Valencia Test, Day 1

With rain, strong winds and cold temperatures, the first day of testing at the Valencian Circuit had far from perfect conditions and therefore many riders decided not to go out on track. Only 11 regular riders from the 125cc and 250cc class left their warm boxes with a transponder on their bike and joined the 14 riders from the Italian and Spanish national championships. Some riders like Stefan Bradl, Dominique Aegerter and Bastien Chesaux went out on track, but without a transponder.
With only four 250cc riders testing with a transponder Mapfre Aspar rider Alvaro Bautista posted once again the fastest laptimes of the day, over 1,3 seconds ahead of second placed Hector Faubel on the Thai Honda. But with the bad weather condidtions Bautista's 1:48.269 was still a good 15 seconds slower than the record lap from last year's race.

Fastest regular 125cc contestant was again Bancaja Aspar rider Julian Simon, but ahead of him CEV rider Alberto Moncayo put in a few fast laps at the end and with a 1:52.064 he finished as the fastest overall 125cc rider of the day.

Results Live Timing:

250cc
1. Alvaro Bautista 1:48.269
2. Hector Faubel 1:49.624
3. Gabor Talmacsi 1:49.788
4. Alex Baldolini 1:50.981

125cc
1. Julian Simon 1:53.081
2. Tito Rabat 1:53.695
3. Scott Redding 1:54.217
4. Johan Zarco 1:57.105
5. Marc Marquez 2:01.195
6. Cameron Beaubier 2:01.841
7. Sergio Gadea 2:05.808

Screenshot Live Timing Result

Team Aspar at FITUR

As reported earlier, several members of Team Aspar visited the FITUR tourism fair in Madrid yesterday. Jorge Martinez, Sergio Gadea, Bradley Smith and Alvaro Bautista started their visit at the stand of sponsor Comunidad Valenciana where they met a few other sport stars. Alvaro Bautistaand tennis star David Ferrer fought a match of Wii tennis while Sergio Gadea and Bradley Smith enjoyed a round of virtual golf.
Afterwards the team spent some time at the stand of rental car sponsor Sol-Mar and signed autographs for all attending fans.


Jorge Martinez: "It is always an honor for and for the equipment to be able to thank our sponsors in some way for all the support. Due to schedules and travels it is often difficult for us to go to many events, so to be here today was a great idea."

Alvaro Bautista: “What better way to thank our sponsors for all the support than passing some of our free time with them. I believe that it is worth the trouble from time to time to make place for this type of events. And additionally I had a lot of playing with the Wii.”

Sergio Gadea: “It has been a very peculiar visit, I didn't expect to see so many people at such an event. This week is a little busy, because we come from the test in Jerez and this weekend we will be riding in Cheste, but it is always a pleasure to be able to share this type of event with our sponsors. I had fun playing the computer games and hope I'll be able to repeat the experience soon.”

Bradley Smith: “It has been very interesting to go to an event of this magnitude. It is totally new for me to attend something that big. Due to our work we travel much and we see a lot of things, but to see so many events at a fair like this one is really amazing. It is interesting to see how the world of tourism attracts a great market.”

Valencia Test - Entry List

With the preseason test in Jerez barely over and several members of Team Aspar being at the IFEMA Tourism Fair in Madrid yesterday, they have only little time to relax before the next test in Valencia this weekend.
The entry list confirms all Team Aspar riders to take part in the test plus several other riders who were also in Jerez or will test in Valencia for the first time this year. So far the following teams and riders are confirmed.

Team Aspar
Alvaro Bautista
Mike Di Meglio
Gabor Talmacsi
Julian Simon
Bradley Smith
Sergio Gadea
Adrian Martin (CEV)

Thai Honda
Ratthapark Wilairot
Hector Faubel

WTR
Alex Baldolini
Johann Zarco

Racing Team Germany
Bastien Chesaux

Scot Racing Honda
Hiroshi Aoyama
Raffaele De Rosa

Blusens Aprilia
Scott Redding
Tito Rabat
Maverick Viñales (CEV)
Johnny Rosell (CEV)
Manuel Oliveira (CEV)

Red Bull KTM
Marc Marquez
Cameron Beaubier

More riders are expected to be confirmed until the start of the test.

