THE FINAL SHOWDOWN

The four British Grand Prix stars race from Malaysia to Valencia in Spain to compete in the traditional final showdown of the MotoGP World Championship in the frenzied atmosphere of the Ricardo Tormo circuit on Sunday.

The 2.489 mile tight demanding track will be packed by around 120,000 noisy fans to provide a fitting finale to the season which has turned into a year of great highs and lows for the British riders.

Twenty –eight year old James Toseland completes his first season in the premier class of Motor Cycle racing, the MotoGP World Championship and his results in the last two races sum up his fortunes. Two rounds ago he finished a brilliant sixth in Australia after qualifying on the second row of the grid riding the Tech 3 Yamaha. Last week he crashed in the early stages of the race in Malaysia after qualifying 12th.

The gritty Yorkshireman is determined to finish his season on a high at a circuit where he has raced in the World Superbike Championship. He is currently 11th in the Championship but only 17 points behind Shinya Nakano in ninth place.

Seventeen year old Bradley Smith was the only one of the four riders to return home from Malaysia with some World Championship points. The Oxfordshire teenager was a brilliant second in the 125 cc race despite having to start from the fourth row of the grid. The race on Sunday will be his last for the Polaris World Aprilia team who are disbanding before he joins the Valencia-based Aspar team.

Fifteen year old Scott Redding was out of luck in Malaysia after retiring with a mechanical problem following a crash in the morning warm-up but the Gloucestershire schoolboy has had a brilliant debut year. He is tenth in the World Championship and secured his first grand prix victory with that historic victory in the British Grand Prix at Donington Park. He finishes a remarkable season at a circuit he knows well.

Danny Webb’s fortunes in Malaysia summed up the season for the Kent teenager. He qualified a superb third on the DeGraff Aprilia but was forced to retire after he’d been penalised with a ride through penalty following problems at the start, He seeks a change of fortune among the noise and fireworks of Valencia.

QUOTES

JAMES TOSELAND – “I’m just putting the Malaysia crash behind me and looking forward to the final race of the season at Valencia. I know the Spanish circuit quite well, so I’m going there feeling positive. My first MotoGP season has been an amazing learning curve for me and I want to end on a high with a good result in Valencia.”

BRADLEY SMITH – “I’m really encouraged by my result in Malaysia but I have got to qualify well to give me a chance of victory. I know the Valencia circuit really well and I have one more chance to give my Polaris World Aprilia team a victory. It would be a very special day if I could do it.”

SCOTT REDDING – “At last I’m racing on a circuit that I’ve raced on before which will be brilliant. I know Valencia very well and will be looking for a good result to end my first incredible grand prix season.”

DANNY WEBB – “After the disappointment of Malaysia I’m looking forward to finishing on a high in Valencia. At least I proved I could ride with my damaged finger and like all the other British riders I’ve raced and tested in Valencia. ”

PREVIEW

HAYDEN WAVES GOODBYE TO HONDA AT CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING VENUE

Ironically former World Champion Nicky Hayden waves good bye to Honda on Sunday at the scene of their greatest triumph together two years ago. The Ricardo Tormo circuit on the Western outskirts of Valencia provided the venue for one of the most dramatic season finishes in the 59 year history of grand prix racing when American Hayden clinched the 2006 MotoGP World title for the Repsol Honda team from their former rider Valentino Rossi.

Hayden returns to compete in the final round of the 2008 Championship making his last appearance for the Honda team. Less than 24 hours later he returns to the circuit to test ride the Marlboro Ducati in preparation for the 2009 season when he joins another former World Champion Casey Stoner in the Italian team.

Current World Champion Rossi has never forgotten that fateful day two years ago when he crashed out of the race to lose the title chase. He returns brimming with confidence after his ninth grand prix victory of the season in Malaysia just seven days earlier on the Fiat Yamaha. The Italian is in supreme form and relishes the opportunity to secure ten wins in one season although it will not be easy.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa won the race for Repsol Honda last year and he returns home fresh from an impressive second place behind Rossi in the searing heat of Malaysia. Both Pedrosa and his team have adjusted well following their switch to Bridgestone tyres and secured their third place in the Championship with the Malaysia result.

Australian Casey Stoner, who finished runner-up to Rossi in the Championship, could be forgiven for having his mind on other things at Valencia. On Monday and Tuesday after the race he will test the prototype 2009 Desmodici Ducati. Two days later he enters an Italian hospital for an operation to mend his damaged left wrist which he broke five years ago. The 2007 World Champion will be out of action for two and a half months following a bone graft operation.

Being the last race of the season it will be final appearance for many riders in their familiar team colours. Some are switching teams while others are saying goodbye. Italian Andrea Dovizioso has had a brilliant MotoGP debut season with the JIR Scott Honda team and secured his first MotoGP podium finish in Malaysia with a hard fought third place. He makes his last appearance for the team on Sunday before replacing Hayden at Repsol Honda next season.

Valencia winner Marco Melandri has had a miserable time at Ducati and cuts short his two year contract to join Kawasaki next season. He replaces Australian Ant West who will compete in the World Supersport Championship next season. Popular Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli leaves the Alice Ducati team and will ride in the British Superbike Championship next year while his team-mate Tony Elias returns to the Gresini Honda team to partner Alex De Angelis. The 250 cc Finnish star Mika Kallio will replace him.

