian Marco Simoncelli.

Perhaps the best candidate as heir to Valentino's charismatic persona in the pit, Simoncelli is showing comfort in the premiere class and has shaken off any hesitation of mixing it up with the gods of MotoGP.

American Colin Edwards-in potentially his last year of racing MotoGP-is showing exceptional speed and comfort aboard the Tech3 Yamaha. The third American in the series, Nicky Hayden, though hampered by adjusting to changes in the Ducati, is showing a renewed confidence and desire, reflecting the thirst he had when he first made the trip across the pond.

All said, this is racing we're talking about. All bets are off. The reason we dig this stuff is specifically because of the unknown, the surprises in store.

But the important thing is that MotoGP has begun for 2011. It's anybody's guess how the coming months are going to unfold. Now you'll have to excuse me, live timing is coming in from Qatar.

Ladies Track Day 2

Dear Ladies,

We are looking in conducting our 2nd Ladies track day in April, As such we would appriciate if all participants to be in full leather gears and we do hope to have more ladies ...30 would be great...

lets track day.......

Josh Waters confirms his return to World Superbike with Yoshimura Suzuki at Miller Motorsports Park

• By Jacob Black
• March 14, 2011 10:44AM

Impressive ... Mildura's Josh Waters has earned a second WSBK berth. Source: Supplied

After scoring the first points for Yoshimura Suzuki in 2011, Josh Waters will return to the iconic Japanese tuner for the fifth WSBK round at Miller Motorsports Park in the USA on May 30.

Waters was released from the opening round of the Australian Superbike championship to make his world debut at Phillip Island, and he may miss the June 5 race in Queensland.

"Suzuki Australia have been fantastic, they’ve been great," Waters said.

"I think they’re happy that I’m on a Suzuki, and especially because it’s Yoshimura. They’ve been such great supporters of our sport and of Suzuki."

Despite an impressive performance at Phillip Island, Waters said he wasn't expecting a second call up for the team.

"Not really no, I was being real about it," he explained.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.

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"I kind of thought they used me because they wanted an Australian in Australia, so they’ll want an American in America,  and someone from England in England, so it’s good  that I get to go over and show the world guys what I can do again."

Yoshimura spokesperson Keiko Oshimi was impressed by Waters' performance at the season opening round of the World Superbike championship.

"At Phillip Island Josh did a great job in his first ride on the Yoshimura GSX-R1000, his first race on Pirelli tires, and his first race on the world stage," she said. 

"He finished 18th in race one because of a puncture, but was 13th in race two and earned 3 points.

"Although we were happy with our result, we always want to do better and we have found some areas to work and improve on before we go to Miller Motorsports Park in May," Oshimi explained.

MOTOGP: Preseason Finale Under The Lights

The final preseason test before next weekend's MotoGP opener will take place this weekend at Losail.

Media Release  |  Posted March 11, 2011   Losail (QAT)

(Photo: motogp.com)

The MotoGP class will complete its 2011 preseason preparations in Qatar this Sunday and Monday, as the final Test before the opening race of the campaign takes place.

Riding under the floodlights of the Losail International Circuit the premier class will define and perfect their 800cc machines in readiness for the race at the same venue, which kicks off the 2011 season six days later.

Attention in pre-season so far has been largely drawn to the performance of the Honda, notably the two factory machines of Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, whose team-mate Andrea Dovizioso has also been at the sharp end of the timesheets. The dominance of the RC212V at the two previous Sepang meetings will now be put to the test at Qatar, including the progress of the San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli whose groundwork for his second premier class season has been nothing short of impressive.

Yamaha Factory racing pair Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies will be eager to take their respective M1 prototypes on a level, the current World Champion keen to be in the best possible shape to start the defense of his title and his American team-mate eyeing a strong start to his tenure in the factory set-up.

Of course a great deal of intrigue and interest will once again center around Valentino Rossi too. The Italian lost a valuable day of riding at the previous Test in Malaysia due to illness, and combined with his adaptation to the Ducati Desmosedici thus far and recovering shoulder will be desperate to take a significant step forward having been almost two seconds off the pace at Sepang just over two weeks ago.

Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) all had encouraging outings at Sepang and will seek to continue their progress in Qatar, whilst Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team), Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar Team) and Pramac Racing pair Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet will all be determinedly focused as they set up their individual GP11 machines for the first round.

