MotoGP Laguna Seca

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Lorenzo and Rossi Cross the Atlantic for Laguna Seca

There was no rest for Yamaha Factory Racing this week as they head straight from the Sachsenring circuit in Germany to the USA for back-to-back racing at Laguna Seca on Sunday.

Jorge Lorenzo will travel to Laguna to be with his team as he recovers from a second surgery to his injured collarbone following a free practice crash at last weekend?s German Grand Prix. Lorenzo can claim a single win at the track on his way to his first world title in 2010.

Teammate Valentino Rossi arrives in Laguna looking to continue the form that has seen him take a race win and a podium in the last two races. The American track is the scene of one of Rossi?s most famous victories against Casey Stoner in 2008, to date his only win at the track.

The 3.5km Laguna Seca circuit originally hosted Grand Prix racing from 1988 to 1994 before safety issues moved it away. It returned in 2005 after major changes were made to the circuit allowing fans once again to enjoy the incredible spectacle of the Grand Prix riders diving down the daunting ?Corkscrew? as they fight for victory.


Jorge Lorenzo
"Finally we have decided to go to Laguna Seca. Following the final medical check and after speaking with Doctor Rodr?guez we are going to try. At the beginning I seriously thought that it might have been convenient to take the necessary time to recover and be back at Indy but in the last two days I have felt much better so now I want to be there, although I will try to not take too many risks. I want to be there also for the fans, for the championship but especially for my team, that is waiting for me. I want to thank everybody for all the support I have received so far and I want to say "thank you" to the doctors who took care of me after the crash at Sachsenring, both at the Clinica Mobile and at the Hospital General de Catalunya, especially Doctors Rodr?guez and Cots."


Valentino Rossi
?Laguna is a very special track, it is very important to me because it is the track of one of my best races in my career in 2008. Apart from that time I always seem to suffer there so I hope to go and do a better job this time. We have made good progress and are now fighting closer to the front but we need to make another step to fight for more victories.?


Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager
"Jorge has made the decision to fly to Laguna Seca and, although it will not be easy, he has decided to try despite the pain and the consequences of the second surgery to his injured collarbone. We have another tough weekend ahead of us, especially because the lay-out of the track is phisically demanding. Now I am just looking forward to seeing him here with the team and then we will set the strategy for the weekend."


Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director
?It is always a good feeling to come to Laguna, it is one of the races that the whole team enjoy and look forward to. The fans and the track really are something very special. We are confident that Vale can continue to show his improved form and we are working hard to keep giving him his old confidence to fight at the front with the best possible set up of the bike. I am happy to hear that Jorge has made the decision to fly to Laguna Seca. It is definitely going to be a demanding weekend for him but finally we will be on track with both riders."



2013 MotoGP United States
Laguna Seca 17/07/2013



Circuit Length:
3610
Lap Record:
1'21.088
(Daniel Pedrosa, 1-1-2012)
Fastest Lap Ever:
1'20.554
(Jorge Lorenzo, 20-7-2012)
Last Years Winner:
Casey Stoner

 

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Andrea Iannone to miss Laguna Seca

As a result of persistent shoulder pain, following last weekend?s crash at the Sachsenring during the FP4 session, Andrea Iannone has now undergone a further series of medical checks.

MRI and CT scans have highlighted a small fracture to the neck of the humerus bone in his right shoulder as well as a significant amount of blood accumulation and bruising, the main cause of pain and loss of strength. Luckily any damage to tendons and ligaments was ruled out, but nevertheless another ultrasound scan will be carried out in a fortnight?s time.

The Italian will now have a period of forced rest and will have to wait at least two weeks while the hematoma and accumulation are naturally absorbed. As a result the rider from Vasto will not be lining up on the starting grid for this weekend?s GP at Laguna Seca, but he is scheduled to return to the Championship starting at Indianapolis on August 18th.

A decision of whether or not to replace Iannone in the Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team is currently being evaluated.

 

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Laguna Seca, round 9 of 2013 MotoGP World Championship

The MotoGP World Championship has traveled to Monterey for the ninth round on the calendar.

The Laguna Seca track measures 3.610 km (2.243 miles) and partly laid out on a hillside, rising abruptly from the bottom of the valley toward the crest. This section includes turns 5, 6, 7, 8 and 8A, the spectacular ?Corkscrew? downhill chicane, before falling back sharply to the finish line and the short straightaway, which features two slight changes of direction, and where the maximum speed attained is around 270km/h.

Andrea Iannone will not be present in the Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team's pit garage this weekend because of the injuries he suffered in a crash at the Sachsenring circuit. As a result, he will have to postpone his debut at this circuit until next year.Andrea Iannone ? Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team.

Andrea Iannone ? Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team
?I'm really disappointed. I did a test with a road bike on this track in April in preparation for the race, I was ready to ride at this special and charismatic circuit, and I really didn?t need this injury. Right until the last moment I thought I could make it, I did everything possible to be able to get back onto the grid but the doctors firmly advised me to not strain the shoulder. My only goal now is to get back in shape for Indianapolis, taking advantage of the summer break, and then resume the work we have begun on the new bike with the team.

 

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Laguna Seca and the Corkscrew await the Ducati Team

With the German Grand Prix having just been completed this past Sunday, the Ducati Team has already made the Transatlantic trip to California for this coming weekend?s United States Grand Prix, which marks the 2013 MotoGP season?s halfway point and its second of three rounds to be held on American soil.

One of the championship?s oldest circuits, Laguna Seca has a rich history in Grand Prix racing and has hosted a number of exciting events, including Nicky Hayden?s maiden MotoGP victory in 2005 (when the track returned to the GP schedule following an eleven-year break), and his follow-up win the following year, his championship season. Andrea Dovizioso doesn?t count the track among his favourites, but he has posted three fourth-place finishes there in the premier class, along with a fifth position.

The shortest track on the calendar, Laguna Seca is twisty and technical, offering very little opportunity for a break, and its signature section is of course the legendary Corkscrew.

Ducati sells more motorcycles in the USA than any other country, and the brand?s fans are expected to flood to Ducati Island, where a number of promotional initiatives are planned over the weekend.

Nicky Hayden ? Ducati Team
?It?s nice to be going home to Laguna, which is a race that I love and that?s obviously very special to me. The circuit is quite unique, and it?s not easy, as you need to be confident and attack the corners. It?s quite a demanding, technical track and a lot of the corners are linked together. You really have to hit your marks there in order to be fast. I wish we were headed there with more speed and confidence, but the reality is this. Up until now, we certainly haven?t been getting the results we?d like by any means, but with the summer break coming up, it would be nice to go there, have some fun, and leave with a good taste in our mouths.?

Andrea Dovizioso ? Ducati Team
?I don?t know what we can expect at Laguna with a completely different bike for me this year. Unfortunately, I think it?s a similar track to the Sachsenring in many ways. Maybe we?ll have fewer problems with turn-in since the corners are tighter, but all the bikes tend to pump a lot at Laguna because it?s very particular with its uphills and downhills. I don?t particularly enjoy the place, but as always we're going there with the aim of getting the best possible result.?

