Satan R1

Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi got his pre-season off to the best possible start today, finishing fastest on the first day of testing in Sepang. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate and last season’s runner-up Jorge Lorenzo also made a strong start, ending the day in fifth.

Both riders concentrated on completing as many laps as possible on the latest evolution of the 2010 YZR-M1 and, with the weather staying dry until just a few minutes before the end of the session, it was a productive day all round. Rossi led the way and was one of four riders to dip under the existing lap record. His time of 2′01.411, set this morning on his 15th of 54 laps, was half a second quicker than second-placed Casey Stoner.

Lorenzo found it a little harder to get back into the swing of things and took it gently this morning, but he felt much more comfortable on the new M1 this afternoon and gradually began to improve his time, setting his best time of 2′02.165 on the penultimate lap of the day, leaving him in fifth.

Valentino Rossi – Position: 1st Time: 2′01.411 Laps: 54
“Today was very important because this year we have just six days of testing in which to set the bike, so we can not waste any time. This first day was very positive, we tried the new bike for 2010, with a different chassis and a new engine, which can do more kilometres, and it is quite fast. Yamaha has worked very well over the winter. Now we need to spend time on setting some electronics and other things. This is only the start but it seems we’re already in good shape.”

Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 5th Time: 2′02.165 Laps: 57
“After such a long break I found it quite hard to find my rhythm on the bike today – motocross bikes are not the same as the new M1! It was quite a difficult start to the day but little by little i started to feel more comfortable and to improve my pace. This afternoon, when it was a bit warmer, i began to improve my times even more and get closer to the first rider, so in the end I was quite happy with our work. Yamaha have brought some good things for us; the bike is not completely different to the old one but the small details make it easier to ride and this is important. Today was my first day of riding with my new team manager, Wilco Zeelenberg, and I feel good with him. He is an ex rider and so we were able to share a lot of information and he was able to give me some good advice.”

Colin Edwards makes flying start to 2010 in Sepang

Refreshed after a long winter break and boosted by the impressive performance of Yamaha’s new 2010 YZR-M1 machine, Colin Edwards produced a stunning return to MotoGP action at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia today.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider ended the first day of 2010 pre-season testing with the third fastest time, a best lap of 2.01.932 only bettered by Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner as the MotoGP paddock reconvened after a three-month winter break.

Edwards completed 48 laps in typically demanding Sepang conditions as air temperatures reached close to 40 degrees and track temperatures hitting a searing 60 degrees. Edwards, who finished fifth in last y ear’s MotoGP world championship, was one of four riders who managed to lap under the existing lap record and he finished just 0.030s behind Stoner. The Texan was thrilled with the performance of Yamaha’s new 2010 YZR-M1 machine, particularly with bottom end performance on the in-line four-cylinder motor.

Ben Spies kicked off his 2010 challenge with a fastest lap of 2.03.142 helping the reigning World Superbike champion secure 12th spot. A chronic bout of jetlag after the long trip to Kuala Lumpur stopped Spies from displaying his true potential, with the Texan continuing to adjust to the prototype YZR-M1 machine while also trying to learn the long and technical Sepang circuit.

Colin Edwards – Position: 3rd Time: 2.01.932 Laps: 48 laps
“After I blew off a few cobwebs this morning I’ve got to say the bike worked really great and I’ve got to say a big thanks to Yamaha. They have impressed me because we knew it was a big challenge to achieve a high level of performance while also getting more durability out of the engine for the new rules. And they have done that and I’m really happy, so I’m already excited about the new season. The engine seems much better off the bottom. Last year I’d open the throttle and nothing really happened, but this year there’s a response when you push. I never even touched the bike today, I just got on it and rode it and it felt really natural and I could do what I wanted with the bike. It accelerated how I wanted, I could hold a line how I wanted and I was riding round talking to myself inside my helmet saying ‘how much fun is this?’ When the bike does what you ask, it’s pretty easy. It was a great way to start what hopefully is going to be another successful year with Herve Poncharal and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team.”

