MotoGP

Sole MotoGP tyre manufacturer Bridgestone have, by virtue of their privileged position, little on which to compare themselves against in 2009. However, the company have refused to stand still on development. Average race pace and -in the case of Sunday's Spanish race- Valentino Rossi's winning race time have been the data to analyse and aim to beat at the opening three races.

Despite concerns expressed by some riders about the softness of even the harder compound choice, the Jerez showdown was a quicker outing for eventual victor Rossi than it was for 2008 racewinner Dani Pedrosa.

Valentino Rossi has had six podium finishes in the premier-class at Le Mans, including three victories; in 2002 riding a Honda, 2005 and last year on a Yamaha. His win in France last year was his 90th GP victory - the same number of GP victories as Angel Nieto. Rossi's win at Jerez was the 12th successive race at which he has stood on the podium.

Casey Stoner's third place finish in 2007 is his only podium in any class of racing at the Le Mans circuit.

Jorge Lorenzo missed out on a second consecutive pole position by just five thousandths of a second during qualifying for the French Grand Prix in Le Mans today, finishing second to fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi was just edged off the front row at the end of the session and will start from fourth tomorrow.

After yesterdays rain it was another grey morning and the practice session was run in the dry but with track temperatures reaching only 17 degrees.

Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo took a stunning second win of the season in Le Mans today, negotiating varying track conditions and a change of bikes to lead from the first lap to the flag and take the championship lead. It was a doom-laden day for his team-mate Valentino Rossi however as the world champion slid off early on and then had a ride-through penalty to compound his misfortune.

With the track still wet from a rainy morning all riders started the race on rain tyres, with the mechanics readying the dry bikes in pit lane in anticipation of an early change as the track dried out.

Jorge Lorenzo has had mixed fortune in recent years at Mugello; he finished 2nd in 2005 after qualifying on the pole for the first time in the 250cc class, won from pole in 2006, but in 2007 qualifi ed down in 20th place in a rain affected session and then after coming through the field to lead he crashed on the final lap and re-mounted to finish 8th.

Valentino Rossi has an incredible record of success at the Mugello circuit with nine victories across all classes, including seven successive MotoGP wins.

Below is a brief summary of each of his thirteen GP races he has started at Mugello:

1996/125cc/Aprilia: Qualified 8th/Finished 4th: His first Grand Prix appearance at Mugello was just his 5th GP start, and after leading a Grand Prix for the first time he finished 4th just 1.6 seconds behind race victor Peter Ottl.

The Fiat Yamaha pairing of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi got off to a flying start at the Italian Grand Prix today, taking the top two spots in the opening practice session at Mugello. After the rain-interrupted French round, sunny Tuscany is a welcome change for the riders and the Spaniard and the Italian looked in fine fettle around the 5.245km track this afternoon.

Lorenzo leads the championship from his team-mate by just one point and he looked in top form once again this afternoon.

Fans at Mugello were treated to a great battle in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, with Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo upstaging his teammate Valentino Rossi at the World Champion's home track - the Spaniard taking pole and the Italian left off the front row.

In brilliant sunshine at the Gran Premio d'Italia Alice four riders fought for pole right at the death. Lorenzo eventually emerged on top, courtesy of a 1'48.987 time on the 29th of his 30 laps, beating Casey Stoner by a tight margin (0.021s).

Jorge Lorenzo took his second pole and fifth front row of the season after a scintillating qualifying session in Italy this afternoon, which left the top four riders separated by less than two tenths of a second. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi qualified fourth and finds himself off the front row at Mugello for the first time since 1999, when he was still in 250s.

Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi took battling podium positions in the Italian Grand Prix today, after an action-packed afternoon saw the riders forced to swap bikes for the second race in a row due to changing weather conditions. Lorenzo recovered from a crash on the sighting lap to come home in second behind Casey Stoner, whilst Rossi finally surrendered the crown he has worn at his home track for the past seven years and had to be content with third.

Mugello was Ducati’s first true home triumph. At the track where Ducati test and develop their MotoGP machine Valentino Rossi has been dominant on Honda and Yamaha, but finally the legendary Italian rider’s winning streak at the Gran Premio d’Italia Alice was broken, giving the thousands of Ducatisti the perfect reason to party.

Ducati Corse CEO - Claudio Domenicali Speaks...

The Fiat Yamaha Team moves to Spain for the Grand Prix of Catalunya this week and after Valentino Rossi's home race in Italy last time out it is now Jorge Lorenzo's turn in the spotlight as the local hero. After a thrilling race in Mugello the pair now lie second and third in the championship and another exciting spectacle beckons this weekend at the high-speed Montmeló track.

Mallorcan-born Lorenzo lived in Barcelona for much of his early career and after a brief hiatus in London last year he has now returned to live in his beloved home city.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca announced that for the first time ever, the three Legends of Laguna Seca and Yamaha World Champions: Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts Sr. will join current Yamaha MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi on the world-renowned race track for a SuperKart Exhibition on July 2 to kick-off the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. The Grand Marshal for the Superkart Exhibition will be Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards.

Valentino Rossi Speaks...

MotoGP Race Report: Catalunya

As at Jerez and Le Mans, Spanish riders have taken all three pole positions; however no Spanish rider has won from pole this year. The weekend in Catalunya turned out to be action packed in all three classes.

Pleae read on for all the full race summary in MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc. We have also included a photo gallery. 

Alice TT Assen - Monday 22 June Preview

MotoGP

Round seven of the 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship takes place this coming weekend in The Netherlands with the Alice TT Assen giving Valentino Rossi the chance to turn up the heat on his title rivals at one of the most popular circuits on the calendar.