New TeamAspar.net Website Now Online

From now on this blog won't be getting updated. This isn't because we've lost any interest in Team Aspar - far from it... No, now that the team is getting bigger and expanding into the top class of MotoGP we reckoned that we needed to build a completely custom website - a fully-featured and content-managed solution.
That's now been done, and all the old content from here has been imported, and you can find the new site at www.TeamAspar.net and this blog will remain here as an archive.

Hope you like the new site.
Cheers,
gb

Indy GP - Preview Quotes 250cc

Álvaro Bautista: "After the last race where we struggled a lot during practice and really had to grit our teeth in order to win back some points in the championship, I feel highly motivated about the Indianapolis Grand Prix. I want to work well on Saturday and Sunday and make sure we don't have the same problems as Brno. I have sorted out my immediate and long term future now so I can focus solely on thje job at hand, because there is still a lot of work to do this season and we cannot afford to lose concentration for a single second. I know I feel more relaxed now and I think I can perform better. My objective will be the same as it was in the Czech Republic, which was to try and win but if it is not possible then just try to pull back points in the championship. We got knocked out of our stride by the cancellation of last year's race because we had gone there on the back of victory at Misano so I hope nothing strange happens this time around."

Mike Di Meglio: "Indianapolis is a circuit that nobody really knows that well because we haven't done many laps there in the dry. We're all starting pretty much from zero in terms of getting our reference points. The weekend went fairly well for me here last year until the race, when I had mechanical problems. I am very eager to continue my learning process on the 250 and I want to have a good race this Sunday. It is not one of my favourite tracks but it is a nice place and I know I can be fast there. I was running with the lead group in the Czech Republic until I ran off track so I hope I can finish with them this Sunday. We are working hard every weekend to get good results but small mistakes seem to be costing us dear. We need to make sure that doesn't happen this weekend but be careful at the same time because we have two races within a week."

Balázs Németh: "I have been watching last year's races from Indianapolis to try and get to know the circuit a little. I have never been to the United States before so everything will be new to me. From what I could see on the television the track looks wonderful and the atmosphere seems special, so hopefully I can use it to my advantage. It will be a proud moment for me to race in America and after scoring my first championship pointa in the Czech Republic I go there in the knowledge that I can compete at this level and my target is to continue scoring points until the end of the season."

Indy GP - Preview Quotes 125cc

Julián Simón: “Indianapolis is a place that I really enjoyed last year, although unfortunately we were unable to race. Despite that, I like the layout and consider it to be amongst my favourites. We are working tremendously well this season, which makes me sure that the Indianapolis Grand Prix will be another good race for us. The main goal will be to get the best setting for my Aprilia right from Friday, one that allows me to ride comfortably and get to Sunday with the chance of a win and the best points total possible. We have 54 points over the second placed rider in the standings, so we will have to fight to keep the gap –or extend it if possible. It’s going to be a tough two weeks, because we have two races on the bounce and will have to watch out not to tire ourselves out.”

Bradley Smith: “Indianapolis is a fantastic circuit, both in terms of layout and history. The people there are incredible, and you can tell that they live and breath motor racing. For the atmosphere alone the Indianapolis Grand Prix ranks amongst the best of the year for me. I really love the United States as well. We didn’t get on the podium at the last round, but the fourth place was a good enough result to start regaining form and I hope that we carry on doing well this weekend. The track is new for everyone, as we only rode there last year. That means that nobody knows it too well nor has all the data necessary to ride fast straight away. It is a strange place to ride, because there are lots of bumps and changes in asphalt, and it’s also a very technical circuit. We will see what happens over the weekend, but I hope for another successful race and more points for the title fight.”

Sergio Gadea: “In the Czech Republic I was fast, but I didn’t find a setting good enough to allow me to be at the front. Now we go to Indianapolis, a circuit that I like a lot. There are two corners that stand out for their difficulty, but generally it is a good track for my riding style. Nico is very strong and I’m sure that he will keep up his form, but right now he is our rival and we have to beat him. Beating Julián and Smith also has to be a goal, because they are ahead of both of us and Julián in particular needs to be stopped from clinching the title. In Donington we had an unexpected DNF, and at Brno the result wasn’t as good as we had hoped. That means that this is the moment to take risks in order to gain points. Indianapolis is a strange track, but I like it –although I would prefer not to have the same weather as last year!”

Hector Barbera to ride Aspar Ducati in 2010

According to reports in the Spanish press, Hector Barbera and Jorge Martinez have reached an agreement today on a one-year deal for the current 250cc rider, with an option to extend the contract for another year.
The official announcement is said to follow in a few hours.

Update: Official confirmation has now come from Jorge Martinez.

This is excellent news for us, to be reunited with Héctor Barberá after so many years. We won the Spanish championship together and Grands Prix in 125cc and I’m sure this will be another great project. We hope for good results next year and we want this to be a long term agreement. Hopefully Héctor can earn factory machinery with his results. For our team it is a dream to be competing in all three World Championship categories.

Martinez and Barbera have already been working together until the end of 2003 when Barbera split with the Aspar Team in disagreement and joined the Seedorf Racing Team. Martinez has been angered by the matter ever since, but for this new project both parties seem to have buried their difference and open a new chapter.

Alvaro Bautista with Suzuki in 2010

Against early assumptions that Alvaro Bautista will join the newly formed Aspar Ducati team in the MotoGP class next year, the young Spaniard has decided to sign a contract with Suzuki instead, his only possibility of riding a factory bike in the first year as a Rookie.

Jorge Martinez announced that he will now have to decide between Toni Elias and Hector Barbera as possible riders for his new team next season.

The official press release from Suzuki:

Suzuki Motor Corporation is pleased to announce that Spaniard Alvaro Bautista will be joining its official MotoGP team in a two year agreement, to contest the 2010 and 2011 MotoGP World Championships.

Bautista was Spanish 125cc champion in 2003 and crowned 125cc World Champion in 2006. He moved up to the 250cc class in 2007 and earned the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title for his impressive results. Bautista was runner-up in the 2008 title race and he is currently in contention for this season’s 250cc championship, sitting in second place with six races remaining. Since his Grand Prix debut in 2002 Bautista has scored 43 podiums including 16 victories (eight in each class). The 24-year-old hails from Talavera de la Reina in Spain, a town approximately 130kms west of Madrid.

Suzuki is very pleased to have achieved the signing of one of the brightest young stars in Grand Prix racing and looks forward to developing a strong relationship and exciting races with Alvaro Bautista.

Czech GP: 250cc Quotes after race

3rd Álvaro Bautista: “The only good session this weekend was the race. Fortunately everything worked out okay for us when it came to the crucial moment. It took just two laps for the tyres to degenerate, and that was a warning for me not to push things and look out for points. The weekend was a tough one for us, because we never had the right setup. I could have tried to follow Simoncelli and Pasini, but it looked to be too risky and I concentrated on Aoyama instead. I’ve closed the gap on him in the standings, and if we continue like this we can catch him. I left it until the warmup to choose my setting in the suspension, and I didn’t have as much chance in this race, so I’m happy with third.”

9th Mike Di Meglio: “I had a worse start than I was expecting, but I was still able to keep up with the lead group. I felt comfortable on the Aprilia, which was different to my feeling earlier in the weekend, so I tried to push for the best positions. My strategy was to learn from the leading riders. I tried to pass Aoyama but ran wide and had to straighten up in order not to fall. That run-off lost me a lot of time, and I think that if it weren’t for that I’d have placed in the top five. I was able to make up place, although ninth isn’t the result that I hoped for after al our hard work and potential over the weekend.”

14th Balázs Németh: “I am delighted with today’s result, and to finally have some world championship points. The start was better than any that I’ve done before; not losing a single position was a very positive point. I started overtaking other riders and on the second lap I was already fifteenth. I saw that there wasn’t much space between myself and the rider ahead of me, so I pushed to catch him. I felt very comfortable on the Aprilia and lap by lap was able to reduce my times, thinking about taking points for the first time. The bike worked fantastically well during the race, thanks to the work that my mechanics had performed throughout the whole weekend. I know that now I can ride quickly, and the goal from here on in is to keep up this kind of performance.”

Czech GP: 125cc Quotes after race

2nd Julián Simón: “I am very happy with this race. Second place is a fantastic result considering that I said before coming here that the fast corners were difficult for me. I was very decisive throughout the weekend, trying to set the bike up best for today. We maybe lacked a bit of acceleration compared to Nico, but we did a great job with the chassis that gave me the advantage in braking and pace. Nico was very tough, making it more difficult for me with every lap, and he closed down every opening when I tried to make a move on the final lap. I am satisfied because the 20 points allow us to leave Brno as leaders of the championship and give me extra confidence. We know that this is the way to go if we are going to win the title. We are going for wins in the final part of the year, but we have to keep our heads to get points.”