Toni Elías and his LCR Honda team will push hard to take advantage of the final opportunity to fine-tune the Spaniard’s RC212V, whilst for rookies Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) the Test previews each rider’s first race in the premier class of the World Championship.

WSBK: Yosh Suzuki Set For MMP

Yoshimura Suzuki will field Josh Waters in the American round of the Superbike World Championship.

Media Release  |  Posted March 10, 2011   Toole Valley, UT

(Photo: Suzuki Racing)

Yoshimura Suzuki is preparing for its second World Superbike Championship race on May 30th at the Miller Motorsports Park fifth round in America.

Following on from its inaugural WSBK points-scoring ride with Australian Josh Waters at the Australian series opener at Phillip Island last month, Yoshimura is currently evaluating all data gathered and further-developing the team's GSX-R1000 ahead of the US race, in which 22-year-old Waters will compete in only his second-ever World Championship event.

At Phillip Island, the team tested several new Yoshimura factory parts, including an all-new R-11R racing exhaust, which will be further developed by R&D testing in America and also at the Suzuka 8-Hour in Japan at the end of July.

Said Yoshimura's Keiko Oshimi: "At Phillip Island Josh did a great job in his first ride on the Yoshimura GSX-R1000, his first race on Pirelli tires; and his first race on the world stage. He finished 18th in race one because of a puncture, but was 13th in race two and earned 3 points.

"Although we were happy with our result, we always want to do better and we have found some areas to work and improve on before we go to Miller Motorsports Park in May."

WSBK Crash Update: Rea Fit for Donington

Sam Sims
03/07/2011

Click the images below for bigger versions:

2011 World Superbike

The first round of the 2011 World Superbike Championship was almost a no go for Castrol Honda's Jonathan Rea.

The Northern Irishman had to jump from his CBR1000RR during the final pre-season test at the Australian track, dislocating his left ring finger and experiencing much pain in his left wrist.

Rea then went down during Superpole, but managed the pain and raced at Phillip Island, finishing 12th in Race 1, and fourth in Race 2. Although Rea raced, it was still unknown if he would need any further medical attention from his injuries.

On Monday, Rea was further examined by a specialist doctor, and was reported to have not sustained any other "fractures or other significant injury." The doctors reported Rea will compete at Round 2 in Donington on March 27, and should be close to full fitness.

Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda Superbike) says: "I have just been to see my specialist in Manchester and he has given me the all clear and confirmed that there is no further damage to my repaired ligament in my left wrist. I only have some soft tissue damage to the right wrist. That's really good news and all I have to do now is work hard in rehab to regain full function.

"It was really hard in Australia; it drained me of everything. When I got home it hit me two or three days later. Traveling home was a big effort and I also got sick at the end of last week, which knocked me out for a day. I think it was a mix of jet-lag and illness, but now I have got a spring in my step again.

"I should be close to full fitness in time for Donington, so I should have no pain like before. My dislocated left ring finger still does not have a full range of motion, but that is a minor detail."

During the bad wreck at Phillip Island, Rea crashed his Castrol Honda CBR1000RR at Turn 3 just oments after posting the third overall quickest time at the final pre-season World Superbike test .

The Ten Kate Honda team's report states oil leaked onto the superbike's rear tire from the motor, which caused a fire on the Honda. Due to the fire, Rea was forced to jump from his Honda Superbike at about 130 mph, and subsequently dislocated his left ring finger and experience pain in his left wrist.

Ducati’s absence from the World Superbike Championship may be temporary as Troy Bayliss is helping the company develop its next racebike

.

Bayliss, a three-time WSBK Champion, has confirmed with Italian website Motoblog.it he will be testing the successor to the Ducati 1198 Superbike. The next Ducati superbike is expected to enter the 2012 or 2013 WSBK championship.
“It’s my job to follow the testing phases of the new model,” Bayliss told Motoblog.it. “I can’t reveal anything, but we are working hard to create a competitive bike that can win the championship again.”

Troy Bayliss, shown here with his special edition Ducati 1098R, is helping develop Ducati's next superbike.

Ducati is not entering a factory team for the 2011 WSBK season despite its long winning tradition in the series. A new superbike doesn’t necessarily mean Ducati will bring back a full factory team, Bayliss’ participation suggests Ducati is investing significant resources into the project.

Kicking off the 2011 bike racing season: World Superbikes at Donington Park.

