Bridgestone preview MotoGP season-closer
On the eve of the final round of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, tyre supplier Bridgestone analyse the demands of the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.
The traditional season finale is a tight and twisty affair that does not give the tyres much rest during a lap, so it is very important that teams get their bikes setup to use them most efficiently. With little chance during a lap to cool down, excess sliding can easily generate excess tyre temperature and accelerate tyre wear. With one of the longest total race distances of the year, the tyres have 420 corners to contend with during the 30 laps.
Despite this, warm-up performance is crucial in the cooler European climes. In past seasons the temperature has fluctuated significantly year-on-year, so the conditions will play an important role in riders’ tyre compound choices. In preparation for the cold, Bridgestone have selected the soft and medium compound front slicks and the medium and hard rears, the same as used last year. The softer option rear also features the extra soft compound rubber in the lesser-used right shoulder to maximise warm-up performance opening laps.
Hiroshi Yamada – Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Department
"It is with heavy hearts that we travel to Valencia this week for the final round of the season, but that we continue racing is in itself a fitting tribute to Marco. He never gave up, so nor shall we. Marco will be with us all in our hearts and minds, and no doubt watching every step and at every corner, and I’m sure that the MotoGP family will honour Marco’s colourful and vibrant life suitably and appropriately, remembering the good times we all shared with him."
Hirohide Hamashima – Assistant to Director, Motorsport Tyre Development Division
"Valencia is a slippery and technically complex circuit with a slow, twisty asymmetric layout. It’s what we could call a busy circuit because the number and layout of corners means that the tyres are always working and have very little respite. If a bike’s setup isn’t optimised, it is easy to generate excess tyre temperature because of this, especially as softer compounds are generally required because of the cool ambient conditions."
"We will use the soft and medium front compounds but the front tyre must be strong to cope with the heavy braking loads into the first corner. With the low track temperature softer rear compounds are also required to provide good grip but a harder compound is needed in the left shoulder of the rear tyres because of the asymmetric layout and the tyre temperature generated by the long left-handed last corner. There are only a few tight right-handers so warm-up performance in the right shoulders is important, and this is why we are again using our extra soft compound in our softer option asymmetric rear tyres in Valencia."
Repsol Honda Team head to Valencia for emotional season finale
The Repsol Honda Team heads to Valencia for the last round of the MotoGP World Championship 2011.
With Casey Stoner already crowned World Champion and second place mathematically confirmed by Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa are involved in the fight for third place in the overall standings, being third and fourth respectively, with a narrow gap of only four points.
Pedrosa has the best record at the Valencia circuit, with 5 victories (2 in MotoGP, 2 in 250cc, and 1 in 125cc) and 7 podium finishes in 9 participations, while Dovizioso's best results are second place on his Honda 125cc in 2004 and a fourth position in MotoGP in 2008. Stoner has 2 wins (2008 in MotoGP, 2003 in 125cc) and 5 podium finishes.
The three Repsol Honda riders will all have a different motivation this weekend: Stoner, will look to sign off the year of his second MotoGP World Championship with a victory, Pedrosa, who has experienced a difficult season due to injury will want to finish in the top three in the MotoGP standings, as he always has done since 2007, and Dovizioso, who has enjoyed his most successful season in the top class, will want to leave Honda an a high note before taking on a new challenge in 2012 with Yamaha Tech 3.
Casey Stoner – World Championship Position: 1st with 325 points
"It will be difficult to return to racing this weekend after Marco's terrible accident in Sepang but I think it is the best thing we can do to honour him. We know we all play a risky game and, even if compared to the past the safety of our sport is much better, unfortunately these kind of events still occur. My thoughts go out to his family and I hope that they are coping through this period. The race this weekend is the final round of an incredible season for us, we worked hard all year and after clinching the title in Phillip Island we are starting to look to 2012. After the race here in Valencia we will have the two day test on the 1000cc machine and then we can take a well deserved break and reflect on the ups and downs of a very long hard season. We will go out there this weekend and try to put on a good show for all the fans and especially in memory of Marco."
Andrea Dovizioso – World Championship Position: 3rd with 212 points
“I’m very sad for the loss of Marco. I’m going to Valencia not in the right frame of mind for a race. I will wear Marco's number 58 on the chest of my leathers, close to my heart, this is the only thing that counts. I have raced with Marco throughout my whole career, he was “the rival” and now that he is no longer with us, he has left a big void and I want to convert this feeling of emptiness to determination. I hope to get a good result at Valencia mainly because it is important for me to finish third in the Championship but I know the race will be difficult as it is not one of my favourite circuits and Dani is very strong there. Also, the GP of Valencia is my last race with Honda and I really would like to crown these ten years together with a good final race."
Dani Pedrosa – World Championship Position: 4th with 208 points
"Valencia will be a very special race for everybody. This weekend we will all have Marco in our thoughts and I hope the fans show their respect and appreciation to him, as the whole MotoGP family will do. Valencia is a track I like a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing all the fans there again. Last year I couldn't perform very well due to injury, but this time I hope to have a good race and finish the season in a good shape."
MotoGP a star of the Brand Licensing Europe fair in London
The British capital hosted the most important brand licensing fair in Europe.
For the seventh consecutive year, Dorna Sports attended the Brand Licensing Europe fair, held from 18 to 20 October at The Grand Hall Olympia, London.
Dorna Sports was present to expose the MotoGP brand and its extensive range of licensed products with the aim of expanding the current number of licensees. It was also an opportunity to meet with existing MotoGP licensees from all over the world. A big attraction at the fair was Dorna's stand which featured a replica of Jorge Lorenzo’s Yamaha M1 machine, which brought appreciation from attendees and exhibitors alike.
The Brand Licensing Europe fair has been held in London for the past 13 years. This year, there were more than 250 exhibitors with nearly 2,200 brands represented, among which were prestigious companies such as Hasbro, Marvel, Mattel, Disney, Nike, Nickelodeon and WarnerBros as well as many other companies and agencies.
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