Jerez Test, Day 3 - Pictures

Team Aspar at IFEMA Fair in Madrid

Several riders of Team Aspar and Jorge Martinez will be present at the IFEMA Tourism Fair in Madrid today where they visit the stands of their sponsors Diputacion Valencia, Comunidad Valencia and Sol-Mar. Aspar, Sergio Gadea, Bradley Smith and Alvaro Bautista will start at the Diputacion Valencia stand on 10am and conclude their visit about 12pm on the Sol-Mar stand. On all stands they'll be signing autographs for everyone attending.

Jerez Test, Day 3 - Quotes 125cc

Julian Simón 1'47.125 (66 laps)
"Today we played a lot with the carburettor and have adjusted the bike to the maximum so that at the end of the day we were able to be very fast. I wasn't limited, but all day I lacked a little power. Later we tested some tires and with the last solution of the engine I think that I did a pretty good laptime. As a consequence of the many laps I did, I eventually got to the point where I was able to get the best out of the bike. I think that I would've been able to rider faster, because in my fastest lap I made some mistakes. But I am very satisfied with the result and I have to thank the mechanics and Aprilia for the fantastic work they have done."

Bradley Smith 1'47.807 (67)
"I am very content, because we have been over a second faster than yesterday. From the first day to the second we were a bit stuck and that cost us time to progress, but in the last two days we made a big step that makes me satisfied enough. We were able to ride consistently with all types of tires which shows that we are on a good way. I tested several settings for the suspension and with all of them we understood the performance of the bike. It seems that we have found a good way of work for the future. It is clear that our work isn't finish here and we have to continue improving, but the conclusion of these three days is very positive. I am very happy being able to return to racing and I hope that the time in Valencia will help us to continue with our work."

Sergio Gadea 1'48.929 (58)
"I finished the day more satisfied regarding the laptimes, but I'm not totally satisfied, because we still need to get on a little higher level. I think that we improved every day and the evolution has been remarkable. I was able to ride fast although I hope that in Valencia we can continue with this progression. We didn't make any great changes and focused more on riding to get a better feeling. The last session of today has been good although a mechanical failure of a connecting rod has prevented us from going a bit faster. The general feeling of the three days is satisfying, but now I only think about Valencia."

Jerez Test, Day 3 - Quotes 250cc

Álvaro Bautista 1'43.488 (53 laps)
"To be honest I didn't think that we would be so fast in these temperatures, but we have done a great job. Yesterday I was already satisfied to be within the 1'43 and today we just tested some small details to try and progress. We have discarded some things and the most important is than I feel very good on the bike, just as the previous days. I can also leave Jerez with a good feeling, because I was able to do laptimes under 1'44 all day and riding in record pace. These three days served the purpose of reunion and adaptation after two months without riding. We made full use of it and apart from that we have established some solutions for when the championship arrives, knowledge that can serve us every moment. I hope that this weekend in Valencia the good feeling will continue as it is now."

Mike Di Meglio 1'44.021 (40 laps)
I am really content, because I rode very well. I began this morning and in the sixth lap I was already as fast as yesterday. I felt very comfortable on the bike and quickly we got down to work to continue progressing. I did a 1'44.0, but soon I saw on the telemetry that it was a 1'43.9. I am very satisfied with the result and simultaneously disappointed, because in the end I thought I could go a little faster, but with the colder temperatures it wasn't possible. In any case I am convinced that with a little higher temperatures we would have continued riding fast. Now it is necessary to focus on Valencia and to build upon this good work we did."