Ben Spies – Position: 12th Time: 2.03.142 Laps: 55 laps
“I tried as hard as I could for the first day but I’ve got a little bit of jetlag and I wasn’t at 100 per cent. Despite that though the new bike is really good. I got behind a couple of people and the engine performance was really good and that is a real positive. I’m still working on my mid-corner speed and trusting the Bridgestone tyres and today was still a good day even if I’d like to have been a bit further up the timesheets. My times aren’t far off on a track that these guys know like the back of their hand, so I know there is plenty more to come from me. My guy’s asked me what I need to work on for tomorrow and right now it’s just me. There’s a good half-a-second just in myself. I’ve got a lot to learn and it takes time. I’ve already been getting a lot of help and advice from Colin about the track and that is great for me and for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team that we are working together like that.”

Test Times
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 2′01.411
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 2′01.902
3. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2′01.932
4. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2′02.102
5. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 2′02.165
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 2′02.630
7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 2′02.792
8. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2′02.866
9. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 2′02.987
10. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 2′03.030
11. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 2′03.133
12. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2′03.142
13. Randy de Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 2′03.456
14. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2′03.558
15. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 2′03.609
16. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 2′03.609
17. Hiroshi Aoyama (JAP) Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 2′03.651

Sepang: Record Lap
C. Stoner (Ducati) 2007, 2′02.108

Sepang: Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2009, 2′00.518

The Fiat Yamaha Team unveiled its new 2010 livery today, on the morning of the first MotoGP test of the pre-season in Sepang, Malaysia. The championship-winning team will field the same line-up as last year with World Champion Valentino Rossi and runner-up Jorge Lorenzo once again spearheading its attack.

The two-day test began today, 4th February, the first of three pre-season tests before the first race at Qatar on 11th April.

The new 2010 YZR-M1 of both Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo as well as several videos of the riders and Team Managers are now available for you online.

Go to www.yamaha-racing.com, visit the MotoGP photo and video gallery and be the first to discover the new 2010 livery!

Lin Jarvis – Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
“2009 was the most successful year for Yamaha’s racing activities for many years. It will be difficult to follow such a performance but we are intending to try! We are lucky to have the same fantastic rider line-up with Valentino and Jorge and we are looking forward to getting started with our work on track.

“Of course, Yamaha has not been able to escape the global economic situation but MotoGP forms a key part of the company’s recovery plan. It is a very important brand image tool and MotoGP will remain a flag-waving activity for Yamaha worldwide.

“We are extremely fortunate to have retained all of our existing loyal sponsors and even to have added a few more to the team. Our title sponsor Fiat is with us for a fourth year and Petronas, Packard Bell and Yamalube will continue as major sponsors of the team. We have two new sponsors in the form of Yamaha Indonesia, who join us with the aim of promoting their activities in Indonesia, the most important market for Yamaha at the moment, and Iveco. We have also retained all of our existing technical sponsors and suppliers.

“Last but not least I would like to welcome back to all of our team members and staff and also extend a warm welcome to our two new team members; Wilco Zeelenberg joins from the successful Yamaha World Supersport team as Jorge’s new team manager and Davide Marelli comes in as his new Data Technician.”

What have you been doing during the off-season? How much training and how much holidaying?
If my time during winter was 100, let’s say 50/50 between holiday and training. I went to the mountains with my friends and I snowboarded with them, which is my favourite winter sport. My training during the winter break is very different than the standard one during the MotoGP season. Anyway, I have never stopped training, otherwise it would be very much difficult to start riding again this year.

How do you prepare for a new season? Is it more important to work on your fitness these days?
Training has become more and more important, because MotoGP bikes are more and more difficult to be ridden and you need power and resistance for the 45 minutes of the race. You also have to get to the new season start in the best possible shape. At the gym, my training is pretty normal, with weights, but I always try to ride motocross or supermotard bikes at the ‘cava’, in order to not lose the feeling with the throttle.