Vittoriano Guareschi ? Team Manager
?Laguna Seca is a track with a lot of elevation change, so in some ways, it?s similar to the Sachsenring. It?s Nicky?s home track, so he?ll surely be hoping to redeem his disappointing result in Germany. It?s a race that he has won twice in the past, so we know that he can do well there.?

Laguna Seca Records

Circuit Record: Casey Stoner (Ducati ? 2010), 1:21.376 ? 159.703 Km/h (99.235 mph)
Best Pole: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha ? 2012), 1:20.554 ? 161.332 Km/h (100.247 mph)
Circuit Length: 3.610 km (2.243 mi)
2013 MotoGP Race: 32 laps (115.520 km/71.781 mi)
2013 MotoGP Schedule: 14:00 p.m. Local Time

2012 podium: 1st Casey Stoner (Honda), 2nd Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha), 3rd Dani Pedrosa (Honda)
2012 pole: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:20.554 ? 161.332 Km/h (100.247 mph)

Ducati Team Results at Laguna Seca (best finish)
2012: 6th (Hayden)
2011: 6th (Rossi)
2010: 2nd (Stoner)
2009: 4th (Stoner)
2008: 2nd (Stoner)
2007: 1st (Stoner)
2006: 8th (Capirossi)
2005: 10th (Capirossi)

Ducati Team ? Rider Info

Andrea Dovizioso
Bike: Ducati Team Desmosedici GP13
Race number: 04
Age: 27 (born in Forlimpopoli, Italy, 23 March 1986)
Residence: Forl?, Italy
Number of GPs: 194 (96 x MotoGP, 49 x 250cc, 49 x 125cc)
First GP: 2001 Italian GP (125cc)
Number of wins: 10 (1 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 5 x 125cc)
First GP win: 2004 South African GP (125cc)
Poles: 14 (1 x MotoGP, 4 x 250cc, 9 x 125cc)
First pole: 2003 French GP (125cc)
World Championships: 1 (1 x 125cc)

Dovizioso?s MotoGP track record at Laguna Seca
2012: Grid, 6th; Race, 4th
2011: Grid, 6th; Race, 5th
2010: Grid, 3rd; Race, 4th
2009: Grid, 5th; Race, NC
2008: Grid, 9th; Race, 4th

Nicky Hayden
Bike: Ducati Team Desmosedici GP13
Race number: 69
Age: 31 (born in Owensboro, Kentucky, USA, 30 July 1981)
Residence: Owensboro (Kentucky, USA)
Number of GPs: 175 (175 x MotoGP)
First GP: 2003 Japanese GP (MotoGP)
Number of wins: 3 (3 x MotoGP)
First GP win: 2005 USA GP (MotoGP)
Poles: 5 (5 x MotoGP)
First pole: 2005 USA GP (MotoGP)
World Championships: 1 (6 x MotoGP, 2006)

Hayden?s MotoGP track record at Laguna Seca
2012: Grid, 8th; Race, 6th
2011: Grid, 9th; Race, 7th
2010: Grid, 7th; Race, 5th
2009: Grid, 8th; Race, 5th
2008: Grid, 3rd; Race, 5th
2007: Grid, 4th; Race, DNF
2006: Grid, 6th; Race, 1st
2005: Grid, 1st; Race, 1st

 

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Honda leads the way to the West Coast Roller-Coaster

Honda takes the road west to California looking for a third consecutive win at the United States Grand Prix, with Honda riders holding the top two positions in the World Championship as the season reaches its halfway break.

Repsol Honda RC213V riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa lie first and second overall, and aim to consolidate their positions at half-time. They are separated by only two points, so the result will be crucial for each.

The race, at the charismatic Laguna Seca circuit between Monterey and Salinas, comes just seven days after a dramatic German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, where the Repsol Honda pair suffered wildly contrasting fortunes.

Class rookie Marquez claimed a confident second win of the year to overtake his team-mate and re-assume the World Championship lead. Still only 20, he is the youngest rider in history to do so.

Pedrosa suffered a vicious accident in the third free practice session, and was forced to withdraw from the race.

Marquez?s progress since he came to MotoGP this year as Moto2 World Champion has been sensational. The rider from Cervera, outside Barcelona, has been breaking ?youngest-ever? records ever since his first pole position and then first race win at only the second round, in Austin, Texas.

In the eight races since, Marquez has been on the rostrum every time but once ? a late-race crash ruled him out of the Italian GP, when he was in a confident second place. The final jewel in the crown was his German GP win last Sunday, also achieved from pole position.

The highly technical Laguna Seca circuit presents a new challenge. He has ridden in 125 and Moto2 classes at all the circuits on the calendar except in Austin, Texas. That track was new to all riders, and he was victorious. By contrast, his rivals all have several years of experience of the tricky Californian track; he has never seen it before.

Pedrosa?s season had been even stronger in championship terms. He has led on points from round four until his enforced withdrawal in Germany?s round eight. Consecutive race wins in Spain and France showed the strength of the 27-year-old Spaniard?s title challenge. A register of consistently strong rostrum or top-four finishes in every other race underlined its depth and maturity.

Hiatus in Germany was the result of a violent low-speed high-side crash on his first flying lap of Saturday morning?s free practice: a cold track took part of the blame: the rider was not yet pushing at full speed. A heavy impact left Pedrosa with a partially fractured left collarbone, but it was low blood pressure attributed to shock that saw him ruled out by track medical authorities on race morning, in spite of his initial willingness to ride.

Pedrosa returned to Barcelona and quickly cast off the symptoms, telling fans on Tuesday he ?felt good?, and was looking forward to the race and a satisfactory end to the first half of the season. Dani has claimed four podium positions in eight visits to the circuit, including consecutive top-three results in the last two years. The highlight was victory in 2009.

It is the second visit to the Californian circuit for German LCR Honda RC213V rider Stefan Bradl. He arrived last year in the same position as Marquez this year: reigning Moto2 champion but circuit novice. He rode to an impressive seventh place.

This year, Bradl (23) consolidated a row of improving results with his second fourth place this year at home in Germany. He has his sights firmly set on attaining a first MotoGP-class rostrum at the Californian track.

Spaniard Alvaro Bautista (Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini RC213V) raced to fifth in Germany, his best result of the year as he regains momentum after falling victim to two consecutive first-lap crashes in rounds five and six.

The former 125cc World Champion has a dual role as racer/tester: he alone uses Showa suspension, helping with pioneering development. Bautista and his Gresini team have recorded steady progress with this task over the first eight races of the season, and he hopes to improve on his eight-placed finish in last year?s race.
Team-mate Bryan Staring (Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini FTR Honda) is approaching his first visit to Laguna Seca in sober frame of mind, after a bruising series of crashes in Germany. Still hungry to add to the first two points he gained in Catalunya in round five, the Australian has adapted well as he gains experience on the CBR1000RR-powered CRT bike. At the same time, learning the intricacies of the circuit pose a new challenge.