Jerez Test, Day 3 - Laptimes

Once more the Team Aspar riders were the dominating force on the final day of the Jerez test. Both Alvaro Bautista and Julian Simon continued their strong form and finished on top in their classes, both also breaking the respective laprecord.
Testing continues for Team Aspar in Valencia later this week.

250cc

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) 1.43.488 (53 laps)
2. Mike Di Meglio (Aprilia) 1.44.021 (40)
3. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda) 1.44.264 (85)
4. GaborTalmacsi (Aprilia) 1.44.266 (48)
5. Tom Luthi (Aprilia) 1.44.418 (62)
6. Ratthapark Wilairot (Honda) 1.44.524 (70)
7. Lukas Pesek (Aprilia) 1.44.705 (33)
8. Raffaele De Rosa (Honda) 1.44.736 (51)
9. Hector Faubel (Honda) 1.45.252

125cc

1. Julián Simón (Aprilia) 1.47.125 (66 laps)
2. Bradley Smith (Aprilia) 1.47.807 (67)
3. Sandro Cortese (Derbi) 1.48.687 (61)
4. Marc Márquez (KTM) 1.48.895 (61)
5. Sergio Gadea (Aprilia) 1.48.929 (58)
6. Esteve Rabat (Aprilia) 1.49.143 (60)
7. Scott Redding (Aprilia) 1.49.170 (71)
8. Cameron Beaubier (KTM) 1.50.205 (68)
9. Dominique Aegerter (Derbi) 1.50.232 (55)

Jerez Test, Day 2 - Pictures

Jerez Test, Day 2 - Quotes 125cc

Julian Simón 1.47.908 (50 laps)
"It was a pretty positive day. We have continued adjusting the settings of the bike and tested many modifications on the front. We even tested two different forks. Dunlop has given us the opportunity to prove new tires, rear and front, and the result was very good, because I have lowerd my time from yesterday by almost a second. This is still far from the record, but considering that was quite cold, I am satisfied with the laptimes. The mechanics are working really well, so we enjoy a good moment of adaptation: them to me and me to them. Our goal is to continue this way to enjoy more and more racing."

Bradley Smith 1.48.863 (58 laps)
"Today has been a little more complicated. We worked with a lot of different setups for suspension as well as for the engine. And this work goes rather slow, you must take small steps to find the right direction. As far as the frame goes we are satisfied, but we can still improve slightly. I am content with the laptimes, because we improved enough compared to the first day, but we still have that big step left that we will surely find tomorrow. We know which direction to follow to understand everything. The conditions of the track have been quite similar to those of yesterday, but I think that tomorrow the laptimes will be a little better and we will be able to continue improving."

Sergio Gadea 1.49.976 (42 laps)
“To be honest I am way more satisfied than yesterday. We are still not at the maximum, but I lowered my laptime from 1'51 to 1'49. And the main thing is that it was important to find some answers to progress from. It is necessary to continue working, but it is very positive that we are now progressing with our work. It has been a long time for me where I didn't go very fast and consequently it takes me a while to get the right feeling back. In any case my goal is to work gradually, advancing slowly but surely getting stronger and certainly the results will come. We made a rather radical change concerning the chassis almost at the end of the session which worked very well for us. I want to do as good as possible during the time in Jerez and I know that we are here to test, so at the moment I'm not too obsessed with laptimes."

Jerez Test, Day 2 - Quotes 250cc

Alvaro Bautista 1.43.673 (54 laps)
"Today we tried to continue progressing with the front suspension. We tested several things, some we dropped and some we can use. I think that we did some good work and we have several options now to be used in the future. The most important thing of the day is that we progressed in terms of the feeling on the bike, because I felt very comfortable riding the bike. The main thing now is to get a good rythm and to continue enjoying riding the bike. The second day of testing we mainly worked with the frame, more than with the engine. With the work we've done today we have a good number of setup options that we can use during the championship, depending on the circuit."