4th Bradley Smith: “It was a pity that I had that scare on the opening lap. I think I might have hit the clutch lever at just the wrong moment, shutting off the engine and nearly going down. I was just about to hunt down Iannone and lost concentration. I think that without this I could have beenup there with the top three. In any case, after the disasters at Sachsenring and Donington I got back in the points, and that was my goal. Fourth isn’t bad, but I will take more from fact that it comes after troubles yesterday and the in the warmup. I leave Brno a little disappointed, because Iannone and Nico are both rivals who finished ahead of me. I already have my sights set on a podium at Indianapolis.”

9th Sergio Gadea:“I could have een fifth in the group in which I was riding, but I wouldn’t have even been satisfied then. I wasn’t at all comfortable and couldn’t follow Nico and Iannone, even after a good start. When Simón passed me I tried to hang off his back wheel, but I didn’t have the necessary feeling to do that and risked crashing. I gave everything I could, but when there is nothing you can do, there’s nothing that you can do. I have to wait now until Indianapolis for a better result.”

Czech GP: Race Results 250cc

Pos. Rider Team Total time Gap

1 Marco SIMONCELLI Metis Gilera 41'06.490
2 Mattia PASINI Team Toth Aprilia 41'07.174 0.684
3 Alvaro BAUTISTA Mapfre Aspar Team 41'10.871 4.381
4 Hiroshi AOYAMA Scot Racing Team 250cc 41'15.236 8.746
5 Roberto LOCATELLI Metis Gilera 41'16.211 9.721
6 Raffaele DE ROSA Scot Racing Team 250cc 41'17.360 10.870
7 Hector BARBERA Pepe World Team 41'22.129 15.639
8 Jules CLUZEL Matteoni Racing 41'24.901 18.411
9 Mike DI MEGLIO Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 41'25.053 18.563
10 Hector FAUBEL Honda SAG 41'26.448 19.958
11 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda PTT SAG 41'26.574 20.084
12 Lukas PESEK Auto Kelly - CP 41'37.122 30.632
13 Shoya TOMIZAWA CIP Moto - GP250 41'43.608 37.118
14 Balazs NEMETH Balatonring Team 42'23.974 1'17.484
15 Valentin DEBISE CIP Moto - GP250 42'31.174 1'24.684
16 Axel PONS Pepe World Team 42'31.622 1'25.132
17 Imre TOTH Team Toth Aprilia 42'53.415 1'46.925
18 Aitor RODRIGUEZ Matteoni Racing 42'58.955 1'52.465
19 Vladimir LEONOV Viessmann Kiefer Racing 43'06.284 1'59.794

Not classified
8 Bastien CHESAUX SWI Racing Team Germany Honda 25'36.289 8 Lap
6 Alex DEBON SPA Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens Aprilia 19'02.327 11 Lap
25 Alex BALDOLINI ITA WTR San Marino Team Aprilia 13'54.614 14 Lap
54 Toby MARKHAM GBR C&L Racing Aprilia 2'19.072 19 Lap

Not finished 1st lap
12 Thomas LUTHI SWI Emmi - Caffe Latte Aprilia
17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Aprilia

Czech GP: Race Results 125cc

Pos. Rider Team Total time Gap

1 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 40'57.378
2 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 40'57.546 0.168
3 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 41'06.097 8.719
4 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 41'09.821 12.443
5 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 41'13.384 16.006
6 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 41'13.444 16.066
7 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 41'14.483 17.105
8 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 41'14.580 17.202
9 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 41'14.601 17.223
10 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team 41'14.622 17.244
11 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team 41'14.996 17.618
12 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 41'19.355 21.977
13 Marcel SCHROTTER Toni - Mang Team 41'31.865 34.487
14 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team 41'31.890 34.512
15 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia 41'38.936 41.558
16 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix 41'40.476 43.098
17 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix 41'40.499 43.121
18 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten 41'40.542 43.164
19 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 41'40.831 43.453
20 Michael RANSEDER CBC Corse 41'41.295 43.917
21 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA Loncin Racing 41'48.088 50.710
22 Luigi MORCIANO Junior GP Racing Dream 42'07.354 1'09.976
23 Alessandro TONUCCI Junior GP Racing Dream 42'08.011 1'10.633
24 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing 42'32.385 1'35.007
25 Luca VITALI CBC Corse 42'36.863 1'39.485
26 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse 42'37.117 1'39.739
27 Karel PESEK Pesek Team 42'37.397 1'40.019
28 Ivan VISAK Team Migomoto 41'32.489 1 Lap
29 Ladislav CHMELIK Moto FGR 41'32.937 1 Lap
30 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing 42'49.752 1 Lap

Not classified
24 Simone CORSI ITA Fontana Racing Aprilia 26'38.065 7 Lap
32 Lorenzo SAVADORI ITA Fontana Racing Aprilia 17'42.265 11 Lap
12 Esteve RABAT SPA Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 15'18.341 12 Lap
39 Luis SALOM SPA Jack & Jones Team Aprilia 11'06.193 14 Lap
53 Jasper IWEMA NED Racing Team Germany Honda 2'21.286 18 Lap
8 Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2'21.435 18 Lap

Pics of the Day: Czech GP, Saturday

Czech GP - Saturday Quotes 250cc

5th Mike Di Meglio 2.02.426 (15 laps): “For the majority of the qualifying session I was unable to wring the most out of my engine and I don’t know why that was. We worked very hard to come up with a solution and, just before I went out for the final time, with a parts change it looked like we had found one. Then I felt comfortable and was able to do my fastest lap. I was lucky to hang on to Barberá and Aoyama to use them as reference points. It’s strange, as the morning went fantastically but the afternoon was much harder. I hope that we can give a final big push in the warmup no get us up there in the race. I will try to be one of the front group, but I am well aware that it will not be an easy race at a circuit that has always been tough for me to find a good feeling. It is very different to other tracks.”

8th Álvaro Bautista 2.02.748 (15 laps): “The crash was totally unexpected, as I had already put two laps on the new tyres. I got into turn five and everything seized up, causing me to fall. This morning we did various tests on the front suspension and found some things that worked, then we continued with the front end in the afternoon but lost our way. The changes in place at the end of the practice are the ones that I would favour for the race and I am sure that if we had done more laps with this setting then we would have done better today. We will go back to it tomorrow in the warmup and try again. In the race I wil have to start well in order to be at the front and fight like I have done this season. I will have to take risks if necessary, because I can’t afford to lose more points.”

18th Balázs Németh 2.05.493 (17 laps): “At the beginning of the session we tried to play around with the chain setting, and little by little we looked for ways to make my riding more comfortable. It looked like it wasn’t going to work, but we made some front end and rear end adjustments that have given us the perfect geometry for tomorrow. This afternoon we had a lot of fun riding; I didn’t want the session to end! I am convinced that tomorrow I can have a good race, but I have to be careful not to lose places at the start. I will try to find a group to keep my pace up, with my objective being to take my first GP points and give the Hungarian fans here a race to remember.”

Czech GP - Saturday Quotes 125cc

4th Julián Simón 2.08.542 (14 laps): “I am happy with the result, because the team and myself have worked phenomenally. We have what I feel is the perfect setting for the race, and we know what tyres to use. We could have had a better time, but I lost a bit of concentration when riders were following me, for instance Cortese. It was a mistake on my part to be worrying about other riders. The most important thing is that everything is clear and we can have a good race, fighting for the victory and the maximum amount of points. I think that on the opening laps four or five riders will be up front, with Terol, Smith, Iannone and myself involved. Terol and myself have been the most consistent, but we will see what happens and I will try to open up a gap.”

5th Bradley Smith 2.08.957 (14 laps): “The qualifying session was the only less than perfect session that we have had so far. In the free practices we were able to improve a lot, but this afternoon we went in the wrong direction. We fought to find the best setup for the Aprilia, and it looks as if we nailed it in the end. Fifth isn’t a fantastic place, but it is hardly a disaster either, and I have the poleman in front of me as a reference at the start. Our biggest problem has been the rear suspension, which was too hard and means that we don’t have al the feedback that we would like. It is important here to have a balanced bike, with al the ups and downs and fast corners. I think that we have everything more or less sorted, and we will adjust the rear in the warmup. It’s going to be a slipstreaming race, so we will have to be aware.”

7th Sergio Gadea 2.09.240 (14 laps):“We still have a little way to go in order to be ready for the race. To tell the truth it has been a complicated weekend up to now, with my crash yesterday and the continual problem with chattering that persisted even when we were going for a fast lap. The mechanics are working against the clock and finally found a solution. We had a rear end issue in the afternoon, because of which the bike was hard to turn in and didn’t give any feeling when opening the throttle on the exit. Luckily I found Smith and follow him for a lap, taking me to the second row. It’s not a bad place to start, but tomorrow I see it being very hard work. I’m going to fight for the top positions in any case, and the important thing will be to not let Simón get away. We have to take points from him.”

