Readers may have noticed that MotoOnline.com.au has added a Press Release and Moto Poll section in the sidebar overnight, which is another step forward in these early stages of development.

The PR section enables us to provide up to date news and race results, basically going hand in hand with Racing Insider. We’ll be posting all worthwhile race reports/results and media-compiled news in the PR section, which will allow us more time and room to provide you with the news and gossip in Racing Insider.

The Poll will allow you to cast your vote on a number of motorcycle related topics throughout the year, making our community here on MotoOnline.com.au that one step more interactive for users.

MotoGP

Elias, Gresini, and de Angelis at the San Carlo Gresini Honda launch last night

San Carlo Honda Gresini launched its 2009 team overnight in San Marino, with riders Toni Elias and Alex de Angelis introduced alongside team boss (and former 125cc World Champion) Fausto Gresini. Elias has earned himself a factory-spec Honda RC212V from HRC this year, while de Angelis will compete onboard a customer model as the second rider on the team. Elias has shown glimpses of form over the past few seasons in MotoGP, even on the Ducati last year, and could be a major surprise this year if he starts off on the right foot.

While Elias is celebrating his factory role at Gresini Honda, former teammate Marco Melandri is probably kicking himself right about now because he once had the opportunity to join the team before Elias did. Instead, Melandri will ride for the Hayate Racing Team on the ex-Kawasaki ZX-RR, and British MCN has reported that Kawasaki’s development on the Ninja is about to cease at the end of this month.

This will mean that Melandri and the team won’t get any upgrades throughout the season, although Kawasaki will provide spare parts and take care of the servicing of the engines etc. It will be very interesting to see where this team ends up in the future, because with Kawasaki out, there’s every chance that they could move to another manufacturer in the next year or so.

We didn’t get the opportunity to update yesterday’s Racing Insider with the final day’s test results for the 125 and 250 Grand Prix categories at Estoril in Portugal, but in the end it was once again Team Aspar Aprilia rider Julian Simon who finished up the 125 test with the quickest time by almost a second despite not riding on the final day. Fastest on the final day was Andrea Ianone on the WWC Aprilia.

In the 250s it was reigning world champion Marco Simoncelli who was fastest on the final day, although Hector Barbera’s time from Monday stood as the quickest overall for the three days after a windy final day.

Maxtra Racing will now be known as Haojue Team in the 125GP category

The Chinese-entered Maxtra Racing 125GP team has changed its name to Haojue Team due to legal reasons and problems that were increasingly surfacing regarding the use of the Maxtra brand. The team, which involves well known identities John Surtees, Garry Taylor, and Jan Witteveen, will make its public debut with riders Matthew Hoyle and Michael Ranseder at the Jerez test in Spain at the end of this month.

World Superbike
The Superbike World Championship winner will receive a championship ring this season, a piece of jewellery that’s worth 30,000 Euros (almost $AUD60,000). The ring will be made of white gold and set in diamonds, featuring the SBK logo and also showing the words 2009 World Champion. The ring is the feature of a new jewellery line for SBK, with replica championship rings going to be available in steel, while there will also be bracelets, necklaces, and more available for the general public to purchase.

Australian Superbike
We posted a number of news items from Woodstock Bourbon Australian Superbike Championship organisers International Entertainment Group yesterday afternoon, and it’s refreshing to see a number of partnerships implemented in order to assist competitors throughout the season.

Check out the press release section for detailed info on deals that IEG has struck with various companies that will help make the series more affordable for all competitors over the course of the season.

The addition of providing M-9 toolboxes as prizes for Superbike and Supersport pole position winners at Tasmania is a positive and unique step forward, while cash prizes of $250 each for the highest placed privateers at each and every round is a great incentive for them to perform. On top of that, Suzuki will give an RMZ-250 to the Superstock 1000 Champion, and Kawasaki will offer a KLX140 Big Wheel to the Women’s Championship winner.

American Superbike
We were right about Neil Hodgson’s motocross accident yesterday, and it was also confirmed that Jake Holden would be replacing the British rider on the Corona Extra Honda Racing team for the California Speedway round of the AMA Superbike Championship. This has also opened up the doors for my brother Aaron to compete (see press releases), because he initially wasn’t able to ride following the AMA not accepting a late entry.

He hadn’t entered for the event before the cut off period because he didn’t have a ride sorted at that time, and then when he did get a ride there were no exceptions that would allow him to enter. Now that Holden will be taking over Hodgson’s entry for the event, Aaron will now take over Holden’s entry on the #59 Honda.

It’s all a bit confusing these new AMA rules, especially considering Leandro Mercado has been riding with Roger Lee Hayden’s customary #95 as he replaces him at Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki. In years past it was the riders who ‘owned’ their numbers, although now it’s the teams who have the rights to the numbers – just like NASCAR.

American Supercross
Also confirmed yesterday was that Travis Pastrana will be competing at this weekend’s St. Louis round of the AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship. Check out our new press release section to see the full confirmation on the action sport hero’s appearance.