Mike Di Meglio 1.44.468 (49 laps)
"I think today things have gone far better for us. I tried to go little by little, understanding the characteristics of the bike. And so we finished very well and I have improved my laptime over two seconds compared to yesterday. I felt very comfortable on the bike and I believe that this is really important in these moments of adaptation. I hope that tomorrow the conditions will improve and that I can continue to get a better feeling. At the beginning of the session I have did some laps to get an impression of the bike and when the laptimes were getting faster, we began working on the front. We need to improve the setting of the rear suspension a little, but the conclusion of the day is very positive. A day where we worked hard and always kept our focus in spite of not having experience with 250cc."

Jerez Test, Day 2 - Laptimes

Day 2 at the test in Jerez once again saw the Aspar riders dominating the field.
Mapfre Aspar rider Alvaro Bautista went considerably faster around the track than yesterday and came close to the lap record of the 2008 race. He was also the only rider to lap under 1'44 minutes and almost 0.6 seconds faster than Hiroshi Aoyama on the Scot Honda. 250cc rookies Gabor Talmacsi and Mike Di Meglio also improved their laptimes a lot - Di Meglio going about 2 seconds faster - and clocked the third and fourth fastest laptimes.

The 125cc field was lead again by Aspar riders Julian Simon and Bradley Smith while team veteran Sergio Gadea did good progress and finished fifth fastest of the day.

The test at Jerez will conclude tomorrow.

250cc

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) 1.43.673 (54 laps)
2. H. Aoyama (Honda) 1.44.201 (54)
3. Gabor Talmacsi (Aprilia) 1.44.387 (49)
4. Mike Di Meglio (Aprilia) 1.44.468 (49)
5. Thomas Luthi (Aprilia) 1.44.733 (79)
6. Raffaele De Rosa (Honda) 1.44.792 (51)
7. Ratthapark Wilairot (Honda) 1.45.112 (46)
8. Lukas Pesek (Aprilia) 1.45.135 (51)
9. Héctor Faubel (Honda) 1.48.083 (40)

125cc

1. Julián Simón (Aprilia) 1.47.908 (50 laps)
2. Bradley Smith (Aprilia) 1.48.863 (58)
3. Sandro Cortese (Derbi) 1.49.401 (18)
4. Marc Márquez (KTM) 1.49.491 (62)
5. Sergio Gadea (Aprilia) 1.49.976 (42)
6. Scott Redding (Aprilia) 1.50.219 (56)
7. Esteve Rabat (Aprilia) 1.50.429 (60)
8. Dominique Aegerter (Derbi) 1.50.559 (56)
9. Cameron Beaubier (KTM) 1.51.477

Jerez Test, Day 1 - Quotes 125cc

Julian Simón:
"After the last test in Valencia where we had very positive feelings, we can prove again that our readjustment to 125cc goes good. The work with the team is really good and generally the motorcycle works as it should. The laptimes are still far from the circuit record. But we have to consider that the temperature of the asphalt is not the best. This morning we tested some tires that we already had a chance to test in Valencia and this proves our progress. Looking at the work ahead, the idea is to continue progressing throughout the test and we hope that tomorrow the weather conditions will improve, so that the laptimes will be faster. Personally I think that the new asphalt has a lot of grip and also eliminated all the waves of the track."

Bradley Smith:
"It was fantastic to ride a bike again. The first few laps have been incredible although after this long testing ban it felt a bit strange at the beginning. You have to readapt your body and your mind to the feeling of speed. But it was a very positive day and we have progressed step by step. The idea was to get the feeling back and lay out a work plan for the rest of the test, to assure that these days are productive. Without the waves the track seems way better and I suppose that with more and more laps the grip will increase. The wind made me cautious, mainly in the fast corners. In general the conditions of our first day have been very good."

Sergio Gadea:
"After two months I got back to action very motivated, but the laptimes weren't as good as we hoped. We have tested many things on the bike and I finished with a setup that I like much, but on the other hand we are very slow at the entry of the corners. The bike gives me a feeling of slowness and I can't take it where I like. It has been a long time without riding, but this winter I'm preparing and training more than ever, so that the physical condition doesn't limit me when it's time to improve. The tests are for working, so at the moment we focus on progressing from the start to be ready at the beginning of the championship. In general the power of the bike has been very regular and I am very satisfied."

