THE NEWS OF SPORT

F1 2010: number one World Championship Formula 1

2010-04-06T18:12:00.000-07:00

F1 2010: number one World Championship Formula 1

After reliability issues in Bahrain and Australia, Red Bull finally unlocked the RB6’s true potential over the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. From Mark Webber’s spectacular pole position to Sebastian Vettel’s superb victory on Sunday, the team dominated in Kuala Lumpur. Vettel reviews his race, explains how he managed to move ahead of Webber at the start and looks ahead to the next round in China

Iconic for 2010 F1 return

2010-03-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

It has emerged that March, founded in 1969 by a group involving Max Mosley, and also Brabham, originally headed by triple world champion Sir Jack Brabham, have been named in official entries for budget-capped teams.
Two iconic names are bidding to return to formula one's front line in 2010.

The internet publication ESPN Racing-Live has sighted a fax sent by the FIA, confirming that March's new owner Andrew Fitton lodged its entry paperwork by the deadline last Friday.
Moreover, a source close to March Racing Organisation, which is not currently involved in any form of motor sport, confirmed the reports but said the outfit is "not getting too excited" due to the competition for the three vacant spots on the 2010 grid.
While the news of Brabham’s potential return seems sudden, it appears Formtech’s owner Franz Hilmer has long been preparing for a tilt at Formula One after purchasing the fixed assets of Super Aguri F1 in June last year, strengthening its case for entry in 2010.
Hilmer bought Super Aguri’s F1 facilities at the Leafield Technical Centre as well as race cars and team transporters, while he employed a number of former team staff to assist Formtech in composite design and manufacturing.
Founded by Australian sporting legend Sir Jack Brabham, the Brabham outfit vanished from the world of Formula One in 1992 after it was beset by financial difficulties with future World Champion Damon Hill recording the team’s final race finish, 11th at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Source:GMM via formula-1.updatesport themotorreport

Michael Schumacher And Formula One

2010-03-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

According to AutoCar, seven time World Driving Champion Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One competition in 2010 driving for Mercedes GP. So says Eddie Jordan, former F1 team owner, who gave Schumacher his first Formula One drive back in 1991. Michael went on to race with Benneton before moving to Ferrari, where he teamed with Ross Brawn to win multiple world titles.

You may want to take notes at this point, as Formula One is an incestuous business and the plot gets complicated. Prior to his debut with Jordan, Schumacher drove sports cars for Mercedes, which actually paid Jordan to give Schumacher a race seat. Now, almost 20 years later, Mercedes has bought controlling interest in the Brawn GP team, formerly the Honda team, which will now be known as Mercedes GP. So if Eddie Jordan is correct, Michael will be back where he started - driving for Mercedes. Are you with me so far?

Good, because here's where it gets tricky. After winning his unprecedented 7th world driving championship, Schumacher was literally forced into retirement by Ferrari. Their total dominance of the sport for several years was actually a bad thing, because the racing became so predictable, it was boring. The fans turned to other things and sponsors reacted by snapping their wallets shut. Something had to be done and that something was forcing Schumacher out of the team. Who said so? No one knows for certain, but suspicion focuses on Formula One major domo and master manipulator Bernie Ecclestone.

Yet even after not driving for two years, Michael Schmacher remains one of the most popular figures in grand prix racing and his return will create a wave of excitement for a sport that has suffered several black eyes recently from internal wrangling and cheating scandals. He is currently under contract to Ferrari as a consultant, but Jordan says "I understand he was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to him being released - and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1." And who holds the "interests of Formula One" nearest and dearest to his flinty little heart - and his wallet? Why, Bernie Ecclestone, of course, whose nefarious little fingerprints are all over this deal.

The only sad note is that, according to reports, Schumacher's wife is adamantly opposed to his return to racing and has announced that she will file for divorce if he does so. My old Irish grandmother used to say: "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." I hope you know what you are doing, Herr Schumacher.

source : www.examiner.com

Formula 1 competition

2009-11-24T23:49:00.000-08:00

BMW has confirmed that Alexander Rossi and Esteban Gutierrez will be given Formula 1 test outings in the young driver training session at Jerez next week.

