Yamaha World Superbike Team Set Out for Round Six on the Italian Riviera

WORLD SUPERBIKE SAN MARINO - ROUND 6     Misano, San Marino World Superbike Setup Report - 08/06/2011 Yamaha World Superbike Team Set Out for Round Six on the Italian Riviera. Just less than two weeks after the US calendar stop off in Salt Lake City, the Yamaha World Superbike Team are preparing for Round Six of the championship, closer to home on the well know Italian Romagnola Riviera. Misano, situated on the Adriatic coast is to host the second of three Italian rounds on the 2011 World Superbike Championship, this weekend. This stop-off marks the home race for Marco Melandri, who is based just over 30 minutes from the track. The Misano World Circuit, formerly known as the International circuit of Santa Monica, has undergone massive renovations over the years since Melandri first became acquainted with the layout in the early days of his racing career, with the most recent modifications in 2007. The newly renovated and modernized track has ten right turns, six left turns and 1850 metres of straights. The most significant changes were made to the Del Rio and Del Carro turns to ensure improved safety but also a reversal in the direction of travel from anticlockwise to clockwise is an added feature. Marco Melandri experienced a less than perfect race weekend in Miller, USA where he struggled to find a suitable set up providing sufficient stability to be on top form. Intent on capitalizing on his familiarity with the track, Melandri is confident that Misano is the ideal place to bounce back and display his true potential, gain valuable points and re-confirm his position in the World standings where he currently sits in second place behind Carlos Checa. Team-mate Laverty is also familiar with the track where he has been victorious on the Supersport bike in previous years. The Irishman, currently fourth in the classification after climbing even further up the ladder at Miller, is determined to continue on the consistently strong and competitive path which has been evident in the previous races and deliver another victory on his powerful YZF-R1. Marco Melandri Yamaha World Superbike Team "I'm delighted to be heading to Misano. It's really near home for me and it's a track I like and I know really well. I've ridden the track many times since I first started riding when I was a kid. Ive also always had relatively good results there in the past and I think it's the perfect track where I can get over the difficult weekend I had in the USA and put that behind me. The team and I have since had the chance to work out what the problem was in Miller and I'm pretty sure we are heading in the right direction. I'm really looking forward to trying my Yamaha R1, hopefully to our full potential, this weekend in Misano." Eugene Laverty Yamaha World Superbike Team "I'm really looking forward to Misano. Last year on the Supersport bike I won the race with a significant margin so I have fond memories. Some of the Superbike teams have tested there earlier in the season so it'll definitely be a challenging race weekend. It's really important for me to continue on the good run that I've been on since Monza so I'll be pushing my hardest and doing my best to get back on the podium again. I'm particularly excited about riding my Superbike through the fast section at the end of the back straight. That was very enjoyable on the Supersport bike and I'm sure it will be even more so on my R1." Misano technically speaking according to Silvano Galbusera Marco Melandri's crew chief "In Miller, Marco struggled to get the right feeling with the front of the bike, so after analyzing the data we gathered there we have a good idea of how to improve on this. We know the Misano World Circuit quite well. It's a track that requires good rear grip and bike handling. We'll start with our base setting which is similar to that used in Donington and see where to go from there, depending on the weather conditions. We also intend trying a different traction control setting to improve tyre life ahead of Sunday's races. Let's hope the weather will be good!" Misano technically speaking according to Frankie Carchedi Eugene Laverty's crew chief "Misano is a technically difficult track which requires a good set-up for the higher track temperatures. Our recent changes in making Eugene comfortable on the bike will be important as it is a track which is physically demanding as there is no time to rest during a lap. We made good improvements on the front suspension during Miller and will be looking to improve this further. We will start with our base set-up on one bike and on the other we have a different link to try and absorb the bumps better. During the last three races only Carlos has scored more points than Eugene, our target is to continue this consistency and try and gain more valuable points towards the championship." Andrea Dosoli - Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager "It will be important to try and reduce the gap between both Marco and Eugene and Checa who is in the lead. I hope we'll get stable weather conditions for the weekend in order to provide the riders with enough track time to enable their crews to find the ideal race set up ahead of Sunday's races but also and very importantly to have sufficient consistent track conditions to guarantee that the tyres are providing the stable performance expected and required over the full race distance." 