By Paul Hood on March 9, 2011 10:03 PM in BSB race news

Race fans... the wait for the start of the 2011 BSB Championship is almost over....

Meanwhile, the 2011 World Superbike Championship got off to an exciting start at Philip Island in Australia last month with British star and 2010 runner-up Leon Haslam securing his first podium of the season.

Now WSBK is coming to Europe - Donington Park race ciruit will host round 2 on 25th - 27th March.

This year sees a strong contingent of British riders lining up alongside Haslam. Jonathan Rea - who placed fourth in the championship last year despite missing the last two rounds - joins the title fight for Castrol Honda. The ever-popular James Toseland returns with a new BMW team, while Leon Camier, Tom Sykes and new boy Eugene Laverty are all hoping to make an impact on the standings.

The revamped Leicestershire circuit makes a welcome return to the calendar after a year-long break and £1m worth of investment in the track and facilities. Donington Park promises improved spectator areas for 2011, with a new infield section allowing views from the famous Redgate corner right up to McLeans.

With the six Brits on the grid and everything still to play for, it's the perfect opportunity to see homegrown racing talent in action.

Tickets are sale on sale now - with paddock and pitwalk passes also up for grabs if you fancy meeting the race stars.

Yamaha WR250X Motard

--  $2000 off Yamaha WR250X Motard

Yamaha's awesome WR250X super motard is now available at an incredible $8999 ride away. This represents a $2000 saving on the current list price of $10,399 RRP inc GST.

Yamaha's fuel injected roadster was designed from the ground up to combine scintillating performance while not requiring the same high service requirements demanded by race spec motorcycles.

Customers are sure to be impressed with the long service intervals - for example 40,000 between valve adjustments - and two year warranty.

The 250cc four-valve meets the strictest emission laws and is slotted into a sweet hybrid steel/aluminium chassis that can carve the corners with ease.

Large titanium intake valves and high lift cams offer high performance whereas WPC treatment and plated cylinder provide the sort of reliability that allows long service intervals

The liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-valve engine has been built to deliver outstanding acceleration and instant response that exceeds anything ever offered in the 250cc single-cylinder street-legal category. It features the same big 77.0 mm bore and short 53.6mm stroke as Yamaha's Grand Prix winning YZ250F motocrosser and WR250F enduro bikes.

The short-stroke engine features a specially designed 4 - valve cylinder head with a compact pent-roof combustion chamber which helps the WR250R deliver instant throttle response and remarkably strong performance right through the rev range to its maximum power output at 10,000 rpm.

Where the 'R' model enduro model receives long travel suspension, the 'X' model gets similar units that are specially tuned for street riding. A massive 298mm front disc brake brings the fun to a stop in an instant and the whole package is ideal for newcomers to two wheels.

The super low pricing is available on 2009 models at participating dealers while stocks last, conditions apply.

Rossi expresses World Superbike interest

Mon, 07 Mar 07:40:51 2011

Valentino Rossi has hinted that he might switch to World Superbikes at the end of his MotoGP career.

The Italian superstar, who is about to start the first year of a two-year contract with Ducati, has previously been linked to F1 or WRC whenever he finally quits grand prix - but now seems to be considering something more familiar.

"In a few years, when I'm older, I could even race in Superbikes with Ducati," Reuters quotes the seven time MotoGP champion as saying.

Rossi has track-tested both Yamaha and Ducati (pictured) Superbikes in the past year, to help gauge his fitness after leg and shoulder injuries.

No rider has yet won both the World Superbike and MotoGP World Championships.

Ben Spies, the 2009 WSBK title winner who has replaced Rossi at Yamaha for 2011, is the only person that could potentially achieve that milestone this season.

Ladies Trackday Special

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150113182859798&id=628569797&aid=291254

Ride to Gmie's Wedding - Gambang ,Pahang

 It was good weather all the way his morning through the glorious winding road of Karak Highway and our journey to Gambang was indeed enjoyable.

Gmie a member of SuperbikeMalaysia got married today...Congrates Bro

Friday February 25, 2011

Australian the first rider to dip under two minutes at Sepang

By LIM TEIK HUAT

SEPANG: After 12 years and tens of thousands of laps, the Sepang Circuit’s two-minute barrier for a MotoGP bike was broken yesterday as Australian Casey Stoner put his name in the history books as the first to do so.
The 2007 world champion saved his best for last as he became the first rider to dip under two minutes on the final day of the pre-season MotoGP test at the track.
Stoner, who is riding for Repsol Honda this season and the only rider to have won all three classes at Sepang, rode a blistering second lap in the morning session to post a stunning 1:59.665 around the 5.543km track.