Japanese veteran Shinya Nakano has been in tremendous form in the last three races but despite his ninth position in the World Championship could be without a ride next season He has been replaced by Elias at Gresini Honda and the chances of him riding a third Kawasaki next season are remote. Nakano looks likely to become the official Honda test rider next season.

The biggest MotoGP farewell will be reserved for the Michelin tyre company. After so much success in the old 500cc two-stroke, 990 four-stroke and 800cc four-stroke classes they are leaving the Championship. Next year Bridgestone will be the sole supplier to all teams.

Twenty-one year old Italian Marco Simoncelli clinched the 250 cc World Championship with a third place in Malaysia. The Metis Gilera rider will want to end his superb season with a sixth win although Spaniard Alvaro Bautista is the man in form. The Aspar Aprilia rider has finished on the podium in the last nine grands prix and won his fourth grand prix of the season in Malaysia to clinch second place in the Championship. There is still a battle for third place with the departing Kallio, together with his KTM team, holding a 15 point advantage over local man Alex Debon.

Frenchman Mike Di Meglio is safe and sound as the 125 cc World Champion but there is a tremendous battle for second place between the 2007 World Champion and Malaysian winner Gabor Talmacsi, Italian Simone Corsi and German teenager Stefan Bradl. They are separated by 19 points going into the final showdown.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE

TELEVISION TIMES

Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:

TOSELAND LOOKING FOR REPEAT SHOW IN STEAMY SEPANG

James Toseland arrives at Sepang for the Polini Grand Prix of Malaysia on Sunday determined to repeat his superb ride in the previous round of the MotoGP World Championship in Australia. The Yorkshireman celebrated his 28th birthday with a hard fought sixth place at Phillip Island riding the Tech 3 Yamaha and has been working flat on his stamina to produce a repeat performance or better in very different circumstances at the penultimate round of the Championship.

It will be hot and humid with the constant threat of heavy rain showers at the 3.447 mile Sepang circuit which is the longest on the MotoGP calendar. Toseland has tested twice at the circuit pre-season and seeks to start where he left off in Australia right from the first practice session on Friday morning.

Bradley Smith flies to Malaysia with mixed feelings after events in Japan and Australia. The 17 year old Oxfordshire rider failed to score any points at those last two 125 cc grands prix but signed a two year contract with the Aspar team. He finished ninth at Sepang last year but with Aprilia power should be seeking at least a podium finish.

Fifteen year old Scot Redding’s amazing world-wide adventure continues at another new circuit and country for the Gloucestershire schoolboy. He finished tenth in Australia on the Blusens Aprilia and is tenth in his amazing 125 cc World Championship debut season. His lack of top speed will be a disadvantage at Sepang but the British Grand prix winner will be up for another top ten finish.

Kent-based teenager Danny Webb arrived in Malaysia with his left hand in a splint following an operating in Melbourne Australia to sow the tendons of his left little finger together after his warm-up crash at Phillip Island. The De Graff Aprilia rider is determined to compete on Sunday despite being advised to keep the splint on for the next six weeks.

QUOTES

JAMES TOSELAND – “ I’ve been in the gym since we’ve returned from Australia because I’m really focused on keeping the momentum going from my ride in Phillip Island, When you have a ride like that and pass Valentino Rossi, it encourages me even more. I learnt how to make that next step in Australia and I’m confident I can continue especially at Sepang where I’ve tested twice before the start of the season.”

BRADLEY SMITH – “It’s bound to be hot and humid with some big showers of rain but I like the circuit. You need some speed round there which I have with the Aprilia this year and after the big disappointments in Japan and Australia I have nothing to lose but go for the win. I have two more races with the team and I so want to thank them with a win.”

SCOTT REDDING – “I was slightly disappointed to finish tenth in Australia and I’m looking forward to yet another new circuit and country this week. I’m even more looking forward to riding at Valencia next week at a track I know well.”

DANNY WEBB – “I hope to ride and I’ve come straight to Malaysia from Melbourne. They operated on the little finger of my left hand in the Melbourne hospital to sow the tendons back together after I grounded it down to the bone which I also chipped in the warm-up crash at Phillip Island. I was lucky just to bash my collarbone and not break it. I will strap my fingers together and be out there for practice on Friday morning.”

PREVIEW

ROSSI’S CITY OF DREAMS

World Champion Valentino Rossi returns to the country and city where he made his grand prix debut 12 long years ago when he competes in the Polini Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang on Sunday. The 17 year old long haired Italian teenager made his debut in the 125 cc race at the Shah Alan circuit in Kuala Lumpur. Twelve years and eight world titles later Rossi returns to Malaysia to ride in the penultimate round of the MotoGP World Championship at the 3.447 miles Sepang circuit near KL International Airport which replaced Shah Alam and Johor as the Malaysian Grand Prix venue in 1999.

