Race Weekend - Sachsenring

De Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland ended positive for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team after a dramatic qualifying at the Friday afternoon. British rider Danny Webb rode to a great 8^th position and Swiss rider Krummenacher had also a strong race starting from the last row and ended up on a superb 11^th position.

The warm-up session started on a half wet track. The track dried fast in the 20 minutes session and in de last 5 minutes it was possible to ride with slick tires. The DeGraaf Grand Prix Team chooses to stay in the garage and don’t take the risk just before the race.

The qualification session was like a little drama for the DeGraaf Grand Prix riders. Danny Webb crashed out hard in the last minute of the session and had to start the race today from the 5^th row on a 17^th position. With a great start Webb manage to climb up into the top 10 and battle the whole race for a position in the top 10. In the last lap Marc Marquez crashed out and Webb grabbed a great 8th position. After four times no finish Webb strikes back with 8 points.

Danny Webb (8^th):

“After my crash on the Friday I only had one goal today: finish the race. I didn’t know it was possible to finish in the top 10 but it was even an 8th position! I’m very happy with this result especially after the four race I didn’t saw the chequered flag. This gives me a lot of confidence for my home race next weekend at Donington Park. We have to stay on this positive line and it still can be a great season.”

British riders did not have the best of days at the Alice Grand Prix of Germany, with just two of the hopefuls placing inside the top ten.

James Toseland –the sole Brit competing in the MotoGP class- was again unable to achieve the top six result that he has targeted for the remaining races of the 2009 campaign, finishing tenth at Sachsenring onboard the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 M1. He earned points but was once again behind teammate Colin Edwards in the standings.

Wild card Toby Markham’s latest 250cc saw the youngster finish seventeenth on race day, and he now has two World Championship points to his name.

Kent-based Danny Webb was eighth in the 125cc race and the only Brit to finish the morning showdown. Bradley Smith crashed out definitively on lap four after previously falling on the opening lap, whilst Scott Redding retired with a mechanical problem on his Blusens Aprilia.

V is for Valentino victory in Germany

Valentino Rossi was never under any illusions that he would have it easy in his defense of the MotoGP world title, and once again the Italian was made to fight for glory at the Alice Grand Prix of Germany. The Fiat Yamaha rider took the win at Sachsenring by just the smallest of margins from persistent rival Jorge Lorenzo in a breathtaking race to extend his lead in the World Championship.

After starting from pole for the first time at the German track, Rossi took the lead of the race after thirteen laps. Both the Italian and teammate Lorenzo eked out an advantage to make it a two-way battle to the chequered flag, with a last lap battle reminiscent of the Barcelona round of the series one month ago. Rossi’s definitive pass had come at the end of the home straight with two laps to go, and he brushed off the young pretender’s overtures for his fourth win of the 2009 season.

Starting from eighth on the grid, Dani Pedrosa had established his credentials in the dry with the best lap in the morning warm up. He had another storming start at Sachsenring to move up to the lead group, and put up a bold fight both amongst and behind the Yamaha duo. The Repsol Honda rider completed the podium with a race time under three seconds down on the top two.

Early leader Casey Stoner’s condition lasted longer than he had expected in the dry race, and he was able to mount a serious challenge for the win. With five laps to go, however, he was passed by Pedrosa going into the first turn, and one lap later a sit-up meant that he lost touch of the Spaniard.

Oxfordshire teenager Bradley Smith faces two vital grands prix in the space of seven days as he chases the dream of becoming the first British rider to win a grand prix World Championship for 32 barren years.

He starts on Sunday in the 125 cc Alice Grand Prix of Germany round the tight twisty 2.281 mile Sachsenring circuit. Smith has won two grands prix this season and trails his Aspar team-mate and Championship leader Julian Simon by just 5.5 points after eight rounds of the 17 round Championship.

The 125 cc grand prix riders can’t wait to get back into action after a three week break around the circuit where Smith finished fourth last year.

The area around the present day purpose built circuit is steeped in Motorsport tradition. The old road circuit staged the East German Grand Prix between 1961 and 1972 attracting massive crowds of over 250,000. The purpose built circuit which has been extended from the original first staged the German Grand Prix in 1998 and regularly attracts 200,000 spectators over a grand prix weekend.

Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding was eighth on his Sachsenring debut last year and is looking for a change of fortune this season after his maiden grand prix victory last year. Mechanical problems with his Blusens Aprilia have constantly thwarted his efforts but when the bike has performed Redding has always shown the pace to run with the leaders.