The German manufacturer said at the end of July that it would honour its pledge to reward the most successful graduates of its entry-level series with F1 run-outs despite its decision to withdraw from the sport at the end of 2009.

BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen reaffirmed that commitment on Tuesday and said the company remains keen to nurture promising young drivers reality F1 competition site

Rossi earned his opportunity to sample F1 power by winning the 2008 Formula BMW World Final in Mexico City.

The impending threat delivered by members of F1 Teams Association (Fota) entered a completely new dimension with Max Mosley over his budget cap proposals.

The "Renegade League" are Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso who have officially said that they will not, repeat, not enter the Formula One format in 2010. After weeks of dangling and wrangling, the eight Renegades have failed to reach a compromise with FIA president Mosley over plans for a 40 million pounds sterling budget cap.

McLaren happy with Mercedes

2009-11-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

McLaren happy with Mercedes
McLaren say they are delighted with the changes in their relationship with engine partners and shareholders Mercedes-Benz, following Monday’s announcement that the German auto giant has purchased a controlling interest in the Brawn GP team.
As part a realigned long-term alliance, McLaren will continue to use Mercedes engines until at least 2015, and will buy back the 40 percent share of the team currently owned by Mercedes’ parent company Daimler AG in a phased purchase over the next two years. The team will continue to be known as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and its distinctive silver-with-red livery will remain unchanged.
The new arrangement removes potential conflicts arising from McLaren’s plans to begin manufacturing its own range of high-performance production sports cars from 2011, part of the group’s long-term strategy to widen its commercial activities.
“This is a win-win situation, for both McLaren and Daimler,” said Ron Dennis, founding shareholder of the McLaren Group. “I’ve often stated that it’s my belief that, in order to survive and thrive in 21st-century Formula One, a team must become much more than merely a team.
“That being the case, in order to develop and sustain the revenue streams required to compete and win Grands Prix and world championships, companies that run Formula One teams must broaden the scope of their commercial activities.
“Nonetheless, all of our partners will of course continue to play a crucial role in our Formula One programme. For that reason, and because the engines they produce are very competitive, we’re delighted that Mercedes-Benz has committed to continue not only as an engine supplier but also as a partner of ours until 2015 - and perhaps thereafter.”
Having started in 1995, the McLaren-Mercedes partnership is already one of the longest engine-supply associations in Formula One history; 2009 was its 15th consecutive year and 2015 will be its 21st, by which time it will have become by some margin the longest such relationships since the sport began.
“I want to thank McLaren for a successful collaboration over the last decade and a half,” said Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “For the benefit of both Mercedes and McLaren, we will continue our partnership cooperation in future. We will be rivals on-track but, off-track, we will cooperate with McLaren and the other teams in order to create the best possible product for spectators worldwide.”
Norbert Haug, Vice-President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, added: “We look back on 15 successful years of great collaboration with McLaren; in that time, we won four world-championship titles and finished ten times as runner-up in the drivers’ and constructors’ rankings.
“Since the first victory in the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, the modern Silver Arrows have achieved a total of 60 victories in 223 races to ensure that our brand symbol, the star, stands for the greatest successes in Formula One. We thank our partner and will continue to work with McLaren based on an excellent partnership.”

source : formula1.com

Mercedes-Benz acquires Brawn

2009-11-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

Mercedes-Benz acquires Brawn
German car giant Mercedes-Benz has taken over Brawn GP, it was announced on Monday. Mercedes engines powered Brawn to victory in both 2009 championships and the team will now be rebranded as Mercedes' works squad for 2010, with Ross Brawn remaining as team principal.