Czech GP - Qualifying Results 250cc

Hector Barbera looked almost certain to clinch another pole position, but was topped in just the last minute by two riders.
Mike Di Meglio just slipped out of front row while Alvaro Bautista had a crash with just a few minutes to go, leaving him no chance for another attack and relegating him to 8th position on the grid.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap
1 Marco SIMONCELLI Metis Gilera 2'01.611
2 Hiroshi AOYAMA Scot Racing Team 250cc 2'01.961 0.350
3 Hector BARBERA Pepe World Team 2'02.064 0.453
4 Alex DEBON Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens 2'02.386 0.775
5 Mike DI MEGLIO Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 2'02.426 0.815
6 Roberto LOCATELLI Metis Gilera 2'02.543 0.932
7 Mattia PASINI Team Toth Aprilia 2'02.561 0.950
8 Alvaro BAUTISTA Mapfre Aspar Team 2'02.748 1.137
9 Raffaele DE ROSA Scot Racing Team 250cc 2'02.768 1.157
10 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 2'02.811 1.200
11 Hector FAUBEL Honda SAG 2'02.899 1.288
12 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda PTT SAG 2'02.921 1.310
13 Thomas LUTHI Emmi - Caffe Latte 2'02.932 1.321
14 Jules CLUZEL Matteoni Racing 2'02.997 1.386
15 Lukas PESEK Auto Kelly - CP 2'03.596 1.985
16 Shoya TOMIZAWA CIP Moto - GP250 2'03.951 2.340
17 Alex BALDOLINI WTR San Marino Team 2'04.100 2.489
18 Balazs NEMETH Balatonring Team 2'05.493 3.882
19 Axel PONS Pepe World Team 2'06.350 4.739
20 Valentin DEBISE CIP Moto - GP250 2'06.571 4.960
21 Bastien CHESAUX Racing Team Germany 2'07.088 5.477
22 Imre TOTH Team Toth Aprilia 2'07.130 5.519
23 Vladimir LEONOV Viessmann Kiefer Racing 2'08.362 6.751
24 Aitor RODRIGUEZ Matteoni Racing 2'08.600 6.989

Not classified
54 Toby MARKHAM GBR C&L Racing Aprilia Lap

Czech GP - Qualifying Results 125cc

Nico Terol led for most of the qualifying until Andrea Iannone used his slipstream in the closing stages of the session to post a faster laptime, leaving Terol no space to improve in the next laps.

Pos. Rider Team Lap time Gap

1 Andrea IANNONE Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'08.171
2 Nicolas TEROL Jack & Jones Team 2'08.484 0.313
3 Sandro CORTESE Ajo Interwetten 2'08.507 0.336
4 Julian SIMON Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'08.542 0.371
5 Bradley SMITH Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'08.957 0.786
6 Stefan BRADL Viessmann Kiefer Racing 2'09.184 1.013
7 Sergio GADEA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc 2'09.240 1.069
8 Pol ESPARGARO Derbi Racing Team 2'09.418 1.247
9 Efren VAZQUEZ Derbi Racing Team 2'09.434 1.263
10 Johann ZARCO WTR San Marino Team 2'09.462 1.291
11 Joan OLIVE Derbi Racing Team 2'09.480 1.309
12 Simone CORSI Fontana Racing 2'09.741 1.570
13 Michael RANSEDER CBC Corse 2'09.962 1.791
14 Luis SALOM Jack & Jones Team 2'10.024 1.853
15 Danny WEBB Degraaf Grand Prix 2'10.081 1.910
16 Esteve RABAT Blusens Aprilia 2'10.239 2.068
17 Marcel SCHROTTER Toni - Mang Team 2'10.269 2.098
18 Jonas FOLGER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'10.269 2.098
19 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'10.297 2.126
20 Marc MARQUEZ Red Bull KTM Moto Sport 2'10.471 2.300
21 Lorenzo ZANETTI Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. 2'10.500 2.329
22 Scott REDDING Blusens Aprilia 2'10.685 2.514
23 Randy KRUMMENACHER Degraaf Grand Prix 2'10.752 2.581
24 Dominique AEGERTER Ajo Interwetten 2'10.958 2.787
25 Lukas SEMBERA Matteoni Racing 2'11.074 2.903
26 Luigi MORCIANO Junior GP Racing Dream 2'11.122 2.951
27 Alessandro TONUCCI Junior GP Racing Dream 2'11.332 3.161
28 Jasper IWEMA Racing Team Germany 2'11.387 3.216
29 Karel PESEK Pesek Team 2'12.123 3.952
30 Lorenzo SAVADORI Fontana Racing 2'12.286 4.115
31 Alexis MASBOU Loncin Racing 2'12.303 4.132
32 Luca MARCONI CBC Corse 2'12.482 4.311
33 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA Loncin Racing 2'12.840 4.669
34 Luca VITALI CBC Corse 2'13.176 5.005
35 Ladislav CHMELIK Moto FGR 2'16.667 8.496

Not classified
16 Cameron BEAUBIER USA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport KTM Lap

Out of limit time
68 Ivan VISAK CRO Team Migomoto Honda

Julian Simon Interview

You make a point of thanking your team at every Grand Prix. Where did this good relationship start?
To be honest I have always had a good relationship with my mechanics, at every team I've been in. Nobody gets anything for free and it has been a long hard road for me to get to where I am today, so I think it is right to appreciate the work being done by the mechanics to help me. I had the opportunity to join the Aspar Team a while ago but in the end the deal wasn't done, so when I knew I was going to be racing with them this season it felt like a dream had come true. I knew that in such a top team I would have the opportunity to show my full potential. We hit it off straight away - my chief mechanic Enrique Peris and the rest of the team were all extremely nice to me and it made things easy. The fact the results came so quickly brought us together even more and made us realise that we could achieve great things together.
 
What is your working relationship with the team like?
Very easy going, in fact this is one of the most enjoyable seasons I've ever had. I arrive at a circuit on a Thursday feeling relaxed because I know that the whole team is as focused as I am on making sure everything goes well from the first session. I am always really calm because I know everybody is behind me and when I go out on track the bike is going to be performing to its limit. If it isn't, it doesn't take us long to sort it out.
 
What is the team's biggest strength?
Just the calmness they instil in me and the confidence they have in me. They know perfectly well that with the attitude we're showing at the moment we can be competitive. The consistency also gives us the confidence necessary to run up front in every race.
 
What is your view on the season so far and where it goes from here?
From my side I think we have met all the objectives we set ourselves. The change in category was a risk for me and there we had our doubts, but thanks to my manager and the Aspar Team I am fighting to win at every Grand Prix. I adapted quickly to the Aprilia RSA, went fast on it from the first day and I think as far as the first half of the championship is concerned it is mission accomplished because we are leading the standings by fifty points. The second half of the seasons could be more difficult because of the circuits we have to race at and the tiredness that always kicks in. The circuits we have left are all good fun but also quite tricky. I suppose every rider would like to be going into them in my position and I usually go well in the second half of the season, so hopefully we can keep that tradition up.
 
Were you able to take a holiday or were you eager not to break your concentration?
To be honest I did relax a little bit. I usually find it difficult to switch off and I'm not the sort of person that can get up in the morning and not do anything but I have taken the odd day off over the past couple of weeks. I spent three days doing the tourist thing in London after Donington and just disconnected from racing. I have kept my training up though because it is important to be in the right shape for this second half of the season. It was nice to be at home for a while and spend time with family and friends.
 
Sachsenring, Donington. they say things come in threes. Do you think victory is a possibility again at Brno?
Yes of course and we'll be working very hard to achieve it. I will try not to fall into the trap of going for victory at all cost because I learnt a lot from my mistake at Jerez and I don't want to do it again. Brno is a circuit I have struggled at in the past but with the confidence we have this year and the good job we're doing, I'm sure we will start Sunday's race with every chance of fighting for the win.
 
What are your favourite circuits from now to the end of the season?
Apart from Brno, where I have usually struggled a little, I like them all - especially Estoril, Philip Island and Sepang because they are all set in stunning locations. To see a circuit surrounded by the ocean in Australia is incredible and the atmosphere is always great there too.
 
Have you started dreaming about winning the title yet?
Obviously, although I suppose that is normal with seven races left and a fifty-point advantage. My objective is to win the title and I want to keep dreaming - I never want the dream to end. One thing I am clear about though is that there's a long way to go in the championship and I have to keep working to the limit if I want to be crowned World Champion. We want to finish the job off as soon as possible but there's no rush. I have the team, the bike and the ability. all the weaponry I need so I just have to stay calm, focus on my job and see what happens.