Casey Stoner clocked the fastest lap time ever in 12 years on the 5.543km Sepang Circuit.

Team-mate Dani Pedrosa also underlined the awesome dominance of the Repsol Honda team by going under the two-minute barrier on his third lap.
However, the time was not fast enough to better Stoner’s timing. The Spaniard chalked 1:59.803 as both lap times stayed unchallenged for the rest of the session.
The grid enjoyed a third consecutive day of bright sunshine and clear skies except for the final 40 minutes when it started to drizzle in some parts of the track.
Another Honda rider Marco Simoncelli of San Carlo Honda Gresini and the fastest rider during the first test earlier this month, was third fastest with 2:00.163.
“Since coming into MotoGP, this test together with the 2006 winter test on the 990cc bike is the best pre-season.
“In 2006, I remember we had a very good last test that allowed us to face the first race well prepared and with a lot of confidence, and now it feels very similar.
“The bike is responding in the areas we need, although the first race is where you see clearly where you win and where you lose,” said Pedrosa, who has also won the 250cc world title at Sepang track before.
It was not a good day for the defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo who had to call it off after crashing on his Yamaha bike.
The Spaniard finished seventh fastest, covering 48 laps for the day.
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi was back on track after skipping Wednesday’s session due to illness and finished the day 11th on the time-sheet. Rossi, riding for Ducati this season, clocked 2:01.469.

Lorenzo and Spies happy with Yamaha MotoGP team set-up

Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies pose with the new 2011 Yamaha MotoGP bike

MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo has said the whole Yamaha team will benefit this year from the good relationship between him and team-mate Ben Spies.

Lorenzo and former team-mate Valentino Rossi were fierce rivals but the mood is now much better the Spaniard said.
"Ben's serious on the track like me but we have no problems and I don't think we will in the future either," he said.
"It's good to have a good relationship, not just for us but to help Yamaha to develop the bike."
Lorenzo also revealed that he thought the American, who earned his factory-team chance after impressing for the satellite Tech3 Yamaha team last season - when he was named rookie of the year - could be a serious contender this year.
"I think Ben is going to fight for the championship. He is very fast and has already shown he can fight to the front of the pack and was the best satellite rider last year."
Lorenzo, 23, romped to his first elite-class world title last season as rivals such as Rossi and Casey Stoner were plagued by injury and technical problems but said he was full of confidence ahead of the new campaign which starts in Qatar on 20 March.
"I'm more relaxed than last year, not because I am the world champion but because I am older so I have more experience," he added.
"Every year I try to be more relaxed, and with a championship on your record you see things a bit differently."
When asked about his impressions of his new YZR-M1 bike, Lorenzo admitted: "I don't think any rider is ever totally satisfied.
"[However,] I understand it is really difficult to improve a MotoGP bike at this level when it is already so successful."
Spies said he felt under less pressure this season than last, but knew what he had to do this year to maintain the progress of his career.
"Last year I needed to prove something which I did. Now I'm on the factory team I feel I worked hard last year to get there and deserve it," he said.
"Now I need to keep giving 100%, I've got a great crew behind me and am riding for a great manufacturer.
"We should have a great bike this year and I've got a world champion team-mate so I've got the best of the best.
"This is the last step, MotoGP on a factory bike, the only thing left to do in a rider's career is win a MotoGP race and win a MotoGP championship and that's not impossible."

super motard

Yamaha WSBK & Monster Energy in 2011

YRT
02/20/2011

Click the images below for bigger versions:

2011 World Superbike
Following a successful 2010 season where Monster Energy became the "Official Energy Drink Supplier" for the Yamaha World Superbike Team, the relationship has been extended for the new season.
The 2011 team sees new rider pairing Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty both sporting strong Monster Energy branding on their helmets and as the team's relationship strengthens the YZF-R1 race superbikes of Melandri and Laverty will also now carry subtle M-claw logos on their fairings. Monster Energy will continue to have a strong presence in the Yamaha World Superbike Team hospitality.
Monster Energy continues to drive a global fanbase by supporting action sports, motorsports and music. Its commitment to two-wheel motorsports includes Motocross, Supercross, Superbikes and MotoGP plus relationships with some of its greatest athletes.
Its action sports roots are unmistakable and the brand continues to work with awesome talent across skate, bmx, surf, FMX and many more sports besides.
Having arrived on European shores in 2008, Monster Energy is continuing to grow at speed outside of its US base and brings an unmistakably fresh and fun loving approach to the scenes it supports.
The hugely successful relationship between Yamaha Motor Europe and Monster Energy is now entering its fourth year in World Motocross, in 2011 no less than six Monster Energy Yamaha riders will be challenging for world titles in both the MX1 and MX2 world championships.
Yamaha World Superbike team supported by Monster Energy -
- Marco Melandri (Italy, YZF-R1 Superbike)
- Eugene Laverty (Northern Ireland, YZF-R1 Superbike)
Yamaha Monster Energy team in World Motocross -
- David Philippaerts (Italy, MX1 class, YZ450FM)
- Steven Frossard (France, MX1 class, YZ450FM)
- Anthony Boissière (France, MX1 class, YZ450FM)
- Gautier Paulin (France, MX2 class, YZ250FM)
- Harri Kullas (Finland, MX2 class, YZ250FM)
- Christophe Charlier (France, MX2 class, YZ250FM)
In the MotoGP World Championship the Yamaha Tech3 Team continues its partnership with Monster Energy this season and alongside Colin Edwards takes on MotoGP rookie Cal Crutchlow who was also supported by Monster Energy last year when riding the Yamaha YZF-R1 in World Superbike.

All eyes on Valentino Rossi for 2011 MotoGP season

Rossi's pre-season preparations have been hampered by a shoulder injury

By Azi Farni BBC's new pit-lane reporter

Many of you in the United Kingdom will not know who I am but I have been working in the paddock since 2009 as a reporter for Dorna and motogp.com.
It has been a great experience going from watching MotoGP on my TV on a Sunday to spending race days in amongst it all.
I know people get hyped up for the new season every year but I am really eager for this campaign to start. It is the last one in the 800cc category and I think it is going to be one to remember.
Of course, the big news is Valentino Rossi's move from Yamaha to the Ducati team and I stayed on after the race in Valencia to watch his first laps on board the Desmosedici at the first official test.
There was a lot more press coverage than usual and everyone was waiting with bated breath for the rain to ease off and for the nine-time world champion to take to the track.
There is a lot of debate about what he will do on the Ducati this year and I think it will be very difficult for him to recreate his sensational winning debut for Yamaha at Welkom in 2004 or the subsequent championship crown that followed.
I certainly expect him to be winning races but, with testing and development slowed by his recovery from a shoulder injury, I think it will be a tough start to the season for "The Doctor".
But if anyone can turn it around in an instant, it is Rossi. The other riders definitely know better than to underestimate his chances.

Lorenzo will find this year's competition tougher than in 2010

Ducati have certainly put a lot of work into their off-season development. There are some big changes to the bike they presented at Wrooom, notably a new fairing designed to help combat the front-end issues seen too often last year.
There are a lot of other changes and developments that could prove significant for the 2011 title race.
Casey Stoner, riding his first laps on board a factory Honda after his switch from Ducati, was beaming with smiles at the end of each day of testing after his stunningly quick adaptation to the RC212V.
He posted the fastest time in Valencia and third-fastest time overall in Sepang.
Dani Pedrosa, who clocked the second-fastest time in Sepang, was very happy with the Honda package for this year, primarily because there were no wholesale changes to the bike that was arguably one of the strongest packages in the latter half of last season.
The fact that the Honda factory have not brought out a completely new bike at the start of this year, something seen in previous tests, can only bode well for the six riders.
With the 2011 spec bike seeming to address the braking stability issues from 2010, I think we could well see Hondas dominating the top positions this year, with Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli - the fastest rider in Sepang and riding with factory support - challenging for wins and podiums more consistently.
You cannot take too much from testing but I think Honda have the bike to beat this year.