Rossi has a great record at Sepang winning the premier class race four times on both Honda and Yamaha machinery but he will come head to head in the 21 lap race on Sunday with Casey Stoner who has an even more impressive record at Sepang. The 22 year old Australian is the only rider to have won 125, 250 and MotoGP races at Sepang and arrives brimming with confidence following his victory on the Marlboro Ducati at the previous round in his native Australia.

Stoner looks a safe bet to finish second in the Championship after Spaniard Dani Pedrosa crashed in Australia but the Repsol Honda rider, who has won 125 and 250 cc races at Sepang, will be keeping a wary eye on his great rival Jorge Lorenzo in fourth place. The Fiat Yamaha rider is in great form and trails Pedrosa by 27 points with just two rounds remaining. He won the 250 cc race at Sepang two years ago.

The closest battle in the championship is for fifth place with 27 points separating Andrea Dovizioso, the 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards and Chris Vermeulen. Hayden is the man in form which he confirmed with his third place in Australia but Dovizioso has had a brilliant MotoGP debut season and will replace Hayden at Repsol Honda next season.

Veteran Loris Capirossi is another rider with an impressive record both in Malaysia and Sepang. The Rizla Suzuki rider has both 250 and MotoGP wins in Sepang, finished on the podium on two other occasions and started on the front row five times including two poles. Capirossi won the very first 125 cc grand prix in Malaysia in 1991 at Shah Alam. He is tenth in the Championship but only 16 points behind team-mate Vermeulen in eighth place. They will be joined in the race on Sunday by Suzuki test rider Nobuatsu Aoki who won the 250 cc race at Shah Alam 15 years ago.

Shinya Nakano makes his last but one appearance for the San Carlo Gresini Honda team at the track where he won the 250 cc race eight years ago and in great form after finishing an impressive fifth in Australia. He will be replaced by Toni Elias next season who won the 250 cc race at Sepang five years ago and who will complete his contract with the Alice Ducati team at Valencia in a week’s time.

Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli is in a similar position with the Alice team while Australian Anthony West has two more rides with John Hopkins at Kawasaki before being replaced by Marco Melandri next season.

Twenty one year old Italian Marco Simoncelli is on the verge of clinching the 250 cc World title in Sepang after his breathtaking victory in Australia. The Metis Gilera rider holds a 37 point lead over his great rival Alvaro Bautista with just two rounds remaining. It’s a tough call for Spaniard Bautista, who won the 125 cc race at Sepang on route to the World title two years ago, but as we witnessed at Phillip Island a couple of weeks ago he will not give up the fight until the chequered flag. Mika Kallio has dropped out of contention in third place but will be encouraged by his KTM team mate Hiroshi Aoyama’s victory last year.

Frenchman Mike Di Meglio was crowned 125 cc World Champion in Australia after a fine victory but there is a tremendous battle for second place. Just six points separate in form German teenager Stefan Bradl, Italian Simone Corsi and 2007 World Champion and last year’s winner Gabor Talmacsi.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE

TELEVISION TIMES

BIRTHDAY BOY TOSELAND BACK ON FAMILIAR TERRITORY

WEATHER WATCH FOR BRITISH RIDERS

The British nation is famous for checking on the weather and after the appalling conditions at Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago the British MotoGP riders are no exception as they travel to Motegi for the A-Style Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday.

They are all fed up with the rain that has fallen throughout the season and want a dry day on Sunday round the 2.983 mile Motegi circuit that has had its fair share of wet races.

Twenty seven year old Yorkshireman James Toseland slipped to 12th in the MotoGP World Championship after finishing out of the points in the Indianapolis rain. However, the Tech 3 Yamaha rider has a great chance to fight his way back into the top ten on his Motegi debut. He trails ninth place Shinya Nakano by just two points and will be seeking some good results in those last four races of, his MotoGP debut season.

Fifteen year old Scott Redding was the best of the Brits at Indianapolis with a brilliant fourth place in the 125 cc race. Once again the Gloucestershire teenager faces a new circuit and a new country in his amazing first season riding the Blusens Aprilia in the 125 cc World Championship.

The rain wrecked the chances of Bradley Smith and Danny Webb after they were both flying following disastrous first laps in America. Both were lapping as fast as the race leaders and fighting back through the field when the race was stopped. They have both raced at Motegi previously with Smith running in fifth place last year when he crashed out.

Smith is currently seventh in the Championship just one point behind Joan Olive while Redding moved back into the top ten.

Ulsterman Eugene Laverty will not compete in the remaining four 250 cc grands prix. The talented rider has terminated his contract with the Blusens Aprilia team and will concentrate on the World Supersport Championship for the remainder of the season.
 

Quotes
 

James Toseland. “Motegi is the last track of the eight I’ve had to learn this year, so it will be a tough weekend. I just want the weather to be consistent. I’ve been praying for that all year but I think there have only been two events when it has not rained over the weekend.”

Bradley Smith. “Four to go and I’m still after that first win. I’m in good shape and I’ve been the fastest rider in the last two years apart from Talmacsi in Misano. I like Motegi and was running in fifth last year when I caught my knee slider on the kerb and crashed.”

Scott Redding. “Another new circuit and another new country. I can’t wait to race there especially after Indianapolis where I got my second best result of the season. Part of me was disappointed because I could have been on the podium if I’d not missed a gear but I was happy with fourth because it put me back in the top ten of the Championship.”