Source: Aspar Media

Czech GP - Friday Quotes - 250cc

4th Álvaro Bautista 2.03.130 (23 laps):
"After two weeks off my Aprilia this session was useful for checking that everything was in its right place. I am not worried, because we are up front despite some problems with front end chattering. The suspension wasn't absorbing the bumps like it should have, so we worked on that. If things go well then that will be resolved tomorrow. We don't have a setting that I like above all the others, but I'm sure that we will find one. We are more than half a second off the top, but I am confident that tomorrow we will catch up. My elbow is fine and I can work at 100%."

10th Mike Di Meglio 2.03.923 (20 laps):
"Everything went fairly well in this session; we are a little way off the top times, but I can keep calm because I know that we have worked hard. Our goal for the day was to keep working on the changes little by little, without getting too bogged down with it. I didn't feel comfortable on the Arpilia at the start of the session, but thanks to my mechanics we found the best riding position to help us out. The positive point of the day has been our continual evolution and I hope that we keep on the same track tomorrow and that this shows in qualifying."

20th Balázs Németh 2.07.998 (17 laps):
"At the start the session was going well, as I immediately found a good feeling with the circuit and kept improving my times in every splits. However, in the middle of the run I started to have problems with the gearbox; I could go quickly in some sections but couldn't make the most of my engine in others. With ten minutes remaining I had to call it a day, in order to find a solution to the problem. In any case I'm very happy, because Brno is a track that I like and in which I have felt comfortable. My hand isn't hurting at all, so I hope to keep improving on day two."

Czech GP - Friday Quotes - 125cc

1st Bradley Smith 2.09.211 (21 laps):
"I think that this was the ideal way to return to action. After two weeks off I needed to get back on the Aprilia, and what better way to do so than with the best time of the day? An hour without rain was fantastic to have, because it is much easier to move forward. We were coming along great during the run, and even the asphalt was getting better; at the start the bike was sliding, but it gradually got more grippy. The wind gave some problems -as it does at Brno- and you need to get a slipstream to keep from losing time. We were all practically even today, so we have to keep concentrated to be the best this weekend."

3rd Julián Simón 2.09.409 (19 laps):
"This first day has been pretty positive, as Brno is a track that I've always found difficult. You have to let the bike run on, and that isn't something that I particularly like. We were up there from the start, and the bike was clearly improving as the session went on, above all with the engine. We tried various tyres, and know that if the conditions continue to be the same in every session we will have to use a different combination than we did today. The riders at the top are close together, so I am going to keep looking for pole tomorrow. If it doesn't rain then we will have more time to prepare the bike and the race will be more exciting."

5th Sergio Gadea 2.09.618 (18 laps):
"I am very happy with this opening session, because we were right at the top for most of the way, continually improving. I did an early 2'09 and felt very comfortable , but I had a small problem with my confidence in the rear end. It was a tyre problem and kept my busy for the second half of the run. For this reason I took a fall ten minutes from the end and didn't have enough time to improve my final lap when I got back on track. In any case I'm not worrying too much about that, because we know what the mistake was and I'm sure that tomorrow it will be sorted. Despite that tiny setback I was still only four-tenths from Smith, which isn't much at this track. The engine is going well, so we just have to work on the rear and we will be ready."

Czech GP - Friday Practice Results 125cc

1. Smith (Aprilia) 2min 9.211sec
2. Marquez (KTM) +0.113sec
3. Simon (Aprilia) +0.198sec
4. Terol (Aprilia) +0.299sec
5. Gadea (Aprilia) +0.407sec
6. Cortese (Derbi) +0.523sec
7. Iannone (Aprilia) +1.008sec
8. Bradl (Aprilia) +1.094sec
9. Espargaro (Derbi) +1.134sec
10. Redding (Aprilia) +1.190sec

Czech GP - Friday Practice Results 250cc

Pos | Rider | Team | Lap time | Gap
1 Hector BARBERA Pepe World Team 2′02.371
2 Hiroshi AOYAMA Scot Racing Team 250cc 2′02.511 0.140
3 Alex DEBON Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens 2′03.125 0.754
4 Alvaro BAUTISTA Mapfre Aspar Team 2′03.130 0.759
5 Roberto LOCATELLI Metis Gilera 2′03.427 1.056
6 Marco SIMONCELLI Metis Gilera 2′03.486 1.115
7 Mattia PASINI Team Toth Aprilia 2′03.528 1.157
8 Thomas LUTHI Emmi – Caffe Latte 2′03.588 1.217
9 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 2′03.911 1.540
10 Mike DI MEGLIO Mapfre Aspar Team 250cc 2′03.923 1.552
11 Hector FAUBEL Honda SAG 2′04.094 1.723
12 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda PTT SAG 2′04.164 1.793
13 Raffaele DE ROSA Scot Racing Team 250cc 2′04.385 2.014
14 Alex BALDOLINI WTR San Marino Team 2′04.851 2.480
15 Jules CLUZEL Matteoni Racing 2′05.076 2.705
16 Lukas PESEK Auto Kelly – CP 2′05.090 2.719
17 Shoya TOMIZAWA CIP Moto – GP250 2′05.707 3.336
18 Bastien CHESAUX Racing Team Germany 2′07.539 5.168
19 Valentin DEBISE CIP Moto – GP250 2′07.665 5.294
20 Balazs NEMETH Balatonring Team 2′07.998 5.627
21 Vladimir LEONOV Viessmann Kiefer Racing 2′08.236 5.865
22 Axel PONS Pepe World Team 2′08.385 6.014
23 Toby MARKHAM C&L Racing 2′08.478 6.107
24 Imre TOTH Team Toth Aprilia 2′08.478 6.107
25 Aitor RODRIGUEZ Matteoni Racing 2′08.952 6.581

Mapfre Aspar riders look forward to Brno

Álvaro Bautista: "Brno isn't one of my favourite tracks, but I think it's a good opportunity to get a good result because it's a fast track which should in theory suit my Aprilia. I am keen to get back on track because I wasn't at 100% physically last time out, and I think I could have fought for victory if I had have been. I want to be at the front from the off this weekend, I need to take as many points as possible off Aoyama. My elbow is much better, although still a bit swollen the wound is healing well and I think by Friday it should be all back to normal. I spent these two weeks relaxing and spending time with my family as we had two very important events. They were two busy family weeks, but I continued training hard. I was also at the race in La Bañeza which I really enjoyed and I got to feel the support of the fans."


Mike Di Meglio: "Brno is a complicated circuit, which is fast and where you have to work hard to get the set-up right. I aim to be as focused as I was in England, putting in all the hard work with the team in practice and then following it up in the race. It's important to get a good rhythm going in the Czech Republic, because if not it's easy to lose ground quickly. I hope to be back at the front like in the UK, not make any mistakes and give the team another positive result. They are working so hard for me, and thanks to them I am more confident every time I sit on the Aprilia, so I'd like to repay them. My objective will be to keep picking up experience on the bike, trying to improve every time I am on track, and with this mentality I'm sure the results will come. These last two weeks I stayed at home to relax a little and I think it did me some good. I'm very eager to get back to work though."

Alvaro / Aspar Announcement Thursday?

MotoGPMatters reports on the question of whether Alvaro will ride with Aspar in MotoGP next season as coming to a head this weekend at Brno, citing stories from the likes of Marca and GPOne that suggest Bati signed a pre-contract of some kind with Suzuki in the middle of 2008, and that a ride on the vacant Ducati seat in Aspar’s new MotoGP team is by no means a certainty.

Says David Emmett:
Aspar has a problem. Alvaro Bautista has already signed a pre-contract with Suzuki last summer, according to the reports, and is not inclined to pay the penalty which breaking that commitment would involve. As a result, Bautista is increasingly leaning towards finalizing a deal with Suzuki to ride for the Rizla squad for 2010. His choice is also influenced by the fact that he will be able to go straight to a factory team, Suzuki having received a dispensation from the rookie rule which forces new entrants to sign with satellite squads.

Up against this, Aspar can offer a contract directly with Ducati, but riding in the Aspar team. Bautista would be assured of strong support from Ducati Corse, and the option of moving up to the factory squad should his results be good enough. Of course, with so many riders struggling to tame the Desmosedici, Bautista may not want to risk that option, and the Spaniard has in the past flat out refused to ride the Ducati.

The various reports suggest that there will be emergency meetings in the Brno paddock with Aspar and Alvaro’s management to try and nail the matter – and that whatever the outcome, Jorge Martinez will name his rider this weeked, probably on Thursday or Friday.

Balazs Nemeth Looks Forward To Brno

"I'm really up for this race at Brno, because it's a track I know well and I am sure I'll be quicker there than at many other places. Additionally there will be lots of Hungarian support at the Czech race, so that's an extra motivation to try to show them the best of my capabilities. In the last race we were out in the early stages, so I hope that this weekend we can finish well and take home my first points in the world championship. During the time off I worked on recovery from my hand injuries in the gym, and now fortunately I am completely fit once again and have enjoyed the time around my family."