Redding and Kent-based Danny Webb have been training together for the last week. It’s an equally important race for Webb whose not scored any points for the last four races including a crash at Assen three weeks ago which was the home track for his De Graff Aprilia team. He restored his spirits riding at the Goodwood Festival with Redding a couple of weeks ago and is ready to start points scoring once again.

In the MotoGP class James Toseland seeks a change of fortune after a disastrous Red Bull US Grand Prix. The 28 year old Yorkshireman was black flagged after failing to realise he jumped the start. It just compounded a miserable weekend for the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider who was 11th on his Sachsenring debut suffering tyre problems last year. It’s a tough time for the former World Superbike Champion who needs a boost before the British Grand Prix one week later.

QUOTES

Bradley Smith

“We are all working flat out to find that extra few miles per hour because I need to get back to winning grands prix starting at the Sachsenring followed by the British Grand Prix at Donington which is so important to me.

I spent a week in Italy staying with a couple of lads from the team and we talked all the time about the next race. In between we cycled hard every day and went into the mountains for a couple of days to really get those fitness levels spot on.”

Scott Redding

“It’s been good staying with Danny and we have trained really hard together. It’s been a tough year with so many bike problems but I’ve been right up with the leaders when the bike has run ok. The problem has been with the chassis and the tyres but everybody is working hard to get it right and let’s hope it starts in Germany.”

Danny Webb

“I’ve been training really hard with Scott Redding for the last week and my injuries are clearing up. My foot is still a bit sore but my fingers are healing well. I like the Sachsenring although I had an injured shoulder when I raced there last year. I had the race pace at Assen before the crash and I aim to find that same pace over the weekend.”

James Toseland

“Obviously if I'd known I'd jumped the start then I would have come in but I've watched the TV replay and you can't see anything. I didn't gain any places either so in my opinion it's pretty harsh. It's a setback but I've just got to get on with it and bounce back in Germany."

PEDROSA ON A ROLL AFTER LAGUNA WIN

Just two weeks after his first grand prix victory of an injury hit season Dani Pedrosa returns to the Sachsenring for the Alice Grand Prix of Germany on Sunday with mixed memories. Last year the Spanish Repsol Honda rider crashed while leading comfortably sustaining injuries that dogged him for the remainder of the season. The year before he dominated the grand prix winning comfortably from Loris Capirossi and Nicky Hayden.

Pedrosa’s superb win at Laguna Seca came out of the blue giving both the rider and Honda their first MotoGP victory for over a year. He was the fourth rider this season to win a MotoGP race but will have problems catching the three riders at the top of the overall Championship chase. He trails Championship leader Valentino Rossi, who was second in Laguna, by 59 points as the title chase reaches the half way stage. However, he is very capable of winning more grands prix starting round at the 30 lap encounter round the tight 2.281 mile Sachsenring on Sunday.

World Champion Rossi, who never looked like winning at Laguna despite an incredible last lap, has won four times at the Sachsenring including three Premier class victories. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who leads his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo by nine points in the Championship, has not won in Germany for three years and it will be another big battle on Sunday.

Lorenzo crashed out in the rain last year and will certainly want no repeats over the weekend after his spectacular qualifying crash at Laguna. The 22 year old Spaniard finished a brave third in the race and should be stronger to take on the demanding Sachsenring as he chases his third grand prix win of the season.

Last year’s winner Casey Stoner is also in the wars. In the last three races the Marlboro Ducati rider has been hampered with an energy sapping illness that has seen the Australian drop to third place in the Championship 16 points behind Rossi. There were signs in Laguna of an improvement after he finished fourth despite a big crash in qualifying and it’s important that he starts winning races again if he is going to mount a serious threat to Rossi’s crown.

American Colin Edwards moved into fifth place in the Championship despite a disappointing seventh place in Laguna rider the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha. His promotion came after Italian Andrea Dovizioso crashed from the Repsol Honda for the second race in succession. He trails Edwards, who finished fourth two years ago, by seven points.

Marco Melandri and Chris Vermeulen share seventh place and both have decent records at the Sachsenring. Australian Vermeulen finished third on the Rizla Suzuki in wet conditions last year while Italian Melandri has two 250 cc wins under his belt as he seeks more points on the Hayate Kawasaki.

It’s an important race for many riders fighting for their grand prix futures. Last year Alex De Angelis finished fourth on the San Carlo Gresini Honda, Tony Elias was sixth at Laguna one place behind former World Champion Nicky Hayden. Those three riders would love a repeat of those results on Sunday.

One former Sachsenring MotoGP winner will miss the race on Sunday. Sete Gibernau’s Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati has withdrawn from the Championship.

