Buzzin MotoGP

Casey Stoner - Jerez 2008

This week the MotoGP riders will take to the Jerez circuit in Spain for their final preseason test session and the teams are eager to get on with the hectic eight months ahead of them.

The Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, will not be attending as he is still  recovering from his accident at the winter Qatar test.   The Spanish rider is happy with the way the injuries to his left wrist and knee are mending and remains optimistic that he will be on the grid for the opening round of the season at Qatar on the 12 April.

It is reported that  Kousuke Akiyoshi, who has previously tested for the Suzuki team, will be replacing the young Spaniard for Honda after joining the team during the winter of 2008.  As well as racing in many of the Japanese National Championship races for 2009, he will also be taking part in the Suzuka 8 Hours alongside Shinichi Itoh.

Ducati rider Casey Stoner, is still concerned about the wrist  he had operated on at the end of the 2008 season.  Although the pain he had suffered during the Sepang test was much improved when he next tested in Qatar, he is still not 100% confident that the problem is over.

The 2009 livery of the Rizla Suzuki team is to be unveiled at the Jerez test session with the riders Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi, who are itching to get on the GSV-R.  The pair have been promised more acceleration for their final test session after further improvements to their machines.

Another team unveiling at the event is the Monster Yamaha Tech3 crew with Colin Edwards and James Toseland as it’s riders.  The Tech3 Yamaha team finished fourth in the 2008 championship and have this year secured the sponsorship of the Monster Energy group who have also signed a personal sponsorship deal with Valentino Rossi.

The final preseason test session will begin on Wednesday 25th March until Friday 27th March for the 125cc and 250cc classes followed by the MotoGP big boys on the Saturday and Sunday.

The 45-minute qualifying shootout will take place on Sunday when all of the riders will be in with a chance of winning a brand new BMW Sports car in the BMW M Award event.  The annual event will take place in the afternoon with the rider clocking the fastest time of the session taking home the prize.