Danny Webb. “We now know where the speed is after qualifying on the front row and then running the same time as the leaders in the Indianapolis race.  Hopefully in Japan the weather will be good and I can make a decent start”

Eugene Laverty. “On Thursday I decided to part company with my 250 cc team Blusens Aprilia.  I had high hopes of a strong second half to my season but promised parts didn’t arrive and following big crashes in Misano and Indianapolis I realised things weren’t going to get any better.”

 

NO DOCTOR’S DEJA VUE FOR ROSSI
 

Valentino Rossi will not need reminding of events three years ago when he arrives at the A-Style Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday with a great chance of regaining his MotoGP World title. Three years ago he collided with fellow Italian Marco Melandri  while in a similar Championship winning  position although he did go on to win the title later in the season.

The 29 year old Italian arrives at the 2.983 miles Motegi circuit north of Tokyo brimming with confidence. He has won the last four grands prix riding the Fiat Yamaha to build up an impressive 87 point lead over current World Champion Casey Stoner with just four rounds remaining. The seven time World Champion can afford to drop 11 points to Stoner at Motegi but still regain the title he lost to Nicky Hayden in 2006.

It’s a tough call for Stoner who will put all the calculations out of his mind and just concentrate of repeating the incredible record of Loris Capirossi, his former Marlboro Ducati team-mate who has won the race at Motegi riding for the Italian factory for the last three years. He will also check out that Rossi has never won at Motegi on a four-stroke with his only win in 2001 on a 500cc two-stroke Honda.

Stoner, who is still troubled by the broken scaphoid bone in his left hand, will also be defending his 17 point lead over Dani Pedrosa in their fight for second place. The Motegi circuit which includes an Indycar Oval was built by Honda and Pedrosa is their biggest hope of success. The Repsol Honda rider, who has a 250 cc win at Motegi, will be using Bridgestone tyres for just his second race. His team-mate former World Champion Nick Hayden has just four more races for the team before joining Stoner at Ducati next season. He could be a real threat on Sunday after finishing a superb second to Rossi a couple of weeks ago in the rain and wind at Indianapolis.

Rossi’s team-mate Jorge Lorenzo could also be a big threat in the 24 lap race after two successive podium finishes. The double 250 cc World Champion has not got a good record at Motegi, finishing on the podium just once but could put that right on Sunday. His great rival in the 250cc class Andrea Dovizioso has won a 125 cc race at Motegi and is desperate to crown his magnificent MotoGP debut season with a podium finish to consolidate his fifth place.

Capirossi returns riding for the Rizla Suzuki team chasing an amazing fourth consecutive victory. His team-mate Chris Vermeulen is sixth but only eight points in front of American Colin Edwards who’s having a tough time with tyre problems on his Tech 3 Yamaha. Suzuki will field three riders with test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi coming in for their home race.

Shinya Nakano could be making his last grand prix appearance in Japan. Next year he will be replaced by Toni Elias in the San Carlo Honda Gresini team and is likely to become the test rider for Honda and so could return as a wild card entry. Elias, his replacement next year, finished third in the wet race last year with Frenchman Randy De Puniet second. De Puniet, who’s had a tough year, has confirmed he will be riding for the LCR Honda team next season. His countryman Sylvain Guintoli was fourth in last year’s rain and would love a repeat result as he battles to find a MotoGP ride for next season.

One team looking for a change of fortune at their home race are Kawasaki. John Hopkins needs to settle into a few points scoring rides after an injury hit year while Anthony West is seeing out his time before being replaced by Melandri next season.
 

The 250 cc riders arrive in Japan desperate for action after their race in Indianapolis was cancelled because of the weather. That was good news for Championship leader Marco Simoncelli who held onto his 26 point lead without lifting a finger. The Italian Gilera rider will certainly be called into action on Sunday against Kallio’s KTM team who have a superb Motegi record. Last year Kallio won the race to follow on to his two 125 cc victories for the Austrian factory while two years ago they were successful in the 250 cc class with local hero Hiroshi Aoyama.
 

Frenchman Mike di Meglio defends his 25 point lead in the 125 cc class and his nearest rival Italian Simone Corsi has got to start winning grands prix again if he’s going to catch him. Corsi’s last win of his three victories this season came at Mugello in early June.

 

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE
 

Friday 26 September

09.00 – 09.45              125cc Practice

10.00 – 11.00              MotoGP Practice

11.15 – 12.15              250cc Practice

13.10 – 13.40              125cc Qualifying 1

13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Practice

15.10 – 15.55              250cc Qualifying 1

 

Saturday 27 September

09.00 – 09.45              125cc Practice

10.00 – 11.00              MotoGP Practice

11.15 – 12.15              250cc Practice

13.10 – 13.40              125cc Qualifying 2

13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Qualifying

15.10 – 15.55              250cc Qualifying 2

 

Sunday 28 September

08.40 – 09.00              125cc Warm Up

09.10 – 09.30              250cc  Warm Up

09.40 – 10.05              MotoGP Warm Up

 

11.00                           125cc RACE (20 laps)

12.15                           250cc RACE (23 laps)

