Review on MotoGP Championship 2007 Round 1 in Losail Qatar

Although I couldn't watched the MotoGP Championship in Losail, Qatar, because I had a trip to Teluk Senangin on the same day, I managed to get the reviews and informations that regards with it. I was so astonished with the performance of the Ducati especially on top speed. Rossi was 2006~2007: 324.7km/h ~ 309.9km/h, and the Ducati's machine 2006~2007: 326.5km/h ~ 324.7km/h. The race was won by Casey Stoner, from Australia, Ducati Malboro Team. The runner up was Valentino Rossi from, Italy, Fiat Yamaha Team and third was Dani Pedrosa, from Spain, Repsol Honda Team.

Below were the news I obtained from The Star News. I arranged it base on the news timeline.

Rossi in pole position

DOHA: Valentino Rossi put Yamaha on pole position for MotoGP's Qatar season-opener with a blistering last lap in qualifying yesterday.

The Italian pipped Australian Casey Stoner, on pole for Honda last year and now riding a Ducati, by just 0.005 seconds in near-perfect conditions.

Rossi's Texan teammate Colin Edwards completed the front row for today's race.

Speed king: Italian Valentino Rossi of Yamaha (right) races with Shinya Nakano of Japan during free practice at the Losail International Circuit on the outskirts of Doha on Thursday. – AFP

Rossi, determined to regain the world title he held for five years before being dethroned by American Nicky Hayden last season, is chasing a hat-trick of wins in Qatar and the pole was the 46th of his grand prix career – matching his racing number.

“It's extra special for me,” he said. “I hope this is a good omen for tomorrow. It was a great qualifying session,” added the 28-year-old. “The last 50 metres was a great show. I was not sure if I had finished on top as all the riders – Casey, Colin and me were very fast.

“We expect a good performance during the race as the bikes have a good grip on the track with the tyres,” he added.

MotoGP has reduced the engine capacity this year from 990cc to 800.

The Yamaha riders were fastest in the third free practice yesterday morning with Edwards lapping in 1:56.057 and Rossi trailing behind by 0.215. Stoner was half a second behind the Texan.

The Australian got his own back in the final qualifying session, but was unable to displace Rossi from the top.

“This is a great start and we are obviously going to get better as the season progresses,” said the Australian. “All the riders are very good and are clocking good times. I am sure this is going to be great season.”

Hayden, who had a poor practice session on Thursday, turned in a better performance yesterday but starts on the third row after qualifying ninth fastest.

The Kentucky rider's Spanish teammate Dani Pedrosa, expected to be Rossi's main rival this season, will start fifth in 1:55.361.

Honda's Toni Elias was fourth while Suzuki's John Hopkins ended up sixth ahead of Ducati's Loris Capirossi.

Elias, Capirossi and Honda's Marco Melandri all went off track into the gravel while Japan's Shinya Nakano (Honda) and Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor) has minor crashes. – Reuters

First win for Stoner

DOHA: Australian Casey Stoner upstaged former world champion Valentino Rossi to take the first win of his MotoGP career in the Qatar season-opener yesterday.

The 21-year-old Ducati rider, starting alongside pole-setter Rossi, seized the lead at the end of the first lap and smashed the race lap record on his way to becoming the first winner on an 800cc machine.

Despite the Italian twice going past, Stoner used the Ducati's impressive power advantage at the Losail circuit to take the chequered flag with a 2.8 second advantage.

“The team's been working great,” said Stoner, who made his MotoGp debut only last year.

The top three: Ducati rider Casey Stoner from Australia raises his trophy after winning the Qatar GP in Doha yesterday. Valentino Rossi (left) of Yamaha finished second while Dani Pedrosa of Honda came in third. – AP

“We struggled in a few parts of the track during the race where Valentino was a bit quicker but I just used what we had to our advantage.

“I think I did my fastest lap on the last lap so we were there, we had it.”

Rossi, winner in Qatar for the past two years and starting on pole position on a much-improved Yamaha, said he had done the best he could.

“Compared to first race of the last season, this is a good result. I am happy. There is not much difference between the two bikes (Ducati and Yamaha) but Casey rode a perfect race and I had no chance,” said the Italian.