Laguna Seca is a long-established circuit in hilly country inland from Monterey?s picturesque bay and historic Cannery Row.

At 2.243 miles (3.610 km) it is the shortest circuit of the season, but not the slowest (that mark belongs to the next circuit on the calendar, Indianapolis), and Turn 1 is a famously challenging sweep taken at close to top speed while preparing for the much tighter corner to follow.

Even more famous is the Corkscrew, a tortuous left-right approached from a blind rise, with a giddying drop in the middle of it. Races have been won and lost at this notorious corner set.

Laguna first hosted the US GP in 1988, in an interrupted six-race series that terminated in 1994. The race returned in 2005, now uniquely for the MotoGP class only; and in the last nine years has been re-established as a charismatic highlight of the calendar.

As the ninth of 18 rounds, it also marks the mid-point of the 2013 season. There is a three-weekend summer break, then MotoGP begins in earnest once more, with the all-classes Indianapolis GP on August 18.

Honda has a strong record on the Californian roller-coaster track, with five victories in nine visits. Nicky Hayden won the first two years in a row, Dani Pedrosa in 2009, and Casey Stoner in 2011 and 2012.



Honda MotoGP rider quotes



Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda

?Winning in Germany was good experience, although I perhaps prefer races that are a little more of a battle, and also with Dani and Jorge Lorenzo present. I hope they are recovering well. Laguna Seca will be a hard GP for me because I?ve never ridden there. We?ll take it step-by-step and remain calm, and learn the lines. I will prepare by watching a lot of videos of races there.?



Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda

?I want to thank everybody for the many messages of support I have received. The important thing is that I feel good. I will have to see how things go with regards to the collarbone, but as for the rest of the problems the really important thing is that I am feeling well. It was a real blow because we arrived at the Sachsenring in a good position in terms of the World Championship, but that?s racing and you have to keep looking forward. The championship is long and we are still only roughly halfway through it, so a lot can still happen yet.?



Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda MotoGP

?We have been very competitive and very fast for the whole weekend in Sachsenring and the great support of my fans made this round even better for me. Now it?s time to enjoy the Corkscrew again. Laguna Seca race track is great and I have more experience this year to cope with the rollercoaster there. Actually our overall package is pretty competitive so we aim to catch the podium in the US. It won?t be easy but, in the last rounds, we have demonstrated our skills racing with the guys in the front, so a podium-finish would a perfect result before the summer vacation.?



Alvaro Bautista, FUN&GO Honda Gresini

?It wasn?t an easy weekend in Germany but we came out of it with a positive result. I found more confidence with the bike around most of the track but I was losing too much time in the second sector and we didn?t manage to fix it in time for the race. Anyway, we made some positive steps and certainly improved on Assen. It has helped lift morale in the team and now we go to another tricky circuit in Laguna, with its elevation changes and blind corners. It is a tough track but we will do our best to adapt quickly. We struggled with the suspension here last year but we have made some good progress in this area since then and I am sure that if we are methodical in our work we can make sure we have a competitive RC213V to race on Sunday. I am confident because the team is working well and this makes me think we can be fighting for a good result this weekend.?



Bryan Staring, FUN&GO Honda Gresini

?I am still upset with the weekend at Sachsenring. Four crashes in one weekend is too much and I feel sorry for the team because they are putting so much work in. I knew it was going to be hard but I didn?t know it would be this hard. My confidence has taken a battering and Laguna Seca is not the easiest circuit to be going to next. It is a difficult track but I have to stay calm, work hard and rely on the unrelenting hard work of the team. I will have to concentrate hard from the start to learn the best lines around the track and then start working on the set-up of the bike as quickly as possible. We will be doing everything we can to put the weekend in Germany behind us.?

 

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First practice session for Alex De Angelis at Laguna Seca

Alex De Angelis finished his first free practice session at Laguna Seca with 13th place and a time of 1'25.133.

Alex De Angelis ? Ignite Pramac Racing Team
?It was a great first session. I have to say that I never expected to go so well. The track is fantastic, I enjoyed it right from the start, I think I manage to defend myself quite well, putting a few riders behind me. We were mainly focused on putting the laps in and nothing else, the goal was to acquire data and experience. My lines are obviously different from those of the other riders, because they are still linked to my Moto2 style, but I am not afraid to open the throttle. Now I am ready for the second free practice session.?

 

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Yamaha Gets Down to Business in Laguna Seca

The first day of action at Laguna Seca got underway with a typically cool and misty start this morning for the first free practice ahead of Sunday?s US Grand Prix. By the afternoon the Californian sunshine had broken through and the riders were able to increase the pace in hot conditions.

Yamaha Factory Racing?s Valentino Rossi made a strong start in the first session, getting quickly up to speed, finishing in second position just 0.091 seconds from the front. The nine-time world champion then spent the afternoon working through a number of set up changes to focus on improving tyre life and grip. He was able to increase his speed from the morning by just over half a second to take fourth, 0.306 seconds from first.

Teammate Jorge Lorenzo was back on track today following his second set of surgery last weekend to repair his collarbone injury sustained in Assen and then further damaged in Sachsenring. The reigning world champion took it easy on day one, completing the morning session in 11th before carefully upping the pace in the second session to finish in sixth, 0.427 seconds from the front.
Valentino Rossi 4th / 1'22.346 / 28 laps

?I?m quite happy with the first day, it was not so bad and we stayed with the top guys in the two practices. It's a very difficult racetrack to find the right settings. It is very physical for sure and Sunday will be a very long race. I feel quite confident with the bike, it?s not so bad but we have to try to do better and improve the balance, braking and acceleration. We are working to improve our performance as we are not so far from the top but we are not yet there. We hope to improve tomorrow to find a better balance for going faster and to get a good rhythm.?
Jorge Lorenzo 6th / 1'22.467 / 30 laps

?It was much better this afternoon. I tried to improve step by step like I did in my first time in MotoGP here to try to minimize the risk and understand the limit of the track. Every lap it got better and better, but obviously the pain is there. I felt a little better than this morning but not so much, after seven laps it started to be difficult to brake. I struggled a lot in braking but still we were able to practice without painkillers, this is very positive because with the painkiller we will get some benefits. The bike is working really well, we are just losing some tenths in some braking points where we cannot push too hard. The balance of the day is pretty good considering my physical condition.?
Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager

?We are very pleased with the result, it's a very hard track when you have injuries. So to be in his position, in sixth place and staying calm is good. We need a good practice tomorrow to find a good setting and a good pace. I think the race will be very tough.?
Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director

"Jorge is suffering more than in Assen but we expected that as he is coming from a second surgery. He rode both sessions today without any painkilling injections and I think this time he decided to take it easy which was very important for us. With Vale we tried some different settings to try and improve the issues we had in Sachsenring with grip and tyre life and the pace is not so bad. We have to try and improve our speed a little to find a little more performance for qualifying.?