Mercedes will also continue to supply long-term partners McLaren with engines until at least 2015, but the company’s 40 percent shareholding in the team will be reacquired by McLaren over the next two years...

source : formula1.com

Scully to broadcast in 2010

2009-11-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Vin Scully said Tuesday he will continue in the broadcast booth for the Los Angeles Dodgers through the 2010 season, then decide whether he will walk away.
The Hall of Fame announcer told The Associated Press that he still loves the job he's had with the team since 1950, but that it's hard to be away from his wife during a long season.
"I'm trying to figure out if I can walk away," he said. "I'm the horse pulling the wagon with a lot of people on the wagon, so I'm really not sure. God willing, I'll do next year and then we'll just have to wait and see."
Scully, who turns 82 on Nov. 29, and his wife Sandy celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary Tuesday. He spoke to the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, while she stayed home because of a bad back.
Ultimately, Scully said his decision to retire will be made by him and his wife, who has tolerated his absences that stretch some years from spring training in March to October, depending on whether the Dodgers make the postseason.
"It's a wonderful job, but it's not glamorous," he said in a pre-speech interview. "There's nothing glamorous about your wife sitting alone having dinner in the kitchen while you're in the ballpark, so we're trying to work that out and then we'll just have to wait and see."
Scully's 59-year tenure with the Dodgers is the longest of any current sports broadcaster with the same team. He calls all nine innings of the team's television broadcasts, while the first three innings of his games are simulcast on the radio.
"When the team takes the field and the crowd roars, it triggers something in me," he told the audience at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. "Forget about where they are in the standings, I think that's the secret. You just do the game and enjoy the game."
In July, Scully told a reporter he would retire after the 2010 season and he said he immediately regretted saying so, explaining that when the time comes, he would let the Dodgers make the announcement.
Scully works alone on the air and long ago reduced his travel schedule to avoid calling games east of the Rockies, although he calls road games against the Dodgers' NL West and AL West opponents.
His dulcet voice remains strong, instantly recognizable within the first few words to generations of Angelenos, and he appears in good health and humor, with only his red hair dulled by the passing years.
Still, it's clear Scully carefully considers his working future more than ever.
"You get to an age in life where you realize the wolves are getting closer to the campfire and you start measuring, how much do I want to be away?" he told the AP. "Then again, I look at our large family and in this particular economic time, they could use some help, so that factors into the decision."
Scully has five living children (oldest son Michael was killed in a 1994 helicopter crash) and 18 grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 18.
Known for being intensely private away from the booth, Scully provided a glimpse into his offseason life, when he embraces his role as a self-described family man.
"I enjoy it, especially because during the year, we live by a schedule. You really are under a gun for a long time," he said in the interview. "Now, I cherish the time at home. I push the cart in the supermarket and I do all the things that a man normally does as the so-called head of the household."
Scully avoids the ballpark and other sporting events when he's not working, saying, "I've had enough of crowds."
In the booth, Scully has built a legacy by seamlessly weaving anecdotes with balls and strikes. But he keeps his play-by-play between the lines, especially on such hot button issues as slugger Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension last season for violating baseball's drug policy.
"The world knew Manny had a 50-game suspension," he told the audience. "There wasn't any reason for me to talk about they were fertility drugs or whatever. I just felt it was not my role."
Scully is equally hands-off on the pending divorce between team owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie.
"As someone who holds a great sanctity for marriage, it only breaks my heart," he told the crowd, who saluted him with two standing ovations.
source : news.yahoo.com

Vick can keep $16 million in bonuses: court

2009-11-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO (Reuters) – A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday Michael Vick can keep $16.2 million in bonuses that his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, sought to recover when he was imprisoned on a dog fighting conviction.
Vick, now a seldom-used backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, pleaded guilty in August 2007 to bankrolling a dog fighting ring and spent 18 months in jail.
Until Vick's reinstatement earlier this season, the National Football League suspended him indefinitely without pay and initiated a grievance procedure allowing the Falcons to recover some of the bonus money he was paid.
In 2004, Vick signed a mammoth contract through 2014 that called for bonuses of $22.5 million based on him making the team's 2005 roster and another $7 million for 2006.
The Falcons initially won the case in an arbitration overseen by a special master and recovered $16.2 million from Vick -- the prorated portion of the bonus that assumed he would be playing through the 2014 season.
Vick appealed, and U.S. District Judge David Doty overruled the special master, saying Vick had earned the roster bonuses.
The appeals court in Minnesota affirmed Doty's ruling and dismissed arguments by the NFL that the judge was biased and should have recused himself.
Vick filed for bankruptcy last year, having lost an estimated $100 million in salary and endorsements.
(Reporting by Andrew Stern; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