Honda's Spanish title contender Dani Pedrosa won a close battle for third place with Suzuki's American John Hopkins, who injured his hand in pre-season testing and ended the race grimacing with pain after a brave ride. – Reuters

These are the results I obtained from MotoGP website. Click the pictures below for better view.

Unofficial Report of Motorcycle Convoy to Teluk Senangin in Perak, Malaysia.

Malaysian's government already launch the Visit Malaysia 2007 Campaign early this year. Click HERE for more info. There will be a lot of interesting places to visit here.

Hello to all of you. Yesterday, Kabuki Riderz Motorcycle Club had made a trip to Teluk Senangin, Perak, Malaysia. The trip consisted students from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) and some people from a motorcycle forum, Malaysian's Bikers Community Forum (MBC). We have planned it for more than a month and the trip was successful. I'm just came from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, just to join them. Everyone really has enjoyed themselves.

Back then, I was from my grandmother's house in Seremban. I departed at 12.30 pm.

The group of convoy will start to depart from UTP at 4 pm. I reached in Tapah at 3.30 pm. From there, I thought I couldn’t catch up with them and therefore, I used the old road rather than the highway, a shortcut.

I got lost in Tg Tualang area but thank God, I met them at a junction in Bota Kanan. From there, I joined them.

We reached in Teluk Senangin in late evening. Then, after that, we start a meeting regarding with the activities that will be done later. It was lead by Mr Ikmal Hisyam, our team leader for this trip.

The view at that beach are quite nice. And it provide more privacy rather that other beaches in Perak. The facilities are still good although the water from the shower are smelly. Haha. We have booked about 8 chalets. In the chalet, they only provide some electrical plugs, some lights and a fan. This place is good for those who love nature and rather sacrifice comfort.

Then, we prepared all the equipments and things that regard to this trip. In the picture, you can see that Mr Ikmal was very excited to put up the banner, hahaha. The girls were preparing the foods and drinks with some helps from the guys, and others were busy to set up a camp fire and tents.

Then, after doing their tasks, most of the guys enjoying themselves by playing some beach's sports. The girls enjoying themselves by playing net ball and others enjoying themselves by watching the view.

Then, I took the opportunity to take picture with the girls. This is the time for me to get know with them, although not really close, haha.

Then, the guys, after tiring playing the beach's sports, they took a dip into the sea. Mr Ikan^Laga was the first to jump into the sea. He's the one who's wearing a goggle. Haha.

Then they decided to arrange themselves to form some alphabets for the word 'KABUKI', lead by Mr Tonton. In the picture below, we can look that he's really pleasing himself for doing it. Hahaha.

And, the moment that most of them have waiting for, 'Barbeque!' The girls really have made the chickens really delicious, with some help from the men, hahaha. The foods on that day are really delicious. I also like to thank to Mr Faizul's parents to cook some food for us. We really appreciate it.

The men also wanted to try to make the chickens taste delicious. They're trying to compete against the women by cheating it. The girls used only some paper plates, but the guys have used the current technology to compete against the women, the electric fan, haha.

These were the foods were cook by Faizul's mom. His mom cooks it for us with the helps of others. We can see that Mr Bob was really excited about it, haha.

Since we couldn't get some fresh water, we have to import it from outside. They're preparing hot water for tea. Seems that Mr Tonton very enthusiats about it.

The ice breaking session. Lead by Mr Ikmal. Mr Feno and Mr Nazli seems want to bash each other by making a lot of jokes, haha. In this session, each of them introduce themselves. Funny thing was, haha, most of them were bashed with some jokes when introducing themselves, haha. The girls always have been asked for their phone numbers, haha.

Mr Blizzard and Mr Tonton were trying to attract some girls by singing some songs and amazingly, they're singing it very well. Mr Tonton sang with his Kapok guitar. Then, Mr Feno came. The songs become haywire. Hahaha. Mr Bouncer also joined them. Thanks to Mr Meor and the others (sorry because I couldn't memorize most of the names) for bringing up the camp fire. Huhu.

That night, there's a little bit of downpour. Since that camp site became cooler from time to time, most of us take advantage to sleep, including me. Astonishingly, I could slept well. But, there's others went for fishing that night.