2013 MotoGP United States
Laguna Seca 20/07/2013
1 Marc Marquez Honda ESP 1'22.040
2 Stefan Bradl Honda GER 1'22.269
3 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati ITA 1'22.284
4 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 1'22.346
5 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 1'22.457
6 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 1'22.467
7 Aleix Espargaro ART ESP 1'22.531
8 Alvaro Bautista Honda ESP 1'22.539
9 Nicky Hayden Ducati USA 1'22.733
10 Bradley Smith Yamaha GBR 1'22.767
11 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 1'23.129
12 Hector Barbera FTR ESP 1'23.158
13 Randy De Puniet ART FRA 1'23.437
15 Danilo Petrucci Ioda-Suter ITA 1'24.047
16 Claudio Corti FTR Kawasaki ITA 1'24.180

 

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Marquez fastest and Pedrosa returns on track in Laguna Seca

Repsol Honda rookie, Marc Marquez, was the fastest rider today on the first day of free practice for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix.

With track conditions improving from this morning, Marc was almost a second faster in FP2 with a time of 1'22.040 set on lap 14 of 24. Teammate Dani Pedrosa took to the track in the afternoon session for the first time since his dramatic high side crash in Sachsenring a week ago. Still hindered by his injury, Dani was 11th fastest for the day with a time of 1'23.129 set on his final lap of 23.

Marc Marquez - 1st - 1'22.040

"In the first free practice the most important thing was to remain calm and take it slowly, and that is what we did. Also, the track conditions and the mist made things tricky. During the first few minutes I was a little stressed on the bike, because I had a lot of work to do. It's a brand new track for me, but it is fun. It is very narrow and short, with many bumps so it took a bit of adapting on my behalf. In the second session I found things much more comfortable, I started to enjoy myself and found a pace that was not bad at all. We were fastest, but the time we clocked is still a little off the track record. I'm happy with this first day, so we'll see if tomorrow we can continue in the same way and continue to learn the circuit"



Dani Pedrosa - 11th - 1'23.129

"It was difficult to ride in my condition, but I had expected that. Now I have to try to rest up as much as possible for tomorrow and regain some energy, so that I can endure the pain once again. Being realistic, obviously winning the race this weekend is not a feasible goal -perhaps even getting a podium is out of the equation- but I will be trying to finish the race as high up the order as possible. I will look to minimise the advantage that my rivals will have in terms of points. Finally, I want to thank everyone who has sent their support to me in recent days for their messages"

 

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Alex De Angelis enthusiastic at Laguna Seca

A cold and foggy day at the Laguna Seca circuit greeted the MotoGP riders for the first free practice session of the championship?s ninth round.

An enthusiastic Alex De Angelis, serving as substitute rider for Ben Spies on the Ignite Pramac Racing Team at the second American race of the season, concluded the day with a time of 1:23.973.

It was a result beyond expectations considering the San Marino rider?s years of absence from the premier class. De Angelis used the first day of the California race weekend to get used to the feeling of a bike that is so different from the one he rode in his last MotoGP appearance, in 2010.

This three-day partnership between Alex and the Ignite Pramac Racing Team is just a parenthesis during the championship, after which everyone will return to their normal roles, but a pleasant harmony has immediately been created between the team and the rider.

Alex De Angelis ? Ignite Pramac Racing Team
?I'm very happy because we?ve improved on each exit. I managed to stay under two seconds from the top, and I?d say that we?ve reached our target today. At the moment, the hardest thing is to find the feeling with my braking; the speed is much higher than in Moto2, and this bike behaves in a completely different way. That?s where I?ll work harder to improve over the next two days. This morning I felt very stressed, and I wasn?t relaxed enough to overtake, but I felt better this afternoon and was able to push harder. I felt quite good with the tyres compared to in 2010, but now we have to try something with the electronics to help me with my braking. I'll do my best tomorrow. I'd like to get into Q2, but I'm not yet convinced; of course I'll try, but I?d be very happy just to get a little bit closer to the top.?

 

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Provisional front row for Dovizioso at Laguna Seca, Hayden ninth

Ducati Team rider Andrea Dovizioso got off to a good start on American soil, posting the third-best time in free practice on day one of the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca. The Italian exclusively used the updated frame, finishing the day with a time of 1:22.284, and just two tenths of a second from first-place Marc Marquez.

His teammate Nicky Hayden was less satisfied. Riding the standard version of the Desmosedici GP13 at his home GP, the Kentuckian concluded the first day in ninth place, with a relatively decent time gap of seven tenths.

Tomorrow will see the riders taking part in the final free-practice sessions and qualifying, with the race set for 2:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Andrea Dovizioso - Ducati Team, 3rd (1:22.284)
“It’s always nice to see your name up high on the monitors! I had Marquez as a distant reference point, but the lap was really good. Anyway, I have the sensation that we’re closer than at the other tracks, and although Laguna is quite unusual, our GP13 is working a bit better here. Our pace isn’t bad, but that’s the case for many of the riders, so we’ll have to see tomorrow. It’s too early to make predictions, but I’m pleased with how we started today. I only rode with the new frame, and the difference is really minimal, although I can’t say exactly because I didn’t do a comparison. I don’t think there are any downsides, so we’ll continue with it.”

Nicky Hayden - Ducati Team, 9th (1:22.733)
“It’s awesome to be at Laguna with all the support from the fans here, but of course I wish I were going a bit better. I’m pushing the front a lot, especially over the bumpy parts. I can’t finish the corner well and I’m hurting on acceleration. The gap to the front isn’t too big, but the position isn’t very good. I need to improve the rhythm. This track’s tight and the times are close, so it’s tough. Dovi seems to have had some positive results with the updated frame. If it’s better on steering, that’s important here because of the flat corners. Anyway, if we can improve the turning a bit, I think we should be able to be a lot more competitive tomorrow.”

 

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FP3 concludes at Laguna Seca circuit

On day 2 at the Laguna Seca circuit, Alex De Angelis concluded the FP3 session with his second bike after a slide on the second lap at the Corkscrew. He clocked a time of 1'23.616.

Alex De Angelis - Ignite Pramac Racing Team
?It?s a pity, I felt good and I was able to stay in the front group but I immediately lost a little bit of time when I went straight on at the Corkscrew. I got back on track fairly quickly but of course lost ground as well as a bit of feeling. In the next few sessions I?ll have to work hard to get closer, because I think that I can do it."

 

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Rossi and Lorenzo Score Second Row for Laguna Seca

Yamaha Factory Racing riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo battled through one of the most hectic qualifying sessions of the season today to take fourth and sixth respectively on the grid for tomorrow?s US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

The quick fire qualifying heat gathered pace as the clock wound down, with the top five positions constantly changing as the fast times came in. Rossi?s first flying lap put him initially in third before a burst of activity saw him drop several places. The Italian came in to pit for fresh rubber with eight minutes remaining then re-joined the time attack, climbing to second place with just over three minutes to go with a 1?21.418. The times then dropped a little more, leaving the nine-time champion on the second row in fourth, just 0.045 seconds from the front row and 0.242 from pole.