Jerez Test, Day 1 - Quotes 250cc

Alvaro Bautista:
"This test serves us to remove the spiderwebs that have developed during the winter without getting on the bike, to get some experience and to recover the feeling for the bike. Personally I did very well, we have done many laps and progressively they have been faster and faster. I finish this first day with a very good feeling, that is the most important. The new asphalt has eliminated all the waves on the track although the cold temperatures today didn’t let us draw exact conclusions; in any case, the fact that the track is now more even is already an advantage. The electrical part of the Aprilia seems to work well and, as far as suspensions, we have been limited to compare the setting of the race last year with the evolution at the end of season. We noticed some improvement. We did some great work and it is necessary to continue progressing that way."

Mike Di Meglio:
"We didn’t begin the test as we wanted. This morning I did some laps to get used to it again and later I tried to get into a rhythm, but I crashed after the first few turns. I lost the front and left the track and that made me lose a little confidence. Luckily, I could return to the box and the mechanics have been with me to help me get the motivation back. Little by little I felt better and we have been able to complete a good day, but I believe that I still didn’t have a feeling of 100%, therefore I couldn’t improve the bike as I wanted. Tomorrow I will try to begin calmer and go from little to more. I’m satisfied with the final result of this first day, although without the crash we would have progressed more."

Gábor Talmacsi:
"I believe that today I had the best feeling on the 250 bike since I changed the class. We have not reached the maximum, but we didn’t have any incident and that is something very positive. We didn’t test anything special, we just went out to get a feeling for the bike. The motor of the Aprilia worked good although we can still improve it. The weather conditions have worsened again and I thought that it was dangerous to remain on track, so shortly before 5pm we have finished the day. My goal is to evolve properly, without going beyond the limit, because a stupid crash right now would be a throwback for us."

Jerez Test, Day 1 - Pictures

Jerez Test, Day 1 - Laptimes

On the first day of the first preseason test of 2009 the Team Aspar riders clearly dominated the field.
While the new additions Julian Simon and Bradley Smith were fastest and second-fastest of the 125cc riders, Alvaro Bautista was fastest of the 250cc field and also the rider with the most lap on the track.

125cc:

1. Julian Simon (Aprilia) 1.48.875 (44 laps)
2. Bradley Smith (Aprilia) 1.49.313 (48 laps)
3. Marc Marquez (KTM) 1.50.300 (38 laps)
4. Sandro Cortese (Derbi) 1.50.710
5. Scott Redding (Aprilia) 1.50.834 (41 laps)
6. Sergio Gadea (Aprilia) 1.51.115 (33 laps)
7. Esteve Rabat (Aprilia) 1.51.891 (26 laps)
8. Dominique Aegerter (Derbi) 1.52.204 (15 laps)
9. Cameron Beaubier (KTM) 1.52.598

250cc:

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) 1.44.351 (61 laps)
2. Thomas Luthi (Aprilia) 1.44.675 (46 laps)
3. Ratthapark Wilairot (Honda) 1.44.928 (41 laps)
4. H. Aoyama (Honda) 1.44.978 (56 laps)
5. Gabor Talmacsi (Aprilia) 1.45.361 (44 laps)
6. Mike Di Meglio (Aprilia) 1.46.358 (39 laps)
7. Raffaele De Rosa (Honda) 1.46.425 (49 laps)
8. Lukas Pesek (Aprilia) 1.46.500 (34 laps)

Jerez Test, Entry List

The entry list for the 125cc and 250cc test in Jerez makes for an interesting read with some previously unknown teams and riders on the list. As we reported, Team Aspar is present with all riders and will test for all three days until Wednesday.