14.00                           MotoGP RACE (24 laps)

 

TELEVISION TIMES
 

Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:
 

Sunday September 28

BBCi and BBC Sport Website 125/250 cc races 02.45 – 05.15

BBC One and BBC Sport Website 05.45 – 07.00
 

EUROSPORT

Friday September 26

Practice/Qualifying 05.00 - 08.00
 

Saturday September 27

Qualifying 05.00 – 08.00
 

Sunday September 28

Warm-up and 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP races 04.00 – 08.15

MotoGP 23.00 – 00.30

THE INDY BOUND BAND

TOSELAND DIGS DEEP FOR FINAL SIX

James Toseland is drawing on his vast reserves of strength and enthusiasm to face the final six grands prix of the season starting in the Cinzano San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on Sunday. Tyre problems on his Tech 3 Yamaha have slaughtered his chances of success in the last three grands prix and pushed him down to11th in the Championship on his debut MotoGP season. The 27 year old Yorkshireman is determined to fight back at the Misano circuit which he has only ridden the other way round in his World Superbike Championship days.

Everybody, but especially the 125 cc Championship riders, will be hoping for some dry weather over the weekend after rain wrecked practice and qualifying in Brno. Also last year at Misano the first 125 and 250 cc qualifying sessions were cancelled when the track was flooded. It means the dry races can be a real gamble with set-up as Bradley Smith found out in Brno.

The Polaris World Aprilia rider led the way in Brno but was mugged by the leading bunch who’d gambled on their dry set. Smith eventually finished sixth and will be desperate to score his first win on Sunday. It’s the home circuit for his team and Mattia Pasini brought them success in the race last year.

Fifteen year old Scott Redding continues his 125 cc education in breathtaking style. It’s his first visit to Misano and he should be fully recovered from the chest infection that caused him problems at Brno although he still finished in 11th, again at a circuit he’d never seen before.

Danny Webb hopes to bounce back after a first lap crash in Brno from the DeGraaf Aprilia while Ulsterman Eugene Laverty continues that moral sapping struggle on the ageing Blusens Aprilia in the 250 cc race.

Quotes

James Toseland. “We have six rounds left and there is still a lot can happen. We can’t be finishing at the back because at the start of the season my team-mate Colin Edwards was finishing on the podium. This is nothing other than a tyre problem. I’m good at keeping my head high and not letting things get me down. Unfortunately it’s out of my hands and to say it’s frustrating is an understatement.”

Bradley Smith. “It was disappointing in Brno but we had to gamble with the setting. This is a big race because it’s the home track of the team and I’m desperate to do well for them. Mattia Pasini won the race for them last year.”

Scott Redding. “The chest infection should be cleared up and I’m looking forward to my first race at Misano. Let’s hope for some dry weather in order to get a good setting for the race.”

Danny Webb. “It always happens to somebody on the first lap and at Brno it was me. I will get my head down this week. I’m training hard and will come back strong with a clear mind in Misano.”

Eugene Laverty.” Even on such an old bike I was only 46 seconds behind the winner but still finished out of the points in Brno. I was forced out wide on the first bend and I must not let that happen in Misano where I scored a point last year.”

ROSSI RETURNS HOME IN GREAT SHAPE

Valentino Rossi lives just seven miles from the Misano circuit and he returns home in great shape to defend a 50 points World Championship lead at the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 2.597 miles Misano circuit on the Italian Adriatic coast hosted its first grand prix for 14 years last year but to the disappointment of his fans Rossi broke down early in the race dominated by World Champion Casey Stoner and the Desmosedici Marlboro Ducati.

The 29 year old Italian returns with that 50 point lead in the Championship with six rounds remaining as he chases his sixth grand prix win of the season. It’s a big 28 lap race for Australian Stoner who fell when leading the previous round at Brno in the Czech Republic. Rossi has won the last two races despite Stoner securing his sixth successive pole in Brno and the Australian must get back to winning ways to prevent Rossi regaining the title he lost in 2006.

Third placed Dani Pedrosa had a wretched time in Brno. Beset by major problems with his Michelin tyres the Spanish Repsol Honda rider, who lies third in the Championship, limped home in 15th place and was clearly upset with the situation. His great rival Jorge Lorenzo won the 250 cc race last year but was also hampered with tyre problems in Brno on the Fiat Yamaha. The double 250 cc World Champion still hangs onto fourth place in the Championship but only ten points in front of Italian Andrea Dovizioso who was the best of the Michelin riders in Brno claiming ninth place on the JiR Team Scot Honda.

Last year it was the Rizla Suzuki pair of Chris Vermeulen and John Hopkins who completed the podium places behind Stoner and they return in different teams but in decent form Australian Vermeulen has hit a good patch of form on the Suzuki. Two podium and a sixth place in the last three races has pushed Vermeulen into seventh place, just three points behind American Colin Edwards who also endured a torrid time with tyres in Brno.

Hopkins returned to the action in Brno after missing the three previous races through injury. After a brilliant start on the Kawasaki he eventually slipped to 11th with tyre problems but almost fully fit for the first time this year will be a threat in the last six races.