Day 2. There's some of us try to woke up the others for Subuh's prayer, and sadly, not all woke up. Haha. Then, at dawn, some of the guys took a dip in the sea. Then, the girls joined it later.

Then, the girls and the guys took the opportunity to catch some sort of sea shell creatures. In Malaysia, we called it 'Remis'. It can be eaten but, you'll have to cook it first.

They caught it a lot. Almost full in the plastic bag. They also put it in other 2 bottles. Then, they cook it as a supper before our breakfast meals arrived.

After we're finished packing, there's came for the photo session. MBC people also joined it. We left Teluk Senangin at about 12 pm (correct me if I'm wrong since my wrist watch gone missing). Everyone enjoyed it. They're hoping that there'll be next activities in the future.

I would like to thank all of you for making this trip to become successful, especially the girls and the guys from UTP, UNITEN and MBC. Hope there'll be next event like this in the future.

Thank you.

photo by qebalt

Again about the 'LARGE' demonstration group in Korea!

I got it from the motorcycle-usa forum. The link is Joong Ang Daily. Hope their efforts are worth doing it. They also have the right of using those roads. We also hope that their government take this matter seriously and have some better solutions to these road users.

From Joong And Daily:

Motorcyclists call for right to ride on the open road

March 02, 2007

	Motorcyclists gather in Yeouido, western Seoul yesterday, to protest the government’s 1972 ban on motorcycles on highways. By Kim Sang-seon

Looking to put their two wheels on four-lane highways, more than 1,500 bikers gathered at Yeouido in Seoul to protest the government’s rules keeping them off expressways.
The protesters planned to ride en masse to World Cup Stadium, but the police only allowed five bikes at a time at certain time intervals.
The bikers said riding a motorcycle on the expressway does carry some danger, but they said it is no higher than on city streets.
“Most motorcycle accidents happen on city streets rather than highways,” said Hwang Sang-gil, former president of the BMW Motorrad Club in Korea. “If proper protection is worn and the riding is done safely, there isn’t a big threat to the rider’s safety.”
Peter Kim, head of the Korea Motorcycle Reference Group, said the Korean motorcycle industry has been damaged by the government’s policy. “The Korean motorcycle industry is so small compared to the car makers. The government should stop its policies against bikes. It will help the industry and would also ease the traffic and parking problems.”
Motorcycles were banned on highways in 1972 when the government decided they were too dangerous.


By Hwang Young-jin Staff Writer [yhwang@joongang.co.kr]

Funny Pictures.

These are some funny picture I took it from the internet. Maybe some of you have seen it, but anyway, I still want to share it with you all. Enjoy!


This picture show 2 people try to act like 2 biker trying to scrap their knees. Haha. I think the one on the left try to look like he's overtaking the left one from the inside.


This picture showed 2 people try to act like a biker and a pillion doing knee scraping together on a bike, haha. We can see that the front one is serious about it. Haha.


This third picture showed a man also trying to do knee scraping in the toilet and he's look very serious about it too. The best thing is, he wore a helmet, hahaha.


Knee scraping on a superbike? Duhhhh. He can do it much better. He's doing head scrapping!


You think that you can knee scraping only on the bike? You can do it on anything even though on a car.


Too bored while working? Take any of your company's trolley and do this, haha. Make sure your supervisor didn't notice it.

Very 'Large' Demonstration’s Group In South Korea

These were the motorcyclist’s demonstration in South Korea on 1st March 2007, to demand lift for motorcycle ban on expressways, ‘car only’ roads, overpass & etc. in Seoul Korea. Due to police, motorcycles have been surrounded by police bus they were stuck for more than 2 hours.

I found it in the motorcycle-usa forum. It was posted by a Korean, who is the forum’s member. Looking at the pictures, I was amazed of their unity, their biking spirit.

I have searched any news from the internet that regards to the demonstration and couldn’t found one. I hope that if any of you found it through out the net, can share it here.

Lets us stop opressions against motorcyclists!

Countdown for the 2007 MotoGP Championship

5 days to go for the first race that will be held in Losail, Qatar. It has been for a few months wait for it. Last year, it was won by the Kentucky Kid from Texas, Nicky Hayden. Hope that this year, it will be The Doctor, Valentino Rossi. These are the final list, announced by the FIM, for the 2007 MotoGP World Championships.