Lorenzo continued his careful approach to the weekend today, gradually building speed whilst focusing on minimising any risk of damage to his freshly broken collarbone. The world champion was one of the first riders out in qualifying, recording a 1?22.589 before dropping down the timesheets a little as the lap times tumbled. He dropped under the 1?22 mark with his second lap before returning to the pits for fresh rubber. He returned to the track with just over six minutes to go and joined the fight for the front row. He was able to improve again, recording a 1?21.453 to take sixth on the grid just 0.277 seconds from pole.


Valentino Rossi 4th / 1'21.418 / 9 laps
?I?m quite happy about my position on the grid because I did quite a good lap. Unfortunately I lost the first row but I?m fourth and not so far. We worked a lot on the bike, especially after some laps when the tyre starts to slide. We made some improvements but it?s not enough. I?m quite worried as we have to find a way tomorrow to be a bit stronger and a bit faster, especially after some laps. We have to work to improve, so we have something to do, but starting in the top four is good as starting in the front is important here.?


Jorge Lorenzo 6th / 1'21.453 / 9 laps
?I felt better physically in qualifying than in the last free practice so I pushed a lot and made some good laps. Maybe I could do one or two tenths faster with a perfect lap and be in the first row but the position is ok. When I saw my lap times I hoped to stay third or fourth but the other riders improved their lap times from the free practice. They are so close, if I could improve one tenth I could be on the front row and with two tenths I could be in pole position. The important thing is I didn't crash and maybe tomorrow will be even better. It's a very hard track, almost all the braking zones are not completely straight so I struggle on the shoulder. It's a very long race with 32 laps so maybe with some painkillers I can be better than at Assen."


Wilco Zeelenberg Team Manager
?We are pleased with the result from today, second row was our target. It?s very tight, one tenth more and Jorge would have been on the first row. Tomorrow is a very long race. It was important to be on the second row to have a good start and be with the front guys in the beginning so there is no hassle in the first coupe of laps. He?s feeling better and better so let's see tomorrow if he can resist the pain for 32 laps.?


Massimo Meregalli Team Director
?I think overall we did a good job today, we were able to improve our package and the pace was not so bad. For me the time attack also went quite ok. This is not a circuit where it is easy to overtake so starting from the second row is good. For sure it's going to be a tough race, it?s long and physical so we will try to make something again for tomorrow to close the gap to our competitors, I?m expecting a good race for both riders. For sure for Vale it will be a bit easier because physically he is ok, for Jorge I?m expecting a really tough race. He will take some painkillers to try to have less pain but he will do his best to finish as high as possible.?


Crutchlow and Smith in top 10 in close Laguna Seca qualifying
Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team riders Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith will start inside the top 10 on the grid together for the third race in succession after a tense and exciting qualifying battle at the spectacular Laguna Seca track this afternoon.

An eventful afternoon for Crutchlow began when the on form British rider recovered from a heavy fall at Turn 3 to finish third quickest in FP4. Confident he had the speed to secure a fourth consecutive front row start in the 15-minute QP2, the 27-year-old?s second YZR-M1 machine encountered a minor technical problem that prevented him from taking to the track with the rest of the field. His Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew were able to rectify the issue and Crutchlow was quickly able to make up for lost time and put up a tremendous fight for a fifth front row start of the campaign. He clocked a personal best lap of 1.21.420 that was only 0.047s away from the top three and tomorrow?s 32-lap race promises to be an epic battle with the top six split by just 0.277s in a closely contested qualifying session.


Smith?s seventh successive top 10 position in qualifying was a great reward for the hard work and effort his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew have been putting in to help him feel comfortable and confident on the tight and technically challenging California track. Smith has made excellent progress throughout his first experience of the US Grand Prix and his best time of 1.22.075 was almost 0.7s faster than he?d managed earlier in the weekend. He finished just 0.899s off pole position and he has been able to set an impressive pace in full race trim throughout the weekend, raising expectations for another positive result in tomorrow?s race.


Cal Crutchlow 5th 1.21.420 ? 7 laps :
?Today has been a tough day, so still to be on the second row of the grid is not too bad considering what has happened. I crashed on my first lap out of the pits in FP4 and we need to check the front tyre because I wasn?t even pushing. It was strange but we will sit down and analyse the data with Bridgestone to identify what happened. Unfortunately the bike couldn?t be repaired in time and we had a small technical problem with the second bike at the start of QP2. We are still checking to see what happened but it meant I only really got one flying lap in. I am fifth and very close to the front row but it is still my worst qualifying result of the season and it is a bit disappointing. But I am optimistic for the race. The times are incredibly close and as always the goal will be to fight for the podium.?


Bradley Smith 9th 1.22.075 ? 10 laps :
?I am very happy with the improvement in my lap times all weekend. To do a 1.22.0 was a great step and I have to say a big thanks to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew because they did a brilliant job in improving the bike. I felt we had been going round in circles with the set-up a little bit but the bike felt great in QP2 and we really made a big step. This is not an easy track and tomorrow?s race is going to be really tough over 32-laps. It is always crucial to get a good start but tomorrow it will be essential because I believe I can learn a lot in the race. If I can find another couple of tenths from myself then I can stay in a fight and gain a lot of experience and that?s what I need more than anything. I am happy with my race pace and I am looking forward to the race.?



2013 MotoGP United States
Laguna Seca 21/07/2013
1 Stefan Bradl Honda GER 1'21.176
2 Marc Marquez Honda ESP 1'21.193
3 Alvaro Bautista Honda ESP 1'21.373
4 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 1'21.418
5 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 1'21.420
6 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 1'21.453
7 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 1'21.728
8 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati ITA 1'22.026
9 Bradley Smith Yamaha GBR 1'22.075
10 Nicky Hayden Ducati USA 1'22.090
11 Aleix Espargaro ART ESP 1'22.099
12 Randy De Puniet ART FRA 1'22.694
13 Hector Barbera FTR ESP 1'22.808
14 Alex De Angelis Ducati SMR 1'23.253
15 Colin Edwards FTR Kawasaki USA 1'23.272

 

[KUCIAR666]

Fifth row for Alex De Angelis and Ignite Pramac Racing Team

Alex De Angelis, substitute rider for Ignite Pramac Racing Team rider Ben Spies at Laguna Seca, today took part in MotoGP?s new qualifying format for the first time, finishing the day with 14th place on the starting grid.

The San Marino rider improved his time in every exit and missed advancing to the Q2 session by just a few tenths of a second. His time of 1:23.253, nearly a second better than his best from yesterday, put him on row five.

For tomorrow, De Angelis is determined to further reduce his gap to the front group, and to earn some points.