ASPAR TEAM
Julián Simón 125cc
Sergio Gadea
Bradley Smith
Alvaro Bautista 250cc
Mike di Meglio
Gabor Talmacsi

WRB-PONS
Simone Corsi 125cc
Nico Terol
Héctor Barberá 250cc
Axel Pons

RED BULL KTM
Marc Márquez 125cc
Cameron Beaubier

BLUSENS APRILIA
Scott Redding 125cc
Tito Rabat
Maverick Viñales
Miguel Oliveria
Johnny Rosell

CBC CORSE
Marco Ravaioli 125cc
Stefano Bianco

JPG RACING TEAM
Alejandro Tonucci 125cc
Armando Pontone
Sabatino Gennaro
Luigi Morciano

WRT TEAM
Johann Zarco 125cc
Alex Baldolini 250cc

THAI HONDA PTT
Héctor Faubel 250cc
Rathapark Wilairot

CAFFE LATTE
Thomas Luthi 250cc
Lukas Pesek

SCOT RACING
Rafaele de Rosa 250cc
Hiroshi Aoyama

AJO MOTORSPORT
Dominique Aegerter 125cc
Sandro Cortese

Team Aspar returns to track at Jerez Test

The complete Team Aspar will be back in action next week to prepare for the 2009 season. From Monday the 26th until Wednesday the 28th, the 125cc and 250cc squads will participate in the official test at Jerez.
Alvaro Bautista will be joined in the 250cc box by 125cc world champion Mike Di Meglio while Gabor Talmacsi is starting the 2009 season in the Aspar Balatonring outfit.
The 125cc team will also be present in full. Team veteran Sergio Gadea and the new additions Bradley Smith and Julian Simon will look to improve their bike setup since the first test in Valencia last November.

Other confirmed riders for the test session at Jerez include Tom Lüthi, Hiroshi Aoyama, Raffaele de Rosa, Hector Faubel, Ratthapart Wilairot, Alex Baldolini, Lukas Pesek, Dominique Aegerter and Sandro Cortese.

Definitely no Aspar Kawasaki

As expected there will be no Aspar Team in the MotoGP class this season, following the withdrawal of Kawasaki. Jorge Martinez confirmed in the Spanish magazine Motociclismo that there will definitely be no green Aspar Team this season. The negotiations with the company fell short when it became clear that Kawasaki would not be able to provide Aspar with the necessary long-term support he requested.
The potential rescue of the team now lies in the hands of team boss Michael Bartholemy who is currently in Japan, trying to sort out an agreement with the company to run the bikes during the 2009 season.

Interview Alvaro Bautista

“When we begin this year regularly, even when we don't win, little by little we will have the confidence to go ahead."

Season 2008 is over and now new intentions arise and work begins so that future goals can be fulfilled. Alvaro Bautista dismissed the past year, working with the look towards 2009 at the test in Cheste. In this interview the Mapfre rider comments on the last sensations of the year on board of the Aprilia RSA, reviews the second place in the 2008 championship and sets the goals for the next season.

1) -What was the biggest development you worked on during the November test?
We were working to make the new electrical part that Aprilia has developed working correctly. We really got a lot of work done, facing the first test of January.

2) – Another important test?
We work with diverse modifications on the front fork and established a good base for future work. As a result of those modifications - focused in the settings of valves and suspension - we discovered more configurations that we can work with during the year, based on the exigencies of each circuit. Basically those were our important tasks: the electrical part and the modifications on the front suspension.


3) - Before thinking about the next season, can you give a review of 2008?
It was a complicated year in which there was a lot of expectation in the preseason, and in the first races, due to diverse circumstances, we did not finish with the results we deserved; in spite of being always ahead in the training. From the race of Barcelona onwards everything was better, and we got ten consecutive podium positions. But all throughout the season we had to push and work our way through, due the disadvantage of points in the classification. The motivation was not lost at any moment, but we couldn’t risk anything since we could never allow us the luxury to lose a point more. It was a year of tension in which I have learned a lot, because I believe that the bad moments are the ones when you gain more experience and get stronger.