MotoGP Class

1
Nicky Hayden (USA)
Repsol Honda Team
Honda

4
Alex Barros (BRA)
Pramac d'Antin
Ducati

5
Colin Edwards (USA)
Yamaha Factory Racing Team
Yamaha

6
Makoto Tamada (JPN)
Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3
Yamaha

7
Carlos Checa (SPA)
Honda LCR
Honda

10
Kenny Roberts (USA)
Team Roberts
KR212V

14
Randy de Puniet (FRA)
Kawasaki Racing Team
Kawasaki

19
Olivier Jacque (FRA)
Kawasaki Racing Team
Kawasaki

21
John Hopkins (USA)
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
Suzuki

24
Toni Elias (SPA)
Honda Gresini
Honda

26
Dani Pedrosa (SPA)
Repsol Honda Team
Honda

27
Casey Stoner (AUS)
Ducati Marlboro Team
Ducati

33
Marco Melandri (ITA)
Honda Gresini
Honda

46
Valentino Rossi (ITA)
Yamaha Factory Racing Team
Yamaha

50
Sylvain Guintoli (FRA)
Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3
Yamaha

56
Shinya Nakano (JPN)
Konica Minolta Honda
Honda

65
Loris Capirossi (ITA)
Ducati Marlboro Team
Ducati

66
Alex Hofmann (GER)
Pramac d'Antin
Ducati

71
Chris Vermeulen (AUS)
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
Suzuki

88
Andrew Pitt (AUS)
Ilmor GP
Ilmor X3

99
Jeremy Mcwilliams (GBR)
Ilmor GP
Ilmor X3




250cc Class

1
Jorge Lorenzo (SPA)
Fortuna Aprilia
Aprilia

3
Alex de Angelis (RSM)
Master – MVA Aspar
Aprilia

4
Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN)
Red Bull KTM 250
KTM

8
Ratthapark Wilairot (THA)
Thai Honda PTT-SAG
Honda

9
Arturo Tizon (SPA)
Blusens Aprilia Germany
Aprilia

10
Imre Toth (HUN)
Team Toth Aprilia
Aprilia

12
Thomas Luthi (SWI)
Emmi Caffe Latte
Aprilia

14
Anthony West (AUS)
Team Sicilia
Aprilia

15
Roberto Locatelli (ITA)
Squadra Corse Metis Gilera
Gilera

16
Jules Cluzel (FRA)
Angaia Racing
Aprilia

17
Karel Abraham (CZE)
Cardion AB Motoracing
Aprilia

19
Alvaro Bautista (SPA)
Master – MVA Aspar
Aprilia

25
Alex Baldolini (ITA)
Kiefer – BOS - Sotin Racing
Aprilia

28
Dirk Heidolf (GER)
Kiefer – BOS - Sotin Racing
Aprilia

32
Fabrizio Lai (ITA)
Campetella Racing
Aprilia

34
Andrea Dovizioso (ITA)
Humangest Racing Team 250cc
Honda

36
Mika Kallio (FIN)
Red Bull KTM 250
KTM

41
Aleix Espargaro (SPA)
Blusens Aprilia
Aprilia

44
Taro Sekiguchi (JPN)
Campetella Racing
Aprilia

50
Eugene Laverty (IRL)
Honda LCR
Honda

55
Yuki Takahashi (JPN)
Humangest Racing Team 250cc
Honda

58
Marco Simoncelli (ITA)
Squadra Corse Metis Gilera
Gilera

60
Julian Simon (SPA)
Repsol Honda 250cc
Honda

73
Shuhei Aoyama (JPN)
Repsol Honda 250cc
Honda

80
Hector Barbera (SPA)
Team Toth Aprilia
Aprilia




125cc Class

6
Joan Olive (SPA)
Polaris World
Aprilia

7
Alexis Masbou (FRA)
FFM Honda Grand Prix 125
Honda

8
Lorenzo Zanetti (ITA)
Team Sicilia
Aprilia

11
Sandro Cortese (GER)
Emmi Caffe Latte
Aprilia

12
Esteve Rabat (SPA)
Repsol Honda 125cc
Honda

14
Gabor Talmacsi (HUN)
Bancaja Aspar
Aprilia

15
Federico Sandi (ITA)
Skilled Racing Team
Aprilia

18
Nicolas Terol (SPA)
Valsir Seedorf Derbi
Derbi

20
Roberto Tamburini (ITA)
Team Sicilia
Aprilia

22
Pablo Nieto (SPA)
Blusens Aprilia
Aprilia

24
Simone Corsi (ITA)
Skilled Racing Team
Aprilia

27
Stefano Bianco (ITA)
WTR Team
Aprilia

29
Andrea Iannone (ITA)
WTR Team
Aprilia

33
Sergio Gadea (SPA)
Bancaja Aspar
Aprilia

34
Randy Krumenacher (SWI)
Red Bull KTM 125
KTM

35
Raffaele de Rosa (ITA)
Multimedia Racing
Aprilia

37
Joey Litjens (NED)