source : news.yahoo.com

Your 2009 Formula One World Champions

2009-11-09T00:02:00.000-08:00

In 2008, this news would have been considered both unthinkable and ridiculous. After a few podiums, but mostly disappointing mid- to rear-pack finishes, Honda F1 was at its end. The corporate bosses were unwilling to keep spending the estimated $300 million per year required to keep the team running and were pulling the plug. At a time when consumers were cutting back on their new Accord and Ridgeline purchases, it seemed the most logical decision to Honda. Everyone at the team, as well as drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, were understandably worried about their jobs for the 2009 season.

Flash-forward to the checkered flag at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix and you’ll witness what will surely become the next great Jason Statham-narrated racing flick. Against all odds, Ross Brawn bought out ownership in the ex-Honda team, gave birth to Brawn GP and has taken both world championships. Admittedly, the rookie team benefited from a year of Honda F1 development (the ’08 Honda F1 season saw development of what would become the ’09 Brawn GP car) and a team principal who has been winning racing championships for more than a decade and a half. But the cars don’t drive themselves.
Jenson Button rocketed out of the gate early on to take six of the first seven races and Rubens Barrichello caught up later in the season with wins at the European GP and the Italian GP. Both Brawn GP drivers easily eclipsed such spotlight stars as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, putting them into a three-way title chase with Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel. But Button’s 5th place finish in Brazil, combined with Barrichello’s 8th and Vettel’s 4th place, was enough to clinch him his first ever driver’s world championship. We remember seeing Button drive early on for Williams, and later at BAR Honda with Jacque Villeneuve, constantly driving cars that well, sucked. There is one more race left, the GP of Abu Dhabi, but much of its suspense has now been taken away.

Ross Brawn gave him a competitive car this year and Button turned himself into the 10th British F1 world champion. Barrichello, who is 37 years old, showcased that same intensity to win that embodied his countryman, Ayrton Senna. Much older than many of the young, PR robot children that populate the F1 ranks nowadays, Barrichello helped take the driver’s championship down to the wire. Together, the two helped Brawn GP take the constructor’s championship in only its first year of existence. We can only wonder what they will be able to do next year with real sponsors on board. We can also only wonder about what would have happened if this were still the Honda F1 team. A new NSX perhaps? A GP edition S2000? We’ll never know.

source : octanereport.com

M.Schumacher backs to F1

2009-11-08T23:56:00.000-08:00

ROME, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Formula One team Ferrari announced Wednesday that Michael Schumacher could be back on track to replace injured driver Felipe Massa if the seven times world champion passes a fitness test.
"Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa's car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race," read a statement of the Italian team.
"I talked on the telephone with (team principal) Stefano Domenicali and (Ferrari president) Luca de Montezemolo this afternoon and we decided jointly that I'll start preparing to jump in for Felipe," he told his website Wednesday.
The 40-year-old German, who retired from F1 at the end of 2006, could make his comeback in next month's race in Valencia, Spain, which is a street circuit having been added to the calendar only last season.
"Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific program of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix on Aug. 23."
The F1 reigning champions' driver Brazilian Massa fractured his skull in an accident at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
source : news.xinhuanet.com

Britain has its second Formula One world champion in a row after Jenson Button clinches motor sport's greatest prize in Brazil.

2009-11-08T23:18:00.000-08:00

Britain has its second Formula One world champion in a row after Jenson Button clinches motor sport's greatest prize in Brazil.

The 29-year-old came fifth in yesterday's Brazilian Grand Prix, giving him enough points to take over the crown from rival Lewis Hamilton.