There are a number of riders hoping to repeat their Brno form headed by Spaniard Toni Elias. He was a brilliant second riding the Alice Ducati in front of Suzuki veteran Loris Capirossi who is the only rider in the MotoGP class to have ridden a grand prix race at the old Misano circuit which went the opposite way round.

Shinya Nakanao took full advantage of a Honda factory spec engine in his San Carlo to finish fourth on the Gresini Honda while Australian Anthony West got over the bitter disappointment of being told he would not be in the Kawasaki MotoGP team next season, with a fifth place, easily his best result of the season.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE



Friday 29 August

09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice

10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice

11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice

13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 1

13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Practice

15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 1



Saturday 30 August

09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice

10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice

11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice

13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 2

13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Qualifying

15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 2



Sunday 31 August

08.40 – 09.00 125cc Warm Up

09.10 – 09.30 250cc Warm Up

09.40 – 10.05 MotoGP Warm Up



11.00 125cc RACE (27 laps)

12.15 250cc RACE (29 laps)

14.00 MotoGP RACE (30 laps)



TELEVISION TIMES



Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:



Saturday August 30

BBCi and BBC Sport Website 12.45 – 14.00 Qualifying



Sunday August 31

BBCi and BBC Sport Website 125/250 cc races 09.45 – 12.15

BBC Two and BBC Sport Website MotoGP race 12.30 -14.00



EUROSPORT

Friday August 29

Practice/Qualifying 12.30 -15.00



Saturday August 30

Qualifying 12.00 – 15.00



Sunday August 31

Warm-up and 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP races 08.45 – 14.00

TOSELAND LOOKS TO BRNO REPEAT

James Toseland heads the refreshed British riders returning from the summer break to face the last seven grands prix of the season, starting with the Cardion ab Grand Prix of the Czech Republic at Brno on Sunday.

The twenty seven year old Yorkshireman returns after a tremendous first part of his MotoGP debut season and has every reason to be confident in the 22 lap on Sunday. Last year he really tuned his season round with first and second places in the two World Superbike Championship races at the superb 3.357 mile Brno circuit. He currently lies ninth in the World Championship riding the Tech 3 Yamaha but good results in the final seven races could lift him as high as the top six.

Seventeen year old Bradley Smith is still chasing that elusive first 125 cc grand prix victory after coming so close in that opening half of the season. Riding the Polaris World Aprilia, he’s seventh in the World Championship but has a great chance not only to secure that long awaited first victory but also a top five finish

Fifteen year Scott Redding has already achieved his first grand prix win in a remarkable World Championship debut season for the Gloucestershire teenager. Once again he faces a completely new circuit on the Blusens Aprilia but it’s never been a problem before as he has every chance of improving on his tenth place in the World 125 cc Championship.

Kent-based Danny Webb has enjoyed the summer break and has at last fully recovered from the broken collarbone he sustained when he crashed at the British Grand Prix. Riding the DeGraaf Grand Prix Aprilia, he’s had a real up and down opening half of the season and will be looking for some real consistency to improve on his 17th place.

In the very competitive 250 cc class Ulsterman Eugene Laverty has had to battle for every single World Championship point riding the ageing Blusens Aprilia. It will be tough for him at Brno with the long uphill drag towards the start and finish suiting the works machines.

Quotes

James Toseland. “The two races at Brno last year were the turning point of my season and I have very fond memories of the track. I’ve ridden there every year since the World Superbikes returned and it’s certainly one of my favourite circuits. I’m really up for it on Sunday.

Bradley Smith. “I’m fully fit at last and can’t wait for the second part of the season. There are 175 points up for grabs and I know what I have to do, starting on Sunday at Brno which should suit my Aprilia. The last week has been dragging and I can’t wait for that first practice session on Friday morning.

Scott Redding.” Another new track and it looks pretty new interesting. I can’t wait to get back on the bike after such a long break and hopefully I can continue where I left off in the first part of the season”

Danny Webb. “I’m giving my Collarbone a good test by riding a road bike at Assen on Tuesday in a charity event but it feels fine and is fully healed. I had a good break in Spain but I want to get riding again. I need to get some consistent results in those last seven races.

Eugene Laverty.” Unfortunately Brno is going to be tough for me and the team but as always we go there ready to fight for World Championship points. The big hill up to the start and finish and those fast uphill and downhill chicanes really suit the factory bikes but we will give it everything.”

THE GLADIATORS RETURN

We may be in the middle of the Olympic Games but the fiercest gladiatorial sporting contest of the summer is set to explode back into action when Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner meet head to head at Brno on Sunday.

Their last confrontation at Laguna Seca in America may have been four weeks ago but it’s still fresh in the minds of millions of fans throughout the world who can’t wait for the next installment. Last year nearly a quarter of a million fans packed Brno over the weekend and even more are expected this weekend.

In America seven times World Champion Rossi, riding the Fiat Yamaha, rode one of his greatest ever races to beat the Championship winning combination of Stoner and the Marlboro Ducati in one of the toughest battles of the last decade. There is no reason why there will not be more of the same round the magnificent Brno circuit at round 12 of the Championship in the 22 lap race on Sunday.