2011 World Superbike San Marino Misano, San Marino 08/06/2011 Circuit Length: 4226 Lap Record: 1'36.546 (Cal Crutchlow, 1/1/2010) Fastest Lap Ever: 1'35.001 (Troy Corser, 6/27/2010) Last Years Winner: Max Biaggi Davies Eager to get Back to Business on his R6 in Misano With just over a month off since the last round of the World Supersport calendar in Monza, the Yamaha Parkingò Team is geared up and all ready to hit the Adriatic coast for this weekends racing in Misano. Following the high of the spectacular double podium at the teams home race in Monza, Chaz Davies and his team are aiming to replicate victory at the second of the three Italian rounds while Luca Scassa is forced to sit it out following an infringement of the regulations prior to the last round in Monza. Chaz Davies began the season in less than perfect fashion in Australia being forced to retire from the race, losing out on the opportunity to gain precious points. The Brit has since made up for this with two race victories and a second in the last three rounds to comfortably take him to the top of the 2011 Championship standings, a place he stares with team-mate Scassa. Davies is eager to head to Misano, get back on his powerful R6 machine which has delivered two consecutive victories, confident on his ability to pocket the third win of the season and reconfirm his leading status. Scassa will be present in Misano to encourage his team mate while losing out on precious points and inevitably risking his position in the standings. The Italian was refused entry to the race by the Superbike race direction following an error on the rider's behalf, unaware that conducting his riding school in Misano was an infringement of the regulations. Scassa is disappointed but further motivated to be back with a blast in Arragon next week as competitive as ever, on a track he recently successfully tested with his YZF - R6. The Yamaha ParkinGò Team have spectacularly won all four rounds of the 2011 World Supersport championship so far and have sights on making it an impressive five in a row this weekend in Misano. 2011 World Supersport San Marino Misano, San Marino 08/06/2011 Circuit Length: 4226 Lap Record: 1'40.187 (Broc Parkes, 1/1/2008) Fastest Lap Ever: 1'39.398 (Broc Parkes, 1/1/2008)

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MotoGP gears up for Silverstone

MOTOGP UNITED KINGDOM - ROUND 6     Silverstone MotoGP Setup Report - 06/06/2011 MotoGP Gears Up for Silverstone MotoGP returns to Silverstone this weekend for the second year in a row after an absence of 25 years. The paddock arrives in the UK for round six of the Championship preparing to enjoy the all new Silverstone facilities launched just two weeks ago. MotoGP Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo arrives fresh from his podium finish in front of his home crowd last weekend. The young Mallorcan rider is looking to replicate his stunning victory from pole position taken in his first outing at the modified Northamptonshire circuit in 2010. Yamaha Factory Racing Team mate Ben Spies shares equally positive memories from last year's British GP, scoring his first ever MotoGP podium at Silverstone aboard the Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1. Having shaken off a less than perfect start to this year, Spies delivered a textbook perfect ride to share the Catalunya podium with Lorenzo last week. The Texan is focused, motivated and looking to continue with his current form this weekend. The 5.9km Silverstone circuit underwent major restructuring last year. The track has all kinds of character, a fast part and also a very tight infield. It looks a little bumpy in places, but with plenty of overtaking opportunities and remodelled sections including faster, sweeping corners to tailor it to the 800cc MotoGP machines. Jorge Lorenzo "We managed to finish our home GP leading the Championship last weekend. I'm very happy because we are very consistent in the beginning of this season. Now we are going for our second visit to Silverstone, a track I like. Last year was the first year and I made one of my best races; it was almost perfect. I know this season will be tough, but Yamaha and I are working hard and are focused on each race results." Ben Spies "I can't wait to get to Silverstone and get back on the bike again. It's a track I really enjoy riding and where I got my first ever MotoGP podium last year. Catalunya definitely felt like we were starting the season again, everything went smoothly and I felt really comfortable and able to challenge for the podium. We'll be looking to do at least the same in the UK so roll on Friday." Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager "Round six coming up, we're very happy to be going to Silverstone; we had a fantastic result there last year. I think it will be one of the tracks where will be more competitive than we have been. We are still leading the championship by seven points but we need to do something better to stay there at the front. Of course the podium is our first target but also a win is sometimes very important, for the riders especially, so let's see what happens this weekend." Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director "Silverstone seems to be a good circuit for Yamaha, we're going there with very high expectations and good morale after the double podium at Catalunya. We intend to start the right way on Friday and see what we can achieve. Both Jorge and Ben have a good history there so I think we will be very competitive." Crutchlow and Edwards confident for Silverstone showdown After a weekend of contrasting fortunes in Catalunya recently, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team riders Cal Crutchlow and Colin Edwards have quickly turned their attention to this weekend's British Grand Prix at the legendary Silverstone circuit. The Silverstone race is the all-important home round for rookie Crutchlow, who is enjoying a fantastic debut season in the 2011 MotoGP World Championship. The 25-year-old is eagerly anticipating his first appearance in the British Grand Prix and he arrives on home shores full of confidence after an outstanding performance in last weekend's Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya. He claimed a superb seventh place to score his best ever Mo toGP result, and he's now targeting a challenge for his first top six finish on Sunday. Crutchlow's all-action style is perfectly suited to the long and super-fast Silverstone track and he enjoyed one of the highlights of his career last season when he romped to a stunning double win in the World Superbike round. Edwards will make a welcome return to action after a right collarbone injury forced the popular American to miss last Sunday's Catalunya race. His absence ended his proud record of competing in 141 successive races, but Edwards is determined to bounce back in style this weekend and fight for a points finish. Edwards has completely rested during the last days to aid the recovery process and his shoulder is already quickly gaining strength following the three-hour operation to insert a titanium plate and 13 screws at the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus of Barcelona last Saturday morning. Cal Crutchlow "I can't wait for my home race in Silverstone. Ever since I knew I was joining the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team, I have been thinking about the British Grand Prix. The race couldn't be coming at a better time after I scored the best result of my MotoGP career only a few days ago in Catalunya. That gave the whole Team a big lift and we can go into this weekend with a top six as a realistic goal. Although it is my home race, I actually don't have any extra experience of the track than the other guys. I've only raced at the current track once, just like the rest. Silverstone has always been a good track for me and obviously last year's double win in the World Superbike race was one of the highlights of my career. I know I can be fast on this track and we saw last year with Jorge Lorenzo's win that the Yamaha is a good package there. All I can do is assure the British fans that I will be giving it my absolute maximum to get the best result I can. The British fans have always been good to me and I know I can count on their support this weekend. I'm also glad Colin will be back this weekend. He's been an unbelievable help to me this year and racing without him just isn't the same." Colin Edwards "I'm already feeling much better after a couple of days rest and I'm now looking forward to being back on the bike and being with my guys in the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. Obviously I am not going to be 100 per cent fit but the shoulder felt really strong immediately after the operation in Barcelona, so with a bit more time to recover, it has improved even more. I want to thank Dr Xavier Mir again because he did a fantastic job repairing the collarbone and without him, I'd have probably not been riding in Silverstone. It is not going to be an easy weekend but I will go out there and try my best to do a good job. It would be brilliant to get some points but I just want to concentrate on having a trouble free weekend because then I have a couple of weeks to let the bone heal further and be back to full strength by Assen. Part of me is still a little bit disappointed that I didn't get to ride in Catalunya, but I guess I'll finally get to start my 142nd MotoGP race, even if it is going to be one week later than planned! I've had great support in Britain going back to my World Superbike days and it is almost like a second home for me. I'm going to try and keep the weekend as relaxed as possible and enjoy myself. I've got lots of friends in the UK too, so I'm looking forward to catching up with them." Jorge Lorenzo Age: 24 Lives: Barcelona, Spain Bike: Yamaha GP victories: 36 (16 x MotoGP, 17 x 250cc, 4 x 125cc) First GP victory: Brazil, 2003 (125cc) First GP: Jerez, Spain, 2002 (125cc) GP starts: 151 (56 x MotoGP, 48 x 250cc, 46 x 125cc) Pole positions: 43 (16 x MotoGP, 23 x 250cc, 3 x 125cc) World Championships: 3 (MotoGP 2010, 250cc, 2006/7) Ben Spies Age: 26 Lives: Longview Texas / Lake Como Italy Bike: Yamaha GP victories: First GP victory: First GP: Donington, UK, 2008 (MotoGP) GP starts: 26 Pole positions: 1 World Championships: 1 (WSB 2009) Grand Prix Results: Silverstone 2010 1. J.Lorenzo Yamaha 41'34.083 2. A.Dovizioso Honda +6.743 3. B.Spies Yamaha +7.097 Silverstone Record Lap J.Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2010, 2'03.526 Silverstone Best Lap J.Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2010, 2'03.308 2011 MotoGP United Kingdom Silverstone 06/06/2011 Circuit Length: 5900 Lap Record: 1'56.459 (Chris Vermeulen, 1/1/2003) Fastest Lap Ever: 1'56.096 (Jurgen van den Goorbergh, 1/1/2003) Last Years Winner: Jorge Lorenzo

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