Bancaja Aspar Riders Look Forward To Brno

Julián Simón:
"Brno is a great circuit to race at, I love it. It's long and difficult and that makes it much more exciting, you have to work hard to ride quickly round there. I'm eager to get back to work as the championship has been sensational so far and we are being very consistent, which I think is crucial if you want to think about winning a world championship. Race by race we are working positively and fortunately the results have come with it. This weekend I hope to continue like at the last two races and will aim for another victory on Sunday if possible. If not, i will focus on finishing the race and picking up as many points as possible. These past two weeks I lowered my training intensity slightly, just to disconnect a little, so I am keen to get to Brno to get on the Aprilia again."

Sergio Gadea:
"To be honest, the break came at a really good time for me, and I enjoyed a few days in Madrid and some in Ibiza to relax. After the crash in the UK I want to wipe the slate clean and start again. Everything has been going well for us this season and we can't get down over a small error which was due to the rain. We simply have to continue working as we have done so far. Brno is a track I really enjoy and have had good results at in the past. It is quite fast and long, which means we'll have to work well on setting up the bike to not lose power anywhere. I'm sure Julián will continue to be strong, and we mustn't drop any more points to be able to challenge him. Whatever happens, we aim to keep our consistency up. This year we have had a great base setting and I'm certain that at Brno I can get back onto the podium."

Bradley Smith:
"I'm hoping for a positive race in Brno, I'm extremely determined to make it a good result after the crashes at Sachsenring and Donington. Brno is a technical and wide track, with ample opportunities for overtaking. In the 125s it will be difficult to escape because it's another long circuit where slipstreaming is key. It's a bit like Mugello, in terms of length and the combination of esses and elevation changes. That means it will be crucial to get the set-up right at Brno, and to be strong at the end of the race. I hope that after the last two wet races, we can enjoy another sunny weekend and good conditions for racing."

Smith to continue with Aspar in Moto2

During an appearance at the BSB round in Brands Hatch this weekend, current 125cc Bancaja Aspar rider Bradley Smith told reporters that he has already reached an agreement with the Aspar Team to continue with them in the Moto2 class next year.
And official announcement has yet to be made.

Source: gpone.com

Bradley Supporting Riders For Health In London Triathlon

MotoGP 125cc championship contender, Bradley Smith, will be raising money for the official charity of MotoGP when he takes on British Formula One star Jenson Button in a motorsport showdown at the Mazda London Triathlon on 2 August 2009.
 
As well as attempting to make sure motorcycling comes out on top in the race, Smith will be raising money for the work of Riders for Health (www.riders.org). Riders for Health mobilises health care workers in rural Africa with reliable motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles so predictable health care reaches even the most isolated communities.  To support Bradley and the lifesaving work of Riders for Health you can donate through his JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/bradleysmith.
 
Bradley also joined the other stars of MotoGP to support the work of Riders for Health at the annual Day of Champions event on Thursday 23rd July. The event helped to raise an incredible £177,000 and Bradley boosted the total when the racing leathers he was wearing for the race on Sunday sold for £1,600 in the MotoGP auction.
 
Smith challenged Button after they met at Silverstone during the British F1 Grand Prix where Smith, in recognition of his achievement of being the first British rider in three decades to lead any Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship, was attending as a guest of Bernie Ecclestone.
Despite his young age, Smith is no newcomer to triathlons - the swimming, cycling and running events are a major focus of his training regime and his personal trainer is an ironman regular who has been passing on all his experience to Smith.
 
This is the 13th year of the Mazda London Triathlon and Bradley will be among the 13,000 competitors taking part in the world’s largest triathlon raising a combined total in excess of £3 million for charity.

2010 (Provisional) MotoGP Calendar Revealed

The provisional 2010 calendar for MotoGP has been revealed...


April 11 * Qatar Doha/Losail
April 25 Japan Motegi
May 2 Spain Jerez de la Frontera
May 16 France Le Mans
May 30 Italy Mugello
June 6 Great Britain Silverstone
June 26 ** Netherlands Assen
July 4 Catalunya Catalunya
July 18 Germany Sachsenring
July 25 *** United States Laguna Seca
August 15 Czech Rep. Brno
August 29 Indianapolis Indianapolis
September 12 San Marino Misano
September 19 Hungary Balatonring
October 10 Malaysia Sepang
October 17 Australia Phillip Island
October 31 Portugal Estoril
November 7 Valencia Ricardo Tormo - Valencia

*: Evening Race
**: Saturday
***: Only MotoGP class

British GP, Donington: 250cc Race Result

CLASSIFIED:

Pos | Rider | Bike | Time
1. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 45m17.516s
2. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia + 5.723s
3. Mattia Pasini Aprilia + 36.161s
4. Marco Simoncelli Gilera + 36.776s
5. Mike Di Meglio Aprilia + 41.418s
6. Alex Debon Aprilia + 41.938s
7. Raffaele De Rosa Honda + 57.483s
8. Hector Barbera Aprilia + 59.975s
9. Thomas Luthi Aprilia +1m14.852s
10. Hector Faubel Honda +1m16.927s
11. Jules Cluzel Aprilia +1m21.356s
12. Lukas Pesek Aprilia +1m21.665s
13. R.Locatelli Gilera +1m29.576s
14. Karel Abraham Aprilia + 1 Lap
15. Shoya Tomizawa Honda + 1 Lap
16. Alex Baldolini Aprilia + 1 Lap
17. Imre Toth Aprilia + 1 Lap
18. Luke Mossey Aprilia + 1 Lap
19. Valentin Debise Honda + 2 Laps
20. Axel Pons Aprilia + 2 Laps
21. Aitor Rodriguez Aprilia + 2 Laps
22. Bastien Chesaux Honda + 2 Laps
23. Toby Markham Aprilia + 4 Laps


NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:

Rider | Bike | On lap
R.Wilairot Honda 18
Ralf Waldmann Aprilia 5
Balazs Nemeth Aprilia 0

British GP, Donington: 125cc Race Result

CLASSIFIED:

Pos | Rider | Bike | Time
1. Julian Simon Aprilia 9m12.301s
2. Simone Corsi Aprilia + 0.390s
3. Scott Redding Aprilia + 3.072s
4. Nicolas Terol Aprilia + 6.209s
5. Takaaki Nakagami Aprilia + 9.509s
6. Luis Salom Aprilia + 11.211s
7. Lorenzo Zanetti Aprilia + 11.572s
8. D.Agerter Derbi + 13.703s
9. Efren Vazquez Derbi + 14.101s
10. Pol Espargaro Derbi + 15.422s
11. Tomoyoshi Koyama Loncin + 17.905s
12. Joan Olive Derbi + 25.625s
13. Johann Zarco Aprilia + 26.793s
14. Martin Glossop Honda + 27.916s
15. Marc Marquez KTM + 28.631s
16. Paul Jordan Honda + 28.999s
17. Lukas Sembera Aprilia + 30.564s
18. R.Krummenacher Aprilia + 34.468s
19. Luca Marconi Aprilia + 38.709s
20. Bradley Smith Aprilia + 38.938s
21. Luca Vitali Aprilia +1m14.040s


NOT CLASSIFIED/RETIREMENTS:

Rider | Bike | Laps
Jasper Iwema Honda 4
Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia 1
Alexis Masbou Loncin 1
Michael Ranseder Aprilia 1
Sergio Gadea Aprilia DNS
Sandro Cortese Derbi DNS
Esteve Rabat Aprilia DNS
Andrea Iannone Aprilia DNS
Stefan Bradl Aprilia DNS
Daniel Webb Aprilia DNS
Jonas Folger Aprilia DNS
Cameron Beaubier KTM DNS
Karel Pesek Derbi DNS
James Lodge Honda DNS
Tim Hastings Honda DNS

Team Aspar Celebrates 100 Victories

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the Dutch TT of 1984, when Jorge Martínez "Aspar" took on the role of team manager Derbi but still showed his qualities as a rider by taking his first ever victory in the 80cc class. The man he had to beat was none other than local favourite Hans Spaan, which only made his final-lap win even more exciting. Afterwards Ángel Nieto told him: "No matter how many races you have won, savour this moment because you will never forget it."
Four world titles and no fewer than 36 victories later, the 'Apsar' who lined up on the grid in Argentina was an entirely different man to that 21-year-old who came of age ten years earlier at 'The Cathedral'. Ready to race his notoriously difficult Yamaha and with more than one Japanese job at stake, the veteran made a final corner pass on Ueda to secure the final victory of his stellar career. Today Jorge Martínez "Aspar" celebrates again, having watched his team take their 200th podium no long ago he is now left to reflect on a century of victories.