The good news for British fans is that there are eight British riders to follow across the classes in 2011

Having said that, defending champion Jorge Lorenzo has shown no signs of slowing down after his record-breaking first MotoGP crown.
The Yamaha's M1 engine is not quite matching the Honda in top speed but it is still a very strong package and Lorenzo has already shown what he can do with it.
It is his title to lose but he will definitely find it a lot harder to win races as easily and as often as he did last year.
One of his biggest challengers will be team-mate Ben Spies, who has opted to keep the wall in the Yamaha factory garage that was put up to separate Lorenzo and Rossi.
The American created a lot of excitement with podiums and pole positions in his rookie year and he will certainly be expecting to be on the top step of the podium a good few times this year.
I also expect to see Alvaro Bautista pushing higher up the order this year. After a torrid year for the Rizla Suzuki Team, in which they lost half their garage, all the focus, money and development will be on Bautista making the GSV-R his own.
The good news for British fans is that there are eight British riders to follow across the classes this year.
Cal Crutchlow follows in the footsteps of James Toseland and Spies, entering MotoGP from World Superbikes by way of Herve Poncharal's Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team.
The 25-year-old Crutchlow is on a two-year deal and will need the first year to gain experience. It will be hard for him against the big boys but he has a good attitude and an experienced team around him.
With the BBC continuing coverage of the 125cc and Moto2 classes on the Red button, you can follow the other seven Brits in what should be an exciting season in both categories.

Danny Kent will be hoping to improve on his displays from last year

The Moto2 class provided some spectacular racing last year, with 17 different riders on the podium in 2010, and I think we will see more of that this year.
There are a lot of potential title contenders in this category but Briton Scott Redding should be one of them. He is already looking like carrying the momentum generated at the end of last year into pre-season testing. The 18-year-old is also involved in the development of the Suter MMX, so it is a bike that he is getting more and more comfortable with.
You cannot rule out Bradley Smith either - he is new to the category but has been improving rapidly in the Moto2 tests so far and has experience in challenging for wins and podiums.
The 600cc machines will suit his size better than 125cc, so I think we could see him pushing for those top places.
Then you have Scot Kev Coghlan, who comes over from the CEV Moto2 championship. He is still riding an FTR, which he has helped develop, and has experience on some of the GP tracks.
In the 125cc category, "veteran" rider Danny Webb will take the confidence from his career-best finish in 2010 into this year, riding with a new team and helping to develop the bike.
Danny Kent will be one to watch out for, riding for one of Aki Ajo's teams. Kent had an incredible season in the Red Bull Rookies Cup last year, pipped to the title on the last lap of the last race before showing some impressive displays in his subsequent five wildcard 125cc entries.
Making up the four Brits in this class will be Taylor Mackenzie, son of ex-500cc rider Niall and a man with a great sense of humour, and Harry Stafford. Both have experience at GP tracks as Rookies Cup graduates.
I think we are going to see some close racing and fantastic battles across all three classes this year and our Brits will no doubt give us something to cheer about.
See you in Qatar!

Ladies Track Day Special

http://superbikemalaysia.com/topic/5058420/

Thursday February 17, 2011

SIC to hold donation campaign during MotoGP testing

PETALING JAYA: The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will embark on a special donation campaign – “RM2 or More” – when the three-day MotoGP testing is held at the circuit next week.
This is in support of the government’s drive for funds to help flood victims.
“Basically, anybody who passes through the gates during the three-day testing, including SIC staff, contractors and suppliers, are encouraged to drop a minimum donation of RM2 which will then be channeled to the flood relief funds,” said SIC chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali.
Donation boxes will be placed at the entrance for fans to drop in their donations and Razlan is hoping for another large turnout when the second test is held from Feb 22-24.
“We had a good turnout at the first test earlier this month, including foreign fans. I am hoping more fans will turn up for the second test.
“The floods this time round were massive and the worst hit was Johor,” said Razlan, who added that the second test would feature world champion Jorge Lorenzo and his new Factory Yamaha Racing team.
The pre-season MotoGP test in Sepang next week will be the second for the MotoGP riders after the lifting of the test ban on Jan 31.
The first testing session from Feb 1-3 saw Marco Simoncelli of Team San Carlo Honda Gresini upstaging his more celebrated rivals with a time of 2:00.757 around the 5.543km track.