Alex De Angelis ? Ignite Pramac Racing Team
?I?m really happy with how the weekend is going. In qualifying, I immediately did my best time with the first tyre; I tried to push harder with the second one, but then I made a mistake on the last lap. Our initial goal was to improve session by session, and I must say we?re managing to do that. We also just missed out on Q2 today, and that?s something I never expected; when we stsarted, it seemed truly unthinkable. The fact that I already know the track certainly helped, although I had to re-find my reference points a bit, but the race will be long tomorrow; it?s been three years since my last time in MotoGP, and I?m not used to it anymore. I?ll do my best, trying to follow the riders in front of me, and we?ll see what we can do. At this point I?ve also made it a goal to get some points.?

 

[KUCIAR666]

Bradl leads all-Honda front row at Laguna

German rider Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda RC213V) claimed his first MotoGP pole position at Laguna Seca, heading a trio of Hondas taking control of the front row of the grid for tomorrow's US GP at the exciting and challenging Californian circuit.

Bradl's triumph came with only 30 seconds of an exciting final qualifying session remaining. Repsol Honda RC213V rider Marc Marquez had set the pace all session, but had to watch powerless from the pits after slipping off unhurt while striving to put pole position out of reach.

Rookie championship leader Marquez stayed second, and will start from the front row of the grid for the sixth time this season. His earlier lap time was 0.017 seconds slower than pole.

Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini RC213V rider Alvaro Bautista stormed to third, for his first front row this year. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC213V), returned from injury, qualified seventh, to head row three.

Bradl's maiden class pole comes after a run of improving results for the German, following a troubled start to the former Moto2 champion's second MotoGP season. He claimed his first front-row start at Assen in round seven, and scored his second fourth place of the season at the German GP last weekend.

The 23-year-old has his sights firmly set on his first MotoGP rostrum on his second visit to Laguna.

Marquez claimed his second win of the year in Germany, regaining the championship lead as his senior-class debut season continues to gather momentum. The reigning Moto2 World Champion arrived at the notoriously tricky 3.610-km Californian circuit sight unseen, since the smaller classes do not race here. He confounded predictions that he would find it hard to learn, taking to the top of the time sheets on the first afternoon, then continuing to force the pace as he polished his corner lines and braking points.

The high number of laps round the very short track helped him to unlock the circuit's secrets, and he seemed set for a second successive pole position, his third this year, when he slid off on the fast Turn 6. He was able to ride back to the pits, but there was not time to essay a clinching final lap.

Bautista's first front row of the season came after steady improvement through the free practice sessions, where he was fourth fastest. He went one better with a series of improving laps in final qualifying. The Spanish former 125 World Champion has a dual role for Honda, race-testing Showa suspension, the only rider on the grid to use it. The team reports encouraging recent progress with this project.

Factory rider Pedrosa was ruled out of last weekend's German GP with temporary low blood pressure problems after suffering a partial collarbone fracture in a practice crash. Courageously returning to this race, in spite of the risk of further damage, the Spanish star took a cautious approach. He did not take part in the morning free practice sessions and placed 11th on Friday afternoon. This meant he had to take part in the first of two final qualifying sessions, needing to be first or second fastest in Q1 to go through to Q2 with the top ten. He ran just four flying laps to secure a significant top time; then came out again after a ten-minute break, missing a second-row start by a quarter of a second to fellow returned injury victim and title rival Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha).

Pedrosa's aim will be to gather as many points as possible in his weakened condition, to limit damage to his championship score as the first half of the season ends and the summer break begins.

Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini FTR Honda rider Bryan Staring was another rider meeting Laguna Seca for the first time, and qualified his CBR1000RR-powered machine 22nd. The grand-prix first-timer is seeking to add to his championship points score as he continues to gain experience with the CRT machine.

Honda is seeking a third straight win at Laguna Seca, where the retired Casey Stoner took successive victories on the Repsol Honda machine in 2011 and 2012. In eight previous visits Honda has won five times, with Nicky Hayden victorious in 2005 and 2006, and Dani Pedrosa in 2009.

Tomorrow's race is the ninth of 18 rounds, and the halfway point of the season is followed by a three-weekend break.

Honda MotoGP rider quotes

Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda MotoGP: pole, 1m 21.176
"It's an unbelievable sensation! My first pole position in the premier class at this spectacular circuit and I am the first German rider to get this result in the MotoGP history. I cannot ask for more! We knew that we have a good pace all the weekend but this result is another step forward for me and the team. I am happy with the bike set-up, as happened in Germany, and want to thank my team for their job. We did not make any particular changes, just adjusted some small things ahead the qualifying and my pace was immediately fast. We had a small problem when I stopped at the garage to change the tyre and we lost half a second but once I was out again the track was clear in front of me and I could go for my perfect lap. I think it was my best lap ever."

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda: 2nd, 1'21.193
"I am happy, because despite the crash we are going to be starting from second on the grid for my first US Grand Prix. Obviously we would have liked to have taken pole, but I made a mistake at Turn 6 when I went in too fast. I lost the front end and couldn't prevent the crash. I think that we've done a good job so far and have a strong pace, so we are confident that tomorrow we will be able to cap things off with a good race."

Alvaro Bautista, Team FUN&GO Honda Gresini: 3rd, 1'21.373
"We did some more work this morning on our race pace and I felt really confident on the bike. This afternoon we finally got the front row position that we have missed out on in recent races. Qualifying has been our weak point but I was on the pace from the start today and everything felt good. It means we have the opportunity to make a good start tomorrow and not lose time trying to pass riders over the early laps. I am happy, confident and thankful to the team for all the work they are putting in. Hopefully we can have a lot of fun tomorrow."

Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: 7th, 1'21.728
"Today went a little better than yesterday. We were able to ride a little faster and I was able to make the cut for Q2. Getting seventh on the grid is very good and I'm happy with the placing, but the most important thing is that we had a good practice session and are in the mix to be able to have a good race tomorrow."

Bryan Staring, Team FUN&GO Honda Gresini: 22nd, 1'24.756
"I am quite happy with our performance although we're still lacking a little something if we want to run with the guys ahead of us. We have made some steps forward but we need to improve further in the race tomorrow. I feel confident with the bike but need to get more comfortable with the track. It's not an easy task because Laguna Seca is a difficult track to learn but we'll try our best."

 

[KUCIAR666]

Third Consecutive Podium for Rossi in Laguna Battle

Yamaha Factory Racing?s Valentino Rossi delivered his third consecutive podium of the 2013 MotoGP season today with third place in the US Grand Prix. The Italian made a strong start from fourth on the grid to take second into turn one, tucking in behind race leader Stefan Bradl. The nine-time world champion fought hard to maintain his pace but was forced to concede second to Marc Marquez on lap four following a dramatic overtake into the Corkscrew turn. With fourth place rider Alvaro Bautista closing Rossi then worked hard to hold off the Spaniard to retain his third place and podium finish.