His own 37 wins as a rider have been complimented by another 63 as the leader of the Aspar Team, now a standard-bearing organisation within the MotoGP paddock. The circuit was Donington and the rider lucky enough to take the milestone victory and forever form part of the glorious Jorge Martínez "Aspar" story was Julián Simón. Faubel made his mark with seven wins, Elías and Porto with six each, Fonsi with five and his cousin Pablo with the only victory of his career; each has contributed to the Aspar Team's winning pedigree. However, it has been without doubt Álvaro Bautista, the team's leading light in the 250cc class, who has been the main heir to Jorge's legacy, taking sixteen victories so far in "Aspar" colours.
 
The world of motorcycling has changed and continues to change dramatically since those early days - the circuits, the bikes, the way it is viewed. but one thing that has always remained is that youthful gaze of a fifteen-year-old who has never stopped dreaming despite the success and the inevitable passage of time.  
As well as his own take on this landmark, former Aspar riders lined up with their own praise for the man, his team and his vision...
 
 
Jorge Martínez "Aspar":
"Who would have thought back in '79 when I started racing that I could end up in such a privileged position? Looking back on everything we have achieved since then makes me enormously proud and happy. It is incredible to think back to when I was a 15-year-old, when I started racing bikes, and I have never been separated from my life's passion. I am enormously proud to have a team with six riders in the World Championship, with 200 podiums recently and now 100 victories. There have obviously been a lot of hard times with crashes, injuries, operations and lean financial periods - times when you feel like throwing in the towel. However, I think that one of the most important things in life is consistency, as well as self-belief and fighting for your dreams. I would like to thank all the people who have contributed to the success of this team, from the mechanics to the chief engineers and of course all the sponsors and brands who have worked with us and without whom we could have never reached this glorious milestone."
 
Álvaro Bautista: 
"What more can I say other than that it is incredible to form part of this team. Everything I have achieved in my career has been here and I hope I can add to it. My objective is to win at least as many races as Jorge, to whom I will be eternally grateful for showing faith in me from the beginning." 
 
Sergio Gadea: 
"To have recently celebrated the 200th podium and now a century of wins is just an example of the greatness of this team. All of my victories and podiums have been here and I am really pleased that they gave me the chance to become a top rider. I would like to congratulate Jorge for reaching this impressive number and thank him for helping me to grow so much as a rider."
 
Julián Simón: 
"Even though I only form part of the recent history of the Aspar Team, it is an honour for me to have contributed in making it even more successful, if that was possible! As a rider and a person Jorge is an example to follow and it is no coincidence that he has made it to 100 wins. I'm sure he will maintain this level for a long time to come."
 
Bradley Smith: 
"I am one of the new Aspar boys and I already feel part of the living history of the team. Ever since I arrived I have felt at home, thanks to the warmth and professionalism of the team and this year I was fulfill a dream together with them by winning my first race."
 
Héctor Faubel: 
"Every victory I have to my name was won together with the Aspar family. I remember them with great satisfaction and it is a source of great pride for me to have formed part of this great team. I would like to congratulate Jorge for his 100th victory and wish him all the best for the future."
 
Héctor Barberá: 
"I scored the first victory of my career with the Aspar Team here at Donington, so that is a very special memory. For me those two years were a great learning experience within such an experienced team."
 
Pablo Nieto: 
"It makes me proud to have contributed a small part to the Aspar Team and Jorge arriving at 100 victories and I hope there are many more."
 
Toni Elías: 
"I am so happy for Jorge and the whole team because they have a real human touch and they deserve to arrive to as important a milestone as 100 wins. It is special to form part of the Aspar Team story."
 
Randy De Puniet:
"The victory that I took with the Aspar Team was very exciting, because it was pouring with rain en Donington and I went off track whilst fighting with Stoner and West, but was able to win. The track isn't one of my favourites, so I remember the race fondly. I want to offer my sincerest congratulations to Jorge for reaching this milestone."
 
Álex De Angelis: 
"My time with the Aspar Team was a very important experience for me and a huge part of my career - in fact I scored my only win so far with them. I am happy for Jorge to have made it to 100 wins - he deserves it because he is one of the few people who is still in the paddock through passion and not business. Apart from that he is a very attentive manager who always puts the interests of his riders first."
 
Mattia Pasini: 
"I remember my time with Jorge with a lot of nostalgia - it was a very positive experience from a sporting perspective. I won two races with the Aspar Team and it could easily have been a lot more. We made a really strong team."

Aspar & Ducati confirmed - Alvaro Bautista as their rider?

Jorge Martínez "Aspar" will finally move his World Championship project up to MotoGP in 2010, courtesy of a deal with Ducati confirmed on Saturday at Donington Park. After three years of negotiating with various factories, an agreement has been struck for an ambitious stay in the premier class.

“It seems that after three years we are finally able to achieve our dream of presenting a MotoGP project. It’s been three years of fighting and looking for the best option and, after sounding out various factories, we have finally reached an agreement with Ducati,” declared Aspar at the British track. “I hope that this will be a fruitful arrangement that will continue in the long term. In theory we will have one rider in 2010, with the idea being to expand to two in 2011.”

The Aspar Team will be present in all three categories of the World Championship, with the MotoGP team joining 125cc and Moto2 squads.

“Our goal is primarily to grow strong in MotoGP from a technical viewpoint. We will continue with the 125cc team and compete in the Moto2 class, so we feel that this is a big step for the whole team. Today the big news is that we are moving up to MotoGP with Ducati, so the second thing that we have to do is confirm a rider. We hope to be able to do this by the time we get to Brno,” added the former three-time lower cylinder category World Champion, who was clear on his preferred choice for the available spot.

”It would be great to convince Álvaro Bautista to come up with us and he is our first option for the MotoGP team. He has been with us for a long time, winning a 125cc World Championship and finishing second in 250cc, so it would be great for him to continue with us,” he stated, referring to the rider currently involved in the 250cc title fight.

Source: motogp.com

British GP, Donington: Post-Qualifying Team Quotes

250cc

5th Mike Di Meglio 1.32.643 (22 laps):
"I am really happy to be starting from the front of the second row. Obviously I would have preferred to be on the front row but considering how the session went this is a good result. My pace is good and the Aprilia is working perfectly, so I'm in good shape for my 100th Grand Prix. I will try and stay focused on getting a good start in the race and following the leade group. Hopefully I can learn from the mistakes I've mad in other races, continue learning and pick up as many points as possible. My objective was to qualify as high up the grid as possible and I think we've done that - we just have to cap it off tomorrow with a good performance. I have done a lot of laps on used tyres here and my feeling could not be better."

6th Álvaro Bautista 1.32.664 (23 laps):
"I feel a little better now than I did this morning. I was struggling in free practice after the crash because the elbow was swollen and sore but it has gone down now and I feel better. I was still struggling to turn the bike under heavy braking but I hope to be better tomorrow. It looks like it could be a wet race which isn't nice for anybody, especially with the low grip levels here, but even so we will try and leave Donington with as many points as possible. The objective is to get a good start and stick with the front group, which will be important from the second row. I could have gone a little faster towards the end of the session but I ran into traffic."

22nd Balázs Németh 1.36.202 (20 laps):
"I took some painkillers this morning and they seemed to do the job. I felt much better on the bike although I am still struggling in the direction changes, especially the left-handers, where I don't have as much confidence as I would like. In any case today was much better than yesterday and I am happy with the result. We have improved our lap times and as long as the hand doesn't play up I should have a good race. I felt comfortable on the bike at the start of qualifying but it got harder to stay in control of my Aprilia as time went on. Hopefully I can give it my best shot tomorrow and maybe even challenge for points."



125cc

1st Bradley Smith 1.37.442 (21 laps):
"That was a fantastic qualifying session for me - I felt like I had it under control all the way through and the bike was working perfectly. My confidence picked up as the laps went by and I was able to go faster and faster. I don't think we could ask for much more at the moment - just for the weekend to end successfully tomorrow! Whatever happens I have to stay focused because the points don't get dished out until tomorrow and that is when you've got to really produce the goods. The bike is more or less ready and we don't need to change anything before the race. Hopefully the weather is on our side and we have a dry race. It is important for us to get a good result tomorrow to keep our championship chances intact."

3rd Julián Simón 1.37.749 (14 laps):
"The conditions weren't ideal yesterday but I felt comfortable on my Aprilia this morning and my pace was pretty good. I was really hoping to fight for pole this afternoon and went out strong from the start. I was getting a lot of rebound from the front end and I crashed on my second lap but thanks to the work of the team I was able to get back on track quickly. I tried to take things more calmly from then because I didn't want to crash again and the track was a little dirty. I wasn't taking any risks and considering I crashed I am happy to have qualified third. We're not as clear about tomorrow as we were in Germany but we have a few things in mind that we think can help us set a good pace. There are a lot of riders capable of running up front so it will be important to start well."

