Marco Simoncelli

On Thursday, the San Carlo Honda Gresini launch took place at the Telenova studios in Milan with their two Italian riders present at the unveiling of the 2010 Honda RC212V,

Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli will be riding for the dream Italian team this season after both the 2009 riders Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis were shown the door.

Melandri is making his return to the Gresini team where he rivaled Valentino Rossi back in 2005, along with the younger team-mate Simoncelli, who was hospitalised during the test session last week following an horrendous high-side, which fortunately left him without injury apart from a broken crash helmet.

John Hopkins

The FB Corse team have announced that they have signed John Hopkins to ride for them in the 2010 debut season in MotoGP.

The team had admitted that they were interested in signing Hopkins back in the summer before it was rumoured that he would be going to the AMA series for 2010, but they have now confirmed that the deal has been done.

The team have also announced that they have signed Simone Gorztkyj for their Moto2 project, where he will ride as a wild-card at five of the championship rounds.

The official team announcement and presentation for the 2010 series is expected to take place in Milan on the 21st January.

Agostini on the MV Agusta led Rossi, who was riding a specially painted 2009 Yamaha R1, escorted by TT marshalls and other riders.

Here’s a clip of the lap with an interview after from the reigning World Champion MotoGP rider;

Scot Racing MotoGP 2009

Alex de Angelis is moving into the Moto2 series for 2010 after signing a one-year contract for the Team Scot racing squad for the coming season.

The San Marino based team announced last month that they would not be competing in the MotoGP series from 2010 before announcing that they had signed Niccoló Canepa, who will be partnering De Angelis in the season ahead.

The San Marinese rider, who’s new team is only 500 metres away from his own front door,  made a point of explaining why he had only signed with the outfit for one year, with the option for a second year;

“The contract is only for one year because the aim is to return to MotoGP as soon as possible.”

It had been rumoured that Toni Elias would be taking the second seat with the Honda team but he is now expected to sign with the Sito Pons team for 2010.

Moto2 Test Session - Assen 2009

Starting today the Moto2 teams are at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain, taking part in a two-day test session along with the World Superbike and World Supersport riders.

The Pons Kalex Team will have Axel Pons and Sergio Gadea aboard their machines following their recent visit to Germany where they have been developing the 2010 model.

The Monster Tech3 crew will have just one of their 2010 riders on track today, Raffaele de Rosa, who will be experiencing the bike for the first time.

The new Italtrans STR team will have their riders Roberto Rolfo and Robertini Pietri aboard putting the Sutar Racing prototype through it’s paces.

Mike de Meglio and Julián Simón will once again be riding the BQR bike which they borrowd for testing in early November to get a taste of the 600cc machine with rumours that they may even get to try out the Pons Kalex prototype on Thursday.

Uncertainty continues over the Aprilia Moto2 project, but it has been confirmed that the team will not be present at the two-day test session it is again rumoured that the senior management have had a change of heart.  If the bike does ever make it onto the track for the 2010 season still remains to be seen although it is looking more and more unlikely.

Roberto Rolfo

Another new Moto2 team are to line-up on the grid for the 2010 season ‘Italtrans STR‘, with riders Roberto Rolfo and Robertino Pietri on board.

The new Italian team are in partnership with STR (Sprint Technology Racing), and is to be led by Luigi Pansera and Massimo Biagini.

Roberto Rolfo is no stranger to the superbike league having finished runner-up in the 2003 250cc World Championship and also in the MotoGP series.  The 29-year-old moved to the Superbike series in 2006 for the Caracchi Ducati team finishing the year in sixteenth overall.

In 2007, Rolfo moved to the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda team alongside James Toseland, finishing the season in eighth overall while his team-mate won the championship.  In 2008 he moved to the Althea Honda squad where he was axed for the 2009 season.

For the start of 2009, he joined the new team on the World Superbike grid with Stiggy Honda team, riding alongside Leon Haslam but was replaced after the Qatar round by John Hopkins.

Rolfo said;

“I am very happy to be back into the Motorcycle World Championship, and it’s even more satisfying to do it in Moto2. This was my objective and now I’m very motivated because I’m back in the game and I aim to secure results. I cannot wait to begin the tests. There will be a lot to do because motorbikes in this category will continually evolve. I’m not afraid of the challenge, I look forward to it.”

Robertino Pietri said;

“This is a great opportunity for me. I’d like to thank Massimo Biagini and the whole STR team, and my fellow countrymen Vito Ippolito and Carlos Lavado. I’m happy and excited by this opportunity and I’m confident that the team will succeed. I’ll be 100% ready to have a great season in the Motorcycle World Championship.”

Eurosport

Much to the anger of the MotoGP fans, Dorna have once again decided to continue with their coverage of the MotoGP on Eurosport, without live coverage, and with the BBC.

In 2009, the BBC were given the sole broadcasting rights for the series while Eurosport could only offer fans the practice and qualifying sessions.  As the live race was shown on the BBC, Eurosport were only allowed to show the GP an hour later.

This format is to continue in 2010 with a British Eurosport spokesperson stating;

“British Eurosport will broadcast the 2010 MotoGP Championship under the same terms as this year i.e. live practice and qualifying sessions, live 125cc and Moto2 races and delayed coverage of the MotoGP race, 1hr after the start,”

Although it has not been confirmed who the broadcasters will be for the 2010 season, it is expected that Toby Moody, Julian Ryder and Randy Mamola will once again be in the pit lane.

Valentino Rossi

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi, made his debut at the 6-hour of Vallelunga endurance race at the weekend, finishing in third alongside his team-mates for the event Alessio Salucci and Andrea Ceccato.

Rossi drove a Ferrari 430GT at the event prepared by Kessel Racing and could have finished higher if it hadn’t been for the mechanical problems suffered, forcing the team to take an unscheduled pit-stop.

The overall winner, 2007 FIA GT champion Thomas Biagi said;

“I made the most of the seven lap lead to track Valentino Rossi for a lap before overtaking him.  I wanted to see how he got on on four wheels and was surprised how good he was; he really is a class apart. I would also like to thank him for drawing more attention to the splendid world of Italian motor-racing.”

Rossi finished the event in eleventh place overall and the GT3 class was eventually won by the five-times Le Mans champion Emmanuele Pirro in the Corvette.

Niccolo Canepa riding the Ducati 1098

It has been announced that the Italian rider Niccolo Canepa has signed with the Scot Racing Team for 2010 to ride in the Moto2 series.

After a rookie year in the MotoGP series on a satellite Ducati, Canepa said;

“I’m absolutely delighted with the agreement we have signed.  I’m also really happy at the opportunity of playing a creative role in a working group that has displayed great potential and results – this season and in the past. A new class and a new bike: it will be a tough job, but with a rewarding outcome.  The target is to do well.”

The 21-year-old rider took the Superstock 1000 championship title in 2007 on a Ducati, followed by a year testing for their MotoGP and World Superbike machines.  In 2009, he rode for the Pramac Racing team but struggled throughout the season, finishing in fifteenth place overall and losing his seat.

The Scot Racing team were also out of the MotoGP series for next season after suffering financial difficulties but excelled in the 250cc class, winning the championship with their Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama and the rookie of the year award with Raffaele de Rosa.

Jorge Lorenzo at Riders For Health 2009

The MotoGP Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo, underwent surgery on Monday to remove a titanium plate from his left collarbone.

The 22-year-old suffered a double fracture of the collarbone back in 2005 when riding in the 250cc series after colliding with Alex de Angelis. The Spaniard suffered further injury to his shoulder during an off-season test session in Valencia.

Lorenzo has now been advised to take ten-days of recuperation before resuming his fitness programme .