Jorge Lorenzo successfully completed his weekend of damage limitation with an exhausting ride to sixth place. Still physically compromised following his two surgeries to his collarbone the Laguna race proved to be a big challenge for the world champion. Starting from sixth on the grid he initially made up two places to fourth, diving inside Dani Pedrosa on turn one for position. The race became a war of attrition for Lorenzo, battling to stay focused for the 32lap stint, eventually bringing it home in sixth place after a testing ride.

The podium finish leaves Rossi on 117 points in the standings in fourth position, 20points behind teammate Lorenzo. Lorenzo holds on to third place, now on 137 points, ten behind Pedrosa in second. The teams now take an extended break before returning to the USA for Indianapolis Grand Prix on Sunday 18th August.
Valentino Rossi 3rd

?At this track with the Yamaha we suffer a little more than the Hondas, but we worked very well in the practice, we tried everything and I could keep a good pace in the race until the end, not far from Bradl. I fought with Bautista but always stayed in front so I could take the third podium in a row. I am quite competitive and I am happy, it is a good result. Now we take some rest, we go on holiday and we try to take some rest for the second half of the season. Regarding the pass, I tried to resist but today wasn't the right day, Marc was too strong for me. Before the end of the season we will have another battle where I will be faster and I will give back the overtake for sure!?
Jorge Lorenzo 6th / 1'21.453 / 9 laps

?This was a difficult race because I am not in shape, one month or more without training and two general anaesthetics. I felt quite dizzy from the middle of the race to the end so my performance was getting worse. The bike was also not working the same as in warm up. Maybe with more temperature the tyres were working differently and I couldn't stop the same in the braking zones so I didn't have the same feeling and I was half a second slower. The important thing is that we saved a very dangerous situation because if I crashed again I might have finished my championship. We have one month to rest and train now to get back in shape which will be important for Indianapolis. I hope to be in almost perfect condition there and have the same performance as before the crash.?
Wilco Zeelenberg - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager

?A very crazy race, to do this with so few days recovery after twice breaking your collarbone is very inhuman. This is one of the most physical race tracks in the world. He clearly struggled in the race but he found a rhythm to not throw away too much energy in the beginning and try to keep a decent pace. It was a little bit up and a little bit down at times. Of course the result is great, we lose some points to Marc and Dani but this race was about damage control. We need to come back very strong for the last nine races.?
Massimo Meregalli - Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director

?Overall a good weekend. We put a lot of effort in to find a best set up. Laguna is not the most suitable circuit for Yamaha. To get a podium with Vale is an important step for us. We have improved the bike which is very good for the coming races. Jorge I think proved again that he is really tough and determined. He could manage to finish sixth even with a lot of pain after his surgeries. I think we can leave here satisfied that we have done the best job possible in the circumstances.?

2013 MotoGP United States
Laguna Seca 22/07/2013
race I
1 Marc Marquez Honda ESP 44'00.695
2 Stefan Bradl Honda GER 0'02.298
3 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 0'04.498
4 Alvaro Bautista Honda ESP 0'04.557
5 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 0'09.257
6 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 0'12.970
7 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 0'15.304
8 Nicky Hayden Ducati USA 0'33.963
9 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati ITA 0'34.129
10 Hector Barbera FTR ESP 1'02.369
11 Alex De Angelis Ducati SMR 1'02.604
12 Colin Edwards FTR Kawasaki USA 1'03.593
13 Danilo Petrucci Ioda-Suter ITA 1'20.450
14 Karel Abraham ART CZE -1Laps
15 Yonny Hernandez ART COL -1Laps
MotoGP World Standing
Rider Standings After Race 9 of 18
1. Marc Marquez Honda ESP 163
2. Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 147
3. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha ESP 137
4. Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 117
5. Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 116
6. Stefan Bradl Honda GER 84
7. Andrea Dovizioso Ducati ITA 81
8. Alvaro Bautista Honda ESP 71
9. Nicky Hayden Ducati USA 65
10. Aleix Espargaro ART ESP 52
11. Bradley Smith Yamaha GBR 51
12. Michele Pirro Ducati ITA 36
13. Andrea Iannone Ducati ITA 24
14. Hector Barbera FTR ESP 24
15. Randy De Puniet ART FRA 19
16. Danilo Petrucci Ioda-Suter ITA 18


Circuit Length:
3610

Weather:
Sunny

Lap Record:
1'21.088
(Daniel Pedrosa, 1-1-2012)

Fastest Lap Ever:
1'20.554
(Jorge Lorenzo, 20-7-2012)

Last Years Winner:
Casey Stoner
Manufacturer Standings
22/07/2013
1 Honda 201
2 Yamaha 188
3 Ducati 83
4 ART 54
5 FTR 25
6 Ioda-Suter 18
7 FTR Kawasaki 17
8 PBM 3
Team Standings
22/07/2013
1. Repsol Honda Team 274
2. Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team 228
3. Monster Yamaha Tech3 158
4. Ducati Team 131
5. Power Electronics Aspar 71
6. LCR Honda MotoGP 64
7. Go&Fun Honda Gresini 60
8. Pramac Racing Team 55
9. Avintia Blusens 20
10. NGM Mobile Forward Racing 18
11. Came Ioda Racing Project 15
12. Paul Bird Motorsport 9

 

[KUCIAR666]

Alex De Angelis close to Top Ten finish

It was a hot day at Laguna Seca. After a minute's silence in honor of Andrea Antonelli, who tragically lost his life at Moscow Raceway while competing in the World Supersport race, the American national anthem was played.

A few laps into the race, a determined Alex De Angelis caught up with his fellow Ducati rider Nicky Hayden, but the gap between them was unfortunately too wide to allow him to remain in his slipstream.

The 32 laps of this Californian circuit were a tough endurance test for the San Marino rider, who ran a mainly lonely race, but towards the end he was forced to defend his tenth place and he eventually lost one position on the final lap.

The Ignite Pramac Racing Team sincerely thanks Alex for the professionalism and commitment he demonstrated during this extremely positive weekend.

Alex De Angelis - Ignite Pramac Racing Team
?I am very happy. Our initial goal was not to be last, but already on Friday we saw the opportunity to try to score some points and we did it. I come back home with 5 points in the standings. It was a great race, I really tried hard and I also made contact with another rider a few times towards the end. I am very satisfied with the way it went. I?d like to thank Ducati, the Ignite Pramac Racing Team and my team (NGM Mobile Forward Racing Team) for the opportunity they gave me. I hope to have demonstrated my potential, because, as everyone knows, I would really like to come back to race in MotoGP. "

 

[ScottyUK]

How did Marquez do that move? Well it's all in the planning :bow:

 

[KUCIAR666]

Honda first and second in Laguna Seca triumph

Repsol Honda RC213V rider Marc Marquez continued his record-breaking maiden MotoGP season with a second successive race win in today?s US GP. It is the 20-year-old?s third win in nine races, and extends his points lead in the World Championship. He now leads team-mate Dani Pedrosa by 16 points.