4th Sergio Gadea 1.37.849 (17 laps):
"I'm really happy with the result because we had a gearbox problem at the start but once again the mechanics did a great job and we went into the final ten minutes of the session with a chance of fighting for pole. I pushed hard for a good time on the last couple of laps but ran into traffic and couldn't go any faster than a 37.8. The set-up should be good for the race and we're ready for rain or shine."

British GP, Donington: 250cc Qualifying

Pos | Rider | Bike | Time | Laps
1. Hector Barbera Aprilia 1m31.802s 24
2. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 1m31.894s + 0.092s 20
3. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 1m32.055s + 0.253s 21
4. Alex Debon Aprilia 1m32.268s + 0.466s 21
5. Mike Di Meglio Aprilia 1m32.643s + 0.841s 22
6. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1m32.664s + 0.862s 23
7. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 1m32.883s + 1.081s 18
8. R.Wilairot Honda 1m33.046s + 1.244s 21
9. Karel Abraham Aprilia 1m33.145s + 1.343s 22
10. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 1m33.203s + 1.401s 20
11. Raffaele De Rosa Honda 1m33.218s + 1.416s 24
12. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 1m33.360s + 1.558s 17
13. R.Locatelli Gilera 1m33.405s + 1.603s 22
14. Hector Faubel Honda 1m33.503s + 1.701s 22
15. Jules Cluzel Aprilia 1m33.622s + 1.820s 20
16. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 1m33.768s + 1.966s 20
17. Shoya Tomizawa Honda 1m33.901s + 2.099s 22
18. Imre Toth Aprilia 1m34.661s + 2.859s 21
19. Axel Pons Aprilia 1m35.351s + 3.549s 23
20. Ralf Waldmann Aprilia 1m35.408s + 3.606s 21
21. Valentin Debise Honda 1m35.600s + 3.798s 23
22. Balazs Nemeth Aprilia 1m36.202s + 4.400s 20
23. Bastien Chesaux Honda 1m36.309s + 4.507s 22
24. Luke Mossey Aprilia 1m37.227s + 5.425s 20
- Aitor Rodriguez Aprilia 1m38.638s + 6.836s 14
- Alex Kenchington Yamaha 1m38.657s + 6.855s 23
- Robin Halen Aprilia 1m41.680s + 9.878s 19

British GP, Donington: 125cc Qualifying

Pos | Rider | Bike | Time | Laps
1. Bradley Smith Aprilia 1m37.442s 21
2. Marc Marquez KTM 1m37.573s + 0.131s 21
3. Julian Simon Aprilia 1m37.749s + 0.307s 14
4. Sergio Gadea Aprilia 1m37.849s + 0.407s 17
5. Joan Olive Derbi 1m37.874s + 0.432s 21
6. Nicolas Terol Aprilia 1m37.989s + 0.547s 19
7. Pol Espargaro Derbi 1m38.117s + 0.675s 20
8. Sandro Cortese Derbi 1m38.367s + 0.925s 19
9. Esteve Rabat Aprilia 1m38.471s + 1.029s 17
10. Andrea Iannone Aprilia 1m38.484s + 1.042s 15
11. Scott Redding Aprilia 1m38.501s + 1.059s 20
12. Simone Corsi Aprilia 1m38.501s + 1.059s 21
13. Stefan Bradl Aprilia 1m38.555s + 1.113s 21
14. Daniel Webb Aprilia 1m38.570s + 1.128s 19
15. Jonas Folger Aprilia 1m38.848s + 1.406s 20
16. Efren Vazquez Derbi 1m38.879s + 1.437s 20
17. Michael Ranseder Aprilia 1m39.081s + 1.639s 18
18. D.Agerter Derbi 1m39.189s + 1.747s 21
19. Tomoyoshi Koyama Loncin 1m39.366s + 1.924s 20
20. Takaaki Nakagami Aprilia 1m39.393s + 1.951s 17
21. R.Krummenacher Aprilia 1m39.401s + 1.959s 18
22. Lorenzo Zanetti Aprilia 1m39.407s + 1.965s 18
23. Johann Zarco Aprilia 1m39.533s + 2.091s 18
24. Luis Salom Aprilia 1m40.342s + 2.900s 20
25. Jasper Iwema Honda 1m40.382s + 2.940s 21
26. Lorenzo Savadori Aprilia 1m40.456s + 3.014s 20
27. Cameron Beaubier KTM 1m40.509s + 3.067s 17
28. Alexis Masbou Loncin 1m41.086s + 3.644s 15
29. Karel Pesek Derbi 1m41.129s + 3.687s 20
30. James Lodge Honda 1m41.571s + 4.129s 19
31. Martin Glossop Honda 1m41.778s + 4.336s 20
32. Lukas Sembera Aprilia 1m42.080s + 4.638s 19
33. Luca Marconi Aprilia 1m42.426s + 4.984s 10
34. Tim Hastings Honda 1m42.473s + 5.031s 19
35. Paul Jordan Honda 1m43.393s + 5.951s 16
36. Luca Vitali Aprilia 1m45.081s + 7.639s 4

Exclusive Bradley Smith Interview

In this exclusive interview, superfit superBrit Bradley Smith talks to Team Aspar about his health and fitness regime and how he stays in such phenomenal shape for such a demanding sport...


With preseason and the season itself we're talking about ten months of intense activity. Do you have a long-term training plan?
In preseason I do basic training, in other words long but intense continuous sessions with a low but progressive heart rate. Normally when we start competing in April or March I'm still not at 100%. It is a long season and you have to find a level that won't leave you too tired over the final races, which are demanding because of the travelling and the conditions. So basically I step up the intensity through the season up to August. Then I have a rest to make sure I look after myself and make it to the end of the season in the best shape possible. June, July and August are the months where I hit my peak and I maintain that to the end of the season.
 
Do you do any kind of specific training during a Grand Prix weekend?      
To be honest no, although I usually train the same for the first three days of a Grand Prix week as I do in a normal week. For example on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I do swimming, cycling and running and then when I get to a circuit on a Thursday I do a few laps of the track either on my pushbike or on foot. Obviously the intensity is much lower because you're trying to save energy for the weekend but I don't stop training altogether. Once the Grand Prix gets started, I spend fifteen minutes maximum warming up on a stationary bike before each practice and the race. I also do ten minutes as a warm down after the race to loosen and stretch the muscles. I also eat recovery food and hydrate a lot. It is very important to recover quickly, especially when you have back-to-back races, and to keep your immune system strong to avoid any kind of illness or infection that could affect performance.
           
Do you need a special diet to go along with your training programme?
My personal trainer takes charge of everything to do with training, nutrition and of course rest. I also have a sponsor that provides me with all the supplements I need for my programme. At home I have quite a strange diet because on one hand I need enough energy to train but at the same time I have to be careful not to get too heavy for a 125. I don't eat any junk food and not much red meat - it's mainly white meat, fish and salads as well as carbohydrates like pasta. I rarely take in more than 2500 calories a day.
 
How and when did you meet your personal trainer?
We met at the end of 2007. It was the end of my time with the Repsol team and a friend recommended that I go and see Mark and after talking to him for five minutes I knew he had to train me. He has the experience and knowledge to turn me into a true athlete. He competes in a lot of triathlons and Ironman contests, which is a long-distance triathlon. It was a little bit tricky at the start for him to understand the dynamics of a motorcycle racer. Basically his training method is based around the prevention of illness and injury. If you train too hard you can tire yourself out and you have to stop, which hinders your development. If you train constantly at 80% your physical fitness will constantly increase. Personally I think every rider should have a personal trainer to organise their training, nutrition, etc. As a rider this is my job and I have to work constantly on achieving the maximum I can - it is my responsibility to my sponsors and to myself.
 
It sounds like the triathlon forms the basis of your training...?
Yes, I love all three disciplines and it's also a good way to completely disconnect from MotoGP. Between January and November I spend a lot of time riding motorcycles and even though we're not racing every weekend it is a long season. Triathlon is kind of an escape route for me and it came into my life thanks to Mark. It's wonderful sport, full of optimism, where everybody enjoys themselves a lot in the races and where you can be competitive at any level. To race in 125s the only training I do other than cycling, running and swimming is core training and stretching. When you're on the bike you need a strong core and arms to put up with the stress and the weight transfer. I spend an hour, two or three times a week, using a basic gym ball. Working with Mark we try to replicate the positions I get into on the bike. Occasionally I ride motocross or supermoto but during the season I do enough riding at the GPs.
 