At the age of 31 (nearly) do you think you are still improving as a racer or do you think you have reached the peak of your talents?
On 16th February I will be 31. I will be a little older… I always try to be at the top of my shape, improving and trying to adapt to the new bike. You always need to adapt yourself to the new bike, to the new regulation. If you think you are at the top of your performance, it is a big problem! Every season has its own story, it is more and more difficult and you always have to be faster. I will try again, as usual.

Who do you think will be toughest to beat this season, Jorge, Casey or Dani, and why?
It is very difficult to say now who will be the hardest rival this year. I think all of them are on the same level, it is difficult to beat any of them. They are very strong riders, they can be fast on every track and condition and through the entire season and they are all capable of winning the championship. The 2010 bikes will make the difference, but I think all three riders will be the more difficult to be beaten.

You have made no secret of the fact that you are not happy about the new engine rule restricting the amount of engines that can be used in a season. How would you change it, if you could?
This rule is not fantastic for MotoGP. It will make everybody’s lives very difficult. To me it is not right that MotoGP have six engines only for the entire season, it is too tight. The rule is aimed to save money, but I think engines should be at least eight; ten would be easier and less risky. All manufacturers will have to adapt to the new rule and all riders will have to be careful, in order to save the engines and arrive at the end of the season with six engines only.

Last year you made more mistakes than we’ve grown accustomed to seeing you make. Do you think this was to do with the level your rivals pushed you to or what?
Rivals pressure is always very high, every year. In 2009 I did three mistakes during races, which is too much, but at least two of them were very particular, because it was raining and I had slick tyres. In Indianapolis, instead, I had the worst accident and I could avoid it. In 2010 we will try to stay as much concentrated as possible and to avoid those mistakes.

What developments have you personally asked to be made to the M1 for this season?
In order to improve the 2010 M1 we have decided to focus on two aspects: we have improved the chassis, that I tested in Valencia with. Our aim is to develop a more stable bike, with more grip. The second direction, which is the most important, is the engine. We need more horsepower, despite the new rule that limits the number of engines through the season. We need more power and longer life of the engine. This will not be easy for Yamaha, but I know that they have been working very hard on this.

What’s your opinion about Ben Spies? Do you think he can be a threat to the current ‘big four’, as many people say he will be?
There is a lot of expectation about Ben Spies. I think Spies is a very good rider and has a great talent. It is not a case that he is the current Superbike World Champion! He will surely be very competitive, he has a good potential, he’s fast and brave, but of course I hope he will be less fast than we will be, because four strong riders are already too many…

What are your thoughts about the news of 1000cc engines returning in two seasons’ time? Is that an exciting prospect that makes you want to commit to MotoGP for even longer?
Theoretically, I am very happy to go back to the 1000cc, because I like it more than 800cc and it is more fun. Of course we will have to see how the technical regulation will be for these engines and we will have to see whether they are fast and fun to ride like they were in 2006. Anyway, going back to 1000cc is an important challenge, as far as my motivation are concerned, and may convince me to stay in MotoGP for longer.

Following your recent Ferrari F1 test, people are asking once again if you will move to F1. What do you say about this, and how do you expect Ferrari to do this year?
I had the chance to drive the Ferrari F1 car in Barcelona. It was great, I had fun and it was a very good test, with good lap times, but I think that it will be very difficult to see me driving in Formula One.

What do you think about Schumacher returning to F1?
It has been an interesting and curious choice. It will be nice to see Michael again on a F1 car and see if he can be as fast as he used to be before retiring.

Is what Schumacher is doing something you could see yourself doing, i.e. leaving MotoGP for a few years and then returning? Or do you think that, when you do decide to retire, it will be for good?
I don’t know. It is a difficult question. A lot of great sportsmen such as Michael Jordan retired and then came back, as well as Armstrong. Honestly, my objective is to not retire at all and, if I do it, I would do something else. But I don’t know, it is really very difficult to say.

When do you expect to make a decision about your future?
It is difficult to say a date, anyway during the next summer I will have my ideas more clear about my future, about 2011 and 2012. I am very good in Yamaha, so I will talk to them first. Then we will see.

Can you shed any light on what you’re planning?
I can tell you that I am building a new house. All the rest, I don’t know; I have not decided yet.