Ecstatic Button - who famously failed his first driving test aged 17 - broke into a rendition of Queen's We Are The Champions as he crossed the line, before repeating the boast "We're champions, we're champions".

He said: "It's really amazing, especially after the last few races I've had. This one makes up for it. It was just such an awesome race and I'm world champion, baby.

"Twenty-one years ago I jumped in a car and I loved winning. I never expected to be world champion because you think racing drivers in Formula One are different to you but we've done it today."

The Brawn driver battled his way up the field after starting fourteenth on the grid at Interlagos. It gave him an unassailable 89 points with one race to go in Abu Dhabi.

Button - who started in Formula One nine years ago and developed a reputation as a playboy - thanked his fans, his family and his girlfriend, Jessica Michibata.

His triumph was given extra resonance after his Northamptonshire-based Brawn team claimed the constructors' title - just over ten months after they appeared to be on the scrapheap when former backers Honda pulled out of the sport.

Emotional team boss Ross Brawn broke down in tears after the race.

He said: "It's still got to sink in. It will take a while...It's just special. Very special.

"The work the team did over the winter...all the people who couldn't be with us because we had to resize the team after the winter, my thanks go to them. I hope they have enjoyed it because they have been part of what we've done."

Hamilton acknowledged Button's achievement, saying: "I must say congratulations to Jenson. A great job. A great season."

source: www.channel4.com

Formula One World Championship 2009

2009-10-13T19:26:00.000-07:00

Formula One World Championship 2009
The first multi-team testing session took place at Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona in November 2008, two weeks after the end of previous season.All teams, except Toyota, took part in the testing session where some teams tested their new aerodynamics package and slick tyres. BMW Sauber and Williams were amongst the forerunners in this case, with the German manufacturer running both rear and front wings to 2009 specifications. The team's test driver, Christian Klien, labelled the car the ugliest car he'd ever seen. F1 newcomers Sébastien Buemi, Lucas di Grassi and Bruno Senna tested for Toro Rosso and Honda respectively. Takuma Sato returned for a test with Toro Rosso and WRC Champion Sébastien Loeb tested for Red Bull. McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa also tested for Force India, an exercise seen as a part of the teams' new technical partnership. Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Renault were the only teams to use solely their 2008 cars (albeit with slick tyres), whilst the other teams also tested 2009 interim cars during the 3-day test.<-more->
The next test took place at Jerez in December 2008, and was attended by six teams. Toro Rosso candidate Sébastien Buemi topped the time-sheets on all three days, defeating rival candidates Takuma Sato and Sébastien Bourdais. The test also saw the McLaren team debut a front wing and nosecone designed to 2009 specifications, as well as stripped bodywork. BMW Sauber and Williams continued running the interim cars which debuted at the previous test, while Renault and Toro Rosso continued running their 2008 cars with slicks and simulated downforce-levels.

Following the first launches, the teams returned to the track on the 19th of January for more testing. Toyota, McLaren, Williams and Renault tested at Algarve again together with Toro Rosso, which used their 2008 car. Sébastien Buemi, in his first outing as confirmed driver for the Toro Rosso team, topped the first three days in the interim car. Heavy rain hampered the teams in the first two days, and only on Wednesday could the drivers test the new cars on the slick tyres. On Thursday, however, the rain returned, and testing was stopped early in the morning as the medical helicopters could not take off in the torrential rain. Ferrari intended to test at Algarve as well, but moved the test to Mugello, where the rain continued to limit their testing amidst mounting concerns over the F60's legality. BMW Sauber, meanwhile, enjoyed warmer weather testing the F1.09 at Valencia.

On 9 March, testing started at Barcelona with the new team, Brawn GP, making an impact by leading the times early in the day. Toro Rosso also launched the STR4. This was the first test in which all teams used their 2009 cars. BMW Sauber led the times while Brawn GP finished fourth. On day three, Brawn GP's Jenson Button was fastest by just over one second to Ferrari's Felipe Massa completing 130 laps. On day four Rubens Barrichello became the first driver to get into the 1:18s.