I suppose the British weather has an effect on your training?
This year was the first time I spent a long time out of England to train and I think it worked out really well. At the beginning of winter I spent six weeks in Barcelona and in all that time it rained three or four times, whilst in England if you're lucky you get three or four days of sunshine! We get wind, snow and even hail and it is difficult to train, as well as being dangerous, whilst in Barcelona I was able to make the most of those six weeks and train in safety. Next winter I'll be back in Spain for my preseason training but I'd also like to try cross-country skiing - we just have to work out where.
 
Do you ever take time out for a break?
Yeah of course - usually once a week or every fortnight I take a day out to completely relax, recover and recharge my batteries. But I don't like to be doing nothing - I like to be busy all the time.
 
What about holidays?
Not during the season. If I go on holiday it's at the end of the year with the family, in November or December. I take a week off over Christmas doing absolutely nothing and allowing myself some of the 'sins' I miss out on the rest of the year. But I still spend 50 or 51 weeks of the year concentrating on my training and absolutely dedicated to racing motorcycles.
 
Do you think so much preparation is necessary or is it just part of your winning character?
I always want to be at the maximum level that my body and mind will allow, I am a very competitive person. As far as racing is concerned, I don't want my body to ever get in the way of me winning. I don't ever want to feel like I could have done better in a race if only I was a bit fitter. In 125 perhaps so much training isn't necessary but my attitude is to do everything I can to win. Suffering through training is fundamental for me and I think you need to suffer to maintain your hunger and a winning mentality.
 
How do you deal with the jetlag in Australia, the heat in Malaysia and racing at night in Qatar?
For Qatar I started incorporating training sessions at 8pm for a couple of weeks before the race, so I am used to being active at a time that is normally reserved for rest. For Malaysia I train inside a cabin that has heat and humidity control. It is a bit like a sauna but not as hot and you can regulate the temperature. As far as jetlag is concerned there's not much you can do about it - if you start to feel it I think the best option is not to worry about it and just sit up in bed reading or watching television. If I get tired during the day I try and have a little nap if I can. Jetlag is something you can't predict so I suppose the only way to fight it is to stay awake and get tired!


Surce: Aspar Media

The Team's Quotes Ahead Of Donington

250cc

Álvaro Bautista:
"Donington is a circuit I love and I had a great race there last year, despite another rider making what you could call an unorthodox pass on me at the end! Anyway, this is another year and I think things have changed for the better. We're up there and we're prepared to go head to head with anybody in any race. We're doing our job well at every circuit and the fiasco at Assen aside our hard work is paying off. Let's hope that nothing weird happens this weekend, that the weather is on our side, even though it could easily rain on at least one of the days, so that we can have another nice battle like the one for third place on Sunday - except this time over full distance!"

Mike Di Meglio:
"It was a shame not to round off the German Grand Prix with a good result but that is water under the bridge and now I just want to focus on finishing the race at Donington as high up the order as possible. I love the track and I'm going to work really hard over the two days of practice to qualify up near the front. Starting from tenth place, like at Sachsenring, limits you a lot because you have to take a lot of risks to make up positions and you use up your tyres too quickly. So my objective is to get a good grid position and run in the front group. Why not? For one reason or another I haven't performed at my best level for a while so now is the time to put things right."

Balázs Németh:
"I am really excited about returning to Grand Prix action at Donington this weekend. I have worked very hard on my rehabilitation programme since the injury to be ready as soon as possible. There have been some difficult moments since the operation. Unlike a lot of the other circuits on the World Championship calendar where I have never raced before I have been to Donington a couple of times and I suppose that will be an advantage. On both occasions that I have raced there it has rained so hopefully this Sunday will be different."



125cc

Julián Simón:
"The result at Sachsenring was magnificent and I think we deserved another win. Now we have to keep going like this, picking up podiums and fighting for wins in as many races as we can. It is still too early to think about it but the basic necessity in fighting for the title is to be consistent. Now we go to Donington, a circuit I love and where I scored my first ever win. Like Sachsenring it is a track I know I can do well at because it suits my riding style so we have to make the most of this opportunity and head into the summer break with an even bigger lead in the championship if possible. It would be wonderful to string two wins together. My first win here in 2005 was in heavy rain so hopefully on Sunday I can repeat the result in the dry! The team is working perfectly at every Grand Prix and I'm sure this one will be no different. Fortunately now we have a little more breathing space in the championship but we cannot afford to relax."

Sergio Gadea:
"Whilst I went to Germany with my mind set on a good result, my motivation for Donington, a circuit I like much more, is even higher. Either way, the team and myself are doing a good job and luck has been on our side so far, so I don't think there are circuits that are more favourable than others. We just have to stay focused on our job and I'm sure we'll be back up there again on Sunday. It will be tough because Julián is extremely strong in every session and race at the moment but we have to try and keep pace with him. It could easily rain at Donington but we have no need to worry about that because we've already shown this season that we can also be really fast in the wet. The objective, as always, will be to finish as high up as we can and not worry about the result."

Bradley Smith:
"I can't wait to get to my home race at Donington. The problems in Germany are behind us now and I'm only concentrating on recovering as many points as I can and putting on a good performance for the British fans. The crash at Sachsenring was disappointing but now we go to a circuit I love and where I know I can go fast from the start of the Grand Prix on Friday. Donington Park is a really fun circuit -my favourite section is probably the first few corners, with the downhill drop through Craner Curves. I am particularly fired up for this one and I want to score a good result for my fans so that I can head into the holidays on a high."

German GP, Sachsenring: Team Post-Race Quotes

250cc

3rd Álvaro Bautista:
"With the worn tyre I could still feel very comfortable, but I had an early problem. The bike was sliding about and I couldn't feel at ease riding, so I had to regain my feeling step by step. I wasn't fully comfortable until the middle of the race; when I caught up with Barberá I saw that he was going faster than me, I decided to let him take me up to the front. When we got to Hiroshi and Faubel It was difficult to pass because of Aoyama's late braking, and there were only a couple of places at which I knew that I could pass him. I tried to overtake with two laps to go, but I saw a yellow flag and couldn't make the move. I got through later on and saw Álex ahead, and knew that catching him would be tough. I was with him on the last lap, but a move would have been risking things. Third is a good result, and Aoyama finished behind me which is important for the title fight."
 
Mike Di Meglio (DNF):
"At the start of the race I felt very comfortable and I made a quick start. From then on I was right behind the trailing pack and started to feel the front end moving around on the corners. I tried to ride around it, with the majority of my weight on the rear, but it was tough keeping my pace up. I tried to overtake Faubel and lost some time there too. The crash was truly unexpected, as the front seized up and I couldn't do anything. When I tried to rejoin the race the handlebars were too twisted to carry on. It's a pity and I'm annoyed more than at any other race, after working so well throughout the weekend and not being able to cap it off with a good result."

7th Aleix Espargaró:
"All weekend we'd gone well, and I think that today I could have fought with the front riders. When we were on the grid and the race had been declared wet I saw that there was nothing to lose, so I put on the slick rear and mixed front tyre to see what would happen. At the start of the race it was hard to keep up, because the bike was closing up in front. Lap by lap I picked up my pace and confidence, however, and at the end I was riding quickly. I was enjoying the ride, but I think that we should have gone with slicks on both the front and rear. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, because I think that we could have done even better. In any case, now is not the time for regret."



125cc

1st Julián Simón:
"I would say that today couldn't have gone any better. The only better feeling would be to win the World Championship I suppose. It has been an excellent weekend, as I was on top for every session and showed how well we are working. Today the key was the start, and I took off much better than in other races. I had a strong pace and nobody could catch me. It was a race like that in France from then on, as I had phenomenal guidance from my team and just had to concentrate. We just needed to keep up the same pace. I am very happy about the win, and when I crossed the line I made sure to keep on the gas and look behind me to avoid any surprises. We hadn't won since France, so this win is further motivation. Now we go to Donington, where I took my first win and hope for another good result." 
 
2nd Sergio Gadea:
"Last night I prayed for a dry race, and I was in luck. I knew that I could be up at the front in the right conditions, but I knew that Julián had the same pace as I did. That is why he could keep the advantage in the race. He started strong and was impossible to catch. After winning in Assen, second place here is perfect and I'm satisfied. I saw the chance to catch Simón was too risky, so I settled for second and can be happy with the fabulous job that the team did. It is early to think about the championship, but we are going nearly perfect this year. I just have to carry on trying to get the maximum amount of points possible."
 
Bradley Smith (DNF):
"It seems like I shouldn't have got out of bed this morning. It is disappointing that I had such a good weekend end like this, but I think that the warmup crash affected us. I don't think that the front tyre had got up to temperature. That's why I got the feeling that I was running off track at every corner. The first crash was a blow to morale, and the second was a hit from behind that I couldn't do anything about. We just have to move on and concentrate on the next race in Donington, making sure that we are ready to regain points."