Arie Molenaar Racing
Honda

38
Bradley Smith (GBR)
Repsol Honda 125cc
Honda

44
Pol Espargaro (SPA)
Belson Campetella Aprilia
Aprilia

51
Steve Bonsey (USA)
Red Bull KTM 125
KTM

52
Lukas Pesek (CZE)
Valsir Seedorf Derbi
Derbi

53
Simone Grotzkyj (ITA)
Multimedia Racing
Aprilia

55
Hector Faubel (SPA)
Bancaja Aspar
Aprilia

56
Hugo Van Den Berg (NED)
Blusens Aprilia
Aprilia

60
Michael Ranseder (AUT)
Ajo Motorsport
Derbi

63
Mike di Meglio (FRA)
Humangest Racing Team 125cc
Honda

71
Tomoyoshi Koyama (JPN)
Red Bull KTM 125
KTM

75
Mattia Pasini (ITA)
Polaris World
Aprilia

76
Stefano Musco (ITA)
Humangest Racing Team 125cc
Honda

77
Dominique Aegerter (SWI)
Multimedia Racing
Aprilia

95
Robert Muresan (ROM)
Ajo Motorsport
Derbi

99
Danny Webb (GBR)
Arie Molenaar Racing
Honda

Hope that the 2007 season become more challenging than last year. May the best man wins.

The Malaysian Super Series (MSS) Dilemmas.

The Malaysian Super Series (MSS) had made its first appearance on May 2002. It had provide racing opportunities for racing enthusiasts within Malaysia and internationally. From this statistics, we know that it has encourage more and more people domestically and internationally to join it.

But, if we compare to American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Superbike Championship, British Superbike (BSB) Championship and etc, our amount of spectators for MSS very appalling. It happened not only in MSS, but it is also happened during FIM MotoGP Championship and FIA Formula 1 (F1) Championship almost every year.

As we can see, other countries such as USA, UK, Italy, Japan and etc, their people give almost full support for their nation’s motorsports. I couldn’t see why we couldn’t do this within Malaysians. Before MotoGP venue was shifted to F1 Sepang circuit, it was held in Shah Alam Selangor. I heard from many people, when it was held in Shah Alam, the spectators were very encouraging. Then, after it was shifted to F1 Sepang Circuit, it become the other way around.

I recognized that there’re four major weaknesses in Malaysian’s motorsport:

1. Promotions.

We’re really lack in promoting our motorsport through out the country. We barely heard about it.

2. Location.

The location of the F1 Sepang Circuit is very far from Kuala Lumpur. Usually, motorcyclists rather think again and again before they plan to go there. For those who want to drive there, numbers of toll booths and the long journey made them to think twice.

3. Government supports.

The government give not enough support to our motorsport industries since it is not quite popular among the Malaysians. I blame it because of lack of exposures and promotions about our motorsport. What I meant was, supports in terms of promotions and exposures.

4. Exposures.

Lack of exposures about our motorsport make it harder. It’s quite hard to see it in the television or on the newspaper. Not many people really like cubprix, since, they usually refer it to Rempitism. We couldn’t expose it forever with cubprix. There must be changes in it.

But still, we have enough rooms to improve it. Supposedly, we still couldn’t blame the government 100%. We have to force up ourselves to support it.

Please support our own motorsport ! ! !

by qebalt

Other links:

How Can I Race in the MSS?

MSS Entry Form