Rossi opened up a 25 point lead over Australian World Champion Stoner in the Championship with seven rounds remaining and the Ducati rider will be looking for a repeat of his comfortable victory last season to pull back the advantage. He will be chasing a hatrick of Brno wins for the Ducati factory with Loris Capirossi bringing them success two years ago but Rossi also has a good record at the 3.357 mile circuit that staged its first grand prix in 1987. The Italian has won three premier class races plus a 250 and a 125 in 1996 which was the first of his 92 grands prix victories.

The four week break has been a godsend for the two Spanish riders chasing Rossi and Stoner in the Championship. Both Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo will return to the action after recovering from injuries. Third placed Pedrosa missed the US Grand Prix after crashing out while leading the German Grand Prix on the Repsol Honda the week before. Fourth placed Lorenzo had a spectacular fall from the Fiat Yamaha on the first lap at Laguna Seca but despite breaking bones in his foot should be fit to return. Both riders have impressive record at Brno. Pedrosa has won 125 and 250 cc races while Lorenzo has won the 250 cc race for the last two years and secured a 125 cc victory four years ago.

Also hoping to make a return to the action is American John Hopkins who finished a brilliant second last year. The American has missed the last three grands prix after a spectacular qualifying crash from the Kawasaki in Holland.

With the rumour mill in full cry about who will be where next season it’s an important last seven races for a number of riders. The 2006 World Champion American Nicky Hayden finished third last year riding the Repsol Honda but is eighth in the Championship this year. His cause will not be helped after damaging his right heel in a SuperMoto race in America during the break. Italian Marco Melandri has a fantastic record at Brno but his first season in the Ducati team has been a disaster. He has won one 250 and two 125 cc races at the Czech circuit but is languishing in 17th place in the Championship. He looks certain to leave Ducati and the only question to be answered is when.

Italian Andre Dovizioso is having a superb debut season on JIR team Scot MotoGP Honda. The former 125 cc World Champion is fifth just three points in front of America Colin Edwards who has already re-signed for the Tech 3 Yamaha team for next season. Seventh placed Chris Vermeulen chases a second successive podium after a brilliant third on the Rizla Suzuki in America.

For the likes of Anthony West, Toni Elias and Randy De Puniet is the start of a vital two months that will decide their futures in the MotoGP World Championship.

The 250 cc Championship could provide the closest finish with the inform Italian Marco Simoncelli taking the lead after winning the last round in Germany. In a two horse race the Gilera rider holds an 11 point advantage over the KTM of Finnish star Mika Kallio. After scoring no points in the opening two rounds Simoncelli has finished on the podium in the last six races including three wins.

Frenchman Mike Di Meglio will be hoping to keep a cool head as he defends that impressive 30 point lead in the very competitive 125 cc class. The 20 year old won the last round in Germany on the Ajo Motorsport Derbi but look out for World Champion Gabor Talmacsi who will receive massive support from the traveling Hungarian fans as he tries to retain his title despite being down in third place, 57 points adrift of Di Meglio.,

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE

Friday 15 August

09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 1
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Practice
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 1


Saturday 16 August

09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 2
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Qualifying
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 2


Sunday 17 August

08.40 – 09.00 125cc Warm Up
09.10 – 09.30 250cc Warm Up
09.40 – 10.05 MotoGP Warm Up
11.00 125cc RACE (19 laps)
12.15 250cc RACE (20 laps)
14.00 MotoGP RACE (22 laps)

TELEVISION TIMES

Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:
Saturday August 16

BBCi and BBC Sport Website 12.45 – 14.00 Qualifying
Sunday August 17

BBC Two and BBC Sport Website MotoGP race 12.45 -14.00


BRITISH EUROSPORT
Sunday August 17
11.15 – 14.00 125 cc, 250cc and MotoGP races

TOSELAND BACK INTO THE UNKNOWN

After disappointments at two circuits he knows well, James Toseland returns to his journey into the unknown at the Alice Grand Prix of Germany at the tight twisty Sachsenring on Sunday. The 27 year old Yorkshireman has shown already in his MotoGP debut season how quickly he can learn new circuits on the Tech 3 Yamaha and the tenth round of the MotoGP World Championship should be no exception.

Toseland crashed in Donington and struggled with the set-up in Assen to eventually finish in ninth place but still holds eighth place in the Championship, just ten points behind former World Champion Nicky Hayden.

The 125 cc British stars will be praying for no rain in Germany after a heavy shower in Holland wrecked their chances of success. Seventeen year old Bradley Smith was comfortably leading the first race on the Polaris World Aprilia when he crashed in the rain. He finally finished fifth in the mayhem of the five lap second race sprint.

British Grand Prix winner 15 year old Scott Redding missed the second race in Assen after a power valve broke on his Blusens Aprilia in the first race. Once again it will be a new circuit for the talented teenager to learn but like Toseland it seems to make little difference.

Kent-based Danny Webb hopes to return to the action after missing the Assen race because of a broken collarbone sustained when he crashed in the British Grand Prix at Donington.

Ulsterman Eugene Laverty is hoping the tight twisty nature of the 2.281 mile Sachsenring circuit which is situated between Leipzig and Dresden, will give him a big chance of World Championship points in the 250cc race. He has ridden well on the underpowered Blusens Aprilia in the last three races but the lack of power and top speed has kept him out of the points.