4) - With a fabulous finish of the season, what do you think can be improved compared to the last season?
If we had started well, certainly the confidence would have given us the opportunity to risk a little more. If this year we begin more regular, even when we do not win, little by little we will have the confidence necessary to beat our rivals. We must try to be ahead, stay calm and count on the luck that we did not have last year. The championship is very long and it is necessary to try and be as close as possible to the first positions in the middle of the season.

5) –How was your first contact with the new signing of the Aspar Team, Mike Di Meglio?
Well, he is a rider who comes from being World Champion in 125cc and I believe that he will be very strong mentally. To be honest I haven’t had much contact with him yet, because we have only met in Cheste. He seems very focused on his work, somebody who does not worry what others do and does not care about unimportant comparisons. I believe that when he follows this way he is a very good companion. Personally I like doing my work without thinking about what happens around me, so I am convinced that with Mike we will have a good atmosphere.

6) –Do you think that he will adapt as easily as you did after being World Champion?
I believe that when you move up a category being World Champion you have another mentality. You are conscious that you can go fast and that gives you the confidence to progress. Even though in the first training he didn’t have overly remarkable laptimes, it is still long before the first race and I believe that when he finds his place in 250cc he will be a very competitive ride who you will have to watch out for.

7) -What did you do on Christmas?
I have spend the time with my friends and my family. I have also done some commitments for my sponsors. I have enjoyed, but without forgetting to train, getting a little bigger/getting heavier.
The most important thing is than I have been able to disconnect, to get a little distance and to turn the page, to be mentally stronger this New Year.

8) -How are the preparations for the first race of the season?
Nothing special, more or less as I prepared in the past seasons as well. When you have a certain consistency it is not necessary to give excessive importance to the physical training. The really important thing is to get a good setting with the motorcycle so that when you go to the races you have maximum confidence. Physically I’ve done very well last year, I did not have any problems, so I go with the same routine. If it worked for us: why change?

9) -How do you see the next season?
I believe that it will be a difficult season like the last one, among other things because the title holder of the category continues. And although Kallio has moved up to MotoGP, there are many other riders who will be at a very high level. I approach the season with the wish to enjoy it and the hope that luck will be on our side this time.

10) -A wish for season 2009?
My wish on the sport level is to be able to enjoy riding the bike and to ride as I like. I believe that when we work hard, the results will come.

11) -And goals?
In 2008 we were runner-up, therefore my goal for the next season is to be champion. The rider who defends the championship is the one who takes number one and we will fight to take it from him.

Source: Interview in Spanish original

No Aspar Kawasaki Team in 2009

Kawasaki has now officialy announced its withdrawal from the MotoGP class as a factory.
However, there will still be Kawasakis on the grid in 2009. But differently to what was previously assumed, Jorge Martinez will not take over the team from Kawasaki and make it into a MotoGP Aspar Team. Martinez stated earlier that he will not participate in the project at all cost and that he wanted to stay in the class for at least three years and with a development guarantee from the factory. It seems that Kawasaki was not willing or able to provide that and instead current competition manager Michael Bartholemy will run the team in 2009 with Kawasaki ZX-RRs, together with a guarantee of spare parts and a maintenance agreement.
This way there are again 19 bikes on the grid next season, but with Jorge Martinez out of the picture. With an uncompetitive Kawasaki not an option anymore for 2010, Martinez will continue talks with other factories in order to get one or two MotoGP bikes the following season.

Update: Aspar in MotoGP 2009

After a few uncertain weeks filled with lots of discussions since the shock announcement of Kawasaki's potential withdrawal from the MotoGP class, Jorge Martinez seems to have a emerged from the crowd as the potential saviour of the entire class.
The head of the highly successful Aspar Team admitted that he was very interested in the project, but will not do it at any cost. A crisis meeting of Carmelo Ezpeleta with representatives of Kawasaki and the MSMA is still going on in Japan, but Martinez seems to be optimistic about the project and stated his own terms for the project.
Autosport.com reports:

Aspar team boss Jorge Martinez says he wants a long-term deal to run Kawasakis rather than just a short term fix to ensure a full MotoGP grid in 2009.