On 15 March Renault, Brawn and Williams started the last teams public test at Jerez. Brawn, again, led the standings 0.6 seconds ahead of Renault's Fernando Alonso, completing 107 laps. On day two, Fernando Alonso completed 107 laps and finished 0.55 seconds ahead of Barrichello, who completed 61 laps, and ahead of his teammate, Jenson Button who completed 12 laps, by 0.5 seconds and over a second ahead of Lewis Hamilton who was still struggling in the MP4-24. Button led the final day 0.2 seconds clear, completing 114 laps ahead of Williams driver Nico Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Jr. and Hamilton. The testing carried on at Jerez with McLaren and Williams staying. McLaren showed good progress after slicing a whole second off their pace with Williams driver Nakajima almost 2 seconds behind in the FW31. On day two Nakajima led by 0.4 seconds to McLaren. McLaren slashed some more time out of the MP4-24, while importing over some new parts from Woking. McLaren and Williams then returned to Britain to finish off preparations for Australia; leaving for the season opener on Monday to join the rest of the grid.
McLaren have been experiencing some problems with the car lacking rear downforce. At the penultimate test of the season in Barcelona, the McLaren car was rarely less than 1.5 seconds off the pace. Felipe Massa stated he had never seen McLaren so far behind.
A major source of controversy throughout the winter season were the rear diffusers. Three teams – Toyota, Williams and Brawn GP – launched their cars with a diffuser that uses the rear crash structure in order to generate additional downforce.These designs were quickly protested, and just days after the cars were unveiled, rival teams asked the FIA for a clarification on the matter. With only days to go before the start of the 2009 season, the rear diffuser designs once again attracted controversy with Red Bull's motor racing advisor Helmut Marko declaring that the other seven teams will unite to lodge an official protest should they be used in the race. On the Wednesday of the first race an official complaint was launched by other teams against the rear diffusers of the Williams FW31, Toyota TF109 and the Brawn BGP 001 saying that they were illegal, but after analysing the cars the FIA reported that the cars were not illegal. The other six teams filed an appeal which was heard on 14 April 2009 – the week prior to round three of the championship, the Chinese Grand Prix — and a result was decided on Wednesday 15 April. The FIA deemed the cars' diffusers legal after much deliberation.

source :.wikipedia.org

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi

2009-10-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi
Reigning MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi suffered rear-grip problems in his last outing at Estoril, which resulted in a fourth-placed finish in the bwin.com Grande Premio de Portugal – a classification which saw the Italian’s lead in the title standings over Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo cut down to 18 points, with three races remaining.

After assessing the issues which blighted his last race, both the rider and his team are now focused on the challenge that Phillip Island presents.

It is a track which Rossi holds close to his heart, as his 2001 and 2004 World titles were won there, and the 30 year-old is aiming to secure his first race win since 2005 at the Australian circuit as the 2009 season nears its denouement.

“Estoril was a great disappointment but we have to look at the positives and consider that we still came fourth and took 13 points in these conditions,” said Rossi. “I know that Yamaha have been studying the data very hard to understand what went wrong for us.”

“We hope that the situation in Phillip Island will be very different. I love this track and have some of the greatest memories of my career there and I really want to be in the best shape for this race. It's too long since I've won there!” continued Rossi – who has 11 podium finishes at the track – before adding, “I think that the championship is going to be a great fight to the end with Lorenzo, but the next two tracks especially are two of my best.”

Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha Team Manager, Davide Brivio, echoed his rider’s sentiments. He remarked, “In Estoril we confirmed the Teams’ title which is a great achievement for everyone because the Fiat Yamaha riders have really dominated this season. Aside from this, it wasn't such a great weekend for us and we had some unexpected problems to contend with. Our engineers have been working hard to understand what went wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again this weekend, and we’re looking forward to getting back on track and putting it behind us.”

“Valentino has had some fantastic races in Australia but it’s a few years since he’s won there so we will be doing everything we can to get back on the podium this weekend and increase our points lead in the title fight.”

source : www.motogp.com