For Honda, it was the third win in succession at the charismatic Californian circuit, and the sixth in nine visits in the current series of the race.

Honda secured second place as well, with a fine first podium finish for Stefan Bradl, Marquez?s old Moto2 rival and fellow former Moto2 champion. The German LCR Honda RC213V rider had started from his first pole position, and led to beyond the halfway point of the 32-lap race.

Third Honda rider Alvaro Bautista (Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini RC213V) missed making it an all-Honda rostrum by less than a tenth of a second, hounding former Laguna winner Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) over the finish line.

It was a heroic afternoon for Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC213V). Riding with a partial collarbone fracture, he finished a strong fifth, claiming valuable points to preserve his second place in the championship at the mid-point of the season. The plucky ride stretched his lead over third-placed Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) to ten points.

The race, round the shortest circuit of the year, had both tension and drama for 46,000 spectators, enjoying perfect Californian sunshine at the track in the hills inland from fashionable Monterey.

Bradl made a perfect start to lead the first 18 laps. In the early stages he secured a margin of almost two seconds, but after four laps Marquez was through to second, and gradually closed up.
The German was eventually obliged to give best after his rival demonstrated better edge-grip in the sinuous Californian circuit?s many turns, but continued lapping at close to record pace to claim his first rostrum, and a career-best second place.

Marquez showed little sign that he was still learning the intricacies of the complex and physically gruelling short circuit. He seized second from Rossi on the fourth lap with a forceful passing move at the famous Corkscrew corner, replicating one of the Italian champion?s own famous attacks. Thereafter he concentrated on catching and following Bradl, before seizing his moment for a clean overtake and the chance to open a gap still better than 2.2 seconds as he coasted across the line.

Bautista was disappointed that his sustained efforts to pass Rossi for his own first rostrum this year were thwarted, but pleased with his best result so far, demonstrating how the exclusive Showa suspension test rider is regaining strength after two first-lap crashes earlier this season.

Pedrosa demonstrated grit and skill in equal measure in a weekend of endurance. Still suffering a partial fracture to his left collarbone sustained in a crash that ruled him out of last weekend?s German GP, the Spaniard sat out the morning practice sessions and started from the third row of the grid. Through the race however he gained speed, and eventually outpaced third placed title rival Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha), who was riding with his own collarbone injury.

Grand prix rookie Bryan Staring (Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini FTR Honda) finished 17th, his hopes of adding to his points score thwarted in the later laps. Series first-timer Staring rides in the CRT category, his machine powered by a race-tuned CBR1000RR motor.

The US GP marks the end of the first half of the 2013 season, followed by the summer break of three weekends. Racing resumes in the United States on August 16-18 at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis GP, third round of the year in the USA. This is followed by a rapid return to Europe with races in the Czech Republic and Great Britain over the following two weekends.



Honda MotoGP rider quotes



Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda: 1st

?I am very happy, because we weren?t expecting this result from our first visit to Laguna Seca. I didn?t think I would adapt so easily to such a tricky circuit, but from the first day of practice I felt very comfortable and quickly found the best lines. Today I was a little cautious at the start, because with a full tank it is easy to make a mistake, but when the tyres got up to temperature I was able to maintain the pace from practice. I overtook Valentino in a similar spot to where he passed Casey in 2008, although the passes were a little different because his was more spectacular! Later I was able to pass Stefan after studying him for a number of laps, and then I tried to build a gap in order to win the race by a comfortable margin.?



Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda MotoGP: 2nd

?It?s a great result for us. We did a good job all across the weekend. Of course expectations were high after I had pole yesterday, but I knew I had good speed and that I could be fast from the beginning. I tried to push from the start and I think I did that very well. I struggled a little bit. I thought the race speed would be a little quicker but, with the full tank of fuel, I had a few problems with the front. When he caught me I saw that he had some more edge grip on the tyre and that he was able to open up a gap. I just tried to manage the gap to Valentino (Rossi), which was not easy, and it was a long and tough race.?



Alvaro Bautista, Team FUN&GO Honda Gresini: 4th

?I was so close to the podium! I would really like to have been up there but we have to be happy with this result and especially for the way we achieved it. Obviously you can?t get much closer than 0.059 seconds but the most important thing about today was that we showed we have taken a massive step forward and hopefully we can continue in the same way at the next race. This result gives us confidence after a less than positive period and it?s a nice boost for the rest of the season. I am also happy for the team, who have been working so hard and really deserved to celebrate a result like this today.?



Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda: 5th, 1?21.728

?First of all, I want to thank everyone who has supported me over these past few days. This was a race in which it was very important to take points. I was seriously considering sitting out this race, because the conditions were very difficult, so I am very happy to have taken fifth. We were close to the podium, but on the final laps I found things very hard. I think that I held up well in the race, although I was in a lot of pain the entire weekend. At least I was able to grip the handlebars and control the bike. A lot of times moving the bike makes it tough for you and it is difficult to ride a long race. In the end, the 11 points are very important for the championship.?



Bryan Staring, Team FUN&GO Honda Gresini: 17th

?I am happy because today went better than recent races. I set a fast pace in the first half of the race and I was fighting for a points position but after not being able to train recently because of my foot injury I started to really struggle from a physical perspective later in the race. We have taken steps forward here though and that will help us in the coming races.?

 

[KUCIAR666]

Eighth and tenth in qualifying for Ducati Team at Laguna Seca

Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden didn't achieve the results they had hoped for on day two at the United States Grand Prix, and they'll start tomorrow's race on the third and fourth rows, respectively.

The Italian is convinced that the updated version of the Desmosedici GP13 frame is a step forward, although he recognized that making a charge up the field from eighth place will be difficult. Hayden hasn?t yet managed to find a solution to the understeer problem, but he?ll try some setup changes in the morning warm-up.

Andrea Dovizioso - Ducati Team, 8th (1:22.026)
?Unfortunately, I wasn?t able to do a lap with all good splits, or I could?ve done a bit better and gone under 1:22. It?s been kind of a strange weekend in the sense that we?ve been faster than on other weekends and a bit closer to the others, but if we look at the pace of all the riders that are in front of us, they?re pretty far ahead and we don?t have much chance of gaining many positions. Anyway, the only thing to do is to concentrate on our rhythm and try to be consistent. The goal is to do the whole race at a pace under 1:23, which would be good for us. It?ll be hard tomorrow, but as always, we?ll do our best.?

Nicky Hayden - Ducati Team, 10th (1:22.090)
?It hasn?t been an easy weekend for me so far. We went backward a bit in FP4, and my lap in qualifying wasn?t that great. I?ve been struggling all weekend, with a lack of grip and especially with the bike running wide over bumps. Really, my time wasn?t so bad, but we missed a little bit to maybe move up a couple of positions. It hasn?t been the weekend I hoped for so far, but it?s a long way from over, so we?ll see what we come up with for tomorrow.?

 

[KUCIAR666]

How did Marquez do that move? Well it's all in the planning :bow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA0wfwp0NHk&feature=youtu.be