Quotes

James Toseland. “I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike and putting both Assen and Donington behind me. It’s a new track for me and I hope we can reproduce those set-up procedures that gave us so much success earlier in the season.”
Scott Redding.” Another new circuit to learn but it should not be a big problem and it certainly looks really twisty. Assen was a downer but there was nothing I could do about it and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”

Bradley Smith. “A real bike rider’s circuit with plenty of twists and turns plus a few technical parts. Last year despite still recovering from injury, I qualified on the front row in fourth place and was really chuffed to finish eighth in the race.”

Danny Webb. “I’m going there and I’m hopeful I can ride. The collarbone is a lot stronger but still a little sore. I’ll go out for practice on Friday morning and see how it goes.”

Eugene Laverty.” I’ve been riding well in the last four races but just can’t compete with the speed and power of the works bikes. The Sachsenring is tight and so I fancy my chances of some World Championship points. That would be great after no points in the last three races.

STONER ROARS INTO THE RING

World Champion Casey Stoner roars into the Sachsenring this weekend chasing his third consecutive MotoGP victory. The 22 year old Australian is determined to win on Sunday at the tenth round of the MotoGP World Championship and at round 11 at Laguna Seca in America to put real pressure on Championship leaders Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi before the summer break.

Stoner and the Marlboro Ducati have proved an unbeatable combination in the last two races and trails Championship leader Pedrosa by 29 points half way through the season. If he continues in the same style in the next two weeks the gap on Pedrosa and second placed Rossi will be considerably reduced.

Stoner has not got a great record at the tight twisty 2.281 mile Sachsenring circuit with a second place in the 2003 125 cc race his best result. Last year he was fifth in the MotoGP race which was won by Pedrosa riding the Repsol Honda and the Spaniard has a good record in Germany. He won the 250 cc race in 2004 and 2005 which will stand him in good stead in the 30 lap race on Sunday especially against Rossi who has an impressive record at the circuit. The Italian, who trails Pedrosa by four points in the Championship, won the 250 cc race in 1999 and has secured three premier class wins on both Yamaha and Honda machinery.

Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team-mate, has recovered well from his Barcelona crash with sixth places in Great Britain and Holland. The Spaniard retains fourth place in the Championship but like Stoner, the double 250 cc World Champion has never won at the Sachsenring. Fifth placed Colin Edwards arrives in Germany full of confidence after a last ditch third place in Holland riding the Tech 3 Yamaha.

Italian Andre Dovizioso has made a brilliant start to his MotoGP career and is sixth in the Championship riding the JIR Team Scot Honda and his best results at the Sachsenring are fourth places in the 125 and 250 cc classes. Former World Champion Nicky Hayden was robbed of a podium finish when he ran out of fuel on the finishing line in Holland and he returns to action in Germany where he had podium finishes in 2005 and last year.

American John Hopkins will miss this race and next week in America after having an operation on the ankle he broke in the high speed crash from the Kawasaki during qualifying in Holland. Italian Loris Capirossi hopes to return to the action riding the Rizla Suzuki after missing Assen with a badly cut arm.

Finnish KTM rider Mika Kallio saw his lead in the 250 cc Championship slashed to a single point in Holland by the in form Italian Marco Simoncelli who has finished on the podium at the last five races including two wins on the Gilera. Kallio won the 125 cc race three years ago but look out for his team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama who won last year and Yuki Takahashi who was victorious on the Honda in 2006.

One thing the 125 riders will not be wanting is any rain on Sunday. The rain reduced the race in Holland to just five laps and was won by World Champion Gabor Talmacsi who won the race in Germany last year. Simone Corsi closed to within 16 points of Championship leader Frenchman Mike Di Meglio after finishing third.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE

Friday 11 July
09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 1
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Practice
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 1

Saturday 12 July
09.00 – 09.45 125cc Practice
10.00 – 11.00 MotoGP Practice
11.15 – 12.15 250cc Practice
13.10 – 13.40 125cc Qualifying 2
13.55 – 14.55 MotoGP Qualifying
15.10 – 15.55 250cc Qualifying 2

Sunday 13 July
08.40 – 09.00 125cc Warm Up
09.10 – 09.30 250cc Warm Up
09.40 – 10.05 MotoGP Warm Up

11.00 125cc RACE (27 laps)
12.15 250cc RACE (29 laps)
14.00 MotoGP RACE (30 laps)

TELEVISION TIMES

Practice, qualifying and the races will be shown at the following times on British television:


Saturday July 12
BBCi and BBC Sport Website 12.45 – 14.00 Qualifying

Sunday July 13
BBCi and BBC Sport Website 125/250 cc races 09.45 – 12.15
BBC Two and BBC Sport Website MotoGP race 12.30 -14.00
BBCi and BBC Sport Website - MotoGP Extra 14.00 – 14.30

EUROSPORT
Friday July 11
MotoGP 19.00 – 20.00

Saturday July 12
Qualifying 12.00 – 14.00
MotoGP 23.30 – 01.00

Sunday July 13
Warm-up and 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP races 08.45 – 14.00
MotoGP 23.00 – 00.30