Phillip Island & World Superbike: 21 Years

Phillip Island & World Superbike: 21 Years

Tom Wera
02/16/2011

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2011 WSBK
When the 2011 World Superbike Championship begins on Feb. 27 at Phillip Island, Australia, the marriage of track and series will be celebrating their 21st anniversary.
World Superbike began racing at Phillip Island, and has been there every year since but 1993. This makes Phillip Island the longest-running event in WSBK Championship history.
Australians will enjoy loads of motorcycle racing there, considering the track is hosting a 12-race program, which includes World Superbike, World Supersport and the Australian domestic championship races.
When the 2011 WSBK season kicks off, five Australians will be competing at their home track. Troy Corser will be competing on the BMW Motorrad S1000RR; he has been racing on the track for 17 years, and has five wins there, the last while competing on a Suzuki in 2005.
Chris Vermeulen will race on the Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R. This will be his first official return to WSBK since missing most of last season. Vermeulen injured his knee at Phillip Island last year, and missed the following two races.
He then re-injured the knee at Round 9 in Brno, and missed the remaining of the 13 races.
The Italian Kawasaki Pedercini Team will field two riders, Mark Aitchison and Bryan Staring. Another Aussie will be former national Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters on the Yoshimura Suzuki.
In World Supersport, Kawasaki Provec Motocard.com's Broc Parkes and Honda KUJA Racing's Mitchell Pirotta will be racing at home.

MotoGP: Bautista Optimistic for 2011

MotoGP: Bautista Optimistic for 2011

Sam Sims
02/15/2011

2011 MotoGP
In 2010 MotoGP, Alvaro Bautista joined the premier class with eight years of experience in World Championship competition, which included a 125cc title (2006).
During that first year on the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R, Bautista's best top finish was fifth, a position he conquered at both Catalunya and Malaysia. The Spaniard ended his rookie year with 13th overall, and garnered much experience in MotoGP.
For 2011, new challenges await, but Bautista's sophomore year as the sole Suzuki rider started well (his former teammate Loris Capirossi moving to the Pramac Ducati team).
Bautista's first official outing for 2011 MotoGP was at Sepang earlier this month, where he finished 10th overall with a 2:01.687, ahead of some big players such as Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team). These results gave Bauitsta an optimistic view of the upcoming 2011 MotoGP season.
Alvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzki MotoGP) says: "I'm very happy because I've improved my best lap time from last year, so it's a good sign for us."
Bautista, who missed the final day of the three-day session due to sickness, tested different frames, electronics and other modifications on the GSV-R. He says being the sole rider is a huge benefit when testing, allowing him more attention than available on a two-rider team.
Alvaro Bautista says: "I think being the only rider is positive on the whole, because Suzuki is working only for me and they are making the bike to my requests. Now it's very hard for me but I think that when the races start it will be easier and I think I'll have more support.
"In Valencia (last November) I tested many things and here I re-tested the same parts, but Suzuki is always a very fast bike here. Here I cannot feel the big difference like I felt in Valencia so this means that in hot conditions our bike is competitive, as always. In cold conditions I think we are improving.
"It's very important to have a competitive bike not only in hot tracks, but we need it to be competitive in cold tracks too so the work Suzuki are doing is of great importance."
In other Rizla Suzuki paddock news, team manager Paul Denning confirmed that John Hopkins will be the back-up rider for Bautista. "Hopper" will attend the Qatar test in March.

2011 WSBK Team Preview: BMW Italia

2011 WSBK Team Preview: BMW Italia

WSBK
02/14/2011

World Superbike
After the historic success obtained last year in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, won by the almost all-conquering Ayrton Badovini (nine wins out of 10), the BMW Motorrad Italia team will now be trying their luck in the top category of World Superbike.
The World Superbike BMW squad, headed by Serafino Foti, will be making its first appearance in the category, retaining the services of the Italian rider and entering another S1000RR machine for two-times world champion James Toseland (photos).
The Sheffield man's World Superbike career is in fact closely linked to the Italian team's staff, as they won the 2004 title together with the factory Ducati Fila outfit.
This year will also see a return to Superbike for Ayrton "Speedy" Badovini, who raced in the category in 2008 and 2009 with Kawasaki Pedercini and PSG-1. The 24-year-old from Biella will be one of five Italian riders in the 2011 championship.
The Italian BMW outfit has put together an ambitious project, one that is supported by the parent company in Germany and characterized by a constant interflow of data with the factory team, as well as constant technical updates of the bike every time new components are approved and adopted by the factory squad.
A first opportunity to verify the progress made by the BMW team will be the Infront Motor Sports tests at Phillip Island on Feb. 21-22, but above all the opening round of the season at the same circuit the following weekend.