Kawasaki is set to pull out of MotoGP as a factory entrant, and has entered talks with Martinez with a view to the Aspar team running its ex-works bikes this season, which would keep the championship field at 19 bikes. Withdrawing from MotoGP would also leave Kawasaki liable to pay penalty costs to the series organisers.

Martinez said he was still waiting for more information from Kawasaki, but that his preference was to run a two-bike team for an initial three-year period.
"I offered my help to find a solution for Kawasaki, but up to now they haven't come up to me with any precise proposal, including details," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I'd prefer to have two riders, but if it was to be just one for the first year, I'd accept that.
"What's clear is that I'm not interested in a project limited to just this year: I want a programme for at least three years."

The Aspar team came close to a deal to run a satellite Kawasaki this season, but discussions reached an impasse because the team's Spanish sponsorship depended on them running a Spanish rider, whereas Kawasaki wanted to place Shinya Nakano at Aspar.

Martinez added that he remained upbeat about both the Kawasaki talks, and MotoGP's future.
"How do I feel? Optimistic, for this situation and more in general too," he said. "I think that within one or two years the motorcycling world championship will come out of this crisis stronger."

More information about the project will follow when things are confirmed and officially announced.

Team Aspar Kawasaki in 2009?

After the shock announcement that Kawasaki is set to leave the MotoGP class with immediate effect due to the financial crisis, Jorge Martinez Aspar is now once again in talks to possibly run ex-works Kawasakis in the MotoGP championship in 2009. Autosport.com reports:

Leading 125cc and 250cc team Aspar are working on a deal to run the ex-works Kawasakis in MotoGP this year following the Japanese manufacturer's decision to quit the series.
As reported by autosport.com earlier this week, Kawasaki is set to officially confirm its exit from MotoGP in the coming days, leaving just four factory teams on the grid.

Aspar came close to agreeing a satellite Kawasaki deal for 2009, only for the plan to fall through because Kawasaki's preferred rider Shinya Nakano was not favoured by Aspar's Spanish backers.
But now Aspar boss Jorge Martinez says talks have resumed as championship organiser Dorna works to keep a Kawasaki presence in MotoGP.

"At the moment I'm on vacation with my family," Martinez told Gazzetta dello Sport. "However, since it has been known that Kawasaki was not taking part next season, my vacations have practically finished.
"For the last two days I've been on the phone with Dorna. They called me first. We are in contact and talks to buy out the two Kawasakis have started.

"For sure I'm very interested in MotoGP. It's a project that was already in my plans. Now there is this opportunity which I don't yet know with certainty whether it will come to be and how. From my part there is the will to talk. We'll see."

Kawasaki already had John Hopkins and Marco Melandri under contract for 2009. The American's personal sponsorship from energy drink company Monster could prove valuable to any team taking on the Kawasakis, and although Martinez was unwilling to discuss rider plans, he hinted that he would also be happy to retain Melandri.

"The matter regarding riders isn't a priority at the moment," said Martinez.
"I certainly wouldn't have any problem with Melandri. In fact, he's a rider I've always liked very much."

Martinez would be able to get the bikes at no cost, because Kawaski has a contract with Dorna to stay in the championship until 2011 and a breach of contract would cost them a few millions. This way they would avoid that situation and Aspar had more options for sponsors and riders.
Dorna is very interested in keeping Kawasaki on the grid since only 17 bikes on the grid would be one bike short of the world championship status and Dorna is eager to retain that status, especially in light of recent image damage compared to World Superbikes.

TeamAspar.net will keep you updated on any new developments concerning a possible Aspar Kawasaki Team.