Both the 125 and 250 cc classes resume action after a three week break. Hiroshi Aoyama arrives in Germany brimming with confidence because not only does the Scot Honda rider lead the Championship after his win at the previous round in Holland but he is also a previous 250 cc winner at the Sachsenring two years ago.

His great rival Spaniard Alvaro Bautista surrendered the Championship lead after falling following a collision with Aoyama in Assen. It’s vital he secures at least a podium finish on the Aspar Aprilia on Sunday to prevent Aoyama increasing his 13 point Championship lead. World Champion Marco Simoncelli. won the race last year and must start winning again on the Métis Gilera if he has any chance of retaining his title before joining MotoGP next year. He trails third place Hector Barbera, who was second in Assen, by 18 points and Championship leader Aoyama by a massive 44 points.

The 125 cc class continues to be the closest battle with just 5.5 points separating the Aspar duo of Julian Simon and Bradley Smith. Their team-mate Sergio Gadea completed an incredible day for the team in Assen by winning the race from Simon and Smith. Italian Andrea Iannone, who has won three grands prix on the Ongetta ISPA Aprilia this season, was fourth and is third in the Championship 19.5 points behind Simon but only half a point in front of Gadea in fourth place.

EVENT TIME SCHEDULE

Friday 17 July

12.40 – 13.40              125cc Free Practice 1
13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Free Practice 1
15.10 – 16.10              250cc Practice 1

Saturday 18 July

09.00 – 09.40              125cc Free Practice 2
09.55 – 10.55              MotoGP Free Practice 2
11.10 – 12.10              250cc Free Practice 2
13.00 – 13.40              125cc Qualifying
13.55 – 14.55              MotoGP Qualifying
15.10 – 15.55              250cc Qualifying

Sunday 19 July

08.40 – 09.00              125cc Warm Up
09.10 – 09.30              250cc Warm Up
09.40 – 10.00              MotoGP Warm Up
11.00                           125cc RACE (27 laps)
12.15                           250cc RACE (29 laps)
14.00                           MotoGP RACE (30 laps)

In the Sachsen area in the south of Germany during the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland the weather was fine with temperatures above the 30 degrees. After 20 minutes of the session suddenly it started to rain very hard. In the dry first part British rider Danny Webb had a good lap time and end up at the 7^th position. Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher had also a good dry session and finished 11^th.

The session started under very hot circumstances. Before the session started the sky was getting dark and fro sure it would rain during the session. After 20 minutes the rain started and was heavy.The DeGraaf Grand Prix riders stayed in for more than 20 minutes in the pitbox and waiting what the other riders would do in the rain. With 8 minutes on the clock, Danny Webb and Randy Krummenacher went out at the track. Danny Webb was also fast in the rain. Webb rode a 5^th time in the wet.

Danny Webb (7^th, 1:29,967):

“It was strange in that halfway the session the rain came down. I could ride a 7^th time before the rain started but I wasn’t pushing at all yet. My injuries are pretty ok after my crash in Assen so that won’t be a problem this weekend. In the rain I was building up the speed and every lap I could ride 2 seconds faster and ended up on a 5^th position in the rain. I have a good feeling and the weather forecast for tomorrow is rain again but I think I can be on the second row in qualifying.”

The Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland did not bring luck yet for the DeGraaf Grand Prix Team. Randy Krummenacher had a technical problem and Danny Webb crashed out hard in this wet qualification session.  Danny Webb will start from the 17th position and Randy Krummenacher wasn’t even qualified but will be riding the race tomorrow.

The free practice session started wet but the last 20 minutes the track was dry. Danny Webb and Randy Krummenacher ended this session at the 11^th and 12^th position.

During the qualification it was raining the whole session. The tire choice wasn’t difficult for the team and everybody was on the rain tires. Both DeGraaf Grand Prix riders was building up there lap times and went faster and faster. Danny Webb climbed up in the last 5 minutes to an 8^th position but one minute later he dropped back to P11. In his last flying lap Webb was much faster and was looking for a front row lap time. Unfortunately Webb crashed out in the fourth section of the track and ended up at the 17^th position.

Danny Webb (17^th, 1:41,714):

“I’m really not happy! Again I had a crash and that is obviously not helping me or either the team. I didn’t went ok in the beginning but I was building up the speed and was improving my lap times. In my last flying lap I went much better and had a good feeling. Three turns before the finish line I had a high sider and crashed hard. Luckily I’m ok but I’m not happy. After the session I saw I was looking for a front row lap time. Tomorrow for the race I have only one goal: finish the race.”