MotoGP

Dovi is learning the 'Stones, as are many others

There isn’t much going on in the high-paced world of MotoGP today, but further reflection on the Sepang tests in Malaysia last week show that not everybody is adapting to the Bridgestone tyres as easy as it may seem.

While Nicky Hayden has an all-new Ducati to get accustomed to as well as new tyres, former Michelin riders Jorge Lorenzo, James Toseland, Col Edwards, Randy de Puniet and Andrea Dovizioso. Rookies Mika Kallio and Yuki Takahashi have to learn the whole package, while other rookie Niccolo Canepa will have to learn to race again after spending a season as a MotoGP test rider with Ducati and Bridgestone.

Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi has hailed Bridgestone for producing control spec tyres that have allowed them to break the lap records already – which is amazing since Bridgestone has to provide tyres that suit every bike on the grid and are completely different than last year’s tyres.

Industry
Michael Schumacher has been injured in a fall at Cartagena in Spain, knocking himself unconscious after crashing his Honda CBR1000RR. Admitted to hospital, it seems the seven times F1 world champion has bruised many parts of his body, including a possible fracture to his ribs. Michael has been a very popular addition to motorcycle racing over the past year, taking his fair share of spills in the meantime. He’s slated to compete in the entire German Superbike Championship in 2009.

American Superbike
Multiple times Daytona 200 winner Miguel Duhamel will contest this year’s event on a Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R600, not missing out on the opportunity to race under lights when many had thought that the Canadian was forced into an early (or late?) retirement when Honda’s Superbike team folded. Duhamel’s team is managed by Pascal Picotte, and he has told American magazine Cycle News that he’s fired up and ready to go. Never discount Miguel around the high banks of Daytona.

Freestyle Motocross
For our American readers, here are the funeral details of Jeremy Lusk. News has come through that Josh Grant will wear a Lusk butt-patch at San Diego’s seventh round of the AMA Supercross Championship this weekend.

Jeremy Lusk’s Funeral Services will be held on Monday, 16 February, 2009, at 1:00pm. The services will be held at the Revival Christian Fellowship Church – address: 29220 Scott Road, Menifee, CA 92584. All are welcome.